Sutta Meditation Series

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on BINARA POYA (10 September 2022) via zoom, on "HOW DO WE DEVELOP NOBLE RIGHT CONCENTRATION WITH THE EIGHTFOLD PATH?"

We examine the Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117), which is an important teaching of the Buddha on how the Noble Eightfold Path works, how we activate and develop it to fulfilment.

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

In this Dhamma session, we cover:

• Quick recap of the Four Noble Truths (including arising and passing away, the stages and insights and wrong/right paths)
• Intro to the Noble Eightfold Path - Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117) and what is important about this teaching
• “Deep Dive” into how the Noble Eightfold Path works, how we activate and develop it, how the path factors support noble right concentration and leads to right knowledge and right liberation
• Understanding the Great Forty

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

• — Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) 
• — Pariññeyya Sutta (SN 56.29)
• — Arahanta Sutta (SN 56.24)
• — Āvijjā Sutta (SN 56.17)
• — Vijjā Sutta (SN 56.18)
• — Dvayatānupassana Sutta (Sn 3.12)
• — Gavampati Sutta (SN 56.30)
• — Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) 
• — Pariññeyya Sutta (SN 56.29)
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33)
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)
• — Vijjā Sutta (AN 10.105)
• — Vipattisampadā Sutta (AN 3.117)
• — Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (MN 9)
• — Saḷāyatanavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 137)
• — Pamadavihari Sutta (SN 35.97)
• — Samadhi-bhavana Sutta (SN 22.5)
• — Pīti Sutta (AN 5.176)
• — Dhatuvibhanga Sutta (MN 140)
• — Culasunnata Sutta (MN 121)
• — Duccaritavipākasutta (AN 8.40)
• — Vaṇijjā Sutta (AN 5.177)
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who requested this sutta asking the question on noble right concentration.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dX_1b1AMCw

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 examine these teachings of the Buddha titled "one who lives by the Dhamma" (dhammavihārī) from Dhammavihārī Suttas (AN 5.73-74). The Buddha goes through the different ways we develop our spiritual practice (learning, declaring, reciting, reflecting and practising) and where we can fall short.  

We also refresh ourselves on the importance of learning True Dhamma, the Buddha's learning system and nine-fold classification of the teachings, as well as the important connection with the trainee or learner quality of "bahussuta" or very learned (having heard much).  

Through understanding what the Buddha is emphasising in these suttas — that is, understanding the meaning of the Dhamma with wisdom and prioritising solitude or seclusion to practise what has been heard or learned to attain to the higher concentrations of mind — we can make spiritual progress and correct any misconceptions we might have around the different forms of practice.  

We also look into useful examples from the Dhammapada to help us penetrate this Dhamma.  

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

• — Dutiyamārapāsa Sutta (SN 4.5) 
• — Dutiyasaddhammasammosa Sutta (AN 5.155) 
• — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN53) 
• — Dhammaññū Sutta (AN 7.68) 
• — Appassuta Sutta (AN 4.6) 
• — Piyaṅkara Sutta (SN 10.6) 
• — Dvesahāyakabhikkhuvatthu (Dhp 19-20) 
• — Chattapāṇiupāsakavatthu (Dhp 51) 
• — Dhammānudhammapaṭipanna Sutta (Iti 86)  

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

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/1QhfFEGzvCw

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 today's session, we look at Dhammapada Verse 392 - THE STORY OF VENERABLE SĀRIPUTTA HONOURING VENERABLE ASSAJI (Sāriputtatthera Vatthu). This is encouragement and inspiration towards honouring those that help us and offer great service encouraging us towards the Triple Gem and the Path and Practice taught by the Buddha, in order to find real safety.

To further our understanding, we examine the Buddha's teaching on the three persons who are of great service to another; that it is not easy to repay such persons, how roles may block our ability to honour such a person; why honouring helps us to abandon the fetter of conceit and to develop more metta qualities; and how honouring those worthy of honour is a great blessing and very meritorious.  

We also contemplate what it would be like if such persons did not encourage us of help us to understand the meaning of the Buddha's teachings and how to practice towards a happy destination or full liberation.  

And we also briefly touch on a teaching on the meaning of a True Elder (senior). This is in contrast to the worldly measure of an elder or senior.  

The Buddha's words from Dhp 392: 

“Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya,
sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;
Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya,
aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.”  

“From whom one has known and understood the Dhamma,
taught by the Perfectly Enlightened One;
one should honour (respect) and venerate them,
like a brahmin honours (respects) and venerates the fire-sacrifice.”  

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

• — Bahukāra Sutta (AN 3.24) 
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)  
• — Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) 
• — Chaṭṭhavagga (AN 1.249)
• — Aggappasāda Sutta (AN 4.34)
• — Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 142) 
• — Mahāmaṅgala Sutta (Snp 2.4) 
• — Samacittavagga (AN 2.38) 
• — Ādittapariyāya Sutta (SN 35.28) 
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9) 
• — Dutiyauruvela Sutta (AN 4.22) 
• — Gavampati Sutta (SN 56.30) 
• — Sekha-paṭipadā Sutta (MN 53) 
• — Kassapadasabalassasuvaṇṇacetiyavatthu (Dhp 195-196)  

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH03P5-C-aE

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 on the Subha Sutta (DN 10):

May I ask, with regards to the Subha Sutta (DN 10), there is a section on samādhikkhandha, not just talk about mental absorptions, but also includes guarding the sense doors, mindfulness and clear comprehension, and contentment. Can you help to give more insight into this section? 

And also, I came across these Pali words with regards to samādhi but I don’t know it’s meaning:  “cittassa thiti santhiti avatthiti avisaharo avikkhepo”.  May I know your thoughts on these Pali words please?"  

In this session, we take the opportunity, while answering this question to briefly provide the foundation or context for the three aggregates of Noble Virtue, Noble Concentration and Noble Wisdom. These are the three sets of things that the Buddha praised what he encouraged, settled, and grounded people in.  

We also link to the three higher trainings, how the aggregates include the Noble Eightfold Path and then delve into answering the question on the Aggregate of Concentration - looking more closely at guarding the doors to the sense faculties, mindfulness and clear comprehension, contentment, abandoning the five hindrances and entering and remaining in the four mental absorptions (jhana).  

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

• — Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) 
• — Suttatthasamuccayabhūmi (Pe 6) 
• — Hārasampātabhūmi (Pe 8) 
• — Vicayahārasampāta (Ne 21) 
• — Kalahavivādasuttaniddesa (Mnd 2/Mnd 11) 
• — Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89) 
• — Samādhibhāvanā Sutta (AN 4.41) 
• — Pamādavihārī Sutta (SN 35.97)  
• — Sūda Sutta (SN 47.8) 
• — Satisampajañña Sutta (AN 8.81) 
• — Kāmadasutta (SN 2.6) 
• — Mahāassapura Sutta (MN 39) 
• — Tuvaṭakasuttaniddesa (Mnd 14) 
• — Sāriputtasuttaniddesa (Mnd 16) 
• — Khaggavisāṇasuttaniddesa (Cnd 23)  

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

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIZFZsIZtg0

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 on Dukkha:  

“Could you please tell me if I am mis-leading myself if I think of dukkha, the second characteristic of conditioned existence, as “incomplete” or “never resolved” instead of “stressful” or “suffering”? I ask because dukkha implies there is something or someone experiencing stress or suffering, the way I see it.  But since conditions are impersonal, how is dukkha to be understood in this context?”  

In answering this question, we look at the translation of dukkha and how it is applied and whether it fits the phrasing and meaning in the Buddha's teachings on the the First Noble Truth of Suffering, understanding the corruptions in the mind, the three kinds of dukkha, and also some of the Buddha's teachings on the three characteristics.  

This session highlights the importance of the right view when it comes to penetrating the Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle and good in the end, with the correct meaning and phrasing.  

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

• — Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) 
• — Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22) 
• — Vipallāsa Sutta (AN 4.49) 
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)  
• — Ādittapariyāya Sutta (SN 35.28) 
• — Dukkha Sutta (SN 46.72) 
• — Anatta Sutta (SN 46.73) 
• — Dutiyasamugghātasappāya Sutta (SN 35.32) 
• — Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (SN 22.59) 
• — Sīlavanta Sutta (SN 22.122)   

For the Dhamma session on "What things should be wisely contemplated?" - https://bit.ly/3cfn5hh 

For the guided meditation "Is it worth taking as me and mine?" - https://bit.ly/3clkLVZ 

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

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atan6Q_Bq6w

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 on the Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140):  

“I have read Dhātuvibhaṅga Sutta (MN 140) and found that I want to do the meditation with regards to the elements.  Can I read the words from the sutta on these five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) and contemplate as my guided meditation? 

Or do you have a much more appropriate way to do this meditation? Can I have your guidance?”  

To answer this question, we refer to our Dhamma Session on "The Profitable Path" (YT - https://bit.ly/3T6WsMc) and also "Real Emptiness" (YT - https://bit.ly/3CjFKmV). Then, we run through some simple steps on how to meditate on the five elements applying our own examples to the Buddha's list to directly see this Dhamma for ourselves.  

We also emphasise that this meditation is about the Determination for Wisdom - activating the right view with regards to the body and also right mindfulness of the body. When this is active and penetrated, we are then able to realise what the Buddha means by "what is empty of self and empty of what belongs to self".   

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

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

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipG2K01pAtk

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.  

Selected tables, slides and documents are shared via the Sutta Meditation Series Telegram channel - https://t.me/suttameditationseries  

For all enquiries - [email protected]

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

When we see the value of Buddha Dhamma and realise the benefits of developing the Noble Eightfold Path, we naturally want all of our loved ones to come towards Buddha Dhamma and realise the benefits too. We want them to find the happiness and safety that we have found.  

We can become overcome with desire or craving for our loved ones to value the Buddha's Teachings. However, it is not always easy to bring our loved ones towards Buddha Dhamma. They may value other things, may have very strong views, or they are simply not ready.   

In this session we delve into: 

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

Bohoma pin to the people who requested this talk.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q-uUiuduVM

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked on one of the Buddha's insight pathways in the Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61):

"With regards to Avijjā Sutta (AN 10.61), I noticed there were two occasions that mindfulness or ’sati’ appeared in the kusala path (satisampajañña and satipaṭṭhānā). May I ask, are they different or are they the same? Can you explain more on this please?”

To answer this question, we re-examine the unwholesome and wholesome pathways in the Avijjā sutta and take a closer look at the development of mindfulness as you meditate and cultivate the wholesome pathway. In answering this question, what is strongly emphasised is to see how the Buddha teaches (right) mindfulness in the context of the sattatiṃsa bodhipakkhiyā dhammā (37 enlightenment factors or qualities). (Right) mindfulness is part of the Noble Eightfold Path, one of the spiritual faculties (indriya), powers (bala), factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga) and Four Establishments of Mindfulness. 

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

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7pQIYplT24

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

An extended answer to this often-asked question on "HOW DO WE TRANSLATE WHAT WE LEARN IN OUR MEDITATION (SPIRITUAL PRACTICE) INTO EVERYDAY LIFE?"

To answer this question, we delve into encouragement and advice on daily practice, participating in Dhamma sessions & discussions, attending meditation retreats, and how this gradually translates into everyday life. 

We also touch on: 

Bohoma pin to everyone who has asked for an answer to this question.

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. 

Advice and guidance, based on commonly asked questions, on how to take one's spiritual practice forward if you have attended one of our meditation retreats. The focus is on utilising the momentum from the meditation retreat, practising the insight pathway meditations and ensuring we activate the Noble Eightfold Path.  

This talk may still be useful for those who haven't attended our meditation retreats, as general advice on developing one's spiritual practice. 

Suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

Bohoma pin for those who asked questions re: post-retreat guidance. 

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai