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Pure Dhamma

Pure Dhamma

A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings

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  • Welcome!
  • Buddha Dhamma
    • User’s Guide to Pure Dhamma Website
    • Buddhism – In Charts
    • Buddha Dhamma – A Scientific Approach
      • Introduction – A Scientific Approach to Buddha Dhamma
      • Theories of Our World – Scientific Overview
      • Mind and Matter – Buddhist Analysis
      • Sensual Pleasures – The Hidden Suffering
      • Kammic Energy Leads to Consciousness
      • Brain and the Gandhabba
      • Our Two Worlds – Rupa Loka and Nāma Loka
      • Tipitaka – A Systematic Approach
      • Antarābhava and Gandhabba
      • Close
    • Buddhahood Associated Controversies
      • Buddhahood Controversies – Introduction
      • Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part I
      • Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part II
      • Close
    • What is Buddha Dhamma?
    • Foundation of Dhamma
    • The Importance of Purifying the Mind
    • The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma
      • The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma – Introduction
      • Our Two Worlds: Material and Immaterial
      • Gandhabbaya – Only in Human and Animal Realms
      • Body Types in 31 Realms – Importance of Manomaya Kaya
      • 31 Realms Associated with the Earth
      • Gandhabba Sensing the World – With and Without a Physical Body
      • Nibbāna in the Big Picture
      • Close
    • Buddha Dhamma: Non-Perceivability and Self-Consistency
    • Samsāric Time Scale, Buddhist Cosmology, and the Big Bang Theory
    • Evidence for Rebirth
    • Power of the Human Mind
      • Power of the Human Mind – Introduction
      • Difference Between Jhāna and Stages of Nibbāna
      • Power of the Human Mind – Anariya or Mundane Jhānas
      • Power of the Human Mind – Ariya Jhānas
      • Are There Procedures for Attaining Magga Phala, Jhāna and Abhiññā?
      • Close
    • Transfer of Merits (Pattidāna) – How Does it Happen?
    • Vinaya – The Nature Likes to be in Equilibrium
    • Close
  • Elephants in the Room
    • Word-for-Word Translation of the Tipiṭaka
      • “Elephant in the Room” – Direct Translation of the Tipiṭaka
      • Niddesa (Brief Description) of Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Paṭicca Samuppāda During a Lifetime
      • Often Mistranslated Pāli Keywords
      • Close
    • Elephant in the Room 2 – Jhāna and Kasiṇa
      • Samādhi, Jhāna, and Sammā Samādhi
      • Jhāna, Jhāya, and Jhāyi – Different Meanings
      • Close
    • Elephant in the Room 3 – Ānāpānasati
      • Ānāpānasati – Overview
      • Assāsa Passāsa – What Do They Mean?
      • Ānāpānasati Not About Breath – Icchā­naṅga­la Sutta
      • Mahārāhulovāda Sutta and Ānāpānasati
      • Close
    • Elephant in the Room 4 – Gandhabba/Manomaya Kāya
      • Does Gandhabba Mean “Semen”?
      • Close
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  • Key Dhamma Concepts
    • Basic Framework of Buddha Dhamma
      • Buddha Dhamma – Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhaṇa
      • Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana – Key Relationships
      • Anicca Nature, the First Noble Truth, and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Tilakkhaṇa – Introduction
      • Close
    • San – A Critical Pāli Root
      • What is “San”? Meaning of Sansāra (or Saṃsāra)
      • Sankhāra, Kamma, Kamma Bīja, Kamma Vipāka
      • Sankhara – Life is a Bundle of Sankhara
      • Kamma are Done with Saṅkhāra – Types of Saṅkhāra
      • Close
    • Nibbāna
      • Nibbana “Exists”, but Not in This World
      • Nibbana – Is it Difficult to Understand?
      • The Four Stages in Attaining Nibbāna
      • What Are Rūpa? (Relation to Nibbāna)
      • Nirāmisa Sukha
      • Does the First Noble Truth Describe only Suffering?
      • Nirödha and Vaya – Two Different Concepts
      • Close
    • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta
      • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Wrong Interpretations
      • Anatta and Dukkha – True Meanings
      • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – According to Some Key Suttas
      • Anicca – True Meaning
      • Anattā – A Systematic Analysis
      • Tilakkhaṇa – English Discourses
      • The Way to Nibbāna – Transcription of a Discourse by Waharaka Thero
      • Sotāpanna Stage and Tilakkhaṇa
      • Why are Tilakkhaṇa not Included in 37 Factors of Enlightenment?
      • Two Versions of 37 Factors of Enlightenment
      • Types of Bodies in 31 Realms – Connection to Jhāna
      • Finest Manōmaya Kaya of an Arūpāvacara Brahma
      • Close
    • Gati, Bhava, and Jāti
      • Namagotta, Bhava, Kamma Bīja, and Mano Loka (Mind Plane)
      • Gati and Bhava – Many Varieties
      • Gathi to Bhava to Jathi – Ours to Control
      • Memory, Brain, Mind, Nama Loka, Kamma Bhava, Kamma Vipāka
      • Bhava and Jāti – States of Existence and Births Therein
      • Cuti and Marana – Related to Bhava and Jāti
      • Anusaya, Gati, Bhava – Connection to Manomaya Kāya (Gandhabba)
      • Difference Between Taṇhā and Upādāna
      • Pāpa Kamma Versus Akusala Kamma
      • Close
    • Sorting out Some Key Pāli Terms (Taṇhā, Lobha, Dosa, Moha, etc)
      • Kāma Taṇhā, Bhava Taṇhā, Vibhava Taṇhā
      • Taṇhā – How We Attach Via Greed, Hate, and Ignorance
      • Lōbha, Rāga and Kāmacchanda, Kāmarāga
      • Lōbha, Dōsa, Mōha versus Rāga, Paṭigha, Avijjā
      • What is Avijjā (Ignorance)?
      • Vedanā (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways
      • Indriya and Āyatana – Big Difference
      • Hetu-Phala, Paccuppanna, and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Diṭṭhi (Wrong Views), Sammā Diṭṭhi (Good/Correct Views)
      • Correct Meaning of Vacī Saṅkhāra
      • Panca Indriya and Panca Bala – Five Faculties and Five Powers
      • Kāmaccandha and Icca – Being Blinded by Cravings
      • Close
    • The Five Aggregates (Pañcakkhandha)
      • Five Aggregates – Introduction
      • Difference Between Physical Rūpa and Rūpakkhandha
      • Rūpakkhandha and Rūpa Upādānakkhandha
      • Arising of Five Aggregates Based on an Ārammaṇa
      • Memory Records- Critical Part of Five Aggregates
      • Pañca Upādānakkhandhā – Introduction
      • Five Aggregates – Connection to Tilakkhaṇa
      • Viññāṇa (Defiled Consciousness)
      • Rupa (Material Form)
      • Pancakkhandha or Five Aggregates – A Misinterpreted Concept
      • Pañcupādānakkhandha – It is All Mental
      • Close
    • Nāma & Rūpa to Nāmarūpa
      • Mental Aggregates
      • Rupa Aggregate
      • Viññāṇa Aggregate
      • Nāmarūpa Formation
      • Close
    • Close
  • Living Dhamma
    • Essential Buddhism
      • Four Noble Truths – Suffering and Its Elimination
      • Introduction to Citta, Vēdanā, Saññā, Saṅkhāra, and Viññāṇa
      • Breath Meditation Is Addictive and Harmful in the Long Run
      • Viññāṇa – Consciousness Together With Future Expectations
      • Connection Between Saṅkhāra and Viññāṇa
      • Viññāna and Saṅkhāra – Connection to Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Ānapānasati Eliminates Mental Stress Permanently
      • Ānāpāna and Satipaṭṭhāna – Fundamentals
      • Sati in Ānāpānasati/Satipaṭṭhāna – Two Meanings of Sati
      • Close
    • Living Dhamma – Overview
      • Living Dhamma – Introduction
      • Niramisa Sukha to Nibbana Suva – The Key Step
      • Starting on the Path Even without Belief in Rebirth
      • Close
    • Dhamma with Less Pāli
      • Buddha Dhamma for an Inquiring Mind – Part I
      • Root of All Suffering – Ten Immoral Actions
      • Is Suffering the Same as the First Noble Truth on Suffering?
      • Dhamma, Saṅkhāra, Sankata, Rupa, Viññāṇa, Gati, Āsava, Anusaya
      • Complexity of the Mind – Viññāna and Sankhāra
      • Citta, Manō, Viññāna – Nine Stages of a Thought
      • Close
    • Living Dhamma – Fundamentals
      • What Are Kilesa (Mental Impurities)? – Connection to Cetasika
      • Suffering in This Life – Role of Mental Impurities
      • Satipattana Sutta – Relevance to Suffering in This Life
      • How Are Gati and Kilesa Incorporated into Thoughts?
      • Noble Eightfold Path – Role of Sobhana Cetasika
      • Getting to Samadhi
      • Sexual Orientation – Effects of Kamma and Gathi (Sankhara)
      • Close
    • Mundane Sammā Samadhi
      • Micca Ditthi – Connection to Hethu Phala (Cause and Effect)
      • Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda II
      • Close
    • Transition to Noble Eightfold Path
      • Is It Necessary for a Buddhist to Eliminate Sensual Desires?
      • Sīla, Samādhi, Paññā to Paññā, Sīla, Samādhi
      • Ye Dhammā Hetuppabhavā.. and Yam Kiñci Samudaya Dhammam..
      • Close
    • Samādhi, Jhāna (Dhyāna), Magga Phala
      • Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction
      • Vitakka, Vicāra, Savitakka, Savicāra, and Avitakka, Avicāra
      • Jhānic Experience in Detail – Sāmañ­ña­phala Sutta (DN 2)
      • Ascendance to Nibbāna via Jhāna (Dhyāna)
      • Pannāvimutti – Arahanthood without Jhāna
      • Mundane versus Supramundane Jhāna
      • Nirōdha Samāpatti, Phala Samāpatti, Jhāna, and Jhāna Samāpatti
      • Close
    • Mental Body – Gandhabbaya
      • Our Mental Body – Gandhabbaya
      • Gandhabba State – Evidence from Tipiṭaka
      • Antarābhava and Gandhabba
      • Ānantariya Kamma – Connection to Gandhabba
      • Mental Body (Gandhabbaya) – Personal Accounts
      • Abnormal Births Due to Gandhabba Transformations
      • Satara Āhāra for Mental Body or Gandhabba
      • Micchā Diṭṭhi, Gandhabba, and Sōtapanna Stage
      • Working of Kammā – Critical Role of Conditions
      • Close
    • Close
  • Dhamma and Science
    • Dhamma and Science – Introduction
    • Good Explanations – Key to Weeding Out Bad Versions of Dhamma
    • Origin of Life
      • Origin of Life – There is No Traceable Origin
      • Human Life – A Mental Base (Gandhabba) and a Material Base (Cell)
      • Clarification of “Mental Body” and “Physical Body” – Different Types of “Kāya”
      • Four Types of Births in Buddhism
      • Buddhist Explanations of Conception, Abortion, and Contraception
      • Cloning and Gandhabba
      • Living Cell – How Did the First Cell Come to Existence?
      • Mystical Phenomena in Buddhism?
      • Views on Life
      • Origin of Life – One Creates One’s Own Future Lives
      • Close
    • Consciousness – A Dhamma Perspective
    • Buddhism – Consistencies with Science
    • Buddhism – Inconsistencies with Science
    • Close
  • Three Levels of Practice
    • Moral Living and Fundamentals
      • The Basics
      • Calming the Mind
      • Buddha Dhamma and Buddhism
      • Dhamma Concepts
      • Buddha Dhamma and Morality
      • Close
    • Working Towards Good Rebirths
      • Saṃsāric Habits, Character (Gati), and Cravings (Āsava)
      • Complexity of Life and the Way to Seek “Good Rebirths”
      • Three Kinds of Diṭṭhi, Eightfold Paths, and Samadhi
      • Rebirth – Connection to Suffering in the First Noble Truth
      • How the Buddha Described the Chance of Rebirth in the Human Realm
      • Kamma, Debt, and Meditation
      • Implications of the Rebirth Process in Daily Life and in Society
      • How do we Decide which View is Wrong View (Diṭṭhi)?
      • What Does Buddha Dhamma Say about Creator, Satan, Angels, and Demons?
      • Patisandhi Citta – How the Next Life is Determined According to Gathi
      • Close
    • Seeking Nibbāna
      • Aṭṭha Purisa Puggalā- Eight Noble Persons
      • Āsava, Anusaya, and Gati (Gathi)
      • The Way to Nibbana – Removal of Asavas
      • Kanha (Dark) and Sukka (Bright) Kamma and Kammakkhaya
      • Dasa Samyojana – Bonds in Rebirth Process
      • The Cooling Down Process (Nibbana) – How Root Causes are Removed
      • Why is Correct Interpretation of Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta so Important?
      • How to Cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path starting with Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta
      • Difference Between Giving Up Valuables and Losing Interest in Worthless
      • Close
    • Sotapanna Stage of Nibbana
      • The Sōtapanna Stage
      • Why a Sotāpanna is Better off than any King, Emperor, or a Billionaire
      • Myths about the Sotāpanna Stage
      • Sōtapanna Anugāmi and a Sōtapanna
      • Sōtapanna Anugāmi – No More Births in the Apāyās
      • Four Conditions for Attaining Sōtapanna Magga/Phala
      • Sotapatti Anga – The Four Qualities of a Sotapanna
      • Sammā Diṭṭhi – Realization, Not Memorization
      • How Does One Know whether the Sōtapanna Stage is Reached?
      • Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi is Personality (Me) View?
      • Akusala Citta – How a Sotapanna Avoids Apayagami Citta
      • What is the only Akusala Removed by a Sōtapanna?
      • Udayavaya Ñāna
      • Close
    • Close
  • Tables and Summaries
    • Pali Glossary – (A-K)
    • The 89 (121) Types of Citta
    • Rupa (Material Form) – Table
    • Pali Glossary – (L-Z)
    • Cetasika (Mental Factors)
    • Rupa – Generation Mechanisms
    • Rupa Kalāpa (Grouping of Matter)
    • List of “San” Words and Other Pāli Roots
    • Akusala Citta and Akusala Vipāka Citta
    • 37 Factors of Enlightenment
    • Conditions for the Four Stages of Nibbāna
    • Ultimate Realities – Table
    • 31 Realms of Existence
    • Close
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Paticca Samuppada – “Pati+ichcha”+”Sama+uppäda”
    • Paticca Samuppada – Overview
    • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Essential Concepts
      • Nibbāna – Rāgakkhaya Dosakkhaya Mohakkhaya – Part 1
      • Pañca Nīvaraṇa and Sensual Pleasures (Kāma Rāga)
      • What is “Käma”? It is not Sex
      • Icchā, Taṇhā, Kāma – Root Causes of Suffering
      • Jāti – Different Types of Births
      • Bhava – Kammic Energy That Can Power an Existence
      • Bhava and Punabbhava – Kammic Energy Giving Rise to Renewed Existence
      • Concepts of Upādāna and Upādānakkhandha
      • Six Root Causes – Loka Samudaya (Arising of Suffering) and Loka Nirodhaya (Nibbana)
      • Close
    • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda – Introduction
      • Dhamma and Dhammā – Different but Related
      • Difference Between Dhammā and Saṅkhāra
      • Kāma Assāda – A Root Cause of Suffering
      • Gati (Habits/Character) Determine Births – Saṃsappanīya Sutta
      • Close
    • Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana, Four Noble Truths
      • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Introduction
      • What Did the Buddha Mean by a “Loka”?
      • Future Suffering (Loka/Dukkha Samudaya) Starts With Sensory Input (Ārammaṇa)
      • Sotapanna – One With the “Wider Worldview” of the Buddha
      • Sotapannā – Just Starting on the Noble Path
      • Yoniso Manasikāra and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Dhamma – Different Meanings Depending on the Context
      • Dhammā­nu­dhamma Paṭi­patti – Connection to Paṭicca Samuppāda/Tilakkhana
      • Close
    • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – Wrong View of “Me” and “Mine”
      • What Reincarnates? – Concept of a Lifestream
      • Anatta and Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – Two Different Concepts
      • Close
    • Understanding the Terms in Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Distortion of Pāli Keywords in Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Saṅkhāra – Many Meanings
      • Viññāṇa – Two Critical Meanings
      • Memory, Dhammā, and Viññāṇa Dhātu
      • Citta Vithi – Fundamental Sensory Unit
      • Does any Object (Rupa) Last only 17 Thought Moments?
      • Phassa (Contact) – Contact With Pasāda Rupa
      • Arising of the Five Aggregates With an Ārammaṇa
      • Close
    • How Are Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles Initiated?
    • Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles
      • Avyākata Paṭicca Samuppāda for Vipāka Viññāṇa
      • Akusala-Mūla Upapatti Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Uppatti Paṭicca Samuppāda (How We Create Our Own Rebirths)
      • Kusala-Mula Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Idappaccayātā Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Close
    • Patilōma Paticca Samuppāda – Key to Nibbāna
    • Paṭicca Samuppāda in Plain English
      • Introduction – What is Suffering?
      • Introduction -2 – The Three Categories of Suffering
      • Avijjā paccayā sankhārā
      • Sankhara paccaya Vinnana – 1
      • Sankhara paccaya Vinnana – 2
      • Viññāna Paccayā Nāmarūpa
      • Nāmarūpa Paccayā Salāyatana
      • Difference between Phassa and Samphassa
      • Phassa paccaya Vedana….to Bhava
      • Bhava paccaya Jati….Jara, Marana,…
      • Close
    • Imasmim Sati Idam Hoti – What Does It Really Mean?
    • Paṭṭhāna Dhamma
      • Pattana Dhamma – Connection to Cause and Effect (Hethu Phala)
      • What Does “Paccayā” Mean in Paṭicca Samuppāda?
      • Anantara and Samanantara Paccayā
      • Āsēvana and Aññamañña Paccayā
      • Close
    • Close
  • Is There a “Self”?
    • Citta – Basis of Our Experience and Actions
    • Vipāka Vēdanā and “Samphassa jā Vēdanā” in a Sensory Event
    • Kāma Guṇa – Origin of Attachment (Tanhā)
    • Vision Is a Series of “Snapshots” – Movie Analogy
    • Do I Have “A Mind” That Is Fixed and “Mine”?
    • Chachakka Sutta – No “Self” in Initial Sensory Experience
    • Sakkāya Ditthi in Terms of Attā or “Self” or “Ātma”
    • An Apparent “Self” Is Involved in Kamma Generation
    • Paticca Samuppāda – Not ‘Self’ or ‘No-Self’
      • Tanhā – The Origin of Suffering
      • Paṭicca Samuppāda – A “Self” Exists Due to Avijjā
      • Kamma, Saṅkhāra, and Abhisaṅkhāra – What Is “Intention”?
      • Vacī Saṅkhāra – Saṅkappa (Conscious Thoughts) and Vācā (Speech)
      • Tanhā Paccayā Upādāna – Critical Step in Paticca Samuppāda
      • Mōha/Avijjā and Vipāka Viññāṇa/Kamma Viññāṇa