BSS: Ehipassiko Issue No.1 97/98 (Page 1)

Avoid Evil,
Do Good,
Purify the Mind

Ehipassiko
Issue No.1 97/98

Page 1:

Page 1
The Dhamma
WHAT IS DHAMMA?

Dhamma means the teachings of the Buddha. The Dhamma protects those who practise the Dhamma from falling into the four woeful states.

The Dhamma deals with truth and facts that can be tested and verified by personal experience and is not concerned with theories and speculations.

- Narada, The Buddha and His Teachings

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE DHAMMA

The Dhamma is endowed with six attributes:-

Well proclaimed - svakattho

Relating to the present - sandithikko

Immediately effective - akaliko

Inviting investigation - ehipassiko

Leading on to Nibbana - opanayiko

To be comprehended by everyone for himself - pacatam veditabbo vinuhhi

1. Well proclaimed
From the time of his supreme enlightenment until attaining parinibbana, the Buddha preached many discourses. They were enumerated in the following order:

Dana katha - the subject of alms-giving or charity

Sila katha - the subject of morality

Sagga katha - description of the delights of the deva

Magga katha - exposition of the disadvantages of sensual pleasures

None of these teachings is concerned with animosity, revenge, selfishness, racism or religious prejudice. Because it is systematically composed with correct grammar and meaning, no one can find any fault with his teachings. If a person listens to the Dhamma without cavil or bigotry, there is no reason for him to reject it.

2. Relating to the Present
Some people may think that the Buddha's teachings relate only to the future life. Some people even say that the Buddha threatened people with the past and enticed people by presenting the prospect of a bright future. But it is not true. Actually, he related many stories to bring to attention the dangers of unwholesome deeds and the merits of wholesome deeds. All his teachings can be condensed into the fact that there is cause and effect.

For the most part, the Buddha's teachings are about charity, morality and the development of the mind or insight meditation. If a person practises the Dhamma he will get the benefit in accordance with his effort at any time.

A person who lacks morality will have to face disadvantages in his worldly and spiritual life. His bad reputation will spread among good people. When he approaches people he will suffer disfavour and timidity. An immoral person will die confused and will be reborn in the four woeful planes. To get the opposite results a person must keep the moral code .

A person who offers alms is loved by good and wise men. His good reputation is spread abroad among people. He is respected and loved by many people. On the dissolution of the body at death, he will be reborn in the happy, heavenly world.

A person who practises insight meditation, purifies his mind; overcome sorrow and lamentation, is released from physical pain and mental distress, attains the noble path (magga) and realizes nibbana. Therefore the Dhamma gives many advantages, not only after death but also in this very life.

3. Immediately Effective
The third attribute of the Dhamma is that it produces immediate result. This attribute is rather difficult to explain because it is related to the four supramundane paths, the fruits of holiness and the realization of nibbana. When a person has mature knowledge of insight meditation, he roots out the defilement in stages by the four paths and immediately following those attainments he can be absorbed in the corresponding fruits of holiness and realization of nibbana. Because one does not have to wait to get the fruit of the practice, the Dhamma is said to be immediately effective. A person should meditate to understand this attribute.

4. Inviting Investigation
The Buddha never encourage blind faith and speculation. He allowed every aspect of his teachings to be questioned because his teachings can withstand critical inspection by the wise. He always encouraged people to inquire into all teachings, saying in the Kamala Sutta:- " Do not believe in anything which is based on hearsay, tradition, rumour, what is in any scriptures, speculation, axiom, plausible argument, bias towards a notion that has been pondered over, famous person's speech, one's respect for a teacher. But when you yourselves know, 'These things are bad, blameworthy, censured by the wise; these things lead to harm and sorrow,' abandon them. When you yourselves know, 'These things are good, praised by the wise; these things lead to benefit and happiness,' undertake and observe them."
The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts.

~ Dhammapada

5. Leading on to Nibbana
Everybody must have a goal in their life or they will be like a rudderless boat. A Buddhist always keep in mind his resolve to realize nibbana and when he does wholesome deeds he has that view in mind.

All of the Buddha's teachings lead towards nibbana. By following his Dhamma katha, one extinguishes the defilements of meanness and selfishness which lead to poverty in future lives. By following his sila katha, one extinguishes mental corruption which leads to pain and disease. By following his magga katha, one extinguishes all defilements and attains nibbana, the end of suffering.

6. To be comprehended by everyone by himself
A person can understand the nature of nibbana through hearsay or learning but he cannot understand it as an ariya does. An ariya means a person who has rooted out the flames of lust, hatred or ignorance which are the root causes of suffering. He always practises the noble eightfold path so that he can attain nibbana by his own effort. No one can pass on the supramundane results to another as one might share other kinds of merits. Even the Buddha can only explain the way to attain it. It is up to each individual to follow that way in order to become a noble one.
It is more important to practise the Dhamma than to worship the Buddha. The Buddha never encourage any kind of personality cult, even though he won the respect of all. The harder a person tries to practise the Dhamma, the more happiness he will get. At least he will be free from self-accusation because a person may be able to deceive others. He will always know his own intention. To comprehend the Dhamma, a person needs to practise insight meditation.
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A Case of Kathina Merits
After the Parinibbana of the Buddha there was once a hunter who earned his living trapping animals in a nearby forest . Not far from his house there was a temple where a great number of devotees had gathered, busying themselves with the preparation for the Kathina celebration that was to take place the next day. He was on his way home, and stopped outside the temple to ask why the temple was so busy. "We are preparing for the Kathina celebration tomorrow," he was told.
That night he made two lovely garden-brooms from some jungle products and had them sent to the temple as his share of participation in the Kathina. Hunters, like gamblers, are as a rule superstitious. He refused to joined in the celebration because of wrong belief. He believed that meeting a bald-headed monk would bring him bad-luck in his daily hunting.
The next morning straight to the forest he went, but it was his fatal day, for a wounded tiger in his trap suddenly pounced on him. Dying, he was born in the great hell-pot where the hell guards pushed him down into the bottom. But a strange thing happened. He seemed to float up to the brim, and a broom appeared sweeping him out of the pot onto the ground below. The hell guards put him back into the pot again, and after a short while that strange thing happened again. The hell guards reported this phenomenon to King Yama, who sent for him.
Asked KingYama, "Friend, do you remember having done a good deed recently?"
"Sir, I remembered giving two brooms to a temple for their Kathina celebration," replied the hunter.
"So that explains the occurrence of the strange phenomenon. As a result of this piety you will be reborn in heaven just for one day."
We are told that one day at Tavatimsa heaven is equivalent to one hundred years on earth. Enjoying his brief existence in heaven, he was next reborn in the world of man, this time, as a successful business man. Though he had opportunity to associate himself with faithful Buddhist devotees, he never once did dana, nor did he give to the poor and the needy. Selfish and unsympathetic, he enjoyed his wealth alone. He died at the prime of his success, and this untimely death of his was the fruit of his actions done when he was a hunter. Thus his evil kamma caught up with him. Dying he was reborn as a peta (hungry ghost) in a forest, naked and emaciated with hunger and thirst .
Here, he was seen by a meditating bhikkhu (monk) living in the jungle. the bhikkhu questioned the peta, and thus was told the whole story of his brief existence in hell, heaven, a businessman, and now a peta.
May you always remember to avoid evil, do good and purify the mind. May you always remember the Dhamma wherever you are born.
May you be well & happy!
Extracted from: Moral Causation Law

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Panca Sila
What is Panca Sila?

Panca Sila is the five precepts that we need to observe. They are:

Refraining from killing any living being

Refraining from taking what is not given

Refraining from sexual misconduct

Refraining from false speech

Refraining from taking any intoxicants which fuddle the mind.

Some Buddhists may think, "We have to observe these five precepts because we are Buddhists." In fact, it is not so. Whoever wants to become a humane person, to civilize oneself and to have a happy life, needs to practise these five precepts.
Conditions of Breaking the Five Precepts

To analyze whether any of the 5 precepts undertaken is violated or not, there is a set of conditions laid down for each precept.

1. Five Conditions of Killing

the being must be alive

there must be a knowledge that it is a living being

there must be an intention to cause death

an act must be done to cause death

there must be death, as the result of the said act.

If all the conditions are fulfilled, the first percept is violated. As an illustration,

A person is bitten by an ant. Anger arises in him. He use his finger to squeeze the ant and the ant is dead. Here, all the conditions are fulfilled and hence killing takes place.

A person unintentionally stepped on an ant and caused its death. Here, the third condition of intention to cause death is not present, so the first precept is not violated.

Do not misunderstand that when the first precept is not violated then it is always good. No, take the example of an attempt to murder. The murderer carried out his attempt but somehow his victim managed to survive. Here, the fifth condition is not fulfilled, that means the first precept is not violated. However, he has an evil thought and the evil thought will bring evil consequences accordingly (unwholesome kamma).

2. Five Conditions of Stealing

the property must have an owner

there must be knowledge that the property has an owner

there must be an intention to steal

there must be an act done to steal

by the act, the property must have been taken

If all the five conditions are fulfilled, then the second precept is violated.

3. Four Conditions of Sexual Misconduct

it must be a man or woman with whom it is improper to have sexual intercourse

there must be an intention to have such sexual intercourse

there must be an act done to have such sexual intercourse

there must be enjoyment of the contact of the organs

If the four conditions are fulfilled, the third precept is violated.

4. Conditions of False Speech

Concerning the fourth precept, if a person commits one of the four (lies, harsh speech, slandering, frivolous talk) then it is considered that he has broken the fourth precept.

4 Conditions of Telling Lies

the thing said must be untrue

there must be an intention to deceive

there must be an effort made

the other must know the meaning of what is said

4 Conditions of Slandering

there must be persons to be disunited

there must be intention to disunite the two persons

there must be effort made

the other must know the meaning of what is made

3 Conditions of Harsh Speech

there must be someone to be abused

there must be anger

harsh word must be actually used

2 Conditions of Frivolous Talk

there must be an intention to say things that brings forth no good benefit.

such things must be said

The above sets of conditions for the five precepts are listed above us to analyze whether we have broken a precept or not. When we have broken a particular precept it is a good habit for us to contemplate on it so that we may try our best not to break that percept again. WE as Buddhists should try our very best to uphold the five precepts.

Prestige

When performing a task, it is more important to be impeccable than to do it for the sake of prestige. Impeccability naturally results in prestige.

~ Sayadaw U Pandita

TO FRIENDS IN DHAMMA I
From the one who is not,
To the one who has not come.
Walk the way you feel is harmless.
Be confident and continue to walk:
Walk along the path of nature,
Pure, yes!
View each sight and each happening
As natural.
Extend love and compassion,
And you will meet with progress,
Peace and wisdom.

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Five Hindrances (Nivaranas)

1. Kamachanda

- sensual desire

2. Byapada

- ill will

3. Thina-middha

- sloth and torpor [laziness & sleepiness]

4. Uddhacca-kukkucca

- restlessness and worry

5. Vicikiccha

- skeptical doubt

These five are powerful obstacles to the mind and blind our mental vision. In the presence of them, we cannot reach access-concentration [upacara samadhi] and full concentration [appana-samadhi] or momentary-concentration [khanika-samadhi]. And we are unable to clearly discern the truth.

Pleasures flow everywhere.

You are floating upon them with craving.

Thus, you are carried from life to life.

          - Dhammapada verse 341
TEN DEFILEMENTS [KILESAS]

1. Lobha

- greed [attachment]

2. Dosa

- hate

3. Moha

- delusion

4. Mana

- conceit

5. Ditthi

- wrong view

6. Vicikiccha

- skeptical doubt

7. Thina

- mental torpor

8. Uddhacca

- restlessness

9. Ahirika

- shamelessness to do evil deeds

10. Anotappa

- fearlessness to do evil deeds

These ten are called 'defilements' because they defile the mental factors associated to them.

Free yourself from attachment and hatred.
You are like the yellow leaf,
The messengers of death are near you,
You are about to travel a long journey,
Yet, you have no provision [for the journey]
           - Dhammapada verse 235

TEN OBSTACLES [PALIBODHAS]

1. Avasa - a crowded monastery

2. Kula - association with families

3. Labha - gain or gifts

4. Gana - class or pupils

5. Kamma - repairs in the monastery

6. Addhana - travelling

7. Nati - relatives

8. Abadha - sickness

9. Gantha - study

10. Iddhi - magical power or supernatural power

These ten can obstruct the monk in the strict intensive practice of a subject of meditation. That is why these are named obstacles [palibodhas]. Some factors are relevant to yogis also.

TO FRIENDS IN DHAMMA II
The heart of a non-attached person
Is like the sky after a falling rain.
It is clean, clear and cool.
Attachment is like a cloud, fog and poison smog.
Falling rain is like the five Controlling Faculties:
Confidence, effort, mindfulness,
One-pointedness and wisdom.
They can wash and cleanse attachment.
They can give the heedful ones
A feeling of peace
And a life of prosperity, full of comfort.
When an opportunity arises,
Don't neglect to perform good deeds.
Don't wait for an opportunity.
Bring out an opportunity!

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The Benefits of Meditation
In the present day, many people from all over the world have become aware of the benefits of meditation. To gain the immediate benefits of meditation one must train the mind and use it effectively and efficiently in our daily life. The ultimate aim of meditation is to release meditators from the wheel of samsara-the cycle of birth and death.

Practising meditation is not an easy task but it is possible for everyone to practise. We should understand that if we do something that others cannot do, we will gain something that others cannot attain. The benefits of meditation can be summarized as follows: -

If you a busy person, meditation can help you to get rid of tension and to find relaxation.

If you are a worried person, meditation can calm you and help you to find peace of mind.

If you are a person who has endless problems, meditation can help you to develop courage and strength to face and overcome them.

If you are always dissatisfied with everything, meditation can give you the chance to develop and to maintain inner contentment.

If you are frustrated and heart-broken due to a lack of understanding of the uncertainty of life, meditation can help you to understand the fleeting nature of worldly conditions.

If you are a rich man, meditation can help you to realize the nature of your wealth and how to make use of it, not only for your own happiness, but also for the happiness of others.

If you a poor man, meditation can help you to develop contentment and not to harbor jealousy towards those who have more than you.

If you are a young man or woman at the crossroads of your life, and you do not know which way to turn, meditation can help you to the right path to reach your chosen goal.

If you are an elderly man who is fed-up with life, meditation can bring you to a deeper understanding of life; this understanding in turn will relieve your pain and increase the joy of living.

If you are hot-tempered, you can develop the strength to overcome the weakness of anger, hatred and resentment to become a calmer person.

If you are addicted to drinking or to drugs, you can overcome the dangerous habit which has enslaved you.

If you are a wise person, the meditation will lead you to supreme wisdom. Then you will see things as they are, and not as they appear to be.

These are some of the practical benefits that come from practising meditation. Other benefits of meditation is the attainment of supernatural powers [abhinna] based on absorption concentration [jhana]. Some extraordinary monks can also gain supernatural powers when they have attained path and fruitful knowledge [magga-phala nana] based on insight meditation. Of course, the power is not for everyone, but only for those whose perfections are mature enough to gain. There were monks [bhikkhus] and novice monks [samaneras] who attained supernatural powers during the time of the Buddha.

Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who is idle and
inactive, is a day in the life of one who make zealous and strenuous
effort (in Tranquility and Insight Development Practice)
~ Dhammapada verse 112

THE PRINCIPLES OF MEDITATION
After you have observed the moral rules
And adopted the virtuous ways,
You should administer the four necessities
Of your living condition.
Also learn to keep the four postures
In balance.
Be mindful of every move and action.
Watch, know, see, and keep vigil,
Gently.
Deepen your consciousness with mindful awareness.
Don't force it too much.
Keep watch of yourself quietly,
Maintain the inner solitude,
Yet be alert and conscious.
Not before long you'll catch up:
You'll be able to keep up with things.
You'll understand clearly their nature,
The nature of Aniccam, the flow of changes,
The constant process of rising and falling,
The stream of varied conditionings
That are non-self.
You'll experience calmness within:
The wonder of quietude deep inside.
So, develop and maintain mindful awareness
Of the rise and fall of various conditions,
Until wisdom is bright enough
To extinguish suffering.
Ultimately you'll arrive at the abode of peace:
Tranquil, cool and bright.
You'll feel an increase of mind power,
A greater willingness to work,
To render service,
To contribute fully to the good
And happiness of all others.

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