LET US SHARE THE DHAMMA AND PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
Bhikkhu Seelananda is more than happy to share the Dhamma with you. You know, Dhamma means the teaching of the Buddha who lived more than 26 centuries ago. His teaching is wonderful, really really nice; clear and meaningful but subtle and accurate. If one would practice his teaching, as he said it, definitely one can gain happiness, contentment, and the inner peace within seven days by de-structing all kinds of defilements.That is the attainment of Enlightenment. There is a path for this. The Path is calld The Eightfold Path. It is a Middle Path and being middle, one can understand better. This is how the Buddha realized the Dhamma and became the Buddha, the Perfect One in the world.
The Buddha and Mind Culture
The Buddha is the greastest psychologist ever born on earth. His teaching on mind is incomparable with that of modern psychology. Buddhist teaching on mind is not just a psychology but an analysis of the mind in all its aspects. The Buddha said in the Dhammapada," Mind is the forerunner of all mental states. Mind is chief, mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with a wicked mind, suffering follows one, as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox". Then again, to show the opposite of this, the Buddha said, "If one speaks or acts with a pure mind becasue of this, happiness follows one, even as one's shadow which never leaves".
On another occasion he said, "The whole world is led by mind". By nature, mind travels far, wandering alone, bodiless, lying in a cave. Those who subdue this mind are freed from the bond of Mara, the Death.
Mind (citta) is centered in the heart and extends into all the live molecules of our body. Mind is extremely subtle. Every action of mind reacts. Mind normally travels a very zig-zag path (monkey-mind). Each living being is a unit of mind. Man is composed of mind and matter. The mind beats at the speed of about 3,000,000,000,000 beats during a flash of lightning, this rate of repetition is regular and constant.
The Buddha fond a way to develop and cultivate mind. As he said, mind becomes currupt because of one's emotional actions. If one could change and tame one's mind with mindfulness and wisdom one can completely free one's mind from all defilements and attain the highest Bliss of Nibbana. Buddhist meditaion is taught for this purpose. That is both Samatha and Vipassana (Calmness and Insight).
Mindfulness is the way to peace, happiness and Nibbana
"O monks,when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it fulfills the four foundations of mindfulness. When the four foundations of mindfulness are developed and cultivated they fulfill the seven factors of enlightenment. When the seven factors of enlightenment are developed and cultivated they fulfill knowledge and deliverance" That is how the Buddha emphasized the significance of practicing and developing mindfulness.
In the Discourse of the foundation of mindfulness, the Buddha admonishing us recommended some places and a posture to practice mindfulness of breathing. Regarding this, the Buddha said, " Go to a wood, foot of a tree or to and empty house, and then sit crossed legged". Thereafter, one has to give attention and observe breath. "Mindfully breathing in, mindfully breathing out"... That is how one has to practice meditaion for the traquilzing of mind as well as seeing through (samatha and vipassana).
How to purify your mind
These five are like the five kinds of corruptions in gold, by which the gold is neither malleable nor wieldly or radiant, but brittle and not properly fit for any work. The corruptions are: Iron, copper, tin, lead and silver. Like the corruptions in the gold are to be burnt out by different methods, so are the hindrances of the mind. Therefore, one has to strive on deligently and vigilantly for the success of practicing and developing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the way to peace, happiness and Nibbana.
The Maha Satipatthana Sutta,( Great Foundations of Mindfulness) is the Buddha's technique for the development and cultivation of mind. In this discourse the Buddha pointed out different methods of meditaions like, contemplation on breathing, postures, clear comprehension of actions, repulsiveness of the body, four elements, charnel ground corpose, for the contemplation on body and then contemplation on feelings, contemplation on consciousness, and contemplation on mental phenomena.In the end of this discourse, the Buddha assuredly says," Indeed, O monks,should any person practice and develop the 'Four Foundations of Mindfulness' for seven days by him one of the two fruitions is proper tobe expected: Arahantship here and now, or in the event of any residue being present, the State of Non-returner".Therefore, as the Buddha himself said, let us all strive on deligently to maintain mindfulness while we are walking, standing, sitting lying down, and again, in looking at and looking away from, in wearing cothes and ornaments, taking any tools like a bowl, cup, plate, folk, spoon, hammer,key,broom, mop, or the steering wheel etc. And, while eating, drinking, tasting, and even while using rest rooms. In brief, let us be mindful of all our activities. May we all attain enlightenment !Bhavatu Sabba Mangalammmmmmmmmmmm !Bhavatu Sabba Mangalammmmmmmmmmmm !Bhavatu Sabba Mangalammmmmmmmmmmm !Now, let us meditate for a little while
Please be seated on your cushion/chair/folded blanket. Now, follow these simple instructions below:
1. Sit comfortably (crossed legged if possible), otherwise as you like.
2.Hold the body erect, hands resting in lap, right on left, thumb tips touching.
3. Gently close your eyes, and direct full attention to the base of your nostrils, observing your breath. (in... out..., in... out.. with a balanced mind) Continue this as long as you can.
If you have any questions on this practice, do not hesitate to write to me
