Meditation

Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta: The Sermon : 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

Ways to Make Merit

We should always remember that every single good act we perform constitutes merit.

Commentorial Metaphors: Indulgence in sensual pleasures:

A pig content to wallow in dung: Indulging in sensual pleasures is rather like a pig, which spends all its life wallowing in the warm mud and dung of its pigsty because it thinks that this is the ultimate happiness.

Examples of the outcome of Merit:

1. A long life because one did not kill in the past 2. Freedom from illness because one did not treat animals badly or cause them distress

Fruits of Merit

This benefit takes effects very quickly. Once we do good things, our mind becomes purer. We do not have to wait until the next life, but it occurs in our mind instantly.

Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta: The Sermon

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)

Different kinds of Merits

There are two types of previously accumulated merit:

First Disciple: the most seasoned in the Perfections

At the end of the Lord Buddha’s sermon, kondanna, the leader of the ‘Group of Five’, became a Stream-Enterer [sotapana]

The Benefits of Merits

1. Cleanses and purifies our mind and speech 2. Brings happiness, progress and further advancements

Overview : 3. The Middle Way

The Middle Way [majjhima patipada] is a path of practice that avoids the extremes of either sensual indulgence or self-mortification

What is Merit?

Merit means ‘goodness’ or ‘happiness’ It is something which, if it arises in the mind, will cause the mind to become pure and free of cloudiness

Overview : 2. The Path of Self-Mortification

According to the Buddha, the practice of self-mortification [attakilamathanuyoga] is fruitless

Good Deeds from the Past

“If a fruit has an exquisite taste, that taste is something which it has brought with it from the seed

Overview : 1. The Path of Sensual Indulgence

The path of sensual pleasure [kamasukhallikanuyogal, is to seek for pleasures through the channels of the five outer senses: eyes, ears, nose, mouth and physical contact

The Benefits of Staying in an Appropriate Environment:

1. Receive happiness and joy 2. Make both worldly and spiritual progress

Methods to making a Cozy Home

Choose food, and cook meals that are healthy. Try to be an ‘inventive’ cook, and prepare and serve meals that are tasty and nutritious

Overview : Introduction

After the Enlightenment which transformed Siddhatthe Gotama into the Lord Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree on the banks of the River Neranjara

Points for Consideration:

In many countries, there is growth in materialism, civilization and consumer goods, job availability and the ability to earn high salaries

Prioritizing these Four Factors:

Why? A shelter may not be that comfortable, but if there is good food, it will be good enough to get by

Author’s Preface

Buddhism is unique in teaching a way to overcome suffering, with its aim definitively to liberate oneself from the Cycle of Existence [vadda-samsara] thereby attaining the highest eternal happiness