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The Debate of King Milinda
By Bhikkhu Pesala

The Milinda Panha is, with good reason, a famous work of Buddhist literature, probably compiled in the first century B.C. It presents Buddhist doctrine in a very attractive and memorable form as a dialogue between a Bactrian Greek king, Milinda, who plays the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ and a Buddhist sage, Nàgasena. The topics covered include most of those questions commonly asked by Westerners such as “If there is no soul, what is it that is reborn?” and “If there is no soul, who is talking to you now?”
This abridgement provides a concise presentation of this masterpiece of Buddhist literature. The introduction outlines the historical background against which the dialogues took place, indicating the meeting of two great cultures, that of ancient Greece and the Buddhism of the Indus valley, which was a legacy of the great Emperor Asoka.

Free download available:
https://static.sariputta.com/pdf/tipitaka/741/milindapdf.pdf
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Anapanasati Mindfulness With Breathing
By Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Part 2 of 2:

CITTA: WORKING CORRECTLY

Now we come to the citta. You probably knew by yourselves and have been aware for some time of its importance. If not, then our studies here have shown you how significant the citta (mind- heart) is. On the other hand, it is much the same as the kaya and vedana. If the citta is standing or existing in the wrong way problems will arise, dukkha will occur.

At a minimum, there are three things we must understand about the mind. Depending on the function which it is performing, we can call it by three different names. When it thinks we call it "citta." For being aware, feeling, experiencing, and knowing we say "mano." The basic function of being conscious at the sense doors in order to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and cognize is called "vinnana." We focus on the function the mind performs and then name it accordingly: for thinking we name it citta, for knowing we name it mano, and for the basic sensory consciousness we name it vinnana.

When the citta performs correctly there are good results but it must be under control for it to work correctly. If we cannot control it, it will not be correct. When it it is not correct the whole thing goes to the dogs; nothing will be left in the world. We can say that the world exists because we have citta. If we did not have citta, it would be as if there was no world. If we can keep the mind under control and dwelling in correctness, we will receive the fruit of calmness, quiet, and peace. Understanding the citta enough to keep it under control is the most excellent knowledge for us human be- ings to discover and have. You ought to be especially interested in this.


DHAMMA: TWO BASIC FACTS

Lastly, we come to Dhamma- or Truth. In all things, both those that are us and those that are involved with us, there is Truth that we must know. If we do not know such Truth, or understand it incorrectly, our involvement with things, with life, will be incorrect. This will cause problems and will lead to dukkha. The whole of such knowledge can be summarized within two subjects: compounded things (sankhara, concoctions) which have causes and conditions; and their opposite, the non-compounded thing. You might study these subjects through the metaphysical terms "phenomenal" and "noumenal." Noumenal is the opposite of phenomenal in principle, they are a pair. If something is phenomenal, it is a compounded thing and must exhibit the truth of impermanence (aniccam). If a thing is noumenal, it is a non-compounded thing and it is not aniccam. Rather, it is niccam (permanent). Therefore, we study the aniccam of all things until we know the Truth of impermanence well. Then we do not attach to anything. The mind which is not attached to anything proceeds to realize that thing which is permanent (niccam), beyond impermanence, namely, the noumenon nibbana. That we understand these two realities - the conditioned and the unconditioned - is of the utmost importance. It is the most important principle of all. The practice of the Dhamma tetrad of Anapanasati leads to knowing these two facts.

That is the essence of our study into these four areas, and the knowledges and benefits such study brings. This is the essence of Anapanasati.

THE FOUR COMRADE DHAMMAS

There are further benefits, however, from practicing Anapanasati. We also will get what I like to call the "Four Comrade Dhammas," I came up with this name myself in order to discuss them more easily. The four comrade dhammas are sati, panna, sampajanna, and samadhi. You will recall from the first lecture that while we live within this world the four comrade dhammas will enable us to subdue all threats. With them we can get rid of dukkha. Whether inside or outside the monastery, we must use these four comrades to live. First, we have sati (reflective awareness mindfulness). When a sense object makes contact, sati is there and brings panna (wisdom) to the experience.

Once it arrives, panna transforms into sampajanna (wisdom-in-action), the specific application of wisdom required by the situation. Then, samadhi's power and strength are added to sampajanna. With them we are able to conquer every kind of object that comes in through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. The four comrade dhammas are unsurpassed guardians. They watch over and protect us just like God. If we practice Anapanasati we will acquire the four comrade dhammas.
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Part 1 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/dhammapadas/2276


Part 2 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/wordsofbuddha/3298

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Dhammapada Verse 387
Anandatthera Vatthu

Diva tapati adicco
ratti mabhati candima
sannaddho khattiyo tapati
jhayi tapati brahmano
atha sabbamahorattim
buddho tapati tejasa.

Verse 387: By day shines the sun; by night shines the moon; in regalia shines the king; in meditation shines the arahat; but the Buddha in his glory shines at all times, by day and by night.

The Story of Thera Ananda

While residing at the Pubbarama monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (387) of this book, with reference to the Venerable Ananda.

It was the full moon day of the seventh month (Assayuja) when King Pasenadi of Kosala came to visit the Buddha. The king was then resplendent in his full royal regalia. At that time, Thera Kaludayi was also present in the same room sitting at the edge of the congregation. He was in deep mental absorption (jhana), his body bright and golden. In the sky, the Venerable Ananda noticed that the sun was setting and the moon was just coming out, both the sun and the moon radiating rays of light.

The Venerable Ananda looked at the shining splendour of the king, of the thera, and of the sun and the moon. Finally, the Venerable Ananda looked at the Buddha and he suddenly perceived that the light that was then radiating from the Buddha far surpassed the light shining from the others. Seeing the Buddha in his glory and splendour, the Venerable Ananda immediately approached the Buddha and burst forth, "O Venerable Sir! The light that shines forth from your noble body far surpasses the light from the king, the light from the thera, the light from the sun and the light from the moon."

To him the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 387: By day shines the sun; by night shines the moon; in regalia shines the king; in meditation shines the arahat; but the Buddha in his glory shines at all times, by day and by night.

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Shwedagon Zedi Daw, The Shwedagon Golden Dagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar.

Buddha Point or Big Buddha Dordenma, made of bronze and gilded in gold, Kuenselphodrang palace, Thimphu, Bhutan.

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Not for Sure: Two Dhamma Talks
By Ajahn Chah, translated from the Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Two Dhamma talks by Ajahn Chah "Supposition and Release" and "Still Flowing Water".

Free download available:
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/not_for_sure.pdf

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Dhammapada Verse 388
Annatarabrahmana Pabbajita Vatthu

Bahitapapoti brahmano
samacariya1 "samano" ti vuccati
pabbajayamattano malam
tasma "pabbajito2" ti vuccati.

Verse 388: Because he has discarded evil he is called a 'brahmana'; because he lives calmly he is called a 'samana'; and because he gets rid of his impurities he is called a 'pabbajita'.

1. samacariya: lit., living calmly, i.e., practising for eradication of moral defilements.

2. pabbajita: one who leaves the household life for the homeless life of a recluse; in Buddhism it means one who has given up the impurities of the household life to become a bhikkhu.

The Story of a Brahmin Recluse

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (388) of this book, with reference to a brahmin ascetic.

Once there was a brahmin ascetic in Savatthi. One day, it occurred to him that the Buddha called his disciples pabbajita bhikkhus and since he also was a recluse, he should also be called a pabbajita. So he went to the Buddha and posed the question why he should not be called a pabbajita. The Buddha's answer to him was this: "Just because one is a recluse one does not automatically become a pabbajita; a pabbajita must have other qualifications also."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 388: Because he has discarded evil he is called a 'brahmana'; because he lives calmly he is called a 'samana'; and because he gets rid of his impurities he is called a 'pabbajita'.

At the end of the discourse the brahmin attained Sotapatti Fruition.


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Dhammapada Verses 389 and 390
Sariputtatthera Vatthu

Na brahmanassa pahareyya
nassa muncetha brahmano
dhi brahmanassa hantaram
tato dhi yassa muncati.

Na brahmanasse' tadakinci seyyo
yada nisedho manaso piyehi
yato yato himsamano nivattati
tato tato sammatimeva dukkham.

Verse 389: One should not strike a brahmana; a brahmana should not get angry with his assailant; it is shameful to strike a brahmana; it is more shameful to get angry with one's assailant.

Verse 390: For a brahmana there is no benefit at all if he does not restrain from anger to which his mind is prone. Inasmuch as one desists from the intention to harm, to that extent dukkha ceases.

The Story of Thera Sariputta

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (389) and (390) of this book, with reference to the Venerable Sariputta.

The Venerable Sariputta was often praised by many people for his patience and forbearance. His pupils usually said of him thus: "Our teacher is a man of great patience and extreme endurance. If he is abused or even beaten by others, he does not lose his temper but remains calm and composed." As this was often said of the Venerable Sariputta, a brahmin holding wrong views declared to the admirers of Sariputta that he would provoke the Venerable Sariputta into anger. At that moment, the Venerable Sariputta, who was on his alms-round, appeared on the scene; the brahmin went after him and hit him hard on his back with his hand. The thera did not even look round to see who was the person that attacked him, but proceeded on his way as if nothing had happened. Seeing the magnanimity and great fortitude of the noble thera, the brahmin was very much shaken. He got down on his knees at the feet of the Venerable Sariputta, admitted that he had wrongfully hit the thera, and asked for pardon. The brahmin then continued, "Venerable Sir, should you forgive me, kindly come to my house for alms-food."

In the evening, other bhikkhus reported to the Buddha that the Venerable Sariputta had gone for alms-food to the house of a brahmin who had beaten him. Further, they observed that the brahmin was sure to get bolder and he would soon be assaulting other bhikkhus also. To those bhikkhus, the Buddha replied, "Bhikkhus, a true brahmana does not beat another true brahmana; only an ordinary man or an ordinary brahmin would beat an arahat in anger and ill will. This ill will should be eradicated by Anagami Magga."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 389: One should not strike a brahmana; a brahmana should not get angry with his assailant; it is shameful to strike a brahmana; it is more shameful to get angry with one's assailant.

Verse 390: For a brahmana there is no benefit at all if he does not restrain from anger to which his mind is prone. Inasmuch as one desists from the intention to harm, to that extent dukkha ceases.

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Free Buddhism Dharma ebook

The Gentle Way of Buddhist Meditation
by Godwin Samararatne

Trannoscripts of teachings during meditation retreats by Godwin Samararatne in Hong Kong.

Free download available:

https://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN357.pdf
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Free Buddhism Dharma ebook

The Gentle Way of Buddhist Meditation
by Godwin Samararatne

Trannoscripts of teachings during meditation retreats by Godwin Samararatne in Hong Kong.

Free download available:

https://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN357.pdf
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