Tag: jhana

  • Upgrading Your Uposatha Observance: five then eight and beyond

    The Dhamma is internally consistent and truthful. It is amazingly complete and flawless.  It is possible to take almost any aspect of the Dhamma and see relations with most other aspects of the Dhamma. Some people misunderstand precepts and think that more is better. Thus someone practicing ten precepts might be considered more virtuous than…

  • Kalaapa update

    In an earlier post about jhaana – absorption, I mentioned kalaapa. There is a reference to kalaapa in “Abhidhammatha Sangaha: A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma” by Ven. Aacariya Anuruddha and translated by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi with commentary by Ven. Sayadaw U Silananda and Ven Rewatadhamma. You can also read about kalaapa here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khin/wheel231.html and do…

  • Why I chose to not ordain

    This answer to this question is complex and difficult to explain. This posting is personal and will not cover all the issues that are relevant to all people. I write from the perspective of a middle-aged male raised in Australia. I received a couple of queries about this question and this prompted me to write…

  • Advantages of hearing the Dharma or thinking on the Dharma even when suffering great pain

    A6.56 Phagguna Sutta [Piya Tan’s translation as a PDF] paraphrased by MK from The Book of the Gradual Sayings (Anguttara Nikaaya) vol. 4, translated by F.L. Woodward [translation by Sister Upalavanna] [ผัคคุณสูตร] Ven. Phagguna is very sick and is visited by the Blessed One and Ven. Aananda. The sutta says that Ven. Phagguna was already…

  • Formless Attainments

    Majjhima Nikaya MN26. Ariyapariyesanaa Sutta: The Noble Search (ปาสราสิสูตร)(also known as the Paasaraasi Sutta: The Heap of Snares – the Thai translation has this second title) The Lord Buddha gives the bhikkhus gives a summary of his search for enlightenment. The sutta covers the then Bodhisatta’s training period with two eminent teachers. Aa.laara Kaalaama and…

  • First Jhaana – the Path to Englightenment

    The first sutta extract below is a story told by Lord Buddha about a time when he was a 7 year old prince (a bodhisatta) attending a brahmin style royal ploughing ceremony performed by his father, King Suddhodana. He was left alone briefly while most people were engrossed in the spectacle. Majjhima Nikaya MN36.31 Mahaasaccaka…

  • Beyond Temptation

    Majjhima Nikaya MN.106. Aane~njasappaya Sutta: The Way to the Imperturbable (อาเนญชสัปปายสูตร) 2. “Bhikkhus, sensual pleasures are impermanent, hollow, false, deceptive; they are illusory, the prattle of fools. Sensual pleasures here and now and sensual pleasures in lives to come, sensual perceptions here and now and sensual perceptions in lives to come–both alike are Maara‘s realm,…

  • Sensual Pleasure

    It is not easy for most people in the world to see the danger in sensual pleasures. Even fewer would believe that there could possibly be pleasures that are non-sensual. So much is the notion of pleasure tied with sensuality in our daily lives. Lord Buddha taught followers that the sensual pleasures are gross compared…

  • Aasava, Jhaana, Kusala

    The suttas teach yogis about the practice for removing the aasava-taints so that kilesa-mental defilements no longer cause suffering. Samatha meditation also known as jhaana-absorption practice may temporarily suppress the taints but does not eliminate them. The complete removal of the taints is achieved with vipassana insight, the opening of the Dhamma eye of the…

  • Jhaana – Absorption

    Jhaana is a Paali word that may be translated as absorption. “The jhānas are states of meditation where the mind is free from the five hindrances (craving, aversion, sloth, agitation, doubt) and (from the second jhāna onwards) incapable of discursive thinking. The deeper jhānas can last for many hours. When a meditator emerges from jhāna,…