One whose passion, aversion, & ignorance are washed away...

One whose passion, aversion, & ignorance
are washed away,
has crossed over this ocean
with its sharks,
demons,
dangerous waves,
so hard to cross.

§ 69. {Iti 3.20; Iti 57}

Itivuttaka: The Group of Threes
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu

It's not easy to teach the Dhamma to others...

"It's not easy to teach the Dhamma to others, Ananda. The Dhamma should be taught to others only when five qualities are established within the person teaching.

Which five?

"

[1] The Dhamma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak step-by-step.'

"

[2] The Dhamma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak explaining the sequence [of cause & effect].'

"

[3] The Dhamma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak out of compassion.'

"

[4] The Dhamma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak not for the purpose of material reward.'

"

[5] The Dhamma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak without hurting myself or others.'



AN 5.159 PTS: A iii 184
 Udayi Sutta: About Udayin

Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Swimming against the stream

The path to enlightenment is not so easy. It is a path that goes against the stream. Buddha called this "Patisothagami " or going against the stream. It is just like when almost all the fish in the water are swimming with the flow while only one fish is trying hard to swim against the flow. It's not swimming against the resistance of the flow of water but also the resistance of the other fish that may impede its path.

In meditation never criticize yourself...

I think in meditation sometimes we get caught to a trap. When the mind runs out of the primary object, just acknowledge it and let go. Never criticize yourself this as a weakness. Just be aware of it. That's all! It is said this will strengthen your mindfulness.


I learnt about this from the visiting Buddhist monk, Venerable Uda-Iriyagama Dhammajeeva Thera of Nissarana Vanaya (Forest) Meditation Centre, Sri Lanka, who is currently conducting a meditataion retreat at The Toronto Maha Vihara.

To listen to his talks please visit
http://nissaranavanaya.blogspot.com/
http://sinhaladhamma.blogspot.com/

The fetter of craving

"Monks, I don't envision even one other fetter* — fettered by which beings conjoined go wandering & transmigrating on for a long, long time — like the fetter of craving. Fettered with the fetter of craving, beings conjoined go wandering & transmigrating on for a long, long time."

*Fetters
The five lower fetters:
1. Self-identity views
2. Doubt (uncertainty)
3. Grasping at precepts & practices
4. Craving (Sensual desire)
5. Ill will.

The five higher fetters:
1. Passion for form
2. Passion for what is formless
3. Conceit
4. Restlessness
5. Ignorance

Iti 1.15; Iti 8

Itivuttaka: The Group of Ones

translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.1.001-027.than.html

The three layers of "weeds" in the mind...

I recently removed weeds off my flower bed and added mulch to prevent further weeds form growing. The mulch helped to prevent new weeds seeding in the flower bed. However to my surprise, after about a week I found new weeds coming through the thick layer of mulch (see the photo above).

This reminded of me of the three layers of defilements* in our minds. The most superficial layer of defilements arise from our bodily actions and our verbal actions. The defilements from our bodily actions are the killing living beings, stealing, and sexual misconduct. The defilements that arise from our verbal actions include false speech, slanderous speech, harsh speech and idle chatter. Restraining from this is basically cultivating the morality (Sila precept). These I compared to the existing weeds in the flower bed that were removed at the onset of cleaning.

Applying mulch to the bed was to prevent from new weeds growing in the flower bed from disposition of weeds carried by the wind. In this simile I compared these to our obsessional defilements of the mind called the hindrances. They are sensual desire, Ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse and doubt. Practicing samatha meditation (Samadhi precept), for example breath meditation, will suppress these defilements.

However the deep layer of defilements in the mind are just like the deep rooted weeds in this simile. They will surface from time to time given the right conditions, unless they are completely removed without a trace. In the garden I learnt that I had to remove all the weeds down to the tiniest roots before applying the mulch to keep the flower beds weed free. In the mind the deep "weeds" of defilements are mainly removed by wisdom gained through insight practice or Vipassana meditation (Panna precept). Some of the deep rooted defilements of the mind are listed below.

(1) Covetousness and unrighteous greed (2) ill will (3) anger (4) hostility (5) denigration(6) domineering (7) envy (8) miserly(9) hypocrisy(10) fraud (11) obstinacy (12) presumption (13) conceit (14) arrogance (15) vanity (16) negligence

I learnt about the three layers of defilements* from the visiting Buddhist monk, Venerable Uda-Iriyagama Dhammajeeva Thera of Nissarana Vanaya (Forest) Meditation Centre, Sri Lanka, who is currently conducting a meditataion retreat at The Toronto Maha Vihara.

The monk who has demolished conceit...

The monk who has demolished conceit* without leaving a trace,
as a great flood,
a very weak bridge made of reeds,
sloughs off the near shore & far** — as a snake,
its decrepit old skin.

* Conceit (one of the higher fetters) is thought to be totally abolished at the level of attaining Arahantship (please click on the following link to see the four stages of enlightenment).

The four stages of enlightenment

.

** Near and far shores are thought to be here the five lower and higher fetters**

***Fetters- See labels below

Uraga Sutta: The Snake

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Uraga Sutta: The Snake (Sn 1.1) [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro]
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.01.than.html