DhammaSponge wrote: “If I was to take what you say and make it into something like that, I would think, “note the input, recognize the sanna, realize it causes avijja, note its unreliability.”
- That sounds like you plan to control your thoughts willfully.
- However, that would not be much different from what ancient yogis like Alara Kalama tried.
- First, one must understand the mechanism of kamma generation. It happens in two stages: (i) ‘purana kamma‘ stage or ‘initial kamma generation process.’ (ii) Only the second stage of ‘nava kamma‘ generation that happens willfully (with kaya, vaci, and mano kamma) is controllable. That is what is key to ‘understanding Buddha’s worldview.’
- Of course, one must try to control the second stage at all times. However, until one stops the automatic arising of the ‘purana kamma‘ stage, elimination of the ‘kama raga samyojana‘ is not possible. That happens in two stages: First, one understands the details of the ‘purana kamma‘ stage, i.e., how attachment to the ‘kama sanna‘ automatically moves the mind to the ‘purana kamma‘ stage. With that understanding, one first removes the three ditthi samyojana and attains the Sotapanna stage. Only after that can one eliminate the ‘kama raga samyojana‘ and attain the Anagami stage to stop any sensual/angry thoughts from arising. I explained that in my previous comments on this thread.
- You can start with the post “Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation.”
- Also, you may want to read this thread from the beginning again, carefully.
- After that, you can start reading posts in the section: “Buddha Dhamma.” If you start taking notes, that will be very helpful. There are many different, but related concepts to learn. As I have emphasized, learning concepts plays a key role in getting to the Sotapanna stage. Formal meditation begins when one becomes a Sotapanna and cultivates Satipatthana to attain the Sakadagami/Anagami stages.
- I am not saying this can be done quickly by reading a few posts; it will take a real effort.
Yes, I have noticed countless times how purana kamma operates before it becomes nava kamma and thus noticeable. I have also constantly appended to that, “so this is anatta- this entire process of ‘I notice object, I investigate object, I want object’ was never in your control in the first place.” I have also been repeatedly thinking, “the reason you attach to this is that, even though you intellectually understand that such qualities to which you attach are made in your mind and not the object, you still haven’t grasped it yet. Moha and avijja is still present.”
I honestly have a hard time keeping such observations fresh and they feel kind of ritualistic in a certain way, because it doesn’t feel like I’m really getting anywhere with this.