Paṭisota

 

A life lived skillfully "Having thus gone forth, following the training & way of life of the monks, abandoning the taking of life, he abstains from the taking of life. He dwells with his rod laid down, his knife laid down, scrupulous, kind, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. Abandoning the taking of what is not given, he abstains from taking what is not given. He takes only what is given, accepts only what is given, lives not by stealth but by means of a self that has become pure. Abandoning uncelibacy, he lives a celibate life, aloof, refraining from the sexual act that is the villager's way." — AN X 99 A layperson's skillfulness "And how is one made pure in three ways by bodily action? There is the case where a certain person, abandoning the taking of life, abstains from the taking of life. He dwells with his rod laid down, his knife laid down, scrupulous, merciful, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. Abandoning the taking ...

Why is it that breaching the fifth precept is the most dangerous? -Six Drawbacks of Drinking There are these six drawbacks of habitually drinking alcohol. Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing. These are the six drawbacks of habitually drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a chemical produced by fermentation, which suppresses the central nervous system and causes intoxication when ingested. 1. Understanding the wording Surā ( fermented intoxicant liquor made with powdery substances) - brewed from rice or flour  Fermentation involves the conversion of sugar into alcohol through the digestive process of certain yeasts. Fermentation cannot produce a higher alcohol content than can be tolerated by the yeasts.  However higher alcohol content can be produced by heating the mixture and then condensing the resultant vapors, a process called distilling. Meraya (distilled intoxicant spirit...

 

  Most people ask why vācā is important. It is because we only connect with other people through speech and not just with a mind. So our connection with others is mainly due to communication with words. Therefore, learning the good side of  vācā  ( sammā vācā ) is very important not only to attain Nibbana but also to be a very good person in this life. People who manage their speech are highly admired. - vacī saṅkhāra ( vitakka , vic āra ) Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) Vitakka is the cetasika (mental factor) that points the mind to a given thought object.  Vic āra is the cetasika that keeps the mind engaged on that thought object (generating new thoughts about it). eg- A bee flying to a particular flower is like vitakka and then buzzing around that flower while drinking nectar is like  vic āra. - Vitakka , and  vicāra are unwholesome states.  But, avitakka , a vic āra  (or savitakka ( nekkhamma ), sa vic āra ) are wholesome states. - Mental chatt...

 

Request for Eight Precepts  Ok āsa  Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saddhi ṁ , aṭṭhaṅga-samannāgataṁ sīlaṁ, dhammaṁ yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā sīlaṁ detha, me bhante.  Venerable sir, I would like to request the eight precepts with refuge in the Triple Gem. Please kindly grant me the request.  Dutiy ṁpi  Ok āsa  Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saddhi ṁ , aṭṭhaṅga-samannāgataṁ sīlaṁ, dhammaṁ yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā sīlaṁ detha, me bhante.  Venerable sir, for the second time,  I would like to request the eight precepts with refuge in the Triple Gem. Please kindly grant me the request.  Tatiya ṁpi  Ok āsa  Ahaṁ bhante, tisaraṇena saddhi ṁ , aṭṭhaṅga-samannāgataṁ sīlaṁ, dhammaṁ yācāmi, anuggahaṁ katvā sīlaṁ detha, me bhante.  Venerable sir, for the third time,  I would like to request the eight precepts with refuge in the Triple Gem. Please kindly grant me the request.  Homage to the Buddha  Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhasa...

 

  “ saṅkappa ” is an intermediary between views ( diṭṭhi ) and speech ( vācā ) kappa - anything made with a definite object in view, prepared, or arranged. What is simply a good thought/intention? (If your thought/intention simply reflects reality as it is, without judgments or ideas getting in the way) Thinking patterns, habits, attitudes? Right Intention ( Samm ā  Saṅkappa ) ? Samm ā  saṅkappa  follows directly from the right view because our thoughts/intentions arise from our perception of reality. If you see reality as it is, you will have no problems. But if you see reality through a haze of assumptions and unconscious judgments and concepts, it will lead to some pretty twisted thinking. So  samm ā  saṅkappa  is about looking into your thoughts and intentions to see if they align with reality – or not. Wrong intentions ( m icch ā  saṅkappa )    arise out of delusion ( moha ) 1. Introduction Samm ā  Saṅkappa is the second ...