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Dear Lal and others,
I really want to state here that the owner of the Puredhamma site (Lal) is doing a great job in creating and maintaining this site. This site is dedicated to the Waharaka Interpretation of Buddha Dhamma and is far more valuable than all the Gemstones in the world combined. It is a great beacon in the dark, to the entire non-Sinhala speaking world.
I remember a few years ago when I was put on probation in an International yahoo-group on Buddhism, for promoting the Waharaka interpretation of the Dhamma. (I later left this group after discovering that even westerners; those in charge of that group can be narrow minded – the reason they gave me was that my interpretation did not match any other interpretation of Buddhism.)
So I think the English-speaking world is badly in need of your site.
My short commentary here is Not worthy enough to highlight the great service that Lal has done to the World.
Many thanks again Lal,
Please keep up your good work for as long as humanly possible.
With Mettha,
Ravi.
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I agree, this website is the most valuable English source in the world right now. The fact that Dr. Lal has it for free speaks volumes.
As for people dismissing it because it does not match “any other interpretation of Buddhism”, keep in mind that even Gautam Buddha’s work was controversial. After attaining Buddhahood, his popularity erupted in South Asia. Many Vedas followers called him a Nāstika out of fear because he rejected their doctrine and many of the commonly held practices of that time like cast system, animal sacrifices, etc. If you are doing something right, there will always be people unhappy with you because they fear change.
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I totally agree with this..
Meeting the puredhamma website was the greatest fortune in my samsaric journey.
I believe it is the fruit of my good karma that led to this Web, from the search for the meaning of sanna.
His explanation of Tilakkhana became a turning point for my progress..
And I believe this is true because every practice has elements of the 8fold noble path.
Indeed the wealth of the entire earth cannot be compared to the attainment of sotapana, just like the sand on the tip of a nail compared to the sand on the entire earth. when the apaya door is closed forever..
I am very grateful for the compassion of the venerable Waharaka thero for expounding once again the pure dhamma ☸️ of the buddha..
Many thanks also to Mr. LAL for translating it into English..
And also to all my dhamma friends here..
What a great service..
With metta
Sadhu Sadhu sadhu☸️🛐🙏 🙏 🙏
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Few indeed are those who have written ‘in praise’ of Lal. And it is good that they have. Praise is admiration and esteem expressed in words. I hope many more have felt Gratitude. Gratitude is invariably sincere, and though unexpressed, is immeasurably more powerful than words can say.The Buddha said that even if you were to carry your mother and father on your back in their old age until they die, that would not be enough to pay off the debt you owe them in making possible this human birth for you. What to say, then, of someone who has shown you the way out of suffering for ever? You had the merits, the eligibility, you were ready – now, in the Buddha the search has come to an end. A ‘once- in- sansara’ event’! And that is now!! Spend some time reflecting on this. Again. And again. And yet again. I myself never tire of it.As to the other point: do not worry about others dismissing the Dhamma from the outset. Few are eligible even to come across the Dhamma. Your intuition will guide you as to when to persist and when to desist. Remember, the higher a thing, the less popular will it be. That is an observation from life itself. In our case, just glance at the number of views of videos about ‘Buddhism’ – those featuring the overly-charismatic bhikkhu, the ‘entertainment value’, the appeal to the mediocre, the ‘lack of depth’…. you will sense it at once. There you get 50K, 100K. And those videos about the true Dhamma? The regulars on here will know which ones I am referring to; a few hundreds of views, at most 1 or 2K, the least of which those of Waharaka Thero! -the higher a thing, the less popular will it be. What appeals to you will be precisely that which you are ready for. To the many, the all-too-popular videos and sites will be of value, they are their next step forward; to the few they are but water under the bridge. So do not persist, do not force in any way. If you do, the chances are that the listener will harbour aversion toward you, and, what’s much worse, towards the Dhamma – and that will be of great demerit.With infinite Gratitude to Lal and to all who in one way or another are involved in spreading the Dhamma.(I will not be able to contribute anything here for much longer. I have been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. 4th stage. Oncologist: ‘months’.A heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all participants on the Forum. May all be free from sansara. May all attain the Deathless.)
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I’m really sorry to hear that, Y not. I hope you recover and at least aren’t in too much pain🙏🏿. Thank you very much for your message. The nature of this body is unpredictable and uncontrollable. I am sure that if anything happens to you, you will have accumulated enough Kusulas to continue in magga phala or even reach Parinibbāna. I wish you to lead a happy life and quickly achieve Nibbāna the end of all suffering. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu🙏🏿🌸☸️☸️☸️
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May you be free from all suffering Y not🙏🙏🙏
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I pay my respects to Lal Sir for his efforts on puredhamma.net. I am really grateful for his explanations on the deeper and hidden meanings of Dhamma.
Although I don’t follow this website anymore, but Gad told me that the forum member “y not” is suffering from cancer. So I thought of giving my Dhamma support to “y not” since he is one the earliest forum members. I remember him because I am also one of the earliest member of this forum.
Cancer is due to one’s own kamma vipaka. At Lord Buddha’s time also, many Bhikkhus suffered from several diseases due to their kamma vipaka. Even Lord Buddha himself suffered from some ailments in his old age. But it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do anything. We SHOULD take all the medications and do the required treatments. Even Lord Buddha took medicines from the famous doctor (Jivaka). But at the same time we must continuously contemplate on the Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta nature of this body (as well as everything in this world of 31 realms).
I remember that Mr. “y not” commented somewhere that he has “avecca pasada” in the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha. It shows that he has progressed in the path very well! Credits to Mr. “y not” for his progress in the Dhamma inspite of being from a non Buddhist background (living in the West). Well done Sir!
It is extremely rare for a Samma Sambuddha to arise in this world, it is even rarer to LISTEN to Buddha Dhamma (not everyone has the merits to LISTEN to the REAL Dhamma) and it is even rarer to CORRECTLY REALISE the Dhamma and attain magga phala.
To alleviate your pain, here are some of my suggestions:
(1) Take coloured print-out of the following serene and peaceful Buddha images (please see references at the end). While closely watching these images, contemplate on the Supreme and Infinite Qualities of Lord Buddha.
(2) Listen to the Paritta chanting by most Ven. Waharaka Thero as much as possible. There are hidden benefits in LISTENING to the paritta chantings from a Noble person (Ariya).
(3) Listen to the “Patibhana Kavya” (powerful verses created by most Ven. Waharaka Thero in his Ariya Samadhi). Don’t worry if you can’t understand the meanings of the verses. Even if you faithfully LISTEN to these verses then soon you can experience the Niramisa Sukha and can also get into Samadhi !
(4) LISTEN to the sermons of most Ven. Waharaka Thero and constantly CONTEMPLATE on the Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta nature of this world of 31 realms.
If you follow these four suggestions mentioned above, then I am sure that you will experience immediate effects. I hope your pain and sufferings would be relieved and you would move closer and closer to the Ultimate ending of ALL sufferings (Nibbana)!
I remember the story of Arahant Angulimala. After becoming an Arahant, while going on alms round he saw a woman crying in the labor pain of childbirth. He immediately went to Lord Buddha and asked what could he do to relieve the pain of that woman. Then Lord Buddha told him to go to that woman and chant a verse (which came to be known as Angulimala Paritta). As soon as Ven. Angulimala chanted that verse in front of that woman, her pain disappeared immediately! There are several other incidents of such “miraculous healings” at the time of Lord Buddha. Even most Ven. Waharaka Thero did many miraculous healings when he was alive.
These incidents clearly show the importance of LISTENING to Ariyas in the presence of them! When the lineage of Ariyas are gone, then no matter how many books or websites one reads or even listen to the recorded sermons, one can not attain any magga phala. That’s why Ariyas are so important! Lord Buddha said to Ven. Ananda that the Buddha Saasana would depend 100% on Kalana mittas (Ariyas who have attained magga phala).
So dear Dhamma friends, don’t just sit in front of your laptop or mobile phones browsing and reading…. Go and meet Noble Persons (Ariyas), pay respect to them, do more and more merits, LISTEN to their sermons and CONTEMPLATE…. That’s all I can say. And the rest depends on the level of your spiritual faculties (saddha, viriya, sati, samadhi, panna).
As for me, I am on the Bodhisatta path. By the power of my merits, may all these merits support me in achieving Buddhahood in the future.
Theruwan Saranai !!!
References:
(1) Buddha paintings
(3) Patibhana Kavya
(4) Sermons of most Ven. Waharaka Thero (English translations)
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We are all sorry to hear about your situation, y not. Thank you for your participation in discussions over the years.
- Every one of us will face the same situation. It is even possible that I may encounter the end before you. Life is unpredictable. All we can do is to be “ready” to face the eventuality at any time by making our best effort to progress a little bit more on our path.
- I believe you have done your part.
By the way, there is no need to thank me, but thank you all for your thoughts. I started this website to express my gratitude to the Buddha, Waharaka Thero, and several others (I don’t want to name any more names because I will inevitably leave out a name or two) who helped me start understanding how to avoid this situation in the future.
- The best way to pay our gratitude to the Buddha and those other Noble Persons is to help others understand this profound Dhamma by participating in discussions and (whenever possible) letting others know about the “previously unheard teachings of the Buddha.”
- Even though Waharaka Thero initiated this resurgence, we are collectively making even more progress. I believe the recent series of posts on “distorted sanna” is an aspect of the deeper Dhamma. Specifically, it shows that our cravings are based on a mirage (false value of sensual pleasures) built into our bodies via Paticca Samuppada. That idea came to me with insights from a few others (I must mention Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe specifically, even though we don’t know each other). I got the idea while thinking about the concepts of “purana kamma” and “nava kamma” stages he discussed; see #4 of “Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation.”
- Future generations will make even more progress, and hopefully, there will be living Arahants, too, in the near future.
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I want to echo everyone’s sentiment here about Lal. If I do attain the sotapanna anugami stage in this life, it will be because of this website.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
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Y not, I remember a teaching that my teacher monk told us in Thailand. He says that when we are in situations of illness and disaster we should turn to the Dhamma and the practice of Dana. For example, if you have an illness, you must make donations to the sick, to hospitals and to research against this illness. If you are suffering from a natural disaster, you should donate to organizations that help people recover from these disasters. Of course, one must prioritize the giving of Dhamma.
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Mr. jittananto
Wouldn’t thinking like that strengthen bhava tanha?
Making punnaabhisankhara..😊 🙏
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Hello Waisaka 😁! These are things we don’t know. Maybe (Y not) is not at the end of his bhava or he still has several human jati (births) left. I believe that this kind of action will prevent fatal diseases in a future life. Kamma vipāka will give results sooner or later. I think that’s what my teacher meant.
- See the story of Ven Arahant Bākula Mahāthera“Etadaggaṃ bhikkhave mama sāvakānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ appābādhānaṃ yadidaṃ Bākulo.” “Bhikkhus, among My bhikkhu-disciples who enjoy good health, who are free from disease, Bhikkhu Bākula is the foremost (etadagga).”
- He remained an arahant for 80 years before entering parinibbānna at the age of 160. He said he never used any medicine in his life and he had imperturbable health!! This is an example of a good Kamma Vipāka.
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So how come The Buddha, who is supreme in every sense, had such illnesses but not Ven. Bākula?
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@y not,
I will not be able to contribute anything here for much longer. I have been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. 4th stage. Oncologist: ‘months’.
Knowing that you survived the 2018 CCL, hopefully you will pull through this time round.
With mettā, Seng Kiat
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Dear Noble colleagues:
I am in the process of drafting a reply in appreciation ; it will take some time. My energy levels are very low. Seng Kiat: the CCL was in 2007 – I wrote about it here in 2018.
With Metta
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Two more additions to my comment (# 51162) above :
(5) Sincerely practicing the “Metta Bhavana” is also a powerful way to pay off many of our kammic debts. When done in a correct way it can also produce miraculous healings in one’s mind and body. But before doing Metta Bhavana it is beneficial to start with asking forgiveness from all sentient beings for your wrongdoings AND expressing your gratitude to all sentient beings for any help you have received in any form (starting from your parents, relatives, teachers, friends, and everyone) in this beginningless Sansaric journey.
NOTE – The “Metta Bhavana” has two versions… “Anariya Metta Bhavana” and “Ariya Metta Bhavana”.
While the Anariya version can be done by anyone but the Ariya Metta Bhavana can be done ONLY by Ariyas (i.e, only after attaining the Sotapanna Stage).
(6) Providing the four requisites (food, medicine, robes, shelter) to the Maha Sangha is also an excellent way to generate meritorious energies which can help us overcome difficult situations. Lord Buddha said that we should not be afraid of doing merits.
A Sutta comes to my mind which is also chanted as Paritta. It is the Mettanisamsa Sutta :
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika’s monastery. Then he addressed the monks saying, “Monks.” — “Venerable Sir,” said the monks, by way of reply. The Blessed One then spoke as follows:
“Monks, eleven advantages are to be expected from the release (deliverance) of heart by familiarizing oneself with thoughts of loving-kindness (metta), by the cultivation of loving-kindness, by constantly increasing these thoughts, by regarding loving-kindness as a vehicle (of expression), and also as something to be treasured, by living in conformity with these thoughts, by putting these ideas into practice, and by establishing them. What are the eleven?
1. “He sleeps in comfort.
2. He awakes in comfort.
3. He sees no evil dreams.
4. He is dear to human beings.
5. He is dear to non-human beings.
6. Devas (gods) protect him.
7. Fire, poison, and sword cannot touch him.
8. His mind can concentrate quickly.
9. His countenance is serene.
10. He dies without being confused in mind.
11. If he fails to attain arahantship (the highest sanctity) here and now, he will be reborn in the brahma-world.
“These eleven advantages, monks, are to be expected from the release of heart by familiarizing oneself with thoughts of loving-kindness, by cultivation of loving-kindness, by constantly increasing these thoughts, by regarding loving-kindness as a vehicle (of expression), and also as something to be treasured, by living in conformity with these thoughts, by putting these ideas into practice and by establishing them.”
So said the Blessed One. Those monks rejoiced at the words of the Blessed One.
May all sentient beings achieve the highest Peace, the ending of all sufferings, the Supreme Nibbana !!!
Theruwan Saranai !!!
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Yes. Thank you!
- Also, the ability to generate “mettā” for all living beings grows with understanding, i.e., comprehension of what “suffering” is.
- In the absence of Buddha’s teachings, the only way people know how to avoid “suffering” is to seek sensory pleasures. That idea/perception is built into our physical and mental bodies via Paticca Samuppada.
- If one truly comprehends how that happens, one will be able to see that seeking such sensory pleasures only leads to more suffering! That is the real meaning of “sandiṭṭhiko.“
- One time, the Māra Devaputta manifested in the form of a brahmin and told the Buddha, “Don’t give up what is apparent in the present to chase after what takes effect over time.” (“Mā sandiṭṭhikaṁ hitvā kālikaṁ anudhāvitthā’ti.”) Here, the Māra Devaputta used the mundane meaning of “what is apparent in the present” to men “sandiṭṭhika.” See “Sambahula Sutta (SN 4.21).” He was basically saying, “Why don’t you enjoy the apparent sensory pleasures? Why are you giving them up seeking something that may be an illusion.”
- But “sandiṭṭhika” means to “see that instant gratification of sensual pleasures is the real cause of much harsher future suffering,” as the Buddha explained to him. The more one engages in sensual pleasures, the further one moves from Nibbana or the “pabhassara citta.” With that revelation, Metta Bhavana becomes much more powerful/effective.
- Of course, it is not easy to see. It takes an effort. Even though Māra Devaputta lives in the highest Deva realm, he is unable to grasp it.
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Thank you for your kind words of support and advice. Thank you Lal. Thank you Yash RS. Thank you Waisaka. Thank you dosakkhayo, pathfinder, taryal, Dawson, jittananto. Thank you Sammasambodhi Gami.About Aveccapasada in the Buddha: I made that comment about avecca pasada that Sammasambodhi Gami refers to several years ago. Since then I have learned from Waharaka Thero that etymologically the term means: ava – to dispel, reject, abandon; + icca – the desire for the attractive, the captivating (and deceiving) things in the world; in short, the baits of sansara, At the time I took it only for ‘unwavering confidence’, as most translations (not erroneously) have it. So now I understand: ‘through having rightly seen for myself the validity of the Buddha’s teaching, the desire (icca) for worldly things is gone (ava). Therefrom a great and unwavering confidence in the Buddha has arisen in me’. So the Thero shows how that ‘unwavering confidence’ arises. Most certainly not through ritualistic worship, chanting, symbolism and adoration. It is a question of understanding and accepting without having to force any of it on yourself. It will be worth it to reflect on this for a while.I would like to share something now, if I may, about my path towards the Path.Since childhood I have always been on my guard against any form of conditioning. Born in a Catholic country, I was told by family, friends and teachers : ‘ours is the true religion’. But why, I told myself, should ours be the true religion? Had I been born in a Muslim country to a Muslim family, I would have been told the same, but there the religion would have been Islam; or Hinduism, or Buddhism, or Judaism. ‘ No, I will have to see for myself” I read books about world religions, philosophies, and as much of the ‘history of ideas’ as I came across and tried to come up with my own ‘worldview’. When I started reading the 6 schools of Indian philosophy, in particular bhedabheda Vedanta, all seemed so familiar (in sharp contrast to an ‘alien’, dogmatic, blind-belief religion, overseen, controlled and enforced by external authority into which I was born) . I ‘borrowed’ from the Upanishads, the Gita, Theosophy, even Mahayana and the Japanese schools. But I deemed all these to be quite inadequate.I see two factors at work in conditioning. First, the sentimental one: ‘my parents love me so much, would they tell me a lie?’ – but they themselves had been likewise conditioned by their own parents, and these in turn by their own parents, and so on into the past. Hence we have traditions. And woe to the one who dares to break away or as much as raise questions. Then one becomes a rebel, an outcaste. The second is psychological: ‘ all these people around me, hundreds of thousands of them, believe in the same thing; they go to Church, hear Mass…can they all be wrong?’ The vast majority are quite happy to just follow (he who cannot think must believe); then they are guaranteed ‘the security in the greatest number’, and that is mighty easier than going on a search that, from the outset, seems daunting – and it IS daunting. The search could have gone perhaps to many kalpas into the future, but thanks to a Thero who rediscovered the Teaching and a self-appointed messenger, the search came to an end in 2017. This is why I am always so full of Gratitude to Lal.As to my condition, I opted for the palliative route. So my concern is how to minimize the suffering, especially towards the end. Apart from that, there is nothing to fear.May all attain the Deathless.
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Thank you very much for the inspiring message, Y not🙏🏿. In 2018, I began to think for myself, considering the possibility that Christianity might not be the solution to suffering. Despite being born into a pastor’s family, I came to the realization that I might be wrong. This was both terrifying and exhilarating. I have no regrets about being an outcast because of my embrace of Dhamma. To this day, many relatives and friends cannot understand my decision to become a Buddhist, and I have even lost contacts as a result. Strangely, it almost didn’t bother me. When we try to understand tilakkhana, we see the futility of holding on to relationships that hinder us on the path to Nibbāna. On the contrary, there is relief.
- My friend, I have some final advice for you. I recommend making donations (such as monastic robes, food, medicines, or contributions for building projects) to the Maha Sangha (monks, nuns, and novices). This is an extremely meritorious practice, especially when linked to an understanding of Tilakkhana. Additionally, there is an ongoing construction of the stupa of Venerable Arahant Ananda in Sri Lanka. All information is located in the video description.
- I also suggest that if possible, you should speak with a monk from the Jethavaranama monastery or any other monastery. A monk or nun might chant suttas for you and give you a final sermon at the time of your death. If this interests you, you can contact me at my email address [email protected]. I know a devotee who can help you connect with a bhikkhu to provide you with a sermon and chantings.
May you quickly attain arahantship and Nibbāna, my friend 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu 🙏🏿☸️🌸
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