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I have not looked into the sixteen types of Insight Knowledge (vipassanā ñāna.)
- Offhand, I would say all of them would be helped by comprehending “distorted saññā.” It covers many fundamental aspects.
- May be others can provide more information.
Reminder: The meeting is at 12:30-1:30 PM GMT (7.30 AM EST New York time) on Sunday 14th.
https://meet.google.com/wtz-qaff-iag
The link to the second meeting is (if needed only, i.e., if there are questions): (1:35- 2:35 PM GMT)
https://meet.google.com/fus-wfvf-xqi
It is easy to join. Click the link, then click on the “Ask to Join” button.
- Saket will allow anyone to join.
- He will mute everyone at the beginning. Click on the “Raise hand” button to ask a question if something is unclear, even while I am speaking. He can unmute the person asking the question.
- Saket will record it. He says he can publish it as a YouTube video.
- It will only be published as a YouTube video if the quality is good. We will make that decision after the meeting.
P.S. Anyone not wanting to show their face can use the “Turn off Camera” button at the lower part of the screen or do a “ctrl + e” with the keyboard. Also, one could use the actual name, a fake name, or the forum name. You can test the link at any time.
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I revised #1 of the new post “Purāna and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation” as follows:
1. Kamma accumulation happens in two distinctive stages.
- In the first stage, the mind of a puthujjana attaches automatically to sensory input ( ārammaṇa) based on the “distorted saññā” we discussed in recent posts. That attachment is due to “saññā vipallāsa.” Thus, “saññā vipallāsa” arises ONLY IF “fooled by the distorted saññā”; see “Fooled by Distorted Saññā (Sañjānāti) – Origin of Attachment (Taṇhā).”
P.S. Comprehension of ” distorted saññā” and “saññā vipallāsa” plays a significant role in cultivating “yathābhūta ñāna.”
- See “Bhūta and Yathābhūta – What Do They Really Mean.” (I just added a bullet point to the end of this post.)
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These are issues with words. It is not easy to convey meanings with words.
1. The main point is the following:
- “saññā vipallāsa” is the same as “distorted saññā.”
- “distorted saññā” is the “made-up saññā” presented to the mind by the physical body.
- When a puthujjana‘s mind believes in that “made-up saññā” that is “saññā vipallāsa.”
- An Arahant (unless in a jhana or samapatti) and a puthujjana BOTH RECEIVE “distorted saññā.”
- But an Arahant’s mind is not fooled by “saññā vipallāsa” or “distorted saññā.”
2. In the new post, the following appears at the beginning:
1. Kamma accumulation happens in two distinctive stages.
- In the first stage, the mind of a puthujjana attaches automatically to sensory input ( ārammaṇa) based on the “distorted saññā” we discussed in recent posts. That attachment is “saññā vipallāsa” or “fooled by the distorted saññā”; see “Fooled by Distorted Saññā (Sañjānāti) – Origin of Attachment (Taṇhā).”
Would it be better to say: That attachment is DUE TO “saññā vipallāsa”…?
- Or is it still unclear?
3. It is good to discuss these subtle points. I may be able to rewrite a sentence to convey the idea better.
P.S. “Vipallāsa” implies “being fooled.” As we discussed, viññāna is a magician presenting a magic show utilizing “distorted saññā.”
- While a puthujjana‘s mind falls for that “trick,” Arahant‘s mind would not.
P.P.S. (September 16, 2024): There is a critical difference between the effects of ditthi vipallasa and sanna vipallasa.
- At the Sotapnna stage, ditthi vipallasa disappears, and wrong views are removed.
- In contrast, sanna vipallasa is “built into” our mental and physical bodies. We can only train the mind to “ignore it” and “not to be fooled by it.” That happens in stages. An Anagami’s mind will still get the “distorted kama sanna” that honey is sweet, but it will not be attached to that taste. In another example, An Anagami will see the “beauty of a woman” but will not generate lust for the woman.
- But an Anagami (who has cultivated jhana/samapatti) will still be attached to jhanic or arupa samapatti “pleasures.” An Arahant (who has cultivated jhana/samapatti) will still feel the same jhanic or arupa samapatti “pleasures,” but their minds will not be attached to them.
I have re-written the post “How to Attain Samādhi via “Vipassanā Pubbanga Samatha” Bhāvanā.”
- Let me know if there are any questions. I did this in a hurry, so there could be mistakes.
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Yes. That is a valid point.
- You can copy and paste part of the text in that old comment to show the connection and mention that the new comment is regarding that.
- You can also mention the “old comment #” so that anyone interested can go back there and read the full comment/discussion there.
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Thank you, Christian, for the offer.
- Let us think about that after the planned session.
- This needs to be a long-term plan with many aspects taken into consideration.
“Faculties” can mean different things. But here, probably, it refers to the “sense faculties”: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
- One must have “sense control” or “control over the sensory faculties to develop wisdom.
- Those who indulge in excessive sensory pleasures do not have “sense control” or “indriya samvara.”
- See my reply of today (I just posted) in the thread “post on How to Attain Samadhi via “Vipassana Pubbanga Samatha” Bhavana.”
P.S. Adding comments in the middle of a loop is not a good idea. Ask new questions at the end of a thread.
1. The verse you quoted is: “Tassa sampaṭivedhena rakkhaṇā paṭisaṁharaṇā, ayaṁ samatho.”
- Here, “samatha” is calming the mind.
- The other aspect of meditation is “vipassanā” or “developing insight/wisdom.”
2. Without vipassanā (i.e., without understanding Dhamma concepts,) one CAN NOT attain magga phala.
- However, one needs a calm mind to cultivate vipassanā.
3. To calm the mind, one needs to keep the mind away from attractive sensory inputs.
- If the mind attaches to an attractive sensory input, it moves away from “samatha.” That attachment is taṇhā.
- @marker 5.10 (above the verse you quoted,) there is another verse, “Tattha taṇhā dve upādānāni kāmupādānañca..”
- When the mind is tempted with kāma rāga (with kāmupādāna orkāma upādāna), it will not get to “samatha.“
4. Therefore, one must use “sense control,” i.e., not indulge in sensory pleasures.
- That is essentially the meaning of “Tassa sampaṭivedhena rakkhaṇā paṭisaṁharaṇā, ayaṁ samatho.”
- One can get to “samatha” by keeping the mind away from attractive sensory inputs.
- The popular method used by non-Buddhists is “breath meditation.” If you keep the mind on the breath, it cannot be attached to any other sensory input.
- However, that will not help with vipassanā at all. Thus, one must do both. The best is to keep the mind focused on a Dhamma concept, i.e., vipassanā. That way also, the mind can not attach to other sensory inputs. This way, you will get both done (samatha and vipassanā.)
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Yes. I need to pay more attention to the Bhavana (Meditation) section.
- I have not written a post there for at least a few years.
- I will look into it once I finish the new post I am working on.
Thank you, Seng Kiat, for the suggestion.
- As many of you may know, Seng Kiat is a co-administrator of puredhamma.net. He maintains the eBook and also an app with all the posts on the website: “Pure Dhamma Essays in Book Format “
This may be a good time to acknowledge the efforts of many who have contributed to building and maintaining the puredhamma.net website over the past ten years. The website was started in 2014. Thank you all for participating in discussions, making suggestions, etc.
- Those who have contributed are too numerous to list, but let me point out Tobias Große and Mr. Ja-nyun Kim or Patighosa (who maintain the “Pure Dhamma – German Website” and “Pure Dhamma – Korean Website” respectively.) I must also acknowledge LayDhammaFollower, who initiated a “Pure Shamma – Hindi Website.” He is devoting his life to being an Anagarika, and we decided it would take too much of his time to maintain that website.
I believe the “distorted saññā” concept is critical to understanding Buddha’s teachings (Buddha Dhamma.) It makes it much easier to see why attachment to “pleasurable things” in this world is an illusion.
- I started exploring this concept when we had a discussion on “saññā vipallāsa” on the forum last year.
- As I dug deeper, I realized there is a “deeper layer” that even my teacher, Waharaka Thero, had not described in detail. Of course, he likely understood the concept, but he had the Herculean task of trying to take care of many other issues, like the misinterpretation of anicca and anatta. He succeded in that. Our misfortune was that he passed away early: “Parinibbāna of Waharaka Thēro.”
Another point I would like to explain is that the mind is a quantum system that operates based on Paticca Samuppada. There is no “soul-type” entity (which is the most fundamental idea that the Buddha put forth.) Of course, quantum mechanics was not there at his time. Quantum mechanics is just another platform that could be used to explain how a mind operates. I have only laid the foundation of that discussion in the “Quantum Mechanics and Dhamma” section.
- But that section is still too technical. I want to simplify things so that anyone can understand them. Of course, those with a high-school background in physics can probably understand that section (P.S. but not the scientific paper “A Self-Consistent Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Based on Nonlocality” mentioned in the first post there; other posts are in simpler terms.)
- However, as the discussion on the “distorted saññā” concept evolves, I can see how it can be merged with the essential concepts in quantum mechanics. I don’t mean using mathematical equations, but just the basic ideas anyone can understand.
To explain those two ideas in detail, the use of a “live discussion forum” could be valuable. I like to decide on the “best platform” for that. It is possible that “X spaces” (X is formerly Twitter) could be a strong contender.
- The planned meeting is only a trial session.
- I propose that we go ahead with the planned “Google Meet” session as it is. After that, we can take the time and decide on a “permanent platform.”
Thank you, Saket, for organizing it. He and I had a trial session a little while ago since I had not used Google Meet. It was easy to use. Let me point out a few more things.
- We will get into the second session only if one hour is insufficient to finish the discussion.
- Google would NOT generate a recording since it is the free plan we will be using.
- Saket will start and conduct the meeting. I think people can raise their hands if they have questions to ask. By the way, Saket’s name is pronounced “Sāketa.” I did not know that.
- Before we take questions, I will give an overview of the next post (which will be out by Friday at the latest). That post will get into more detail about the “distorted sanna,” purāna and nava kamma and their relationships to Avyākata Paṭicca Samuppāda and Akusala-Mula Paṭicca Samuppāda.
- It would be a good idea to read the recent posts, especially the next one, before the meeting.
- Please address me by “Lal” or “Mr. Lal” to keep things simple.
- The first meeting is at 12:30-1:30 PM GMT (7.30 AM EST New York time) on Sunday 14th.
It will be nice to see some of you. Yes. Tobias, see you then.
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Dosakkhato wrote: “I wonder what each of these three words means: satta loka, okasa loka, and sankhara loka.”
- This is information overload.
- I am not saying that it is useless. However, one needs to learn the basic concepts first. By that, I mean concepts like “purana kamma”, “nava kamma,” “ajjhatta vinnana,” “bahidda vinnana,” etc.
- There will be new information on those concepts in the next post. It will be out before the Zoom session planned, hopefully by Friday.
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