Bhikkhu Bodhi

Here, I want to suggest that to learn from the Buddha, in a practical context, primarily means to learn two aspects of the Dharma that ideally should run parallel. I will call these self-transformation and self-transcendence.

The final goal of the teaching, enlightenment or liberation, is attained through an act of self-transcendence, an act by which we step beyond the limits and boundaries of the conditioned mind and penetrate the unconditioned truth. This act is exercised by wisdom. However, liberating wisdom can arise only in a mind that is properly nurtured, and the process of nurturing the mind is the work of self-transformation.

Self-transformation

Self-transformation means that we cultivate ourselves in order to progress step by step towards the arising of genuine wisdom. Self-transformation involves two processes: one is elimination; the other is development. I will briefly discuss each in turn.

"Elimination" means the removal of unwholesome qualities from our lives. It means the avoidance of unwholesome actions of body, speech, and mind; the control and subduing of unwholesome thoughts; the rejection of false views and deluded ideas. Just as a gardener who wants to develop a beautiful garden must first eliminate the weeds and rubbish, so we have to wipe out the weeds and rubbish from our minds.

In learning from the Buddha we are trying to understand ourselves, to understand our own minds. The Buddha holds up a mirror to our minds and hearts, showing us the defiled mental states that bring harm to us and to others. Thus, by studying the teachings of the Buddha, we gain a better understanding of our weaknesses, the defects we must strive to overcome.

(We also learn the methods to overcome them, for this is exactly the strength of the Buddha’s teaching: it gives us, with remarkable precision, the medicines to eliminate all the illnesses of our minds. What is so astounding in the early Buddhist teachings is their incredibly detailed insight into the human mind.

Self-transcendence

These teachings give us a different kind of psychological analysis than we encounter in western psychology. The aim here is not so much to restore pathologically disturbed people to what is considered a normal level of mental health, but to treat "normal people" so that they can rise above all the limitations and bonds of the normal mind and realize their hidden potential, the utterly purified and awakened mind.

This requires an entirely different approach, an approach that is the outstanding contribution of the Buddha to the understanding of human nature).

The Buddha offers us not only an analysis of our defects, but a catalogue of our potential strengths. He also teaches the means to make these potential strengths real and effective. He gives us an extraordinarily pragmatic teaching that we can apply to our everyday lives for rising step by step to the ultimate realization.

To move in this direction is the meaning of development. "Development" means the cultivation of wholesome qualities, the qualities that promote inner peace and happiness and make our lives effective channels for bringing peace and happiness to others.

The Buddha offers a wide range of such wholesome practices, ranging from basic ethical observances to such practices as the five spiritual faculties the Noble Eightfold Path, and the six or ten paramitas. To learn about these, we should study the Dharma extensively and in depth.

Then we should learn how to apply them to our own lives in the most realistic and beneficial manner. The second major process that we learn from the Buddha is self-transcendence. Though the Buddha speaks about eliminating unwholesome states and developing wholesome ones, he does not aim merely at making us happy and contented people within the mundane limits of the world.

He points us towards a transcendent goal; he leads us to the unconditioned reality, Nirvana, the calm and quiescent state beyond birth, old age, suffering, and death. This goal can be achieved only by a full and clear comprehension of the ultimate nature of things, the final mode of existence of all phenomena.

While this reality has to be penetrated by direct experience, we need specific guidelines to understand it. The goal itself transcends concepts and words, but the Buddha and the great Buddhist masters have provided us with a wide variety of "photographs" that give us glimpses into the real nature of things.

None of these "pictures" can capture it completely, but they do convey some idea of the things we should be looking for, the principles that we need to understand, and the goal towards which we should be aspiring.

To engage in a study of the principles relevant to self-transcendence is a philosophical enterprise, but this is not philosophy as mere idle speculation. For Buddhism, philosophy is an attempt to fathom the real nature of things, to use concepts and ideas to get a glimpse of the truth that liberates us, a truth that transcends all concepts and ideas. (Buddhist philosophy is a great stream flowing from the Buddha, continually refashioned and extended to bring to light the different facets of reality, to expose different aspects of a truth that can never be adequately captured by any system.

When we study Buddhist philosophy, we must always remember that these philosophical investigations are not undertaken merely to satisfy intellectual curiosity but to aid in the task of self-transcendence. They do this by pinpointing the nature of the wisdom we need to obliterate ignorance, the primary root of all bondage and suffering).

Learning the Buddha’s mind

I have been speaking about "learning from the Buddha" as if this always involves learning teachings explicitly recorded in texts. But that is only part of what learning from the Buddha involves. To learn from the Buddha means not only to study his words; it also means to learn from his conduct and his mind. Buddhist tradition has left us many records of the Buddha’s deeds in his lifetime in this world and in his previous lives, and these form a major part of the narrative heritage of Buddhism.

The life, conduct, and mind of the Buddha provide us with a model to emulate, the ideal standard that we, as followers of the Buddha, should try to embody in our own lives. The Buddha is the model of a human being who had been an ordinary person like us, but who had reached the pinnacle of human perfection.

To learn from the Buddha we should not only seek to find out what the Buddha taught. We should also try to mould our own lives in accordance with his qualities: his immaculate purity, his unhindered spiritual freedom, his great wisdom and compassion, his unshakeable peace and balance of mind.

To learn from the Buddha ultimately means that we learn to be ‘Buddha’, to become awakened human beings, pure, wise and compassionate, peaceful and magnanimous.

To advance at least a few steps in that direction should be our purpose in joining this Dharma Retreat.

The rainy season and offering of robes to the Maha Sangha

• The word “Vas” means the rains; “Viseema” means the dwelling. Therefore, Vas Viseema means to sojourn during the rainy season.

• Vassana Kala, or the rainy season of three-months starts from the Esala Full Moon Day

• Vap Pinkama is performed during the period from Vap Full Moon Day to Ill Full Moon Day. The most important event is the Katina Pinkama, or offering of robes to the Maha Sangha.

• Buddha set an example to his followers by observing Vas himself.

• Amongst the religious activities, the most important event is the ‘Katina Puja’.In the words of Buddha, this is the noblest religious activity for Buddhists in which limitless merit is accumulated.

By Gamini Jayasinghe
According to the Buddhist literature, monks in the past did not have permanent homes. They made ‘Pallankans’ or bedsteads under the shade of trees, sat there and meditated. They had to go from door to door with a bowl to beg for food. The food thus received in the bowl is called ‘Pindapatha’.

However, during the rainy season a monk remained with a house holder. Whilst there, it is usual for him to give religious instructions to the inmates and others who attend on him. Dwelling in this manner is known as ‘Vas Viseema’. The word “Vas” means the rains; “Viseema” means the dwelling. Therefore, Vas Viseema means to sojourn during the rainy season.

Vassana Kala, or the rainy season of three-months starts from the Esala Full Moon Day and ends on Vap Full Moon Day. The monks end or give up Vas on Vap Full Moon Day. This is called Vas Pavaranaya. From Vap Full Moon Day, Buddhists commence a series of special religious events. Vap Pinkama is performed during the period from Vap Full Moon Day to Il Full Moon Day. The most important event is the Katina Pinkama, or offering of robes to the Maha Sangha.

Buddha set an example to his followers by observing Vas himself. The seventh Vas period after attaining Buddhahood is of special significance because it was during that season that Buddha dwelled in the divine world ‘Thausitha’ or ‘Thautisa’. Buddha decided to dwell in ‘Thautisa’ during this Vas season to be of assistance to the mother god. Queen Mahamaya died seven days after giving birth to prince Siddhartha and was born as a mighty god in the divine world ‘Thausitha’. Buddha gave religious instructions to the mother god and other divine beings. Mother god attained ‘Sowan’ or the first of the four stages or steps leading to Nirvana.

During this Vas period Buddha delivered ‘Abhidharma’ or transcendent doctrine to gods. He accomplished twin or double miracle – a power said to have been possessed by Buddha to cause a stream of fire to emanate from one pore of his body and a stream of water from another, simultaneously.

Buddha used this power exclusively for the purpose of clearing the doubts of celestial beings and not to entice them through miracles. He taught his followers that no one should be charmed or enticed through miracles but that they should be made to understand the reality.

Buddha did not exhibit supernatural powers but made his followers to realize the truth. He accomplished miracles only on three other occasions where it was the only way to subdue arrogant persons. Once it was to overcome the pride or arrogance of the relatives. The other two occasions were to subdue non-Buddhist heretical monks and ascetics known as ‘Jatilas’.

He taught the four noble truths, i.e. that existence involves suffering, the cause of suffering, the extinction of suffering or Nirvana and the way to the extinction of suffering. The way to Nirvana is eight fold, i.e. ‘Samma Ditti,’ right view (orthodoxy); ‘Samma Sankappa’, right volition or determination; ‘Samma Vacha,’ right speech; ‘Samma Kammantha’, right action; ‘Samma Ajeeewa’, right living or livelihood; ‘Samma Vayama,’ right effort; ‘Samma Sathi,’ right remembrance or contemplation of past and ‘Samma Samadhi,’ right meditation.

After completing the seventh Vas season in ‘Thawatisa’, Buddha returned to this world on the Vap Full Moon Day attended by Devas and Brahmas. According to Buddhist literature, Buddha decended from ‘Thawatisa’ to this world down a ladder made of ‘Sath Ruwan’ or seven precious things i.e. gold, silver, pearls, gems, cat’s eyes, gems, diamonds and coral. ‘Shad Varna’ i.e. an aggregate of six colours – Blue, Yellow, Crimson, White, Red and the colour formed by their combined radiance emanated from His body and formed into a halo around him.

Thousands of Devas and Brahmas including the king of gods, Sakra stood beside the ladder to pay their honour to the Buddha. Sahampathi, Maha Brahma held the ‘Chathra’ parasol and god Suyama (Chief god of the divine world Yama) fanned Buddha with a ‘Vijinapatha’ or ‘Vatapotha’. Panchasikha played the Veena.

When Buddha descended, followed by Sakra Brahma and Suyama, the people were overcome with “Buddhalambana Preethiya” or the pleasure connected with Buddha. People who could not make offerings to Buddha during a period of three months were happy about His return to the world of men and with that ‘Buddhalambana Preethiya’ they made it a religious festive season. Amongst the religious activities, the most important event is the ‘Katina Puja’.

In the words of Buddha, this is the noblest religious activity for Buddhists in which limitless merit is accumulated. ‘Katina Cheewara’ are sacrificed or offered to monks.

‘Katinaya’ is a web of cloth made in a day and night and presented to a Buddhist priest. ‘Katina Cheewaraya’ is a robe made of thick cloth to be worn during the oncoming wet and cold season.

“Buddha Charithaya” with Sinhala subtitle – This is a wonderful piece of animation covering the life of Lord Buddha and his preaching’s, found on google 

By U. Mapa

There are three kinds of knowledge in relation to dhamma. First, knowledge acquired by learning- called suthamaya nana. It may be by hearing from some one or by reading. Second type is knowledge gained by reasoning which is chinthamaya nana; and the third is direct knowledge gained through contemplation or meditation. This is called bhavanamaya nana which is insight knowledge.

These three kinds of knowledge can be better understood by means of an illustration. Imagine a young child from a rural area who has never heard the existence of a creature called ‘giraffe’ in the animal world. However, from his class teacher in school, he learns for the first time about this animal. Now he has knowledge about the existence of such an animal. This is suthamaya nana. If he is a keen student to learn more about it, he would attempt on his own to develop his imagination about this animal based on the description given by his class teacher. He would think whether it is like a buffalo, a horse or a dear. In his imagination perhaps he might even visualize an animal with features that closely resemble a giraffe. And, from the information he has received he would even reasonably come to the conclusion that a giraffe cannot resemble a reptile like a snake or a crocodile. This is achieved through chintamaya nana. Yet, if some one shows him a picture of a camel and says it is a giraffe, he might believe it, because his knowledge is still speculative; provided of course he has never seen a camel either.

Through chinthamaya nana some persons could even achieve brilliant intellectual feats. Classic examples are the great physicist Albert Einstein, who discovered the famous Theory of Relativity; Archimedes, who discovered the Law of Specific Gravity while he was in the bath tub; and Sir Isaac Newton who found the universal laws of motion. It is said that he discovered these laws after seeing an apple falling from its tree due to gravitational force. Before him, there must have been many thousands who had witnessed such occurrences, but the difference is that it did not occur to any of them to find out the cause for things to fall on to the earth and not shoot up to the sky. On the other hand, Newton pondered deeply into this phenomenon and drew certain conclusions which were later confirmed scientifically.

To come back to our illustration, the child student now joins a school excursion to the Colombo Zoological Gardens. There he sees with his own eyes the real animal –giraffe. Very keenly he observes its features- the long neck, the form of its body, tan colour of its skin and the spots, number of legs it has, how it eats etc. This special knowledge which he has thus acquired by seeing the animal is direct knowledge which is same as the third type viz. bahvanamaya nana. He cannot be fooled by showing a picture of a camel any more.

Seeing the Dhamma

Out of the three types, suthamaya nana has to be derived from an external source, while chintamaya nana is developed from within oneself through deductions and inferences. As referred to above, scientists and mathematicians have discovered principles of science; and developed important mathematical equations using chinthaaya nana. Recent speculative theory about the existence of ‘black holes’ in the universe is yet another example. However, the only accurate and surest is direct knowledge –bhavanamaya nana. Actually bhavanamaya nana has to be understood in relation to Dhamma as insight knowledge derived by ‘seeing’ the mental process of sense perception. It can be compared to the knowledge gained by seeing a minute item which is not visible to the naked eye such as an amoeba, through the microscope.

How does this relate to the understanding of Dhamma ? Say, a person who had never heard of the Buddha’s teachings learns it from some other person or by reading. He comes to know, that according to Buddhism everything is impermanent (anicca); there is no real self (anatta); and existence in any form, be it as a human being or as a deity, is unsatisfactory (dukka). Up to this point is suthamaya nana.

Perhaps on hearing these salient features expounded in Buddhism he might develop an interest to know more about the Dhamma . From now on he would ponder over these characteristics deeply, while he reads about the subject and engages himself in Dhamma discussions. By these means he would conceptually understand that there is no self that has mastery over anything; the ‘self’ or ‘I’ is a mere illusion created due to ignorance or avijja,. And, as long as there is avijja a person is bound by the samsaric bond. He is now inclined to accept that everything arises due to causes; and whatever that is conditionally arisen, due this very fact, it is subject to cessation. Through pure reasoning he develops initial faith (sadda) in the Noble Teaching. His understanding of Dhamma at this level however, is conceptual which is chintamaya nana.

At this stage he goes to a teacher who can guide him on meditation as prescribed by the Buddha i.e vipassana bhavana or insight meditation. Through vipassana bhavana he begins to ‘see’ the interrelation and interdependence between mind and matter (nama & rupa). He sees this through arising of sensations. He realizes that every sensation is dependent on a cause; nothing arises without a cause; every thing is continuously fading away; nothing is stationery even for a split second. As such, there is no basis to form a self; it (self) is a mere mental formation due to not seeing reality. With clarity of his mind he now gradually begins to ‘see’ what actually takes place. It is the initial contact felt through the sense faculties which is misconceived due to ignorance (avijja) to create an illusion of a self. Centered round this ‘illusory self’ arises the craving (thanha) to keep it happy. He realizes that it is yet another futile exercise because his happiness, being dependent on sensations which are impermanent (anicca), is fleeting. This realization comes through direct knowledge which is bhavanamaya nana.

Distinctive Features in Dhamma0

When he begins to ‘see’ the Dhamma directly in this manner his inner transformation takes place. He gets disenchanted (nibbida) with sensual pleasures and earnestly work his way towards extinction of dukka. This ‘leading on’ nature is one of the distinctive features found in the Dhamma. For this reason dhamma is opanayko. But it operates only when one enters the path – the Noble Eightfold Path – led by right view (samma dhitti) gained through direct knowledge. In Mahacattarisaka sutta the Buddha has stated:

"Therein bhikkus right view comes first. And how does right view come first ? In one of right view, wrong view is abolished, and the many evil unwholesome states that originate with wrong view as condition are also abolished, and the many wholesome states that originate with right view as condition come to fulfillment of development."

The same sutta continues: "`85in one of right mindfulness, wrong mindfulness is abolished`85In one of right concentration, wrong concentration is abolished`85.In one of right knowledge, wrong knowledge is abolished." The ‘right knowledge’ (samma nana) referred to here is direct knowledge or bhavanamaya nana. It is this penetrative knowledge gained from insight meditation that gives the vision of Dhamma, and no amount of intellectual understanding of the Dhamma, by itself, would cause the transformation within. Through direct knowledge he realizes that there is no self in reality, and it is only an illusion (anatta); that every thing is impermanent and subject to change (anicca). And existence in any form is suffering (dukka).

It is not an absurd situation where both existence and non existence are experienced simultaneously as misconceived by those who have not grasped the profound Dhamma. According to them Nibbana is impossible, as it ‘presupposes presence and enjoys absence’. No, Nibbana is not ‘enjoying’ absence of any thing; it is the ‘experiencing’ of reality with the arising of the Dhamma-vision. With bhavanamaya nana he realizes that everything is impermanent, conditioned, dependently arisen, subject to destruction, vanishing, fading away, and ceasing. This true nature of phenomena has to be ‘seen’ with the eye of Dhamma (which is dhanmma cakku) as in the case of the Venerable Kondanna. This is why Dhamma cannot be understood by mere intellectual and speculative knowledge; for it is said, ‘seeing is believing’.

Now a question might arise, if one does not get this realization from mere intellectual understanding then how did some persons instantaneously get the vision of Dhamma as related in the Buddhist scriptures? A good example is Ven. Sariputta. Before he was even ordained as a disciple of the Buddha he became a stream winner (sotapanna) by merely listening to a short stanza from Elder Assaji. Later, he became an arahant – fully accomplished one- while listening to a Dhamma discourse given by the Buddha to Ven. Sariputta’s nephew, Dhiganaka.

It is possible in the case of those who already have a deep understanding of Dhamma through bhavanamaya nana which they have acquired in their previous lives. Ven. Sariputta was one such fortunate person. If not, he wouldn’t be disenchanted with the lay life so as to seek liberation in his prime youth. In our case, we are less fortunate than Ven. Sariputta. That is why we are born at a time when we have to struggle to live in accordance with the Noble Teachings of the Buddha. Yet, we are fortunate to have been born in Sri Lanka – the dhamma dipa – which still provides the best environment conducive to practicing the Dhamma.

The purpose of this short article is to inspire the reader to strive to gain direct knowledge of the Dhamma in this very life, here and now. Dhamma is to be ‘seen’ well (sandhittika).

Buddha’s last words to the bhikkus, before his parinibbana, were: "Now monks, I declare to you: all conditioned things are of a nature to decay, work out your salvation without delay." (Vayadhamma sankhara, appamadena sampadetha). In this very brief exhortation the Buddha did not make reference to dukka (suffering), cause of dukka, or the liberation from dukka.

Also to Upatissa (i.e. Ven. Sariputta before ordination) who was in search of a teacher of dhamma, Ven. Assaji replied in a concise statement the teaching of Buddha; answering Upatissa’s query as to the teacher under whom he has taken refuge, Elder Assaji said:

"Of all those things that from a cause arise,

Thathagatha the cause thereof has told;

And how they cease to be, that too he tells,

This is the doctrine of the great Recluse"

In the Scriptures we find a similar epithet used to announce and convey the realization of the initial stage of experiencing the dhamma by a stream winner (sothapanna). The first disciple of the Buddha to have become a sothapanna was Ven. Kondanna; it happened while he was listening to dhammacakkapavatana sutta – the first sermon of the Buddha. The sutta says the eye of dhamma arose in Kondanna in that he realized ‘whatever that arises due to causes all that are subject to cessation’ (yan kinci samudaya dhammam sabbantham niridha dhammam). The same epithet was used in Dhiganaka sutta to announce the realization of sottapanna stage by Dhiganaka, Ven. Sariputta’s nephew.

True, a Buddha arises in the world to teach the four Noble Truths- (1) the dukka, (2)cause of dukka, (3) cessation of dukka (i.e. nibbana) and (4) the way for liberation from dukka which is the Noble Eightfold Path. But, to Ven. Ananda, the Buddha in a single stanza explained what every Buddha would teach. It is the famous verse most Buddhists will know: (sabba papasa akaranam`85. )

"Refrain from evil

Practice virtue

Cleanse the mind

This is the teaching of Buddhas"

Surprisingly, there is no reference to dukka, cause of dukka or cessation of dukka (nibbana). Yet; this is the essence of Dhamma as taught by every Buddha. Does it mean that we need not learn the three Noble Truths not referred to in this verse?

This question has to be viewed from a practical point of view. Perhaps it can be better understood through an illustration. What should a patient do to cure from his illness? Take the medicine prescribed by the physician and that’s all. He need not know the scientific analysis of his illness. A child who is afflicted with an illness will even not know that he is sick. He simply takes the medicine given to him by his parents, and he would be cured from his illness. On the other hand, if a patient without taking the medicine, keeps researching about his illness to know what caused it; or keeps on reading the prescription and reciting it many times like a mantram will he get cured? Never, not by those means.

The extinction of suffering can come about only by practicing the way of Dhamma. That is why every Buddha will stress the importance of treading this ‘ancient path’ they discover, rather than merely reading the ‘sign boards’ giving directions. The verse above referred to contains nothing but the three essentials for one’s progress towards deliverance i.e. sila, samadhi and panna. In other words, it is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Sila is moral restraint – not allowing one’s desires generated by craving (thanha) for sensual pleasures (as well as aversion) to let lose. If we simply give in to our desires we will be behaving like wild beasts. Craving for sensual pleasures has no bounds unless controlled by sila. Like a fire that burns any amount of fuel, craving is insatiable. But, why should we not seek satisfaction through indulgence. Is it wrong because of a taboo according to the Teachings of the Buddha?

No, a Buddha can only teach us the way to end dukka; it is for us to follow the way. We should consider ourselves very fortunate to be born at a time when the Noble Teachings are found and can be practiced. If we let go this opportunity we are to be blamed for it. Indulgence in sensual pleasures will only keep us blind to reality; to use the famous simile, it is like the crab’s fleeting water dance in the curry pot. Indulgence in sensual pleasures would only make us stupidly delay (pamada) and postpone practicing the way of the Buddhas. This is why the Buddha exhorted the Bhikkus in his last words, ‘be heedful’. No amount of mere theoretical knowledge of Buddha’s Teachings would be of any use if we do not earnestly practice in accordance with the Noble Eightfold Path. If not, it would be similar to a patient reading the prescription without taking the medicine.

Full Awareness

- sathi

When a person’s sila is intensified, his awareness (sathi) will naturally develop, for there has to be awareness before one could observe the arising of the desires in one’s mind. In this manner sila and sathi will work together to bring about calmness of the mind which is smadhi. It is the samadhi that helps one to detect the arising of desires at its initial stage so that one’s sila becomes more refined. But, still there would be desires arising in such a way to justify giving into it. Say, even in the form of directing mettha to a person of the opposite sex. Beware of your mind which is so cunning and artful in getting what it wants through deception! At this stage one has to have developed skillfulness (panna) in determining what is wholesome (kusal) and unwholesome (akusal). Wholesome deeds or kusal are the bodily, verbal and mental activities that lead one towards cessation of dukka – i.e. nibbana. It is through panna one determines kusal and akusal. Through right effort one should suppress all akusal from arising and develop kusal. To do this, one must develop clear comprehension (sathi sampajanna) or full awareness.

The combined work of sila, samadhi and panna will now keep the practitioner in the right track. What happens is, with full awareness he would ‘let go’ every sensation, including the most subtle ones; no matter whether they are wholesome or unwholesome. So that even if a person has a vision of the Buddha while in meditation, he should ‘let go’ the vision without grasping it. It is due to attachment to sensations and grasping (upadana) them one gets carried away with what one has grasped. When one does not grasp and let go, with full awareness, one is free from attachment and there will be no more dukka for him.

By mere intellectual knowledge of Buddhism one will not be able to ‘let go’ sensations with nonattachment. It can only be achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path which leads to the realization: ‘all that arise due to causes are subject to cessation’. This is the essence of Buddhism. This is the fundamental reason for dukka, which Upatissa realized when he listened to Elder Assaji’s aforementioned stanza. For convenience a person might get into a state of complacency that he is so learned in the Dhamma that he can ‘let go’ any thing. But the real test comes at the moment of his death. Unless he has developed the skill to the extent of instinctively ‘letting go’ what ever the sensation, mere intellectual understanding of the Dhamma would not be sufficient for his consciousness to release the grasp. His consciousness would cling on to the last sensation like the person who grasps even a straw to save his life when he is at the threshold of being drowned.

If this is the case, why did Buddha preach the other three Noble Truths? The answer is, if the Buddha did not preach them, no one would have accepted the Noble Truth relating to the path only. Supposing, if a person did not even suspect that he was afflicted with a cancer would he take treatment? No, in the same way there must be initial acceptance of the Noble Teachings (about dukka), for a person to generate right view (samma dhitti) by placing his confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. ‘Right view’ being the first step on the path of Dhamma is so essential. But, that does not mean to suggest one should learn the Dhamma in depth before one begins practicing.

Buddha’s Instructions

Pali Canon has enough examples where the Buddha had not preached the four Noble Truths to every one who came to him, but just what was necessary; of course having regard to their past accumulations which only a Buddha has the ability to do. The best example is the instructions given to Bhikku Nanda (former prince) who was feeling so depressed because he could not return to his fianc`E9e–Janpadakalyani as requested by her when he was walking behind the Buddha. When the Buddha came to know about his problem, using his psychic powers the Buddha made him to see beautiful nymphs in the deva world. Nanda then agreed to meditate as instructed by the Buddha, not for extinction of suffering but to be born in the heavens so that he could have a celestial nymph as promised by the Buddha! Nevertheless, Nanda was fully cured of his desire for lust with the realization of ultimate truth of Nibbana. He immediately released the Buddha from the promise he had made.

What is to be understood from this is the importance of practice without which there would be no progress towards liberation. The purpose of this article is not to discourage those who wish to study the Buddha’s teaching, but to convey to them that Dhamma is understood better when one studies it while practicing. It’s like doing practical experiments in the school laboratory by science students. Only after seeing sunlight passing through the prism the student gets convinced that it has seven colours. Dhamma is sandhittika i.e it has to be realized through direct knowledge. -by U.Mapa

All beings are from the very beginning Buddhas.
It is like water and ice:
Apart from water, no ice,
Outside living beings, no Buddhas.
Not knowing it is near, they seek it afar. What a pity!
It is like one in the water who cries out with thirst;
It is like the child of a rich house
who has strayed among the poor.
The cause of our circling through the six worlds
Is that we are on the dark paths of ignorance.
Dark path upon dark path treading,
When shall we escape from birth-and-death?
The Zen meditation of the Mahayana
Is beyond all our praise.
Giving and morality and the other perfections,
Taking of the Name, repentance, discipline,
And the many other right actions,
All come back to the practice of meditation.
By the merit of a single sitting
He destroys innumerable accumulated sins.
How should there be wrong paths for him?
The Pure Land paradise is not far.
When in reverence this truth is heard even once,
He who praises it and gladly embraces
it has merit without end
How much more he who turns within
And confirms directly his own nature,
That his own nature is no-nature
Such has transcended vain words.
The gate opens, and cause and effect are one;

-ANCL-

Women clad in white robes stand silently in the early morning light, holding out their alms bowls hoping for food or monetary offerings.

While the Buddhist faithful oblige, many of them regard these women as spiritually inferior to monks, females who have turned to religion as a result of a broken heart or family problems.

Thai nuns, who have their heads and eyebrows shaved, dress in white and do not take any meals after noon, are called mae chee.

Other than a few, exceptional and recognised leaders with their own spiritual centres, such as Mae Chee Sanasanee Sthirasuta of Sathira Dhammasathan in Bangkok, most of the eight-precept holders live in temples run by male abbots.

Even today, mae chee are not recognised by the Thai Sangha.

Yet a large number of women are willing to enter the nunhood. What pushes them to make this decision?

Laddawan Tamafu, a researcher at Chiang Mai University, donned a white blouse and pants and followed the eight precepts for two years, observing the life of nuns in four nunneries in Thailand.

She was an adherent of Chee Bhrama, a popular choice among women seeking a temporary retreat in Thai Buddhism.

During the two years, Laddawan met 300 women and, although the lack of official figures makes year-by-year comparisons impossible, Laddawan says their numbers are increasing.

"Nuns are generally seen as passive. But after having experienced the life myself, I know it’s the other way round. They are very strong spiritually," says Laddawan, whose thesis "Mae Chees: the World of Forgotten Women" earned her a master’s degree from the university’s social development faculty.

The researcher became interested in the subject in 2001, when a Thai woman caused a major controversy by being ordained in Sri Lanka as a samaneri (female novice).

"Why did the issue of a woman seeking religious space become a hot debate? This question inspired me to study women in religion through the lives of mae chee," she explains.

The groups of nuns Laddawan met in the study areas were reliant on male monks for accommodation, food and the chance to practise dhamma. They helped in the temple kitchen, and cleaned, finishing the chores before chanting, meditating and studying dhamma.

"Serving by doing household chores is not seen as inferior duty. Rather, it is regarded as a way of practising towards no-self, the ultimate goal in Buddhism," says the researcher, who is now assistant director of the Life Skill Development Foundation in Chiang Mai.

Shopping for necessities and food as directed by the monks, and preparing lunch for lay people who attend dhamma courses at temples, are also among the mae chees’duties.

"People tend to criticise the nuns who go to the shops for being in ‘materialistic appetite-sharpening places’," she notes.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications regards the nuns as lay people and denies them free transportation on public buses to which monks are entitled. Ironically, the Interior Ministry denies them the right to vote, considering them as clergy, as described under Section 106 of the Constitution.

"They are marginalised both in the temples and outside, yet instead of feeling frustrated and speaking out, they collect themselves and turn inwards, observing their minds," says Laddawan adding that most of the nuns are age 35 and over, have primary school education, are poor and have family problems.

Mae chees have their own strategies for survival in the male dominated temples, forming close bonds and taking care of each other, with newcomers often caring for senior nuns.

Regarding mae chees as passive and seeking shelter from life’s problems, is stereotyping, says Mae Chee Nathathai Chatinawat, of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen in Bangkok.

Their personalities vary considerably according to both background and aspirations, says the nun, who is a postgraduate student in women’s studies at Thammasat University, doing a thesis entitled "Identities of Mae Chees in Thai Society".

Nathathai, now 41, entered the nunhood six years ago. She categorises mae chees into four types: those who study dhamma and become recognised spiritual leaders; those who help in temple kitchens; those who seek education, worldly or non-worldly like learning Pali; and those who depend on their families for living expenses.

The characteristics may overlap. Nathathai spends most of her time learning Pali and practising dhamma and divides the remainder between helping in the kitchen at the temple and university.

"Mae chees have traditionally had limited access to education. Until now, government funding for religious studies in Thailand has only been extended to male students," says Nathathai, adding that monks who finish parien kao prayok (higher dhamma education) are entitled to a monthly allowance of Bt3,500 (US$92.88) until death or leaving the monkhood, while nuns who have equal education have no monetary support.

With mae chees having to depend on the male dominated Sangha, Nathathai sees little difference between the status of mae chee and bhikkhuni (the highest ordination for nuns in Theravada Buddhism), as neither is recognised by the Sangha.

"But the Sangha has to choose and allow equal spiritual learning space for women," says Nathathai, pointing out that improving the status of mae chees is far more possible than supporting female ordination.

Mae Chee Pratin Kwan-on, president of the Thai Nun Institute, has almost lost hope of seeing an improvement in the status of mae chee in her lifetime.

"We have submitted many petitions but nothing has changed," says the nun.

"Although there is no clear evidence of the origins of the mae chee in Thai society, joining a nunnery is a source of inspiration for many women. Nuns should have the same spiritual and social space as other human beings."

Courtesy- Asia News & The Sunday Island

By Kingsley Heendeniya

SELF: I think it is Lady Pankhurst who told Winston Churchill, in Parliament, "If you were my husband, I will poison your drink." And Churchill retorted, "Madam, if you were my wife, I shall drink it!" Throughout history, the world has witnessed this play and display of the self. The over-arch of the self in its many-faceted splendor, vanity and frustration has dominated literature and art, passion, creativity, discovery, war and terror, and much besides.

Perception of Self

We would all be zombies if not for the perception of self. We regard ourselves alive from having body, mind, limbs, sensuality, mobility and so on; and the sum total is the self. No one sees it as described by the Buddha: matter, feeling, perception, determinations, consciousness. Then where exactly is this putative elusive self? Its origin, in the uninstructed person [puthujjana], is outlined in the following charming way:

1. Matter…consciousness is identical with self, as a flame and its colour.

2. The self is endowed with matter…consciousness, as a tree has a shadow.

3. Matter…consciousness belongs to self, as scent of a flower.

4. Self is in matter…consciousness, as a jewel in a casket.

Focus and nature of Self

Where, anatomically or physiologically, is this ‘thing’ self, soul, atman? Sites such as the pineal body in the recess of the brain are posited but no one has located it. No one has even indirectly demonstrated that it is nevertheless there, somewhere.

May be it is an external aura like infrared radiation captured by a hologram?

Some are very definite of one thing: animals do not have it. It is a prerogative gift for being born human, and unique – no two, even identical twins have it same. It remains unchanged through life, from birth to death, and beyond. It escapes from a natural aperture of the body to await judgment and redemption.

The Greeks thought someone then weighs it to assess sin.

The Self in Dhamma

The Buddha was the first to argue that self is a deception of a deception as a mirage (a deception) is real (a deception) to one seeing it. No amount of introspection can overcome it. However one reflects, in successive deeper layers of reflexion, either it is with self that one sees no-self, or with no-self see self.

The majority does not bother. The self is taken as granted.

The indirect way

The method of the Teaching from the beginning, in the middle and end is indirect. The technique is to develop insight. There is no other way to override inferential thinking by the self. That is, no amount of inferential knowledge can lead to seeing what it actually is. The word ‘absolute’ has no meaning till there is insight and direct knowledge of what is actually the case.

To reach this stage of intuitive development, the Buddha appeals to unprejudiced reasoning. If matter…consciousness is changing, does it mean the self is also changing with them? Since one can experience only one kind of feeling any one time, pleasant, unpleasant, neutral, does it mean there is a different self feeling pleasant…neutral? Is it proper to regard notwithstanding, there is a permanent, unchanging self?

The coup de grace is now dealt. If in this impermanent bundle of matter…consciousness there is a permanent self, why cannot it be: Let my matter…consciousness be this, not that? Why cannot the self interfere or direct or control or stop change?

Impermanence

Regardless whether there is or there is no self, the observed truth is there is relentless breakdown of the body, and death. Existence is underscored by impermanence. In Dhamma, the focus is the body and mind, and impermanence is subjective instability – to change, fade and disappear whatever appropriated by the self.

Additionally, when what appropriated is regarded as mine, belonging to me, yearning to retain hold of pleasant and dear produces sadness. It is not the impermanence of things per se that brings sorrow but holding to things by the self. In Dhamma, this is called upadana. The existential disappointment is ‘but in truth, there is no self’.

Self-identity

Self-identity, as taught in psychology, is the self as when seen in the mirror. This is not the ’self’ taught in Dhamma. Nor is the ’self’ personality. We build personality from childhood. Puberty is the beginning of adolescence shaping manhood. That is, personality or the totality of attitudes and so on, changes. When discussing this, a friend told me how after his father died, his mother gave up living and a sprightly person became bed-ridden, sad and died.

Duality

‘This significance (or intention, or determination), ‘mine’ or ‘for me’ is, in a sense, a void, a negative aspect of the present thing (or existing phenomenon), since it simply points to a subject; and the puthujjana not seeing impermanence (or more specifically, not seeing impermanence of this ubiquitous determination), deceives himself into supposing that there actually exists a subject – ’self’ – independent of the object (which is the positive aspect of the phenomenon – that which is ‘for me’)… But care is needed; for, in fact, the division subject/object is not a simple negative/positive division…The fact is, that the intention or determination ‘mine’, pointing to a subject, is a complex structure…The subject is not simply a negative in relation to the positive object: it (or he) is master over the object, and thus a kind of positive negative, a master who does not appear explicitly but who, somehow or other, nevertheless exists. [Nanavira Thera]

Tragedy and Comedy

All intra and inter-personal, all internecine societal conflict can be traced back and understood as arising from the delusion of ’self’. In Dhamma, there is no ethnicity or any essential difference in living beings, human or animal. All is matter, chiefly carbon. Living beings have joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure. They have the perception of self, their own precious identity. In sum, it leads to more of tragedy than of comedy.

The teaching of the Buddha aims to disabuse the demarking primitive notion of self, not surely by discriminative thinking. He aims to develop insight: If you look for a self in any thing, you shall not find it – sabbe dhamma anatta. -ANCL

Alone one delights in solitude
He who sits alone, rests alone, walks alone unindolent, who in solitude controls himself, will find delight in the finest.
Pakinneka Vagga – The Dhammapada

By: Ven. Dr.K.Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thero (PhD. D Lit.)
Chief Prelate of Malaysia, Singapore.

What is the Purpose of life?

Man is the highest fruit on the tree of evolution. It is for man to realize his position in nature and understand the true meaning of his life.

To know the purpose of life, you will first have to study the subject through your experience and insight. Then, you will discover for yourself the true meaning of life. Guidelines can be given. but you must create the necessary conditions for the arising of realization yourself.

There are several prerequisites to the discovery of the purpose of life. First, you must understand the nature of man and the nature of life. Next, you keep your mind calm and peaceful through the adoption of a religion. When these conditions are met, the answer you seek will come like the gentle rain from the sky.

Understanding the nature of man

Man may be clever enough to land on the moon and discover wondrous things in the universe, but he has yet to delve into the inner workings of his own mind. He has yet to learn how his mind can be developed to its fullest potential so that its true nature can be realized.

As yet, man is still wrapped in ignorance. He does not know who he really is or what is expected of him. As a result, he misinterprets everything and acts on that misinterpretation. Is it not conceivable that our entire civilization is built on this misinterpretation? The failure to understand his existence leads him to assume a false identity of a bloated, self-seeking egoist, and to pretend to be what he is not or is unable to be.

Man must make an effort to overcome ignorance to arrive at realization and Enlightenment. All great men are born as human beings from the womb, but they worked their way up to greatness. Realization and Enlightenment cannot be poured into the human heart like water into a tank. Even the Buddha had to cultivate his mind to realize the real nature of man.

Man can be enlightened – a Buddha – if he wakes up from the ‘dream’ that is created by his own ignorant mind, and becomes fully awakened. He must realize that what he is today is the result of and untold number of repetitions in thoughts an actions. He is not ready-made: he is continually in the process of becoming, always changing. And it is in this characteristic of change that his future lies, because it means that it is possible for him to mould his character and destiny through the choice of his actions, speech and thoughts. Indeed, he becomes the thoughts and actions that he chooses to perform. Man is the highest fruit on the tree of evolution. It is for man to realize his position in nature and to understand the true meaning of his life.

Understanding the nature of life

Most people dislike facing the true facts of life and prefer to lull themselves into a false sense of security by sweet dreaming and imagining. They mistake the shadow for the substance. They fail to realize that life is uncertain, but that death is certain. One way of understanding life is to face and understand death which is nothing more than a temporary end to a temporary existence. But many people do not like even to hear of the word ‘ death’. They forget that death will come, whether they like it or not. Recollections on death with the right mental attitude can give a person courage and calmness as well as an insight into the nature of existence.

Besides understanding death, we need a better understanding of our life. We are living a life that does not always proceed as smoothly as we would like it to. Very often, we face problems and difficulties. We should not be afraid of them because the penetration into the very nature of these problems and difficulties can provide us with a deeper insight into life. The worldly happiness in wealth, luxury, respectable positions in life which most people seek is an illusion. The fact that the sale of sleeping pills and tranquillizers, admissions to mental hospitals and suicide rates have increased in relation to modern material progress is enough testimony that we have to go beyond worldly, material pleasure to seek for real happiness.

The need for a religion

To understand the real purpose of life, it is advisable for a person it choose and follow an ethical-moral system that restrains a person from evil deeds, encourages him to do good, and enables him to purify his mind. For simplicity, we shall call this system ‘religion’

Religion is the expression of the striving man: it is his greatest power, leading him on wards to self- realization. It has the power to transform one with negative characteristics into someone with positive qualities. It turns the ignoble, noble; the selfish, unselfish; the proud, humble; the haughty, forbearing; the greedy, benevolent; the cruel, kind; the subjective, objective. Every religion, represents, however imperfectly, a reaching upwards to a higher level of being. From the earliest times, religion has been the source of man’s artistic and cultural inspiration. Although many forms of religion had come into being in the course of history, only to pass away and be forgotten, each one in its time had contributed something towards the sum of human progress. Christianity helped to civilize the West, and the weakening of its influence has marked a downward trend of the Occidental spirit. Buddhism, which civilized the greater part of the East long before, is still a vital force, and in this age of scientific knowledge is likely to extend and to strengthen its influence. It does not, at any point, come into conflict with modern knowledge, but embraces and transcends all of it in a way that no other system of thought has ever done before or is ever likely to do. Western man seeks to conqueror the universe for material ends. Buddhism and Eastern philosophy strive to attain harmony with nature or spiritual satisfaction.

Religion teaches a person how to calm down the senses and make the heart and mind peaceful. The secret of calming down the senses is to eliminate desire which is the root of our disturbances. It is very important for us to have contentment. The more people crave for their property, the more they have to suffer. Property does not give happiness to man. Most of the rich people in the world today are suffering from numerous physical and mental problems. With all the money they have, they cannot buy a solution to their problems. Yet, the poorest men who have learnt to have contentment may enjoy their lives far more than the richest people do. As one rhyme goes:

“Some have too much and yet do crave I have little and seek no more; They are but poor though much more they have And I am rich with little store. They poor, I rich: they beg, I give: They lack, I have, they pine, I live.”

Searching for a purpose in life

The aim in life varies among individuals. An artist may aim to paint masterpieces that will live long after he is gone. A scientist may want to discover some laws, formulate a new theory, or invent a new machine. A politician may wish to become prime minister or president. A young executive may aim to be a managing director of a multinational company. However, when you ask the artist, scientist, politician and the young executive why they aim such, they will reply that these achievements will give them a purpose in life and make them happy, Everyone aims for happiness in life, yet experience shows time and again that its attainment is so elusive.

Realization

Once we realize the nature of life (characterized by un satisfactoriness, change, and egolessness) as well as the nature of man’s greed and the means of getting them satisfied, we can then understand the reason why the happiness so desperately sought by many people is so elusive like catching a moonbeam in their hands. They try to gain happiness through accumulation. When they are not successful in accumulating wealth, gaining position, power and honour, and deriving pleasure from sense satisfaction, they pine and suffer, envying others who are successful in doing so. However, even if they are ’successful’ in getting these things, they suffer as well because they now fear losing what they have gained, or their desires have now increased for more wealth, higher position, more power, and greater pleasure. Their desires can never seem to be completely satiated. This is why an understanding of life is important so that we do not waste too much time doing the impossible.

It is here that the adoption of a religion becomes important, since it encourages contentment and urges a person to look beyond the demands of his flesh and ego. In a religion like Buddhism, a person is reminded that he is the heir of his karma and the master of his destiny. In order to gain greater happiness, he must be prepared to forego short-term pleasures. If a person does not believe in life after death, even then it is enough for him to lead a good, noble life on earth, enjoying a life of peace and happiness here and now, as well as performing actions which are for the benefit and happiness of others. Leading such a positive and wholesome life on earth and creating happiness for oneself and others is much better than a selfish life of trying to satisfy one’s ego and greed.

If, however, a person believes in life after death, then according to the Law of Karma, rebirth will take place according to the quality of his deeds. A person who has done many good deeds may be born in favorable conditions where he enjoys wealth and success, beauty and strength, good health, and meets good spiritual friends and teachers. Wholesome deeds can also lead to rebirth in the heavens and other sublime satates, while unwholesome deeds lead to rebirth in suffering states. When a person understands the Law of Karma, he will then make the effort to refrain from performing bad actions, and to try to cultivate the good. By so acting, he gains benefits not only in this life, but in many other lives to come.

When a person understands the nature of man, then some important realizations arise. He realizes that unlike a rock or stone, a human being possesses the innate potential to grow in wisdom, compassion, and awareness and be transformed by this self-development and growth. He also understands that it is not easy to be born as a human being, especially one who has the chance to listen to the Dhamma. In addition, he is fully aware that his life is impermanent, and he should, therefore, strive to practice the Dhamma while he is still in a position to do so. He realizes that the practice of Dhamma is a life-long educative process which enables him to release his true potentials trapped within his mind by ignorance and greed.

Based on these realizations and understanding, he will then try to be more aware of what and how he thinks, speaks and acts. He will consider if his thoughts, speech and actions are beneficial, done out of compassion and have good effects for himself as well as others. He will realize the true value of walking the road that leads to complete self transformation, which is known to Buddhists as the Noble Eightfold Path. This Path can help a person to develop his moral strength (sila) through the restraint of negative actions and the cultivation of positive qualities conducive for personal, mental and spiritual growth. In addition, it contains many techniques which a person can apply to purify his thoughts, expand the possibilities of the mind, and bring about a complete change towards a wholesome personality. This practice of mental culture (bhavana) can widen and deepen the mind towards all human experience, as well as the nature and characteristics of phenomena, life and the universe. In short, this leads to the cultivation of wisdom (Panna). As his wisdom grows, so will his love, compassion, kindness, and joy. He will have greater awareness to all forms of life and better understanding of his own thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

In the process of self-transformation, a person will no longer aspire for a divine birth as his ultimate goal in life. He will then set his goal much higher, and model himself after the Buddha who has reached the summit of human perfection and attained the ineffable state we call Enlightenment or Nibbana. It is here that a man develops a deep confidence in the Triple Gem and adopts the Buddha as his spiritual ideal. He will strive to eradicate greed, develop wisdom and compassion, and to be completely liberated from the bounds of Samsara.

Buddhism for Man in Society

This religion can be practiced either in society or in seclusion.

There are some who believe that Buddhism is so lofty and sublime a system that it cannot be practiced by ordinary men and women in the workaday world. These same people think that one has to retire to a monastery or to some quiet place if one desires to be a true Buddhist.

This is a sad misconception that comes from a lack of understanding of the Buddha. Some people jump to such conclusions after casually reading or hearing something about Buddhism. Some people form their impression of Buddhism after reading articles or books that give only a partial or lopsided view of Buddhism. The authors of such articles and books have only a limited understanding of the Buddha’s Teaching. His Teaching is not meant only for monks in monasteries. The Teaching is also for ordinary men and women living at home with their families. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Buddhist way of life that is intended for all people. This way of life is offered to all mankind without any distinction.

The vast majority of people in the world cannot become monks or retire into caves or forests. However noble and pure Buddhism may be, it would be useless to the masses if they could not follow it in their daily life in the modern world. But if you understand the spirit of Buddhism correctly, you can surely follow and practise it while living the life of an ordinary man. There may be some who find it easier and more convenient to accept Buddhism by living in a remote place; in other words, by cutting themselves off from the society of others. Yet, other people may find that this kind of retirement dulls and depresses their whole being both physically and mentally, and that it may therefore not be conducive to the development of their spiritual and intellectual life.

True renunciation does not mean running away physically from the world. Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha, said that one man might live in a forest devoting himself to ascetic practices, might be full of impure thoughts and ‘defilements’. Another might live in a village or a town, , practicing no ascetic discipline, but his mind might be pure, and free from ” defilements”. ‘Of these two’ said Sariputta, ‘ the one who lives a pure life in the village or town is definitely far superior to, and greater than, the one who lives in the forest (Majjhima Nikaya) The common belief that to follow the Buddha’s Teaching one has to retire from a normal family life is a misconception. It is really an unconscious defense against practicing it. There are numerous references in Buddhist literature to men and women living ordinary, normal family lives who successfully practiced what the Buddha taught and realized Nibbana. Vacchagotta the Wanderer, once asked the Buddha straightforwardly whether there were laymen and women leading the family life who followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states. The Buddha categorically stated that there were many laymen and women leading the family life who had followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states.

It may be agreeable for certain people to live a retired life in a quiet place away from noise and disturbances. But it is certainly more praiseworthy and courageous to practice Buddhism living among fellow beings, helping them and offering service to them. It may perhaps be useful in some cases for a man to live in retirement for a time in order to improve his mind and character, as a preliminary to moral, spiritual and intellectual training, to be strong enough to come out later and help others. But if a man lives all his life in solitude, thinking only of his own happiness and salvation, without caring for his fellowmen, this surely is not in keeping with the Buddha’s Teaching which is based on love, compassion and service to others.

One might now ask, ‘If a man can follow Buddhism while living the life of an ordinary man, why was the Sangha, the Order of Monks, established by the Buddha? The Order provides opportunity for those who are willing to devote their lives not only to their own spiritual and intellectual development, but also to the service of others. An ordinary layman with a family cannot be expected to devote his whole life to the service of others, whereas a Monk, who has no family responsibilities or any other worldly ties, is in a position to devote his life ‘for the good of the many. (Dr. Walpola Rahula)

And what is this ‘good’ that many can benefit from? The monk cannot give material comfort to a layman, but he can provide spiritual guidance to those who are troubled by worldly, family emotional problems and so on. The monk devotes his life to the pursuit of knowledge of the Dhamma as taught by the Buddha. He explains the Teaching in simplified form to the untutored layman. And if the layman is well educated, he is there to discuss the deeper aspects of the teaching so that both can gain intellectually from the discussion.

In Buddhist countries, monks are largely responsible for the education of the young. As a result of their contribution, Buddhist countries have populations which are literate and well-versed in spiritual values. Monks also comfort those who are bereaved and emotionally upset by explaining how all mankind is subject to similar disturbances.

In turn, the layman is expected to look after the material well-being of the monk who does not gain income to provide himself with food, shelter, medicine and clothing. In common Buddhist practice, it is considered meritorious for a layman to contribute to the health of a monk because by so doing he makes it possible for the monk to continue to minister to the spiritual needs of the people and for his mental purity.

The Buddhist Way of Life for Householders

The Buddha considered economic welfare as a requisite for human happiness, but moral and spiritual development for a happy, peaceful and contend life.

A man named Dighajanu once visited the Buddha and said, “Venerable Sir, we are ordinary layman, leading a family life with wife and children. Would the Blessed One teach us some doctrines which will be conducive to our happiness in this world and hereafter?

The Buddha told him that there are four things which are conducive to a man’s happiness in this world. First: he should be skilled, efficient, earnest, and energetic in whatever profession he is engaged, and he should know it well (utthana-sampada); second: he should protect his income, which he has thus earned righteously, with the sweat of his brow (arakkha-sampada); third he should have good friends (kalyana-mitta) who are faithful, learned, virtuous, liberal and intelligent, who will help him along the right path away from evil; fourth: he should spend reasonably, in proportion to his income, neither too much nor too little, i.e., he should not hoard wealth avariciously nor should he be extravagant- in other words he should live within his means (sama-jivikata)

Then the Buddha expounds the four virtues conducive to a hayman’s happiness hereafter: (1) Saddha: he should have faith and confidence in moral, spiritual and intellectual values; (2) Sila: he should abstain from destroying and harming life, from stealing and cheating, from adultery, from falsehood, and from intoxicating drinks: (3) Caga: he should practice charity, generosity, without attachment and craving for his wealth; (4) Panna: he should develop wisdom which leads to the complete destruction of suffering, to the realization of Nibbana.

Some times the Buddha even went into details about saving money and spending it, as, for instances, when he told the young man Sigala that he should spend one fourth of his income on his daily expenses, invest half in his business and put aside one fourth for any emergency. Once the Buddha told Anathapindika, the great banker, one of His most devoted lay disciples who found for Him the celebnted Jetavana Monastery at Savatthi, that a layman who leads an ordinary family life has four kinds of happiness. The first happiness is to enjoy economic security or sufficient wealth acquired by just and righteous means (atthi-sukha): the second is spending that wealth liberally on himself, his family, his friends and relatives, and on meritorious deeds (bhoga-sukha): the third to be free from debts (anana-sukha): the fourth happiness is to live a faultless, and a pure life without committing evil in thought, word or deed. (anavajja – sukha)

It must be noted here that first three are economic and material happiness which is ‘not worth part’ of the spiritual happiness arising out of a faultless and good life.

From the few examples given above, one can see that the Buddha considered economic welfare as a requisite for human happiness, but that he did not recognize progress as real and true if it was only material, devoid of a spiritual and moral foundation. While encouraging material progress, Buddhism always lays great stress on the development of the moral and spiritual character for a happy, peaceful and contented society.

Many people think that to be a good Buddhist one must have absolutely nothing to do with the materialistic life. This is not correct. What the Buddha teaches is that while we can enjoy material comforts without going to extremes, we must also conscientiously develop the spiritual comforts without going to extremes, we must also conscientiously develop the spiritual aspects of our lives. While we can enjoy sensual pleasures as laymen, we should never be unduly attached to them to the extent that they hinder our spiritual progress. Buddhism emphasizes the need for man to follow the Middle Path. -Dhamma Times-

By Kingsley Heendeniya

Dhamma: The word for ‘intention’ in the Dhamma is cetana. It is ubiquitous in the teaching. Understanding it correctly is integral. In this short essay, I shall try to explore its meaning.

Consciousness

Let me begin with consciousness [vinnana]. Vinnana is the existential determination determining all experience. No one can know how it came to be incorporated in matter. Characteristically, the Buddha does not speak about its origination because it is irrelevant. He taught a fistful of things relevant to the present problem: arising of dukkha. Thus, the standpoint to understanding vinnana and everything in the teaching is this element, dukkha.

Vinnana is not substance. A sample of it cannot be extracted and examined. That is, no one can be conscious of consciousness. How then are we to understand it?

To be conscious, is to be conscious of something even of ‘nothingness’ and ‘neither-perception-nor-non-perception’ in advanced states of meditation.

In everyday experience this ’something’ is intention. We intend to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, act, imagine and think. For example, we normally think and ponder before speaking. That is, speech is intentional. But feeling and perceiving are not intentions. They lead to intentions.

How about breathing? While breathing in and out is a body process independent of intention, meditation on air going in and out is intention. We may regard these instances of arising of intention in consciousness as basic.

Before proceeding, we must consider another thing about consciousness in the ordinary person. The all-inclusive feature of consciousness is awareness of ’self’. It is always the case that ‘I am’ intending. In other words, the ’self’ and consciousness are one.

Duality

Consciousness is a thus a duality: in-oneself and in-the-external-world-of-things. On account of this, the self interprets big and small, good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant, ugly and beautiful and so on though there is no duality.

A flower is a flower – neither beautiful nor not-beautiful. If no one sees it, it is as it is – a flower. ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ does not inhere in a thing. Only the arhant who has deleted the artefact of ’self’ in consciousness tells ‘the seen in the seen, the heard in the heard, the sensed in the sensed, the cognized in the cognized.’

This is experience of things as they actually are. There is no intention [as in an ordinary man] in consciousness.

The Buddha says, ‘Tell, then, where do earth, water, fire and air no footing find? Where likewise the long and short, small and big, and fair and foul? Where is it that name and matter do without remainder cease? And the answer is this: The consciousness that makes no showing, nor has to do with finiteness, claiming no being apart from all: There it is that earth, water…do without remainder cease’.

We cannot conceive this disappearance of consciousness. But we can understand duality of consciousness in another way. ‘Cetana, properly speaking is ‘intentional intention’ – i.e. ”will’ or ‘volition’ – but the word intention, in its looser meaning is the best translation for cetana.

All consciousness is intentional, teleological. In unreflective consciousness we are ‘directed’ upon objects, we ‘intend’ them; and reflection reveals this to be an immanent process characteristic of all experience, though infinitely varied in form.

To be conscious of something is no empty having that something in consciousness. Each phenomenon has its own intentional structure, which analysis shows to be an ever-widening system of individually revealed components.

The intentional structure of a perception must conform to a certain type, if any physical object is to be perceived as there! And if the same object be intuited in other modes, if it be imagined or remembered or copied, all its intentional forms recur though modified in character…Judgment, valuation, pursuit are experiences compounded of an intentional stream.

Intentions

Intentions may be regarded basically as the relation between the actual and the possible…The set of relations between the actual aspect and all the alternative aspects is the same, no matter which one of the various aspects should happen to be actual…There is now exercise of preference (with the pleasant preferred to the unpleasant), this is volition in its simplest form…We must also consider the difference of emphasis or ‘weight’ possessed by the various aspects…some stand out more prominently than the others…this is attention [manasikara] in its simplest terms: it may be described as ‘direction of emphasis’…Every voluntary or reflexive intention is perpetually revocable.

Every involuntary or immediate intention is modifiable… An inclination is an active seeking of a still only possible state of affairs.’ [Nanavira Thera]

An intention is essentially negative. It denies the existence of a positive but in the very act of denying, asserts its existence. The intention ‘to kill’ denies the intention ‘not to kill’ but asserts that the intention ‘not to kill’ exists.

There is now voluntary or informed exercise of preference. This is the basis of the division of kamma [action] as unskilful [akusala] and skilful [kusala].

The intention ‘to kill’ is the native intention of the built-in intentions of greed, hate and delusion [kilesa] in consciousness of the ordinary man. Any action is regarded unskilful as it reinforces the built-in intentions.

The intention ‘not to kill’ is intention to abstain. It is skilful, as it does not produce arising of action. This is the definition of kusala. That is, actions based on kilesa are intentions that produce arising of action, which is dukkha, because it perpetuates kilesa. It ripens in re-becoming. [Mahacattarisaka Sutta].

Skilful and unskilful intentions

Intentions or actions of the ordinary man arise in the self. He is prone to both unskilful and skilful intentions. One who has heard and learnt Dhamma has the advantage to make an informed choice of intentions. But from wrong view he may intend the unskilful assuming it skilful.

The tendency to greed, aversion and wrong view is likely when akusala and kusala are regarded unwholesome and wholesome, as demerit and merit. It can lead to intentions of collecting whereas the aim in practising Dhamma is to abandon. ‘The purpose of understanding [panna], is direct knowledge [abhinna]; its purpose is full understanding [parinna]; its purpose is abandoning.’ [Mahavedalla Sutta].

Accordingly, intentions of the arhant are neither akusala nor kusala. Unlike in the ordinary man, they are void of craving [tanha]. Why is that? The dualities imposed by the kilesa are extinct in vinnana of the arahat.

Intention does not imply craving or arhantta would be impossible. ‘Craving is a gratuitous parasite on the intentional structure.’ [Nanavira Thera].

Abandoning

There are simplistic ways to understand intention. But in whatever way understood, there should be no conflict with the fundamental aim of the Dhamma, namely to abandon, not acquire.

This is the core understanding I want to communicate and intend by this essay.

-ANCL