Meditation manual (Nikitos)

Highlights

Bonds Putto give dhanam pade bhariya hatthe. A child is like a bond around the neck. Wealth is like a bond around the feet. A spouse is like a bond around the wrists

but it can lead to the attainment of mundane supernatural powers (lokiya abhiñña), such as iddhividhi (the ability to perform psychic powers, fly through the air, walk on water, dive into the earth, become invisible and shorten

Whenever virtue, concentration and wisdom arise, the eightfold path is also there. Because the eightfold path consists of: right view (samma-ditthi), right thoughts (samma-sankappa), right speech (samma-vaca), right action (samma-kammanta), right livelihood (samma-ajiva), right efforts (samma-vayama), right mindfulness (samma-sati), right concentration (samma-samadhi

The abdomen rising and falling is the aggregate of material form. Feeling happy, miserable or neutral is the aggregate of feelings. Remembering that the abdomen rises and falls is the aggregate of perception. Whether the abdomen rises a lot or a little is the aggregate of mental formations. That which knows the rising and falling is the aggregate of consciousness. Therefore, “rising” and “falling” exist in the five aggregates in this way.

In brief, the development of vipassana in accordance with the four foundations of mindfulness will destroy vipallasadhamma, which is the wrong view of the four types of real states of dhamma; that is, The contemplation of body (kayanupassana) will destroy the perversion of seeing the unattractive as attractive (subha-vipallasa-dhamma). The contemplation of feelings (vedananupassana) will destroy the perversion of seeing what is suffering as happiness (sukha-vipallasa-dhamma). The contemplation of mind (cittanupassasna) will destroy the perversion of seeing what is impermanent as permanent (nicca-vipallasa-dhamma). The contemplation of mind-objects (dhammanupassana) will destroy the perversion of seeing what is not-self as the self (atta-vipallasa-dhamma

Regarding the practice of vipassana meditation, the Buddha had five wishes: for the purification of the mind. for the getting rid of sorrow and lamentation. for the getting rid of physical and mental suffering. for the attainment of the truth of life. for the realization of Nirvana

There are four advantages, said the Buddha, in practicing the Dhamma: You will be mindful right before dying. You will recollect the merits you have made and the wholesome deed that you have done. They will gather at the mind. After death, you will take birth in a happy state of existence (sugati), in heaven. It will become the seed, the foundation, the character, to realize the paths, fruitions and Nirvana in future lives. If you get the chance to develop vipassana in accordance with the four foundations of mindfulness continuously for a period of seven years, you will receive one of two results: you will become a non-returner (anagami); or you will become an Arahant in the present life

The three characteristics of existence are three equal marks. All world beings including us are subject to the law of the three characteristics of existence, which are impermanence (aniccam), suffering that is hard to endure (dukkham) and the state of not being under anyone’s control (anatta).

The aim of the practice of vipassana is to disentangle the three outstanding marks of impermanence, suffering and non-self, so that they become clear to the mind, that is, so

that they are clearly understood by the meditator. Once there is clear understanding you will be able to see that everything in this world without exception is impermanent, suffering and non-self. The mind won’t be encouraged and it will desire to let go of the desire to have and to own. It will desire to withdraw

Therefore, the three characteristics are like a magnifying glass of dhamma that will focus and enlarge what we see, giving rise to boredom within us, reducing lust and lessening grasping in all beings. The mind will be calm and cool, peaceful and happy. It will make us see the truth that craving (tanha) is the cause of suffering

I dont get this, even though its Ns time i come across similar point

The defilements that bind world beings to the vatta (the cycle of rebirth) are called “fetters (samyojana),” of which there are ten: 1. identity view (sakkaya-ditthi): the holding-on to a self 2. doubt (vicikiccha): doubt in, for example, the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha 3. clinging to rules and rituals (silabbata-paramasa): wrong practice of customs 4. sensual desire (kama-raga): delight in forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touch and mind-objects 5. ill will (patigha): anger 6. desire for fine-material existence (rupa-raga): delight in the rupajjhanas 7. desire for immaterial existence (arupa-raga): delight in the arupajjhanas

. conceit (mana): pride 9. restlessness (uddhacca): distraction 10. ignorance (avijja): the inability to understand clearly The Mind of the Noble Ones The Mind of a Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna) For those who have realized the initial stage of the paths and fruitions, that is, for those who are stream-enterers (sotapanna), three fetters have been completely destroyed: 1. identity view (sakkaya-ditthi): the holding-on to a self 2. doubt (vicikiccha): doubt in, for example, the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha 3. clinging to rules and rituals (silabbata-paramasa): wrong practice in customs In addition, they are not stingy, jealous, deludingly conceited, despising, deceitful or prejudiced. They are pure in the five precepts. This is the purity of the mind of a stream-enterer. Though it is purity in its initial stage, but it is a high form of purity, as it elevates the person to a position that is higher than ordinary people. And, thus, they are called a noble one (ariya-puggala). There are three types of stream-enterers: 1. If the controlling faculties (indriya) are strong, then

And they won’t speak maliciously or curse in a harsh way. According to the Buddhist doctrine, once-returners will be reborn only once more until they realize the paths, fruitions and Nirvana

What? reborn?

Even if they realize the paths and fruitions of non-returning, in which sensual desire has been completely destroyed and there are no sexual relationships, but family stability would not change. This is because objects of sexual enjoyment (kamarammana) need not always be at the forefront of families

Points to Avoid reading and writing. sleeping too much and meditating too little (sleeping should be limited to four hours per day maximum). spending time talking while neglecting to note the conditions. enjoying company and not solitude. being immoderate in eating

Noting while Sitting Meditation “rising” – breathing in “falling” – breathing out “sitting” – breathing in (use the mind to imagine one’s sitting posture for an instant) “touching” – breathing out (use the mind to poke at that point, the size of which should be approximately the size of a 10-baht coin)

The 10 Obstacles (Palibodha) Once determination has been made to practice vipassana, meditators must completely abandon their worries about: (1) residence, (2) family, (3) wealth, (4) friends, (5) work, (6) travel, (7) relatives, (8) sicknesses, (9) studying, and (10) power

In order to become a noble one, one must practice vipassana meditation in accordance with the four foundations of mindfulness. This means to maintain mindfulness at the body (kaya), feelings (vedana), mind (citta) and mind-objects (dhamma)

1. Balance the five controlling faculties (indriya) and powers (bala): Faith (saddha) must be balanced with wisdom (pañña). Effort (viriya) must be balanced with concentration (samadhi). Mindfulness (sati) is the supervisor. If faith is great but wisdom is weak, greed (lobha) will take control. If wisdom is great but faith is weak, doubt (vicikiccha) will take control. If energy is great but concentration is weak, distraction (uddhacca) will take control. If concentration is great, but energy is weak, laziness (kosajja) will take control.

The reason why human beings fall into trouble, chaos, oppression, tyranny, destruction and eventually wars, is precisely because they are unable to remove greed, hatred and delusion from the mind. If the leaders of each country lessen somewhat their greed, hatred and delusion, it should be expected that our world will become cool and more attractive to live in. Wars will come to an end, and world peace will flourish