Meditation for Beginners

This is the practice of self-denial or self-mortification-which is a non-Buddhist practice. It is one of many practices favoured by non-Buddhist ascetics such as Niganthas Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta: The Sermon#3     Sugar-cane juice and poison: It can be compared to a mixture of sugar-cane juice and poison.   2. Self-Mortification[attakilamathanuyoga]   This is the practice of self-denial or self-mortification-which is a non-Buddhist practice. It is one of many practices favoured by non-Buddhist ascetics such as Niganthas. In fact, even amongst the ascetics who practice self-mortification there are many different schools: some refuse to wear clothes, some always stand in order to defecate, some use their bare hands to clean up after defecation, some accept alms from a maximum of only one mouthful of food per day, some accept alms from only on benefactor per day, only one particular woman benefactor per day, some fast for ten..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This last metaphor clearly illustrates how no benefit can be found by indulging in sensual pleasure Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta: The Sermon#2     Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta   This last metaphor clearly illustrates how no benefit can be found by indulging in sensual pleasure. All these dangers of indulging in sensual pleasures are the reason why the Buddha taught in the dhammacakkapavattana Sutta that Buddha taught in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta that those leading the monastic life must avoid the extreme of indulging in sensual pleasure.   Furthermore, in the Mahadukkhakhands Sutta (The Greater Discourse on the Stems of Suffering) (M.i.83ff.), delivered at Savatthi, the Buddha expounds the dangers of sensual indulgence, in detail which exceeds even that of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta.   “O! Monks! What is indulgence of the senses? The senses are..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Something which you will find at the beginning of every sutta are Ananda’s words ‘Euam me sutam…’: i.e. ‘Thus have I heard (directly from the Lord Buddha) Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta: The Sermon#1       Dhammacakkapavattana   Something which you will find at the beginning of every sutta are Ananda’s words ‘Euam me sutam…’: i.e. ‘Thus have I heard (directly from the Lord Buddha)’.   On one occasion, the Blessed One was staying at the Isipatana Deer Park close by the town of Benares [Varanasi]. At that place, the Buddha summoned the ‘group of five’ [pancavaggiya] and addressed them thus:   O! Bhikkhus! Monks who wish to overcome suffering must strictly avoid the two extremes of practice, namely:   1. Sensual indulgence [kamasukhallikanuyoga] 2. Self-mortification [attakilamathanuyoga]   1. Indulging in sensual pleasures [kamasukhallikanuyoga]   Sensual indulgence is being ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The Middle Way [majjhima patipada] is a path of practice that avoids the extremes of either sensual indulgence tice that avoids the extremes of either sensual indulgence or self –mortification Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Overview #2     the Higher Training of the Mind   3. The Middle Way   The Middle Way [majjhima patipada] is a path of practice that avoids the extremes of either sensual indulgence tice that avoids the extremes of either sensual indulgence or self –mortification. It is a path of practice that is conducive to taming the mind, supreme knowledge, virtuous knowledge, the extinguishing of craving and for liberation from defilements. It is the practice of the Noble Ones, fitting for monks who have gone to the trouble to raise themselves from the status of householders. Monks should practice the Middle Way according to the Noble Eightfold Path [atthangikamagga], namely:   1. Right View [Samama Ditthi] 2. Right Intention [Samma Sankappa] 3. Rig..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

After the Enlightenment which transformed Siddhattha Gotama into the Lord Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree on the banks of the River Neranjara Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Overview #1     The inaugural teaching which the Lord Buddha preached to the  ‘Group of Five’ was the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta.   Introduction   After the Enlightenment which transformed Siddhattha Gotama into the Lord Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree on the banks of the River Neranjara, Bodhgaya on the full moon night of the month of Visakha (May), the Buddha sat further to absorb the bliss of his enlightenment and further to consider the dhamma which he had learned, for a period of another seven days before finishing his meditation. The Buddha then moved to continue his consideration of the Dhamma under the Ajapalanigrodha Tree for another seven days. The Buddha then spent another seven days doing the same underneath a Jik Tree. From there he spent anot..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

If you want the children to be disciplined and responsible (Mai Sab), you must train the children to be repeat thinking, repeat talking and repeat doing in the subject of rules and regulations Meditation Meditation for Beginners   What To Do To Make Your Children Good All The Way Through      you must train the children to be repeat thinking, repeat talking and repeat doing in the subject of rules and regulations.   From the five lessons, the conclusion is:   1) If you want the children to be disciplined and responsible (Mai Sab), you must train the children to be repeat thinking, repeat talking and repeat doing in the subject of rules and regulations.   2) If you want the children to be clever (Mai Ngo), you must train the children to be repeat thinking, repeat talking and repeat doing in the subject of respect.   3) If you want the children to be generous (Mai Lang Num Jai), you must train the children to be repeat thinking, repeat talking and..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

How To Plat Providence Towards Desire Of Money To Children Parents have to teach children to understand that: Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits into Children To Be Kind And Generous (Mai Lang Num Jai)#4     Money can’t buy all happiness.   How To Plat Providence Towards Desire Of Money To Children   Parents have to teach children to understand that:   1) Money can’t buy all happiness.     It can’t buy family,     Or lead to solving problems,     Or understanding each other,     Or purity of minds.   2) Human being’s happiness comes from:     2.1) Having money.     2.2) Spending money.     2.3) No crookedness in work.     2.4) No debts.   Thins happiness occurs when the money is from honesty.   3) If we have crooked..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The truth is that we should avoid simulation towards sexual misconduct. Parents should be careful because catching the wrong point can be harmful for children and cold kill the children in cold blood  Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits into Children To Be Kind And Generous (Mai Lang Num Jai)#3       Train Children To Be Provident Towards Sexual Misconduct.   Train Children To Be Provident Towards Sexual Misconduct.   The truth is that we should avoid simulation towards sexual misconduct. Parents should be careful because catching the wrong point can be harmful for children and cold kill the children in cold blood.   There’s a family with a 4 year old daughter in kindergarten. The person who brings the danger is nobody else but the child’s own mother. The mother is a beautician as her career and sells cosmetics. She always puts on makeup for her daughter since them. The daughter thinks it looks pretty. When the daughter grows up, she just keeps on do..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Parents teach children not to be harmful by using behavior rules. They teach them to be intelligent by using respecting rules. The way to teach children to be generous in by planting patience into them  Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits into Children To Be Kind And Generous (Mai Lang Num Jai)#2      Drinking alcohol.   Train children to be provident towards their desire drive to use drugs and alcohol.   It also includes all bad drives (abai ya mook), which cause you to lose conscious self-control and the impair-ment of decision making.   Abai ya mook (bad drive) means the entrance to destruction.   The grandparents said that whoever gets concerned with bad drives will lose control of decision making and make wrong decisions. For example, when we are drunk, we might be able to hit our parents until they require hospitalization or until they die.   There are at least 6 kinds of bad drives.   1) Drinking alcohol. 2) Going out..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Parents teach children not to be harmful by using behavior rules. They teach them to be intelligent by using respecting rules. The way to teach children to be generous in by planting patience into them  Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits into Children To Be Kind And Generous (Mai Lang Num Jai)#1     Parents teach children not to be harmful by using behavior rules.   Parents teach children not to be harmful by using behavior rules. They teach them to be intelligent by using respecting rules. The way to teach children to be generous in by planting patience into them.   What is patience? (Od-Ton) Od means to want to have but doesn’t have. Ton means to not want to have but does have. Patience means knowing to maintain our normal circumstance when it is affected by anything that we want to have or not.   How does patience cause generosity?   If someone can’t be patient, s/he will not be able to help him/herself. And then s/he will not be able to help other..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Bat Ti San Tan means “greeting”. It means that you know how to greet a good person to come in your group Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#8     The parents must use greetings to train them.   Why Respecting Welcoming And Greeting (Bat-Ti-San-Tan) is Clever (Mai Ngo)   Bat Ti San Tan means “greeting”. It means that you know how to greet a good person to come in your group.   From the grandparents’ experiences they give us 3 important useful factors:   1) To practice talents for examples to the children.   Many parents have children who are lovely but at the same time the parents always wonder how to train the children to be talented. In Buddhism, we have an easy lesson to train the children to be talented. But most of the time they don’t know that this is a lesson for talent..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Being successful 100 times can’t guarantee that the 101 st time will be also be successful. It’s because the heart of success is “being careful.” Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#7     It is a bad drive (abai ya mook). alcoholic drinks   Why Are We Intelligent If we Respect Being Careful?   “Careless people, even if they’ re alive, are not different from the dead.”   Being successful 100 times can’t guarantee that the 101 st time will be also be successful. It’s because the heart of success is “being careful.”   Careless people will make mistakes all the time. The more mistakes they make the more they will lack confidence.They will dare not to do anything. Then they will have no resume (list of experiences needed to apply for a job). They will also have an inferiority complex, and have envy of others. They will continually search ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Education either in the reality or in the Dhamma consists of 4 factors. The parents must know that the wisdom of their children comes from 4 factors Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#6     Education either in the reality or in the Dhamma consists of 4 factors.   Why Are We Clever If We Respect Education?   Education either in the reality or in the Dhamma consists of 4 factors. The parents must know that the wisdom of their children comes from 4 factors:   1) having good people as teachers. 2) Listening to teachers. 3) Thinking along with the teachers’ words. 4) Behaving as per the teachers’ instructions.   The first factor relates to the quality of the teachers. The other 3 relate to the respect for education of the students.   Without these 4 factors, it’s hard for children to be intelligent. For example, i..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Parents have to teach children who the bhikkhus are: The word “Phra Sangha” is combined by 2 words: “Phra” means great and “Sangha” (pronounced Song) means group Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#5     "Phra Sangha” means the group of people who have great minds.   Why Are We Clever If We Pay Respect To The Bhikkhus?   Parents have to teach children who the bhikkhus are: The word “Phra Sangha” is combined by 2 words: “Phra” means great and “Sangha” (pronounced Song) means group.   “Phra Sangha” means the group of people who have great minds.   What makes their minds great?   They have no more kilesa; meaning no more greed,, anger, and delusion in their minds.   The way to get rid of greed, anger, and delusion is not easy.   Then there are 2 kinds of monks:   1) Som Mutti Sangha means a person who ordains as a monk in ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Also it will teach you to get rid of all kilesa (derangements and defilements). Then you will become an Arahant and go to Nibbana Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#4     The knowledge in Dhamma can help everybody to develop life in a good way.   When You Respect The Dhamma You Are Clever   Also it  will teach you to get rid of all kilesa (derangements and defilements). Then you will become an Arahant and go to Nibbana.   The aim of all the instructions is to teach humans to get rid of kilesa in order to have no more suffering from birth, old age, sickness, and death (samsara).   The Lord buddha’s dhamma can be used as the rule to measure right-wrong, good-bad, virtue-sin, proper-improper, and useful-useless in order to think, speak and perform good deeds confidently. It also develops all good habits in children later ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

To protect children from bad situations occurring in the family, you must train the children to be good Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#3     Therefore, parents should teach children to be wise both in the realistic way and in the Dhamma way.   How To Train Children To Be Able To Realize The Good   To protect children from bad situations occurring in the family, you must train the children to be good. Our grandparents always say that men should become bhikkhus (monks) for at least one rainy season before marriage to learn the Dhamma for themselves and to know how to teach it to their children. And women should learn the Dhama even more. When they marry and they become parents they will both have Dhamma and will prevent the children from becoming bad. They will only teach the children to be good, and in the c..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

People, after they are born as humans, whether they are a child or an adult, cannot observe who is a good person and who is a bad person because they are not clever (no common sense) Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#2     Teach very strictly from a young age all of the good habits.   When You Respect The Lord Buddha You Are Clever   People, after they are born as humans, whether they are a child or an adult, cannot observe who is a good person and who is a bad person because they are not clever (no common sense). S/he may be a graduate with many a degree such as B.S., M.A. or PhD, but will be unable to tell who is good or bad. If you cannot tell the difference then someone may cheat you or lie to you (hoodwink you) or more than that, you can bring a bad person into your house. The household will then have a problem. The family will lose their good name. They will always have problems and wil..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

All of the parents in the world want their children to be clever. The cleverer they are the more the parents will be proud of them. How to raise the children to be clever is not easy because there are different categories of cleverness Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Build The Habits Of The Children  To Be Sincere And Clever (Mai Ngo)#1      They are clever in the way of the world.   All of the parents in the world want their children to be clever. The cleverer they are the more the parents will be proud of them. How to raise the children to be clever is not easy because there are different categories of cleverness. Some can be clever to rob or deceive you. Some are clever but are really tricky etc. They can be clever in the wrong way. This type of cleverness always makes trouble but never ends.   The thing that the sincere parents want is the type of cleverness that makes the children grow up and progress in their life where they are able to make their living by them-selves, be useful to others and mostly ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Dhamma rules are also important to childrens’ lives because it’s factor for them to judge what is good and what is bad. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits In Children So They Will Become Disciplined And Responsible (Mai Sab)#5     It’s our nature that we shouldn’t kill any life because everyone loves his or her own life.   5) Dhamma Rule Behavior   Dhamma rules are also important to childrens’ lives because it’s factor for them to judge what is good and what is bad. When they grow up, they will be able to control their thinking, speaking and doing to be in the Dhamma rules frame. It leads them to develop themselves to be mature and so forth.   To have Dhamma rule behavior, kids need to know the 5 Dhamma rules:   1) Not killing any life. 2) Not stealing. 3) Not behaving wrongly with regards to sex. 4) Not lying. 5) Not drinking alcohol. &nb..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

If you want your children not to be “Sab” you must train them not only in time management but also with regards to cleaning behavior Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits In Children So They Will Become Disciplined And Responsible (Mai Sab)#4     Parents should teach them the proper way to bathe.   3) Cleaning Behavior   If you want your children not to be “Sab” you must train them not only in time management but also with regards to cleaning behavior. If any children don’t like to be clean then they will have3 difficulty in taking care of themselves. Wherever they go and whatever group they will want to be in, nobody will want them. Children especially must know how to bathe.   Parents should teach them the proper way to bathe. They must learn how to take a clean bath by using less water, soap, and less time.   Clothing should also be clean. It should be taught from when they were born. ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

If you want your children not to be “Sab” you must train them not only in time management but also with regards to cleaning behavior Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits In Children So They Will Become Disciplined And Responsible (Mai Sab)#3     Parents should teach them the proper way to bathe.   3) Cleaning Behavior   If you want your children not to be “Sab” you must train them not only in time management but also with regards to cleaning behavior. If any children don’t like to be clean then they will have difficulty in taking care4 of themselves. Wherever they go and whatever group they will want to be in, nobody will want them. Children especially must know how to bathe.   Parents should teach them the proper way to bathe. They must learn how to take a clean bath by using less water, soap, and less time.   Clothing should also be clean. It should be taught from when they were born. Paren..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

“Time” is one of the humans’ resources, which cannot be returned. If we don’t use it wisely, it’ll bring old age and death to us, and take our good opportunities away  Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits In Children So They Will Become Disciplined And Responsible (Mai Sab)#2     Waking up time.   2) Punctual Behavior   “Time” is one of the humans’ resources, which cannot be returned. If we don’t use it wisely, it’ll bring old age and death to us, and take our good opportunities away.   Take a look at our classmates. If the parents try to observe the children’s classmates who study together they will find that some of the friends when studying with their own children are inferior. If they work on projects together some may not work at the same level of standards as their own children. However when they grow up, some of the ones who didn’t get as good a set of grades as our children they grew up, some of the ones who didn..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

What are the lessons to train children in to become disciplined and responsible? Behavior with regards to the rules of Dhamma is the lesson, so parents have to train their children to behave according to the Dhamma rules and to control their emotions as well.  Meditation Meditation for Beginners   How To Plant Habits In Children So They Will Become Disciplined And Responsible (Mai Sab)#1     Dhamma training behavior.   What are the lessons to train children in to become disciplined and responsible?   Behavior with regards to the rules of Dhamma is the lesson, so parents have to train their children to behave according to the Dhamma rules and to control their emotions as well.   Chilren should be trained through the four facors of life. It should be strict but not stressful.   What behaviors should be trained?   1) Talking behavior. 2) Timing behavior. 3) Cleaning behavior. 4) Organizing behavior. 5) Dhamma training behavior.   If parents can train these 5 behaviors with regards to their chi..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This baby is fed all the time. No matter whether it’s feeding time or not, the mother or baby-sitter always bottle-feeds the baby. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Where Does Children’s Good Behavior Come From?#2     Milk feeding is one of the main ways to plant habits to the baby.   Baby#2 Feeding The Baby All The Time   This baby is fed all the time. No matter whether it’s feeding time or not, the mother or baby-sitter always bottle-feeds the baby. The baby has milk all the time, and never cries for food, and is also easy to baby – sit.   What will the baby be when s/he grows up? The answer is s/he’ll be lazy!!!   No matter how hard mother tries to push him/her forward, s/he’ll not go anywhere. Even if mother tries to make him/her enthusiastic, s/he will just ignore her and be lazy. It’s like the mother has to take care of a little pig that does nothing except for eating and sleeping.   Who pl..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

These three factors are the foundation to support the good Dhamma. It will develop more in the future and they will be able to grow to reach their full potential. In comparison to good lands and fields Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Where Does Children’s Good Behavior Come From?#1     The short answer is by planting good habits for further development in order for the children to grow up with proper habits.   If you ask how to raise a child, what is the answer?   The short answer is by planting good habits for further development in order for the children to grow up with proper habits. You should plant into your children, “What do they have (what habits)?” The answer is the foundation of the habits, which are: 1)     Mai Sab. 2)     Mai Lang Num Jai. 3)     Mai Lang Num Jai.   Why are these three habits the foundation of the good person?   These three factors are the foundation to support the good Dhamma. It..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Mai Sab is a person who is disciplined, responsible and not harmful to anyone. Meditation Meditation for Beginners  Qualifications of Good Children#2     responsible and not harmful to anyone.   QUALIFICATION#1-“MAISAB”   Mai Sab is a person who is disciplined, responsible and not harmful to anyone.   There are 2 Kinds of Mai Sab:   1) Mai Sab Nai Tahng Lok (World) 2) Mai Sab Nai Tahng Dham (Dhamma).   Mai Sab nai tahng lok means people who follow the rules of family, society, and law.   For example, our kids never misbehave, are never naughty, never break the rules, or harass or harass others. They always go to school, finish all the assignments, and they have a nice manner.   Mai Sab Nai Tahng Dham means people who practice at least 5 precepts of Buddhism, and are not harmful to anyone.   For example, our kids never l..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Once parents realize the answers, they will have a standard with which to raise children Meditation Meditation for Beginners  Qualifications of Good Children#1       How to raise children to be good children.   All parents hope that their children will be “good kids,” which may include being well educated, skilled, talented, well behaved, and ethical, have good self esteem, are mature, independent and never needing to beg for anything, and being a useful member of society and the world.   To raise children in such a manner, parents must know: “How to raise children to be good children.” Parents who can raise children well are those who know:   1) How to be good children. 2) How to raise children to be good.   Once parents realize the answers, they will have a standard with which to raise children. They hope in their minds that they will dedicate whol..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta is one of the most important teachings for Buddhists to know. It is so important because it acts like a master-plan for all the subsequent teachings on Buddhism given during the Buddha’s lifetime Meditation Meditation for Beginners    Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta for Pursuers of Perfection # 2        In order to understand this point, we have to go back to the day of Enlightenment of the Lird Buddha.   3. The Importance of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta   The Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta is one of the most important teachings for Buddhists to know. It is so important because it acts like a master-plan for all the subsequent teachings on Buddhism given during the Buddha’s lifetime. Even if the Lord Buddha were to teach the Dhammacakka if the Lord Buddha were to teach the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta and never to teach another word of Dhamma for the srst of his life, His duty in proclaiming the Dhamma to the world would have been fulfilled. Just as each country of the wo..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

In this Appendix we delve al little deeper into the meaning of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta. The Dhaamacakkapavattana Sutta itself is a very brief teaching because it serves merely as a reminder to listeners who were already well versed in the materials covered Meditation Meditation for Beginners    Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta for Pursuers of Perfection # 1     Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta for Pursuers of Perfection   1. Introduction   In this Appendix we delve al little deeper into the meaning of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta. The Dhaamacakkapavattana Sutta  itself is a very brief teaching because it serves merely as a reminder to listeners who were already well versed in the materials covered. However, for us reading the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta in the ignorance of the present day, at face value, it is a little too difficult for us immediately to understand.   2. What is the Dhammacakka?   At face value, the Dhammacakka is a wheel of the Dhamma and traditionally speaking, it was just considered as a metaphor for th..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Furthermore, a large number of Brahmas were able to attain the fruit of “stream-entry” at the moment the Buddha completed his teaching of the Dhamacakkapavattana Sutta Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple # 2     The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple   Furthermore, a large number of Brahmas were able to attain the fruit of “stream-entry” at the moment the Buddha completed his teaching of the Dhamacakkapavattana Sutta. This goes further to show the superiority of the Buddha’s attainment over the teaching of other contemporary traditions the Buddha’s teaching was benefitted from by Brahmas in the Brahma world who normally were considered the zenith of attainment by adherents of contemporary traditions. It follows therefore that Brahmas themselves have not attainmed a level of Sainthood and are ignorant of the Path and Fruit of Sainthood [ariyamagga-ariyaphala]-because when they die from their existence in th..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

In preaching the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta, the Buddha revealed the Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment [bodhipakkhiyadhamma], Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple # 1     The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple   In preaching the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta, the Buddha revealed the Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment [bodhipakkhiyadhamma], the Cycle of Dependent Origination and the Four Noble Truths as the hub, the spokes and the rim of the Dhammacakka respectively.   Dhammacakkas can be divided into two types:   1. Pativedhananadhammacakka: The Personal Attainment of know ledge of the Four Noble Truths, the Three Cycles of Examination [parivadda]; and the Twelve Stages of the Cycle of Examination overcoming by transcending [samucchedapahana] the enemy we call craving, giving rise to the Fruits of Sainthood [ariyaphala].   2. Desanananadham..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This form of mindfulness is mindfulness that is constantly monitoring the level of wholesomeness in the mind never letting wholesomeness slip away from the mind and its intentions   Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 7     Taking the body as the object and cultivating stillness of mind   7. Right Mindfulness   Right mindfulness is mindfulness which takes four things as its object:   1. Taking the body as the object and cultivating stillness of mind 2. Taking the feelings as the object and cultivating stillness of mind 3. Taking the mind as the object and cultivating stillness of mind 4. Taking mental phenomena as the object and cultivating stillness of mind   Mindfulness based on any of these four objects can have two characteristics:   1. Monitoring Mindfulness [apilapanasati] 2. Discretional Mindfulness [uparigahanasati]     Taking the feelings a..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The bodhisattva was once born as a golden a golden peacock with a body the size of a cart and eyes like bright red berries and its mouth pink like coral Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 6     Avoidance of evil not yet done   6. Right Effort Right Effort is composed of the Four Foundations of Effort, namely:   1. Avoidance of evil not yet done [samvara-padhana]; 2. Abandonment of evils already done [pahana-padhana]; 3. Development of virtues not yet done [anurakkhana-padhana] 4. Maintainance of virtues already masterd [anurakkhana-padhana]   6.1  The First Foundation of Effort   The first foundation of effort is to avoid evils not yet done. This is well illustrated by the example of the bodhisattva in the Mora Jataka (J.159, J.491):   The bodhisattva was once born as a golden a golden peacock with a body the size of a cart and eyes like bright red berrie..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

At its most basic, Right Livelihood means earning one’s living in a way which avoids the five types of Wrong Trade Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 5      Dealing in flesh : Rearing live animals (like buffalos, pigs, ducks and chickens)   5.Right Livelihood   At its most basic, Right Livelihood means earning one’s living in a way which avoids the five types of Wrong Trade:   1. Dealing in slaves [satthavanijja]: For example, prostitution or buying people at a low price and selling them at aq higher price, supporting oneself from the profit made;   2. Dealing in weapons [sattavanijja]: Selling weapons destined for killing, supporting oneself from the profit made;   3. Dealing in flesh [mamsavanijja]: Rearing live animals (like buffalos, pigs, ducks and chickens) to slaughter oneself or have someone else slaughter for us, supp..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Right Action is the practice of abstaining from killing, stealing and adultery Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 4     He caught a rabbit and was about to kill it.   4. Right Action   Right Action is the practice of abstaining from killing, stealing and adultery.   4.1 Abstention from killing   Evil actions can be abstained from in any of the following three different ways:   1. Abstention on the spur of the moment [sampattavirati]; 2. Abstention by having requested the Five Precepts in advance [samadanavirati]; 3. Abstention by having transcended such behaviour [samucchedavirati];   The account of the layman called ‘Cakkana’ is a good illustration of abstention from evil on the spur of the moment:   Cakkana was ordered by his older brother to hunt and kill a rabbit so th..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The sort of wholesome speech which arises from a mind which is wholesome at the mundane level is well illustrated by the tale of Sujata   Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 3     Having heard Anathapindika’s advice, the Buddha summoned Sujata.  He asked Sujata of the following seven sorts of wife:   3. Right Speech   The sort of wholesome speech which arises from a mind which is wholesome at the mundane level is well illustrated by the tale of Sujata, the younger sister of Visakha. This lady was the sister in law of Anathapindika but was very haughty because she heired from a weakthy family. She had consideration neither for her husband nor her parents-in-law. Sujata wasw wont to use harsh speech and this led to conflict in the home.   One day, Anathapindika invited the Buddha and his monks to his own home. From a distance, the Buddha heard the sound of argument..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

When Right Intention is described in the Suttas, it is anaIysed in to three types: 1.The Intention to remove oneself from sensual desire [nekkamma sankappa] Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 2     The king used to practice generosity with his wealth by inviting 60,000 monks for alms in the palace daqily.   2. Right Intention   When Right Intention is described in the Suttas, it is anaIysed in to three types:   1.The Intention to remove oneself from sensual desire [nekkamma sankappa] 2. he Intention to remove oneself from vengefulness [abyapada sankappa] 3.The Intention to remove oneself from aggression [avihimsa sankappa]   In the Maha Janaka Jataka (J.539), when the Buddha was still pursuing Perfections as the bodhisattva, taking rebirth as king Maha Janka in the city of Mithila, with a Iifespan of 10,000 years. He cultivated the Perfection of generosity and self-discipline ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Practising the Noble Eightfold Path is not just the duty of the saint or the monk striving for Nirvana –it is also a means by which the householder can secure happiness   Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Eightfold Path on the Mundane Level # 1      The Buddha replied that the mind of anyone who cultivates six forms of recollection will protect that person from all danger.   Practising the Noble Eightfold Path is not just the duty of the saint or the monk striving for Nirvana –it is also a means by which the householder can secure happiness and prosperity in their personal lives, contributing to a harmonious society on the collective level. Indeed, without the Eightfold Path, life would be chaotic. The practice of the Noble Eightfold Path for laypeople may be different from that practiced by the Noble Ones, but it contains the same eight components.   1. Right View   The section which follows gives an explanation of the Noble Eight..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

When the factors f the Eightflfold Path arise, they do so to gether-just as the elder monk kondanna, after lidtening to the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta instantly attained the fruit of the Stream-Entry Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Truth of the Path to the Cessation of Suffering # 7     Effort, Right Mindfulness and Tight Concentration contributing to our meditation.   The Components of the Eightfold Path all arise together   When the factors  the Eightflfold Path arise, they do so to gether-just as the elder monk kondanna, after lidtening to the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta instantly attained the fruit of the Stream-Entry. All eight components of the Path arose simultaneously allowing the mind to attain the Fruit of stream-Enterer. The wisdom of Right View at the level of the Steam Enterer allowed Kondana to see the Four Noble Trulths. He gained insight into clinging to the five Aggreing [tanha] which is the cause of such clinging as the second Noble Truth, the extinction..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The Three Signs of Existence [tilakkhana] that are exhibited by all material things are impermanence [aniccam], suffering [dukkham] and not –self [anatta]   Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Noble Truth of the Path to the Cessation of Suffering # 6     Suffering [dukkham]: This is the characteristic of built-in hardship seen again   The Three Signs are Known by ‘nana’   The Three Signs of Existence [tilakkhana] that are exhibited by all material things are impermanence [aniccam], suffering [dukkham] and not –self [anatta].   Impermanence [aniccam]: This is the built-in character of objects that are of a nature to change the whole of the time. Such things as the five Aggregates of the Human Body are changing the whole of the time.   Suffering [dukkham]: This is the characteristic of built-in hardship seen again with the Five Aggregates because of the constant stress of arising and decaying. Suffering is spmethin gthat it..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques