Pure Dhamma – Sitemap

I have arranged the sections roughly in increasing complexity. However, you may want to scan through each section to get an idea of what is in each section. People have backgrounds at very different levels. Furthermore, even those who have been exposed to Buddhism for many years may not have a good understanding of the fundamentals.

Welcome!

About

Parinibbāna of Waharaka Thēro

Pure Dhamma Essays in Book Format

New / Revised Posts

• Pure Dhamma – Sinhala Translation
• Pure Dhamma – German Website
• Pure Dhamma – Korean Website

Elephants in the Room

First Elephant:  “Elephant in the Room” – Direct Translation of the Tipiṭaka

Second Elephant: “Elephant in the Room 2 – Ānāpānasati“

Third Elephant: “Elephant in the Room 3 – Ānāpānasati“

Moral Living and Fundamentals

The Basics

• “The Pale Blue Dot……..”
• “The Law of Attraction, Habits, Character (Gati), and Cravings (Āsavas)“
• “Habits, Goals, and Character (Gati)“
• Wrong Views (Micca Diṭṭhi) – A Simpler Analysis
• Four Noble Truths: Recipe for Problem Solving
• First Noble Truth – A Simple Explanation of One Aspect
• Difference between a Wish and a Determination (Pāramitā)

Calming the Mind

• “Key to Calming the Mind – The Five Hindrances”
• “Solution to a Wandering Mind – Abandon Everything?“
• “Right Speech – How to avoid Accumulating Bad Kamma“
• “Three Kinds of Happiness – What is Niramisa Sukha?“
• “How to Taste Nibbāna“
• Learning Buddha Dhamma Leads to Niramisa Sukha
• “Need to Experience Suffering in Order to Understand It?“
• “Does Impermanence Lead to Suffering?“

Buddha Dhamma and Buddhism

• “Where to Start on the Path?“
• “What Reincarnates? – Concept of a Lifestream“
• “A Buddhist or a Bhouddhaya?“
• “What is Mind? How do we Experience the Outside World?“
• Recent Evidence for Unbroken Memory Records (HSAM)
• “Buddhism without Rebirth and Nibbāna?“

Dhamma Concepts

• Amazingly Fast Time Evolution of a Thought (Citta)
• “Kilesa – Relationship to Akusala, Kusala, and Puñña Kamma“
• “Ten Immoral Actions (Dasa Akusala)“
• Punna Kamma – Dāna, Sīla, Bhāvanā“
• “The Five Precepts – What the Buddha Meant by Them“
• “How to Evaluate Weights of Different Kamma“
• “What is Kamma? – Is Everything Determined by Kamma?“
• “The Four Bases of Mental Power (Satara Iddhipada)”
• “Why is it Necessary to Learn Key Pāli Words?“

Buddha Dhamma and Morality

• Origin of Morality (and Immorality) in Buddhism
• Buddhist Explanations of Conception, Abortion, and Contraception
• Is Eating Meat an Akusala Kamma (Immoral Deed)?
• Do Things Just Happen? – The Hidden Causes

Dhammapada

 

• Manōpubbangamā dhammā..
• Sabba Pāpassa Akaranan….
• Appamadö Amata Padam..
• Najajja Vasalo Hoti..
• Arogya Parama Labha..
• Anicca vata Saṅkhāra..
• Atta Hi Attano Natho

Working Towards Good Rebirths

 

• “Saṃsāric Habits and āsavā”
• “Vagaries of Life and the Way to Seek Good Rebirths”
• “How to Avoid Birth in the Apayas”
• How the Buddha Described the Chance of Rebirth in the Human Realm
• Kamma, Debt, and Meditation
• How do we Decide which View is Wrong View (Diṭṭhi)?
• Three Kinds of Diṭṭhi, Eightfold Paths, and Samadhi
• Implications of the Rebirth Process in Daily Life and in Society
• What Does Buddha Dhamma Say about Creator, Satan, Angels, and Demons?
• Patisandhi Citta – How the Next Life is Determined According to Gati

Living Dhamma (This section starts at a basic level and proceeds to deep levels)

 

Essential Buddhism

• Four Noble Truths – Suffering and Its Elimination
• Introduction to Citta, Vēdanā, Saññā, Sankhāra, and Viññāna
• Viññāna – Consciousness Together With Future Expectations
• Connection Between Sankhāra and Viññāna
• Viññāna and Sankhāra – Connection to Paṭicca Samuppāda
• Breath Meditation Is Addictive and Harmful in the Long Run
• Ānapānasati Eliminates Mental Stress Permanently
• Ānāpāna and Satipaṭṭhāna – Fundamentals
• Sati in Ānapānasati/Satipaṭṭhāna – Two Meanings of Sati

Living Dhamma – Overview

• Living Dhamma – Introduction
• Peace of Mind to Nibbāna – The Key Step
• Starting on the Path Even without Belief in Rebirth  (with first Desana “The Hidden Suffering that We All Can Understand”; desana title different from post title)

Dhamma with Less Pāli

• Buddha Dhamma for an Inquiring Mind – Part I
• “Root of All Suffering – Ten Immoral Actions” (with the dēsana “Ten Immoral Actions (Dasa Akusala)”.

• Is Suffering the Same as the First Noble Truth on Suffering?

• Complexity of the Mind – Viññāna and Sankhāra

• Dhamma, Saṅkhāra, Sankata, Rupa, Viññāṇa, Gati, Āsava, Anusaya

• Bhava and Bhavaṅga – Simply Explained!

• Citta, Manō, Viññāna – Stages of a Thought

Living Dhamma – Fundamentals

 

• What Are Kilesa (Mental Impurities)? – Connection to Cetasika
• Suffering in This Life – Role of Mental Impurities (with Desana 2)
• Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – Relevance to Suffering in This Life (with Desana 3)
• How Are Gati and Kilesa Incorporated into Thoughts? (with Desana 4)
• Noble Eightfold Path – Role of Sobhana Cetasika (with Desana 5; in two parts)
• Getting to Samadhi (with Desana 6)
• Sexual Orientation – Effects of Kamma and Gati (Saṅkhāra)

Mundane Sammā Samadhi

 

• Micca Diṭṭhi – Connection to Hethu Phala (Cause and Effect) (with Desana 7)

• Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda (with Desana 8)

• Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda II (with Desana 9)

Transition to Noble Eightfold Path

• Is It Necessary for a Buddhist to Eliminate Sensual Desires?
• Sila, Samadhi, Panna to Panna, Sila, Samadhi
• Six Root Causes – Loka Samudaya (Arising of Suffering) and Loka Nirodhaya (Nibbāna)
• Ye Dhammā Hetuppabhavā.. and yam kińci samudaya dhammam..

Samādhi, Jhāna (Dhyāna), Magga Phala

• Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction
• Vitakka, Vicāra, Savitakka, Savicāra, and Avitakka, Avicāra
• Jhānic Experience in Detail – Sāmañ­ña­phala Sutta (DN 2)
• Ascendance to Nibbāna via Jhāna (dhyāna)
• Pannāvimutti – Arahanthood without Jhāna
• Mundane versus Supramundane Jhāna
• Nirōdha Samāpatti, Phala Samāpatti, Jhāna, and Jhāna Samāpatti

Mental Body – Gandhabba

 

• Our Mental Body – Gandhabba
• Gandhabba State – Evidence from Tipiṭaka
• Antarabhava and Gandhabba
• Ānantariya Kamma – Connection to Gandhabba
• Mental Body (Gandhabba) – Personal Accounts
• Abnormal Births Due to Gandhabba Transformations
• Satara Ahara for Mental Body or Gandhabba
• Micca Diṭṭhi, Gandhabba, and Sotāpanna Stage
• Working of Kammā – Critical Role of Conditions

Nāma & Rūpa to Nāmarūpa

In this important subsection, we will discuss the link between mind (nāma) and matter (rūpa). These are deeper analyses. For simpler analyses, see, “The Five Aggregates (Pancakkhandha).”

• Rūpa Aggregate
  • What are rūpa? – Dhamma are rūpa too!

  • Bhūta and Yathābhūta – What Do They Really Mean

• Vēdanā (Feelings) Aggregate
  • Vedana – What It Really Means
  • Vēdanā and Samphassa-Jā-Vēdanā – More Than Just Feelings
  • Does Bodily Pain Arise Only Due to Kamma Vipāka?
• Saññā (Perception) Aggregate
  • Sanna – What It Really Means
  • Future Suffering – Why It Arises
  • Diṭṭhi, Sanna, and Saṅkhāra – How They Relate
• Saṅkhāra Aggregate
  • Saṅkhāra – What It Really Means
• Viññāna Aggregate
  • Viññāna – What It Really Means
  • Kamma Viññāna – Link Between Mind and Matter
  • Anidassana Viññāṇa – What It Really Means
• Sakkāya Diṭṭhi
  • Do I Have “A Mind” That Is Fixed and “Mine”?
• Nāmarūpa Formation
  • Kamma Viññāna and Nāmarūpa Paricceda Ñana

Buddha Dhamma

 

User’s Guide to Pure Dhamma Website

Buddha Dhamma – A Scientific Approach

Buddhahood Associated Controversies

• Buddhahood Controversies – Introduction
• Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part I
• Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part II

What is Buddha Dhamma?

Foundation of Dhamma

The Importance of Purifying the Mind

The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma

• The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma – Introduction
• Our Two Worlds : Material and Mental
• 31 Realms Associated with the Earth

• Gandhabba – Only in Human and Animal Realms

• Body Types in 31 Realms – Importance of Manomaya Kaya
• Gandhabba Sensing the World – With and Without a Physical Body
• Nibbāna in the Big Picture

Buddha Dhamma: Non-Perceivability and Self-Consistency

Saṃsāric Time Scale, Buddhist Cosmology, and the Big Bang Theory

Evidence for Rebirth

 

Power of the Human Mind

 

• Power of the Human Mind – Introduction
• Difference Between Jhana and Stages of Nibbāna
• Power of the Human Mind – Anariya or Mundane Jhanas
• Power of the Human Mind – Ariya Jhanas
• Are There Procedures for Attaining Magga Phala, Jhana and Abhinna?

Transfer of Merits (Pattidāna) – How Does it Happen?

First Noble Truth is Suffering? Myths about Suffering

Vinaya – The Nature Likes to be in Equilibrium

 

Buddhist Chanting

 

• Buddhist Chanting – Introduction
• Sadhu – Symbolizes Purified Hadaya Vatthu (Mind)
• Namaskaraya – Homage to the Buddha
• Supreme Qualities of Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha
• The Five Precepts – Panca Sila
• Sutta Chanting (with Pāli Text)

Myths or Realities?

 

• Animisa Locana Bodhi Poojawa – A Prelude to Acts of Gratitude
• Pāramitā and Niyata Vivarana – Myths or Realities?
• Tisarana Vandana and Its Effects on One’s Gati
• Does the Hell (Niraya) Exist?
• Can Buddhist Meditation be Dangerous?
• Boy Who Remembered Pāli Suttas for 1500 Years
• Do Buddhists Pray and Engage in Idol Worshipping?

Also see, “Mystical Phenomena in Buddhism?” in the subsection, “Origin of Life”
Also see, “Myths about Meditation” in the subsection, “Bhāvanā (Meditation)“

Key Dhamma Concepts

• Basic Framework of Buddha Dhamma
  
  • Buddha Dhamma – Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana

  • Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana – Key Relationships

  • Anicca Nature, the First Noble Truth, and Paṭicca Samuppāda

  • Anicca Nature – Not Possible to Overcome Suffering in This World
  • Subsection: Tilakkhana – Introduction
  • Subsection: Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana, Four Noble Truths

 

• Concept of “San“

  • What is “San”? Meaning of Sansara (or Samsara)

  • Saṅkhāra, Kamma, Kamma Bīja, Kamma Vipaka

  • Sankhāra – Life is a Bundle of Sankhāra

  • Difference Between Dhamma and Saṅkhāra 

  • Kamma are Done with Sankhāra – Types of Sankhāra

• Nibbāna
  • How to Taste Nibbāna
  • Niramisa Sukha
  • Nibbāna – Is it Difficult to Understand?
  • The Four Stages in Attaining Nibbāna
  • What Are Rupa? (Relation to Nibbāna)
  • Does the First Noble Truth Describe only Suffering?
  • Nirödha and Vaya – Two Different Concepts
  • Nibbāna “Exists”, but Not in This World

 

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta

 

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Wrong Interpretations

The Way to Nibbāna – Transcription of a Discourse by Waharaka Thero

• Anicca – True Meaning

 

• • Anicca – Inability to Keep What We Like

  • Anicca – Repeated Arising/Destruction

  • Anicca – Worthlessness of Worldly Things
  • Anicca – The Incessant Distress (“Pīḷana”)

  • How to Cultivate Anicca Sanna

  • How to Cultivate the Anicca Sanna – II

  • If Everything is Anicca Should We Just give up Everything?

• Anattā – A Systematic Analysis

 

• • Anattā in Anattalakkahana Sutta – No Soul or an Ātma
  • Anatta – No Refuge in This World

  • Dasa Akusala and Anatta – The Critical Link

  • Anatta – the Opposite of Which Atta?
  • Anattā (Mundane Interpretation) – No “Unchanging Self”

Anatta and Dukkha – True Meanings

Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – According to Some Key Suttas

Three Marks of Existence – English Discourses

• Sotāpanna Stage and Tilakkhana

 

• • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Tilakkhana
  • Sakkaya Diṭṭhi – Getting Rid of Deeper Wrong Views
  • Associations (Sēvana)- A Root Cause of Wrong Views

Why are Tilakkhana not Included in 37 Factors of Enlightenment?

Two Versions of 37 Factors of Enlightenment

Types of Bodies in 31 Realms – Connection to Jhāna

Finest Manōmaya Kaya of an Arūpāvacara Brahma

Also see, “Root Cause of Anicca – Five Stages of a Sankata” that is in a different section.

 

Gati, Bhava, and Jāti

 

• Namagotta, Bhava, Kamma Bīja, and Mano Loka (Mind Plane)
• Gati and Bhava – Many Varieties
• Gati to Bhava to Jati – Ours to Control
• Memory, Brain, Mind, Nama Loka, Kamma Bhava, Kamma Vipaka
• Bhava and Jāti – States of Existence and Births Therein
• Difference Between Tanhā and Upādāna
• Pāpa Kamma Versus Akusala Kamma

Sorting out Some Key Pāli Terms (Tanhā, Lobha, Dosa, Moha, etc)

 

• Kama Tanha, Bhava Tanha, Vibhava Tanha
• Lobha, Raga and Kamachanda, Kamarāga
• Lobha, Dosa, Moha versus Raga, Patigha, Avijja
• What Are Kilesa (Mental Impurities)? – Connection to Cetasika
• Diṭṭhi (Wrong Views), Sammā Diṭṭhi (Good/Correct Views)
• Annantara and Samanantara Paccaya
• What is Avijja (Ignorance)?
• Indriya and Āyatana – Big Difference
• Hetu-Phala, Paccuppanna, and Paṭicca Samuppāda
• Correct Meaning of Vaci Saṅkhāra
• Panca Indriya and Panca Bala – Five Faculties and Five Powers
• Kāmaccandha and Icca – Being Blinded by Cravings

The Five Aggregates (Pancakkhandha)

 

• Five Aggregates – Introduction
• Difference Between Rupa and Rupakkhandha

• Rūpakkhandha and Rūpa Upādānakkhandha

  Arising of Five Aggregates Based on an Ārammaṇa

  Memory Records- Critical Part of Five Aggregates

• Pañca Upādānakkhandhā – Introduction

  Five Aggregates – Connection to Tilakkhaṇa

  • Five Aggregates and Tilakkhaṇa – Introduction
  • Icca, Nicca, Anicca – Important Connections
  • “Me” and “Mine” – The Root Cause of Suffering
  • Difference Between “Me and Mine” and Sakkāya Diṭṭhi
  • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – “Me and Mine” View
  • Atta – Two Very Different Meanings
• Vedana (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways
• Saṅkhāra is discussed at, “Saṅkhāra, Kamma, Kamma Bīja, Kamma Vipaka“.
• “Rupa (Material Form )“

Deeper Analyses:

• Pancakkhandha or Five Aggregates – A Misinterpreted Concept
• Pancupādānakkhandha – It is All Mental

 

Paṭicca Samuppāda

 

Paṭicca Samuppāda – “Pati+ichcha”+”Sama+uppäda

Paṭicca Samuppāda – Overview

Subsection: Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhana, Four Noble Truths

Subsection: Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Paṭicca Samuppāda

Subsection: Understanding the Terms in Paṭicca Samuppāda

How Are Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles Initiated?

What Does “Paccaya” Mean in Paṭicca Samuppāda?

Imasmim Sati Idam Hoti – What Does It Really Mean?

Paṭicca Samuppāda in Plain English

• Introduction – What is Suffering?
• Introduction -2 – The Three Characteristics of Nature
• Avijja paccayā Saṅkhāra
• Saṅkhāra paccayā Viññāṇa – 1
• Saṅkhāra paccayā Viññāṇa – 2
• Viññāṇa paccayā Namarupa
• Namarupa paccayā Salayatana
• Difference between Phassa and Samphassa
• Phassa paccayā Vedana….to Bhava
• Bhava paccayā Jati….Jara, Marana,…

 Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles

• Avyākata Paṭicca Samuppāda for Vipāka Viññāna
• Akusala-Mūla Uppatti Paṭicca Samuppāda
• Kusala-Mula Paṭicca Samuppāda
• Idappaccayātā Paṭicca Samuppāda
• Uppatti Paṭicca Samuppāda (How We Create Our Own Rebirths)

Patthāna Dhamma

• Patthana Dhamma – Connection to Cause and Effect (Hethu Phala)
• What Does “Paccaya” Mean in Paṭicca amuppada?
• Anantara and Samanantara Paccayā 
• Āsēvana and Aññamañña Paccayā

 Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana

• Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana – Introduction
• How Perceived Pleasures (Assāda) lead to Dukkha
• Kāma Guna, Kāma, Kāma Rāga, Kāmaccanda
• Vēdanā (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways
• Feelings: Sukha, Dukha, Somanassa, and Domanassa
• What is “Kāma”? It is not Just Sex
• Kāma Assāda Start with Phassa Paccaya Vedana or Samphassa Ja Vedana

 

Origin of Life

 

• Origin of Life – There is No Traceable Origin
• Human Life – A Mental Base (Gandhabba) and a Material Base (Cell)
• Clarification of “Mental Body” and “Physical Body” – Different Types of “Kāya”
• Buddhist Explanations of Conception, Abortion, and Contraception
• Cloning and Gandhabba
• Living Cell – How Did the First Cell Come to Existence?
• Mystical Phenomena in Buddhism?

Views on Life

• Views on Life – Wrong View of Materialism

• Wrong View of Creationism (and Eternal Future Life) – Part 1

• Wrong View of Creationism (and Eternal Future Life) – Part 2

• Worldview of the Buddha

  • Buddhist Worldview – Introduction

  • Contact Between Āyatana Leads to Vipāka Viññāna

  • How Do Sense Faculties Become Internal Āyatana?

  • Indriya Make Phassa and Ayatana Make Samphassa

  • Is There a “Self”?

    • Citta – Basis of Our Experience and Actions

    • Vipāka Vēdanā and “Samphassa jā Vēdanā” in a Sensory Event
    • Kāma Guṇa – Origin of Attachment (Tanhā)
    • Vision Is a Series of “Snapshots” – Movie Analogy
    • Chachakka Sutta – No “Self” in Initial Sensory Experience

    • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi in Terms of Attā or “Self” or “Ātma”

    • An Apparent “Self” Is Involved in Kamma Generation

  • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Not “Self” or “No-Self”
    • Tanhā – The Origin of Suffering

    • Paṭicca Samuppāda – A “Self” Exists Due to Avijjā

    • Kamma, Saṅkhāra, and Abhisaṅkhāra

    • Vacī Saṅkhāra – Saṅkappa (Conscious Thoughts) and Vācā (Speech)

    • Tanhā Paccayā Upādāna – Critical Step in Paṭicca Samuppāda

    • Mōha/Avijjā and Vipāka Viññāṇa/Kamma Viññāṇa

    • Icchā (Cravings) Lead to Upādāna and to Eventual Suffering

    • Dhammā, Kamma, Saṅkhāra, Mind – Critical Connections

    • Paṭicca Samuppāda – From Mind to Matter
    • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda

      • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda – Introduction

      • Kāma Assāda – A Root Cause of Suffering
      • Gati (Habits/Character) Determine Births – Saṃsappanīya Sutta
• Wider Worldview of the Buddha
  • The Framework of Buddha Dhamma
  • The Suffering (Dukkha) in the First Noble Truth
  • Dangers of Ten Types of Wrong Views and Four Possible Paths
  • Sammā Diṭṭhī – Only One Leads to the Noble Path
• Worldview of the Buddha – Explanatory Material
  • • Ghost 1990 Movie – Good Depiction of Gandhabba Concept

    • Mental Body Versus the Physical Body

    • “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 1
    • “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 2
• Origin of Life – One Creates One’s Own Future Lives

 

Bhāvanā (Meditation)

 

The numbered posts are to be read in that order. Even for those who are practicing Buddhists, I recommend starting at the Introduction (#1), and going down the list of topics at least the first time.

• It would be a good idea to read the posts in the following subsection at some point, in order to get an idea about the reasoning behind this approach: “Essential Buddhism“.
• 1. Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
• 2. The Basics in Meditation
• 3. The Second Level
• 4. What do all these Different Meditation Techniques Mean?
• 5. Ariya Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness Meditation)
• 6. Ānāpānasati Bhavana (Introduction)
• 7. What is Änapäna?
• Is Ānāpānasati Breath Meditation?
• 8. The Basic Formal Ānāpānasati Meditation
• Possible Effects in Meditation – Kundalini Awakening 
• 9. Key to Ānāpānasati – How to Change Habits and Character (Gati)
• Karaniya Metta Sutta – Metta Bhavana
• 10. Attaining the Sotāpanna Stage via Removing Ditthasava
• 11. Magga Phala and Ariya Jhanas via Cultivation of Saptha Bojjhaṅga
• 12. Key Factors to be Considered when “Meditating” for the Sotāpanna Stage
• 13. Kammattana (Recitations) for the Sotāpanna Stage

Important Related Posts

• Anussati and Anupassanā – Being Mindful and Removing Defilements
• Myths about Meditation
• A Simple Way to Enhance Merits (Kusala) and Avoid Demerits (Akusala)
• The Incessant Distress (“Peleema”) – Key to Dukkha Sacca
• Panca Indriya and Panca Bala – Five Faculties and Five Powers
• Possible Outcomes of Meditation – Samadhi, Jhana, Magga Phala
• What is Samadhi? – Three Kinds of Mindfulness
• Getting to Samadhi via Formal Mediation Sessions
• Are you not getting expected results from meditation?

 

Sutta Interpretations

 

Sutta – Introduction

Pāli Dictionaries – Are They Reliable?

Nikāya in the Sutta Piṭaka

Sutta Learning Sequence for the Present Day

Mahā Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta

•          Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – Structure
•          Satipaṭṭhāna – Introduction
•          Kāyānupassanā – Section on Postures (Iriyapathapabba)
•          Kāyānupassanā – The Section on Habits (Sampajanapabba)
•          Prerequisites for the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhavana
•          What is “Kaya” in Kāyānupassanā?

Maha Chattarisaka Sutta (Discourse on the Great Forty)

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

•       Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – Introduction
•       Essence of Buddhism – In the First Sutta
•       Majjhimā Paṭipadā – Way to Relinquish Attachments to this World
•       Tiparivatta and Twelve Types of Ñāṇa (Knowledge)
•       Relinquishing Defilements via Three Rounds and Four Stages

Anguttara Nikāya – Suttā on Key Concepts

• Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma
• Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma -2

Na Cēta­nākara­nīya Sutta

Pathama Metta Sutta

Kukkuravatika Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 57) – Kammakkhaya

Buddhism and Evolution – Aggañña Sutta (DN 27)

Tapussa Sutta (AN 9.41)– Akuppā Cētōvimutti

Yamaka Sutta (SN 22.85) – Arahanthood Is Not Annihilation but End of Suffering

 

Seeking Nibbāna

 

• Attha Purisa Puggalā- Eight Noble Persons
• Gati (Character), Anusaya (Temptations), and Āsava (Cravings)
• “The Way to Nibbāna – Removal of Āsavā”
• Kanha (Dark) and Sukka (Bright) Kamma and Kammakkhaya
• Dasa Samyōjana – Bonds in Rebirth Process
• The Cooling Down Process (Nibbāna) – How Root Causes are Removed
• “Why is Correct Interpretation of Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta so Important?”
• “How to Cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path Starting with Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta“
• “Akusala Citta – How a Sotāpanna Avoids Apayagami Citta“
• Difference Between Giving Up Valuables and Losing Interest in Worthless
• Root Cause of Anicca – Five Stages of a Sankata

 

Sōtapanna Stage of Nibbāna

 

The first stage of Nibbāna — the Sōtapanna stage —  is also called the Stream Enterer in English and Sōvān in Sinhala.

• The Sotāpanna Stage
• Why a Sotāpanna is Better off than any King, Emperor, or a Billionaire
• Myths about the Sotāpanna Stage
• Anulōma Patilōma Paṭicca Samuppāda – Key to Sōtapanna Stage
• Sotāpanna Anugami and a Sotāpanna
• Sōtapanna Anugāmi – No More Births in the Apāyās
• Four Conditions for Attaining Sotāpanna Magga/Phala
• Sotapatti Anga – The Four Qualities of a Sotāpanna
• Sammā Diṭṭhi – Realization, Not Memorization
• Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana
• Sakkaya Diṭṭhi is Personality (Me) View?
• How Does One Know whether the Sotāpanna Stage is Reached?
• Akusala Citta – How Does a Sotāpanna Avoids Apayagami Citta
• What is the only Akusala Removed by a Sotāpanna?
• Uadayavaya Nana 
• Micca Diṭṭhi, Gandhabba, and Sotāpanna Stage – (in the “Mental Body – Gandhabba“
• section).
• 12. Key Factors to be Considered when “Meditating” for the Sotāpanna Stage  (in the Meditation section).

Also, see the following posts in the Abhidhamma section for more details (these could be helpful even if you have not studied Abhidhamma):

• Why do People Enjoy Immoral Deeds? – Diṭṭhi is Key
• Key to Sotāpanna Stage – Diṭṭhi and Vicikicca

 

Discussion Forum

• Forums
• Pure Dhamma Discussion Forum Guidelines

 

Abhidhamma

 

• Abhidhamma – Introduction

Essential Abhidhamma – The Basics

• Amazingly Fast Time Evolution of a Thought (Citta)
• The Amazing Mind – Critical Role of Nāmagotta (Memories)
• Citta and Cetasika – How Viññāṇa (Consciousness) Arises
• State of Mind in the Absence of Citta Vithi – Bhavaṅga
• Bhava and Bhavaṅga – Simply Explained!
• Citta Vithi – Processing of Sense Inputs
• Javana of a Citta – The Root of Mental Power
• Cetasika – Connection to Gati

Mind and Consciousness

• What is Mind? How do we Experience the Outside World?
• What is a Thought?
• What is in a Thought? Why Gati are so Important?
• What is Consciousness?
• 1. Thoughts (Citta), Consciousness (Viññāṇa), and Mind (Hadaya Vatthu) – Introduction
• 2. Viññāṇa (Consciousness) can be of Many Different Types and Forms
• 3. Viññāṇa, Thoughts, and the Subconscious

Gandhabba (Manomaya Kaya)

• Gandhabba (Manomaya Kaya)- Introduction
• Does any Object (Rupa) Last only 17 Thought Moments?
• Hidden World of the Gandhabba: Netherworld (Paralowa)
• Ghost in the Machine – Synonym for the Manomaya Kaya?
• Manomaya Kaya (Gandhabba) and the Physical Body
• Brain – Interface between Mind and Body
• Manomaya Kaya and Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)
• Cuti-Patisandhi – An Abhidhamma Description
• These posts complement some of the posts in the “Udayavaya Nana” section, which is important for the Sotāpanna stage of Nibbāna. All these are pieces of a complex puzzle, but they are all inter-consistent. So, don’t worry if you do not understand it all; with time it will all make sense and will lead to unbreakable faith in Buddha Dhamma even through future lives. Faith comes via true understanding.

Role of the Brain in Human Consciousness

• Body Types in Different Realms – Importance of Manomaya Kaya
• Does the Hell (Niraya) Exist?

Why Do People Enjoy Immoral Deeds? – Diṭṭhi Is Key

Key to Sotāpanna Stage – Diṭṭhi and Vicikicca

Deeper Analyses

• The Origin of Matter – Suddhashtaka
•  What are Dhamma? – A Deeper Analysis
• Pabhassara Citta, Radiant Mind, and Bhavaṅga

 

Comments/Reviews

• Discussion of Comments (These are based on questions sent to me via email by readers prior to 2018. In late 2017, a discussion forum was launched: “Forums“.)

  • What is Intention in Kamma?

  • Would Nibbāna be Possible if Impermanence is the Cause of Suffering?

    Logical Proof that Impermanence is Incorrect Translation of Anicca

  • “Self” and “no-self”: A Simple Analysis

  • Craving for Pornography – How to Reduce the Tendency

• Book Reviews

  • “Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt

  • “Waking Up” by Sam Harris

  • “The Language of God” by Francis Collins

  • “Spark” by John Ratey

  • “The Life of the Buddha” by Bhikkhu Nānamoli

 

Myths or Realities?

• Animisa Locana Bodhi Poojawa – A Prelude to Acts of Gratitude
• Pāramitā and Niyata Vivarana – Myths or Realities?
• Tisarana Vandana and Its Effects on One’s Gati
• Does the Hell (Niraya) Exist?
• Can Buddhist Meditation be Dangerous?
• Boy Who Remembered Pāli Suttas for 1500 Years
• Do Buddhists Pray and Engage in Idol Worshipping?
• Also see, “Mystical Phenomena in Buddhism?” in the subsection, “Origin of Life”
• Also see, “Myths about Meditation” in the subsection, “Bhāvanā (Meditation)“

 

Tables and Summaries

• Pāli Glossary – (A-K)
• Pāli Glossary – (L-Z)
• List of “San” Words and Other Pāli Roots
• The 89 Cittas
• Cetasika (Mental Factors)
• Rupa (Material Form)
• Rupa – Generation Mechanisms
• Rupa Kalapas (Grouping of Matter)
• Akusala Citta and Akusala Vipaka Citta
• 37 Factors of Enlightenment
• Conditions for the Four Stages of Nibbāna
• Ultimate Realities – Table
• 31 Realms of Existence

 

Historical Background

• Historical Background – Introduction
• Methods of Delivery of Dhamma by the Buddha
• Misconceptions on the Topics the Buddha “Refused to Answer”
• Misinterpretations of Buddha Dhamma
• Preservation of the Dhamma
• “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 1
• “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 2
• Historical Timeline of Edward Conze
• Why is it Critical to Find the Pure Buddha Dhamma?
• Key Problems with Mahāyāna Teachings
• Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra) – A Focused Analysis
• What is Sunyata or Sunnata (Emptiness)?
• Incorrect Theravada Interpretations – Historical Timeline
• Buddhaghosa and Visuddhimagga – Historical Background
• Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga – A Focused Analysis
• Background on the Current Revival of Buddha Dhamma
• Misinterpretation of Anicca and Anatta by Early European Scholars
• Tipiṭaka Commentaries – Helpful or Misleading?

 

Dhamma and Science

• Dhamma and Science – Introduction
• Good Explanations – Key to Weed Out Bad Interpretations

Subsection: Origin of Life (see above)

Consciousness – A Dhamma Perspective

• What is Consciousness?
• What Happens in Other Dimensions?
• Six Kinds of Consciousness in Our 3-D World
• Expanding “Consciousness” by Using Technology
• Expanding “Consciousness” by Purifying the Mind

Consistencies with Science

• Second Law of Thermodynamics is Part of Anicca!
• Quantum Entanglement – We Are All Connected
• Infinity – How Big Is It?
• Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem
• Truine Brain: How the Mind Rewires the Brain via Meditation/Habits
• How Habits are Formed and Broken – A Scientific View

Inconsistencies with Science

1. We all are impressed by the scientific advances made during the past 100 years or so making our lives easier and more productive. I am actually a cheerleader for scientific and technological advances.

• Physics had been my passion since high school days, and that changed when I started learning Buddha Dhamma several years ago. I still love and work on topics of interest in physics (and science in general). Fortunately, I am finding that those two interests are not mutually exclusive, and there is significant overlap. In fact, this section is the result of my two overlapping interests.

2. The following posts discuss cases where current theories of science are not consistent with Buddha Dhamma. I believe that science will recognize the primary nature of the mind in the future, and will discard the current notion that the mind (consciousness) arises  out of inert matter.

Neuroscience says there is no Free Will? – That is a Misinterpretation!

The Double Slit Experiment – Correlation between Mind and Matter?

Vision (Cakkhu Viññāṇa) is Not Just Seeing

3. Despite the advances in science and technology, there is much about the human mind that science does not understand, and has not even begun to understand. Western science is based on the five physical senses, leaving out the most important one, the mind.

• At the present time, in 2016, scientists have the wrong view that consciousness originates in the brain.
• All scientific theories relating to the mind are based on this wrong hypothesis. However, Buddha Dhamma says not only that mind is a sense of its own, but it is the most powerful of all six senses.

Here is a post from the Abhidhamma section that has a deeper analysis of the brain-mind connection:

Brain – Interface between Mind and Body

 

Quantum Mechanics and Dhamma

This section will discuss two issues:

1. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics (QM) based on non-locality is presented based on Feynman’s ideas.  Concepts like wave-particle duality, observer effect, are not needed. Furthermore, complex interpretations like the “Many-Worlds interpretation” are avoided. All existing experimental data will be shown to be consistent with this interpretation.
2. A deeper understanding of how kamma automatically lead to corresponding kamma vipāka in Buddhism (Buddha Dhamma), becomes clear with this interpretation.

Quantum Mechanics and Dhamma – Introduction

Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness

Quantum Mechanics – A New Interpretation

• What Is a Wave and What Is a Particle?
• Photons Are Particles Not Waves

Basis of the Proposed Interpretation – Feynman’s Technique in QED

• Feynman’s Glass Plate Experiment
• Feynman’s Method of “A Particle Exploring All Possible Paths”
• “Exploring All Possible Paths” Leads to Fermat’s Principle of Least Time

 

Dhamma and Philosophy

• Dhamma and Philosophy – Introduction
• Philosophy of the Mind
• Is Buddha Dhamma (Buddhism) a Religion?
• The Infinity Problem in Buddhism
  Free Will in Buddhism – Connection to Sankhāra

Miscellaneous

• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2019
• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2018
• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2017
• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2016
• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2015
• Pure Dhamma – Reflections on 2014

• Buddha Dhamma – In a Chart
• Niramisa Sukha – In a Chart
• Ancient teeth found in China challenge modern human migration theory
• Mars Curiosity Photos Suggest Life May Have Existed on Red Planet
• Recent Publications on Benefits of Meditation
• Laniakea: Our home supercluster
• Think Outside the Box!
• There are as many creatures on your body as there are people on Earth!
• News Article on Robin Williams and Buddhist Meditation
• World Historical Timeline
• Second Largest Religion by State in the US