So come to the meditation with the right attitude. You give before you get, and whatever you get, you’re going to give that away, too, but it’s like a trade. Keep trading up and you finally get to the point where there’s no further “up.” In other words, you’ve reached the ultimate happiness, which the Buddha said is also the ultimate emptiness. It’s empty of disturbance, empty of defilement, but it’s full of well-being. There is that potential in the mind, but we’re not going to know it until we learn how to give up the things that hold us back.

Luang Pu Dune, one of the masters of the forest, was visiting Ajaan Suwat one time, and when he left, he made a comment that “The world is all about things that come in pairs, but the dhamma is one thing clear through.” He didn’t say what that one thing was, but the attitude of generosity is a good candidate.

This article was adapted from a talk given on September 29, 2024, and originally appeared on www.dhammatalks.org
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A Buddhist Perspective On Pain Stress And Illness
By Bhikkhu Sumedha

This work, which deals with the inherent nature of mind during pain and chronic illnesses and the Buddhist method of managing it, is based on personal experiences with Ven. Sumedha. It is dedicated to his memory, as the spiritual patron of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, and for his invaluable services for over 30 years in Sri Lanka as a Buddhist monk.

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Free Buddha Dharma ebook

A Buddhist Perspective On Pain Stress And Illness
By Bhikkhu Sumedha

This work, which deals with the inherent nature of mind during pain and chronic illnesses and the Buddhist method of managing it, is based on personal experiences with Ven. Sumedha. It is dedicated to his memory, as the spiritual patron of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, and for his invaluable services for over 30 years in Sri Lanka as a Buddhist monk.

Free download here:

https://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN370.pdf
===

Dhammapada Verse 398
Dve Brahmana Vatthu

Chetva naddhim varattanca
sandanam sahanukkamam
ukkhittapaligham buddham
tamaham brumi brahamanam.

Verse 398: Him I call a brahmana, who has cut the strap (of ill will), the thong (of craving) and the cord (of wrong views together with latent defilements), who has lifted the bar that fastens the door (of ignorance), and who knows the Truth.

The Story of Two Brahmins

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (398) of this book, with reference to two brahmins.

Once there lived in Savatthi two brahmins, each of whom owned a bullock. Each claimed that his bullock was better and stronger. At last, they agreed to put their animals to a test. So they went to the bank of the Aciravati River and there they filled up a cart with sand. One after the other, the bullocks pulled the cart, but they only pulled in vain, because the cart, did not move and only the ropes broke off. The bhikkhus seeing this reported to the Buddha and the Buddha said to them, "Bhikkhus! It is easy to break off the straps which you can see with your eyes; anyone can break them or cut them. But my sons, a bhikkhu should cut the strap of ill will and the thong of craving which are within you and which bind you."
Verse 398: Him I call a brahmana, who has cut the strap (of ill will), the thong (of craving) and the cord (of wrong views together with latent defilements), who has lifted the bar that fastens the door (of ignorance), and who knows the Truth.

At the end of the discourse five hundred bhikkhus attained arahatship.


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Big Buddha Bangkok

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“When an ethical person with trusting heart gives a proper gift to unethical persons, trusting in the ample fruit of deeds, that offering is purified by the giver.

When an unethical and untrusting person, gives an improper gift to ethical persons, not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds, that offering is purified by the receivers.

When an unethical and untrusting person, gives an improper gift to unethical persons, not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds, I declare that gift is not very fruitful.

When an ethical person with trusting heart gives a proper gift to ethical persons, trusting in the ample fruit of deeds, I declare that gift is abundantly fruitful.

But when a passionless one gives to the passionless a proper gift with trusting heart, trusting in the ample fruit of deeds, that’s truly the best of material gifts.”

Partial excerpts from MN 142 : Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta

Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suea, Krabi, Thailand.

Dhammapada Verse 399
Akkosakabharadvaja Vatthu

Akkosam vadhabandhanca
aduttho yo titikkhati
khantibalam balanikam
tamaham brumi brahmanam.

Verse 399: Him I call a brahmana, who, without anger endures abuse, beating and being bound, and to whom the strength of patience is like the strength of an army.

The Story of the Abusive Brahmin Brothers

While residing at the Veluvana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (399) of this book, with reference to the abusive Bharadvaja brothers.

Once there was a brahmin, whose wife was in the habit of blurting out a string of words whenever she sneezed or when something or someone touched her unawares. One day, the brahmin invited some of his friends to a meal and suddenly she blurted out some words. Since she was a Sotapanna, the words "Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammsambhuddassa" automatically came out of her mouth. These words of veneration to the Buddha were very much disliked by her husband, the brahmin. So, in anger, he went to the Buddha hoping to put some challenging questions to the Buddha. His first question was, "What do we have to kill to be able to live happily and peacefully?" and his second question was, "Killing of what dhamma do you approve of?" To these questions, the Buddha replied, " O brahmin, to be able to live happily and peacefully, one will have to kill ill will (dosa). Killing one's ill will is liked and praised by the Buddhas and the arahats." After hearing the Buddha, the brahmin was so impressed and satisfied with the answer that he asked to be permitted to enter the Order. Accordingly, he entered the Order and later became an arahat.

This brahmin had a brother who was very notorious for his abusive words and was known as Akkosaka Bharadvaja, the abusive Bharadvaja. When Akkosaka Bharadvaja heard that his brother had joined the Order of the bhikkhus, he was furious. He went straight away to the monastery and abused the Buddha. The Buddha in his turn asked, "O brahmin, let us suppose you offered some food to some guests and they left the house without taking the food. Since the guests did not accept your food, to whom would that food belong?" To this question the brahmin answered that the food would be his. On receiving that answer, the Buddha said, "In the same way, O brahmin, since I do not accept your abuse, the abuse would only go back to you." Akkosaka Bharadvaja instantly realized the sagacity of those words and he felt a great respect for the Buddha. He also entered the Order and in due course became an arahat.

After Akkosaka Bharadvaja had entered the Order, his two younger brothers also came to see the Buddha with the same intention of abusing the Buddha. They too were made to see the light by the Buddha and they also, in their turn, entered the Order. Eventually, both of them became arahats.

One evening, at the congregation of the bhikkhus, the bhikkhus said to the Buddha, "O how wonderful and how great are the virtues of the Buddha! The four brahmin brothers came here to abuse the Buddha; instead of arguing with them, he made them see the light, and as a result, the Buddha has become a refuge to them." To them, the Buddha replied, "Bhikkhus! Because I am patient and forbearing, and do no wrong to those who do me wrong, I have become a refuge to many."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 399: Him I call a brahmana, who, without anger endures abuse, beating and being bound, and to whom the strength of patience is like the strength of an army.

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Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suea, Krabi, Thailand.

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Things as They Are: A Collection of Talks on the Training of the Mind
By Venerable Ācariya Mahā Boowa, and translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu

These talks were originally given to the monks at Venerable Ācariya Mahā Boowa’s monastery in Thailand. They deal in part with issues particular to Buddhist monks, but they also contain much that is of more general interest. Since the monks being addressed were at different stages in their practice, each talk deals with issues on a variety of levels. Thus there should be something of use for every reader interested in the training of the mind.

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"How should we act, Lord, respecting the body of the Tathagata?"

"Do not hinder yourselves, Ananda, to honor the body of the Tathagata... At a crossroads also a stupa should be raised for the Tathagata. And whosoever shall bring to that place garlands or incense or sandalpaste, or pay reverence, and whose mind becomes calm there — it will be to his well being and happiness for a long time."

Partial excerpt from DN 16 : Maha-parinibbana Sutta

Dhammapada Verse 400
Sariputtatthera Vatthu

Akkodhanam vatavantam
silavantam anussadam
dantam antimasariram1
tamaham brumi brahmanam.

Verse 400: Him I call a brahmana, who is free from anger, who practises austerity, who is virtuous and free from craving, who is controlled in his senses and for whom this body (i.e., existence) is the very last.

1. antimasariram: lit., one who has the last body. This is his last body because he will not be reborn; he is an arahat.

The Story of Thera Sariputta

While residing at the Veluvana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (400) of this book, with reference to the Venerable Sariputta.

While the Buddha was in residence at the Veluvana monastery, the Venerable Sariputta, accompanied by five hundred bhikkhus, entered Nalaka Village and stood at the door of the house of his own mother for alms-food. His mother invited them into the house. But while she was offering food to her son she said, "O you consumer of left-overs, you who have abandoned eighty crores to become a bhikkhu, you have ruined us." Then, she offered alms-food to the other bhikkhus and said to them rudely, "You all have used my son as your attendant; now eat your food." The Venerable Sariputta said nothing in reply but he just meekly took his bowl and came back to the monastery. Back at the monastery, the bhikkhus told the Buddha how the Venerable Sariputta had patiently borne the scolding and abuses of his mother. To them, the Buddha said that arahats never get angry, they never lose their temper.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 400: Him I call a brahmana, who is free from anger, who practises austerity, who is virtuous and free from craving, who is controlled in his senses and for whom this body (i.e., existence) is the very last.

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If you find an alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, overcoming all adversities, wander with them, joyful and mindful.

If you find no alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

Partial excepts from Snp 1.3 : Khaggavisāṇasutta