Thursday, June 28, 2012

Buddhadasa treasure trove for city




Buddhadasa treasure trove for city

Within the next two years, a green oasis in Bangkok will provide an ample corner where people can immerse themselves in the much-revered works of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

"This is going to be a source of spiritual entertainment," said Dr Bancha Pongpanich, a follower of the world-famous monk.
Buddhadasa is on the Unesco list of the world's great personalities.
When he passed away in 1993, he left behind an inspiring collection of religious works. Up to 27,347 pieces of his knowledge have been compiled, and most of them have been maintained at his Suan Mokkh ("Garden of Liberation") temple in the southern province of Surat Thani.
"Now we have decided to relocate this treasure trove to Bangkok," Bancha said.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Buddhadasa Inthapanyo Archives Foundation will build a three-storey building on a plot of land inside Vachirabenjatas Park to properly maintain the works.
Spread over three rai of land, the building will occupy 4,000 square metres. The Buddhadasa Inthapanyo Archives will be set amid shady trees and surrounding ponds. Inside the main buildings there will be exhibition rooms, seminar rooms, a digital database, research-service zones and a theatre for spiritual entertainment.
"It will be a complete religious archive. It will be the country's first comprehensive digital library too. Our database will be linked to websites like www.buddhadasa-archives.com, www.buddhadasa-archives.org and www.bia.or.th," Bancha said.
He added that the project was also intended to honour HM the King on the occasion of his 80th birthday. His Majesty turns 80 in December.
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin yesterday attended the inauguration of the archives.
Also present were the much-respected Phra Panyanandha Bhikkhu, Privy Councillor Kasem Watanachai and senior citizen Prawase Wasi.
"We believe the archives will sustain and create the utmost benefit from Buddhadasa's works," said Kasem, who chairs the committee tasked with establishing the archives.
"It will be as though we have put food on plates. You can come to taste it at the archive and even take some home," Kasem said.
Bancha said Suan Mokkh was so humid it was not a very appropriate place to maintain Buddhadasa's works.
According to Bancha, more people will be able to access the works in the capital.
"Nowadays so many people struggle to cope with stress. The Buddhadasa Inthapanyo Archives will help them," he said.
Bancha sits on the committee chaired by Kasem.
He said it would take about Bt140 million to set up the archives. Financial contributions for the project can be made by a remittal to Savings Account No 089-2-56025-2 "Start-up Capital for Buddhadasa Inthapanyo Archives", Kasikornbank, Ratchadaphisek Huai Khwang Branch.

 Best way from...
 

Listen, You Anger Experts

               Listen, You Anger Experts

                           By  Buddhadasa Bhikkhu



    If you still get angry – stupidly, maliciously out-of-control –
    it's because of grasping "me" that anger cruelly erupts within.
    Without any "me" to cherish or wish for any kind of thing,
    how could you get angry at anyone – please consider!

    This is reason enough to keep a lid on this nasty "me."

    Don't let it give birth to itself as a seductive ghost,
    possessing your heart till its all messed up with "me,"
    throwing tantrums and wreaking havoc on loved ones.

    The tree of anger is deliciously sweet at its base

    but most bitter poison overflows at the extremes.
    Regard me kindly, please gather round and listen,
    don't risk doing business with anger, it's punishment is seve
re.

 


 Best way from http://www.suanmokkh.org/

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Peace of Mind For World Peace

Peace of Mind For World Peace.

By  Mr. S. N. Goenka

Every religion worthy of the name calls on its followers to live a moral and ethical way of life, to attain mastery over the mind and to cultivate purity of heart. One tradition tells us, "Love thy neighbor"; another says, Salaam walekum - "May peace be with you"; still another says, Bhavatu sabbamangalam or Sarve bhavantu sukhinah - "May all beings be happy." Whether it is the Bible, the Koran or the Gita, the scriptures call for peace and amity. From Mahavir to Jesus, all great founders of religions have been ideals of tolerance and peace. Yet our world is often driven by religious and sectarian strife, or even war - because we give importance only to the outer shell of religion and neglect its essence. The result is a lack oflove and compassion in the mind. 

Peace in the world cannot be achieved unless there is peace within individuals. Agitation and peace cannot co-exist. One way to achieve inner peace is Vipassana or insight meditation - a non-sectarian, scientific, results-oriented technique of self-observation and truth realization. Practice of this technique brings experiential understanding of how mind and body interact. Everytime negativity arises in the mind, such as hatred, it triggers unpleasant sensations within the body. Every time the mind generates selfless love, compassion and good will, the entire body is flooded with pleasant sensations. Practice of Vipassana also reveals that mental action precedes every physical and vocal action, determining whether that action will be wholesome or unwholesome. Mind matters most. That is why we must find practical methods to make the mind peaceful and pure. Such methods will amplify the effectiveness of the joint declaration emerging from this World Peace Summit.
Ancient India gave two practices to the world. One is the physical exercise of yoga postures (Asanas) and breath control (Pranayama) for keeping the body healthy. The other is the mental exercise of Vipassana for keeping the mind healthy. People of any faith can and do practice both these methods. At the same time, they may follow their own religions in peace and harmony; there is no necessity for conversion, a common source of tension and conflict.
For society to be peaceful, more and more members of society must be peaceful. As leaders, we have a responsibility to set an example, to be an inspiration. A sage once said, "A balanced mind is necessary to balance the unbalanced mind of others."
More broadly, a peaceful society will find a way to live in peace with its natural setting. We all understand the need to protect the environment, to stop polluting it. What prevents us from acting on this understanding is the stock of mental pollutants, such as ignorance, cruelty or greed. Removing such pollutants will promote peace among human beings, as well as a balanced, healthy relationship between human society and its natural environment. This is how religion can foster environmental protection. 

 best way from http://www.dhamma.org

Monday, June 25, 2012

จุดมุ่งหมายสูงสุดของพระพุทธศาสนา

จุดมุ่งหมายสูงสุดของพระพุทธศาสนา
 พระพรหมคุณาภรณ์ (ป.อ.ปยุตฺโต)


        จุดหมายสูงสุด ของพระพุทธศาสนา พึงบรรลุได้ด้วยความสุขหรือด้วยข้อปฏิบัติที่มีความสุข มิใช่บรรลุด้วยความทุกข์ หรือด้วยข้อปฏิบัติที่เป็นทุกข์
      ผู้ปฏิบัติจะต้องไม่ติดใจหลงไหลในความสุขที่เกิดขึ้นแก่ตน ไม่ปล่อยให้ความสุขที่เกิดขึ้นนั้น ครอบงำ
        จิตใจของตน ยังมีจิตใจเป็นอิสระ สามารถก้าวหน้าไปในธรรมเบื้องสูง ต่อๆ ไป จนบรรลุความเป็นอิสระ   หลุดพ้นโดยบริบูรณ์
      ซึ่งเมื่อบรรลุจุดหมายนั้นแล้ว ก็สามารถเสวยความสุขที่เคยเสวยมาแล้ว โดยที่ความสุขนั้น ไม่มีโอกาส ครอบงำจิตใจ ทำให้ติดพันหลงไหลได้เลย 



 http://www.thammapedia.com

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Duty of People

The Duty of People
By  Buddhadasa Bhikkhu











The first duty of being human
is to realize the highest thing available to us
before becoming corpses and ghosts
not wasting the opportunity of human birth. 

The second duty as human comrades
is to help each other to the highest degree
stop hurting, stop fighting over scraps
aim for true friendship in birth, aging, and death.

The third duty as citizens of the world
is to help quell the sorrows of the world
making this world a fit place to live
truly a wonderful, beautiful humane world.

Each of us has these three duties
to vigorously do our best to fulfill
completely before dying so our fame
comes from reaching the highest human potential. 
                     *******
Best way from  http://www.suanmokkh.org

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Which Happiness do you want?


Which Happiness do you want?

By Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Here's one example of how the ambiguity of this word can cause problems. It's likely that you came here to study and practice Dhamma in search of happiness. Your understanding of happiness, the happiness you desire, however, may not be the same happiness that is the genuine goal of Buddhism and the practice of Dhamma. If the sukha (happiness) that you desire is not the sukha that arises from Dhamma practice, then we're afraid that you'll be disappointed or even heartbroken here. It's necessary to develop some understanding of this matter.


In order to save time and make it easy for you to understand, let's set down a simple principle for understanding of happiness. The usual happiness that common people are interested in is when a particular hunger or want is satisfied. This is the typical understanding of happiness. In the Dhamma sense, however, happiness is when there is no hunger or want at all, when we're completely free of all hunger, desire, and want. Help to sort this out right at this point by paying careful attention to the following distinction: happiness because hunger is satisfied and happiness due to no hunger at all. Can you see the difference? Can you feel the distinction between the happiness of hunger and the happiness of no hunger?

Let's take the opportunity now to understand the words 'lokiya' and 'lokuttara', as they are relevant to the matter we're investigating today. Lokiya means 'proceeding according to worldly matters and concerns'. Lokiya is to be in the world, caught within the world, under the power and influence of the world. Common translations are 'worldly' and 'mundane'. Lokuttara means 'to be above the world'. It is beyond the power and influence of the world. It can be translated 'transcendent' or 'supramundane'. Now we can more easily compare the two kinds of happiness: lokiya-sukha (worldly happiness) which is trapped under the power of , governed by the conditions and limitations of, what we call 'the world', and lokuttara sukha (transcendent happiness), which is beyond all influence of the world. See this distinction and understand the meaning of these two words as clearly as possible.

We must look at these more closely. Lokiya means 'stuck in the world, dragged along by the world', so that worldly power and influence dominate. In this state there is no spiritual freedom; it's the absence of spiritual independence. Lokuttara means 'unstuck, released from the world'. It is spiritual freedom. Thus, there are two kinds of happiness; happiness that is not free and happiness that is independent, the happiness of slavery and the happiness of freedom.

This is the point that we're afraid you'll misunderstand. It you've come here looking for lokiya-sukha, but you study Buddhism which offers the opposite kind of happiness, you're going to be disappointed. You won't find what you desire. The practice of Dhamma, including a wise meditation practice, leads to lokuttara-sukha and not to worldly happiness. We must make this point clear from the very beginning. If you understand the difference between these two kinds of sukha, however, you'll understand the purpose of Suan Mokkh and won't be disappointed here.

By now you ought to understand the difference between the two kinds of happiness; the happiness that comes from getting what we hunger for and the happiness of the total absence of hunger. How different are they? Investigate the matter and you will see these things for yourself. The happiness of 'hunger satisfied' and the happiness of 'no hunger': we can not define them more succinctly or clearly than this.
                                       ******
Best way from http://www.suanmokkh.org/


Tuesday, June 12, 2012


WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?
    
                                     H.H. SOMDET PHRA NYANASAMVARA
 
Best of paths is the Eightfold Path.
Best of truth is the Four Noble Truths.
Best of conditions is Passionlessness.
Best of men is the Seeing One.
This is only way;
None other is there for the purity of vision.
Do you enter upon this path,
Which is bewilderment of Mãra.
(The Buddha's Words in The Dhammapada)

 WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH ?

Nibbãna is Supreme Happiness
     There is a Buddhist proverb which states that "Nibbãna is Supreme Happiness". Nibbãna means elimination of desire, not only worldly desire but also deire in the sphere of the Dhamma. Action not dictated by greed is action leading to Nibbãna.
     The buddha was once asked what was meant by Saying that "Dhamma" including "Nibbãna may be "realized by everyone personally". The Buddha's reply was as follows. When one's mind is subdued by greed, hatred and delusion, volition harmful to oneself or others or to both oneself and others will arise, causing physical and/or mental suffering. As soon as such volition arises, unwholesome actions, be it of body, speech or mind, will inevitably follow. One in such a state of mind will never be able to recognize, in the light of truth, what is to his own or others' benefit, nor to the benefit of both. However when greed, hatred and delusion are eliminated, when there is no more volition harmful to oneself or others, or to both, no more unwholesome bodily, verbal or mental actions, when what is to one's own or others' benefit, or both, is recognized in the light of truth and no more suffering of the body nor even of the mind occurs, this is the meaning of "Dhamma" leading to "Nibbãna". According to this explanation of the Buddha, realization of the Dhamma means realization of one's own mental states, good as well as bad. No matter in what state the mind may find itself, one should realize it correctly in the light of truth. This is what is called realization of the Dhamma. It may be asked what benefit can be derived from such realization? The answer is that it will bring peace of mind. When the mind is poisoned with desire, hatred and delusion, it always flows out-ward. If it is brought back to be examined by itself, the fire of desire, hatred and delusion will ultimately subside and peace of mind will ensue. This peace should be carefully discerned and securely retained. This then is realization of peace of mind which is realization of Nibbãna. The way to realize the Dhamma and attain Nibbãna as taught by the Buddha is a natural one which can be practiced by all From the simplest and lowest to the highest level.
     The Noble Truths, the Three Characteristics of Life and Nibbãna are Sacca Dhamma, i.e. Universal or Absolute Truth as realized and taught by the Buddha (as expounded in the First sermon and in the Dhammaniyãma or Fixedness of the Dhamma). This may be termed Truth in the light of the Dhamma, which may be attained through Paññã or insight, and this is the Budhist way to end all suffering. Buddhism simultaneously teaches the worldly Dhamma or Lokasacca. This is worldly truth, a "relative reality" or conventional truth which views the material universe as it really is, i.e. an aggregate of composite factors existing in relation to certain imperfect states of consciousness such as belief in the existence of selfhood and all its belongings. But in the worldly sense it has a conventional identity as examplified in the Buddha's saying "A man is his own refuge" . In this connexion , the buddha said "As the assembled parts of a cart comprise a cart, so the existence of khandhas or composite factors of being comprise a being" . The worldly Dhamma includes conduct in human society, for instance, the Six Directions (conduct towards our fathers and mothers, our teachers, our religion, our wives and children and our servants), as well as religion precepts and disciplinary laws. Along with our practice of the Dhamma to liberate our minds from suffering according to Absolute Truth, we should also practice the Dhamma in the light of worldly or conventional truth. For example, if one is a son, a daughter or a pupil, one should comply with the Dhamma in a manner appropriate to one is a status and try to study and use the Dhamma in thesolving of one's daily problems. He should try everyday to apply the Dhamma in his study, work and other activities. He who conducts himself in this manner will see for himself that the Dhamma is truly of immeasurable benefit to his own existence.
 *******
The best way from http://www.dhammathai.org

Friday, June 8, 2012

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

Best way  for all
 
WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH? 

    
                   H.H. SOMDET PHRA NYANASAMVARA
 
Best of paths is the Eightfold Path.
Best of truth is the Four Noble Truths.
Best of conditions is Passionlessness.
Best of men is the Seeing One.
This is only way;
None other is there for the purity of vision.
Do you enter upon this path,
Which is bewilderment of Mãra.
(The Buddha's Words in The Dhammapada)
WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH? 
 Ti-lakkhana or the Three Characteristics of Existence  
All sankhãra or phenomenal (compounded) things are subject to Anicca or impermanence, Dukkha or suffering and Anattã or non-self, which are the three characteristics of existence.
     Anicca or impermanence means transience. Everything That has come into existence will eventually have to pass away. Everything exists only temporarily.
     Dukkha or suffering consists of continual change. All things are subject to incessant and continual decay. Their owners consequently have to suffer just as much As the things they possess. For instance, one falls ill When one's body is out of order.
      Anattã or non-self means void of reality or self-existence. Anattã may be explained in three stages as Follows:


     1. Not to be too self-centered. Otherwise one would become selfish and would be actuated only by self-interest and would not know oneself in the light of truth. For instance, being too egoistic, one would believe one is in the right or entitled to this or that but in truth one's belief is erroneous.
     2. We cannot give orders to anything, including our bodies and minds, to remain unchanged according to our wish. For instance we could not order our bodies to remain always young and handsome and our minds always happy and alert.
     3. One who has practiced and attained to the highest level of knowledge will discover that all things including one's own body and mind are devoid of self; or, as the Buddhist proverb puts it, "one becomes non-existent to oneself". Some people with great insight have no attachment to anything at all in the world. Nevertheless, during their lifetimes, they are able to conduct themselves in the right manner (without defilements) appropriate to the place and circumstances in which they live.
*******
The best way from http://www.dhammathai.org

Thursday, June 7, 2012

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

The best way for all life in the  Universe.

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

    
                                     H.H. SOMDET PHRA NYANASAMVARA
 
Best of paths is the Eightfold Path.
Best of truth is the Four Noble Truths.
Best of conditions is Passionlessness.
Best of men is the Seeing One.
This is only way;
None other is there for the purity of vision.
Do you enter upon this path,
Which is bewilderment of Mãra.
(The Buddha's Words in The Dhammapada)

 WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH ?



     Eighty years before the commencement of the Buddhist Era, a great man was born into the world. He was the son of king Suddhodana and Queen Siri Mahã Mãyã of the Sakka country which is now within the boundaries of Nepal. His name was "Siddhattha". Thirtry - five years later, Prince Siddhattha attained Supreme Enlightenment and thereafter became known as the " Enlightened One" or the "Lord Buddha" as he is called in Thai. He proclaimed his "Dhamma"* or Universal Truth to the people; and, thereafter, the Buddhist religion (the Teachings of the Buddha) and the Buddhist community of disciples came into existence. The community was composed of bhikkhus or monks (including samaneras of male novices), bhikkhunis or nuns (including samaneris or female novices), upasakas or male lay followers and upsikas or female lay followers. At present, in Thailand, we have only monks and novices, upasakas or Buddhist layment and upasikas or Buddhist laywomen. A monk is a man who has been ordained and
                        _____________________________________ 
 * Also colled "Dharma" from the Sanskrit.

conducts himself in accordance with the precepts laid down for a monk. A novice is a person under or over 20 years of age who has been ordanined and conducts himself in accordance with the precepts laid down for a novice. A Buddhist layman or laywoman is one who has taken refuge in the Triple Gem, i.e. the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, and observes the precepts applicabe to laymen and laywomen. At present we call laymen and laywomen, whether of age or under age, "Buddhamãmaka" and "Buddhamãmika" and "Buddhamaãmika" respectively, meaning "he or she who believes in the Buddha". Buddhism has spread from its place of birth into the various countries of the world.

     The focal point of worship in Buddhism is the Ti-Ratana (the Triple Gem) namely the Buddha who by Himself discovered, realized and proclaimed the Dhamma, Thereby establishing the Buddhist religion, the Dhamma (Umiversal Truth) discovered, realized and proclaimed by the Buddha and the Sangha or community of those who hear, follow and realize the Buddha's Teachings. Some members of the Sangha become monks and help in the dissemination of Buddhism and the perpetuation of monkhood up to the present time. Everyone who is initiated into the Buddhist religion, whether a layman, a laywaman or a monk, ought To conform to a preliminary rule, namely one must Solemnly promise to take refuge in and accept the Triple Gem as one's own refuge or, in other words, to regard the buddha as one's father who gives birth to one's Spiritual life. A buddhist may associate himself or herself with people of other faiths and pay respect to objects of reverence of other religions in an appropriate manner in the same way as he or she may pay respect to the father, mother or elders of other people while having at the same time his or her own father. He will not lose his Buddhist religion as long as he believes in the Triple Gem, just as he will remain the son of his own father as long as his father instead, or just as he will remain a Thai as long as he does not adopt another nationlity. Buddhism, therefore, is not intolerant. Its followers may at will associate with people of other nationalities and religions. Buddhism does not teach disrespectfulness to any one. On the contrary, it declares that respect should be paid to all those to whom respect is due and that the Dhamma should not be withheld from the knowledge of others and kept only to oneself. Whoever desires to study and practice the Dhamma may do so without having to profess first the Buddhist faith. The Dhamma as proclaimed by Buddhist religion, will help to demonstrate that it is "Truth" that will be beneficial and bring happiness in the present life. The essence of the entire Buddhist teachings lies in the Four Noble Truths.
     Noble Truth (Ariya-Sacca) is short for "truth of the Noble ones (or of those who have attained a high degree of advancement)", "truth attainable by the noble ones", "truth by which one is ennobled". It should first be understood that it is not simply truth that is agreeable to the world or to oneself, but truth that is directly born of wisdom. The four Noble Truths are :-
     1. Dukkha or suffering; which means birth, decay and death which are the normal incidents of life. It also means sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair which are at times experienced by our body and mind. To be separated from the pleasant, to be disappointed, or to be in contact with the unpleasant are also suffering. In short our body and mind are subject to suffering or, in other words, we may say that our existence is bound up with suffering*.
     2. Samudaya; which means the cause of suffering, which is desire. It is a compelling urge of the mind, such as the longing to own what we desire, to be what we desire to be, or to avoid those states to which we feel aversion.
     3. Nirodha; which means cessation of suffering, which connotes extinction of desire or such longings of the mind.
     4.Magga; which means the way to the cessation of suffering, which is the Noble Eight fold Path, namely Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
Some people believe that Buddhism is pessimistic in outlook because its teachings deal only with suffering and are of so high a standard that ordinary people are unable to practise it because it advocates extinction of desire, which is very difficult to accomplish. Since such misunderstanding exists, clarification is necessary before the noble Truths can be dealt with. The Buddhist religion
                        _____________________________
* Some present-day Buddhists are of the opinion that the word "frustration" is a good translation of Dukkha, as it carries a wider meaning than "suffering"
is neither wholly pessimistic nor wholly optimistic. It derives its outlook from truth, i.e. truth which can only be understood through a combination of insight and purity of mind.

     According to the history of Buddhism, the Buddha did not enunciate the Four Noble Truths to anyone lightly. He would first feed the minds of his listeners with other points of the Dhamma until they became pure enough to be receptive to higher teaching. Then he would expose the Four Noble Truths to them. The other points of the Dhamma that are constantly stressed particularly to laymen, are Dãna or charity, Sãla or morality, the natural and logical result of charity and morality which is bliss (meaning happiness and prosperity even in this life), the dangers of sensuality (anything that binds one to love and desire) and the advantages to be derived from the renunciation of sensuality. This method of gradual teaching adopted by the Buddha is comparable to the present day method of education. We may say that the Four Noble Truths were taught at university level; pupil at the lower education levels were taught other points of the Dhamma suitable to their understanding. The Buddha would never teach the Dhamma beuond the comprehension of his listeners, for to have done so would not have benefited anyone. For those who are in search of knowledge, although they may not be able to comply with the Four Noble Truths, study of this fundamental point of the Dhamma would certainly advance their rational knowledge of truth and may make them consider how much they can in practice comply with it in spite of the fact that they are still unable to rid themselves of desire. Such consideration is possible as in the following instances:-

     1. Everyone wants to be happy and never wants to suffer. But why are people still suffering and unable to do away with their own sufferings themselves? Sometimes, the more they try to get rid of them, the more they suffer. This is because they do not know what is the true cause of suffering and what is the true cause of happiness. If they knew, they would be successful. They would eliminate the cause of suffering and create the cause of happiness. One of the important obstacles to this success is one's own heart. Because we comply too much with the dictates of our hearts, we have to suffer.
     2. In saying that we comply with the dictates of our hearts, in fact, we mean that we are gratifying desire or those compelling urges of the heart. In worldly existence, it is not yet necessary to suppress desire totally because desire is the driving force that brings progress to the world and to ourselves. But desire must be under proper control and some limit should be set for satisfying it. If desire could be thus restricted, the probability of a happy life in this world would be much greater. Those who start fires that burn themselves and the world are invariable people who do not restrict the desires of their hearts within proper bounds . If we wish to the best of our ability. This is tantamount to observing the Noble Eightfold Path in relation to the world, which is at the same time acting in accordance with the Dhamma.
     3. But human beings require some rest. Our bodies need rest and sleep. Our minds also must be given time to be empty. If they are at work all the time, we cannot sleep. Among those who take pleasure in forms and sounds there are, for example, some who are fond of good music; but, if they were compelled to listen to music too long, the lovely music constantly sounding in their ears would become a torment. They would run away from it and long for a return of silence or tranquility. Our mind requires such tranquility for a considerable time every day. This is rest for the mind or in other word the extinction of desire which, in fact, amounts to elimination of suffering. Therefore, if one really understands that elimination of suffering is nothing but keeping the mind at rest and that rest is a mental nourishment which is needed every day, then one will begin to understand the meaning of Nirodha.
     4. We should go on to realize that when our mind is restless it is because of desire. The mind then causes us to act, speak and think in consonance with its agitated state. When gratified, it may became peaceful; but only momentarily, because action dictated by a restless mind may very soon afterwards bring us intense pain and severe punishment or make us conscience stricken and cause us to regret it for a very long time. So let it be known that a person with his mind in such a state is termed "slave of desire" . Then is there a way to overcome desire or to master the desire in our own hearts? Yes, there is the Noble Eight fold Path that leads to the extinction of suffering, namely:
     (1) Sammãditthi or Rihgt Understanding, meaning an intellectual grasp of the Four Noble Truths or of the true nature of existence even in a simplified form as outlined in the preceding paragraphs.
     (2) Sammãsankappa or Right Intention, meaning intention to be free from all bonds of Dukkha. Such intention should be free from revenge, hatred, and harmfulness.
     (3) Sammãvãcã or Right Speech, meaning abstinence from lying; from tale- bearing and vicious talk that cause discord; from harsh language; and from vain, irresponsible and foolish talk.
     (4) Sammãkammanta or Right Action, meaning avoidance of killing and torturing, of theft and misappropriation, and of adultery.
     (5) Sammããjiva or Right Livelihood, meaning Rejection of wrong means of livelihood and living by right Means.
     (6) Sammãvãyãma or Right Effort, meaning effort to avoid the aresing of evil; effort to overcome evil and demeritorious states that have already arisen; effort to develop good and beneficial states of mind, and effort to maintain them when they have arisen.
     (7) Sammãsati or Right Mindfulness, meaning dwelling in contemplation of the true stations of the mind, for instance, the Satipahattna or four Stations of Mindfulness which are the Body, Sensation, Mind and Dhamma.
     (8) Sammãsamãdhi or Right Concentration, meaning the fixing of the mind upon a single deed which we wish to perform along the right path.

     The Noble Eightfold Path is in reality one complete Path with eight component parts which may by summed up in thre stages of training (sikkhã) namely :
      Sïla Sikkhã or Training in Morality, which includes Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. In general this means that whatever we say or do, we must say or do in the right way. This also applies to our livelihood. We must reject wrong means of livelihood and live by right ones. If we do not yet have a means of livelihood, for instance if we are students depending on the support of our benefactors, we must spend the money given us properly and not squander in extravagantly. We must learn to control ourselves and refrain from spending it wrongly or improperly on ourselves and our friends.
     Citta Sikkhã or Mental Training, which includes Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Generally speaking, the subject of the mind is very important. We must study and train our minds. It is not really difficult to do so if only we can get started. For instance we can begin developing diligence, train ourselves in mindfulness and cultivate our memories by focussing our minds on what is beneficial and by practicing concentration. Such training can be applied to our study since it requires diligence and proper use of our memory and powers of concentration.
     Pannã sikkhã or Training in Wisdom, which includes Right Understanding and Right Intention. Generally speaking, man succeeds in his own development erally speaking, man succeeds in his own development through insight by means of which he makes right decisions. Right intention means right deliberation and right understanding leads to right decisions. students in the various fields of study all aim at acquiring wisdom in order to enable them to deliberate rightly and arrive at correct decisions in accordance with reason and reality. The training in wisdom should in particular
include the knowledge of Ti-lakkhana or the Three Characteristics of Existence and the practice of Brahma Vihãra or the Four sublime States of Consciousness.
******** 
The best way from http://www.dhammathai.org


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

อริยมรรคมีองค์แปด ทางแห่งความสิ้นกรรม

อริยมรรคมีองค์แปด ทางแห่งความสงบ
               อริสัจจากพระโอษฐ์

 
       ภิกษุ ท. ! เราจักแสดง จักจำแนก ซึ่งอริย- อัฏฐังคิกมรรค (อริยมรรคมีองค์แปด) แก่เธอทั้งหลาย. เธอทั้งหลายจงฟังความข้อนั้น จงทำในใจให้สำเร็จประโยชน์ เราจักกล่าว.
       ภิกษุ ท.! อริยอัฏฐังคิกมรรค (อริยมรรคมีองค์แปด) เป็นอย่างไรเล่า ? อริยอัฏฐังคิกมรรค ได้แก่สิ่งเหล่านี้ คือ 

       สัมมาทิฏฐิ สัมมาสังกัปปะ สัมมาวาจา สัมมากัมมันตะ
สัมมาอาชีวะ สัมมาวายามะ สัมมาสติ สัมมาสมาธิ. 

       ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาทิฏฐิ (ความเห็นชอบ) เป็น อย่างไรเล่า ? ภิกษุ ท. ! ความรู้อันใดเป็นความรู้ใน ทุกข์ เป็นความรู้ในเหตุให้เกิดทุกข์ เป็นความรู้ในความ ดับแห่งทุกข์ เป็นความรู้ในทางดำเนินให้ถึงความดับ ไม่เหลือแห่งทุกข์. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาทิฏฐิ.

       ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาสังกัปปะ (ความดำริชอบ) เป็น อย่างไรเล่า ? คือ ความดำริในการออกจากกาม ความ ดำริในการไม่มุ่งร้าย ความดำริในการไม่เบียดเบียน. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาสังกัปปะ. 

       ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาวาจา (การพูดจาชอบ) เป็น อย่างไรเล่า ? คือ เจตนาเป็นเครื่องเว้นจากการพูดไม่ จริง เจตนาเป็นเครื่องเว้นจากการพูดส่อเสียด เจตนาเป็น เครื่องเว้นจากการพูดหยาบ เจตนาเป็นเครื่องเว้นจากการ พูดเพ้อเจ้อ. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาวาจา. 

       ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมากัมมันตะ (การทำการงานชอบ) เป็นอย่างไรเล่า ? คือ เจตนาเป็นเครื่องเว้นจากการฆ่า เจตนาเป็นเครื่องเว้นจากการถือเอาสิ่งของที่เจ้าของไม่ได้ ให้แล้ว เจตนาเป็นเครื่องงดเว้นจากการประพฤติผิดใน กาม. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมากัมมันตะ. 

       ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาอาชีวะ (การเลี้ยงชีวิตชอบ) เป็นอย่างไรเล่า ? ภิกษุ ท. ! สาวกของพระอริยเจ้า
       ในกรณีนี้ ละการหาเลี้ยงชีวิตที่ผิดเสีย ย่อมสำเร็จความ
เป็นอยู่ด้วยการเลี้ยงชีวิตที่ชอบ. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรา

      กล่าวว่า สัมมาอาชีวะ. ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาวายามะ (ความพากเพียรชอบ) เป็นอย่างไรเล่า ? ภิกษุ ท. ! ภิกษุในกรณีนี้ ย่อมทำ ความพอใจให้เกิดขึ้น ย่อมพยายามปรารภความเพียร ย่อม ประคองตั้งจิตไว้ เพื่อจะยังอกุศลธรรมอันเป็นบาปที่ยังไม่ เกิดไม่ให้เกิดขึ้น ; ย่อมทำความพอใจให้เกิดขึ้น ย่อม พยายามปรารภความเพียร ย่อมประคองตั้งจิตไว้ เพื่อจะ ละอกุศลธรรม อันเป็นบาปที่เกิดขึ้นแล้ว ; ย่อมทำความ พอใจให้เกิดขึ้น ย่อมพยายามปรารภความเพียร ย่อม ประคองตั้งจิตไว้ เพื่อจะยังกุศลธรรมที่ยังไม่เกิดให้ เกิดขึ้น ; ย่อมทำความพอใจให้เกิดขึ้น ย่อมพยายาม ปรารภความเพียร ย่อมประคองตั้งจิตไว้ เพื่อความตั้งอยู่ ความไม่เลอะเลือน ความงอกงามยิ่งขึ้น ความไพบูลย์ ความเจริญ ความเต็มรอบ แห่งกุศลธรรมที่เกิดขึ้นแล้ว. 

       ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาวายามะ. ภิกษุ ท. ! สัมมาสติ (ความระลึกชอบ) เป็น อย่างไรเล่า ? ภิกษุ ท. ! ภิกษุในกรณีนี้ ย่อมเป็นผู้ พิจารณาเห็นกายในกายอยู่เป็นประจำ มีความเพียรเครื่อง เผากิเลส มีสัมปชัญญะ มีสติ ถอนความพอใจและความ ไม่พอใจในโลกออกเสียได้ ; ย่อมเป็นผู้พิจารณาเห็น เวทนาในเวทนาทั้งหลายอยู่เป็นประจำ มีความเพียรเครื่อง เผากิเลส มีสัมปชัญญะ มีสติ ถอนความพอใจและความ ไม่พอใจในโลกออกเสียได้ ; ย่อมเป็นผู้พิจารณาเห็นจิต ในจิตอยู่เป็นประจำ มีความเพียรเครื่องเผากิเลส 
       มีสัมปชัญญะ มีสติ ถอนความพอใจและความไม่พอใจใน โลกออกเสียได้ ; ย่อมเป็นผู้พิจารณาเห็นธรรมในธรรม ทั้งหลายอยู่เป็นประจำ มีความเพียรเครื่องเผากิเลส มี สัมปชัญญะ มีสติ ถอนความพอใจและความไม่พอใจใน โลกออกเสียได้. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาสติ.
       ภิกษุ ท.! สัมมาสมาธิ (ความตั้งใจมั่นชอบ) เป็น อย่างไรเล่า ? ภิกษุ ท. ! ภิกษุในกรณีนี้ สงัดแล้วจาก กามทั้งหลาย สงัดแล้วจากอกุศลธรรมทั้งหลาย เข้าถึง ปฐมฌาน อันมีวิตก วิจาร มีปีติและสุขอันเกิดจากวิเวก แล้วแลอยู่ ; เพราะความที่วิตก วิจารทั้งสองระงับลง เข้าถึงทุติยฌาน เป็นเครื่องผ่องใสแห่งใจในภายใน ให้สมาธิเป็นธรรมอันเอกผุดมีขึ้น ไม่มีวิตก ไม่มีวิจาร มีแต่ ปีติและสุข อันเกิดจากสมาธิ แล้วแลอยู่ ; อนึ่ง เพราะความจางคลายไปแห่งปีติ ย่อมเป็นผู้อยู่อุเบกขา มีสติและ สัมปชัญญะ และย่อมเสวยความสุขด้วยนามกาย ชนิดที่ พระอริยเจ้าทั้งหลาย ย่อมสรรเสริญผู้นั้นว่า เป็นผู้อยู่อุเบกขา มีสติ อยู่เป็นปกติสุข ดังนี้ เข้าถึงตติยฌาน แล้ว แลอยู่ ; เพราะละสุข และทุกข์เสียได้ เพราะความดับไป แห่งโสมนัสและโทมนัสทั้งสอง ในกาลก่อน เข้าถึง จตุตถฌาน ไม่มีทุกข์ ไม่มีสุข มีแต่ความที่สติเป็นธรรมชาติบริสุทธิ์เพราะอุเบกขาแล้วแลอยู่. ภิกษุ ท. ! อันนี้เรากล่าวว่า สัมมาสมาธิ. 

มหาวาร.สํ. ๑๙/๑๐ - ๑๒/๓๓-๔๑.
******* 
ต้นธรรมจาก http://www.dhammathai.org/karma...