Sunday, October 4, 2009

Ghandi's 140th Anniversary

This blog is a Buddhism and Dhamma blog - Dhamma does not mean Buddhist. The Dhamma and the practise of Dhamma can apply to anyone of any Religion.

Mahatma Gandhi


It was the 140th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi would be 140 years old now, if he had not been assassinated in 1948.Gandhi may not be physically here with us anymore but his legacy and his message lives on.He has always been a great example of Ahimsa and Humility, and lived a life within the Dhamma giving an example to all Humans of how to live without harming others - The importanc e of the lessons which Mahatma Gand
hi had to teach us in terms of Buddhist practise is this; If we are to attain many of the abilities and conditions necessary for us to become Enlightened, enter Nibbana and be released from the endless cycle of rebirth, then as a first pre requisite to those attainments, on must have firm practise in keeping the Moral Precepts.
Mahatma Gand
his' life was permeated by his maintaining of his Moral precepts of not lying, stealing, killing or hurting other beings, etc.
If we cannot keep such precepts well, then it is pointless to attain the many factors and levels of psychic and spiritual wisdom, Jhanas powers etc. In Buddhist Vipassana practise, one cannot enter Nibbana without contemplation of the various 40 aspects of Kammathana meditation and subsequent realisation of the truths that are contained and to be found therein.
So the example of Mahatma Gand
hi's life is to show us that we must master our own hearts and minds in not hating, cheating or abusing others in any way; be it for selfish reasons or not.
If we can practise this in our lives, then that is the base for beginning any higher forms of meditational and consciousness related advancements.

What i mean by all this, is that even if you are a Buddhist and hold to the teachings of a realised master or even the Buddhist Suttas, Jhana Meditation, Vipassana etc, it doesn't mean that a non-Buddhist such as Gand
hi (who is a Hindu) cannot be seen as a Dhamma master with a teaching for us. If any one of us can say with our dying breath that we lived such as Gandhi,, then we will surely be able to die peacefully contented in knowing we have woven no webs of negative Karma in harming others, and have kept our precepts. The clear conscience brings ease to the mind and it becomes easy to meditate with stilled thought. This is the base for beginning one's higher forms of practise in attaining the self realized knowledge of the world and "Waking Up"
Look to Gand
hi as an example, and keep the precepts, for they will protect you in doing so

The 4 Jhanas

The Jhanas and the practise of Jhana Access Meditation techniques is in the present day rather largely misunderstood and has grown to be less promoted as a path of practise in many Buddhist lineages. However, the Suttas display evidence of the Lord Buddha repeatedly mentioning and recommending the use of Jhana Absorbtion meditation methods as an access route to Nibbana. To Explain the Jhanas in their basic conceptual meaning, I find there is till now no better teaching to recommend for those seeking an understanding of what Jhana Meditation is, and what it entails in order to be able to practise this form of mental absorbtion method, than that of Henepola Gunaratana (Lovingly known by his devotees as "Bhante G"), of the Bhavana Society
You can read his concise and easy to grasp explanation here; The Jhanas - Henepola Gunaratana

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Four Infallible and Noble Truths


The Four Noble Truths;
1. Life consists of suffering. The first Noble Truth

2.The Root of suffering is Attachment. The second Noble Truth

3. The End of all suffering is attainable. The third Noble Truth

( If there is a beginning to suffering, then there must be an End to that suffering, and therefore a Way to End the Suffering. )

4. There is a Path to the End of all Suffering, and that Path is the Dharma. The fourth Noble Truth

1. Life is Suffering/Unsatisfactory (Dhukka).

To live is to suffer countless forms of pain, anguish, fear, and physical torments,as well as psychological maladies and emotional discomforts. One reason for this is because the nature of incarnate life is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lives, we unavoidably must endure physical sufferings such as body pains, sicknesses, injuries, fatigue, old age, and eventually death; Also, there are many disagreeable psychological forms of Suffering, like Sadness, Fear, Frustration, Disappointment, and Depression.
Although there are different levels of Dhukka and there are also pleasurable experiences whilst living, which we generally like to perceive as the opposite of suffering. Conceptual abstractions such as Ease, Comfort and Happiness, for example, are seen as opposing extremes to Displeasure. Life in its Complexity is Utterly imperfect and incomplete, because our world, and every Living Being in it are subject to Impermanence.Impermanence means we are never able to keep permanent hold of the things that we strive for, even as we enjoy pleasurable moments, the sadness and maladies of misfortunes to come are looming, and even we ourselves and our loved ones will have to pass on and leave this body and life behind.

2. There is an Origin to suffering (Samutaya).

The Origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof. Transient things do not only include the physical objects that surround us, but also ideas, expectations, feelingsm and all objects of our perception. Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardour, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: craving and clinging. Because the objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow. Objects of attachment also include the idea of a "self" which is a delusion, because there is no abiding self. What we call "self" is just an imagined entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless becoming of the universe. The end of suffering comes through non attachment.


3. The End of Suffering is attainable (Nirodha).

The cessation of suffering can be attained through Nirodha. Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment. The third noble truth expresses the idea that suffering can be ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging and attachment. This means that suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it.

4. The path to the cessation of suffering (Maggha).

There is a path to the end of suffering - a gradual path of self-improvement, which is described more detailed in the Eightfold Path. It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it from other paths which are merely "wandering on the wheel of becoming", because these do not have a final object. The path to the end of suffering can extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path.
Source; Dharmathai Buddhism Portal

The Life of Buddha and his Enlightenment

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The right for women to Ordain into the Sangha

The below playlist from my You Tube Account demonstrates many facts on a cause which i wish to be dealt with in a serious and correct manner, due to the fact that the Buddha already made very clear statements on this issue. The refusal of the Sangha (especially in Thailand) to recognize the rights of women to be able to ordain as Bhikkhuni sangha is i believe, a serious offence against Buddhas decree.
Spread the word please.

Ordaining as a Bhikkhu in Thailand

Video clips (Playlist) from my Ordination ceremony at Wat Sri Bun Rueang in bang Kapi, bangkok Thailand. This was a single ordination ceremony which was quite difficult as there was no others by my side to help in giving each other cues in the chanting process.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Life of Buddha

Life of Buddha (Documentary Video)
Scientists believe to have a great deal of evidence pointing to the truth of Buddha's existence many interesting facts pointing to the existence of Buddha, as well as a very good general overview of Buddha's life and the origins of Buddhism are presented in this documentary video.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Ordination as a Bhikkhu

My Ordination as a Bhikkhu in bangkok, Thailand


I am delighted to announce my ordination as a Buddhist monk (Bhikkhu). on the 14th of May 2009, i was ordained by a company of 20 Bhikkhus in the chapel at Wat Sri Bun Rueang in bang Kapi, Bangkok, Thailand at 12:30 pm
you can see fotos of my ordination on the hubpages blog or the dharmathai portal dhamma blog
Jarern Porn - blessings to all of you and may you all prosper in your practise of the Dhamma.
Chinawangso Bhikkhu


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