Tag: mental development

  • Bojjha’nga – Seven Factors of Awakening

    This is one of my favourite themes in the suttas. The Bojjha’nga show a progression of dependence in various wholesome states arising from attending to bhikkhus who are accomplished in virtue, concentration, wisdom, liberation, knowledge and vision of liberation.  I believe it is also possible to do this in our imaginations in a virtual way.…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Listening to the Dhamma can suppress the hindrances

    Sa.myuttanikaaya S46.38 Without Hindrances (อาวรณานีวรณสูตร นิวรณ์ ๕ เป็นอุปกิเลสของจิต) When bhikkhus, a noble disciple listens to the Dhamma with eager ears, attending to it as a matter of vital concern, directing the whole mind to it, on that occasion the five hindrances are not present in him; on that occasion the seven factors of enlightenment go…

  • Moral Conduct as the Basis for Spiritual Development

    Buddhist suttas-discourses are translated into English in various ways. Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu translates satipa.t.thaana as “the four frames of reference.” Others translate it as the four establishments of mindfulness or the four foundations of mindfulness. I prefer “the four establishments of mindfulness” or to just leave it in the Paali as satipa.t.thaana. This is the…

  • Mirror of the Dhamma – Four things Posssessed by Sotapannas

    This list is from the Sa.myutta Nikaaya, Mahavagga, SN.V.55.8. confirmed confidence in the Buddha confirmed confidence in the Dhamma confirmed confidence in the Sangha of Ariyapuggala (noble ones – enlightened beings) possess the virtues (Siila) dear to the noble ones, unbroken, untorn, unblemished, unmottled, freeing, praised by the wise, ungrasped, leading to concentration.

  • Factors for Sotapanna

    This list is from the Sa.myutta Nikaaya, Mahavagga, SN.V.55.5. Association with superior persons (Ariyapuggala) Hearing the true Dhamma Careful attention – Yoniso Manasikaara Practice in accordance with the Dhamma

  • Ten Bases for Meritorious Deeds

    The following list of ten bases for meritorious deeds (pu~n~nakiriyavathu) shows ten ways to develop wholesome karma for the sense sphere (kammavacarakuala.m). I believe this list is from a commentary on the Dharma. I strongly recommend everyone memorize this list and make strenuous efforts to put the list into practice. This will be for your…

  • 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…

  • 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…