Hello Invo,
I hope I was not too blunt. But sometimes, that helps to get the point across. I am glad that it did not turn you off completely. Sometimes that happens too. So, it is a gamble.
You wrote: “I just wanted to share for consideration the idea of stream entry as fruit of eradication of kamma beeja related to apayas through samadhi and brahma-viharas practice.”
This idea of “erasing bad kamma” is non-existent in Buddha Dhamma. It could be a concept from Hinduism. Does Ajahn Brahm teach that?
For example, Angulimala killed 999 people. But he was able to attain Arahanthood in a couple of weeks. He did that not by “erasing his bad kamma”, but by cultivating wisdom (panna).
– When one gets to Samma Ditthi, one will not “upadana” (or willingly grasp or embrace”) any future bhava compatible with a defiled mind.
– – One needs to understand Paticca Samuppada to really grasp that concept.
To put it in a different way, there are TWO important outcomes of getting to Samma Ditthi.
– FIRST is that one would not generate new bad kamma starting with “avijja paccaya sankhara”. But that does not erase any existing bad kamma.
– The SECOND is what I mentioned above. One would stop generating new bad births (especially in the apayas), by stopping the steps, “tanha paccaya upadana”, “upadana paccaya bhava”, and “bhava paccaya jati”.
– That is why the removal of avijja and tanha go together. They are irradicated in four steps: Sotapanna, SAKADAGAMI, Anagami, Arahant.
– Therefore, it is not “eradication of kamma beeja”, but “eradication of avijja and tanha, which leads to various stages of Nibbana.
You wrote: “Btw. how long do you both practice these techniques?
Perhaps the “dark night” you’re criticizing has just not come yet? Or perhaps it does not come when practicing properly ;)”
My way of practicing is vipassana. But it is not Goenka’s type of vipassana. I have discussed it in the Meditation section.
– You are correct in saying that such “dark nights” are not experienced if one practices the correct way. I have not had even bad dreams for many years.
– Practicing Buddha Dhamma is not just formal mediation. It involves many things, starting with a moral life. I spend most of the day just contemplating Dhamma concepts. Writing posts for the website helps me too since it forces me to think deeply and make sure what I write is not in contradiction to the Tipitaka. Answering forum questions do the same thing.
– “Ragakkhayo Nibbanam, Dosakkhayo Nibbanam, Mohakkhayo Nibbanam”. One WILL experience the “cooling down effect” of Nibbana as one gets rid of greed, anger, and ignorance (of the Four Noble Truths) by cultivating wisdom (panna). That means cultivating Samma Ditthi. That means getting rid of wrong views such as “past kamma beeja can be irradicated”. One just makes them “ineffective”.
– Learning and contemplating on the Four Noble Truths (which involve Tilakkhana and Paticca Samuppada) is the key. One needs to understand the true nature of this world of 31 realms.