Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 3
Lunch, Excursions, &
Free Time


Classes
Continue
@ 6:30PM
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Guidance


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 3
Evening


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Loving-kindness
Meditation
(Seated, Lying, or Standing)


Loving-kindness Meditation
Rings and Affirmations
•
May “I” be peaceful, May “I” be safe, May “I”
be well, May “I” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “we” be peaceful, May “we” be safe,
May “we” be well, May “we” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “all beings” be peaceful, May “all
beings” be safe, May “all beings” be well,
May “all beings” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Understanding and
Experiencing the Jhānas:
The Lightbulb is Flickering


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
•
Jhāna is the Pāli word for meditative or mental absorption, and refers to states of deep
and subtle concentration. Relaxed and calm mind but yet alert and attentive. The
lightbulb is flickering providing glimpses of the Enlightened mind for temporary periods
of time.
•
Four (4) preliminary phases the mind goes through prior to experiencing the first Stage
of Enlightenment based on having put together all the steps of The Eight Fold Path, to
include The Five Precepts, into a well developed “life practice”. (You will see reference
to different numbers of Jhānas but The Buddha only taught there are four Jhānas
which you will see in The Words of The Buddha.)
•
An indication that you are putting together all the steps of The Eight Fold Path and now
it is time to start more directly focusing on eliminating The Ten Fetters. The lightbulb is
flickering.
•
Every Practitioner will experience the Jhānas as part of their progression to
Enlightenment. You would not be able to attain Enlightenment without progressing
through the Jhānas.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
•
The Jhānas are temporary and are not meant for the mind to dwell in
these phases.
•
The mind can regress out of the Jhānas if one is not determined,
dedicated, and diligent to continuing to develop their practice.
•
Improved qualities of mind that are experienced at all times during your
day. These qualities will continue to permeate in the mind even as you
move through The Four Stages of Enlightenment.
•
Often mistaken as Enlightenment due to the improved qualities of mind
and lack of wisdom about Enlightenment.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What the Jhānas “Are Not”?
•
Something to be boastful about claiming that you have attained a certain Jhāna.
•
Only experienced in meditation and it is only meditation that will produce these
mental qualities. (The Jhānas are improved qualities of mind that are experienced at
all times during your day. These qualities will continue to permeate in the mind even
as you move through The Four Stages of Enlightenment.)
•
Something to crave/desire and become obsessed about what Jhāna you are in and
what Jhāna you are headed towards. (Stay focused on The Ten Fetters as being
obsessed about the Jhānas will only hinder progress.)
•
The Jhānas are not “Enlightenment”. (The mind is still experiencing
discontentedness while in the Jhānas and one needs to continue to focus on
developing their practice to progress on The Path to Enlightenment.)
•
A mystical or magical experience that determines you are a special person or
something that is only experienced by a person who is special.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Dangers of The Jhānas?
•
Due to the drastically improved qualities of mind, the mind can become conceited, boastful, arrogant,
and/or prideful.
•
The mind can become complacent as it enjoys the improved qualities of mind and remain “holding on” to
the qualities of the Jhānas lacking the ability to progress further towards the attainment of Enlightenment.
•
With complacency, the mind can regress out of the Jhānas.
•
Overwhelmed with excitement and joy; a challenge to restrain the mind due to lack of full discipline and
control.
•
The mind can experience “swings” from gladness to sadness or boredom and loneliness. (The mind needs
to figure out how to progress forward in life without craving/desire/attachment pursuing things as a goal/
objective/interest because it is the “right” thing to do.)
•
Significant amounts of energy that can sometimes be experienced as “surges”. (Cultivate The
Enlightenment Factors of Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity to ensure proper sleep and ability to
address day-to-day activities. Maintain wholesome practice that led to the Jhānas.)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Benefits of The Jhānas?
•
An indication that you are developing The Eight Fold Path and moving in the “right”
direction towards Enlightenment.
•
Improved qualities of mind that are needed for further progress on The Path to
Enlightenment.
•
The subconscious mind has been eliminated and one has developed “full awareness”
of the mind as part of Right Mindfulness.
•
Cultivation of deep wisdom that leads to continued growth and development towards
the attainment of Enlightenment. Sometimes referred to as opening “the third eye”,
“inner eye”, or “spiritual eye”.
•
Wisdom to know what is wholesome and unwholesome or wise and unwise leading to
improved decision-making and wholesome results (i.e. wholesome Kamma).


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Benefits of The Jhānas?
•
Discontentedness is significantly reduced but not eliminated.
•
Calmness and composure is readily available and more easily practiced.
•
There is more awareness of the interconnected nature of all beings in the world.
One can feel closer to “all beings” while being able to see significant “suffering”
and “harm” in the world.
•
Smiling becomes easier and there is a more cheerful disposition, thus, easier to
communicate and interact in the world.
•
Easier to develop relationships with wholesome friends due to improved
wisdom while practicing wholesome intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.
————
Jhāna is the Pāli word for meditative or mental absorption, and refers to states of deep and subtle concentration.
Relaxed and calm mind but yet alert and attentive.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
First Jhāna: Distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental states;
With thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Second Jhāna: Subsiding of thinking and pondering;
With inner tranquility and oneness of mind, concentration (singleness of mind);
Without thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Third Jhāna: Fading away of excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be upset or excited;
calm; serene), mindful and clearly aware;
Experiencing joy;
Peacefully residing with equanimity and mindfulness.
Fourth Jhāna: Given up pleasure and pain;
Fading away of former gladness and sadness;
Beyond pleasure and pain with equanimity and mindfulness developed to fulfillment.
(The Jhāna’s are an indication that everything is coming together and moving in the right direction.
Use these as a personal guide but remain focused on elimination of The Ten Fetters and the ultimate
goal of Enlightenment as an Arahant - The Fourth Stage of Enlightenment.)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)
• Blindfolded Māra: So too, quite 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. This
Monk is said to have blindfolded Māra, to have become invisible to the Evil One by depriving Māra's eye of its
opportunity.
• Secure from Danger: So too, Monks, when, 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. On that occasion it occurs to the Monk: Now I am secure from danger and Māra cannot do anything to me. It
also occurs to Māra the Evil One: Now the Monk is secure against danger and I cannot do anything to him.
• The Higher Mind: If a Monk should aspire: May I become one to obtain at will, without trouble or difficulty, the four
Jhānas that constitute the higher mind and provide a peaceful residing here and now, let him fulfill the precepts…
• Leads Towards Enlightenment: Monks, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes. and inclines towards the east, so too
a Monk who develops and cultivates the four Jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment).
• Improved Rebirth: There are beings different in body and alike in perception, such as the heavenly beings of Brahmā’s
(God’s) company, born there [on account of having attained] the first Jhāna. That is the second station of consciousness.
• Inconceivable Matters: The experiences of one in the Jhānas is an inconceivable matter that one should not try to
conceive; one who tries to conceive it would reap either madness or frustration.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
How to Attain the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)
•
Eliminate The Five Hindrances: Having thus abandoned these five hindrances,
imperfections of the mind that weaken wisdom, quite 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.
(Sensual Desire, Ill Will, Complacency, Restlessness and Worry, Doubt)
•
Meditation Leads Towards the Jhānas: Monks, if for just the time of a finger snap a
Monk develops Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), he is
called a Monk who is not lacking of Jhāna, who acts upon The Teachings of The
Teacher, who responds to his advice, and who does not eat the country's almsfood
having produced no results or benefits. How much more, then, those who cultivate it!
•
Eliminate Selfishness: Selfishness with regard to dwellings, selfishness with regard
to families, selfishness with regard to material possessions, selfishness with regard to
praise, and selfishness with regard to The Teachings.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
How to Attain the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Time to Start Focusing on
The Ten Fetters
to Progress into The Stages of Enlightenment
while maintaining and further developing your
“Life Practice”.
Ensure to work towards elimination of
complacency and conceit.
You Aren’t Done Yet!!!
The “real work” has just begun to “fully" eliminate The Ten Fetters.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
The Lightbulb is Flickering
Do Not Let it Go Out
by Staying “Focused” with
Determination, Dedication, and Diligence.
Continue Practicing What Got You to The Jhānas
“The Eight Fold Path”.


The Eight Fold Path
What Questions Do You Have on
The Eight Fold Path or The Jhānas?


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 4
Morning


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation
(Seated, Lying, or Standing)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Understanding
Human Beings:
The Five Aggregates &
The Six Sense Bases


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
What Are The Five Aggregates?
•
The five collections or elements that describe a “living being”.
•
Form: the physical body. (Physical Structures of The Body)
•
Feelings: results of experiences in the mind through The Six Sense Bases.
(Discontentedness: Pleasant, Painful, or Neither Painful-nor-Pleasant)
•
Perceptions: a belief or opinion based on how things seem. (Assumptions)
•
Volitional Formations: choices or decisions that are made. (Intentional Decisions)
•
Consciousness: the mind. (Container)
•
Clinging to The Five Aggregates, one will experience continued discontentedness.


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
Why Learn The Five Aggregates?
•
Helps you to understand how to identify a living being so that you can fully
practice The First Precept, thus, eliminate unwholesome Kamma and fully
eliminate anger/hatred/ill will towards all living beings and cultivate loving-
kindness and compassion towards all living beings.
(Elimination of fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “Ill will”.)
•
Helps you to understand the practice of non-clinging to those aggregates/
collections/elements that exist within this being who you are now so that you
can eliminate any craving/desire for existence. (Elimination of fetters/taints/
pollutions of mind described as “Desire for form and Desire for formless”.)


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
What Are The Six Sense Bases?
•
Method of longing and yearning. The window that creates contact that is viewed
as either agreeable or disagreeable due to craving/desire/attachment; the method
and avenue to fulfill the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “sensual desire”.
•
The doorways to discontentedness.
•
Internal Sense Bases
•
Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Body, and Mind
•
External Sense Bases
•
Forms, Sounds, Odors, Flavors, Physical Objects, and Mental Objects


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
Why Learn The Six Sense Bases?
•
Helps you understand how discontentedness enters into the mind so that you
can develop Right Mindfulness and guard the mind with mindfulness. Guard
the doorways to discontentedness. Protect your own contentedness.
•
Helps you to understand the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as
“sensual desire” so that you can eliminate this from the mind and, thus,
eliminate craving/desire/attachment that causes discontentedness.


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
What is “Sensual Desire”?
The desire for pleasure from The Six Sense Bases: Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue,
Body, and the Mind. (Mental longing and strong eagerness through the senses.)
Discontentedness is experienced through The Six Sense Bases.
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the eyes to see agreeable forms to
experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable forms to experience painful
feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the ears to hear agreeable sounds to
experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable sounds to experience
painful feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the nose to smell agreeable odors to
experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable smells to experience
painful feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
What is “Sensual Desire”?
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the tongue to taste agreeable flavors to
experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable flavors to experience
painful feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the body to touch agreeable physical
objects to experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable physical
objects to experience painful feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.
•
The mind “longing and yearning” through the mind to recognize agreeable mental
objects to experience pleasant feelings and repulsed by disagreeable mental
objects to experience painful feelings due to craving/desire/attachment.
•
Mental objects are mental states. A mental state is a mental quality in which
the qualities of the mind are constant even though the state itself may be
dynamic (i.e. changing).


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
•
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 - Restrain the mind.


Identifying Cravings: Cultivating
Non-Craving and Analysis of The Mind
Discontentedness is the “red light” on the dashboard
alerting you that there is craving/desire/attachment.


Identifying Cravings: Cultivating
Non-Craving and Analysis of The Mind
Discontentedness Arises
“Red Light”
1.) When discontentedness occurs, cut off and let go of the pleasant feelings, painful
feelings, or feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant as a bodily sensation.
2.) Reflect on the cravings/desires/attachments that led to the discontent feelings
arising.
3.) Develop a plan to eliminate the specific cravings/desires/attachments that
caused the discontent feelings to arise while maintaining a consistent practice of
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and generosity.
4.) Repeat this process for each incident of discontentedness that arise in the mind
seeking guidance with a Teacher as needed.


Understanding Human Beings: The Five
Aggregates & The Six Sense Bases
Eliminating “Sensual Desire”
•
Develop a guard of the “doorways to discontentedness” practicing Right Mindfulness
to watch over the mind. Draw in the mind’s thoughts like the limbs of a turtle about to
be eaten by a jackal. Do not allow the mind to be complacent.
•
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and practicing generosity to train the mind to notice
and become aware of the cravings/desires/attachments.
•
Restraining the mind in the moment: As bodily sensations are experienced due to
cravings/desires/attachments and arising discontentedness,“cut them off and let them
go”. (Requires consistent and ongoing training both inside and outside of meditation.)
•
Distance the mind from the “object” that it is craving/desiring.
•
May need to occasionally “release the pressure from the dam” for non-
destructive cravings/desires/attachments.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Break


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Discontentedness and
Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature
What is Dependent Origination?
•
The Highest Law of Nature that describes exactly why you experience
discontentedness and rebirth.
•
Twelve (12) interlinking (i.e. dependent) factors that explain how a being comes
into existence (i.e. origination) and experiences discontentedness in
The Five Realms of Existence (i.e. The Cycle of Rebirth).
•
Helps you to deeply understand the problem so that you can implement the
solution to eliminate “discontentedness and rebirth” by attaining Enlightenment.
Helps you establish the goals for your practice.
•
Problem: Ignorance, Craving/Clinging, Anger
•
Solution: Cultivate Wisdom, Eliminate Craving/Clinging, Eliminate Anger


The Three Poisons
What are The Three Poisons?
The poisons of craving, anger, and ignorance — mask our true nature, the awakened mind of
wisdom and compassion. These poisonous states of mind then motivate non-virtuous and
unskillful intentions, speech, and actions, which produces unwholesome Kamma so they need to
be transformed, remedied and an antidote applied to experience the brightness of the Enlightened
mind.
•
Craving/Greed: refers to our selfishness, desire, attachment, and grasping for
contentedness and satisfaction outside of ourselves.
•
Anger/Hatred: refers to our hostility and aggression, our aversion and repulsion
toward unpleasant people, circumstances, and even toward our own uncomfortable
feelings.
•
Ignorance/Delusion: refers to our dullness, confusion, and misperception; our
unknowing or wrong views of reality misunderstanding the world around us as
described as part of The Natural Laws of Existence in Gotama Buddha’s Teachings.


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature
The Words of The Buddha - (Dependent Origination - Simplified)
When this exists, that comes to be;
with the arising of this, that arises.
When this does not exist, that does not come to be;
with the elimination of this, that ceases.
(Reference: SN 12.2)
Cause and Effect - Action and Result
The Results of Your Decisions
The Natural Law of Kamma
(Causality)


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature
The Words of The Buddha - (Dependent Origination - Detail)
Monks, with ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition, volitional formations (choices/
decisions) [come to be];
With volitional formations as condition, consciousness;
with consciousness as condition, name-and-form;
with name-and-form as condition, the six sense bases;
with the six sense bases as condition, contact;
with contact as condition, feeling;
with feeling as condition, craving;
with craving as condition, clinging;
with clinging as condition, existence;
with existence as condition, birth;
with birth as condition, aging-and-death, sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be.
Such is the cause of this whole mass of discontentedness.
(Reference: SN 12.1)


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature
The Words of The Buddha - (Dependent Origination)
And what, Monks, is name-and-form?
Feeling, perception, volitional formation (choices/decisions), contact, consciousness: this is called
name. The four great elements and the form derived from the four great elements: this is called
form. Thus this name and this form are together called name-and-form.
(Reference: SN 12.1)


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature


Discontentedness and Rebirth:
Dependent Origination as
The Highest Law of Nature
Cultivation of Wisdom
Unravels Dependent Origination
and is Why You Should
Never Believe Anything
While Staying Dedicated to
Developing Your Life Practice


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Right View: Developing
Accomplishment in View to
Attain The First Stage of
Enlightenment


Right View: Developing Accomplishment
in View to Attain
The First Stage of Enlightenment
•
Develop deep understanding and practice of The Four Noble Truths.
•
What is discontentedness, the cause, the elimination, and the path to the
elimination of discontentedness.
•
This requires an understanding and practice of The Three Universal Truths
of Impermanence, Discontentedness, and Non-self.
•
Abandon personal existence view, doubt, wrong behavior and observances,
craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) leading to the plane of
misery.


Right View: Developing Accomplishment
in View to Attain
The First Stage of Enlightenment
•
Understands Dependent Origination and The Natural Law of Kamma.
•
Wisdom of Principle: is understanding the truth of each individual
statement of Dependent Origination and being able to see that truth
through your own investigation. The wisdom is deeply soaked into the
mind because you are able to see the truth for yourselves
(i.e. independently verified The Teachings).
•
Wisdom of Entailment: is being able to see the wisdom of connecting
statements of truth. If this is true, then that is true. If this is false, then that
is false. Wisdom of entailment is being able to deeply understand how one
truthful statement leading to another truthful statement is a way of
acquiring wisdom. One false statement leads to understand that the
related statement is also false.


Right View: Developing Accomplishment
in View to Attain
The First Stage of Enlightenment
Six Cases of Incapability
•
(First Discourse) Incapable of considering any conditioned object as permanent,
pleasurable, or self. Incapable of doing a grave act that brings immediate results.
Incapable of resorting to “the belief” that purity (Enlightenment) comes about
through superstitious and auspicious acts. Incapable of seeking a person worthy
of offerings outside of The Community. (Reference: AN 6.93)
•
(Second Discourse) Incapable of residing without deep respect and politeness
towards The Teacher, The Teachings, The Community, The Training. Incapable of
resorting to anything that should not be relied upon. Incapable of undergoing an
eight existence. (Reference: AN 6.92)


Right View: Developing Accomplishment
in View to Attain
The First Stage of Enlightenment
Six Cases of Incapability
•
(Third Discourse) Incapable of depriving one’s mother, father, or an Arahant
(Enlightened Being) of life. Incapable of shedding The Tathāgata’s (A Buddha’s)
blood with a mind of hatred. Incapable of creating a division in The Community.
Incapable of acknowledging another Teacher. (Reference: AN 6.94)
•
(Fourth Discourse) Incapable of resorting to the view that pleasure and pain are
made by oneself, another, are both made by oneself and made by another, not
made by oneself but have arisen by accident or chance, are not made by
another but have arisen by accident or chance, are made neither by oneself nor
by another but have arisen by accident or chance. (Reference: AN 6.95)


Right View: Developing Accomplishment
in View to Attain
The First Stage of Enlightenment
Right View of Various Kinds
•
Understanding the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome.
•
Unwholesome: Killing living beings, taking what is not given, misconduct in sensual pleasures, false
speech, malicious speech, harsh speech, gossip, craving, ill will, and wrong view.
•
Root of Unwholesome: Craving, Anger, and Ignorance (unknowing of true reality) - The Three
Unwholesome Roots.
•
Understanding the wholesome and the root of the wholesome.
•
Wholesome: Abstaining from killing living beings, taking what is not given, misconduct in sensual
pleasures, false speech, malicious speech, harsh speech, gossip; non-craving (generosity), non-ill
will(loving-kindness), and Right View (wisdom).
•
Root of Wholesome: Non-craving (generosity), Non-anger (loving-kindness), and Non-ignorance
(wisdom) - The Three Wholesome Roots.
(Reference: MN 9)
•


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 4
Lunch, Excursions, &
Free Time


Classes
Continue
@ 6:30PM
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Guidance


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 4
Evening


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Loving-kindness
Meditation
(Seated, Lying, or Standing)


Loving-kindness Meditation
Rings and Affirmations
•
May “I” be peaceful, May “I” be safe, May “I”
be well, May “I” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “we” be peaceful, May “we” be safe,
May “we” be well, May “we” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “all beings” be peaceful, May “all
beings” be safe, May “all beings” be well,
May “all beings” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of
The Way


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
What is Personal Existence View?
Personal Existence View: Falsely and mistakenly believing that the physical body
and/or the mind is “the self”; who you are as a person. The misperception that the self
image (i.e. physical body) and/or self identity (i.e. the mind) is who you are as a person.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
What are the symptoms of Personal Existence View?
•
Discontentedness associated with self image or self identity.
•
Embarrassed, shy, lacking confidence in public settings, social anxiety,
anger/frustration/irritation/agitation/annoyance, etc. based on self image
or self identity.
•
The mind will want to protect your reputation and defend the self image or self
identity. Don’t want to “lose face” (i.e. protecting “your face”).
•
Worry or over thinking one’s appearance of the body or attempting to uphold the
self image to be perceived by others in a certain way.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
•
Wanting others to acknowledge your accomplishments. Seeking
acknowledgement of accomplishments.
•
Scared, frightened, or jumpy with sudden sounds or other potential frights.
•
Will take things personally rather than “brush it off” or ignore.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
What are the solutions or remedies for Personal Existence
View?
•
Receive guidance in how to use the “Meditation to Realize Non-Self” in the
chapter titled “Meditation: Developing Your Practice” (Chapter 11).
•
Change language used to disassociate the mind with the word “my” in
connection to relationships, objects, or various life situations. Modification of the
way the mind thinks through adjusting language.
•
Develop the perception of impermanence deeply observing in the world that
there is no object that is permanent. Soak into the mind that there is no object,
situation, or circumstance that is permanent through observing the truth through
experiences in the world.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
•
Wear simple clothing and make your appearance simple as desiring physical
beauty is cultivating your “personal existence view” and could be projecting
arrogance or pride.
•
Refrain from wearing any jewelry or body decorations including make up, and
eliminate bodily scents such as perfumes and cologne. (This helps to establish in
the mind there is no desire to project a self image or self identity. It trains the
mind to practice non-attachment to the body’s image or mind’s identity. The
mind can be trained to reside unaffected by others’ views of the image of the
body and others’ opinions have no effect on the contentedness of the mind
helping to eliminate personal existence view.)
•
Remove head and facial hair, eliminate the craving to beautify the body.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
•
Eliminate your interest to project a personal image through “cutting off” and
“letting go” of any feelings or interest in the mind to mentally project or protect
the self image or self identity.
•
Observing discontentedness arise associated with “the self”, cut it off and let it
go.
•
Consult and seek guidance with a Teacher over multiple sessions to deeply
understand The Universal Truth of Non-self to receive instruction in how to
eliminate personal existence view from the mind.


Eliminating The Pollution of
Personal Existence View:
Getting “The Self” Out of the Way
How do you know when Personal Existence View is eliminated
from the mind?
•
You will deeply understand and be able to explain the fetter/taint/pollution of
mind described as “personal existence view”.
•
You will deeply understand and be able to explain the solution to “personal
existence view” (i.e. The Universal Truth of Non-self and realizing non-self).
•
You will be unable to identify anything that is “a self”, “you”, or “I”.
•
You will no longer experience any discontentedness associated with the self
image nor self identity because these will no longer exist in the mind. Personal
Existence View will be fully eradicated from the mind when you no longer
experience any of the symptoms of this fetter/taint/pollution of mind.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 5
Morning


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Meditation to Realize
Non-self
(Seated)
(Chapter 11)


LEARN
Meditation to Realize Non-self
The Words of The Buddha
•
Having based himself on these five things, the Monk should develop further
(another) four things.
(1) (The perception of) unattractiveness of the body should be developed to
abandon lust.
(2) Loving-kindness should be developed to abandon ill will.
(3) Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) should be
developed to cut off thoughts.
(4) The perception of impermanence should be developed to eradicate the
conceit 'I am.' When one perceives impermanence, the perception of non-self
is stabilized. One who perceives non-self eradicates the conceit 'I am', (which
is) Nibbāna (Enlightenment) in this very life.


LEARN
Meditation to Realize Non-self
Types of Meditation
•
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
- Eliminate Craving/Desire/Attachment
- Cultivate Mindfulness (awareness of mind) while training the mind to reside in present
moment with concentration through practicing “Singleness of Mind”
•
Loving-kindness Meditation
- Eliminate Anger/Hatred/Ill Will (and lesser versions)
- Cultivate Loving-kindness for “All Beings”
•
Meditation to Eliminate Sexual Cravings
- Eliminate Sexual Cravings (Sensual Desire)
- Cultivate Unattractiveness of the body
•
Meditation to Realize Non-Self
- Eliminate “The Self” (Personal Existence View)
- Cultivate “Impermanence” through eradicating the conceit “I am” to realize “Non-self”


LEARN
Meditation to Realize Non-self
Affirmations
•
“I am not the body” (Repeat several times directing it to the body.)
•
“I am not the mind (Repeat several times)
•
“There is no self” (Repeat several times)
•
“I do not exist” (Repeat several times)
•
“I am not the body, I am not the mind, There is no self, I do not exist”
(Repeat several times)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Meditation to Realize
Non-self
(Seated)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Eliminating The Pollution of
Doubt: Mastering Confidence
and Developing Wisdom


Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt:
Mastering Confidence and
Developing Wisdom
What is Doubt?
Doubt: About The Teachings and the ability of them to attain Enlightenment.
What are the symptoms of Doubt?
•
Complacency, lack of confidence, continuing to search for a spiritual life and/or
Teachers, judging your Teacher and/or yourself. Argumentative towards your
Teacher and others in The Community.


Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt:
Mastering Confidence and
Developing Wisdom
What are the solutions or remedies for Doubt?
•
Investigation of The Teachings (Learn, Reflect, and Practice to acquire wisdom
and observe the improvements to the condition of the mind and your life).
•
Confidence in The Buddha, The Teachings, The Community, your Teacher, and
your own ability to attain Enlightenment.


Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt:
Mastering Confidence and
Developing Wisdom
How do you know when Doubt is eliminated from the mind?
•
You will have confirmed confidence in The Buddha, The Teachings, The
Community, Your Teacher, and Your ability to attain Enlightenment.
•
You will have deeply investigated The Teachings of The Buddha and experienced
significant improvements to the condition of the mind and your life.
(Learned, Reflected, and Practiced)
•
You will no longer be in search of a spiritual life because you will have already
found it and know with 100% certainty that these Teachings are leading you
towards the attainment of Enlightenment.


Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt:
Mastering Confidence and
Developing Wisdom
•
You will never “give up” on the development of your life practice and continued
improvement towards the attainment of Enlightenment focusing solely on The
Teachings of The Buddha. You will be unable to recognize as valid any other
Teachings or Teacher related to The Path to Enlightenment.
•
You will have significantly reduced complacency from the mind.
•
You will have deep respect and politeness towards The Buddha, The Teachings,
The Community, and Your Teacher.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Break


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong
Behavior and Observances:
Mastering Moral Conduct and
Elimination of Superstition


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
What is Wrong Behavior and Observances?
Wrong Behavior and Observances: Unwholesome moral conduct and the mind’s belief that
rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship will help a Practitioner to attain Enlightenment.
What are the symptoms of Wrong Behavior and Observances?
•
Wrong Behavior
•
You will not be practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood from
The Eight Fold Path.
•
Wrong Observances
•
The mind will consider that rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship are important and required
for spiritual development.
•


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
What are the solutions or remedies for Wrong Behavior and
Observances?
•
Well developed practice of The Eight Fold Path (Moral Conduct - Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood).
•
Elimination of belief that rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship will help a
Practitioner to attain Enlightenment.


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
What is a belief versus wisdom?
•
Belief: You do not know whether it is “true or false”, “right or wrong”, the mind is
just believing it. The mind could easily be “clinging to a perception”.
•
Perceptions: a belief or opinion based on how things seem.
•
Wisdom: You have independently verified, through your own direct experiences,
that what is being learned is accurate and the truth. And, another person could
take that same content and also, independently verify it as being “the truth”.
With this confirmation, you then have acquired “wisdom” and know “the truth”.
There is 100% confidence in what you have learned is independently verified as
being “the truth”.


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
Questions to Answer
•
What is the number one and primary problem that is keeping the mind in the
unEnlightened state and in The Cycle of Rebirth?
•
What solves this problem?
•
How do rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship help a Practitioner to transform
this problem?
•
What rites, rituals, ceremonies, or worship will help a Practitioner to transform
this problem?


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
Belief does not lead to wisdom and does not lead to
awakening the mind to Enlightenment.
There are no auspicious or superstition aspects of
The Path to Enlightenment.
The goal and objective is to acquire wisdom to antidote/
remedy/transform the mind’s ignorance (“unknowing of true
reality”) through independent verification of The Teachings.
Never Believe Anything at All


Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior
and Observances: Mastering Moral
Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
How do you know when Wrong Behavior and Observances is
eliminated from the mind?
•
Wrong Behavior
•
You will deeply understand and be able to explain Right Speech, Right Action, and
Right Livelihood from The Eight Fold Path.
•
You will have fully developed and are practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and
Right Livelihood from The Eight Fold Path for a minimum of 1 year.
•
Wrong Observances
•
It will be impossible for you to acknowledge any rite, ritual, ceremony, or worship as
being useful to attain Enlightenment.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 5
Lunch & Free Time
Return 1:00PM


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Meditation to Realize
Non-self
(Seated, Lying, or Standing)


LEARN
Meditation to Realize Non-self
Affirmations
•
“I am not the body” (Repeat several times directing it to the body.)
•
“I am not the mind (Repeat several times)
•
“There is no self” (Repeat several times)
•
“I do not exist” (Repeat several times)
•
“I am not the body, I am not the mind, There is no self, I do not exist”
(Repeat several times)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
How to Determine If You
Have Attained The First
Stage of Enlightenment?


How to Determine If You Have Attained
The First Stage of Enlightenment?
Elimination of fetters/taints/pollutions of mind described as:
•
Personal Existence View
•
Doubt
•
Wrong Behavior and Observances
Deep Understanding of Dependent Origination, The Natural Law of Kamma,
The Five Aggregates, and The Six Sense Bases
Accomplishment in View
Accomplishment in Generosity
Discontentedness will be Significantly Reduced


How to Determine If You Have Attained
The First Stage of Enlightenment?
Association with wholesome persons
Hearing the true Teachings
Practicing careful attention in all decisions to ensure wise decision making
producing wholesome results (i.e. wholesome Kamma)
Practice in accordance with The Teachings
Maintains bodily, verbal, and mental acts of loving-kindness both in public and
private towards companions on The Path to Enlightenment.


Benefits of Attaining
The First Stage of Enlightenment
1.) One is fixed in the wholesome Teachings
2.) One is incapable of decline
3.) One’s discontentedness is limited
4.) One comes to possess wisdom not shared by others
5.) One has clearly seen causation
6.) One has clearly seen causally arisen objects
7.) You have everything you need to make your way to the fourth Stage of
Enlightenment, to actually attain Enlightenment.


How to Determine If You Have Attained
The First Stage of Enlightenment?
Attainment of the first Stage of Enlightenment as a
Stream-Enterer means, the mind will no longer regress.
The being will no longer be reborn into the lower realms.
They will attain Enlightenment in a
maximum of seven (7) rebirths.
They are fixed in destination and will attain Enlightenment.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Integrating The Teachings
Into Your Life


Integrating The Teachings
Into Your Life
•
Attend weekly classes either in-person or online and attend in-depth learning
opportunities on an as needed basis.
•
Read “Developing a Life Practice: The Path to Leads to Enlightenment”
(Volume 1) 10-20 minutes per day.
•
Develop a daily practice of generosity to frequently give and share without any
expectation of anything in return such as your time, effort, energy, and resources.
•
Develop a daily practice of wholesome moral conduct using The Eight Fold Path
as your guide.
•
Develop a daily meditation practice of 2-3 times per day for 30+ minutes per
session. This can take 6-24 months to gradually develop.
•
Seek guidance from a Teacher as you need help.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Continued Support on
The Path to Enlightenment


Continued Support on
The Path to Enlightenment
•
Books, Audiobooks, Videos, Podcasts, Quizzes, etc.
(https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/)
Offered
• Openly and
In-Person & Online Classes, Courses, & Retreats
(https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/)
Freely to All
Beings
•
Ongoing Programs - In-Person & Online
•
The Group Learning Program
(https://bit.ly/GroupLearningProgram)
•
The Words of The Buddha - The Pali Canon in English Study Group
(https://bit.ly/PaliCanonStudyGroup)
•
Personal Discussions - In-Person & Online
(https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/)
•
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha - Facebook Online Community
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/DailyWisdom999)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
The Group Learning Program
Sunday & Wednesday @ 9:00AM/PM (Thailand Time)
Pali Canon in English Study Group
Saturday @ 9:00AM/PM (Thailand Time)
You are invited to learn The Teachings of Gotama Buddha on
The Path to Enlightenment.


Continued Support on
The Path to Enlightenment
BuddhaDailyWisdom.com


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Closing Group Discussion
with Questions & Answers


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Experiencing the Jhānas &
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
(30-hours)
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
David Roylance
hello@buddhadailywisdom.com
+66 61-905-4774
(Phone & WhatsApp)
buddhateacherlove
(Line)
buddhadailywisdom.com
(Website)


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 1
Morning


Welcome & Introductions
•
Welcome & Introductions
•
Course Schedule and Plan
•
9:00 AM - Chanting & Meditation
•
9:30 AM - Teachings & Discussion (Dhamma Talk)
•
12:00 PM - Lunch
•
1:30 PM - Teachings & Discussion with Meditation
•
3:00 PM - Finish


Welcome & Introductions
•
Course is based on the book
“Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to
Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
•
Chapters 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 16, 17,
18, & 20.
•
Available in PDF, Kindle, or Print.
•
Volume 1 of 13 Volume Book Series.
•
Would be helpful to acquire a book
and read as part of the course.


What Will You Learn?
•
The Eight Fold Path: The Path for All Humans to Enlightenment
•
Transforming The Three Poisons: Craving, Anger, and Ignorance
•
Understanding & Experiencing the Jhānas: The Light Bulb is Flickering
•
Understanding & Experiencing The Four Stages of Enlightenment: The
Complete End of Discontentedness
•
Eradicating Pollution of The Mind: Eliminating The Ten Fetters
•
Training The Mind to Acquire Concentration: Developing Singleness of Mind in a
Distracting World
•
Dissolving the Ego: Ego Serves No Purpose
•
Animal to Human: The Evolution of Our Consciousness


What Will You Learn?
•
Eliminating Fears: Are You Really Scared?
•
God's Creative Action: You Have Free Will
•
The Five Hindrances: Removing Obstructions to Your Enlightenment
•
How to Determine if You Have Attained Enlightenment?
•
Meditation: Developing Your Practice
•
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation, Loving-kindness Meditation, Meditation to Eliminate
Sexual Cravings, and Meditation to Realize Non-Self
•
Meditation Positions: Seated, Lying, Standing, and Walking
•
Buddhist Chanting
•
Integrating The Teachings Into Your Life & Continued Support on The Path to
Enlightenment


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
The Eight Fold Path:
The Path for All Humans to
Enlightenment
(Chapter 4 & 5)


The Eight Fold Path
(Right View & Right Intention)


Right View
The Words of The Buddha - (Right View & The Four Noble Truths)
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.
————-
Monks, there are these Four Noble Truths.
What four?
The Noble Truth of discontentedness,
the Noble Truth of the cause of discontentedness,
the Noble Truth of the elimination of discontentedness,
the Noble Truth of the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.


Right View
The Three Universal Truths
•
Impermanence: Everything is constantly changing and there is no permanent state. Material
objects/possessions, relationships, thoughts, ideas, states of mind, everything in the world is
constantly changing. All conditioned feelings will cease to exist. All that arises will cease to
exist. There is no steady, constant, or fixed state other than Enlightenment.
•
Discontentedness (Conditioned Feelings):
•
Pleasant Feeling (happiness, excitement, elation, thrill, exhilaration, euphoria,
etc.)
•
Painful Feeling (sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame,
fear, stress, anxiety, etc.)
•
Neither Painful-nor-Pleasant (boredom, loneliness, shyness, displeased,
uncomfortable, unsatisfied, etc.)
•
Non-Self: There is no permanent “self”.


Right View
•
Craving/Desire/Attachment: a mental longing for something with a
strong eagerness. The mind pulling in a direction for objects of its
affection. (also Expectations/Wants/Holding/Grasping/Clinging)


Right View
The Four Noble Truths —> “Right View”
•
First Noble Truth: Everyone that is unEnlightened will experience
discontentedness.
•
Second Noble Truth: Discontentedness is caused by our own cravings/
desires/attachments because the mind wants everything to be
permanent when everything in the world is impermanent.
•
Third Noble Truth: The elimination of discontentedness is possible by
eliminating cravings/desires/attachments.
•
Fourth Noble Truth: The path to eliminating discontentedness is
The Eight Fold Path.


Right Intention
The Words of The Buddha - (Right Intention)
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.
————-
Renunciation: the interest and willingness to “let go” and “give up”
unwholesomeness and the mind’s false beliefs and false perceptions of reality.
Ill will: animosity or bitterness. Anger, Hatred, and lesser versions.
Harmlessness: not causing or incapable of causing harm.
What is Harm?: The Eight Fold Path explains the way of practice to not cause harm.


Wisdom
Summarized
•
Right View: The Four Noble Truths - Accept responsibility for your own
feelings, intentions, speech, and actions.
(Responsibility and Accountability)
•
Right Intention: Practice intention of renunciation, non-ill will (i.e. loving-
kindness), and harmlessness.


The Eight Fold Path
(Right Speech, Right Action & Right Livelihood)


Moral Conduct
The Natural Law of Kamma
“Cause and Effect” or “Action and Result”
The Results of Your Decisions
Your Life —> Your Decisions —> Your Results


Right Speech
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.
————-
Five Factors of Well Spoken Speech
Monks, possessing five factors, speech is well spoken, not badly spoken, it is blameless and beyond reproach
(disapproval) by the wise.
What five?
(1) It is spoken at the proper time;
(2) What is said is true;
(3) It is spoken gently;
(4) What is said is beneficial;
(5) It is spoken with a mind of loving-kindness.
Possessing these five factors, speech is well spoken, not badly spoken; it is blameless and beyond reproach
(disapproval) by the wise.


Right Speech
Right Speech: This includes polite, kind, friendly, respectful, and wholesome
speech in all forms of communication.
Polite, respectful and wholesome speech includes not engage in idle chatter or
unpurposeful talk that includes gossip, harsh language, false speech with lies,
deceit, or slander.
Having clear, well thought out, purposeful and wholesome speech is important.
Your speech should be without blame or “blameless”.
The Right Speech is born out of Right Intention. With wholesome intentions
practicing harmlessness, this will breed wholesome and purposeful speech free
from craving, anger, or ignorance (unknowing of true reality) without ego.
A good practice is, “if you do not have something good to say then do not say
anything at all”. You will need to learn to have “Right Speech” to attain
Enlightenment practicing the “Five Factors of Well Spoken Speech”.


Right Action
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.


Right Action
Right Action: Our bodily actions are born from the Right Intention. You need to
produce the Right Actions to ensure no harm to other beings. Actions should also
be free of craving, anger, or ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and ego. Our
bodily actions should be without harm or “harmless”.
- Refrain from killing
- Refrain from stealing
- Refrain from misusing sexual conduct that would harm
- Refrain from substances that would cause heedlessness
- Refrain from gambling
These actions are largely part of The Five Precepts which should be practiced by all
people. Through practice of these Five Precepts, one is conducting a good moral
life. We do not judge others, discriminate, or otherwise form harmful actions. These
are not commandments but the best way one would live in harmony with others.


Right Livelihood
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
And what, Monks, is Right Livelihood?
Here, Monks, the Noble Disciple, having given up wrong livelihood, keeps
himself by Right Livelihood.
—————
Monks, a Household Practitioner should not engage in these five trades.
What five?
Business in weapons, business in living beings, business in meat, business
in substances that cause heedlessness, and business in poisons.
A Household Practitioner should not engage in these five trades.


Right Livelihood
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
And what, Monks, is wrong livelihood?
Scheming, flattery, hinting, belittling, pursuing gain with gain, this is
wrong livelihood.


Moral Conduct
Summarized
Right Speech: No harm through all verbal conduct. All communication such as Verbal,
Text, Chat, Posts, Email, etc. should be harmless.
Right Action: No harm through all bodily conduct. All bodily actions should be
harmless.
Right Livelihood: No harm through decisions to sustain one’s life. How we choose to
sustain our life should not cause any harm to others.


The Eight Fold Path
(Right Effort, Right Mindfulness & Right Concentration)


Right Effort
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.


Right Effort
(Examples)
(1) Prevent unwholesome mental states that have not arisen from arising in the mind.
Killing a human being.
(2) Abandon unwholesome mental states that have arisen in the mind.
Craving sexual contact outside an existing relationship.
Anger, frustration, irritation.
(3) Produce un-arisen wholesome mental states to arise in the mind.
Generosity and Compassion
(4) Maintain wholesome mental states that have arisen, not allowing them to fade
away and work to increase their growth in the mind.
Loving-kindness and Sympathetic Joy


Right Mindfulness
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.


Right Mindfulness
Right Mindfulness = Awareness of Mind
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
- Body as Body = Observing/Awareness of the Bodily Sensations
- Feelings as Feelings = Observing/Awareness of the Feelings
- Mind as Mind = Observing/Awareness of the Condition of the Mind
- Mental Objects as Mental Objects = Observing/Awareness of the
Mental Objects


Right Concentration
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.
————
Jhāna is the Pāli word for meditative or mental absorption, and refers to states of deep and subtle
concentration.
Relaxed and calm mind but yet alert and attentive.


Right Concentration
Developing a Daily Meditation Practice
- Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
- Loving-kindness Meditation
- Other Specialized Meditations on an “as needed” basis
- Gradually Develop Meditation Practice to 2-3 sessions per day
of 30+ minutes per session
Practice Singleness of Mind in Daily Life


Right Concentration
First Jhāna: Distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental states;
With thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Second Jhāna: Subsiding of thinking and pondering;
With inner tranquility and oneness of mind, concentration (singleness of mind);
Without thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Third Jhāna: Fading away of excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be upset or excited;
calm; serene), mindful and clearly aware;
Experiencing joy;
Peacefully residing with equanimity and mindfulness.
Fourth Jhāna: Given up pleasure and pain;
Fading away of former gladness and sadness;
Beyond pleasure and pain with equanimity and mindfulness developed to fulfillment.
(The Jhāna’s are an indication that everything is coming together and moving in the right direction.
Use these as a personal guide but remain focused on elimination of The Ten Fetters and the ultimate
goal of Enlightenment as an Arahant - The Fourth Stage of Enlightenment.)


Mental Discipline
Summarized
Right Effort: Taking initiative to eliminate unwholesome aspects of the
mind and cultivate wholesome qualities.
Right Mindfulness: Awareness of mind with The Four Foundations of
Mindfulness.
Right Concentration: Practice of meditation and develop “singleness
of mind” experiencing the Jhānas.
- Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
- Loving-kindness Meditation


The Path to Enlightenment
Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment
- Learn, reflect, and practice: The Three Universal Truths
- Learn, reflect, and practice: The Four Noble Truths
- Learn, reflect, and practice: The Eight Fold Path
- Learn, reflect, and practice: The Five Precepts
- Learn, reflect, and practice: Develop Meditation Practice
- Experiencing the Jhāna’s: Focus on eliminating The Ten Fetters
“Never Give Up”


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 1
Afternoon


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Transforming The Three Poisons:
Craving, Anger, and Ignorance
(Chapter 8)


The Three Poisons
What Are They?
•
The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, or The Three Fires also
known as “the defilements” are the high level description of the pollution of
the unEnlightened mind.
•
Explains why the mind is in the unEnlightened state and how decisions made
through these will lead to unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma).
•
Provides a clear description of “the problems” in the unEnlightened mind and
how to eliminate those through antidotes that “solve the problems” moving
the mind to Enlightenment. The Ten Fetters explain the problems in detail.
•
The antidotes are known as The Three Wholesome Roots that when decisions
are made through these will lead to wholesome results (i.e. wholesome
Kamma).


The Three Poisons
What are The Three Poisons?
The poisons of craving, anger, and ignorance — mask our true nature, the awakened mind of
wisdom and compassion. These poisonous states of mind then motivate non-virtuous and
unskillful intentions, speech, and actions, which produces unwholesome Kamma so they need to
be transformed, remedied and an antidote applied to experience the brightness of the Enlightened
mind.
•
Craving/Greed: refers to our selfishness, desire, attachment, and grasping for
contentedness and satisfaction outside of ourselves.
•
Anger/Hatred: refers to our hostility and aggression, our aversion and repulsion
toward unpleasant people, circumstances, and even toward our own uncomfortable
feelings.
•
Ignorance/Delusion: refers to our dullness, confusion, and misperception; our
unknowing or wrong views of reality misunderstanding the world around us as
described as part of The Natural Laws of Existence in Gotama Buddha’s Teachings.


The Three Poisons
The Three Poisons in Detail
•
Craving/Greed: is a burning desire, a never ending thirst, yearning, and
longing; we want the objects of our desire to provide us with lasting
satisfaction so we feel fulfilled, whole, and complete. The mind can sometimes
become obsessive to chase after the objects of its affection with mental
longing and a strong eagerness. Chasing an unattainable object.
(Desire, Attachment, Wants, Expectations, Grasping, Holding, etc.)
•
Antidote or Wholesome Root:
•
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation: Trains the mind to “let go” residing in
the present moment and to cultivate Right Mindfulness (awareness of
mind) with Right Concentration (singleness of mind).
•
Generosity: Practiced in daily life trains the mind to “let go” through
giving and sharing. Eliminates holding things tightly and selfishness.


The Three Poisons
The Three Poisons in Detail
•
Anger/Hatred: we habitually resist, deny, and avoid unpleasant feelings,
circumstances, and people we do not like. We want everything to be pleasant,
comfortable, and satisfying all the time. We push away our own inner feelings of fear,
hurt, loneliness, and so forth, treating these feelings like an internal enemy. With the
poison of anger, we create conflict and enemies in the world around us and within our
own being.
(Anger, Hatred, Ill will, Hostility, Aggression, Resentment, Aversion, etc.)
•
Antidote or Wholesome Root:
•
Loving-kindness Meditation: Trains the mind to cultivate active goodwill
towards all beings without judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be
well.
•
Loving-kindness: Practiced in daily life trains the mind to be polite, kind,
friendly, and respectful to “all beings” without judgment or wanting anything in
return.


The Three Poisons
The Three Poisons in Detail
•
Ignorance/Delusion: is our wrong understanding or wrong views of reality.
Ignorance is our misperception of the way the world works; our inability to
understand the nature of things exactly as they are, free of perceptual distortions.
(Unknowing of True Reality, Unknowing of The Natural Laws of Existence, Confusion)
•
Antidote or Wholesome Root:
•
Wisdom: Investigation by learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings of
Gotama Buddha to acquire wisdom. Elimination of belief through
independent verification with guidance from a Teacher to observe the truth to
acquire “wisdom”.
•
The Three Universal Truths, The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, The
Five Precepts, The Brahma-viharas, The Natural Law of Kamma, The Seven
Factors of Enlightenment, Extensive Meditation Training, Elimination of The
Ten Fetters, etc.


The Three Poisons
Summary
•
The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, The Three Fires
•
Craving, Anger, and Ignorance (Unknowing of True Reality)
Greed, Hatred, and Delusion
Desire, Ill Will, and Confusion
•
The Three Antidotes or The Three Wholesome Roots
•
Generosity, Loving-kindness, and Wisdom
•
Eliminating and Eradicating The Three Unwholesome Roots making decisions
through The Three Wholesome Roots will eliminate 100% of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes and all unwholesome Kamma
production - the mind will be Enlightened.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 2
Morning


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Loving-kindness Meditation


Loving-kindness Meditation
Rings and Affirmations
•
May “I” be peaceful, May “I” be safe, May “I”
be well, May “I” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “we” be peaceful, May “we” be safe,
May “we” be well, May “we” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
•
May “all beings” be peaceful, May “all
beings” be safe, May “all beings” be well,
May “all beings” be free of all
discontentedness and the suffering it causes.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Understanding & Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Light Bulb is Flickering
(Chapter 5)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
•
Jhāna is the Pāli word for meditative or mental absorption, and refers to states of deep
and subtle concentration. Relaxed and calm mind but yet alert and attentive. The
lightbulb is flickering providing glimpses of the Enlightened mind for temporary periods
of time.
•
Four (4) preliminary phases the mind goes through prior to experiencing the first Stage
of Enlightenment based on having put together all the steps of The Eight Fold Path, to
include The Five Precepts, into a well developed “life practice”. (You will see reference
to different numbers of Jhānas but The Buddha only taught there are four Jhānas
which you will see in The Words of The Buddha.)
•
An indication that you are putting together all the steps of The Eight Fold Path and now
it is time to start more directly focusing on eliminating The Ten Fetters. The lightbulb is
flickering.
•
Every Practitioner will experience the Jhānas as part of their progression to
Enlightenment. You would not be able to attain Enlightenment without progressing
through the Jhānas.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
•
The Jhānas are temporary and are not meant for the mind to dwell in
these phases.
•
The mind can regress out of the Jhānas if one is not determined,
dedicated, and diligent to continuing to develop their practice.
•
Improved qualities of mind that are experienced at all times during your
day. These qualities will continue to permeate in the mind even as you
move through The Four Stages of Enlightenment.
•
Often mistaken as Enlightenment due to the improved qualities of mind
and lack of wisdom about Enlightenment.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What the Jhānas “Are Not”?
•
Something to be boastful about claiming that you have attained a certain Jhāna.
•
Only experienced in meditation and it is only meditation that will produce these
mental qualities. (The Jhānas are improved qualities of mind that are experienced at
all times during your day. These qualities will continue to permeate in the mind even
as you move through The Four Stages of Enlightenment.)
•
Something to crave/desire and become obsessed about what Jhāna you are in and
what Jhāna you are headed towards. (Stay focused on The Ten Fetters as being
obsessed about the Jhānas will only hinder progress.)
•
The Jhānas are not “Enlightenment”. (The mind is still experiencing
discontentedness while in the Jhānas and one needs to continue to focus on
developing their practice to progress on The Path to Enlightenment.)
•
A mystical or magical experience that determines you are a special person or
something that is only experienced by a person who is special.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Dangers of The Jhānas?
•
Due to the drastically improved qualities of mind, the mind can become conceited, boastful, arrogant,
and/or prideful.
•
The mind can become complacent as it enjoys the improved qualities of mind and remain “holding on” to
the qualities of the Jhānas lacking the ability to progress further towards the attainment of Enlightenment.
•
With complacency, the mind can regress out of the Jhānas.
•
Overwhelmed with excitement and joy; a challenge to restrain the mind due to lack of full discipline and
control.
•
The mind can experience “swings” from gladness to sadness or boredom and loneliness. (The mind needs
to figure out how to progress forward in life without craving/desire/attachment pursuing things as a goal/
objective/interest because it is the “right” thing to do.)
•
Significant amounts of energy that can sometimes be experienced as “surges”. (Cultivate The
Enlightenment Factors of Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity to ensure proper sleep and ability to
address day-to-day activities. Maintain wholesome practice that led to the Jhānas.)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Benefits of The Jhānas?
•
An indication that you are developing The Eight Fold Path and moving in the “right”
direction towards Enlightenment.
•
Improved qualities of mind that are needed for further progress on The Path to
Enlightenment.
•
The subconscious mind has been eliminated and one has developed “full awareness”
of the mind as part of Right Mindfulness.
•
Cultivation of deep wisdom that leads to continued growth and development towards
the attainment of Enlightenment. Sometimes referred to as opening “the third eye”,
“inner eye”, or “spiritual eye”.
•
Wisdom to know what is wholesome and unwholesome or wise and unwise leading to
improved decision-making and wholesome results (i.e. wholesome Kamma).


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Benefits of The Jhānas?
•
Discontentedness is significantly reduced but not eliminated.
•
Calmness and composure is readily available and more easily practiced.
•
There is more awareness of the interconnected nature of all beings in the world.
One can feel closer to “all beings” while being able to see significant “suffering”
and “harm” in the world.
•
Smiling becomes easier and there is a more cheerful disposition, thus, easier to
communicate and interact in the world.
•
Easier to develop relationships with wholesome friends due to improved
wisdom while practicing wholesome intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
The Words of The Buddha - (The Eight Fold Path)
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.
————
Jhāna is the Pāli word for meditative or mental absorption, and refers to states of deep and subtle concentration.
Relaxed and calm mind but yet alert and attentive.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
First Jhāna: Distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental states;
With thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Second Jhāna: Subsiding of thinking and pondering;
With inner tranquility and oneness of mind, concentration (singleness of mind);
Without thinking and pondering;
Filled with excitement and joy.
Third Jhāna: Fading away of excitement, remaining imperturbable (unable to be upset or excited;
calm; serene), mindful and clearly aware;
Experiencing joy;
Peacefully residing with equanimity and mindfulness.
Fourth Jhāna: Given up pleasure and pain;
Fading away of former gladness and sadness;
Beyond pleasure and pain with equanimity and mindfulness developed to fulfillment.
(The Jhāna’s are an indication that everything is coming together and moving in the right direction.
Use these as a personal guide but remain focused on elimination of The Ten Fetters and the ultimate
goal of Enlightenment as an Arahant - The Fourth Stage of Enlightenment.)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
What Are the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)
• Blindfolded Māra: So too, quite 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. This
Monk is said to have blindfolded Māra, to have become invisible to the Evil One by depriving Māra's eye of its
opportunity.
• Secure from Danger: So too, Monks, when, 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. On that occasion it occurs to the Monk: Now I am secure from danger and Māra cannot do anything to me. It
also occurs to Māra the Evil One: Now the Monk is secure against danger and I cannot do anything to him.
• The Higher Mind: If a Monk should aspire: May I become one to obtain at will, without trouble or difficulty, the four
Jhānas that constitute the higher mind and provide a peaceful residing here and now, let him fulfill the precepts…
• Leads Towards Enlightenment: Monks, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes. and inclines towards the east, so too
a Monk who develops and cultivates the four Jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment).
• Improved Rebirth: There are beings different in body and alike in perception, such as the heavenly beings of Brahmā’s
(God’s) company, born there [on account of having attained] the first Jhāna. That is the second station of consciousness.
• Inconceivable Matters: The experiences of one in the Jhānas is an inconceivable matter that one should not try to
conceive; one who tries to conceive it would reap either madness or frustration.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
How to Attain the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)
•
Eliminate The Five Hindrances: Having thus abandoned these five hindrances,
imperfections of the mind that weaken wisdom, quite 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.
(Sensual Desire, Ill Will, Complacency, Restlessness and Worry, Doubt)
•
Meditation Leads Towards the Jhānas: Monks, if for just the time of a finger snap a
Monk develops Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), he is
called a Monk who is not lacking of Jhāna, who acts upon The Teachings of The
Teacher, who responds to his advice, and who does not eat the country's almsfood
having produced no results or benefits. How much more, then, those who cultivate it!
•
Eliminate Selfishness: Selfishness with regard to dwellings, selfishness with regard
to families, selfishness with regard to material possessions, selfishness with regard to
praise, and selfishness with regard to The Teachings.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
How to Attain the Jhānas?
(The Words of The Buddha)


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
Time to Start Focusing on
The Ten Fetters
to Progress into The Stages of Enlightenment
while maintaining and further developing your
“Life Practice”.
Ensure to work towards elimination of
complacency and conceit.
You Aren’t Done Yet!!!
The “real work” has just begun to “fully" eliminate The Ten Fetters.


Understanding and Experiencing the
Jhānas: The Lightbulb is Flickering
The Lightbulb is Flickering
Do Not Let it Go Out
by Staying “Focused” with
Determination, Dedication, and Diligence.
Continue Practicing What Got You to The Jhānas
“The Eight Fold Path”.


The Eight Fold Path
What Questions Do You Have on
The Eight Fold Path or The Jhānas?


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Understanding & Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment:
The Complete End of
Discontentedness
(Chapter 3)


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
What Are The Four Stages of Enlightenment?
•
Guidance for personal growth to plot your course towards the elimination
of The Ten Fetters and 100% of all discontentedness.
•
Explains the development of the mind and what to focus on eliminating as
it moves towards Enlightenment.
•
As a Practitioner eliminates The Ten Fetters, the mind moves through The
Four Stages of Enlightenment experiencing higher and higher degrees of
focus, concentration, memory, and clarity of mind along with the gradual
decreasing of discontentedness.
•
Once the mind is in the first Stage of Enlightenment, it will not regress.


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
What The Four Stage of Enlightenment “Are Not”?
•
Something to be boastful about claiming that you have attained a certain
Stage of Enlightenment.
•
Only experienced by Ordained Practitioners.
(All Practitioners can attain any of The Four Stages of Enlightenment.)
•
Something to crave/desire and become obsessed about what Stage of
Enlightenment you are in and what Stage of Enlightenment you are
headed towards. (Stay focused on The Ten Fetters as being obsessed
about The Stages of Enlightenment will only hinder progress.)


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
What Are The Four Stages of Enlightenment?
•
Stream-Enterer
•
Once-Returner
•
Non-Returner
•
Arahant
•
A Buddha: Not a Stage of Enlightenment but an individual. The last
Buddha currently known to the world existed over 2,500 years ago.


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
How to Attain The Four Stages of Enlightenment?
•
Well Developed Practice of The Eight Fold Path: Wisdom, Moral Conduct,
and Mental Discipline.
•
Elimination of all of The Ten Fetters (i.e. taints/pollutions of mind)
•
Deep Understanding of Dependent Origination, The Natural Law of
Kamma, The Five Aggregates, and The Six Sense Bases
•
Accomplishment in View
•
Accomplishment in Generosity


Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment
•
Association with wholesome persons
•
Hearing the true Teachings
•
Careful Attention
•
Practicing in Accordance with The Teachings
•
Maintain bodily, verbal, and mental acts of loving-kindness both in public
and private towards companions on The Path to Enlightenment.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 2
Afternoon


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
(Chapter 3)


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Personal Existence View: Falsely and mistakenly believing that the physical body
and/or the mind is “the self”; who you are as a person. The misperception that the self
image (i.e. physical body) and/or self identity (i.e. the mind) is who you are as a person.
•
Receive guidance in how to use the “Meditation to Realize Non-Self” in the
chapter titled “Meditation: Developing Your Practice” (Chapter 11).
•
Change language used to disassociate the mind with the word “my” in
connection to relationships, objects, or various life situations. Modification of the
way the mind thinks through adjusting language.
•
Develop the perception of impermanence deeply observing in the world that
there is no object that is permanent. Soak into the mind that there is no object,
situation, or circumstance that is permanent through observing the truth through
experiences in the world.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
•
Wear simple clothing and make your appearance simple as desiring physical
beauty is cultivating your “personal existence view” and could be projecting
arrogance or pride.
•
Refrain from wearing any jewelry or body decorations including make up, and
eliminate bodily scents such as perfumes and cologne. (This helps to establish in
the mind there is no desire to project a self image or self identity. It trains the
mind to practice non-attachment to the body’s image or identity. The mind can
be trained to reside unaffected by others’ views of the image of the body and
others’ opinions have no effect on the contentedness of the mind helping to
eliminate personal existence view.)
•
Remove head and facial hair, eliminate the craving to beautify the body.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
•
Eliminate your interest to project a personal image through “cutting off” and
“letting go” of any feelings or interest in the mind to mentally project or protect
the self image or self identity.
•
Observing discontentedness arise associated with “the self”, cut it off and let it
go.
•
Consult and seek guidance with a Teacher over multiple sessions to deeply
understand The Universal Truth of Non-self to receive instruction in how to
eliminate personal existence view from the mind.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Doubt: About The Teachings and the ability of them to attain Enlightenment.
•
Confidence in The Buddha, The Teachings, The Community, your Teacher, and
your own ability to attain Enlightenment.
•
Investigation of The Teachings (Learn, Reflect, and Practice to observe the
improvements to the condition of the mind and your life).


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Wrong Behavior and Observances: Unwholesome moral conduct and the mind’s
belief that rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship will help a Practitioner to attain
Enlightenment.
•
Well developed practice of The Eight Fold Path (Moral Conduct - Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood).
•
Elimination of belief that rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship will help a
Practitioner to attain Enlightenment.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Sensual Desire: Desire for pleasures from The Six Sense Bases of the eyes, ears,
nose, tongue, body, and the mind.
•
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
•
Generosity
•
Guard the mind with Right Mindfulness - The Four Foundations of Mindfulness -
Restrain the mind.
•
Remove “sensual desire” from the mind - cut off and let go of arising sensual
desire as a bodily sensation.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Ill Will: Hostility, hatred, anger, aggression, resentment, frustration, irritation,
annoyance, etc.
•
Loving-kindness Meditation
•
Practice Loving-kindness in daily life through intentions, speech, and actions.
(Polite, Kind, Friendly, and Respectful).
•
Remove “ill will” from the mind - cut off and let go of arising anger/hatred/ill will,
and lesser versions, as a bodily sensation.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Desire for Form: Desire for existence in the form realms; Animal or Human.
•
Elimination of clinging to The Five Aggregates.
•
Reflection on your own death; elimination of the fear of death.
Desire for Formless: Desire for existence in the formless realms; Hell, Afflicted Spirits,
and Heaven.
•
Elimination of clinging to The Five Aggregates.
•
Reflection on your own death; elimination of the fear of death.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Conceit: Arrogance, pride, judging, measuring or comparing as superior or inferior to
others.
•
Say “thank you” often.
•
Sleep in a low position that is not elevated or luxurious.
•
Do tasks that you think are “beneath” you.
•
Listen to others teach you wisdom without any interest to teach them.
•
Wash people’s feet. People you have no association with, if possible.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
•
Show respect and gratitude to all people with a “wai” as done in Thai culture.
•
Show generosity, loving-kindness, and compassion to all beings especially
people you do not associate well with.
•
Eliminate judgment of others with no comparisons that you are superior or
inferior to others.
•
Be kind and gentle because it’s the “right” thing to do.
•
Ask others for advice and what they learned in life, just listen without trying to
prove anything.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
•
Help others without any expectation of a return favor or positive benefit for
yourself.
•
Seek guidance of a Teacher helping the mind to admit to itself that it does not
know everything and needs help in this world.
•
Eliminate your interest to project arrogance, pride, judgment, measuring or
comparing as superior or inferior through “cutting off” and “letting go” of any
feelings or interest in the mind that resemble these unwholesome qualities.
•
Consult and seek guidance with a Teacher over multiple sessions to deeply
understand the fetter of conceit to receive instruction in how to eliminate conceit
from the mind.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Restlessness: Confusion, distracted, worried, anxious, restless start of mind the
opposite of “singleness of mind”.
•
Elimination of craving/desire/attachment using Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
and practicing generosity.
•
Equanimity (Pāli: upekkhā) is mental calmness, composure, and evenness of
temper, especially in a difficult situation; treating everyone impartially.


Eradicating Pollution of The Mind:
Eliminating The Ten Fetters
Ignorance (Unknowing of True Reality): Misunderstand and misperception of how
the world functions.
•
Investigation of The Teachings (Learn, Reflect, and Practice) independently
verifying the truth to acquire wisdom.
•
Seek guidance with a Teacher.
•
Fully developed “life practice” to train the mind and attain Enlightenment through
practicing The Teachings.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 3
Morning


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Loving-kindness Meditation


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Training The Mind to Acquire
Concentration: Developing Singleness
of Mind in a Distracting World


Training The Mind to Acquire
Concentration: Developing Singleness of
Mind in a Distracting World
•
Acquire Wisdom: Develop your “life practice” on The Path to Enlightenment
so that you are deeply practicing these Teachings. Focus on developing your
own deep practice of these Teachings.
•
Meditation and Generosity: Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and well
developed practice of generosity. Concentration is acquired through
eliminating cravings/desires/attachments. Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
and a well developed practice of generosity eliminates craving/desire/
attachment from the mind, thus, helping to eliminate discontent feelings from
the mind.
•
Develop Concentration by Eliminating Pollution of Mind: Concentration is
developed by eliminating craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true
reality) and by practicing “singleness of mind”. Purifying the mind is what
produces concentration.


Training The Mind to Acquire
Concentration: Developing Singleness of
Mind in a Distracting World
•
The Mind Can Only Do One Thing: The mind is only capable of doing one
thing at a time. Multi-tasking is only training the mind to rapidly cycle from
“thing, to thing, to thing” promoting an overactive mind. Then, the mind easily
experiences boredom and loneliness when there is lack of stimulation and
extensive cravings/desires will arise, thus, promoting a muddled mind.
•
Practice Singleness of Mind: Do not attempt to focus on multiple things at
one time. Gradually train the mind to do one thing at a time.
•
Observe the Mind: The untrained mind will have longing and yearning to
rapidly cycle. When observed, actively train the mind to reside in the present
moment doing one thing at a time. Cut off and let go of the craving/desire to
allow the mind to rapidly cycle.


Training The Mind to Acquire
Concentration: Developing Singleness of
Mind in a Distracting World
•
One Person at a Time: Interact with others, in a way, that promotes
singleness of mind. Do not allow people who choose to attempt to do
multiple things at a time to influence what you choose to do.
•
Well Trained Mind: A well trained mind is “relaxed and calm” yet “alert and
attentive”. Focus, concentration, deep memory, and clarity of thought/mind.
•
Calm -> Mindfulness -> Concentration -> Wisdom: Wise decisions lead to
wholesome outcomes.
•
Develop The Mind and Use The Mind: Develop the mind through exercising
the mind in concentration and memory.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
(Chapter 16)


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
What is the Ego?
•
Our ego is a collection of experiences from the past and our future
expectations of ourselves. Ego is the accumulation of thoughts, ideas,
and perceptions that we have of our self image and self identity. The ego
will contain arrogance, pride, judgment, and measure and compare itself
as superior or inferior to others.
•
The word “ego” did not exist during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha. He
described what we refer to as “the ego” in two separate parts.
•
Personal Existence View - The Self Image/Identity - “Non-Self” (1st Fetter)
•
Conceit - arrogance, pride, judging, measuring or comparing as superior or
inferior to others. (8th Fetter)


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
The Ego Stands in The Way of Seeing True Reality
•
Projects unwholesome qualities onto others then read that reflection as it is coming
from the other person, when it is actually coming from your own mind.
•
Judgement: attempting to determine what is right or wrong for another person while
placing oneself above others with arrogance or pride (i.e. the ego). Comparing that
one is superior or inferior to another person. Attempting to declare who is wholesome
or unwholesome, good or bad. Judgment is based in “conceit”. Judgment is harmful
to the mind and needs to be eliminated to attain Enlightenment.
•
Perceptions: a belief or opinion based on how things seem.
Developed of situations and other people through your own ego.
•
Projects wholesome qualities onto others “craving permanence” “expecting” that
others need to be the same as you. The mind attempts to control others rather than
allowing others to make their own choices in life.
•
The ego serves no purpose.


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
Dissolving the Ego - Personal Existence View
•
Receive guidance in how to use the “Meditation to Realize Non-Self”.
•
Change language used to disassociate the mind with the word “my” in
connection to relationships, objects, or various life situations.
•
Develop the perception of impermanence through deep observation in
the world.
•
Wear simple clothing and make your appearance simple.
(Clothing, Jewelry, Make Up, Scents, Facial/Head Hair)
•
Cut off and let go of arising interest to project self image or self identity.
•
Seek guidance with a Teacher over multiple sessions.


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
Dissolving the Ego - Conceit
•
Say “thank you”, “sorry”, “speak politely using sir or ma’am” and say “I do
not know” as needed and as appropriate.
•
Sleep in a low position that is not elevated or luxurious and sit on the floor.
•
Do tasks that you think are “beneath” you.
•
Listen to others teach you wisdom without any interest to teach them.
•
Wash people’s feet.
•
Show respect and gratitude to all people with a “wai”.
•
Practice generosity, loving-kindness, and compassion.


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
Dissolving the Ego - Conceit
•
Eliminate judgment with no comparisons that you are superior or inferior.
•
Be kind and gentle because it’s the “right” thing to do.
•
Ask others for advice and what they learned in life, just listen without trying to prove
anything.
•
Help others without any expectation of a return favor or positive benefit for yourself.
•
Seek guidance of a Teacher helping the mind to admit to itself that it does not know
everything and needs help in this world.
•
Cut off and let go of projecting arrogance, pride, judgment, measuring or
comparing.
•
Seek guidance with a Teacher over multiple sessions.


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose


Dissolving the Ego:
Ego Serves No Purpose
We must always and forever develop our
practice to “eliminate ego” and never
“assume” it has been extinguished.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 3
Afternoon


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
(Chapter 20)


Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
The Problems
•
Craving/Greed, Anger/Hatred, and Ignorance/Delusion
(The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, The Three Fires)
•
Personal Existence View and Conceit - The Self and The Ego
•
Current and Previous Lives Condition the Mind
•
The Cycle of Rebirth - Continuous Rebirth and Continuous Difficulties of
Sickness, Aging, and Death.