Ti-Ratana Meditation Retreat by Bhante Dr. Chandima @BMSM Samadhi Vihara, Shah Alam, Malaysia (October 31, 2024)

 

Anussati? Recollection

Sarati? Remember

Anussarati? Remember the manner in which the 24 great qualities were presented.

Significance of Ti-Ratana Meditation

(I) The Dhammapada (Verses 296, 297, and 298) mention that the Buddha's disciples who consistently practice the recollection of the Triple Gem 'ever awaken happily

-Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti sadā Gotamasāvakā,
Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca niccaṁ Buddhagatā sati.
those who day and night constantly have recollection/mindfulness of the Buddha.

(Dhammapada 296)

-Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti sadā Gotamasāvakā,
Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca niccaṁ Dhammagatā sati.
those who day and night constantly have recollection/mindfulness of the Dhamma.

(Dhammapada 297)

-Suppabuddhaṁ pabujjhanti sadā Gotamasāvakā,
Gotama’s disciples always awake to a good wakening,

yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca niccaṁ Saṅghagatā sati.
those who day and night constantly have recollection/mindfulness of the Saṅgha.

(Dhammapada 298)

(II) How can one practice Ti-Ratana Meditation? This requires some planning, as outlined in the (Uposatha Sutta AN 3.70) . One can choose to focus on one of the Triple Gems, as they all serve the same purpose.

A corrupt mind is cleaned by applying an approach. And how is a corrupt mind cleaned by applying an approach?

It’s when a noble disciple recollects the the Blessed One: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of deities and humans, awakened, blessed.’ As they recollect the Blessed One, their mind becomes clear, gladness arises, and mental corruptions (impurities) are given up. It’s just like cleaning a dirty head by applying an approach.

Kathañca, visākhe, ariyuposatho hoti? Upakkiliṭṭhassa, visākhe, cittassa upakkamena pariyodapanā hoti. Kathañca, visākhe, upakkiliṭṭhassa cittassa upakkamena pariyodapanā hoti? Idha, visākhe, ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Tassa tathāgataṁ anussarato cittaṁ pasīdati, pāmojjaṁ uppajjati, ye cittassa upakkilesā te pahīyanti, seyyathāpi, visākhe, upakkiliṭṭhassa sīsassa upakkamena pariyodapanā hoti.

He is thus called a disciple of the noble ones undertaking the Brahma-Uposatha. He lives with Brahma [= the Buddha]. It is owing to Brahma that his mind is clear, that gladnessarises, and that whatever upakkilesasas (mental corruptions) there are in his mind are abandoned. This is how the corrupted mind is cleansed through the approach.

brahmuposathaṁ upavasati, brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁvasati, brahmañcassa ārabbha cittaṁ pasīdati, pāmojjaṁ uppajjati, ye cittassa upakkilesā te pahīyanti’.

(III) Understanding the 24 Great Qualities of Ti-Ratana Meditation. 

(IV) How and how often should I practice Ti-Ratana Meditation? The Paṭhamamahānāma Sutta (AN 11.12) clearly explains the guidelines for both the practice and its frequency.

Firstly, you should recollect the Realized One: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ When a noble disciple recollects the Realized One their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. At that time their mind is unswerving, based on the Realized One. A noble disciple whose mind is unswerving finds inspiration in the meaning and the teaching, and finds joy connected with the teaching. When they’re joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss. And when they’re blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. You should develop this recollection of the Buddha while walking, standing, sitting, lying down, while working, and while at home with your children.

Idha tvaṁ, mahānāma, tathāgataṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Yasmiṁ, mahānāma, samaye ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti tathāgataṁ ārabbha. Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Imaṁ kho tvaṁ, mahānāma, buddhānussatiṁ gacchantopi bhāveyyāsi, ṭhitopi bhāveyyāsi, nisinnopi bhāveyyāsi, sayānopi bhāveyyāsi, kammantaṁ adhiṭṭhahantopi bhāveyyāsi, puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantopi bhāveyyāsi.