[Tobias G]

See the post Kusala/Akusala and Puñña/Apuñña Kamma, #3.

• Rebirths in the 16 rupaloka Brahma realms require cultivation of Bhāvanā. Those who cultivate jhāna are reborn in the 16 rupa loka Brahma realms, and those who go beyond that and cultivate arupa samāpatti are reborn in the 4 arupa loka Brahma realms. 

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I wonder why Bhavana is only mentioned in connection with rebirth in rupaloka and arupaloka via cultivation of jhana. The Bhavana section also includes Dhamma Savana and Dhamma Desana. The ancient yogis did not hear Buddha Dhamma.

It seems that Bhavana is valued more highly than Dana and Sila. Can one conclude from this that people who are good at meditating have also sufficiently cultivated Sila and Dana? Or, put another way, is Bhavana only possible if Sila and Dana are sufficiently cultivated?

On the other hand I remember there are three types of Dana: amisa dana, abhaya dana, dhamma dana. Thus, Dhamma would also be included in Dana.

• This topic was modified 12 hours ago by Tobias G.

[Lal]

You are correct. I have revised that part of #3 of “Kusala/Akusala and Puñña/Apuñña Kamma” as follows:

• Rebirths in the 16 rupaloka Brahma realms require cultivation of bhāvanā in addition to dāna and sila. Those who cultivate jhāna are reborn in the 16 rupa loka Brahma realms, and those who go beyond that and cultivate arupa samāpatti are reborn in the 4 arupa loka Brahma realms. (However, bhāvanā in Buddha Dhamma, for a Noble Person above the Sotapanna Anugāmi stage, means cultivating Satipaṭṭhāna: “Bhāvanā Sutta (AN 7.71).” Also see “Mindfulness, Wisdom, and Reducing Unwholesome Emotions in Daily Life“)

Tobias asked: “It seems that Bhavana is valued more highly than Dana and Sila. Can one conclude from this that people who are good at meditating have also sufficiently cultivated Sila and Dana? Or, put another way, is Bhavana only possible if Sila and Dana are sufficiently cultivated?”

• Yes. That is why I revised the post as above.
• For example, ancient yogis (such as Ālāra Kālāma and Uddaka Rāmaputta) attained jhāna by cultivating dāna, sila, and bhāvanā. Yet, they did not know how to cultivate Satipaṭṭhāna to attain magga phala. Their bhāvanā involved only contemplating the drawbacks of ‘sensual pleasures.’ They did not know that thoughts of ‘sensual pleasures’ cannot be permanently stopped until one understands the ‘purana kamma‘ stage of kamma accumulation: “.Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation.“

• This reply was modified 11 hours ago by Lal.
• This reply was modified 11 hours ago by Lal.

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Tobias G

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