Category: Sutta

Excerpts from
“Introduction to Vipassana Meditation”
by Venerable U Silananda

Where does the practice of Vipassana come from?

Vipassana meditation chiefly comes from the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. There are two major divisions of Buddhism in the world today – Mahayana and Theravada. Mahayana tradition developed as Buddhism spread to the Northern Asian countries of Tibet, China, Japan, etc. Theravada tradition stay in Southern Asia and spread to Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

What does Vipassana mean?

The word Vipassana is composed of two parts — vi which means “in various ways” and passana which means “seeing”. So, Vipassana means seeing in various ways.

What can Vipassana meditation do for me?

The ultimate purpose of Vipassana is to eradicate mental impurities from your mind altogether. Before that stage, there are the benefits of tranquility, peace of mind and the ability to accept things as they come. Vipassana helps you to see things as they truly are, not as they appear to be. Things appear to be permanent, desirable and substantial, but actually they are not. When you practice Vipassana meditation, you will see for yourself the arising and disappearing of mental and physical phenomena. And you will have clearer comprehension of what is going on in your mind and body. You will be able to accept things as they come to you with less agitation and deal with situations in a more positive way.

Can Vipassana be applied to daily life?

You can have awareness of whatever you do whether you are working, walking, doing, etc. It will not be as intense as in a meditation or during a retreat, but a more general awareness. And when you apply mindfulness to problems in your life, you will be able to deal with them more effectively.

Why should I go to a meditation retreat?

The intensive practice of a retreat is very beneficial for developing good concentration and quieting the mind. Since concentration is essential for penetrative wisdom to arise, a meditation retreat gives you the best possible opportunity to be able to experience for yourself the true nature of reality.

The Great Discourse on the Wheel of Dhamma

• Teacher : The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw
• Translator : U Ko Lay
• Sukhi Hotu Dhamma Publication 1998

PART I

• Preface to the Discourse
• The Date of the Discourse
• Three Kinds of Introduction
• …

PART II

• Sensuous gratification is base and vulgar
• Dittadhamma Nibbana Vada
• A low, common practice
• …

PART III

• Elaboration of the Eight-fold Path
• …

PART IV

• Truth of Suffering (Dukka Sacca)
• …

PART V

• Samudaya Sacca
• …

PART VI

• Nirodha Sacca
• …

PART VII

• Sacca Nana with regard to Dukka Sacca
• Kicca Nana with regard to Dukka Sacca
• Kata Nana with regard to Dukka Sacca
• …

PART VIII

• When the Buddha did not admit Enlightenment
• Acknowledgement of Buddhahood
• Concluding statement
• …

No need to wait for lucky stars

• 11th Sutta in “Paritta Pali“
• For protection against bad omens, etc. and gaining happiness

Four verses from the Scriptures
Verse numbering per Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa

• Verse 153 (of “Paritta Pali”)
  Assertion of truth about the “Accomplished One”
• Verse 162 (of “Paritta Pali”)
  “every day can be auspicious day”
  On the day meritorious deeds are performed, the stars are auspicious, blessings are suspicious, … , the time is auspicious. Offerings made to the holy ones on such a day are well-offered.
• Verse 163 (of “Paritta Pali”)
  three kinds of felicitous actions : bodily, verbal, mental
• Verse 164 (of “Paritta Pali”)
  Good deeds
  Good results
  (a) Growth in the Dispensation of Buddha
  (b) have bliss
  (c) free from diseases
  (d) happy together with your relatives

• The rest composed by compilers

Pali (in Burmese Script)

Seven Factors of Enlightenment

• Mindfulness
• Investigation of dhammas
• Effort (or energy)
• Zest
• Tranquility
• Concentration
• Equanimity

Bojjhanga Sutta

• 10th Sutta in “Paritta Pali”
• Gatha (Pali Verse)
• For protection against and getting free from sickness and disease
• Reference the three occasions when Venerable Mogallana, Venerable Kassapa, and Lord Buddha felt sick but were cured after listening to and contemplating on the “Seven factors of Enlightenment”
• This is one of the Suttas that is not only for chanting but also for practice

Bojjhanga Suttas (in Pali Prose) in the Scriptures

• Mogallana Bhojjhanga Sutta
  Recited by Lord Buddha
  
• Kasapa Bojjahanga Sutta
  Recited by Lord Buddha
  
• Buddha Bojjhanga Sutta
  Recited by Venerable Cunda

Pali (in Burmese Script)

Mangala

• Mangala is usually rendered as Auspices or Blessings.
  Myanmar call it Mingalar

• Mangala Sutta describes 38 Blessings, which are related to both Loki (mundane) and Lokotra (supramundane).
  First of the 11 Suttas covered in Paritta Pali / Protective Verses.

For lay persons

• U Thu Kha wrote a book discussing the Mangala Sutta (using lay people’s terms).

• At PPBRS, we had to study “Mingalar Kabyar” (poem) by Saya Dagon U Tun Myint.
  Received a Thermos flask for successfully reciting the Kabyar.
  
• Cartoon U Pe Thein illustrated the 38 Blessings.

Highest Blessing

From Paritta Pali and Protective Suttas
by Sayadaw U Silananda

• Not to associate with fools,
  to associate with the wise and
  to honor those who are worth of honor.
  
• To live in a suitable place,
  to have done meritorious deeds in the past, and
  to keep one’s mind and body in a proper way.
  
• To have much learning,
  to be skilled in crafts,
  to be well-trained in moral conduct and
  to have speech that is well-spoken.
  
• Caring for one’s mother and father,
  supporting one’s spouse and children and
  having work that causes no confusion.
  
• Giving, practice of what is good,
  support of one’s relatives and
  blameless actions.
  
• Abstention from evil in mind,
  abstention from evil in body and speech,
  abstention from intoxicants and
  non-negligence in meritorious acts.
  
• Respectfulness,
  humbleness,
  contentment,
  gratitude and
  listening to the Dhamma on suitable occasions.
  
• Practice that consumes evil states,
  a noble life,
  seeing the Noble Truths and
  realization of Nibbana.
  
• The mind of a person (an Arahant) who is confronted with worldly conditions does not flutter,
  is sorrowless,
  stainless and
  secure.
  
• Having fulfilled such things as these, beings are invincible everywhere and happiness everywhere.
  
• This is the highest blessing for them.

Mangala Sutta Text