Sutta Meditation Series

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, as requested, we go through instructions on "How do we meditate on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta and navigate the jhānas?"

**Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**  For the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session AND the list of sutta references (on 9 October 2022) - https://bit.ly/3CLFXz8 (YT video) or https://bit.ly/3RNCGTW (audio)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.

The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7SEiWMHkB8

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19):  

"Meditators seem to fall into two baskets with the jhānas – (1) you really need them and can get intoxicated with them, or (2) you don’t need them and ignore them entirely. So, this might be a silly question, but I respectfully ask anyway, what’s the deal with the jhānas? We know the Buddha taught them in a lot of suttas and encouraged them, but what is the true purpose or reason for developing the jhānas?"  

To answer this question, we look specifically at the Buddha's references to the four jhānas in selected suttas (**please note this answer does not mix references to teachings from other traditions or practices, solely the Buddha's Noble Path to Liberation**).   

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk: 

• — Vijjā Sutta (AN 10.105) 
• — Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89) 
• — Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29) 
• — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53)  
• — Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67)  
• — Āvijja Sutta (AN 10.61)  
• — Upakkilesa Sutta (AN 5.23)  
• — Vitthata Sutta (AN 5.14) 
• — Dutiyavibhaṅga Sutta (SN 48.10)  
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)  
• — Mahāmoggallānasutta (AN 4.167) 
• — Sāriputtasutta (AN 4.168) 
• — Gaṅgāpeyyālavagga (SN 53.1-12)  
• — Oghavagga (SN 53.45-54)   

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.

The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq8TWmgrue0

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

From the request to provide an EXTRACT from the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session (on 9 October 2022) explaining how we enter and develop the four jhānas by contemplating the instructions in the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19).  

**Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**

In this segment we:  

• — go through some of the technical aspects of entering the four jhāna concentrations;  
• — explain the meaning behind some of the key pali words and processes that are associated with each jhāna;  
• — go through what is abandoned (or ceased) and what is attained for each jhāna concentration; and 
• — answer the question on "how do we know we have entered each jhāna concentration?"  

It is important to know the process of HOW we enter and abide in the four jhāna concentrations, rather than simply the attainment of jhāna concentration. And to train in these higher concentrations, so we attain them without trouble or difficulty, in order to progress and develop higher wisdom.  

For the Full Vap Poya Dhamma session AND the list of sutta references (on 9 October 2022) - https://bit.ly/3CLFXz8 (YT video) or https://bit.ly/3RNCGTW (audio)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who made the request

The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rm3u1pjpQQ

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on VAP POYA (9 October 2022) via zoom, on "SKILLED THOUGHTS, JHĀNAS & THE RIGHT PATH"

We examine the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19), where the Buddha gives an account of what he did as the unenlightened Bodhisatta to develop the mind towards Nibbāna.  It's a very inspiring and useful teaching that we can learn and incorporate into our practice, to develop the Noble Eightfold Path.

**Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**

Note - the short 10 minute meditation around the 40min mark has been included in this recording.

In this Dhamma session, we cover:

• Introduction to the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19)
• “Deep dive” into how the Bodhisatta
  (1) understood thoughts, (2) his instruction for developing and maintaining skilled thoughts as the means to (3) enter and abide in the four jhana concentrations, (4) accomplish the three knowledges and realise Nibbāna
• The Simile of the Deer Herd - encouragement and urgency

As part of this Dhamma session, we will address some of the misconceptions around thinking or dealing with thoughts in meditation, attaining the jhanas and how to know you have entered into each one, as well as certain difficulties regarding the jhanas. We will also briefly look at how to develop the three knowledges. It is useful to remember the four jhanas and three knowledges are part of the trainee's mode of progress.

Some of the suttas covered directly or indirectly in this session:

• — Mahācattārīsaka Sutta(MN 117)
• — Saḷāyatanavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 137)
• — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53)
• — Mahāassapura Sutta (MN 40)
• — Alagaddūpama Sutta (MN 22)
• — Dukkhadhamma Sutta (SN 35.244)
• — Bhoga Sutta (AN 5.227)
• — Mahāvedalla Sutta (MN 43)
• — Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61)
• — Akusalarāsi Sutta (AN 5.52)
• — Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44)
• — Cūḷasuññata Sutta (MN 121)
• — Pubba Sutta (SN 51.11)
• — Samādhibhāvanā Sutta(AN 4.41)
• — Vibhaṅga Sutta (SN 51.20)
• — Cūḷaniddesa (PTS 1049, explanation 475)
• — Suttatthasamuccayabhūmi (Pe 6)
• — Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) 
• — Pariññeyya Sutta (SN 56.29)
• — Hārasampātabhūmi (Pe 7)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who requested this sutta.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybxWAeV4lI4

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

Following on from our last Dhamma session looking into a question on the Byasana Sutta, we now examine The Great Misfortune of Tissa Thera from Dhammapada verse 240 as a case study on rebirth in lower realms. This is useful to enable us to understand this Dhamma.  

Tissa Thera was very attached to his robe and was reborn as a louse (animal realm) living in that same robe he was attached to. He was at risk of further being reborn into the hell realm, when the Buddha stepped in. We use this account of Tissa Thera to go over how this could happen, particularly referencing different parts of Venerable Mahakaccana's teaching from the Hāliddikāni Sutta (SN 22.3), the Buddha's teaching in the Samādhi-bhāvanā Sutta (SN 22.5) and Khattiya Sutta (AN 6.52) to understand this Dhamma.

*These previous Dhamma talks are linked to what we examine in this session:

• — Why it's difficult to renunciate the world https://bit.ly/3CthhLu
• — Abandoning craving through the arising and passing away of the five aggregates https://bit.ly/3ycUpxb

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk: 

• — Byasana Sutta (AN 5.130) 
• — Tissatthera Vatthu (Dhp 240) 
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)  
• — Vipallāsa Sutta (AN 4.49) 
• — Upādāna Sutta (SN 45.173) 
• — Hāliddikāni Sutta (SN 22.3) 
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7) 
• — Khattiya Sutta (AN 6.52) 
• — Loka Sutta (Ud 3.10)

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/THhJLaOOt38

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked:  

“In the Byasana Sutta (AN 5.130), the Buddha states there are five kinds of misfortune or loss. Out of the five, there are only two that lead to rebirth in lower realms - misfortune regarding virtuous behaviour and misfortune regarding view. Why only these two? And if you could also explain, how this happens?”  

To answer this question, we reference a number of teachings from the Buddha as well as revisit the Four Unprofitable Directions - Four Nutriments and Going the Wrong Ways. (*It is helpful if you have been through the Dhamma sessions on the Four Nutriments - see YT playlist https://bit.ly/3C1vxK4) And, we take an example from a recent retreat.  

In answering this question, it makes more sense why the Buddha's instructions or insight pathways are given in a particular sequence to correct wrong view with right view and to ensure we cultivate and maintain virtue and give up misconduct. Developing the Noble Eightfold Path is very much included in this.  

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk: 

• — Raṭṭhapāla Sutta (MN 82)  
• — Kalyāṇamittādivagga (AN 1.76)  
• — Bhoga Sutta (AN 5.227) 
• — Girimānanda Sutta (AN 10.60) 
• — Ṭhāna Sutta (AN 4.192) 
• — Micchādiṭṭhika Sutta (Iti 70) 
• — Duccaritavipāka Sutta (AN 8.40) 
• — Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 135) 
• — Saṁsappanīya Sutta (AN 10.216) 
• — Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117) 
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)  
• — Puttamaṁsa Sutta (SN 12.63) 
• — Vipallāsa Sutta (AN 4.49) 
• — Upādāna Sutta (SN 45.173) 
• — Hāliddikāni Sutta (SN 22.3) 
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7) 
• — Khattiya Sutta (AN 6.52)  

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.

The video of this Dhamma session has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgHP14bfw0

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Meghiya Sutta (Ud 4.1):

"The question I would like to ask is about Meghiya’s eagerness. Meghiya sees that, unlike the Buddha, there is something further to do and there is something to add to what has been done, but his liberation of mind is not fully mature. May I know how we should check that our eagerness and maturity in mind is balanced?"

We take the opportunity, while answering this question, to take an extended look at Venerable Meghiya, the challenges he faced and how he matured in his spiritual practice after following the Buddha's admonishment, advice and wise counsel.  Following this teaching Venerable Meghiya attained the fruit of stream entry, proving he was obedient to the Buddha (or "suvaco", easy to instruct) and eventually he attained the fruit of arahantship. With the Buddha and the noble disciples as his good friends and companions, the whole of the spiritual life, it is understandable why he was able to realise nibbana.

The key areas that we will focus on are:

• — understanding the challenges faced by Venerable Meghiya and how one determines spiritual immaturity
• — the five things recommended by the Buddha that leads to maturity in one who's liberation of mind is not fully mature
• — the Buddha's emphasis on good friendship
• — additional suttas references and examples to support this teaching
• — cross-references to other relevant Dhamma talks on the podcast (Virtue - https://bit.ly/3DVPwwp; Beneficial Talk - https://bit.ly/3LDQNKa; Energetic - https://bit.ly/3StqCbs; and The Story of Radha Thera - https://bit.ly/3StqJno)

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

• — Mahāgopālaka Sutta (MN 33)
• — Samacittavagga (AN 2.38)
• — Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54)
• — Mahāsuññata Sutta (MN 122)
• — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53)
• — Desanāhāravibhaṅga (Ne 4)
• — Dutiyasekha Sutta (Iti 17)
• — Sambodhi Sutta (AN 9.1)
• — Mitta Sutta (SN 56.26)
• — Upaḍḍha Sutta (SN 45.2)
• — Sambahulabhikkhu Vatthu (Dhp 328-330)
• — Mahākassapasaddhivihārika Vatthu (Dhp 61)
• — Meghiythera Vatthu (Dhp 33-34)
• — Rādhatthera Vatthu (Dhp 76)
• — Meghiyattheragāthā (Thag 1.66)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this Dhamma session has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpiytVy0ZOY

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

**This Dhamma session follows on from the "Living by the Dhamma" — Dhammavihari Suttas (AN 5.73-74) — https://bit.ly/3S3SgMb

In this Dhamma session, we examine the opportunities (or bases) for liberation that can come from hearing a teaching from a teacher, teaching the Dhamma to others in detail, reciting the Dhamma in detail, contemplating the Dhamma and penetrating well with wisdom a certain basis for concentration.  

We underpin this teaching linking to foundations for the spiritual faculty of wisdom to arise - wisdom produced by hearing or learning (sutamayī paññā), wisdom produced by thought (cintāmayī paññā) and wisdom produced by development (bhāvanāmayī paññā) - which comes from developing right view  

This teaching from the Buddha may help to clarify some of the misconceptions around how we practise and realise noble attainment, and encourage and inspire us in how we approach this spiritual life.  

We deep dive into each opportunity and take examples from the time of the Buddha, as well as, in some instances examine how we can directly apply ourselves to make spiritual progress.   

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk: 

• — Dhammavihārī Suttas (AN 5.73-74) 
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Desanāhāravibhaṅga (Ne 4)  
• — Bāhiyadārucīriyatthera Vatthu (Dhp 101) 
• — Sāriputtatthera Vatthu (Dhp 392) 
• — Sukkātherīapadāna (Thi Ap 35) 
• — Anathapindikaputtakala Vatthu (Dhp 178) 
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)  
• — Soṇātherīapadāna (Thi Ap 26) 
• — Rāhulovāda Sutta (SN 35.121) 
• — Dhammikatthera Vatthu (Dhp 84)  

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this Dhamma session has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKctnRGbaVQ

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

A short EXTRACT from the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) on why we meditate, the different kinds of concentration that lead to one-pointedness or unification of the mind, what makes the Buddha's teachings different, and what is really his definition of development of the mind ("meditation")

**Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**

For the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) - https://bit.ly/3RRbdBd

The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-D5LU1nENM

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

From a request to provide an EXTRACT from the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) explaining The wisdom pathway or progression of renunciation instructed by the Buddha in the Saḷāyatanavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 137), which can be sequentially contemplated as a meditation.  

This was examined as part of understanding noble right intention and the importance of renunciation in developing the Noble Eightfold Path.  

The advice is to give up joy, sadness and equanimity based on household life using specific instructions from the Buddha towards happiness, sadness and equanimity based on renunciation.   

**Please note - we are examining this teaching from the Buddha with the aspiration for the supramundane development of the Noble Eightfold Path**  

For the Full Binara Poya Dhamma session (on 10 September 2022) - https://bit.ly/3RRbdBd

An electronic copy of the slide for the "wisdom path of renunciation based on Saḷāyatanavibhaṅga Sutta " as discussed in this Dhamma Session has been posted (and pinned) to the Sutta Meditation Series Telegram channel (https://t.me/suttameditationseries)  

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who made the request

The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJpHC1ynA_I

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

For all enquiries - [email protected]