Tag: meditation

  • Nine ways to Sharpen the Controlling Faculties – Indriyas

    I copied/paraphrased these nine ways from two different English language translations of Ven. Sayadaw U Kundala’s Burmese language transcriptions of Dhamma talks. I’m sorry I don’t have the citation details since I left the books in Yangon. These nine ways are also in the Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification) by Ven. Buddhaghosa, in the section…

  • Out of Yangon – happy and well

    I left Yangon and arrived in Bangkok on Friday, 7 August. It was not convenient to write blogs in Yangon though I sometimes went to Internet cafes and wrote e-mails. Most of the time I was meditating at either Saddhamaransi Yeithka (about 4 months) or Mahasi Sasana Yeithka (3 weeks). I’ll write more about some…

  • Perth to Yangon

    My plans are clearer now though by no means certain. Postponed Trip to IndiaI am following good advice from friends and family not to go to India before the retreat in Myanmar.The disadvantages and inconveniences:1. I would be travelling there alone on the first trip and this is inherently stressful. It may be better for…

  • 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…

  • Noting the Object

    I read a few pages from Ven. Saydaw U Pandita’s book The State of Mind Called Beautiful. This is a great book for yogis practicing the technique of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. I found many excellent passages. The following instructions struck a chord with me.p. 88. A meditator’s mind must continuously enter and penetrate the object.…

  • 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,…