Basic Tenets of Dhamma

Basic Tenets of Dhamma

The inclement weather made me to be home bound and compose myself to investigate the three words in our discussion and find the closest English rendition (as much as Sinhala cannot translate them correctly, English fare much worse).

As I write this there is a YouTube session on the Internet on, and an American Lady (lay person but taken the role of a preacher) is having a talk show and stating that there is an anti-universe and in there life of beings is eternal and there is no death but permanent existence.

What a hoax?

To her my prediction is that even the anti-universe is subjected to state of flux and extinction and another round of universe and anti-anti universe would come into existence.

But our discussion is on mind and its behavior which can grasp or cling into both the micca diiti (wrong view) and samma ditti (right view).

The bottom line is we should not corrupt the Pali Terminology.

1. Animitta          Conditionless

2. Apanahita        Desirelss

3. Sunatta            Emptiness or Void

What I find to my surprise is that they are the three of the 18 contemplative states described for monks with correspondingly higher states that can be attained in Vipaasana Meditation.

Suffice is to say these are very difficult to accomplish by an

ordinary layperson.

My subsequent investigation leads me to the following summary.

The base line technique which is easy and useful for focusing the mind is nothing but Ana Pana Sati.

What is the objective?

Attainment of Dyana is the correct term for the commonly used term Jhanas (4 to 8 in number) that could be attained momentarily.

These states are not the same but similar to the psychological effects of psychedelic drugs.

These are very addictive states and bring out rapture and happy states and have the proclivity for more of the same arousal tendency, craving and delight in essence.

That should not be the attitude of the meditator but is a hindrance to upward mobility.

They are not permanent and subjected to change.

That is why one should contemplate the Anitta, Dukkha and Anatta principles in these state of arousal.

As one ascends through higher Dyana levels the technique is to drop the mental states that are hindrance to the next level and finally achieve the highest level which is Upekka or Equanimity.

The next stage is to contemplate on detachment, abandoning and extinction leading to Nirodha.

I have summarized the states achieved in the first 4 levels, below.

The seven elements of Enlightenment are

1. Sati or Mindfullness

2. Dhamma vicaya or the Truth Principle.

3. Viriya or Energy

4. Piti or Rapture

5. Passadhi or Tranquility

6. Smadhi or Concentration

7.Upekkha or Equanimity

The seven states of enlightenment developed and frequently practiced leads to Wisdom and Deliverance (Vijja-vimutti).

Samadhi or the Concentration

In other words the attainment of four to five Jhana absorptions.

In Jhana Absorptions, there is complete but temporary detachment from all five sensual spheres and of five hindrances or the 

Nivarana

They are

1. Kamacchanda (Loba)

2. Vyapada(Dosa)

3. Tina Middha (sloth and torpor)

4. Uddhakka-kukkussa(restlessness)

5. Vicikiccha (doubt)

1^st Jhana State one attains

1. Vittakka (thought conception and attention to thought-thinkink)

2. Vichara (reflecting or on inner speech or discursive thinking)

3. Piti (rapture)

4. Sukha (joy)

5. Ekaggata (one pointedness)

2^nd Jhana State

Vittaka is dropped.

1. Vicara
2. Piti

3. Sukha

4. Samadhi are accompaniments.

3^nd Jhana State

1. Piti
2. Sukha

3. Samadhi

4^th Jhana State

1. Sukha

2. Samadhi

5^th Jhana State

1. Equanimity

2. Samadhi

Beings of other planets have attained the next four levels (5 to 8) of higher mental states and for lack of proper terms they could be called Divine Entities.

The four Jhana states practised and attained at Patisnandhi state of mind would cause births in better worlds higher than the earth. 

Unfortunately in these states they are unable to acquire new Kusala Kammasa and it is practically a dead end and once the Kamma is consumed, they fall into lower levels including birth in world system like ours.

It is just like one who has a big saving account and he/she withdraws money little by little before full maturity and empties it in no time.

Full maturity should be taken as Nirodha Samapatti.

Pangna or Wisdom

This is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths, the suffering, the origin of suffering, the path for cessation (Nirodaya) of suffering and the cessation of suffering. 
This is the more difficult and is the intellectual pursuit of Vipassana Meditation.

The Samatha Meditation is the more practical and easy way of meditation. There are about 40 objects for Samatha Bhavana (Vissudhi Magga has over 1000 objects) and one should select one which suits the personalty.

Objects of Insight Mediation

There is lot of commercial advertisement to meditation, I thought of giving a little resume for the novice.

There are 18 kinds of insight knowledge that can be used as objects of Vipassana Meditation.

It is Knowledge or Truth or Dhamma based meditation as opposed to Samatha Meditation.

1. Annitta Contemplation of impermanence

2. Dukkha Contemplation of unsatisfactoriness (suffering)

3. Anatta Contemplation of non self

4. Nibbhidana Contemplation of disinclination or aversion

5. Viraga Contemplation of dispassionateness

6. Nidodha Contemplation of extinction or cessation

7. Patinissangga Contemplation of of abandonment

8. Khayanu Contemplation of body

9. Vayanu Contemplation of state vanishing

10. Viparinama Contemplation of state change

11. Animitta Contemplation of state of conditionlessness

12. Apanihita Contemplation of state desirelessness

13. Sunnatta Contemplation of state of emptiness or void

14. Adhipanna Contemplation based on higher knowledge

15.Yathabhuta Contemplation based on knowledge and vision of reality

16. Adhinavana Contemplation of misery

17. Patisankha Reflecting or thinking on contemplation

18. Vivatta Absence of cycle of existence – Nirodha samapatthi