Search results for: "Dhamma"

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  2. The Skillful Heart
     … There are so many intellectual explanations of the Dhamma that we tend to forget that it starts with a quality of the heart. The word **citta in Pali, which is usually translated “mind,” also means “heart.” Unlike Western languages, the languages of the Buddhist countries don’t make a clear distinction between the heart and the mind. The heart has its reasons. The mind … 
  3. Magha Puja
     … His listeners were arahants, they didn’t need to hear the Dhamma in order to gain awakening, but they were about to begin teaching others themselves. So the Buddha gave a summary of the main points they should teach. First point is that khanti, patience and endurance, is the foremost energy of the practice. The word used for energy, tapas, means the kind of … 
  4. The Anatomy of the Present
     … That’s quite a radical statement, as is another statement, that all dhammas, all things you experience through the senses, are rooted in desire. It’s because of your desires that you have these experiences. So you’re not simply on the receiving end of experience. The mind is not just a byproduct of physical processes. The mind, through its desires, is actually the … 
  5. Three Parts of Right View
     … This is the essence of the Dhamma, as the Buddha said. It’s something of essential value, and it’s free for us to look for. This path is open to everyone who wants it—something of true value, something that really is noble in life. So try to make the most of this opportunity.
  6. Compassion Without Clinging
     … That’s because it’s in the context of affection that the Dhamma is best transmitted, best taught. When there’s affection, then there’s a sense that when there’s criticism, it’s well-meaning. That way, both sides can learn. That’s a good example to try in the family. As long as your affection is clear, then it’s a lot … 
  7. Analysis of Qualities
     … This is why we have those other meditation topics—like recollection of death, recollection of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, recollection of your own generosity and virtue—to incline the mind to see the importance of getting trained, settling down, developing some concentration. That’s one thing you have to watch out for in the mind. The other thing you have to … 
  8. De-thinking
     … I once received a letter from a monk who had 600 Dhamma questions he wanted me to answer. And my feeling was if you that many questions, none of them are really life-and-death questions. So I didn’t feel motivated to answer. If someone writes a letter with one question, I believe that person. So as you’re sitting here, try to … 
  9. The Right Attitude to the Body
     … The story in the Commentary is a lot more detailed, saying that when the bhikkhunis went to listen the Dhamma from the Buddha, he would always talk about the unattractiveness of the body. She didn’t like hearing about this because after all she had a really nice body, a really nice appearance. So she’d always sit in the back so that she … 
  10. Greed for Outer & Inner Wealth
     … The other treasures are learning, in other words, learning about the Dhamma, having a fund of knowing what the Buddha said on different topics so you can call them to mind when you need them; generosity; and discernment. Now, you’ll notice that some of these treasures are qualities of that admirable friend you’re looking for. That’s because admirable friendship leads beyond … 
  11. Keeping the Buddha in Mind
     … It’s like a wind that blows in, blowing all the Dhamma out of your mind. Especially when you’re living in a world of wrong view, which most of the world is. What gets blown into your mind are attitudes that other people say are important, the issues they have. Remember that the Buddha was very particular about which issues he would address … 
  12. A Meditator is a Good Friend to Have
     … Don’t worry about my turning away from the Dhamma. In fact, I’ll be going to the monastery even more now. So put your mind at rest.” And it turns out that the husband doesn’t die, at least not then. He recovers and he goes to tell the Buddha what his wife told him. The Buddha replies, “Do you realize how fortunate … 
  13. Distractions
     … This is one of the reasons why we have Dhamma talks during the meditation to remind you that when you’re on the path, your values are different, your aims are different. You’re not here just for entertainment. You’re not here just to pass the time of day. You’re here because there’s work to be done. And you’re resting … 
  14. Recognizing Fools
     … What is the actual Dhamma lesson here? Once you’ve figured out the lesson, you have to test it. Often, it won’t pass the test. But to be able to judge that, you have to be very honest with yourself. This is where integrity comes in again. You have to learn how to view your visions and your insights with a certain amount … 
  15. Responsible Happiness
     … He says he doesn’t reject pleasures that are in accordance with the Dhamma, but that means pleasures that are harmless. Certain pleasures, though, come only when you act in unskillful ways, or when you try to hold onto them you’re going to do unskillful things: Those are the ones you’ve got to watch out for. But here you’re developing good … 
  16. Imagine Your Breath
     … But when you look through his Dhamma talks, you’ll see that he’s got other ways of playing with the breath that he doesn’t mention in the guides. You wonder how many other ways he would have found with playing with the breath if he had lived longer. Meanwhile, though, you’re here, you’re alive, you can play. You can think … 
  17. Mistakes
     … That’s why we have all the teachings of the Dhamma. It’s up to us to learn to take on that guidance and say, “Yes, that really does apply to me. I’m not a person who makes exceptions. I’m a person who’s willing and able to practice.” As I said last night, develop healthy conceit, the attitude that “Other people … 
  18. Protective Meditations
     … If we think about it in terms that go beyond its real utility in terms of practicing the Dhamma, we’re going off-course. This is where we get greedy, selfish, holding on to things for the sake of the body. But then, what is it? It’s going to fall apart. There’s a disease for every part of the body—many diseases … 
  19. Craving & Desire on the Path
     … On the other hand, it’s rooted in your own desire like every other dhamma. This may sound paradoxical, but as you get a sense of the path, you see that it all makes sense. The Buddha was wise in the way that Ajaan Lee would define wisdom: the sort of wisdom that can take almost anything and get good use out of it … 
  20. Stepping Back
     … As the Buddha said, “As long as you’re uncertain about the true Dhamma, there’s always the fear of death.” What’s going to happen when you die? The only way you can know is by looking at the processes of the mind, because it’s already going through death and birth on a small level all the time. It just keeps coming … 
  21. Noble Right Concentration
     … It’s an extension of evaluation, but it can be applied to any of the levels of jhana, because it fits in with the Buddha’s observation that the Dhamma is learned through commitment and reflection. With commitment, we’re sticking with one object. With reflection, we’re trying to do it well, trying to notice when what we’re doing is working, what … 
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