I am writing this to just share some experience and my opinion because I relate to this very strongly.
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.
I have felt the same. Although it varies person to person, In my case I observed that, too much knowledge is actually not just unconducive to attainment of stream-entry but also makes it harder and harder! Just my honest limited observation ok. Maybe this is the reason the extra observations and concepts which are supposed to be applied after attaining stream-entry (as explained above by venerable @Lal sir), seem ritualistic. I sometimes think my unnecessary extra knowledge is the reason I haven’t yet attained 1st fruition. Earlier I used to read without any preference and just out of want to collect as much information/knowledge about buddha and his teachings but now I don’t do that because the extra concepts would just exhaust me and would give me more and more mental agitation and restlessness resulting in mental exhaustion. Sadly I realised this late.
One must clearly ‘see with wisdom’ that attachment to sensory inputs in the ‘kama loka‘ (that means attaching to sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches) prolongs the rebirth process. Not only that, but such attachment extends the rebirth process within the ‘kama loka‘ (which includes the human realm and also the apayas).
However, it does not require one to stop attaching to sensory inputs in the ‘kama loka.‘ That happens at the Anagami stage.
I am able to relate to above actually ven lal sir. I clearly saw the relation of concepts of anicca and dukkha directly in my life, decisions/exertions I made and failed to make, opportunities I got and the ones I missed. I honestly say that I don’t understand concept of anatta experientially/practically, though I may be able to explain it like some textbook scholar from suttas, it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say that I cannot even observe that concept experientially. Concept of dukkha, I sometimes reflect on it and most of the other times I just forget it but the concept of anicca, I am able to observe and reflect on it many times a day, not just while meditating but literally from the moment of waking up in the morning till the moment of falling asleep again at night. I can’t help but see my situation like that of a prisoner who will be executed very soon.
But for my understanding to develop till here, I had to suffer much, to finally accept this truth of suffering and its cause I really had to pay the price in terms of lost opportunities, bad decisions and deeds, much mental as well as physical suffering.. in short it was really painful. Even now I am paying the price. Now presently my condition is that, even if I for example get all the things my heart desires in terms of material life, I cannot forget the truth of suffering ever, I may momentary lose its reflection but it will not go away ever.
But the biggest reason for me to get to this understanding, I would say is the ‘Kalyanmitta’ and faith in ariya or noble being/s. To the best of my understanding, without meeting ariya/noble being, it is not possible to attain stream-entry, however great scholar of buddha’s teachings one is.
In my understanding, understanding and accepting buddha’s worldview kind of means being able to observe those concepts of anicca, dukkha and anatta, in one’s life at most personal level – for example in one’s own behavior, in one’s routine for example, in one’s dealing with others, even in one’s body for example and prolonging of suffering filled rebirth process can actually be observed (at least on small level) in even some of the situations in our daily life which we want to get out of eagerly but we can’t and they take their time anyway causing us suffering, whatever we do.
To speak directly, I try to see with wisdom, sometimes (very few times) I am able to, most of the other times I can’t. But in any case it is actually scary, because reality, although liberating, it is ruthless and unforgiving.
I hope I did not make any mistake in above post regarding trying to cite/explain concepts from buddha’s teachings, if I have made any please forgive and correct me venerable @Lal sir. If it is wrong on many levels then just delete my post sir.
