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.
The Group Learning Program
Sunday & Wednesday @ 9:00AM/PM (Thailand Time)
LIVE Guided Meditation & 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.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Eliminating Fear:
Are Your Really Scared?
(Chapter 17)


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.


The Eight Fold Path:
The Path for All Humans to Enlightenment


Eliminating Fear:
Are You Really Scared?
•
Eliminate the craving/desire/attachment in the mind to eliminate
the discontent feeling of “fear”.
•
Place the mind in the situation it fears to desensitize the mind to
whatever it fears, training the mind that there is nothing to fear.
•
The Natural Law of Kamma: If one is not causing harm, there is no
harm that will come to you.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
(Chapter 18)


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
Definition
•
God: The creator of the universe and source of all moral authority; the
supreme being. (God, Allah, All Knowing/All Powerful, Omniscient/
Omnipotent)
•
Moral Conduct (Virtuous Behavior): maintaining and acting upon high
principles for proper conduct.
•
We all have “Free Will”.
•
God does not grant Enlightenment. A Practitioner attains Enlightenment
through their own wholesome choices to learn and practice The Teachings to
train the mind.


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
•
Gotama Buddha never denied the existence of God but instead taught people
how to attain Enlightenment while still having an understanding of God.
•
Gotama Buddha discussed the various God(s) that people had belief in during
his lifetime.
•
Gotama Buddha’s objective was not to prove or disprove God’s existence.
The Teachings that lead to liberation, to Enlightenment are not based on belief
only on independently verifiable “truth” to acquire wisdom.
•
Gotama Buddha focused Practitioners minds on liberation, Enlightenment
based on Right View and The Natural Law of Kamma not based on God’s
Creative Actions - You Have Free Will.


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
All Is Caused by God’s Creative Action
Then, Monks, I approached those Ascetics and Brāhmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: ‘Whatever
this person experiences — whether pleasure, pain, or neither pain-nor-pleasure — all that is caused by God’s
creative activity,’ and I said to them: Is it true that you Venerable Ones hold such a doctrine and view?
When I ask them this, they affirm it. Then I say to them: In such a case, it is due to God’s creative activity that
you might destroy life, take what is not given, indulge in sexual activity, speak falsehood, produce
argumentative speech, speak harshly, indulge in idle chatter; that you might be full of longing, have a mind of ill
will and hold wrong view.
Those who fall back on God’s creative activity as the essential truth have no interest [to do] what should be
done and [to avoid doing] what should not be done, nor do they make an effort in this respect.
Since they do not apprehend as true and valid anything that should be done or should not be done, they are
muddle-minded, they do not guard themselves, and even the personal designation “Ascetic” could not be
legitimately applied to them.
(Reference: AN 3.61)


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
Gotama Buddha’s Undeclared Teachings
- The world is eternal
- The world is not eternal
- The world is finite
- The world is infinite
- The soul is the same as the body
- The soul is one thing and the body is another
- After death the Tathagata exists
- After death the Tathagata does not exist
- After death the Tathagata both exists and does not exist
- After death the Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist
Tathagata is another term used to refer to “Gotama Buddha”.
Gotama Buddha is referring to himself who was an Arahant, therefore, you can also insert
"Enlightened Being" for Tathagata. This means, he left The Teaching "undeclared" of whether a
human being who has attained Enlightenment as an Arahant "after death exists, does not exist, both
exists and does not exist, neither exists nor does not exist”.
(Do not have craving/desire/attachment to knowing the answer to these questions.)


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
A relationship with God is not required to attain Enlightenment but also
will not hinder you either, if you learn and practice in this way:
•
God and Right View: Understand and Practice - Right View.
•
God and Elimination of Craving in the Mind:
•
Eliminate craving/desire/attachment to obtain “things” from God
through prayer. God is not a “genie in a bottle”.
You Believe, Open to Guidance, and Give Thanks.
•
Eliminate craving/desire/attachment to be with God in Heaven.
•
Eliminate craving/desire/attachment to God.


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
•
God and The Natural Law of Kamma: Understand The Natural Law
of Kamma.
•
God and Elimination of Fear: Eliminate “fear” of God.
•
Understanding God
•
Practitioner of these Teachings.
•
Not attached to us. Not responsible to restrain us.
•
Interested in seeing all beings live in harmony through
acquiring wisdom.
•
No Interest in God


God’s Creative Action:
You Have Free Will
Loving-kindness
for “all beings”.
Elimination of anger/hatred/ill will towards God.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
The Difficult Human Existence:
Sickness, Aging, and Death
(Chapter 19)


The Difficult Human Existence:
Sickness, Aging, and Death
•
Gotama Buddha’s “life story”
•
Birth
•
Early Life
•
Journey to Enlightenment
•
Teaching
•
Sickness, Aging, and Death


The Difficult Human Existence:
Sickness, Aging, and Death
No one ever said life would be “easy” but it’s also not suppose
to be “tough”. Learning Gotama Buddha’s Teachings is not
“easy” but learning and practicing The Teachings of
The Buddha will ensure “life is not tough”.


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)
LIVE Guided Meditation & 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.


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.


Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
The Five Realms of Existence
•
Heavenly Realm: Experience only pleasant feelings. Can cultivate the consciousness to attain
Enlightenment. Lack motivation.
•
Human Realm: Experiences pleasant feelings, painful feelings, and feelings that are neither
painful-nor-pleasant. Can cultivate the consciousness to attain Enlightenment. Has more
motivation. (The Ideal Existence)
•
Afflicted Spirits Realm: Experiences painful feelings and feelings that are neither painful-nor-
pleasant. Cannot cultivate the consciousness to attain Enlightenment. Has extensive craving/
desire/attachment to people, places, possessions, etc.
•
Animal Realm: Experiences pleasant feelings, painful feelings, and feelings that are neither painful-
nor-pleasant. Cannot cultivate the consciousness to attain Enlightenment. Has no motivation
operating on basic survival instincts.
•
Hell Realm: Experiences only painful feelings. Cannot cultivate the consciousness to attain
Enlightenment. Has extensive amounts of craving/desire/attachment, anger/hatred/ill will, and
ignorance/delusion/unknowing of true reality.


Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
Countless Lives in
The Cycle of Rebirth


Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
Animal to Human
•
Vast majority of rebirths into the Human Realm occur out of the Animal Realm.
•
The unEnlightened human mind functions much like an animal’s mind.
•
Lack memory, Praise and Reward, Learn from “pack” of like species
(instinctive vs. learned behaviors).
•
You are acting like an animal. You are fighting like “cats and dogs”.
•
Human’s are fascinated with animals.
•
Animal consciousness is preoccupied with craving, anger, and ignorance with
ego and protection of a self. So is the unEnlightened human consciousness
until we train it otherwise.


Animal to Human:
The Evolution of Our Consciousness
The Path to Enlightenment
•
Evolving from the Animal consciousness to the Human consciousness to
a better existence to eliminate all difficulties of existence.
•
Enlightenment ends “The Cycle of Rebirth” through human’s learning to
become “more human” to experience a better existence by co-existing
peacefully.
•
Condition of the planet is due to human’s craving, anger, ignorance, the
ego, and protection of the self.
•
If each human does not walk toward the “light” and continues to reside
in the “darkness”, then the planet will continue to become a darker and
darker place to exist.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Do No Harm:
What is The Future of The Planet?
(Chapter 21)


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


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
(Chapter 22)


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
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”.


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
•
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)


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
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.


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
•
The brain is not the mind and the mind is not the brain.
•
The mind is not physical in nature, it is not tangible, it cannot be
physically touched.
•
People experiencing symptoms of sadness, stress, anxiety, or other
pleasant feelings, painful feelings, feelings that are neither painful-nor-
pleasant in the mind seek chemicals for the brain chemistry.
(Chemicals are not a permanent solution because the cause of the
problem is “craving/desire/attachment” not the chemicals in the brain.)
Brain chemistry does not cause discontentedness, therefore,
discontentedness cannot be eliminated through changing brain chemistry.
•
The mind needs to be trained to “let go” of craving/desire/attachment, i.e.
eliminate mental longing with a strong eagerness, to eliminate the
pleasant feelings, painful feelings, and feelings that are neither painful-
nor-pleasant.


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
•
Examples of Symptoms Labeled as Mental Illness
•
Childhood trauma (Sadness - Painful feelings)
•
Bi-polar Disorder (Excitement (i.e. Mania) and Sadness) - Pleasant
Feelings and Painful feelings
•
The mind is conditioned to believe there is a chemical imbalance in the
brain as the source of the problem and the solution is pharmaceutical
treatments. True source of the problem is still unknown and, therefore,
people are led to believe their intentions, speech, and actions are a
result of brain chemistry. (Wrong View)
•
The cause of discontent feelings and harmful intentions, speech, and
actions is an “untrained mind” with craving/desire/attachment. Lack of
wisdom, moral conduct, and mental discipline. (Right View)


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
•
If the problem is a brain defect, we would observe all populations of
people across the world have the same defects and the same problems
across all populations of people. Humanity and the human mind could
not have truly become unbalanced and defective in a matter of a few
decades.
•
If the modern mental health practices are helping, we would see the
number of cases and number of people with mental illness declining.
•
If the modern mental health practices are helping and solving a real
problem, where we see these mental health practices the most, these
places would have the most mentally stable and mentally fit populations
in the world.
•
Western cultures do not understand and practice The Three Universal
Truths, The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, etc.


Mental Health:
A Modern Day Delusion
•
You can learn and practice these Teachings to create a well trained and
stable mind.
•
You can gradually eliminate medications enjoying a completely stable
mind and life that is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy -
permanently.
•
Eliminate a lifetime of being relegated to medications, therapies, and
expense. Freeing yourself from a lifetime of expense and side effects
through training the mind and liberating the mind to Enlightenment
functioning with freedom from medications.
•
You will know the right time to decrease and eliminate medications
based on the gradual improvements to the condition of the mind.


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)
LIVE Guided Meditation & 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.


Meditation: Developing Your Practice
Meditation Basics
•
Meditation is a technique to actively train the mind during dedicated,
independent, purposeful training sessions to eliminate unwholesome qualities
of the mind and/or cultivate wholesome qualities of the mind in the positions
of seated, lying, standing, or walking.
•
Meditation is “not" exercising, walking the dog, gardening, driving, etc.
•
Meditation Teacher
•
Meditation Positions
•
Seated, Lying, Standing, and Walking


Meditation: Developing Your Practice
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”


Meditation: Developing Your Practice
Starting and Conducting Meditation
•
The Mind is The Boss and The Body is The Employee
•
Setup Mindfulness in Front of You
•
Time, Frequency, and Schedule of Meditation
•
Sleepiness During Meditation
•
Physical Sensations During Meditation
•
Visual Stimulation During Meditation
•
Meditation with External Stimulus


Meditation: Developing Your Practice
Never Give Up
Meditate, Monks, do not be complacent,
lest you regret it later.
This is my instruction to you.


Loving-kindness Meditation
What is Loving-kindness?
•
Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without
judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.
•
The antidote, wholesome root, or remedy for anger, hatred, ill will.
•
One of The Brahma-viharas —-> More on The Brahma-viharas in Chapter 14.


Loving-kindness Meditation
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings on Loving-kindness Meditation
•
“Rahula, develop meditation on loving-kindness; for when you develop
meditation on loving-kindness, any ill-will will be abandoned.”
(Reference: MN 62)
•
“Loving-kindness should be developed to abandon ill will.”
(Reference: AN 9.1)


Loving-kindness Meditation
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings on Loving-kindness Meditation
Monks, if someone were to give away a hundred pots of food as charity in the morning,
a hundred pots of food as charity at noon, and a hundred pots of food as charity in the
evening, and if someone else were to develop a mind of loving-kindness even for the
time it takes to pull a cow’s udder, either in the morning, at noon, or in the evening, this
would be more fruitful than the former.
Therefore, Monks, you should train yourselves thus: We will develop and cultivate the
liberation of mind by loving-kindness, make it our vehicle, make it our basis, stabilize it,
exercise ourselves in it, and fully perfect it ‘Thus should you train yourselves’.
(Reference: SN 20.4)


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.
Symbolism of Teachings:
Reminders Through Imagery
(Chapter 23)


Symbolism of Teachings:
Reminders Through Imagery


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
The Words of The Buddha
•
“Meditate, Monks, do not be complacent, lest you regret it later. This is my instruction to
you.”
•
“a pot without a stand is easy to tip over”
“Monks, there is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to
freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to
Enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
What is that one thing?
Mindfulness of breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation)
This is that one thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to
freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to
Enlightenment, to Nibbāna.”


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation Basics
•
Meditation is a technique to actively train the mind during dedicated,
independent, purposeful training sessions to eliminate unwholesome qualities
of the mind and/or cultivate wholesome qualities of the mind in the positions
of seated, lying, standing, or walking.
•
Meditation is “not" exercising, walking the dog, gardening, driving, etc.
•
Meditation Teacher
•
Meditation Positions
•
Seated, Lying, Standing, and Walking


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Starting and Conducting Meditation
•
The Mind is The Boss and The Body is The Employee
•
Setup Mindfulness in Front of You
•
Time, Frequency, and Schedule of Meditation
•
Sleepiness During Meditation
•
Physical Sensations During Meditation
•
Visual Stimulation During Meditation
•
Meditation with External Stimulus


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Never Give Up
Meditate, Monks, do not be complacent,
lest you regret it later.
This is my instruction to you.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
(Chapter 24)


Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
1.) Theravada Buddhism: primarily hosted in South and Southeast Asia.
Theravada = Teachings of The Elders
Lessor Vehicle or Hinayana
2.) Mahayana Buddhism: primarily hosted in East Asia.
Greater Vehicle
3.) Vajrayana Buddhism: primarily hosted
in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, and the
Russian republic of Kalmykia.
Lighting Fast Vehicle


Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
1.) Pouring Water Ceremony (Gwat Nam)
2.) Blessed Water (Nam mon)
3.) Sacred Thread (Sai sen)


Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
4.) Ordained Practitioners (Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis)
5.) Chanting or Mantras
6.) Gotama Buddha Statues


Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings


Misunderstandings of
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
7.) Gotama Buddha as a God, Avatar, or Lord
Lord: someone or something having power, authority,
or influence; a master or ruler (Noun)
Lord: act in a superior and domineering manner
towards (someone) (Verb)
8.) Blessings
God’s favor and protection; a prayer asking for God’s
favor and protection.
9.) Buddha, Buddhahood, or Buddha Nature


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)
LIVE Guided Meditation & 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.


Meditation: Developing Your Practice
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”


Loving-kindness Meditation
What is Loving-kindness?
•
Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without
judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.
•
The antidote, wholesome root, or remedy for anger, hatred, ill will.
•
Elimination of harshness, bitterness, hostility, and resentment from the mind.
•
One of The Brahma-viharas —-> More on The Brahma-viharas in Chapter 14.


Loving-kindness Meditation
Loving-kindness in The Eight Fold Path
•
Right Intention: The intention of renunciation, the intention of non-ill-will, the
intention of harmlessness. This, Monks, is called Right Intention.
•
Right Speech: Five Factors of Well Spoken Speech (5th Factor)
(5) It is spoken with a mind of loving-kindness
•
Herein, Monks, you should train thus:
Our minds will remain unaffected, and we shall utter no evil words; we shall
reside compassionate for their welfare, with a mind of loving-kindness, without
inner hate. We shall reside enveloping that person with a mind filled with loving-
kindness, and starting with him, we shall reside enveloping the all-encompassing
world with a mind filled with loving-kindness, abundant, joyful, immeasurable,
without hostility and without ill will. That is how you should train, Monks.


Loving-kindness Meditation
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings on Loving-kindness Meditation
•
“Rahula, develop meditation on loving-kindness; for when you develop
meditation on loving-kindness, any ill-will will be abandoned.”
•
“Loving-kindness should be developed to abandon ill will.”
•
(Suppose they ask:) But what, friends, is the reason unarisen anger does not
arise and arisen anger is abandoned?
You should answer: The liberation of the mind by loving-kindness. For one
who attends carefully to the liberation of the mind by loving-kindness,
unarisen anger does not arise and arisen anger is abandoned. This, friends, is
the reason unarisen anger does not arise and arisen anger is abandoned.


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.
Frequently Asked Questions


Frequently Asked Questions
1.) How do I become a Buddhist?
2.) Do I need to give up all my possessions, occupation, and
relationships to attain Enlightenment?
3.) What is reincarnation and rebirth? Are they the same
thing?
4.) Can I be a Buddhist without believing in rebirth?
5.) What does it mean to take refuge in The Buddha, The
Dhamma, and The Sangha and is there a ceremony to do
this?


Frequently Asked Questions
6.) What is our purpose in life? What is the purpose of our human
existence?
7.) Can I exercise the physical body and still attain Enlightenment?
8.) Is medicine and medical procedures for the body an attachment?
9.) What significance can I apply to dreams?
10.) Why is Enlightenment permanent?
11.) Why are donations of support for Teachers of Gotama Buddha’s
teachings so important?
- Continuation of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
- Generosity Leads to Enlightenment


Frequently Asked Questions
How to Determine If You Attained Enlightenment
1.) Never Stop Practicing The Teachings
2.) You will be fully practicing The Eight Fold Path which includes The Four
Noble Truths and The Five Precepts.
3.) When you have fully attained Enlightenment as an Arahant, you will have
eliminated all The Ten Fetters.
4.) You have cultivated a mind that is completely practicing The Brahma-
viharas.
5.) You will be fully practicing The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.
6.) You will know for yourself you have attained Enlightenment because you
will have eliminated 100% of discontentedness from the mind.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
The Five Hindrances &
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment


The Five Hindrances
Monks, there are these five hindrances.
What five?
The hindrance of sensual desire, the hindrance of ill will, the hindrance of
complacency, the hindrance of restlessness and worry, the hindrance of
doubt.
These are the five hindrances.
This Noble Eight Fold Path is to be developed for direct knowledge
(experience) of these five hindrances, for the full understanding of them, for
their complete destruction, for their abandoning.
(Reference: SN 45.177)


The Five Hindrances
•
The Five Hindrances have similarities to The Ten Fetters.
•
Through learning and practicing The Eight Fold Path while eliminating
The Ten Fetters, to include The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, will
eliminate The Five Hindrances.
•
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings oftentimes point to each other in direct or
indirect ways, as we are seeing with The Five Hindrances and The Ten Fetters.
•
Another example is The Three Universal Truths, The Four Noble Truths,
The Eight Fold Path and The Five Precepts are all interconnected.
•
If there are struggles or impediments on The Path to Enlightenment, it can
help to look at The Five Hindrances individually and to apply individual
solutions which can be applied to remove the hindrance (i.e. the fetter/taint)
and create progress on The Path to Enlightenment.


The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
1.) Mindfulness: Awareness of mind as described in The Eight Fold path as “Right Mindfulness”.
2.) Investigation: Dedicated examination, exploration, research, study, and questioning to learn
The Teachings.
3.) Energy: Effort, determination, ambition, initiative, motivation, vigor, and enthusiasm;
willingness to do something.
4.) Joy: Pleased and delighted not associated with any specific object; unconditioned gladness;
the Practitioner is not attaining it by craving/desire/attachment.
5.) Tranquility: Relaxed, steadiness, stability, peacefulness, and stillness of mind.
6.) Concentration: Mental alertness, attentiveness, the ability to give your attention or thought to a
single object or activity. “Singleness of mind” as described in The Eight Fold Path as “Right
Concentration”.
7.) Equanimity: Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult
situation; treating everyone impartially.


The Five Hindrances
1.) Sensual Desire: Pleasure of The Senses - Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Body, and
the Mind
Remedy: Elimination of Craving/Desire/Attachment with Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation and Generosity. Guarding The Doorways to Discontentedness.
2.) Ill Will: Anger, Hatred, Hostility, Bitterness, Aggression, Resentment, Frustration,
Irritation, Annoyance, etc.
Remedy: Loving-kindness Meditation and Practice of Loving-kindness in Daily Life
3.) Complacency: Dullness, Lethargy, Lack of Motivation (sloth and torpor)
Remedy: Enlightenment Factors of Investigation, Energy, and Joy


The Five Hindrances
4.) Restlessness and Worry: Confused, Distracted, Restless State of Mind & Worry of Your
Own Unskillful Conduct
Remedy: The Enlightenment Factors of Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity
(‘Singleness of Mind’ —-> Right Concentration)
5.) 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.
Remedy: Enlightenment Factor of Investigation - Through learning, reflecting, and practicing
The Teachings to acquire “wisdom” to develop confidence in The Buddha, The Teachings,
The Community, Your Teacher, and Your Own Development.
There are other hindrances as well, but these are the high-level categorization of those
identified as the most important to understand should one encounter them, you can identify
and eliminate them skillfully. The most obstructive hindrance is “Unknowing of True Reality”
(i.e. Ignorance)


Right Mindfulness
“Right Mindfulness” is keenly important to understanding, observing, and eliminating
The Five Hindrances.
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
The Five Hindrances are a “Mental Object”. You can become aware of The Five
Hindrances through how they are affecting the body, feelings, and condition of the
mind.
There are additional details on The Four Foundations of Mindfulness beyond what is
being shared in this introduction found in Volume 1 - Chapter 5.


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)
LIVE Guided Meditation & 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.


Getting to Know The Teacher
David Roylance is a dedicated Practitioner and Teacher of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings
who has been part of the Thai community since 2001. He visited Thailand for the first
time in 2002 and brought the Traditional Thai Healing Arts back to the United States of
America to share with people in the Western World.
His Traditional Thai Healing Arts centers, located in the Washington DC area, provided
traditional Thai healing arts to clients and educational opportunities to Students to
explore the Thai healing arts, Thai culture, and The Teachings of Gotama Buddha. David
is a published author with books on the topics of Traditional Thai Healing Arts and The
Path That Leads to Enlightenment.
David has taught Gotama Buddha’s Teachings since 2005 in the United States of
America. In 2015, he closed his businesses and relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand to be
closer to the Thai culture and the Thai Community of Buddhist Practitioners.
David shares Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with Household Practitioners and Ordained
Practitioners in Chiang Mai, Thailand and around the world through courses, retreats,
and special events providing guidance to help people attain Enlightenment - a peaceful,
calm, serene, and content mind with joy.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
(Chapter 3)


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
A Challenge to Understand
•
It is extremely challenging for an unEnlightened mind to fully understand
“What is Enlightenment”.
•
To fully and deeply understand Enlightenment, a being needs to actually
experience it. No matter what you understand about Enlightenment
today, that will gradually evolve as one develops their life practice.
•
The more you do understand the “ultimate goal”, the more likely you will
be to attain Enlightenment.
•
Ask questions and seek a detailed understanding so that you know more
about the “ultimate goal” so the mind will be more likely to attain
Enlightenment.


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
What is Enlightenment?
•
Enlightenment is a mental state attainable during life as a human/heavenly
being where the mind will be peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy -
permanently. The mind will have eliminated 100% of all discontentedness.
(The mind will be concentrated, steady, and unshakable.) (The being will have
escaped The Cycle of Rebirth - no longer being born into a new existence.) The
mind will be calm and relaxed yet attentive and alert. Also attainable at death.
•
A mind that is free of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality)
with the realization of non-self and dissolving of the ego.
(Practicing generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom.)
•
The Path to Enlightenment is a purification of the mind through training the
mind to eliminate the conditions that keep it in the unEnlightened mental state.
•
Enlightenment is not happiness or ultimate bliss. This describes the experience
of the Jhāna’s.


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
What are the advantages of Enlightenment?
•
The mind is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.
•
High degree of focus, concentration, memory, and clarity of mind.
•
No longer experiencing any discontent feelings such as sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom,
loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.
•
Deep wisdom with politeness, kindness, friendliness, and respect
towards all beings. Not causing harm in the world.
•
Personal and professional relationships conducted with ease.


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
How to attain Enlightenment?
Learn and implement these core Teachings with guidance:
•
• The Brahma-viharas
The Three Universal Truths
• •
The Four Noble Truths The Ten Fetters
•
The Eight Fold Path •
The Seven Factors of
Enlightenment
•
The Five Precepts
•
Extensive Meditation Training
Learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings with guidance from a Teacher to independently
observe the truth acquiring wisdom. There is no belief on The Path to Enlightenment.


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
What are the four (4) 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.


A Fully Perfectly Enlightened One
(A Buddha)
•
Attains Enlightenment through their own efforts without the guidance of Teachers.
•
Declare and share The Teachings that led to their own Enlightenment guiding countless
beings to Enlightenment during their lifetime.
•
Leaves their Teachings in a condition that countless others can attain Enlightenment
after their death.
•
Profound memory being able to recall countless details of their existing life and past
lives. A Buddha will have an excellent memory unlike other humans, their memory does
not fade and is not overwritten.
•
Can quickly determine the condition of the mind of another person then help them with
Teachings to eliminate the unwholesome qualities of the mind and cultivate wholesome
qualities of the mind.
•
A Buddha will have a deep practice of their own Teachings, leading by example as a
living, breathing, walking example of their Teachings.


Enlightenment:
What is Enlightenment?
Best way to know the mind is not Enlightened
•
The mind still experiences discontentedness.
•
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, melancholy, shyness,
displeased, uncomfortable, unsatisfied, etc.)
•
A craving/desire for others to know you are Enlightened. Arrogance and pride still exists,
therefore, the mind cannot be Enlightened. If they tell you that they are Enlightened, they are
not yet Enlightened. “I am Enlightened”.
•
Complacency; lack of motivation, initiative, enthusiasm, or willingness to do something.


The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
The Words of The Buddha
It is, Monks, when The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are developed and
cultivated in this way that they fulfill true wisdom and liberation.
————-
When the mind becomes sluggish, this is the time to practice the
Enlightenment factors of Investigation, Energy, and Joy.
When the mind is excited, this is the time to practice the Enlightenment
factors of Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity.
The Enlightenment factor of Mindfulness is always useful.


The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
1.) Mindfulness: Awareness of mind as described in The Eight Fold Path as “Right Mindfulness”.
2.) Investigation: Dedicated examination, exploration, research, study, and questioning to learn
The Teachings.
3.) Energy: Effort, determination, ambition, initiative, motivation, vigor, and enthusiasm; willingness
to do something.
4.) Joy: Joy associated with no object; unconditioned gladness; the Practitioner is not attaining it
by craving/desire/attachment.
5.) Tranquility: Relaxed, steadiness, stability, peacefulness, and stillness of mind.
6.) Concentration: Mental alertness, attentiveness, the ability to give your attention or thought to a
single object or activity. “Singleness of mind” as described in The Eight Fold Path as “Right
Concentration”.
7.) Equanimity: Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult
situation; treating everyone impartially.


What Are The Advantages
of Enlightenment?
1.) The mind is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.
2.) High degree of focus, concentration, memory, and clarity of mind.
3.) No longer experiencing any discontent feelings such as sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness,
shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.
4.) Deep wisdom with politeness, kindness, friendliness, and respect towards all
beings. Not causing harm in the world.
5.) Personal and professional relationships conducted with ease.
6.) One is incapable of decline; Enlightenment is a permanent mental state.


What Are The Advantages
of Enlightenment?
7.) The mind is always in a good mood and never in a bad mood.
8.) All days are a good day, there is never a bad day.
9.) The mind nor the body is tired or exhausted; the mind experiences
sleepiness but not tiredness or exhaustion.
10.) It is impossible for the mind to be shaken up; it is stable, steady, and
unshakable - permanently.
11.) Life is no longer a struggle or difficult. You will be living the ideal life.


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Welcome
Retreat Schedule and Plan
Open Discussion


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Meditation Instruction & Teachings
9:00AM: Meditation
9:30AM: Teachings & Discussion
12:30PM: Lunch & Free Time


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Lunch, Excursions, Dinner, & Free Time
12:30PM - 6:30PM
Monday - Thursday


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Excursions
Sunday: Sunday Night Walking Market
Monday: Sankampang Hot Springs
Tuesday: Rantong Elephant Sanctuary
Wednesday: Dekdee Children’s Orphanage
Thursday: Huay Tung Tao Lake/Reservoir/Park


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Meditation Instruction & Teachings
6:30PM: Meditation
7:00PM: Teachings & Discussion
8:30PM: Free Time


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Friday
Finished (around) 5:00PM
(The Retreat is Impermanent)
(Our Time Together is Impermanent)


Retreat Schedule and Plan
buddhadailywisdom.com/chiangmai-meditation-retreat2
Bookmark this URL for
the entire retreat schedule and plan.


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Monday
- LEARN Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Seated)
- The Four Noble Truths: Establishing Right View
- Transforming The Three Poisons: Craving, Anger, and Ignorance
- Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Seated, Lying, or Standing)
- The Eight Fold Path: The Path for All Humans to Enlightenment
Tuesday
- LEARN Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Walking)
- Understanding & Experiencing the Jhānas: The Light Bulb is Flickering
- Understanding & Experiencing The Four Stages of Enlightenment: The
Complete End of Discontentedness
- Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Walking)
- Eliminating The Pollution of Personal Existence View: Getting “The Self” Out of
The Way


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Wednesday
- LEARN Meditation to Realize Non-self (Seated)
- Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt: Mastering Confidence and Development of Wisdom
- Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior and Observances: Mastering Moral Conduct
and Elimination of Superstition
- Meditation to Realize Non-self (Seated, Lying, or Standing)
- Eliminating The Pollution of Sensual Desire and Ill Will: Laying Down the Burden and
Transforming Anger
Thursday
- LEARN Loving-kindness Meditation (Seated)
- Eliminating The Pollution of Desire for Form and Formless: Eradicating The Craving for
Existence and The Fear of Death
- Eliminating The Pollution of Conceit: Cultivating Humbleness to Dissolve the Ego
- Loving-kindness Meditation (Seated, Lying, or Standing)
- Eliminating The Pollution of Restlessness: Peacefulness and Calmness of Mind to Last a
Lifetime


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Friday
- LEARN Meditation to Eliminate Sexual Cravings (Seated)
- Discontentedness and Rebirth: Dependent Origination as The
Highest Law of Nature
- Eliminating The Pollution of Ignorance: Mastering The
Development of Wisdom to Fully Transform The Mind and Attain
Enlightenment
- Meditation to Eliminate Sexual Cravings (Seated, Lying, or
Standing)
- How to Determine If You Have Attained Enlightenment?
- Integrating The Teachings into Your Life & Continued Support on
The Path to Enlightenment
- Closing Group Discussion with Questions & Answers


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Acquire these books
BuddhaDailyWisdom.com/freebuddhabooks


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Restoration of The Buddha’s Teachings
The Path to Enlightenment
An Entire Species of Enlightened Beings
“Heaven on Earth”
What we do matters…
Let’s make the most of this retreat.


Retreat Schedule and Plan
Sunday Night Walking Market


Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
Dedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to attain Enlightenment.
Day 1
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)
(Chapter 11)


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation Basics
•
Meditation is a technique to actively train the mind during dedicated,
independent, purposeful training sessions to eliminate unwholesome qualities
of the mind and/or cultivate wholesome qualities of the mind in the positions
of seated, lying, standing, or walking.
•
Meditation is “not" exercising, walking the dog, gardening, driving, etc.
•
Meditation Teacher
•
Meditation Positions
•
Seated, Lying, Standing, and Walking


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Starting and Conducting Meditation
•
The Mind is The Boss and The Body is The Employee
•
Setup Mindfulness in Front of You
•
Time, Frequency, and Schedule of Meditation
•
Sleepiness During Meditation
•
Physical Sensations During Meditation
•
Visual Stimulation During Meditation
•
Meditation with External Stimulus


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
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
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
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
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
The Words of The Buddha
•
“a pot without a stand is easy to tip over”
Mindfulness of Breathing Leads Exclusively to Enlightenment
Monks, there is one thing that, when develop and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to
freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to
Enlightenment, to NIbbana.
What is that one thing?
Mindfulness of breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation)
This is that one thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to
freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to
Enlightenment, to NIbbana.


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Leads exclusively to liberation, to freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace,
to direct knowledge (experience), to Enlightenment, to NIbbana.
•
Focus on the breath - (Sound or Sensation of Air)
•
As thoughts arise, “cut them off and let them go” bringing the mind back to the
breath.
•
The goal is not to eliminate thoughts, but to train the mind to easily “let them” go.
•
Train the mind to be aware when its not in the present moment (on the
breath), develop Right Mindfulness (awareness of mind “The Four
Foundations of Mindfulness”), develop Right Concentration (singleness of
mind), train the mind to “let go” of the thoughts to eliminate craving/desire/
attachment.


LEARN
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Never Give Up
Meditate, Monks, do not be complacent,
lest you regret it later.
This is my instruction to you.


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.
The Four Noble Truths:
Establishing Right View
(Chapter 4)


The Four Noble Truths:
Establishing 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, melancholy, shyness,
displeased, uncomfortable, unsatisfied, etc.)
•
Non-Self: There is no permanent “self”.


The Four Noble Truths:
Establishing 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)


The Four Noble Truths:
Establishing 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.


The Four Noble Truths:
Establishing Right View


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


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.
The Eight Fold Path:
The Path for All Humans
to Enlightenment
(Chapter 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, melancholy, 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 2
Morning


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


LEARN
Walking Meditation
•
Walking Meditation is Breathing Mindfulness Meditation with the same goals.
•
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”
•
Stand Alone, prior to other positions of meditation, or at anytime during other
meditation sessions.
•
Focus and fixate the eyes 1 meter in front of you.
•
Hands and arms front, side, or behind.
•
Flat, Transfer, Flat, Transfer - Counterclockwise in a circular direction


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.
Understanding and
Experiencing The Four Stages
of Enlightenment: The Complete
End of Discontentedness


Understanding and Experiencing The
Four Stages of Enlightenment: The
Complete End of Discontentedness
What Are The Four Stages of Enlightenment?
•
Four stages the mind progresses through, after the Jhānas, on its way to
Enlightenment with the fourth Stage of Enlightenment actually being
Enlightenment.
•
A personal growth plan that will guide you in your development on
The Path to Enlightenment resulting in, the complete end of discontentedness.
•
The goal and objective to progress towards and aspire to attain in this lifetime
where the mind will experience increasing levels of peacefulness, calmness,
serenity, and contentedness with joy.
•
The fourth Stage of Enlightenment, which is Enlightenment, is a permanent mental
state that can be attained in this life or at death.
•
Once the mind enters the first Stage of Enlightenment, it will not regress.


Understanding and Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment:
The Complete End of Discontentedness


Understanding and Experiencing
The Four Stages of Enlightenment:
The Complete End of Discontentedness
What are the four (4) 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.


The Four Stages of Enlightenment
Benefits of Having Attained The First Stage of Enlightenment as a Stream-Enterer
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.


The Four Stages of Enlightenment
Benefits of Having Attained The Second Stage of Enlightenment as a
Once Returner (All the benefits as the first Stage of Enlightenment and…)
1.) One’s discontentedness is even more limited, significantly reduced.
2.) Rebirth into the human realm with Enlightenment in the next life.


The Four Stages of Enlightenment
Benefits of Having Attained The Third Stage of Enlightenment as a
Non-Returner (All the benefits as the second Stage of Enlightenment and…)
1.) One’s discontentedness is nearly non-existent.
2.) Rebirth into the heavenly realm with Enlightenment in the next life.
(NOTE: Remain determined, dedicated, and diligent as complacency can
potential set in and conceit can arise at the third Stage of Enlightenment.)


The Four Stages of Enlightenment
Benefits of Having Attained The Fourth Stage of Enlightenment as an Arahant
(All the benefits as the third Stage of Enlightenment and…)
1.) One’s discontentedness has been completely eliminated. The mind is peaceful, calm, serene,
and content with joy - permanently. The mind and life is completely at ease and effortless.
2.) There is no rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth. What’s next, if anything, is an undeclared Teaching.


A Fully Perfectly Enlightened One
(A Buddha)
•
Attains Enlightenment through their own efforts without the guidance of Teachers.
•
Declare and share The Teachings that led to their own Enlightenment guiding countless
beings to Enlightenment during their lifetime.
•
Leaves their Teachings in a condition that countless others can attain Enlightenment
after their death.
•
Profound memory being able to recall countless details of their existing life and past
lives. A Buddha will have an excellent memory unlike other humans, their memory does
not fade and is not overwritten.
•
Can quickly determine the condition of the mind of another person then help them with
Teachings to eliminate the unwholesome qualities of the mind and cultivate wholesome
qualities of the mind.
•
A Buddha will have a deep practice of their own Teachings, leading by example as a
living, breathing, walking example of their Teachings.


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


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


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 3
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.