Unknown Light Arist
Vipassana Meditation
Ten-day Meditation Discourse Summaries
~☬ DAY THREE MEDITATION DISCOURSE ☬~
Universal definition of sin and piety- the noble Eightfold Path: Sila and Samadhi.
The second day is over. Although it was slightly better than the first day, difficulties still remain. The mind is so restless, agitated, and wild like a wild bull or elephant, which creates, havoc when it enters a human dwelling-place. If a wise person tames and trains the wild animal, then all its strength, which has been used for destructive purposes, now begins to serve society in constructive ways. Similarly the mind, which is far more powerful and dangerous than a wild elephant, must be tamed and trained; then its enormous strength will start to serve you. But you must work very patiently, persistently, and continuously. Continuity of practice is the secrete to success.
You have to do the work; no one else can do it for you. With all love and compassion an enlightened person shows the way to work, but he/she cannot carry anyone on his/her shoulders to the final goal. You must take steps for yourself, fight your own battle, and work out your own salvation. Of course, once you start working, you receive the support of all the Dhamma forces, but still you have to work yourself.
Understanding what is the path on which you have started walking. The Buddha described it in very simple terms;
“Abstain from all sinful, unwholesome actions,
Perform only pious wholesome ones,
Purify the mind; this is the teaching of enlightened ones.”
It is a universal path, acceptable to people of any background, race, or country. But the problem comes in defining sin and piety. When the essence of Dhamma is lost, it becomes a sect, and then each sect gives a different definition of piety, such as having a particular external appearance, or performance certain rituals, or holding certain beliefs. All these sectarian definitions, acceptable to some and not to others. Dhamma, however, gives a universal definition of sin and piety. Any action that harms others, that disturbs their peace and harmony, is a sinful, unwholesome action. Any action that helps others, that contributes to their peace and harmony; this is a pious, wholesome action. This is a definition in accordance not with any dogma, but rather with the law of nature.
And according to the law of nature, one cannot perform an action that harms others without first generating a defilement in the mind- anger, fear, hatred, etc; and whenever one generate a mental defilement, then one becomes miserable, one experiences the sufferings of hell within. Similarly, one cannot perform an action that helps other without first generating love, compassion, and good will; and as soon as one starts developing such pure mental qualities, one starts enjoying heavenly peace within. When one helps others, simultaneously you help yourself. This is Dhamma, truth, law- the universal law of nature.
The path of Dhamma is call the Eightfold Noble Path, noble in the sense anyone who walks on it is bound to become a noble-hearted, saintly person. The path is divided into three sections: Sila, Samadhi, and Panna. Sila is morality- abstaining from unwholesome deeds of body and speech. Samadhi is the wholesome action of developing mastery over one’s mind. Practicing both is helpful, but neither, Sila nor Samadhi can eradicate all the defilements accumulated in the mind. For this purpose the third section of the path must be practiced: Panna, the development of wisdom, of insight, which totally purifies the mind. Within the division of Sila are three parts of the Noble Path:
1- Samma- Vaca- right speech, purity of vocal action. To understand what is purity of speech, one must know what is impurity of speech. Speaking lies to deceive others, speaking harsh words that hurt others, backbiting and slandering talk, babbling and purposeless chatter are all impurities of vocal action. When one abstains from these, what remains is right speech.
2- Samma- Kammantra- right action, purity of physical action. On the path of Dhamma there is only one yardstick to measure purity or impurity of an action, be it physical, vocal, nor mental, and that is whether the action helps or harms others. Thus killing, stealing, committing rape or adultery, and becoming intoxicated so that one does not know what one is doing are all actions that harm others, and also harm oneself. When one abstains from these impure physical actions, what remains is right action.
3- Samma- Ajiva- right livelihood. Everyone must have some way to support him/her and those who are dependent on him/her, but it the means of support is harmful to others, then it is not a right livelihood. Perhaps one may not oneself perform wrong actions by one’s livelihood, but encourages others to do so; if so one is not practicing right livelihood. For example, selling liquor, operating a gambling den, selling arms, selling living animals or animal flesh are none of them right livelihoods. Even in the highest profession, it one’s motivation is only to exploit others, then one is not practicing right livelihood. If the motivation is to perform one’s part as a member of society, to contribute one’s own skills and efforts for the general good, in return for which one receives a just remuneration by which one maintain oneself and one’s dependent, then such a person is practicing right livelihood.
A householder, a layperson, needs money to support himself/herself. The danger, however, is that earning money becomes a means to inflate the ego: one seeks to amass as much as possible for oneself, and feels contempt for those who earn less. Such an attitude harms others and also harms oneself, because the stronger the ego, the further one is from liberation. Therefore one essential aspect of right livelihood is giving charity, sharing portion of what one earns with others. Then one earns not only for one’s own benefit but also for the benefit of others.
If Dhamma consisted merely of exhortations to abstain from actions that harm others, then it would have no effect. Intellectually, one may understand the dangers of performing unwholesome actions and the benefits of performing wholesome ones, or one may accept the importance of Sila out of devotion to those who preach it. Yet one continues to perform wrong actions, because one has no control over the mind. Hence the second division of Dhamma, Samadhi – develop mastery over one’s own mind. Within this division are another three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path.
4- Samma- Vayama- right efforts, right exercise. By your practice you have seen how weak and inform the mind is, always wavering from one object to another. Such a mind requires exercise to strengthen it. There four exercises to strengthen the mind: removing from it any unwholesome qualities it may have, closing it to any unwholesome qualities it does not have, preserving and multiplying those wholesome qualities that are present in the mind, and opening it to any wholesome qualities that are missing. Indirectly, by the practice of awareness of respiration (Anapana) you have started performing these exercises.
5- Samma-Sati- right awareness, awareness of the reality of the present moment. Of the past there can only be memories; for the future there can only be aspiration, fears, and imaginations. You have started practicing Samma-Sati by training yourself to remain aware of whatever reality manifest at the present moment, within the limited area of the nostrils. You must develop the ability to be aware of the entire reality, from the grossest to the subtlest level. To begin, you gave attention to the conscious, intentional breath, slightly cold as it enters, slightly warm when it leaves the body. Beyond that there are innumerable sensations not related to breath: heat, cold, itching, pulsing, vibrating, pressure, tension, pain, etc. You cannot choose what sensation to feel, because you cannot create sensations, Just observe; just remain aware. The name of the sensation is not important; what is important is to be aware of the reality of the sensation without reacting to it.
The habit pattern of the mind, as you have seen, is to roll in the future or in the past, generating craving or aversion. By practicing right awareness you have started to break this habit. Not that after this course you will forget the past entirely, and have no thought at all for the future. But in fact you used to waste your energy by rolling needlessly in the past or future, so much so that when you needed to remember or plan something, you could not do so. By developing Samma- Sati, you will learn to fix your mind more firmly in the present reality, and make proper provisions for the future. You will be able to lead a happy, healthy life.
6- Samma- Samadhi- right concentration. Mere concentration is not the aim of this technique; the concentration you develop must have a base of purity. With a base of graving, aversion, or illusion one may concentrate the mind, but this is not Samma-Samadhi. One must be aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion. Sustaining this awareness continuously from moment to moment- this is Samma- Samadhi. By following scrupulously the five precepts, you have started practicing Sila. By training your mind to remain focused on one point, a real object of the present moment, without craving or aversion, you have started developing Samadhi. Now keep working diligently to sharpen your mind, so that when you start to practice Panna you will be able to penetrate to the depths of the unconscious, to eradicate all the impurities hidden there, and to enjoy real happiness- the happiness of liberation. May all being enjoy real happiness.
Note: Please read within this album collection introduction Vipassana Meditation Ten-day Meditation Discourse Summaries will be post each week in this album. May all of you be successful in taking the first steps on the path of liberation.
~✡ Glossary ✡~
☬ Dhamma- Phenomenon; object of mind; nature; natural law; law of liberation, i.e teaching of an enlightened person, observation of the contents of the mind.
☬ Sila- Morality; Abstaining from physical and vocal action that cause harm to oneself and others. The first of the three training by which the Noble Eightfold Path is practiced. For a layperson, Sila is practiced in daily life by following the five precepts.
☬ Samadhi- Concentration, control of one’s own mind. The second of the three training by which the Noble Eightfold Path is practiced. When cultivated as an end in itself, it leads to the attainment of the states of mental absorption, but not to total liberation of the mind.
☬ Panna- Wisdom. The third of the three training by which the Noble Eightfold Path is practiced. There are three kinds of wisdom; received wisdom, intellectual wisdom, and experiential wisdom. Of these, only the last can totally purify the mind; it is cultivated by the practice Vipassana.
☬ Anapana- Respiration: Awareness of respiration.
“May all being be happy.”
~Condensed by William Hart~
Vipassana Meditation-Taught by S.N. Goenka
In the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Vipassana Meditation as given through Their Anointed Representatives.
The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.
There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit. May this work help many in their practices of Dhamma.
Sharing Love note:
On Planet Earth sacred land there are endless temples that house countless sentient beings of devotion including the human specie; these Heavenly shrines or spiritual plans are not create by any species that live, shelter, nurture, nourish and protected here. These holy place are nature living rivers, towering mountains, echoing valleys, mystic forest, deep hollow caves, cascading water falls, flowers covered plains and so onwards. Beyond this realm Planet Earth is her selves a Divine being magical sphere; a portal to our galaxy churches and universe mosques rippling expanding onward to cosmos cathedrals. Humanity has a connection to all these sacrament through prayers within each being loving hearts center.
Anointed Representatives Galactic Free Press- File Archival Vipassana Meditation
Ashvatha-Tao-Buddha
"You are the Enlightenment of GOD."
