Akvan wrote:
“So in my opinion it would be of more benefit to strive to attain maggha pala rather than jhana.”
I agree. But why can’t one do both? Strive for magga phala and cultivate jhana? Brahma realm is one of the best states to be in to attain magga phala, because their minds are very pure(low in greed, hatred, delusion).
I personally think marriage and having children are one the biggest obstacles/hindrances and risks to the Path, as was clearly implied if not said directly in the Tipitaka numerous times. But I don’t go around preaching or discouraging others to not get married or to not have children. As long as it is not immoral/unwholesome/unhealthy/harmful/dangerous to anyone, it is their life, their choice(I consider marriage/children as huge potential obstacles but not unwholesome). Who am I to control other people? There are people who can remain married, have children, indulge in sensual pleasures yet still follow the Path successfully, and even attain magga phala, and I salute these people. Whether it be anariya laypeople, Sotapannas or Sakadagamis. This shows that many things in sansara can be potential obstacles/risks/hindrances to the Path, it is how one uses it. One can have a knife: one can use it to hurt others or rescue someone tied up with a rope.
So out of all the possible hindrances/obstacles that exist in Sansara, it is puzzling to me that people would try to discourage some of the most wholesome activities(like jhana), activities the Buddha even encouraged.
When people are excessively controlling of other peoples lives/behavior/activity, this makes me think they have a severe case of atta sanna. Adamant about controlling what others do or how others behave. We have to accept we can’t mold and control what choices others make nor how they behave. Advise with good intention is fine, but then this too could risk becoming unwholesome.
It seems to displease Christian, y not and perhaps Akvan, when people are trying to cultivate something like brahma level metta or jhana? If that is something you are not doing nor is it your goal that is fine, but please just because you are not aiming for this, try not to discourage others from something the Buddha clearly was not against. Otherwise it seems like a case of “do as I do, believe as I do, accept as I do, and behave as I do”—>control issues/atta sanna issues. The Buddha never coerced nor forced.
The Buddha clearly encouraged people to cultivate metta that like of a brahma and did not speak ill of cultivating jhanas.
It is becoming apparent that the brahma level metta and kama raga cannot coexist.
So I’d like to know how one would successfully be able to do this(reduce kama raga)?