Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Another related video is below. Is there a coverup? There is a Buddha statue too!
1 user thanked author for this post.
Jorg asked: “However, why use this specific term vikkhepa?”
Why not? Vikkhepa DOES mean “confusion.”Jorg: “Another reason is that one might still interpret anapanassati as mindfulness of breathing if one takes vikkhepa as “distracted,” so I was looking for some details from that perspective as well.”
– One is distracted if confused.
– The main problem is that people are trying very hard to justify their addiction to “breath meditation.” Once, a moderator at Dhamma Wheel became upset with me. He wrote something like, “I have practiced breath meditation for 30 years. How can you tell me it does not work?”
– It is possible to be on the wrong path for billions of years, not just a mere 30 years! Until one learns the Ānāpānasati taught by a Buddha, one will never be able to know what it is and practice it.
– Of course, one can get “peace of mind” by practicing breath meditation or other mundane kasina meditations. That can lead to anariya jhana and even abhinna powers if one stays away from sensual pleasures. Devadatta did precisely that and attained abhinna powers. But he ended up in an apaya.Please read the post, “Ānāpānasati – Overview” carefully and let me know if there is ANY wiggle room to justify Ānāpānasati as “breath meditation.”
– I just revised that post a bit more.
– I would be happy to discuss that post with anyone anywhere. That is the only way to settle this issue once and for all.Achieving “big things” depends on one’s state of mind.
– The state of mind of a Noble Person is different from that of an average human.
– “Big things” for an average person is to achieve “worldly things” like wealth and physical beauty.
– But “big things” for an Ariya are the stages of magga phala.For example, ‘Alexander the Great” is hailed a hero among average humans. He won many battles and conquered many countries.
But he attained nothing of value in the end because he died without making any spiritual progress. Because of the countless lives he destroyed, he is probably born in a lower realm.
– On the other hand, our Bodhisatta gave up his princely life and attained Buddhahood.However, one should not go to extremes either in interpreting the above.
– For example, one must take care of one’s physical body by exercising regularly and eating well. That helps avoid getting sick and also maintains a healthy brain. Those are important to be able to follow the Noble Path and get to magga phala.1 user thanked author for this post.
“Before the mentioning of “junior mendicants realized a higher distinction than they had before. Did these “junior mendicants” also include non-ariya’s ?”
All the bhikkhus there were at or above the Sotapanna stage.
– I have revised your link to show “tabs” or “markers” and the sutta opens at your first verse.
– At marker 8.1 the Buddha specifically states that the assembly of bhikkhus are all Ariyas. (Translated there as “it’s free of nonsense.”)
– Starting at marker 9.1, the Buddha states that even more specifically. Some are Arahants (at 9.1); some are Anagamis (at 10.1) and so on.I think that answers your second question as well.
Ānāpānasati can lead to Arahanthood (Nibbana) only if the practitioner has understood that remaining in the rebirth process is dangerous. Then one must CULTIVATE the Nobel Path that one has “SEEN” to get to Arahanthood.
– One SEES the Path with Lokuttara Samma Ditthi at the Sotapanna stage. Then one can follow that path by the practice of Ānāpānasati.
– P.P.S. At the marker 28.1, the Buddha stated that fulfilling Ānāpānasati will fulfil the four stages of Satipaṭṭhāna: “Ānāpānassati Sutta”However, non-Ariya can do the “mundane version” of Ānāpānasati, and complete the mundane path so that they can comprehend the Noble Truths/PS/Tilakkhana.
P.S. The “mundane version” of Ānāpānasati includes, of course, the following: Taking in good morals and cultivating “good gati“, discarding bad gati, learning (taking in) correct teachings of the Buddha, discarding wrong views by contemplating those teachings and related material (like rebirth accounts, Out-Of-Body experiences, Near- Death Experiences), etc.
I am afraid I cannot help. If I can find a contact for Abhaya Thero, I will email you at the address I have for you (forum registration.)
Some cases like this could be “not real” in the sense it is “made up” by the person’s mind, even though the person may truly believe it to be true.
– Of course, I don’t know enough to say about your mother’s situation. I am not an expert on these issues.“what I meant by the black magic person is the one who is sending the preta.”
I think you may have the wrong picture.
– But let me get the facts straight first. Are there two persons/beings involved in “possessing” your mother?1. One is your mother’s sister’s husband, and the other is a “preta”?
2. Is your mother’s sister’s husband still alive? If so, does he have the power to send a “preta” to your mother? How?I reread the thread to get an idea of the problem. The following are my observations.
1. Your suspicions about the “black magic person” may be correct. I have heard of such instances in Sri Lanka. Abhaya Thero could be helpful if you could contact him. I will see if any of my contacts know how to contact him. He used to investigate such cases in Sri Lanka before becoming a bhikkhu. The following is one of his several videos on youtube.
2. Normally, such a “black magic person” can be attracted to a particular person, a place that he/she liked, or a combination of such factors. They cannot exert influence on people with strong willpower. It is possible that either she is the only “target” or the one with the least willpower among you.
– Does she practice Buddha Dhamma? If one is fully engaged in following Buddha Dhamma, it is less likely that such “black magic persons” can influence that person. Just reciting suttas is not enough. But combining those two will have a stronger effect.
– If you or an exorcist can talk to the “black magic person,” you can ask what it wants. Sometimes their wish can be fulfilled by making an offering to Bhikkhus, as I have seen in some videos by Abhaya Thero. In those videos (as in the above video), Abhaya Thero talked to the “black magic person” through the patient (i.e., your mother in this case.) When the patient is “possessed” by the “black magic person,” the words are that of the “black magic person.”
– By the way, to “take possession” of a patient’s body, either the patient must be willing, or the patient does not have enough willpower to resist.3. Moving to a new house may or may not help. Since the “black magic person” came to the relative’s wedding, she seems to be followed, and the attraction is mostly to her, not the house. But I am not sure. It may help.
I have revised your link to point to that verse.
– English translation there is not bad, but I would write as: “That’s how I instruct Bhikkhus who are trainees—who haven’t achieved Arahanthood, but live aspiring to attain Nibbana.”
– That translator translates “bhikkhu” as “mendicant” all the time. A Bhikkhu is NOT a “begger”: “mendicant definition”
– It is an insult to call a Bhikkhu a “begger”!Anyway, the point is that “sekkhā” is a “trainee,” someone on the Noble Path who has not attained Arahanthood.
– “apattamānasā” means “not reached.”
– “anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ” means “ultimate goal”
– “patthayamānā viharanti” means “live aspiring to reach that goal.”Also, when posting at the forum, please take a moment to format it. I have revised the title as well. It will look better and will save time for others (especially by making the link to appear in a different tab; that is in #2 of the instructions: “Note: Don’t forget to check the little box “Open link in a new tab” so that when someone clicks on the link, it will be opened in a new window.”)
– Instructions: “How to Post/Reply to a Forum Question“TGS wrote: “My answer to my question #1. is that there are no 1st, 2nd, 3rd jhana samapatti. If there are no jhana samapatti from 1st to 3rd jhana, than my question #2. is invalid. How did I arrive to such conclusions?
This is something I’m not totally sure about, but thought to bring it up for scrutiny and advice….”
There is a samapatti corresponding to any given jhana.
– I have given the definition of a samapatti. It is when jhanic citta vithi runs continuously without “falling back” to kamavacara citta vithi. One is fully absorbed in the jhana. That is the definition of jhana samapatti.That also applies to a phala samapatti. The phala citta runs continuously without falling back. Mind is fully absorbed there without falling back to be aware of the external world.
I have entirely rewritten an old post, “Power of the Human Mind – Anariya or Mundane Jhānas” that will hopefully address the questions raised by TGS.
It is only a draft, and I hope to refine it.
Feel free to point out any mistakes/omissions or ask unresolved questions so I can improve the post.I went through other older posts on jhana, samapatti, etc., and some need to be rewritten or revised.
Thanks, Tobias.
Yes. That was an error. I have revised that sentence in #8 as follows:
“But there are Paññāvimutta Arahants who had not cultivated jhāna but attained Arahanthood in relatively short times. However, they also get to the vicinity of the first jhāna briefly at the moment of Arahant magga phala, but they need to practice jhāna to get into jhāna at will.”“Samādhi, Jhāna, and Sammā Samādhi”
Only Upacāra (U), Anuloma (A) samadhi are needed to get to any magga phala. See #14 and #15 of the following post for citta vithi involving magga phala and jhana.
“Citta Vīthi – Processing of Sense Inputs“Yes. Nibbana can be reached in many ways. There are many suttas stating that in different ways.
1. “Dutiyaānanda Sutta (SN 54.14)“: “Ānāpānassatisamādhi, ānanda, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentīti.”
That means “Ānāpānassati samādhi, when developed and cultivated, fulfills satipaṭṭhāna. And when satipaṭṭhāna developed and cultivated, fulfill the seven awakening factors (satta bojjhaṅga). And the seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, fulfill knowledge and freedom (vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentīti), i.e., Arahanthood.2. “Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61)” at the end: “Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappurisasaṁsevo paripūro saddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, saddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ saddhaṁ paripūreti, saddhā paripūrā yonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, yonisomanasikāro paripūro satisampajaññaṁ paripūreti, satisampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi sucaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi sucaritāni paripūrāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā paripūrā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā paripūrā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti; 9.2evametissā vijjāvimuttiyā āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūrī”ti.”
3. The following sutta starts even earlier with “associating with good people/Noble Persons.” “Taṇhā Sutta (AN 10.62)“: “Iti kho, bhikkhave, sappurisasaṁsevo paripūro saddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, saddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ saddhaṁ paripūreti, saddhā paripūrā yonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, yonisomanasikāro paripūro satisampajaññaṁ paripūreti, satisampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi sucaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi sucaritāni paripūrāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā paripūrā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā paripūrā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti;”
– Here, if one learns the correct Dhamma, one can fulfill all requirements step by step.4. The following sutta points out that by following any parts of the 37 factors of Enlightenment (Catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ sammappadhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ, pañcannaṁ balānaṁ, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa) one can get to Nibbana. “Bhāvanā Sutta (AN 7. 71)”
– “catunnaṁ sammappadhānānaṁ” = four supreme efforts that you mentioned!You almost got to the point, TGS.
If Ven. Sariputta was in Nirodha Samapatti, he would not have any saññā.
– But he stated that he was still perceiving, meaning he still had saññā arising.
– If one still has saññā, that means one still has citta arising. Yet, he did not perceive anything in this world (na idhaloke idhalokasaññī) or anything of paraloka (na paraloke paralokasaññī)
– Ven. Saripuatta was in Arahant phala samadhi! There only pure, undefiled citta (pabhassara citta) would arise. A pabhassara citta has only seven uncontaminated, universal cetasika (with pure saññā and vedana). That means one is ONLY aware that one is alive but does not perceive anything in the world.
– A citta normally would contaminate in nine stages. Even for Arahants, it will go through the mano, manasan stages. See “Citta, Manō, Viññāna – Nine Stages of a Thought”
– In contrast, no citta (i.e., no saññā) in nirodha samapatti: “Nirōdha Samāpatti, Phala Samāpatti, Jhāna, and Jhāna Samāpatti“I chatted with the new ChatGPT this morning, which is supposed to be a form of artificial intelligence (AI).
Following is the conversation:
Can a Creator exist?
– Yes, it is possible for a creator to exist. The concept of a creator is a common theme in many belief systems, including many religions and mythologies. In these belief systems, a creator is typically described as a divine being or force that brought the universe into existence. However, the existence of a creator is a matter of belief and cannot be proven or disproven through scientific means.Doesn’t it violate the principle of cause and effect?
– The principle of cause and effect states that every event or action has a cause that precedes it and leads to the event or action. This principle is a fundamental concept in many fields, including science, philosophy, and logic.So doesn’t the concept of a creator violate that principle?
– The concept of a creator, as it is commonly understood in many belief systems, does not necessarily violate the principle of cause and effect. In these belief systems, the creator is typically considered to be the ultimate cause of the universe and everything in it. In other words, the creator is seen as the initial cause that set the chain of events and actions in motion, leading to the universe and all of the things in it.But what caused the creator?
– The concept of a creator, as it is commonly understood in many belief systems, is typically considered to be the ultimate cause of the universe and everything in it. This means that the creator is seen as the initial cause that set the chain of events and actions in motion, leading to the universe and all of the things in it. As such, the creator is not itself caused by anything else. Rather, it is the cause of everything else.Does every cause lead to an effect?
– Yes, according to the principle of cause and effect, every cause leads to an effect. This means that every event or action has a cause that precedes it and leads to the event or action. The principle of cause and effect is a fundamental concept in many fields, including science, philosophy, and logic.Don’t the necessary conditions need to be satisfied for a cause to lead to an effect?
– Yes, it is generally believed that certain necessary conditions must be satisfied in order for a cause to lead to an effect. For example, in the scientific study of causality, it is often assumed that a cause must precede its effect in time and that the cause must be related to the effect in some way. However, the specific necessary conditions for causality can vary depending on the context and the particular approach used to study it.So your statement, “Yes, according to the principle of cause and effect, every cause leads to an effect” is wrong?
– I apologize if my previous response was unclear. While it is generally accepted that every cause leads to an effect, it is also generally believed that certain necessary conditions must be satisfied in order for this to happen. In other words, not every cause will necessarily lead to an effect unless the necessary conditions for causality are met. I hope this helps clarify my previous response.What are conditions for the world to exist if a creator set the first cause?
– It is not possible for me to answer this question definitively, as the concept of a creator and the conditions for the existence of the universe are matters of belief and interpretation. In many belief systems, the creator is considered to be the ultimate cause of the universe, setting the initial conditions and laws that govern the universe. However, the specific conditions for the existence of the universe in these belief systems can vary depending on the particular interpretation.Can we skip belief systems and stick to logic?
– Yes, we can certainly consider the concept of a creator and the conditions for the existence of the universe from a logical perspective. In this case, we would need to define the concept of a creator and the conditions for the existence of the universe in a way that is consistent with the laws of logic. This would allow us to reason about these concepts using logical arguments and draw conclusions based on the evidence and information available. However, it is important to note that the conclusions reached through logical reasoning may not necessarily align with the beliefs of any particular belief system.Belief systems can be wrong. So, i like to skip that altogether?
– It is certainly true that belief systems can be wrong or inconsistent with reality. However, it is important to recognize that belief systems also provide a framework for understanding the world and our place in it. They can offer explanations for the origins of the universe and its workings, as well as guidance for how to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. While it is important to critically evaluate belief systems and not blindly accept them, it is also important to recognize the value they can bring to our lives.It seems to me that you are just summarizing what is in books, not necessarily logical thinking.
– As a language model trained by OpenAI, my responses are based on the information that I have been trained on, which includes a wide range of text from books, articles, and other sources. I do not have the ability to browse the internet or access new information, so my responses are limited to what I have been trained on. While I can provide information and offer explanations based on the text I have been trained on, I cannot engage in original logical thinking or provide information that is not contained in my training data. I apologize if my previous responses did not make this clear.OK. I understand. Thank you!
– You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help clarify. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to provide a helpful response based on the information I have been trained on.
*************I have bolded the critical statements from the ChatGPT at the end.
– There is no “intelligence” involved in the sense of original, logical thinking. Only humans are capable of that.
– But it can quickly summarize what it has learned based on the information fed to it by the programmers!1 user thanked author for this post.
In my last comment I stated:
“Furthermore, different people get rid of sakkaya ditthi in different ways.
– There is a sutta where the Buddha gave an analogy. One time, a bhikkhu went around asking other bhikkhus (who had declared attaining the Sotapanna stage) how to describe the Sotapanna stage. Each one gave different descriptions of the Sotapanna stage.
– That bhikkhu got confused and complained to the Buddha. The Buddha gave an analogy of asking someone to describe a tree that had a unique trunk (black), unique flowers (bright red looking like pieces of red meat), and unique leaves (specific unique shape). Some people would identify the tree as having that unique trunk, some others describe it with flowers or leaves. But they all had seen the tree!
– I don’t remember the name of that sutta.”The sutta is “Kiṁsukopama Sutta (SN 35. 245)”
Following is a Wikipedia article on that tree the Buddha referred to:
“Butea monosperma”
– In the above English translation, it is referred to as a “parrot tree.”
– In Sri Lanka, it is called a “කෑල tree,” as the Wikipedia article mentions.
– The article has pictures of it in different seasons.
