Epstein Secrets

e unwholesomeness is yet harder to observe. These fetters [anusaya] (D.iii.254, A.iv.8, Vbh.383) are like habits that stop us achieving the path to Nirvana: EFTA00286691 I. Sensual grasping [IcAmarAga]: 2. Irritability [paEigha] 3. Wrong View [diEthi] 4. Doubt [vicikicchA]: 5. Looking down on othe

e, and to raise up our morale giving us the means by which to definitively overcome those weak- nesses — ultimately attaining the path and fruit of Nirvana. C2 Predispositions acquired through listening to the Dhamma By listening to Dhamma sermons, even though we might not understand everything of wh

nities pass you by, to train yourself spiritually. A3 Three Characteristics of the reckless The usual way in which a person's recklessness in the Dhamma expresses itself is to overlook the importance of putting in the appropriate effort in order to get the hoped-for results. Here are some examples o

ail of this particular Blessing, let us examine the nature of the Dhamma, so that we can orientate ourselves in a non-reckless way towards it. The Dhamma can be compared to the spire of a pagoda. A flag attached to the top of the pagoda of the Dhamma could be marked 'non-recklessness' or equally well

ich you maintain the whole of the time. It is also like being constantly 'awake' to one's proper priorities. B.2 Importance of non-recklessness in Dhamma as a whole We have already mentioned the preciousness of opportunities to cultivate oneself — and the Dhamma, or teaching of the Buddha, is the s

ENTS .345 31. The Practice of Austerities 347 32. Practising the Brahma-Faring 357 33. Seeing the Four Noble Truths 371 34. The Attainment of Nirvana 385 BLESSING GROUP X.: THE FRUITS OF HAVING PRACTISED UNTIL REACHING AN END OF 35. A Mind Invulnerable to Worldly Wa litag NTS 393 395 36. Sorr

p could hardly be called friends. 6. When free joining up to talk and eat together. When the wise have free time they come together to discuss the Dhamma and to clear up their doubts (not to gossip about the neighbours). 7. Reflection on Dhamma and Getting Down to Earnest Practice. This is one of th

tep, you cannot call it true association. Also, if you do none of the first six but do the seventh one, it is as good as true association, because Dhamma always has the same flavour — it always gives rise to self discipline [sEla]: it always gives rise to concentration [samAdhi]: and it always gives

mmediate environment or neighbourhood- but the more distant environments of his locality or country also have a part to play. A.1 Amenability in Dhamma practice The sort of location to be examined in this Blessing is the location amenable to refining the mind or put another way, the location that

e to pass away while in the state of meditation on the Sphere of Nothingness would they stay in that realm or would their consciousness enter upon Nirvana? Buddha: Just as a flame which blows out in the wind gives no indication of the direction in which it has gone, those who have gone beyond the bod

is Dhamma- kAya will be attracted directly into Nirvana. 3. Nirvana as the location of Nirvana [Ayatana- nibbAna]:/yatana Nirvana is the location of Nirvana. /yatana Nirvana actually exists but it is not made up of normal elements like earth, water, wind and fire in the same way as things we can see wi

noticeable from the way a monk's accommodation is furnished (excessive luxury or with a television or radio — which are not for helping to practice Dhamma — and accumulating lot of things in their kuti beyond any already outlined for academic teachings in Blessing Seven §E. [The Learning Process]). In

n (A.i.61) what is in fact not the case." This is in addition to what has already been men- tioned in Blessing Three (§D.2) about joking about the Dhamma; 3. to acquire wisdom: Dhamma discussions are in- tended as a way of cultivating wisdom. Above all other things the Buddha praised `wisdom'. Most p

not born to indulge in materialism, or even to find a place for ourselves in heaven. Like the Buddha, our aim in life should stop nowhere short of Nirvana. Our true aim in life is encapsulated in the eternal words of the Great Abbot of Wat Paknam: For the sixfold mental powers, the first five are worl

end of defilements: analytic insight into consequences [attha- paEisambhidA]: the masterful wisdom allowing one to enlarge upon any subject of the Dhamma; 2 analytic insight into causes [dhamma- paEisambhidA]: the masterful wisdom al lowing one to summarize any subject of the Dhamma without losing

e fruits which body, enlarging or shrinking oneself or making oneselfnay accrue to a greater or lesser extent to those earnest in invisible; their Dhamma practice. It is for this reason that all of us 2 supranormal audition [dibbasota]: being ablcltauld try to put all thirty-eight blessings into prac

will know for oneself. B.2.3 The Fourfold Analytical Insights [pati- sambhidA] (A.it 160) These are mental abilities concerned with the teaching of Dhamma to others. They are attained by those who have reached an end of defilements: analytic insight into consequences [attha- paEisambhidA]: the master

h the provisions you have stored up for yourself through our generosity, you will be sure never to fall on hard times. 3. It is the direct path to Nirvana: It clears the way for doing other sorts of virtue with ease. To give an example, when peasants slaughter animals it is not that they don't know t

transform that theory into practice allowing you to earn your living. If you have learned Dhamma theory, you have to transform that knowledge into Dhamma practice. It is like someone who reads a manual of swimming who can memorize every page of the manual. He knows how many types of swimming styles

ver, the Brahmin didn't know how to pay respect to the Dhamma which seemed more abstract.The Buddha replied that if you want to pay respect to the Dhamma, you should pay respect to those who are learned in the Dhamma. The Brahmin asked around to find which of the monks was the most learned and every