In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the importance of developing
wholesome relationships as a positive influence for one to progress on The Path to
Enlightenment.
He further discusses how a Practitioner who develops wholesome relationships also
develops The Eight Fold Path, “maturing in release”.
“Maturing in release” is the experience one may have that as they deeply develop the
mind, they may experience the bodily sensation of specific cravings/desires/attachments
and/or specific taints/fetters being “released” from the mind.
The more one develops The Eight Fold Path starting with Right View (The Four Noble
Truths) the mind can develop the ability to readily, and in some cases, instantly eliminate
specific craving/desire/attachments and/or specific taints/fetters from the mind. There is
much learning, reflecting, and practicing of these Teachings that is required as a
prerequisite to developing this aspect of the mind.
Gotama Buddha is explaining the bodily sensation experienced upon the elimination of
these pollutions of the mind as “maturing in release”.
Gotama Buddha is describing beings who are subject to The Cycle of Rebirth (i.e.
unEnlightened beings) are freed from The Cycle of Rebirth and discontentedness through
the attainment of Enlightenment in this paragraph of The Teaching; “Ānanda, beings
subject to birth are freed from birth; beings subject to aging are freed from aging: beings
subject to illness are freed from illness: beings subject to death are freed from death;
beings subject to sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair are freed from sorrow, grief,
pain, displeasure, and despair. By this method,…” of cultivating wholesome relationships
and cultivating The Eight Fold Path.
Three Qualities That Are Needed for a Successful Life Partnership
Selecting a life partner is a highly impactful decision in one’s life. Select wisely, and you
can experience a life full of enjoyment and love. Select unwisely, and you would be in for
significant hardships, difficulties, and struggles.
If you had invested millions of dollars into building a business and needed to hire a Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) to lead your company, you would take your time and make a wise
selection because, your future is going to be determined by your wise or unwise choice of
who to hire for this important position within the company. The success of your company
is going to be directly related to the choice you make about who to select for this
important position.
Well, selecting a life partner is exactly the same as selecting a CEO for your multimillion
dollar company. Who you select as a life partner is a very important decision and, your
future is going to be determined by your wise or unwise choice of who to include in your
life for this important position within your life. The success of your life is going to be
directly related to the choice you make about who to select for this important position of a
life partner.
So, what should you be looking for in a life partner and what are the qualities that are
needed to create a life of enjoyment and love?
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I am going to share three (3) qualities to consider when selecting a life partner that are
going to lead to a life full of enjoyment and love.
1.) Your potential life partner will need to know they are a “work in progress” and
they “are not perfect”.
2.) It is important that your potential life partner does not “blame you for their
discontent feelings”.
3.) Your potential life partner will need to be actively working towards inner growth
and improvement within their own life, being willing to do the inner work on their
mind that is needed to grow and evolve as an individual.
Let me share these in more detail to help you understand why these are important and to
be able to identify these key criteria for a successful, fulfilling, and sustaining life
partnership.
Your potential life partner will need to know they are a “work in progress” and they
“are not perfect”.
Your life partner is going to need to understand, they are not perfect, they are a work in
progress. It is important that you know this as well.
All too often, an individual might cast their hopes and dreams onto another person
thinking, a life partner is going to complete you and fulfill all your hopes and dreams.
You need to understand, that any potential life partner is not perfect, they are struggling in
the world just like you. It is only an Enlightened being who is no longer experiencing
struggles and difficulties in life, and an Enlightened being is not going to be seeking a new
life partnership. Therefore, if you are going to find a life partner, they will be an imperfect
being currently having various struggles and difficulties in the world, they will not be
perfect. Your life partner is not going to fulfill all your hopes and dreams, they are not
going to complete you. If you are feeling incomplete, that is coming from within your own
mind and your life partner is not going to be able to fulfill your own inner feeling of being
incomplete. You need to do that inner work to accomplish that goal.
If a potential life partner understands they are a work in progress, and you do to, then the
mind will be less likely to cast all its hopes and dreams onto the other person expecting
for them to fulfill those for you. Instead, you need to understand that the individual who
you are choosing to be a life partner is going to make mistakes and have challenges with
certain aspects of life.
If you understand this, it will help ensure you are not casting your hopes and dreams onto
another person expecting them to fulfill those but also, you can practice patience when
your life partner is facing certain challenges in their day-to-day life where, instead of being
angry and frustrated with the place they are in life, you can offer support and
encouragement with unconditional love.
And, if your life partner knows they are a work in progress, they will be more inclined to
seek guidance and assistance for growth and development in their life, leading to
constant improvement in how they interact with you and others. A potential life partner
162

The Entire Holy Life Is Wholesome Friendship,


who knows they are not perfect is a helpful indication for you that their ego is reduced
enough to be actively working towards improvement in their life.
It is important that your potential life partner does not “blame you for their
discontent feelings”.
If an individual has penetrated into even the most basic understanding of the human
mind, they would understand that feelings and emotions are being caused by one’s own
mind. It is not the outside world that is causing your inner feelings. It is the mind itself that
causes its own feelings.
While this is a basic understanding that can be gained through investigation and
examination of The Teachings of The Buddha on The Four Noble Truths, this is not a
common understanding in the world so you are going to need to specifically look for this
in a potential life partner.
All too often, people are going to be interested in blaming you for their feelings and
emotions. If you have a life partner who is blaming you for their feelings, that means they
do not have the wisdom to understand true reality and will never be able to improve in
what they are experiencing in their daily life within their own mind.
As long as an individual continues to blame others for their feelings, they will continue to
experience sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears,
boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc. for the rest of
their life. If they do not have the wisdom to understand the true cause of their feelings,
then they would be incapable of eliminating their discontent feelings. Therefore, you are in
for a life of being constantly blamed for the feelings and emotions of your partner and that
individual is not choosing to get help for their struggles and difficulties in life. Resentment,
hostility, and bitterness will exist in their relationships and you will both struggle to ever
find harmony.
But, if you and your life partner understand it is your own mind that is causing the feelings
you experience and you both take responsibility for those feelings, then each of you can
skillfully work towards eliminating the true cause of the feelings deep inside your own
mind. This is what will produce peace and joy within your own mind and in your
relationship.
If someone is comfortable to continue to blame others for what they experience, then
they have not understood the most basic of Teachings that are going to lead to their
improvement in life and in their relationships. This type of individual will continue to blame
others for what they experience in life, being unwilling and disinterested to see the true
cause of the struggles and difficulties they face, their own mind and the decisions they
make.
If you are being blamed for your life partner’s feelings and emotions, your potential life
partner has not seen and understood the wisdom and true reality of how their own mind
needs training and improvement. You will experience significant hardships all the way
through your relationship.
But, there is a better way.
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Each individual can accept responsibility for their own feelings and emotions, not blaming
them on others, and then, you will be able to eliminate the underlying cause of the
discontent feelings, ultimately getting to a peaceful and joyful mind, life, and relationship.
Your potential life partner will need to be actively working towards inner growth and
improvement within their own life, being willing to do the inner work on their mind
that is needed to grow and evolve as an individual.
If your potential life partner understands they are a work in progress and that their feelings
are being caused by their own mind, then the next logical step is that they would be
willing to do the inner work that is needed to become a better individual and eliminate
their discontent feelings.
But, this is not always the case.
Someone might understand they are not perfect and that their feelings are being caused
by their own mind but, they can be complacent and unwilling to do the needed work to
make improvements in their life, as their ego can be sabotaging their ability to seek the
help they need.
If your life partner is complacent in their own growth and development, being unwilling to
seek resources and guidance to improve, then they are stagnant which means, they are
not evolving as a person and your relationship with them will struggle. Their ego will
continue to sabotage their ability to get the needed support and guidance to make
significant improvements in their life and in their relationships. Therefore, you will
experience continued hardships through choosing to select a life partner who is unwilling
to make improvements in their life through training the mind.
To experience success in your life partnership where there is enjoyment and love, you and
your life partner are going to need to be actively involved in your own growth and
development towards constant improvement, becoming a better and better individual.
We are not born perfect and are then functioning as perfect beings throughout our entire
life. Instead, we are born imperfect, with a lack of wisdom, and need to be committed to
constant and continuous growth through the cultivation of wisdom. If not, you are not
practicing loving-kindness and compassion towards yourself and those around you.
Instead, you will continue to make unwise decisions that lead to the harm of others and
thus, to your own harm.
The most loving, kind, and compassionate thing you could do for yourself and those
around you is, to be committed to your own growth and development so you can
eliminate the harmful decisions you make that negatively impact those around you and
cause harm to yourself.
The work to become a better individual, understanding this better way of life taught by
The Buddha, is not easy but it is also not difficult. We can embrace the understanding
that we are each born imperfect and our life journey is to become a better individual
through the cultivation of wisdom and training the mind.
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An Enlightened being will be functioning perfectly but, to get there requires an individual
to know they are imperfect, their feelings are caused by their own mind, and be willing to
do the needed inner work to grow and evolve into a better individual.
If complacency arises, focusing on how allowing the mind to become stagnant only
causes harm to others and yourself can motivate you to arise energy towards ongoing
growth and development. Understand that, by allowing the mind to remain unwise in the
unEnlightened state means, you are going to be causing harm to others and yourself
through your unwise decisions that cause harm and thus, harm will return to you.
This is no way to live a fulfilling life.
The sooner you catch the mind’s lack of motivation and enthusiasm towards inner growth
and development, that it is attempting to become complacent, the better. It is much
easier to pull the mind out of its attempted complacency when it is just getting started to
head in that direction, then once the complacency is well set into the mind.
You are going to be unable, and it would be unwise, to attempt to force a potential life
partner to do the needed work to grow and develop as an individual. So, it would be wise
to ensure that any potential life partner that you might consider to involve in your life
already has this quality well established within their own life.
Rather than put yourself in a situation where you are with a life partner who is stagnant in
their own growth and development, causing harm to others and themselves, being
disinterested in making improvements due to the mind’s ego, ensure that prior to making
the decision to select any specific life partner that they are already committed to growth
and doing the needed inner work to become a better person.
If your life partner does not have this highly important quality to be willing to actively
make improvements in their own growth and development, you are in for significant
struggles and difficulties as their mind is complacent and their life is stagnant. This
means, the will be continuous disharmony in your relationship through constant unwise
decisions leading to unwholesome results.
There is a better way of life.
Each individual in the life partnership can be committed to their own growth and
development, taking responsibility to train their mind by cultivating wisdom.
This will lead to the needed continuous growth within one’s own life and in their
relationships.
In short, you will need a life partner with, and you will need, these three qualities.
1.) Your potential life partner will need to know they are a “work in progress” an they
“are not perfect”.
2.) It is important that your potential life partner does not “blame you for their
discontent feelings”.
165


3.) Your potential life partner will need to be actively working towards inner growth
and improvement within their own life, being willing to do the inner work on their
mind that is needed to grow and evolve as an individual.
Without these important qualities, you are in for a life full of significant struggles and
difficulties.
With these important qualities, you are in for a life full of enjoyment and love.
Selecting a life partner is a highly impactful decision in one’s life. Select wisely, and you
can experience a life full of enjoyment and love. Select unwisely, and you would be in for
significant hardships, difficulties, and struggles.
With these important qualities, you will both be headed towards continuous growth and
development within your individual life and within your relationship.
166

Monks, be untiring, mindful, disciplined,
Guarding your minds
with well-collected thought.
He who, tireless, keeps to law and discipline,
Leaving birth behind will put an end to sorrow.
(Reference: DN 16)
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Chapter 36
The Cycle of Rebirth Without Discoverable
Beginning for Beings Hindered by
Ignorance and Fettered by Craving
An eon is long, Monk. It is not easy to count it and say it is so many years, or
so many hundreds of years, or so many thousands of years, or so many
hundreds of thousands of years.
Suppose, Monk, there was a great stone mountain a yojana long (12-15 km),
a yojana wide (12-15 km), and a yojana high (12-15 km), without holes or
crevices, one solid mass of rock. At the end of every hundred years a man
would stroke it once with a piece of Kāsian cloth. That great stone mountain
might by this effort be worn away and eliminated but the eon would still not
have come to an end. So long is an eon, Monk.
And of eons of such length, we have wandered through so many eons, so
many hundreds of eons, so many thousands of eons, so many hundreds of
thousands of eons.
For what reason?
Because, Monk, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A
first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by
ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.
It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all
conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them,
enough to be liberated from them.
(Reference: SN 15:5)
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In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how the beginning of The Cycle of
Rebirth is not discoverable.
Oftentimes, people have an active interest to know when life began or the exact
timeframe when something in the past occurred. In this Teaching, The Buddha is
providing guidance that it is not discoverable to know when The Cycle of Rebirth first
started. Therefore, if a Practitioner is contemplating the question of when The Cycle of
Rebirth started, craving or desiring an answer, that question can be put aside as there is
no discoverable beginning.
The Buddha encouraged all his Students to actively learn and practice these Teachings to
attain Enlightenment helping them to understand how to accomplish that goal. A Teacher
will oftentimes need to help Students remove obstacles, such as questions of this nature,
in order to assist them in moving past those irrelevant questions the mind might crave an
answer to but provides no beneficial wisdom that would lead to Enlightenment.
Gotama Buddha explains this as “it is enough to experience fading away of strong
feelings towards all conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards
them, enough to be liberated from them”.
In other words, The Buddha is encouraging Students to remain focused on the true goal
of this path. That is to eliminate discontentedness from the mind through eliminating the
mind basing its inner feelings on impermanent conditions, which leads to liberation of the
mind.
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Chapter 37
The Stream of Shed Tears in this Cycle of Rebirth
is More Than The Water in the Four Great Oceans
Good, good, Monks! It is good that you understand The Teachings taught by
me in such a way. The stream of tears that you have shed as you roamed
and wandered through this long course, weeping and wailing because of
being united with the disagreeable and separated from the agreeable - this
alone is more than the water in the four great oceans.
For a long time, Monks, you have experienced the death of a mother; as you
have experienced this, weeping and wailing because of being united with the
disagreeable and separated from the agreeable, the stream of tears that you
have shed is more than the water in the four great oceans.
For a long time, Monks, you have experienced the death of a father … the
death of a brother … the death of a sister ... the death of a son ... the death
of a daughter … the loss of relatives ... the loss of wealth ... loss through
illness; as you have experienced this, weeping and wailing because of being
united with the disagreeable and separated from the agreeable, the stream of
tears that you have shed is more than the water in the four great oceans.
For what reason?
Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A
first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by
ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.
It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all
conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them,
enough to be liberated from them.
(Reference: SN 15.3)
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In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how beings that are alive today have
experienced countless existences in the past. He uses an analogy to help illustrate just
how many rebirths we have each experienced prior to this existence.
The Buddha explains how the volume of tears we cried in all our past existences
combined, equals more water than all the water in all “the four great oceans”.
This is shared to explain just how many countless rebirths we have each experienced and
that there is no way to determine the start of The Cycle of Rebirth.
The ultimate goal of The Path to Enlightenment is to attain Enlightenment to completely
eliminate all discontentedness from the mind while also eliminating continuous rebirth in
The Cycle of Rebirth.
Detailed explanation of The Realms of Existence is available in this same book series
found in the book “The Realms of Existence” (Volume 11).
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Chapter 38
Having Experienced the Same Thing in
This Long Course
Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point
is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance
(unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.
Whenever you see anyone in misfortune, in misery, you can conclude: We
too have experienced the same thing in this long course…
Whenever you see anyone happy and fortunate, you can conclude: We too
have experienced the same thing in this long course.
It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not
previously been your mother … your father ... your brother ... your sister …
your son … your daughter.
For what reason?
Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A
first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by
ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.
It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all
conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them,
enough to be liberated from them.
(Reference: SN 15.11)


172

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how each of us have experienced the
same thing as that which we see other beings experiencing.
“Whenever you see anyone in misfortune, in misery, you can conclude: We too have
experienced the same thing in this long course…” therefore, if you observe someone in
unfortunate circumstances, you too have experienced that same situation at some point
in the past or in past lives. This can help a Practitioner to develop loving-kindness and
compassion for all beings who are experiencing situations that are unfortunate.
Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without judgment. A
genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.
Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.
“Whenever you see anyone happy and fortunate, you can conclude: We too have
experienced the same thing in this long course” therefore, if you observe someone in
fortunate circumstances, you too have experienced that same situation at some point in
the past or in past lives. This can help a Practitioner to develop sympathetic joy
eliminating any jealousy or envy.
Sympathetic joy (Pāli: muditā) is joy for others’ success, even if you did not contribute to
it.
If you are finding it challenging to cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, or sympathetic
joy for others, you can keep in mind that all beings that exist today have been your
relative at some point in the past. The Buddha explains, “it is not easy, Monks, to find a
being who in this long course has not previously been your mother … your father ... your
brother ... your sister … your son … your daughter”.
You can consider that all animals and humans have been your mother, father, brother,
sister, son, or daughter at some point in a past life.
Are you truly interested in doing harm to your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or
daughter?
Keeping this in mind and treating people as they are members of your family can help you
to cultivate deep loving-kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy towards all beings
eliminating anger, hatred, ill will, indifference, uncaring, jealousy, and envy. This can even
help the mind choose to no longer eat other beings as part of your food supply.
Would you eat your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter?
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Chapter 39
In the Agreeable and Pleasurable World this
Craving Arises and Establishes Itself
The eye in the world is agreeable and pleasurable, the ear ..., the nose ..., the
tongue ..., the body .... the mind in the world is agreeable and pleasurable,
and there this craving arises and establishes.
The eye in the world is agreeable and pleasurable, the ear..., the nose ..., the
tongue..., the body ..., the mind in the world is agreeable and pleasurable,
and there this craving comes to be abandoned, there its elimination comes
about.
Forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, mental objects…
Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-
consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness...
Eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact,
mind-contact...
Feeling born of eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact,
body-contact, mind-contact…
The perception of forms, of sounds, of odors, of flavors, of physical objects,
of mental objects…
Volition (choices/decisions) in regard to forms, sounds, odors, flavors,
physical object, mental objects…
Thinking of forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, mental objects…
Pondering on forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, and mental
objects…
The craving for forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical objects, mental
objects…
(for each of the above:)
... in the world is agreeable and pleasurable, and there this craving arises
and establishes itself.
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... in the world is agreeable and pleasurable, and there this craving comes to
be abandoned, there its elimination comes about.
(Reference: DN 22)
In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving arises in the mind when
The Six Sense Bases experience agreeable forms, sounds, odors, flavors, physical
objects, and mental objects. Through a Practitioner no longer allowing the mind to crave
through The Six Sense Bases, the mind will reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content
with joy by eliminating the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “sensual desire”
along with all the other Ten Fetters.
Through eliminating the chasing of pleasant feelings through The Six Sense Bases, “there
this craving comes to be abandoned, there its elimination comes about”.
This is accomplished through a well developed Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and
practice of generosity training the mind to “let go”. Then in daily life, as a Practitioner
observes the bodily sensations arising that indicate pleasant feelings are developing, the
mind can actively “cut them off and let them go”.
It is “contact” through The Six Sense Bases where the mind becomes aware, or
conscious, of the experience which will produce pleasant feelings, painful feelings, or
feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant (i.e. discontentedness).
Detailed explanation of The Six Sense Bases is available in this same book series found in
Chapter 4 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to
Enlightenment” (Volume 1) and the book “The Six Sense Bases” (Volume 9).
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Chapter 40
Transcending Physical Pain by
Avoiding Mental Pain
Monks, the uninstructed worldling feels a pleasant feeling, a painful feeling,
and a neither painful-nor-pleasant feeling. The instructed Noble Disciple too
feels a pleasant feeling, a painful feeling, and a neither painful-nor-pleasant
feeling. Therein, Monks, what is the distinction, the disparity, the difference
between the instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling
‘Venerable Sir, our Teachings are rooted in The Perfectly Enlightened One,
guided by The Perfectly Enlightened One, taken refuge in The Perfectly
Enlightened One. It would be good if The Perfectly Enlightened One would
clear up the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from him, the Monks
will remember it.’
Then listen and attend closely, Monks, I will speak.
‘Yes, Venerable Sir,’ the Monks replied. The Perfectly Enlightened One said
this:
Monks, when the uninstructed worldling is being contacted by a painful
feeling, he sorrows, grieves, and has displeasure; he weeps beating his
breast and becomes distraught. He feels two feelings — a bodily one and a
mental one.
Suppose they were to strike a man with a dart, and then they would strike
him immediately afterwards with a second dart, so that the man would feel a
feeling caused by two darts. So too, when the uninstructed worldling is
being contacted by a painful feeling … he feels two feelings — a bodily one
and a mental one.
Being contacted by that same painful feeling, he has aversion towards it.
When he has aversion towards painful feelings, the underlying tendency to
aversion towards painful feelings lies behind this. Being contacted by a
painful feeling, he seeks excitement in sensual pleasure.
For what reason?
Because the uninstructed worldling does not know of any escape from
painful feelings other than sensual pleasure. When he seeks excitement in
sensual pleasure, the underlying tendency to crave for pleasant feelings lies
176


behind this. He does not understand as it really is the cause and the
disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of
these feelings. When he does not understand these things, the underlying
tendency to ignorance (unknowing of true reality) in regard to neither painful-
nor-pleasant feelings lies behind this.
If he feels a pleasant feeling, he feels it attached. If he feels a painful feeling,
he feels it attached. If he feels a neither painful-nor-pleasant feeling, he feels
it attached.
This, Monks, is called an uninstructed worldling who is attached to birth,
aging, and death; who is attached to sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and
despair; who is attached to discontentedness, I say.
Monks, when the instructed Noble Disciple is contacted by a painful
feeling, he does not sorrow, grieve, or have displeasure; he does not weep
beating his breast and become distraught. He feels one feeling — a bodily
one, not a mental one.
Suppose they were to strike a man with a dart, but they would not strike him
immediately afterwards with a second dart, so that the man would feel a
feeling caused by one dart only. So too, when the instructed Noble Disciple
is contacted by a painful feeling … he feels one feeling — a bodily one, not a
mental one.
Being contacted by that same painful feeling, he has no aversion towards it.
Since he has no aversion towards painful feelings, the underlying tendency
to aversion towards painful feelings does not lie behind this. Being contacted
by a painful feeling, he does not seek excitement in sensual pleasure.
For what reason?
Because the instructed Noble Disciple knows of an escape from painful
feelings other than sensual pleasure. Since he does not seek excitement in
sensual pleasure, the underlying tendency to crave for pleasant feelings
does not lie behind this. He understands as it really is the cause and the
disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of
these feelings. Since he understands these things, the underlying tendency
to ignorance (unknowing of true reality) in regard to neither painful-nor-
pleasant feelings does not lie behind this.
If he feels a pleasant feeling, he feels it detached. If he feels a painful
feeling, he feels it detached. If he feels a neither painful-nor-pleasant feeling,
he feels it detached.
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This, Monks, is called a Noble Disciple who is detached from birth, aging,
and death; who is detached from sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and
despair; who is detached from discontentedness, I say.
This, Monks, is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the
instructed Noble Disciple and the uninstructed worldling.
The wise one, learned, does not feel
The pleasant and painful mental feeling.
This is the great difference between
The wise one and the worldling.
For the learned one who has comprehended The Teachings,
Who clearly sees this world and the next,
Desirable things do not provoke his mind,
Towards the undesired he has no aversion.
For him attraction and repulsion no longer exist;
Both have been extinguished, brought to an end.
Having known the dust-free, sorrowless state,
The transcender of existence rightly understands.
(Reference: SN 36.6)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how experiencing physical and mental
pain can be transcended (i.e. overcome) by one who has deeply trained the mind - a
Noble Disciple.
During Gotama Buddha’s lifetime, there was a caste system in place that taught people
that as they were born into a low or high family, they were either a low or high person in
society. This rigid caste system made people believe that if they were of low status, they
were essentially a low or somewhat of a worthless individual. But, if they were of a high
status, they were a “noble” individual.
People were taught that if they were interested in a spiritual life, they would need to make
offerings and payments to Brāhmins to be able to have them pray to the Gods on their
behalf. People believed in multiple Gods during The Buddha’s lifetime. People of a low
caste were convinced that they were unable to pray to the Gods because of their low
status in life and due to that birth, they’d need to give money to the Brāhmin priests to
have them pray on their behalf.
The Buddha observed that this was not true and only created opportunity for corruption
and false beliefs. He understood that people of all backgrounds and upbringing are
capable of attaining Enlightenment. He described his Teachings as “noble”, thus, The
Noble Eight Fold Path, and he also referred to Practitioners as “Noble Ones” or a “Noble
Disciple”.
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The Buddha essentially provided guidance that people should adjust their thinking that
being born into a certain family and the material possessions available to them within
their family is not an indication of what makes them noble or un-noble. Instead, it is one’s
wisdom, moral conduct, and mental discipline that determines if one is wholesome or
unwholesome.
In this way, all beings are capable of becoming noble through learning, reflecting, and
practicing these Teachings to improve the condition of their mind. The Buddha accepted
all individuals as Students no matter what caste they were born into or what moral
conduct they had participated in prior to deciding to undertake training in these
Teachings. The Buddha was known to accept a prostitute and a murderer into his
Community of Practitioners who eventually attained Enlightenment during their lifetime.
He did not discriminate based on what family one was born into or past conduct. Instead,
he focused on helping all people learn and progress in the development of their life
practice to awaken the mind to Enlightenment.
At a time when all of society was discriminating against people of insignificant material
possessions, occupations, past conduct, and even gender, The Buddha practiced loving-
kindness and compassion towards all beings. He was willing to support anyone who was
interested to investigate his Teachings helping them to progress towards Enlightenment
through being invited and welcomed to do so within The Community of Practitioners.
A Noble Disciple is a Practitioner who is deeply dedicated and actively progressing to
practice The Teachings of The Buddha and is experiencing the results of a more
Enlightened mind. We might even think of a Noble Disciple as one who has attained one
of The Four Stages of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer, Once-Returner, or Non-
Returner.
In this Teaching, The Buddha is explaining that a Practitioner who has deeply understood
and is practicing his Teachings will not experience physical pain in the same way as an
“uninstructed worldling”.
A worldling is an individual who is engrossed in the worries of the world, worldly matters,
and material things.
If an uninstructed worldling experiences physical pain, the mind will oftentimes have
aversion to the pain seeing it as disagreeable while craving pleasant feelings. The mind
will not observe the impermanent nature of the physical pain. Being repulsed by the
physical pain the mind will then grasp, long, and yearn for physical comfort through
craving pleasant feelings. Due to this, the uninstructed worldling will experience deep
mental pain in connection with the physical pain. Through not understanding the
impermanent nature of the physical pain and the mind craving for pleasant feelings
through wanting permanent comfort of the body, the mind experiences a deeper degree
of pain through the combination of physical and mental pain.
The Buddha describes this as being shot with two darts. One dart is the physical pain and
the second dart is the mental pain.
The Buddha explains how the second dart is optional and can be avoided by one who is
a Noble Disciple (i.e. a Student who deeply understands and is practicing these
Teachings). Through not having aversion or being repulsed by the physical pain, a
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Practitioner can avoid the mental pain minimizing the experience of pain through only
experiencing the physical pain, not the mental pain.
A Student who deeply understands and is practicing these Teachings will understand that
having aversion to painful feelings does not solve the problem. Instead, they understand
the escape from painful feelings is to not crave pleasant feelings. As long as the mind
craves pleasant feelings, the mind is inviting painful feelings to be experienced which only
intensifies the overall experience of pain. The physical and mental pain combined is much
more intense and longer lasting than if one has trained the mind to understand the
impermanent nature of the physical pain not needing to experience the mental pain.
The uninstructed worldling’s craving for pleasant feelings intensifies the pain through
experiencing the physical and mental pain. But an instructed Noble Disciple will not crave
pleasant feelings when experiencing physical pain. The mind will understand that the
physical pain is impermanent and choose to not crave pleasant feelings but instead, just
observe the physical pain, breathe through it, and not allow the mind to react with
discontentedness. A well developed mind can respond calmly with wise decision making
that can be applied to resolve the physical pain. This might include medical intervention,
medications, body rubs, baths, heating pads, or just breathing through the physical pain
so that the mind is not shaken up to only experience an intensified version of the pain due
to the mental pain and anguish.
There is no reason to inflect pain on the physical body or endure physical pain. A
Practitioner can resolve physical pain through wise decision making.
Today, we have a whole range of options to reduce or eliminate physical pain. These
interventions will be more impactful or perhaps not even needed when an individual is
only experiencing the physical pain rather than the associated mental pain due to lacking
a well developed practice of these Teachings.
The more developed one’s practice is, the more readily they will be able to apply the
approach described in this Teaching when the physical body is experiencing pain. They
will be able to avoid the negative mental reactions associated with the mental pain and
instead, respond wisely to address the physical pain.
In this way, one has been shot with a dart - the physical pain. But, they have avoided the
second dart, the mental pain, through a well developed practice of these Teachings so
that the mind is not shaken up by the physical pain.
Cause: craving/desire/attachment
Disappearance: The Universal Truth of Impermanence
Gratification: The unEnlightened mind’s fetter/taint/pollution of “sensual desire”
Danger: The Universal Truth of Discontentedness
Escape: The Eight Fold Path
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Chapter 41
The Noble Eight Fold Path
The Way of Practice Leading to the
Elimination of Discontentedness
And what, Monks, is The Noble Truth of the Way of Practice Leading to the
Elimination of Discontentedness?
It is just this Noble Eight Fold Path, namely: Right View; Right Intention; Right
Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; Right
Concentration.
And what, Monks, is Right View?
It is, Monks, the wisdom of discontentedness, the wisdom of the cause of
discontentedness, the wisdom of the elimination of discontentedness, and
the wisdom of the way of practice leading to the elimination of
discontentedness. This is called Right View.
And what, Monks, is Right Intention?
The intention of renunciation, the intention of non-ill-will, the intention of
harmlessness. This, Monks, is called Right Intention.
And what, Monks, is Right Speech?
Refraining from lying, refraining from slander, refraining from harsh speech,
refraining from frivolous speech. This is called Right Speech.
And what, Monks, is Right Action?
Refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining
from sexual misconduct. This is called Right Action.
And what, Monks, is Right Livelihood?
Here, Monks, the Noble Disciple, having given up wrong livelihood, keeps
himself by Right Livelihood.
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And what, Monks, is Right Effort?
Here, Monks, a Monk rouses his will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts
his mind and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen evil unwholesome
mental states. He rouses his will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts his
mind and strives to overcome evil unwholesome mental states that have
arisen. He rouses his will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts his mind
and strives to produce unarisen wholesome mental states. He rouses his will,
makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts his mind and strives to maintain
wholesome mental states that have arisen, not to let them fade away, to
bring them to greater growth, to the full perfection of development. This is
called Right Effort.
And what, Monks, is Right Mindfulness?
Here, Monks, a Monk resides reflecting on body as body, dedicated, clearly
aware and mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world; he
resides reflecting on feelings as feelings, dedicated, clearly aware and
mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world; he resides
reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put
aside craving and worry for the world; he resides reflecting on mental objects
as mental objects, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside
craving and worry for the world. This is called Right Mindfulness.
And what, Monks, is Right Concentration?
Here, a Monk, distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental
states, enters and resides in the first Jhāna, which is with thinking and
pondering, based in seclusion, filled with excitement and joy. And with the
subsiding of thinking and pondering, by gaining inner tranquility and oneness
of mind, he enters and resides in the second Jhāna, which is without thinking
and pondering, based in concentration, filled with excitement and joy. And
with the fading away of excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be
upset or excited; calm; serene), mindful and clearly aware, he experiences in
himself the joy of which the Noble Ones say:
'Peaceful is he who resides with equanimity and mindfulness', he enters the
third Jhāna. And, having given up pleasure and pain, and with the fading
away of former gladness and sadness, he enters and resides in the fourth
Jhāna, which is beyond pleasure and pain, and purified by equanimity and
mindfulness. This is called Right Concentration.
And that, Monks, is called the way of practice leading to the elimination of
discontentedness.
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(Reference: DN 22)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares The Eight Fold Path.
The Eight Fold Path is the complete solution to solving the problem of the unEnlightened
mind and The Cycle of Rebirth. The Eight Fold Path is “the way of practice leading to the
elimination of discontentedness.”
Detailed explanation of The Eight Fold Path is available in this same book series found in
Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to
Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
What are the Jhānas and how can I experience them?
The Jhānas are preliminary phases the mind experiences as it is making its way to
Enlightenment, and prior to the first Stage of Enlightenment.
When the mind is in the Jhānas, there are heightened qualities that are experienced,
which are needed in order to fully develop the mind and experience Enlightenment. These
are referred to as “the Jhānas”.
Without experiencing the Jhānas, a Practitioner would have no ability to attain
Enlightenment, or even the first Stage of Enlightenment.
The Jhānas are oftentimes misunderstood, especially outside of Asia.
Oftentimes people think that the Jhānas are only experienced through the practice of
meditation and, that the Jhānas are turned "on or off” while in meditation or in daily life.
This misunderstanding leads to the inability to experience these heightened qualities of
mind, the first Stage of Enlightenment, or Enlightenment itself. Thus, an individual
continues to stay trapped in the unEnlightened state experiencing sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness,
jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc. over and over and over again. The mind is stuck
in this continuous cycle of discontent feelings due to its lack of wisdom of The Path to
Enlightenment.
I will demystify the Jhānas and help you to understand what they are and how to
experience them so that you can escape the constant struggles and difficulties of the
unEnlightened mind.
(Please read further if you are interested in learning this important Teaching so that the
mind can become free of these strong feelings and others.)
—————
As mentioned, the Jhānas are heightened qualities that are experienced as one is
progressing on The Path to Enlightenment. These are heightened qualities of awareness
(i.e. mindfulness), tranquility, concentration, and equanimity, along with other beneficial
qualities of mind that are needed to experience progress on The Path to Enlightenment
and Enlightenment itself.
A Practitioner would be unable to experience Enlightenment without these heightened
qualities developed and acquired in the Jhānas.
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The Jhānas are experienced through learning, reflecting on (i.e. independently
verifying), and practicing The Eight Fold Path.
The Eight Fold Path is the core and central Teaching of The Buddha, it is “THE” Path to
Enlightenment. If you are interested in experiencing Enlightenment through The Teachings
of The Buddha, you would need to know The Eight Fold Path, inside and out, backwards
and forwards, up and down, left and right. And, you would need to learn The Eight Fold
Path through the original Words of The Buddha with guidance from a Teacher while you
retain the responsibility for your own learning and growth.
It is putting together all the individual factors of The Eight Fold Path that the mind will
move into, and reside in, the Jhānas.
Yes, one will need to meditate to experience the Jhānas but, it is not only meditation that
one needs to learn and practice to experience the Jhānas. There are many other aspects
of The Path to Enlightenment than only meditation, which are described in The Eight Fold
Path, and all of these factors are needed to make progress towards Enlightenment to
include, experiencing the Jhānas.
Meditation is one aspect of one factor in The Eight Fold Path. If you did the math, that
means that meditation is about 6% of The Path to Enlightenment. There is much more to
experiencing Enlightenment than only meditation. There is much more to experiencing the
Jhānas than only meditation.
Unfortunately, many people are misunderstanding, thinking that The Buddha sat under a
tree, meditated, and instantly got to Enlightenment. This is just untrue and a significant
misunderstanding. You can know this is true through The Words of The Buddha and his
important Teachings.
“Monks, I do not say that final knowledge (wisdom) is achieved all at once. On the
contrary, final knowledge is achieved by gradual training, by gradual practice, by
gradual progress.” (Reference: MN 70.22)
An Enlightened being would have attained “final knowledge” through acquiring wisdom,
by learning, reflecting (i.e. independently verifying), and practicing The Teachings of The
Buddha to awaken to The Natural Laws of Existence, the mind is then Enlightened.
Final Knowledge = Enlightenment
Enlightenment is not achieved “all at once”.
You can independently verify that Enlightenment is not experienced “all at once” or
instantly because, everything you have ever accomplished in life has been through
gradual training, gradual practice, and gradual progress, just like The Buddha is sharing in
this important Teaching. It took The Buddha six (6) years to attain Enlightenment.
Think about learning to read, write, and speak English, did it happen all at once? Think
about the job or occupation that you perform, was your wisdom and skills acquired “all at
once”?
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No, of course not.
Therefore, you can understand how acquiring wisdom to attain Enlightenment does not
occur “all at once”. The Words of The Buddha are sharing this important Teaching and,
you can independently verify it for yourself. All of The Teachings of The Buddha are
independently verifiable and is how a Practitioner would need to progress on The Path to
Enlightenment to actually experience Enlightenment. It is through gradual training and
gradual practice that leads to gradual progress of acquiring wisdom and awakening to the
Enlightened mental state.
So, Enlightenment, and the Jhānas, are not experienced “all at once” and they are not
experienced only in meditation.
These are The Words of The Buddha on the Jhānas.
“And what, Monks, is Right Concentration? Here, a Monk, distant from sense-desires,
distant from unwholesome mental states, enters and resides in the first Jhāna, which is
with thinking and pondering, based in seclusion, filled with excitement and joy. And with
the subsiding of thinking and pondering, by gaining inner tranquility and oneness of mind,
he enters and resides in the second Jhāna, which is without thinking and pondering,
based in concentration, filled with excitement and joy. And with the fading away of
excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be upset or excited; calm; serene),
mindful and clearly aware, he experiences in himself the joy of which the Noble Ones say:
‘Peaceful is he who resides with equanimity and mindfulness’, he enters the third Jhāna.
And, having given up pleasure and pain, and with the fading away of former gladness and
sadness, he enters and resides in the fourth Jhāna, which is beyond pleasure and pain,
and purified by equanimity and mindfulness. This is called Right Concentration.”
(Reference: DN 22)
The Buddha describes the four (4) Jhānas in multiple places within his Teachings. There
are only four (4) Jhānas, even though you will see different numbers being taught by other
people who have misunderstanding but, The Buddha only taught four (4) Jhānas, as you
can see in his original words.
The Buddha describes the four (4) Jhānas in the same way in each Teaching. However,
this is a reference to the eighth factor of The Eight Fold Path, Right Concentration. This is
where he describes the Jhānas, in detail, and this is where the misunderstandings in the
world are originating as people are not understanding what was taught by The Buddha.
Right Concentration is accomplished through a well developed meditation practice and
practicing “singleness of mind” in daily life. The Buddha describes how to practice Right
Concentration as part of The Path to Enlightenment in many of his other Teachings, which
all integrate into The Eight Fold Path.
So, because Right Concentration is to practice meditation and developing singleness of
mind, some people are misunderstanding the Jhānas as only being experienced in
meditation and is something that is turned “on and off”.
This is confusing many people and leading to the inability to experience the Jhānas and
Enlightenment.
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As you can see in the original Words of The Buddha, he is describing enhanced qualities
of mind that the mind “enters and resides” in as part of his description of the Jhānas.
The mind “resides” in the Jhānas.
He is describing the Jhānas as part of The Eight Fold Path because this is the byproduct
or benefit, of practicing the entire core and central Teaching of The Buddha, The Eight
Fold Path, which will guide you in training the mind to experience the Jhānas and attain
Enlightenment.
One enhanced quality of mind that is experienced in the second Jhāna includes “oneness
of mind” or “unification of the mind”.
In the unEnlightened state, there is a conscious mind and a subconscious mind, both of
these are polluted and need to be purified to experience Enlightenment. However, the
subconscious mind is much more heavily polluted than the conscious mind. A
Practitioner in the unEnlightened state will have some awareness of the conscious mind
but, they will lack awareness of the subconscious mind until, they are experiencing the
second Jhāna.
Oneness of mind, or unification of the mind, is when the conscious mind and
subconscious mind have merged. They have become “one”. The Practitioner will have
“full awareness” of the entire mind, the mind becomes highly introspective being able to
easily look inward. This is sometimes referred to as “the opening of the third eye, divine
eye, or inward looking eye”.
When “oneness of mind” or “unification of mind” is experienced, there will no longer be a
conscious and subconscious mind but instead, there will be just one mind - “oneness of
mind” or “unification of the mind”. And, this enhanced quality is needed in order to purify
the mind. You would be unable to purify the entire mind to attain Enlightenment if there
was no awareness of the entire mind throughout your entire day.
So, to even get to the first Stage of Enlightenment, and Enlightenment itself, a Practitioner
needs to experience “oneness of mind” or “unification of the mind” in the second Jhāna.
And, this is an enhanced quality of mind that is experienced at all times during one’s day.
This is not a quality of mind that is only experienced during meditation and it is not an
aspect of the mind that is turned “on or off”. Instead, the mind is “residing” in this mental
quality. This is true for all the enhanced qualities of the Jhānas. They are experienced at
all times and, are not turned “on or off”. As shared by The Buddha, the mind “enters” and
“resides” in the Jhānas.
For anyone who has experienced the Jhānas, they know this to be true.
The translation of the word “Jhāna” is “mental absorption” and “meditative absorption”
because, to experience the Jhānas, a Practitioner will have mentally absorbed a certain
amount of The Teachings of The Buddha and be practicing those Teachings. And, the
Practitioner will have conducted and benefited from a certain amount of meditation. The
mind has mentally “absorbed” The Teachings of The Buddha, and is practicing The
Teachings of The Buddha, to include but not limited to, meditation.
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When a mind has absorbed something and is experiencing improved qualities of mind,
those qualities are not being turned “on or off” nor only experienced during meditation.
These mental qualities are always present, the mind is “residing” in these enhanced
qualities.
The Jhānas are temporary, as the mind can regress out of the Jhānas if the mind
becomes complacent. However, if one continues to remain determined, dedicated, and
diligent, the qualities of the Jhānas will continue to persist in the mind, all the way through
to Enlightenment and while the mind is experiencing Enlightenment.
The Jhānas are not something to boast about nor take pride in. If the mind is becoming
arrogant or prideful due to experiencing the Jhānas, a Practitioner would be wise to “cut
that off and let it go”. Otherwise, the mind is complacent and will ultimately regress out of
the Jhānas and, this will hinder any further progress on The Path to Enlightenment.
So in short, you will need to experience the Jhānas to make progress on The Path to
Enlightenment and to attain Enlightenment itself, and this is accomplished through
learning, reflecting on (i.e. independently verifying), and practicing The Eight Fold Path,
the core and central Teaching of The Buddha that you need to know inside and out to
experience the Jhānas and Enlightenment.
Experiencing the Jhānas is like the “lightbulb is flickering”, providing an indication to you
that the mind has put together The Eight Fold Path well enough to experience these
heightened qualities of mind.
The Practitioner will know they are experiencing the Jhānas because they will
notice the improved qualities of mind as described by The Buddha in Right
Concentration of The Eight Fold Path.
When experiencing the Jhānas it is a significant indication that a Practitioner is
making tangible progress on The Path to Enlightenment.
It would be unwise to become arrogant, prideful, or boastful about anything at all, to
include experiencing the Jhānas. If so, those unwholesome aspects of the mind would
only create a lack of further progress on The Path to Enlightenment.
Once a Practitioner is experiencing the Jhānas, it is time for the real work to begin. The
mind is now prepared to fully eradicate all of the pollutions of mind. The needed
enhanced qualities have been acquired and it is time to start focusing on the elimination
of The Ten Fetters starting with, the first three.
Eliminating the first three fetters/taints/pollutions of mind, a Practitioner will then
experience the first Stage of Enlightenment. From the first Stage of Enlightenment, the
mind will no longer regress. In the first Stage of Enlightenment, one has progressed past
the preliminary phases of the Jhānas, where the mind can regress, and is now firmly in
the first Stage of Enlightenment, where the mind will not regress.
But, this is not a time to become complacent but instead, learn, reflect on (i.e.
independently verify), and practice the elimination of The Ten Fetters. Your practice will
need to pivot towards actively learning, reflecting on (i.e. independently verifying), and
practicing to eliminate The Ten Fetters.
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Now that you have completed reading (Volume 8) of this book series and may decide to
read this book multiple times, I would like to take a moment to personally “thank you” for
your determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings
of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment.
The time, effort, energy, and resources that you devote to this path are serving to help you
and countless other beings. As you choose to learn and practice these Teachings, you will
significantly reduce then eliminate any harm that you are putting into the world through
your unknowing of true reality. The unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does
not understand.
You are now applying time, effort, energy, and resources to improving the condition of the
mind, the condition of your life, and, thus, the condition of the world through investigating
The Teachings to acquire wisdom. The world becomes a better place when we each
individually choose to improve our own life practice taking responsibility for our own
intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood while improving our wisdom and mental
discipline.
I admire individuals who choose to walk towards harmlessness. I admire individuals who
choose to realize there is a better way of life and create that better way of life for
themselves through seeking guidance. And, I admire individuals who do not shrink back
from the struggle to move the mind towards Enlightenment when the natural tendency
might be to remain complacent.
Why have I chosen to share these Teachings with you?
“That it may be for the benefit and peacefulness of the multitude (many people), out of
compassion for the world, for the benefit and peacefulness of heavenly beings and
humans”. (Gotama Buddha)
“Because if they understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and
peacefulness for a long time”. (Gotama Buddha)
May you discover the freedom associated with a mind that is peaceful, calm,
serene, and content with joy permanently - the Enlightened mind.
As you need help to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings, you are welcome to
seek guidance which is available openly and freely to “all beings”.
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Author
David Roylance is a dedicated Practitioner and Teacher of Gotama Buddha’s
Teachings who has been part of the Thai community since 2001. He visited
Thailand for the first time in 2002 and brought the Traditional Thai Healing
Arts back to the United States of America to share with people in the
Western World.
His Traditional Thai Healing Arts centers, located in the Washington DC area,
provided traditional Thai healing arts to clients and educational opportunities
to Students to explore the Thai healing arts, Thai culture, and The Teachings
of Gotama Buddha. David is a published author with books on the topics of
Traditional Thai Healing Arts and The Path That Leads to Enlightenment.
David has taught Gotama Buddha’s Teachings since 2005 in the United
States of America. In 2015, he closed his businesses and relocated to
Chiang Mai, Thailand to be closer to the Thai culture and the Thai
Community of Buddhist Practitioners.
David shares Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with Household Practitioners and
Ordained Practitioners in Chiang Mai, Thailand and around the world through
courses, retreats, and special events providing guidance to help people
attain Enlightenment - a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy.
For more information on participating in courses, retreats, special events or
to invite these Teachings to your learning venue, use the contact information
below:
Teacher - David Roylance
hello@buddhadailywisdom.com
www.BuddhaDailyWisdom.com
190


Restoration of The Buddha’s Teachings
The Path to Enlightenment
The Buddha taught over 2,500 years ago. He taught The Path to
Enlightenment guiding countless beings to a mental state that is peaceful,
calm, serene, and content with joy that is permanent, where the mind has
eliminated 100% of all discontent feelings such as sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness,
shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.
Immediately following the death of The Buddha (i.e. Gotama Buddha), The
Teachings were shining in the world continuing to guide countless people to
Enlightenment. But, over the course of many generations, just as Gotama
Buddha predicted, people’s understanding of his Teachings gradually
diminished due to modifications and adjustments made by people after him.
The modifications made to his Teachings, handed down through oral
transmission, have made it increasingly difficult for human beings to attain
Enlightenment.
The goal of David’s Teachings is to root the learning and practice he
shares in “The Words of The Buddha” based on The Teachings that
existed during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha, so that countless beings
can now attain Enlightenment based on the original Path to
Enlightenment discovered and declared by Gotama Buddha.
David does this through connecting what he teaches to the largest most
complete source of Teachings from Gotama Buddha - The Pāli Canon. The
Pāli Canon is the original source text of The Teachings from Gotama Buddha
as spoken by him during his lifetime.
David has spent countless hours dedicated to restoring The Words of The
Buddha by updating a significant portion of the translations of Gotama
Buddha’s Teachings from The Pāli Canon. He now offers several resources
for Students to learn, reflect, and practice The Path to Enlightenment to
experience the results of an Enlightened mind.
David offers books, audiobooks, videos, podcasts, online learning programs,
personal guidance, and retreats without any requirement for financial
support. All the work that is being done is offered openly and freely for all
beings without any requirement to provide any financial support. David
accepts donations but Students are not required to provide donations for
any work that he does in supporting them on The Path to Enlightenment.
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David does not request donations and instead, just accepts whatever is
offered to him, if anything at all.
His dedication to sharing these Teachings is not motivated by finances. He
shares openly and freely with everyone who has a sincere interest in learning
and practicing The Path to Enlightenment.
Ultimately, David plans to preserve The Teachings of The Buddha in a format
that is easily, readily, and openly accessible to anyone in the world while
offering support to learn, reflect, and practice to experience the results of the
Enlightened mind.
His plan is to guide countless people to Enlightenment during his lifetime
and leave a Community of Enlightened beings who can continue to share
The Teachings long after his death. Through developing a Community of
Enlightened beings and preserving The Path to Enlightenment in resources
that are easily, readily, and openly accessible to anyone in the world, David is
revealing the hidden Teachings of Gotama Buddha and doing the best he
can to remove any obstacles one might have to learn, reflect, and practice
these Teachings, allowing countless people to experience the results of an
Enlightened mind.
Upon his death, David predicts that his closest Student, his son and a
continued lineage of Teachers, will share these same Teachings continuing to
support and grow The Community of Enlightened beings long into the future
- for the next 1,000 years.
These efforts will culminate into restoring The Path to Enlightenment back
into the world so that all of humanity can experience Enlightenment evolving
the human species to one where every being has the opportunity to attain
Enlightenment creating “heaven on earth”.
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The Goal
An Entire Species of Enlightened Beings
Having experienced Enlightenment and knowing the peace, calm, serenity,
and contentedness with joy that comes with having attained Enlightenment,
a Buddha’s goal is to share his Teachings worldwide so that “all beings” can
experience Enlightenment.
The Enlightened mind no longer experiences any discontent feelings such as
sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears,
boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, anxiety, stress, etc.
All discontent feelings have been eliminated 100% from the Enlightened
mind (i.e. all suffering is eliminated).
An Enlightened mind will have loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic
joy, equanimity, and generosity among many other wholesome qualities.
Can you imagine an entire world where all human beings have liberated
their mind to no longer experience these discontent feelings and are
practicing wholesome qualities of mind at all times?
With “The Buddha” (Gotama Buddha) having attained this permanent mental
state of Enlightenment on his own as The Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, he
would have known that through his dedicated and persistent pursuit to
Enlightenment, he had acquired the wisdom needed to guide “all beings” to
this same mental state.
However, his teaching career of 45 years would not be enough time to share
his Teachings worldwide. He knew, that it would require many centuries for
his Teachings to reach all parts of the world. During his lifetime, travel of
people and information was limited based on several constraints.
Today, we are in a unique time in history where these same constraints have
been eliminated. A time when people and information are able to travel
around the world in an instant.
Not only can information travel quickly but all of humanity is slowly coming
to the point where there is a common language spoken around the world -
the English language.
Criteria exist today that did not exist during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime that
make now the perfect time for all of humanity to gradually attain
Enlightenment realizing a better existence.
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- People can travel worldwide.
- Information can be shared worldwide in an instant.
- Commonly spoken language among a large percentage of the worldwide
population and this is only growing.
These criteria did not exist during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha and it is
only now that the world has come into an age where his original goal is
realistically possible.
But, during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime it seems they had something that we
may not have….
The people during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime had perseverance and
dedication to learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings to realize the
results of experiencing the Enlightened mind. They were not afraid of hard
work.
With our modern day conveniences, I am unsure how many people are
willing to apply their determination, dedication, and diligence with time,
effort, energy, and resources towards The Path to Enlightenment with the
goal to experience the Enlightened mind.
When a being decides they are finished with the sadness, anger, frustration,
irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fear, boredom, loneliness, shyness,
jealousy, resentment, etc., that is the time when one can turn towards The
Teachings and goal of experiencing Enlightenment.
Through each individual deciding to learn and practice The Teachings of
Gotama Buddha, as a collective world, our species will gradually evolve. We
evolve to a higher consciousness where we train the mind to not harm others
through our intentions, speech, nor actions.
Through each individual deciding to learn, reflect, and practice The
Teachings of Gotama Buddha, each person benefits and we all benefit as
there will be less and less harm in the world.
Through individuals deciding to focus on developing a comprehensive
approach to learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha with
guidance from a Teacher, your life drastically improves and the entire world
improves essentially creating “heaven on earth”.
We do not need to “fix” the world. That is not the problem. The problem is
the unEnlightened mind does not understand The Natural Laws of Existence
and it is quite a struggle to live in a world that one does not understand.
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Through learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha, a
Practitioner comes to deeply understand The Natural Laws of Existence to
acquire wisdom that will end the struggles and misery one may face on a
regular basis.
Are you ready to apply determination, dedication, and diligence with time,
effort, energy, and resources towards The Path to Enlightenment with the
goal to experience Enlightenment?
If one enjoys anger, sadness, boredom, loneliness, resentment, etc., there is
nothing to do.
But, if you are interested to eliminate these unwelcomed feelings from the
mind, then I suggest you turn towards The Path to Enlightenment and apply
your dedication and diligence to learning, reflecting, and practicing The
Teachings of Gotama Buddha.
And then, as all of humanity gradually experiences Enlightenment we will
have accomplished “the goal”.
“An entire species of Enlightened beings”.
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Why Have I Decided to Teach The Path to
Enlightenment as Taught by Gotama Buddha?
I have chosen to share these Teachings out of compassion for the world.
Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.
And due to this compassion, it is important to share Teachings that are
based in wisdom, not belief.
There are countless traditions and ways of sharing those traditions
throughout the world. All of these, in one form or another, are essentially
sharing to cultivate and practice 1.) Universal Love for All Beings 2.) Do No
Harm and 3.) Be a Good Moral Person.
However, the way each tradition is shared and the clarity of those teachings
is unique to each tradition.
The Path to Enlightenment as taught by Gotama Buddha (“The Buddha”)
over 2,500 years ago as documented in The Pāli Canon, is the most clear,
concise, and precise Teachings I have ever encountered that leads exactly
where he said they do, to Enlightenment.
The Enlightened mind is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy -
permanently. The Enlightened mind will no longer experience any discontent
feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt,
shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress,
anxiety, etc.
This is accomplished through not believing The Teachings of The Buddha but
instead, through learning, reflecting, and practicing to discover the truth. The
mind can be trained to eliminate all the conditions that are causing it to be
stuck in the unEnlightened state. Through eliminating the pollution of mind
by training the mind, one can experience liberation of mind, freedom from
strong feelings, peace, Enlightenment.
The Buddha’s Teachings are the only Teachings that I have encountered that
do not rely on belief. With belief, one does not know what is true or false
because they are just believing. Instead, Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are
shared in such a way that, a Practitioner can investigate and examine them
to determine the truth which leads to wisdom and thus, Enlightenment. If one
was to only believe The Teachings of The Buddha, they could not acquire
wisdom nor attain Enlightenment.
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These Teachings are perfectly suited for today’s society where there is a
proliferation of misinformation and untruths. These Teachings, with guidance
from a Teacher, guide a Practitioner to independently discover the truth
through deeply investigating The Natural Laws of Existence (i.e. The
Teachings of The Buddha). Through doing this inner work on The Path to
Enlightenment, one can discover that these Teachings are the solution to the
challenges we experience in the world and the solutions of how to heal from
what hurt us so that we never need to hurt again. The mind can completely
and entirely eliminate 100% of all discontent feelings once it is Enlightened.
This cannot be accomplished through belief.
Instead, a Practitioner needs to be determined, dedicated, and diligent to
doing the inner work to develop the mind and progress towards the
Enlightened mental state by acquiring wisdom.
As far as I have discovered, there are no other teachings on the planet that
can guide an individual to the complete elimination of discontent feelings
through independently verifying the teachings to acquire wisdom. The
Buddha did something very unique during his lifetime that no other person or
Teacher has accomplished.
He independently attained Enlightenment, dedicated the rest of his life to
sharing his independently discovered Teachings guiding countless people to
Enlightenment, and he left his Teachings in such a condition that countless
more people have attained Enlightenment after his death. He meets all the
criteria of a true Buddha. Gotama Buddha was a true Buddha.
My work during this life has been to rediscover these Teachings, in such a
way, that they can now be shared worldwide in the international language of
English so that countless people all throughout the world can attain
Enlightenment during this lifetime and after my death.
The only way to accomplish this goal is to share Teachings that are not
based in belief but instead, are based in independently verifiable truth so that
a Practitioner can acquire wisdom.
These Teachings are clear, concise, and precise. They invite investigation
and examination. Through doing this work, one can gradually train the mind
to gradually practice these Teachings and gradually progress to
Enlightenment. As discontentedness is gradually diminished and then
eliminated from the mind, one can see the truth for themselves that these
Teachings work to guide one to Enlightenment.
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These Teachings lead exactly where Gotama Buddha said they do, to
Enlightenment, and through each individual choosing to attain
Enlightenment, humanity will evolve the human species and at the same time
create “heaven on earth”.
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Why Have I Decided to Reside and Teach in
Thailand in Order to Restore The Teachings of The
Buddha Back into Humanity and Create “Heaven
on Earth”?
1.) Largest Population of Theravada Buddhist Practitioners Anywhere in
the World: Thailand is the largest population of Theravada Buddhist
Practitioners and Teachers anywhere in the world. Theravada Buddhism
considers The Pāli Canon to be the original source Teachings of The Buddha
in The Words of The Buddha. Theravada Buddhism teaches the importance
of not changing The Teachings of The Buddha and practicing The Path to
Enlightenment as a Buddha has taught, without any modifications.
The Pāli Canon is an important text that should not be believed to be the true
Teachings of The Buddha but instead, one can learn, reflect, and practice to
independently verify The Teachings to acquire wisdom observing the truth in
The Teachings as the mind awakens and discontent feelings are gradually
diminished and ultimately eliminated.
Once I dedicate the remaining time of this life sharing these Teachings to
restore them back into the world, the Thai people and all other diligent
Students who choose to learn with me will not ever allow these Teachings to
be changed, modified, degraded, or lost over time. The Thai people and
diligent Students are well aware that since the lifetime of Gotama Buddha,
that is what has occurred and, through having these Teachings restored
during the remaining time of this life, the Thai people and diligent Students
will not allow this to occur again.
The Thai people will support these Teachings and ensure they continue to be
offered in the world for the benefit of “all beings” while being hosted in
Thailand and supported by dedicated Students from many international
locations.
These Teachings have existed in Thailand for 800-1200 years and they have
received significant support from countless people over many generations.
The Thai people understand just how impactful The Teachings of The
Buddha are to their society and for all of humanity. The Thai people can
observe my dedication and commitment to sharing these Teachings, and
where possible, they will support me in sharing these Teachings throughout
Thailand and throughout the world.
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Due to these Teachings existing in Thailand for approximately 800-1200
years, there is a significant amount of infrastructure already created through
over 30,000-40,000 Temples where local Thai people and visitors to Thailand
can actively learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to acquire wisdom
and then integrate them into their lives. The Temple and Ordained
Practitioner infrastructure is not isolated to only Thailand but extends
throughout the world and is readily accessible to the benefit of “all beings”.
The Thai people have laid the groundwork for these Teachings to now be
shared worldwide through the Temple and Ordained Practitioner foundation
and infrastructure that has been created over multiple generations.
Thailand is a favorite destination for international travelers with many people
visiting Thailand to gain exposure and understanding of these Teachings
allowing them to be learned and then practiced “worldwide”. There is an
international audience that regularly visits Thailand who can learn these
Teachings to then return back to their home country where these Teachings
will be able to take root within all international societies. As these Teachings
flourish around the world, Thailand has the knowledge and resources to
support all of humanity to develop a Temple and Ordained Practitioner
infrastructure that can be created within each individual country based on
the interest of each country to more deeply integrate these Teachings into
their local communities.
2.) Students Have the Ability to Learn and Practice Among Millions of
Practitioners: One aspect of learning and practicing The Teachings of The
Buddha that will aid one’s development and progress towards the attainment
of Enlightenment is, to be part of a Community of Practitioners and Teachers
that can provide guidance for gradual training and gradual practice to
experience gradual progress on The Path to Enlightenment.
Through me residing and teaching in Thailand, Students have the
opportunity to live in a Community of Practitioners and Teachers who are
deeply committed to these Teachings and can serve as a role model for
Students to gain deeper understanding of how to practice these Teachings in
everyday life - even if on a semi-temporary basis during short visits to learn.
Through Students traveling to Thailand to learn while being surrounded by
millions of Practitioners, they can more readily absorb how one might
choose to integrate these Teachings into their daily life through observing
how the people of Thailand live with countless nationalities residing
peacefully and harmoniously with each other throughout the Kingdom of
Thailand. Students will not only be able to learn these Teachings in a
classroom setting at a Temple but, they will also experience day-to-day
interactions with people who are choosing to deeply practice these
Teachings creating “real life lessons” in a “classroom without walls”.
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The entire Kingdom of Thailand can serve as a real life classroom
environment where these Teachings are readily practiced and observable by
those who choose to visit this Kingdom. I often refer to Thailand as “heaven
on earth”.
3.) Can Live With Minimal Expenses: To be able to offer these Teachings at
“no cost” I needed to find a location where I could reside with minimal
expenses. This allows me to live based on donations rather than charging
Students a price for the time, effort, energy, and resources that I expend to
share these Teachings worldwide. This allows me to serve the widest
audience possible without a need to require payment for my services and
The Teachings that are shared.
The basic necessities to live life are readily available and are offered at a
minimal cost in Thailand. This provides me the ability to live a basic lifestyle
from donations shared by Students. I am able to purchase food, water,
clothing, shelter, and medical care at a relatively nominal cost. And, services
that I might need to support the development of learning resources are also
readily available at a nominal cost.
Whether it be an audio studio to record an audiobook, printing services,
technology, classroom supplies, or a full range of other needs to support the
continued sharing of these Teachings, Thailand offers these at a nominal
price so that there is the best utilization of any and all donations received.
As a result, I am able to help any and all beings regardless of their financial
situation through creating a lifestyle where I only need basic necessities to
survive and those are provided at a nominal cost while being supported by
donations that are fully utilized by purchasing goods and services that are
made available at a reasonable price.
4.) Healthy Environment to Live Life and Work: A wise choice for a place
to live and teach would need to include a healthy food supply, weather,
environment, and lifestyle. All of these are readily available in Thailand which
is able to support me in leading as healthy of a lifestyle as possible.
The food in Thailand is healthy and readily available. There are many fresh
fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, and other foods that are a regular part
of the Thai food offerings and readily accessible among countless fresh food
markets. This allows me to ingest quality food that is supportive to a long
and healthy life, thus, being able to support the learning of many Students
for as long as possible due to an elongated duration of life.
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Thailand’s weather and environment provides the least impact to the
physical body without significant weather changes or weather events that
can be taxing to one’s physical health.
The Thai economy is conducive to living a balanced lifestyle that supports a
significant amount of time with family and friends. A work-life balance is
highly understood, appreciated, supported, and straight forward to create
while living in Thailand. I am able to remain dedicated and determined in my
work life while also being dedicated to quality time within our immediate
family. This creates the very best environment to ensure consistent health
and longevity of life while enjoying a fulfilling life.
5.) Can Share Teachings Within Thailand Throughout the Day and Can
Share Teachings with the Rest of The World in the Mornings and
Evenings: Through living and sharing these Teachings from Thailand and
needing minimal sleep, I am able to help countless people throughout the
day based on the Thai timezone, while helping countless people in other
timezones during the early morning hours and evenings. This allows me to
be effective at sharing these Teachings around the clock and throughout the
world without any limitations based on restrictive timezones.
The timezone in Thailand is favorable to allowing me to share these
Teachings worldwide without limitations based on the time of day. I can be
helpful from morning, afternoon, and evening where there are Students who
are readily interested to learn - whether in-person or online.
6.) Students Have Easy Access to Visas to Gain Access to Classes,
Courses, and Retreats: To be successful at sharing these Teachings
worldwide, in-person learning is ideal. While there is much that can be
learned online and that is one way to be able to share these Teachings, there
is no better way to develop your life practice than to learn through in-person
access to a Teacher.
Through residing and teaching in Thailand, Students from all over the world
have easy access to classes, courses, and retreats from within Thailand due
to easy access to visas and as a result, me as their Teacher. Thailand does
not have restrictive visa requirements that would bar people from certain
countries which would inhibit “all beings” from gaining access to these
Teachings.
Instead, Thailand is open and accessible to a wide majority of the world and
where needed, I am able to travel.
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I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand which is an international destination for
countless people around the world. I live within a 4000 km distance to fifty
percent (50%) of the world’s population. This means that half of the world’s
population is a short drive or plane ride away. This creates the ability for a
large majority of humanity to more easily gain access to these Teachings.
And, where needed, I am able to easily travel to all other parts of the world
and teach online.
People often travel to Thailand for the sole purpose of learning The
Teachings of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment. So, by sharing
these Teachings from within Thailand, there are countless people who are
coming here specifically to learn and practice in the exact location where I
reside and teach.
In conclusion, through residing and teaching in Thailand as a “home-base”, I
am able to readily share these Teachings worldwide and work towards the
restoration of The Teachings of The Buddha back into humanity so that
countless people can attain Enlightenment during this lifetime and after my
death.
Thailand is the perfect location for these Teachings to be shared and to serve
as a “home-base” or “headquarters” for the international community to be
invited and welcomed with “open arms”. There is no other location on earth
that could provide for a better location to share these important Teachings
and to then be preserved for future generations.
The Kingdom is here in Thailand and ready to support you in the
development of your life practice towards the attainment of Enlightenment so
that we can all create “heaven on earth”.
The Teachings are hosted in the east and visible in the west.
They are readily available to you and there will be a period of 1,000 years
that they will “shine in the world” for all those who choose to learn, reflect,
and practice to experience the peace and joy of the Enlightened mind. Then,
with all of us doing the work towards developing our own individual practice
of these Teachings, they will never again diminish, be degraded, or lost.
Once restored, these Teachings can continue to support humanity for the
rest of time.
May you discover the peace and joy of the Enlightened mind in this lifetime.
May you be peaceful, may you be safe, may you be well, and may you be
free of all discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
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Invitation to Learn
I would like to invite you to a kind, compassionate and loving community of
Practitioners to learn and grow with these Teachings.
I would like to invite you to join this online group.
You will find it to be an online learning center for these Teachings and there
is a Teacher there to help provide guidance as you have questions.
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DailyWisdom999/
Additional Learning
Visit BuddhaDailyWisdom.com where you will discover a full range of
courses, retreats, and online learning resources to assist you on
The Path to Enlightenment.
Donations for Learning
Learn The Teachings of Gotama Buddha that lead to a stable, calm, and peaceful mind.
A more peaceful and loving world where all beings have care and compassion for each
other.
By supporting this learning opportunity, you will learn how to progress along
The Path to Enlightenment and help offer these Teachings to others through online and
in-person learning. Through these Teachings, the world will become a kinder, more
peaceful, and loving society.
Consider contributing $5, $10, $15 or any amount you wish to help us continue to offer
these Teachings to you and others around the world.
You can make a donation for the development and creation of these Teachings to help
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Created by:
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
BuddhaDailyWisdom.com
Facebook:
https://bit.ly/DailyWisdom-Facebook
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I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for the community of
Ordained and Household Practitioners benefiting from the leadership of
Venerable Bhikkhu Kukrit Sotthibalo at Wat Na Pah Pong in Krung Thep,
Thailand for their dedication and diligence in sharing The Teachings of
Gotama Buddha. Their work was the inspiration for
“The Words of The Buddha” book series.
Wat Na Pah Pong
http://watnapp.com
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THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
The Path to Enlightenment
Revealing The Hidden
Volume 1
Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment
Volume 2
Walking The Path with The Buddha
Volume 3
Foundation in The Teachings
Volume 4
Exploring The Path to Enlightenment
Volume 5
The First Stage of Enlightenment
(Stream-Enterer)
Volume 6
The Natural Law of Kamma
Volume 7
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Volume 8
The Foremost Householders
Volume 9
The Six Sense Bases
Volume 10
The Buddha’s Way
Volume 11
The Realms of Existence
Volume 12
Lowly Arts
Volume 13
Generosity
FREE Download, Print, or Kindle
https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/freebuddhabooks
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