Pure Dhamma - A Quest to Recover Buddha’s True Teachings

1128 Pages·2018·9.56 MB·English

by  Lal A. Pinnaduwage

Pure Dhamma
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Contents I
Table of Contents
Part I Home 1
Part II Buddha Dhamma 4
1 User’s Guide to Pure Dhamma Website ............................................................................................................... 5
2 What is Buddha Dhamma? .................................................................................................................................. 10
3 Foundation of Dhamma ....................................................................................................................................... 13
4 The Importance of Purifying the Mind .............................................................................................................. 15
5 The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma ............................................................................................................. 18
The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma – Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 18
Our Two Worlds : Material and Mental .................................................................................................................................................. 22
31 Realms Associated with the Earth ....................................................................................................................................................... 26
Gandhabba – Only in Human and Animal Realms ................................................................................................................................ 29
Body Types in 31 Realms – Importance of Manomaya Kaya ................................................................................................................ 34
Gandhabba Sensing the World – With and Without a Physical Body ................................................................................................. 37
Nibbāna in the Big Picture ......................................................................................................................................................................... 41
6 Buddha Dhamma: Non-Perceivability and Self-Consistency ........................................................................... 45
7 Sansaric Time Scale .............................................................................................................................................. 49
8 Evidence for Rebirth ............................................................................................................................................ 51
9 Power of the Human Mind .................................................................................................................................. 55
Power of the Human Mind – Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 55
Difference Between Jhana and Stages of Nibbana .................................................................................................................................. 57
Power of the Human Mind – Anariya or Mundane Jhanas ................................................................................................................... 60
Power of the Human Mind – Ariya Jhanas ............................................................................................................................................. 63
Are There Procedures for Attaining Magga Phala, Jhana and Abhinna? ........................................................................................... 66
10 Transfer of Merits (Pattidana) – How Does it Happen? ................................................................................... 70
11 First Noble Truth is Suffering? Myths about Suffering ................................................................................... 73
12 Vinaya – The Nature Likes to be in Equillibrium ............................................................................................. 76
Part III Key Dhamma Concepts 79
1 San ......................................................................................................................................................................... 81
What is “San”? Meaning of Sansara (or Samsara) ................................................................................................................................. 81
Sankhāra, Kamma, Kamma Beeja, Kamma Vipaka .............................................................................................................................. 83
Sankhara – Life is a Bundle of Sankhāra ................................................................................................................................................. 88
Difference Between Dhamma and Sankhāra ........................................................................................................................................... 90
Sankhāra and Kammā, Viññāna and Kamma Beeja .............................................................................................................................. 94
2 Nibbāna ................................................................................................................................................................. 98
How to Taste Nibbāna ................................................................................................................................................................................ 98
Niramisa Sukha ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 100
Nibbāna – Is it Difficult to Understand? ................................................................................................................................................ 101
The Four Stages in Attaining Nibbāna ................................................................................................................................................... 104
What Are Rupa? (Relation to Nibbāna) ................................................................................................................................................. 108
Does the First Noble Truth Describe only Suffering? ........................................................................................................................... 109
Nirödha and Vaya – Two Different Concepts ....................................................................................................................................... 112
Nibbāna “Exists”, but Not in This World .............................................................................................................................................. 114
3 Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta ..................................................................................................................................... 118
Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Wrong Interpretations ................................................................................................................................ 118
Anicca – True Meaning ............................................................................................................................................................................ 123
Anicca – Inability to Maintain Anything.......................................................................................................................................... 123
Anicca – Repeated Arising/Destruction ........................................................................................................................................... 126
Anicca – Worthlessness of Worldly Things ..................................................................................................................................... 128
Anatta and Dukkha – True Meanings .................................................................................................................................................... 131
Anatta – the Opposite of Which Atta? ................................................................................................................................................... 134
Dasa Akusala and Anatta – The Critical Link ...................................................................................................................................... 138
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
I
II Pure Dhamma: A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings
How to Cultivate the Anicca Saññā ........................................................................................................................................................ 140
How to Cultivate the Anicca Saññā – II ................................................................................................................................................. 143
Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – According to Some Key Suttas ................................................................................................................... 146
If Everything is Anicca Should We Just give up Everything? ............................................................................................................. 150
Why are Tilakkhana not Included in 37 Factors of Enlightenment? .................................................................................................. 151
Two Versions of 37 Factors of Enlightenment ....................................................................................................................................... 154
The Incessant Distress (“Peleema”) – Key to Dukkha Sacca ............................................................................................................... 157
4 Gathi, Bhava, and Jati ....................................................................................................................................... 161
Nama Gotta, Bhava, Kamma Beeja, and Mano Thalaya (Mind Plane) .............................................................................................. 161
Gathi and Bhava – Many Varieties ......................................................................................................................................................... 164
Gathi to Bhava to Jathi – Ours to Control ............................................................................................................................................. 168
Memory, Brain, Mind, Nama Loka, Kamma Bhava, Kamma Vipaka ............................................................................................... 171
Bhava and Jati – States of Existence and Births Therein ..................................................................................................................... 173
5 Sorting out Some Key Pali Terms (Tanha, Lobha, Dosa, Moha, etc) ............................................................ 177
Kama Tanha, Bhava Tanha, Vibhava Tanha ........................................................................................................................................ 177
Tanha – How We Attach Via Greed, Hate, and Ignorance .................................................................................................................. 178
Lobha, Raga and Kamaccanda, Kamaraga ........................................................................................................................................... 181
Lobha, Dosa, Moha Versus Raga, Patigha, Avijjā ................................................................................................................................ 182
What is Avijjā (Ignorance)? .................................................................................................................................................................... 184
Indriya and Ayatana – Big Difference .................................................................................................................................................... 186
Hetu-Phala, Paccuppanna, and Paticca Samuppāda ............................................................................................................................ 189
Ditthi (Wrong Views), Sammā Ditthi (Good/Correct Views) .............................................................................................................. 191
Correct Meaning of Vacī Sankhāra ........................................................................................................................................................ 192
6 The Five Aggregates (Pancakkhandha) ............................................................................................................ 196
Five Aggregates – Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 196
Sanna (Perception) .................................................................................................................................................................................... 197
Vedana (Feelings) ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 198
Vedana (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways .................................................................................................................................................... 199
Viññāṇa (Consciousness) ......................................................................................................................................................................... 202
Rupa (Material Form) .............................................................................................................................................................................. 204
Pancakkhandha or Five Aggregates – A Misinterpreted Concept ...................................................................................................... 206
Pancaupadanakkhandha – It is All Mental ........................................................................................................................................... 211
Part IV Living Dhamma 215
1 Living Dhamma – Overview .............................................................................................................................. 217
Living Dhamma – Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 217
Peace of Mind to Nibbāna – The Key Step ............................................................................................................................................. 220
Starting on the Path Even without Belief in Rebirth ............................................................................................................................ 223
2 Dhamma with Less Pāli ...................................................................................................................................... 225
Root of All Suffering – Ten Immoral Actions ........................................................................................................................................ 225
3 Living Dhamma – Fundamentals ...................................................................................................................... 227
What Are Kilesa (Mental Impurities)? – Connection to Cetasika ....................................................................................................... 227
Suffering in This Life – Role of Mental Impurities ............................................................................................................................... 231
Satipattana Sutta – Relevance to Suffering in This Life ....................................................................................................................... 231
How Are Gathi and Kilesa Incorporated into Thoughts? .................................................................................................................... 232
Noble Eightfold Path – Role of Sobhana Cetasika ................................................................................................................................ 233
Getting to Samadhi ................................................................................................................................................................................... 236
Sexual Orientation – Effects of Kamma and Gathi (Sankhāra) .......................................................................................................... 237
4 Mundane Sammā Samadhi ................................................................................................................................ 241
Micca Ditthi – Connection to Hethu Phala (Cause and Effect) ........................................................................................................... 241
Suffering in This Life and Paticca Samuppāda ..................................................................................................................................... 242
Suffering in This Life and Paticca Samuppāda II ................................................................................................................................. 242
5 Transition to Noble Eightfold Path ................................................................................................................... 244
Sīla, Samādhi, Paññā to Paññā, Sīla, Samādhi ...................................................................................................................................... 244
Samādhi, Jhāna (Dhyāna), Magga Phala ............................................................................................................................................... 248
Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 249
Ascendance to Nibbana via Jhāna (Dhyāna) .................................................................................................................................... 250
Mundane versus Supramundane Jhāna............................................................................................................................................. 255
6 Mental Body – Gandhabba ................................................................................................................................ 261
Our Mental Body – Gandhabba .............................................................................................................................................................. 261
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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Contents III
Gandhabba State – Evidence from Tipitaka .......................................................................................................................................... 265
Antarabhava and Gandhabba ................................................................................................................................................................. 269
Mental Body (Gandhabba) – Personal Accounts .................................................................................................................................. 273
Abnormal Births Due to Gandhabba Transformations ....................................................................................................................... 275
Satara Āhāra for Mental Body or Gandhabba ..................................................................................................................................... 278
Micca Ditthi, Gandhabba, and Sotapanna Stage .................................................................................................................................. 281
Working of kammā – Critical Role of Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 284
7 Nāma & Rūpa to Nāmarūpa ............................................................................................................................. 288
Mental Aggregates .................................................................................................................................................................................... 288
What is Sañña (Perception)?............................................................................................................................................................. 288
Sañña – What It Really Means................................................................................................................................................... 289
Future Suffering – Why It Arises............................................................................................................................................... 291
Diṭṭhi, Sañña, and Sankhāra – How They Relate....................................................................................................................... 294
What Is Vedanā (Feelings)?.............................................................................................................................................................. 298
Vedanā – What It Really Means ................................................................................................................................................ 298
Sankhāra – What It Really Means .................................................................................................................................................... 301
Rupa Aggregate ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 304
What are rūpa? – Dhammā are rūpa too!.......................................................................................................................................... 304
Bhūta and Yathābhūta – What Do They Really Mean ..................................................................................................................... 308
Viññāṇa Aggregate ................................................................................................................................................................................... 312
Viññāṇa – What It Really Means...................................................................................................................................................... 312
Kamma Viññāṇa – Link Between Mind and Matter......................................................................................................................... 315
Nāmarūpa Formation ............................................................................................................................................................................... 318
Kamma Viññāṇa and Nāmarūpa Paricceda Ñāṇa............................................................................................................................. 318
Part V Dhamma and Science 322
1 Dhamma and Science – Introduction ............................................................................................................... 323
2 Good Explanations – Key to Weeding Out Bad Versions of Dhamma .......................................................... 327
Consciousness and the Brain ................................................................................................................................................................... 328
Matter Creates Mind or Mind Creates Matter? ................................................................................................................................... 328
3 Consciousness – A Dhamma Perspective .......................................................................................................... 329
Consciousness Dependence on Number of Dimensions ........................................................................................................................ 329
Six Kinds of Consciousness in Our 3-D World ...................................................................................................................................... 330
Expanding “Consciousness” by Using Technology ............................................................................................................................... 332
Expanding “Consciousness” by Purifying the Mind ............................................................................................................................. 333
What is Mind? How do we Experience the Outside World? ............................................................................................................... 336
4 Consistencies with Science ................................................................................................................................. 340
Second Law of Thermodynamics is Part of Anicca! ............................................................................................................................. 340
Quantum Entanglement – We Are All Connected ................................................................................................................................ 341
Infinity – How Big Is It? ........................................................................................................................................................................... 344
Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem ........................................................................................................................................................... 345
Truine Brain: How the Mind Rewires the Brain via Meditation/Habits ............................................................................................ 347
How Habits are Formed and Broken – A Scientific View .................................................................................................................... 350
5 Inconsistencies with Science .............................................................................................................................. 354
Part VI Three Levels of Practice 355
1 Moral Living and Fundamentals ...................................................................................................................... 358
The Basics .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 359
The Pale Blue Dot……..................................................................................................................................................................... 359
The Law of Attraction, Habits, Character (Gathi), and Cravings (Asavas) ..................................................................................... 360
Habits, Goals, and Character (Gathi)................................................................................................................................................ 362
Wrong Views (Micca Ditthi) – A Simpler Analysis......................................................................................................................... 364
Four Noble Truths: Recipe for Problem Solving.............................................................................................................................. 367
First Noble Truth – A Simple Explanation of One Aspect............................................................................................................... 371
Difference between a Wish and a Determination (Paramita) ........................................................................................................... 373
Calming the Mind ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 374
Key to Calming the Mind – The Five Hindrances............................................................................................................................ 374
Solution to a Wandering Mind – Abandon Everything?.................................................................................................................. 376
Right Speech – How to Avoid Accumulating Kamma..................................................................................................................... 378
Three Kinds of Happiness – What is Niramisa Sukha?.................................................................................................................... 379
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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IV Pure Dhamma: A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings
Learning Buddha Dhamma Leads to Niramisa Sukha...................................................................................................................... 380
Need to Experience Suffering in Order to Understand it? ............................................................................................................... 383
Does Impermanence Lead to Suffering? .......................................................................................................................................... 385
Buddha Dhamma and Buddhism ............................................................................................................................................................ 387
What is Unique in Buddha Dhamma? .............................................................................................................................................. 387
A Buddhist or a Bhauddhaya? .......................................................................................................................................................... 389
Where to Start on the Path? .............................................................................................................................................................. 390
What Reincarnates? – Concept of a Lifestream ............................................................................................................................... 392
Recent Evidence for Unbroken Memory Records (HSAM) ............................................................................................................ 395
Buddhism without Rebirth and Nibbana? ........................................................................................................................................ 397
Dhamma Concepts .................................................................................................................................................................................... 401
Ten Immoral Actions (Dasa Akusala) .............................................................................................................................................. 401
Ten Moral Actions (Dasa Kusala) and Ten Meritorious Actions (Punna Kriya)............................................................................. 405
The Five Precepts – What the Buddha Meant by Them................................................................................................................... 407
What is Kamma? – Is Everything Determined by Kamma?............................................................................................................. 410
How to Evaluate Weights of Different Kamma................................................................................................................................ 413
The Four Bases of Mental Power (Satara Iddhipada)....................................................................................................................... 415
Why is it Necessary to Learn Key Pāli Words?................................................................................................................................ 416
Buddha Dhamma and Morality .............................................................................................................................................................. 419
Origin of Morality (and Immorality) in Buddhism........................................................................................................................... 419
What does Buddha Dhamma (Buddhism) say about Birth Control? ............................................................................................... 420
Is Eating Meat an Akusala Kamma (Immoral Deed)?...................................................................................................................... 422
Do Things Just Happen? – The Hidden Causes ............................................................................................................................... 426
2 Working Towards Good Rebirths .................................................................................................................... 429
Sansaric Habits, Character (Gathi), and Cravings (Asava) ................................................................................................................. 429
Vagaries of Life and the Way to Seek “Good Rebirths” ...................................................................................................................... 431
How to Avoid Birth in the Apayas .......................................................................................................................................................... 432
How the Buddha Described the Chance of Rebirth in the Human Realm ......................................................................................... 433
Nakhasikha Sutta............................................................................................................................................................................... 436
Kanakacchapa-sutta .......................................................................................................................................................................... 438
Tiṇsamatta Sutta - About Thirty Monks ........................................................................................................................................... 442
Kamma, Debt, and Meditation ................................................................................................................................................................ 443
How do we Decide which View is Wrong View (Ditthi)? ..................................................................................................................... 445
Three Kinds of Ditthi, Eightfold Paths, and Samadhi .......................................................................................................................... 448
Implications of the Rebirth Process in Daily Life and in Society ........................................................................................................ 450
What Does Buddha Dhamma Say about Creator, Satan, Angels, and Demons? .............................................................................. 452
Patisandhi Citta – How the Next Life is Determined According to Gathi .......................................................................................... 454
3 Seeking Nibbāna ................................................................................................................................................. 456
Gathi (Gati), Anusaya, and Āsava .......................................................................................................................................................... 456
The Way to Nibbāna – Removal of Asavas ............................................................................................................................................ 459
The Cooling Down Process (Nibbāna) – How the Root Causes are Removed ................................................................................... 461
Why is Correct Interpretation of Anicca, Dukkha, Anattā so Important? ........................................................................................ 464
How to Cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path starting with Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta .......................................................................... 466
Difference Between Giving Up Valuables and Losing Interest in Worthless ..................................................................................... 469
Root Cause of Anicca – Five Stages of a Sankata .................................................................................................................................. 472
4 Sotāpanna Stage of Nibbāna ............................................................................................................................. 475
The Sotāpanna Stage ................................................................................................................................................................................ 475
Why a Sotāpanna is Better off than any King, Emperor, or a Billionaire ......................................................................................... 478
Myths about the Sotāpanna Stage ........................................................................................................................................................... 482
Sotāpanna Magga Anugami and a Sotāpanna ...................................................................................................................................... 485
Four Conditions for Attaining Sotāpanna Magga/Phala ..................................................................................................................... 488
How Does One Know whether the Sotāpanna Stage is Reached? ....................................................................................................... 492
Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana .................................................................................................................................................................... 497
Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissarana – Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 497
How Perceived Pleasures (Assāda) lead to Dukkha......................................................................................................................... 501
Kāma Guna, Kāma, Kāma Rāga, Kāmaccanda ................................................................................................................................ 504
Vedana (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways............................................................................................................................................. 508
Feelings: Sukha, Dukha, Somanassa, and Domanassa..................................................................................................................... 511
What is “Kāma”? It is not Just Sex................................................................................................................................................... 514
Kāma Āsvada Start with Phassa Paccaya Vedana or Samphassa Ja Vedana................................................................................... 518
Sakkaya Ditthi is Personality (Me) View? ............................................................................................................................................. 521
Akusala Citta – How a Sotāpanna Avoids Apayagami Citta ............................................................................................................... 525
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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Contents V
What is the only Akusala Removed by a Sotāpanna? ........................................................................................................................... 527
Udayavaya Ñāṇa ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 531
Udayavaya Ñāṇa – Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 531
Nibbatti Lakkhana in Udayavaya Ñāṇa............................................................................................................................................ 535
Āhāra (Food) in Udayavaya Ñāṇa .................................................................................................................................................... 538
Udayavaya Ñāṇa – Importance of the Cittaja Kaya ......................................................................................................................... 541
Part VII Tables and Summaries 545
1 Pāli Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................... 546
2 Pāli Glossary – (A-K) ......................................................................................................................................... 553
3 Pāli Glossary – (L-Z) .......................................................................................................................................... 562
4 List of “San” Words and Other Pāli Roots ...................................................................................................... 574
5 The 89 (121) Types of Citta ............................................................................................................................... 578
6 Cetasika (Mental Factors) ................................................................................................................................. 581
7 Rupa (Material Form) – Table .......................................................................................................................... 583
8 Rupa – Generation Mechanisms ....................................................................................................................... 585
9 Rupa Kalapas (Grouping of Matter) ................................................................................................................ 587
10 Akusala Citta and Akusala Vipaka Citta ......................................................................................................... 590
11 37 Factors of Enlightenment .............................................................................................................................. 592
12 Conditions for the Four Stages of Nibbāna ...................................................................................................... 594
13 Ultimate Realities – Table .................................................................................................................................. 596
14 Citta Vithi – Processing of Sense Inputs ........................................................................................................... 598
15 31 Realms of Existence ....................................................................................................................................... 602
Part VIII Paticca Samuppāda 605
1 Paticca Samuppāda – “Pati+ichcha”+”Sama+uppäda” ................................................................................. 606
2 Paticca Samuppāda – Overview ........................................................................................................................ 609
3 How Are Paticca Samuppāda Cycles Initiated? .............................................................................................. 611
4 Paticca Samuppāda in Plain English ................................................................................................................ 614
Introduction – What is Suffering? .......................................................................................................................................................... 614
Introduction 2 – The Three Characteristics of Nature ......................................................................................................................... 617
Avijja paccaya Sankhara ......................................................................................................................................................................... 620
Sankhara paccaya Vinnana – 1 ............................................................................................................................................................... 622
Sankhara paccaya Vinnana – 2 ............................................................................................................................................................... 625
Vinnana paccaya Namarupa ................................................................................................................................................................... 626
Namarupa paccaya Salayatana ............................................................................................................................................................... 628
Difference between Phassa and Samphassa ........................................................................................................................................... 630
Phassa paccaya Vedana….to Bhava ....................................................................................................................................................... 632
Bhava paccaya Jati….Jara, Marana,… ................................................................................................................................................. 635
5 Paticca Samuppāda Cycles ................................................................................................................................ 640
Avyākata Paticca Samuppāda for Vipāka Viññāna ............................................................................................................................. 640
Akusala-Mūla Paticca Samuppāda ......................................................................................................................................................... 644
Kusala-Mūla Paticca Samuppāda ........................................................................................................................................................... 647
Akusala-Mūla Pavutti (or Pravurthi) Paticca Samuppāda .................................................................................................................. 649
6 Pattana Dhamma ................................................................................................................................................ 652
Pattana Dhamma – Connection to Cause and Effect (Hethu Phala) ................................................................................................... 652
What Does “Paccaya” Mean in Paticca Samuppāda? .......................................................................................................................... 655
Annantara and Samanantara Paccaya ................................................................................................................................................... 657
Asevana and Annamanna Paccaya ......................................................................................................................................................... 658
Part IX Comments/Reviews 662
1 Discussion of Comments .................................................................................................................................... 663
What is Intention in Kamma? ................................................................................................................................................................. 663
Would Nibbana be Possible if Impermanence is the Cause of Suffering? .......................................................................................... 666
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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VI Pure Dhamma: A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings
Logical Proof that Impermanence is Incorrect Translation of Anicca ............................................................................................... 668
“Self” and “no-self”: A Simple Analysis ................................................................................................................................................ 671
Craving for Pornography – How to Reduce the Tendency .................................................................................................................. 675
2 Book Reviews ...................................................................................................................................................... 679
“Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt ........................................................................................................................................... 679
“Waking Up” by Sam Harris .................................................................................................................................................................. 681
“The Language of God” by Francis Collins ........................................................................................................................................... 684
“Spark” by John Ratey ............................................................................................................................................................................ 686
Part X Dhamma and Philosophy 687
1 Dhamma and Philosophy – Introduction ......................................................................................................... 688
2 Philosophy of the Mind ...................................................................................................................................... 690
3 Is Buddha Dhamma (Buddhism) a Religion? .................................................................................................. 693
4 The Infinity Problem in Buddhism ................................................................................................................... 697
Part XI Bhāvanā (Meditation) 700
1 Possible Outcomes of Meditation – Samadhi, Jhana, Magga Phala .............................................................. 702
2 Getting to Samadhi via Formal Mediation Sessions ........................................................................................ 704
3 Are you not getting expected results from meditation? .................................................................................. 708
4 1. Introduction to Buddhist Meditation ............................................................................................................ 713
5 2. The Basics in Meditation ................................................................................................................................ 717
6 3. The Second Level – Key to Purify the Mind ................................................................................................ 720
7 4. What do all these Different Meditation Techniques Mean? ....................................................................... 723
8 5. Ariya Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness Meditation) ................................................................................. 726
9 6. Ānāpānasati Bhāvanā (Introduction) ........................................................................................................... 729
Arittha Sutta - To Arittha (On Mindfulness of Breathing) .................................................................................................................. 730
10 7. What is Ānāpāna? .......................................................................................................................................... 733
Ānāpānassati­sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 118) .......................................................................................................................................... 735
11 Is Ānāpānasati Breath Meditation? .................................................................................................................. 740
12 8. The Basic Formal Ānāpānasati Meditation ................................................................................................. 744
13 Possible Effects in Meditation – Kundalini Awakening .................................................................................. 747
14 9. Key to Ānāpānasati – How to Change Habits and Character (Gathi) ...................................................... 751
Introduction to Character or Personality (Gathi) ................................................................................................................................. 751
A Broad View of the “Person” Trying to be a “Better Person” .......................................................................................................... 752
How Character (Gathi) Leads to Bhava and Jathi ............................................................................................................................... 754
15 10. Attaining the Sotapanna Stage via Removing Ditthasava ........................................................................ 757
16 11. Magga Phala via Cultivation of Saptha Bojjanga ..................................................................................... 761
17 12. Key Factors to be Considered when “Meditating” for the Sotapanna Stage .......................................... 765
18 13. Kammattana (Recitations) for the Sotapanna Stage ................................................................................. 769
19 Dasa Samyōjana – Bonds in Rebirth Process .................................................................................................. 773
20 New Approach to Meditation ............................................................................................................................ 778
21 Myths about Meditation .................................................................................................................................... 779
22 A Simple Way to Enhance Merits (Kusala) and Avoid Demerits (Akusala) ................................................. 782
23 Is Suffering the Same as the First Noble Truth on Suffering? ....................................................................... 785
24 What is Samadhi? – Three Kinds of Mindfulness ........................................................................................... 788
25 Panca Indriya and Panca Bala – Five Faculties and Five Powers ................................................................. 790
26 How to Attain Samadhi via “Vipassana Pubbanga Samatha” Bhavana ....................................................... 793
Part XII Abhidhamma 795
1 Abhidhamma – Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 796
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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Contents VII
2 Mind and Consciousness .................................................................................................................................... 799
What is Consciousness? ............................................................................................................................................................................ 799
1. Thoughts (Citta), Consciousness (Viññāṇa), and Mind (Hadaya Vatthu) – Introduction ........................................................... 800
2. Viññāṇa (Consciousness) can be of Many Different Types and Forms .......................................................................................... 803
3. Viññāṇa is not a Thought and What is the Subconscious? .............................................................................................................. 805
3 Citta and Cetasika .............................................................................................................................................. 808
Citta and Cetasika – How Vinnana (Consciousness) Arises ................................................................................................................ 808
What is a Thought? .................................................................................................................................................................................. 810
What is in a Thought? Why Gathi are so Important? .......................................................................................................................... 813
Cetasika – Connection to Gathi ............................................................................................................................................................... 817
Javana of a Citta – The Root of Mental Power ..................................................................................................................................... 820
4 Gandhabba (Manomaya Kaya) ......................................................................................................................... 824
Gandhabba (Manomaya Kaya) – Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 824
Does any Object (Rupa) Last only 17 Thought Moments? .................................................................................................................. 827
Hidden World of the Gandhabba: Netherworld (Paralowa) ............................................................................................................... 831
Ghost in the Machine – Synonym for the Manomaya Kaya? .............................................................................................................. 834
Manomaya Kaya (Gandhabba) and the Physical Body ........................................................................................................................ 837
Brain – Interface between Mind and Body ............................................................................................................................................ 841
Manomaya Kaya and Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) ........................................................................................................................ 845
Cuti-Patisandhi – An Abhidhamma Description ................................................................................................................................... 847
5 Why Do People Enjoy Immoral Deeds? – Ditthi Is Key ................................................................................. 850
6 Key to Sotāpanna Stage – Ditthi and Vicikicca ............................................................................................... 854
7 The Origin of Matter – Suddhashtaka ............................................................................................................. 858
8 What are Dhamma? – A Deeper Analysis ........................................................................................................ 863
24 conditional relations Paccaya ............................................................................................................................................................. 867
9 Pabhassara Citta, Radiant Mind, and Bhavanga ............................................................................................ 871
Part XIII Historical Background 875
1 Historical Background – Introduction ............................................................................................................. 876
2 Methods of Delivery of Dhamma by the Buddha ............................................................................................ 877
3 Misconceptions on the Topics the Buddha “Refused to Answer” .................................................................. 878
4 Misinterpretations of Buddha Dhamma ........................................................................................................... 880
5 Preservation of the Dhamma ............................................................................................................................. 882
6 Historical Timeline of Edward Conze ............................................................................................................... 886
7 Why is it Critical to Find the Pure Buddha Dhamma? ................................................................................... 889
8 Key Problems with Mahayana Teachings ........................................................................................................ 891
9 Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra) – A Focused Analysis ............................................................... 894
10 What is Sunyata or Sunnata (Emptiness)? ...................................................................................................... 897
11 Incorrect Theravada Interpretations – Historical Timeline ........................................................................... 899
12 Buddhaghosa and Visuddhimagga – Historical Background ......................................................................... 903
13 Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga – A Focused Analysis ................................................................................... 908
14 Background on the Current Revival of Buddha Dhamma ............................................................................. 912
15 Misintepretation of Anicca and Anatta by Early European Scholars ........................................................... 915
16 Tipitaka Commentaries – Helpful or Misleading? .......................................................................................... 920
Part XIV Buddhist Chanting 925
1 Buddhist Chanting – Introduction .................................................................................................................... 926
2 Namaskaraya – Homage to the Buddha ........................................................................................................... 927
3 Supreme Qualities of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha ........................................................................................... 929
4 The Five Precepts – Panca Sila .......................................................................................................................... 933
5 Sutta Chanting (with Pali Text) ........................................................................................................................ 934
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VIII Pure Dhamma: A Quest to Recover Buddha's True Teachings
6 Sadhu – Symbolizes Purified Hadaya Vatthu (Mind) ..................................................................................... 935
Part XV Dhammapada 937
1 Sabba Papassa Akaranan…. ............................................................................................................................. 938
2 Appamadö Amata Padam…. ............................................................................................................................. 939
3 Najajja Vasalo Hoti…… .................................................................................................................................... 941
4 Arogya Parama Labha.. ..................................................................................................................................... 942
5 Anicca vata Sankhara… .................................................................................................................................... 944
6 Attā Hi Attano Nātho ......................................................................................................................................... 946
Part XVI Sutta Interpretations 947
1 Sutta – Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 948
2 Pāli Dictionaries – Are They Reliable? ............................................................................................................. 951
3 Nikaya in the Sutta Pitaka ................................................................................................................................. 954
4 Sutta Learning Sequence for the Present Day ................................................................................................. 956
5 Maha Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta ................................................................................................................................... 959
Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – Structure ................................................................................................................................................................ 959
Satipaṭṭhāna – Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 962
Kayanupassana – Section on Postures (Iriyapathapabba) ................................................................................................................... 964
Kayanupassana – The Section on Habits (Sampajanapabba) ............................................................................................................. 966
Prerequisites for the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvanā .......................................................................................................................................... 967
What is “Kaya” in Kayanupassana? ...................................................................................................................................................... 969
6 Mahā Chattarisaka Sutta (Discourse on the Great Forty) ............................................................................. 973
Mahācattārīsaka Sutta ............................................................................................................................................................................. 976
7 Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ....................................................................................................................... 983
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 983
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Text................................................................................................................................................ 985
Majjima Patipada – Way to Relinquish Attachments to this World .................................................................................................. 991
Tiparivattaya and Twelve Types of Nana (Knowledge) ....................................................................................................................... 994
Relinquishing Defilements via Three Rounds and Four Stages ........................................................................................................... 996
Part XVII Myths or Realities? 1000
1 Animisa Locana Bodhi Poojawa – A Prelude to Acts of Gratitude ............................................................. 1001
2 Paramita and Niyata Vivarana – Myths or Realities? .................................................................................. 1004
3 Tisarana Vandana and Its Effects on One’s Gathi ........................................................................................ 1008
4 Does the Hell (Niraya) Exist? .......................................................................................................................... 1012
5 Can Buddhist Meditation be Dangerous? ...................................................................................................... 1016
Part XVIII Abhidhamma via Science 1020
1 Neuroscience says there is no Free Will? – That is a Misinterpretation! .................................................... 1021
2 The Double Slit Experiment – Correlation between Mind and Matter? ..................................................... 1024
3 Vision (Cakkhu Vinnana) is Not Just Seeing ................................................................................................. 1027
Part XIX References 1031
1 Parinibbāna of Waharaka Thero .................................................................................................................... 1032
2 Pure Dhamma – Sinhala Translation ............................................................................................................. 1035
3 Pure Dhamma – German Website .................................................................................................................. 1036
4 New / Revised Posts .......................................................................................................................................... 1037
Google Translations to Other Languages ............................................................................................................................................ 1039
Pure Dhamma Discussion Forum Guidelines ...................................................................................................................................... 1040
April – July 2017 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1041
January – March 2017 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1042
© 2017 Lal A. Pinnaduwage
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Contents IX
Essays – 2016 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1043
January 2016 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1043
February 2016 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1043
March 2016 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1043
April 2016 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1044
May 2016 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1044
June 2016 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1044
July 2016 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1044
August 2016 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1045
September 2016............................................................................................................................................................................... 1045
October 2016................................................................................................................................................................................... 1045
November 2016............................................................................................................................................................................... 1045
December 2016 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1046
Essays – 2015 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1046
December 2015 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1046
November 2015............................................................................................................................................................................... 1046
October 2015................................................................................................................................................................................... 1047
September 2015............................................................................................................................................................................... 1047
August 2015 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1047
July 2015 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1048
June 2015 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1048
May 2015 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1048
April 2015 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1048
March 2015 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1048
February 2015 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1049
January 2015 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1049
Essays – 2014 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1050
December 2014 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1050
November 2014............................................................................................................................................................................... 1050
October 2014................................................................................................................................................................................... 1051
September 2014............................................................................................................................................................................... 1051
August 2014 .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1052
July 2014 ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1052
June 2014 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1053
Revised Posts April – July 2017 ............................................................................................................................................................ 1053
Revised Posts – January to March 2017 ............................................................................................................................................... 1054
Revised Posts – 2016 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1054
January 2016 Revisions .................................................................................................................................................................. 1054
February 2016 Revisions ................................................................................................................................................................ 1054
March 2016 Revisions .................................................................................................................................................................... 1055
April 2016 Revisions ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1055
May 2016 Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1055
June 2016 Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1056
July 2016 Revisions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1056
August 2016 Revisions ................................................................................................................................................................... 1056
September 2016 Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................. 1057
October 2016 Revisions.................................................................................................................................................................. 1057
November 2016 Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................. 1057
December 2016 Revisions .............................................................................................................................................................. 1057
Revised Posts – 2015 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1058
December 2015 Revisions .............................................................................................................................................................. 1058
November 2015 Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................. 1059
October 2015 Revisions.................................................................................................................................................................. 1060
September 2015 Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................. 1060
August 2015 Revisions ................................................................................................................................................................... 1061
July 2015 Revisions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1061
June 2015 Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1062
May 2015 Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1063
April 2015 Revisions ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1064
Revised Posts – 2014 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1064
5 Buddha Dhamma – In a Chart ........................................................................................................................ 1066
6 Pure Dhamma Essays in Book Format ........................................................................................................... 1067
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