Transcript Buddhist Meditation Based on Pali Canon

Buddhist Meditation
based on the Pali Canon
Ng Wai Chong
Bhaddekaratta gatha
A Single Excellent Night (MN 131)
Let not a person revive the past
Or on the future build his hopes;
For the past has been left behind
And the future has not been reached,
Instead with insight let him see
Each presently arisen state;
Let him know this and be sure of it,
Invincibly, unshakably.
Today the effort must be made;
Tomorrow Death may come, who knows?
No bargain with Mortality
Can keep him and his hordes away,
But one who dwells thus ardently,
Relentlessly, by day, by nightIt is he, the Peaceful Sage has said,
Who has had a Single Excellent Night.
Overview
•
•
•
•
•
What is Buddhist Meditation?
Why do Buddhists meditate?
The ‘Practice’- a Basic Framework
Is meditation really necessary?
Practical notes
What is Buddhist Meditation?
• Buddhist Meditation is twofold:
Tranquility and Insight
• Samatha
– Tranquility meditation, in
which the wavering and
trepidation of the mind is
brought to an end, culminating
in one-pointedness of mind,
with samaadhi as its result.
• Vipassana
– Insight meditation, seeing in
various ways the conditioned
phenomena as impermanent,
suffering and non-self, with
panna as its result.
(A comprehensive manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu
Bodhi)
Tranquility Meditation
• Purification of Mind
• Training of the higher mind
• Culminating in Right Concentration (MN
141 Saccavibhanga Sutta)
• Jhanas as guide posts
Tranquility Meditation
• “Like a microscope…” – Sayalay
Dipankara
• Like a slow walk up the mountain path, the
trees and leaves become ever clearer
(Adapted from Ajahn Brahm’s story)
Tranquility Meditation
• 40 Meditation objects
– 10 kasinas: earth, water, fire, air, blue, yellow, red, white, space,
light
– 10 kinds of foulness: bloated, corpse, livid corpse, festering
corpse, dismembered corpse, eaten corpse, scattered-in-pieces
corpse, mutilated corpse, bloody corpse, worm-infested corpse,
skeleton
– 10 recollections: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, morality,
generosity, devas, peace, death, 32 parts of the body, breath
– 4 illimitables: loving kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity
– 1 perception: loathsomeness of food
– 1 analysis: the 4 elements
– 4 immaterial states: infinite space, infinite consciousness,
nothingness, neither-perception-nor-non-perception
The Benefits of Developing
Concentration
• Blissful abiding here and now
• Proximate cause for Insight
– “Bhikkhus, develop concentration; a bhikkhu who is concentrated
understands correctly.” (S. iii,13)
• Realisation of the Direct Knowledges
• Rebirth in the Brahma Worlds
• For the Noble Ones, the attainment of
Cessation
(Vism XI 120)
“Bhikkhus, develop concentration; a bhikkhu
who is concentrated understands correctly.”
(S. iii,13)
Vipassana
• Training of higher wisdom
• Arriving at the ultimate Right View and
Right Thought: knowing and seeing the
Four Noble Truths
• Nanas as guide posts
• The object is conditioned phenomena, i.e.
the 5 aggregates and their causes
2 kinds of practitioners
• Samathayaana – involves prior development of
tranquility meditation to either access or
absorption concentration as a basis for
developing insight.
• Suddhavipassanaayaana – after purification of
morality, enters directly into mindful
contemplation of the changing mind-body
phenomena. As this contemplation gains in
strength and precision, the mind attains a
concentration equal to access concentration.
Tranquility and Insight
“…the
person who gains internal tranquility of mind but not higher
wisdom of insight into things should approach one who gains higher
wisdom and inquire of him…
…the person who gains higher wisdom of insight into things but not
tranquility of mind should approach one who gains tranquility of
mind and inquire of him…
…the person who possesses both internal tranquility of mind and
higher wisdom of insight into things should establish himself in just
these wholesome states and make a further effort for the destruction
of the taints.”
AN IV, 94
Back to Overview
Why do Buddhists meditate?
For the sake of purer
and purer
happiness…for
Nibbana is the
highest bliss! 
“Health is the highest gain,
contentment the greatest
wealth. A trustworthy person is
the best kinsman, Nibbana the
highest bliss.” (Dhammapada
204)
Back to the Overview
Why do Buddhists meditate?
• “The Rapture of Seclusion” (AN V 176)
“Householders, you attend upon the Sangha of
monks with robes, almsfood, lodgings and
medicinal requisites for use in time of
sickness. But you should not remain satisfied
merely with this. Rather, householders, you
should train yourselves thus: ‘How can we
dwell from time to time in the rapture of
seclusion?’ Thus should you train yourselves.”
Why do Buddhists meditate?
What does being a lay Buddhist mean?
“How, Lord, is one a lay follower?”
“If, Mahanama, one has gone for refuge to the
Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, one is a
lay follower.” (AN VIII, 25)
Why do Buddhists meditate?
What are the 3 refuges?
• The analogy of the Physician, His Prescription and
the Health Attendants.
• Dhamma is 3-fold: Verbal Teachings, The Practice,
Nibbana – The analagy of the Map and the
Traveller.
• The Dhamma as the Main Refuge. Taking refuge in
the Dhamma means to learn and practise the
Dhamma, as taught by the Buddha.
Why do Buddhists meditate?
What is the Goal of the Practice of Dhamma?
• For Lay disciples
– The sappurisa or Superior Person as the ideal (AN VIII, 38) who
embodies the 4 ideals (AN VIII, 54):
• Faith – “…a family man places faith in the Enlightenment of the
Tathagata…”
• Virtue - “…a family man abstains from the destruction of life, from stealing,
from sexual misconduct, from false speech and from wines, liquors and
intoxicants which are a basis of negligence.”
• Generosity – “… a family man dwells at home with a mind devoid of the
stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, delighting in
relinquishment, one devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing.”
• Wisdom – “…a family man possesses the wisdom which sees into the
arising and passing away of phenomena, which is noble and penetrative
and leads to the complete destruction of suffering.”
– A good future rebirth or the attainment of Nibbaana.
Why do Buddhists meditate?
• Monks, although a monk who does not apply himself to
the meditative development of his mind may wish, “Oh,
that my mind might be freed from the taints by nonclinging!”, yet his mind will not be freed. For what
reason? “because he has not developed his mind.” One
has to say. Not developed in what? In the four
foundations of mindfulness, the four kinds of right
striving, the four bases of success, the five spiritual
faculties, the five spiritual powers, the seven factors of
enlightenment and the Noble Eightfold Path. Suppose,
monks, a hen has eight, ten or twelve eggs……
(AN VII, 67)
The Basic Framework of the
Gradual Training
• “ has faith, virtues, generosity and…
– listen to the good Dhamma;
– retains in the mind the teachings heard and
carefully examines their meaning;
– practises in accordance with the Dhamma…”
(AN VIII, 25)
The Basic Framework of the
Gradual Training
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The arising of the Tathāgata in the world and his exposition of the Dhamma
The disciple acquires faith
Follows the Teacher into homelessness
Observes the rules of discipline to acquire purification of conduct and
livelihood
Contentment
Restraint of the sense faculties
(Moderation in eating)
(Wakefulness)
Mindfulness and clear comprehension
Abandoning the 5 Hindrances and attain Concentration
Insight into things as they really are
Realization of Nibbana
– MN 39 The Greater Discourse at Assapura
The Basic Framework of the
Gradual Training
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Virtues
Non-remorse
Gladness
Joy
Serenity
Happiness
Concentration
Knowledge and Vision of things as they really are
Dispassion
Knowledge and Vision of Liberation
• AN X The Rewards of Virtues
The Gradual Training
• The 7 Stages of Purification
–
–
–
–
–
Purification of Virtue
Purification of Mind
Purification of View
Purification by Overcoming Doubt
Purification by Knowledge and Vision of what is the
Path and what is not the Path
– Purification by Knowledge and Vision of what is the
Way
– Purification by Knowledge and Vision
– (Rathaviniitha Sutta MN 24 The Royal Chariots)
The Threefold Training
• “then monks, there are these three
trainings:
– the training in higher virtue,
– the training in higher mind,
– the training in higher wisdom
(AN III, 83 & 84 combined)
The Noble Eightfold Path
• “…the Noble Eightfold Path is included by the
three aggregates. Right speech, right action,
and right livelihood – these states are included
in the aggregate of virtue. Right effort, right
mindfulness, and right concentration – these
states are included in the aggregate of
concentration. Right view and right intention –
these states are included in the aggregate of
wisdom.”
(MN 44: Cuulavedalla Sutta)
PURIFICATION
PRACTICE
I.
Of virtue
Four kinds of purified virtue
II.
Of mind
Access and absorption concentration
III.
Of view
Understanding characteristics of mental and material phenomena
IV.
By overcoming doubt
Discernment of conditions for mental and material phenomena
V.
By knowledge and vision of path and
not path
1.
2.
Knowledge of comprehension
Knowledge of rise and fall (tender phase)
VI.
By knowledge and vision of the way
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Knowledge of rise and fall (mature phase)
Knowledge of dissolution
Knowledge of fearfulness
Knowledge of danger
Knowledge of disenchantment
Knowledge of desire for deliverance
Knowledge of reflection
Knowledge of equanimity towards formations
Knowledge of conformity
Between VI and VII
11.
Change-of-lineage
VII
Knowledge of four supramundane paths
.By knowledge and vision
The ‘Practice’ – the basic framework
Faith, Virtues
Generosity
Precepts
Purification of Virtue
Samatha
Purification of Mind
Morality
•Right Speech
•Right Action
•Right Livelihood
Listening
Contemplation
Practice
Concentration
•Right Effort
•Eight Mindfulness
•Right Concentration
Purification of View
Purification by overcoming doubt
Vipassana
Purification by knowledge and vision
of what is path and not path
Purification by knowledge and vision
of the way
Purification by knowledge and vsion
Wisdom
•Right View
•Right Thought
Purification by Knowledge and Vision
Nibbana
Purification by Knowledge and Vision
of the Way
Purification by Knowledge and Vision
of Path and Not Path
Purification by Overcoming Doubt
Purification of View
Vipassana
Characteristics/ Function/ Manifestation/ Proximate cause
Dependent-origination
Ultimate mentality
Ultimate materiality
Purification of Mind
Recollection of Death
4 Elements
Foulness
Recollection of Death
Recollection of Buddha
Foulness
Recollection
of Buddha
Lovingkindness (+/- 4 Brahmaviharas)
Lovingkindness
(+/4
Brahmaviharas)
th
4 Jhana (KIV immaterial Jhana)
White
Kasina
3rd Jhana
(KIV other kasinas and immaterial Jhana)
2nd Jhana
Skeleton
1st Jhana
32 Parts of the Body
4th Jhana 3rd Jhana
White Kasina (KIV other kasinas)
2nd Jhana
Skeleton
1st Jhana
32 Parts of the Body
Patibhaggha-nimitta
Uggaha-nimitta
Parikamma-nimitta
4 Elements Meditation
Purification of Virtue
Breath Meditation
Lay follower: 5, 8 or 9 Precepts
Is meditation really necessary?
• The 4 classes of individuals
– Ugghatitannu – individuals capable of attaining the Noble Paths
and Fruits by merely hearing a short concise discourse
– Vipancitannu – individuals capable of attaining Noble Paths and
Fruits only after the short discourse is expounded to him in some
length
– Neyya – one who needs to study and to practise for days,
months or years in order to attain Noble Paths and Fruits
– Padaparama – though he puts forth the utmost effort in both
study and practice of the Dhamma, cannot attain the Noble
Paths and Fruits in this lifetime. All that he can do is to
accumulate habits and potentials and may attain deliverance in
the next existence
(Bodhipakkhiya Dipanii by Ledi Sayadaw)
Back to Overview
Practical Notes
•
•
•
•
How to learn meditation?
The 5 Hindrances
The Middle Way
Survival guides through a meditation
retreat
How to learn Meditation?
It begins with Right View
“Therein, bhikkhus, right view comes first. And
how does right view come first? One
understands wrong view as wrong view and
right view as right view: this is one’s right
view.”
“…..one understands wrong
intention…speech…action…livelihood…effort
…mindfulness…concentration”
• Right View
– Kamma as refuge, property, inherited
properties, origins, good friends and relatives
– Efficacy of merits; past and future lives
– 4 Noble Truths
• Attitude
– Strong faith, desire, determination and effort
– Joy
– Gratitude of this rare opportunity
– Humble and respectful
– Honest
– Don’t expect anything…be patient…don’t
compare
Causes before Results
• Physical seclusion
– Proper place
– Free from duties
– Free from sensual pleasures
– Moderation in eating
– Noble silence
• Time
– Like boiling water
• Teacher
– A suitable object of meditation
– Guidance along the Middle Way
– Books are not enough!
– Must be right from the start
• Spiritual Friends
– Being with the mindful will help in one’s
mindfulness
• Discipline
– Keeping the precepts
– Don’t give up
– Cleanliness of oneself and one’s living
quarters
• Just do
– Learn as you do: like cycling
• Keep doing
– Refining the mind continuously
Learning a skill
Knowledge
Attitude
Conditions
Skill
Keep practising until perfection!
The 5 Hindrances
1. Craving for Sensual
Pleasures
“Suppose, brahmin, there is a bowl
of water mixed with lac, turmeric,
blue dye or crimson dye. If a man
with good sight were to examine his
own facial reflection in it, he would
neither know nor see it as it really
is.” (AN V193)
5 Hindrances
2. Aversion
•“Suppose, Brahmin, there is
a bowl of water being heated
over a fire, bubbling and
boiling….”
5 Hindrances
3. Sloth and Torpor
“…there is a bowl of water
covered with water plants and
algae….”
5 Hindrances
4. Restlessness and
worry
“…there is a bowl of water stirred by the
wind, rippling, swirling, churned into
wavelets….”
5 Hindrances
5. Doubt
“…there is a bowl of water that is turbid,
unsettled, muddy and placed in the
dark….”
How to deal with unwholesome thoughts in the course of
meditation?
•
•
•
•
•
By thought replacement
By thinking of kamma and its effects
By letting go and not giving attention to them
By stilling the thought formations of those thoughts
By shear will-power
MN 20: Vitakkasanthaana Sutta (The removal of distracting thoughts)
The Middle Way
The 5 Spiritual Faculties
Faith
Energy
Mindfulness
Wisdom
Concentration
The 7 Factors of Enlightenment
Investigation of Dhamma
Effort
Mindfulness
Joy
Equanimity
Concentration
Tranquility
Simile of a bee…
“When a too clever bee learns that a flower on a
tree is blooming, it sets out hurriedly,
overshoots the mark, turns back, and arrives
when the pollen is finished; and another, not
clever enough, bee who sets out with too slow
a speed arrives when the pollen is finished too;
but a clever bee sets out with balanced speed,
arrives with ease at the cluster of flowers,
takes as much pollen as it pleases and enjoys
the honey dew.”
Visuddhimagga IV, 67
Survival Guide for Beginners in a
Retreat
• Discipline
–
–
–
–
Don’t skip sittings
Daily interview with the teacher
Group sitting preferred
Keep Noble Silence
• Causes before result
• Before sitting:
– Make a determination: balanced faculties, hindrances controlled,
peaceful and calm
• After sitting:
– Dedicate merits to Nibbana and all beings
– Rejoice
• If bored – think of the suffering of life
Thoughts of encouragement
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A few weeks of peace and wholesome living is so short compared with the rest of years filled restlessness and anxiety.
Life is really very short. Soon, we’ll be in our sixties! (And everything you see now will be memories)
This is about the only thing that is really worth doing in life.
“I’m already so old.” we should think like this even when we think we are young (Ajahn Chah)
We always want “results”, but don’t want to give to “causes”. This cannot be! Practising Dhamma is wholesome causes for
wholesome results. (Ajahn Chah)
There is no need for anxiety for results. As Dhamma-farers, we can only work on “causes”.
This is something I have to do for myself.
Think about the suffering of Life.
We have to part with all other attachment anyway when we die. There is no choice.
“All things are not fit to be clung on to” (AN VII, 58A)
“All conditioned phenomena are impermanent.” Sabbe sankhara aniccati.
Life’s Brevity
• AN VII,70
• champagne.mpg
Evening Reflection
Do you know
Where you came from?
What are you doing now?
Where do you want to go?
We have seen the sun rise
Now we are using up the energy from
the sun
Soon
The sun will be setting…
Are you ready To face the sunset?
Will you be happy Or worried when the sun sets?
I will also have to face the sunset Very soon.
Before that happens,
I want to build a pagoda in my heart.
The pagoda will be built
With loving-kindness,
Compassion,
Patience,
Truth, and
Understanding.
I hope that you will also
Build the pagoda in your heart
Before the sunset arrives.
When you ‘see’ the pagoda,
Wisdom will arise
With happiness.
And the sunset will be beautiful
For you…
Message by Sayalay Dipankara Nov
2003
• Questions?