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

in the first half of the Blessings of Life, that one can go on, in the second half of the Sutta to cultivate purity of mind in earnest by following Blessings nine- teen to thirty-eight. When we come to the start of the sixth group- ing we are concerned with the preparation of the mind. EFTA00286686 Bles

ded to support the close family (as covered in Blessings Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen). Now we have matured a little further in the sequence of the Blessings, we return to our work, not as simply something which needs to be completed, but to be completed well! Within the context of this Fifth Grouping o

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

listening before he could move on to discussion of the Dhamma. Dhamma discussion is a challenge because it is the culmination of almost all of the Blessings already mentioned: I. It's hard to concentrate on something abstract • like the Dhamma: we are used to focussing on more Blessing Seven: Having h

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

others or society in general. Once you can avail yourself of such skills, then it is also a blessing in itself. Already mooted in the previous two Blessings has been the difficulty of knowing whether the knowledge or skill we are learning has any negative implications for the human dignity of ourselves