Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

Another session to accompany the fifth module in the Youth Dhamma Gradual Teachings series looking into Buddha's Gradual Instructions to Lay People on THE BLESSINGS OF RENUNCIATION (nekkhamma ānisaṃsaṃ).  

In this additional session, we examine THE GREAT FRUIT AND BENEFIT OF OBSERVING THE UPOSATHA, to understand how the Buddha encourages lay people to renunciate, make merit, develop virtue and grow on the Buddha's Path.  

In this session, we look into: 

Suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this session: 

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk

If you have any questions or comments regarding this talk, please email them to suttameditationseries[at]gmail.com or leave a voicemail message via anchor.fm

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04lNeHdkG20

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This question was asked during the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on BAK POYA (16 April 2022) via zoom on "TAMING THE MIND" where we examined the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20).  

The question: 

“When unwholesome thoughts trouble me in my meditation, I usually examine those thoughts and review the five hindrances in meditation and apply the appropriate medicine. Is this correct? Is this also how we apply the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta instructions from the Buddha?”  

Suttas referred to directly or indirectly: 

Bohoma pin to the person who asked this question.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0mDCSTAsOk

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This question was asked during the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on BAK POYA (16 April 2022) via zoom on "TAMING THE MIND" where we examined the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20).  

The question: 

"Can you get to the higher concentration* of mind by following a guided meditation?" 

* Note - the higher concentration of mind referred to here is the Buddha's training of higher mind (adhicitta) in line with right concentration and the Noble Eightfold Path

Bohoma pin to the person who asked this question.

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This question was asked during the FULL DHAMMA SESSION conducted on BAK POYA (16 April 2022) via zoom on "TAMING THE MIND" where we examined the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20).  

The question: 

“I practise with a lot of restraint in daily life. I don’t read newspapers and only look at headlines for example… When I went through the similes in meditation – the third simile, which is much like restraint, stood out for me. In the talk today you spoke about switching meditations, can you explain a bit more about that?”  

Suttas referred to directly or indirectly: 

Bohoma pin to the person who asked this question.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l8p_nNM_oc

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on BAK POYA (16 April 2022) via zoom, on "TAMING THE MIND". We examine the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20), which is an important teaching by the Buddha on how to tackle blocks and challenges that come up in our meditation when we are intent on training in the higher mind (i.e. to enter and dwell in higher concentration)  

**Please note - this teaching from the Buddha is directed at intermediate to advanced meditators who have some experience in development of the mind, rather than beginners.**  

Our objective is to study the Buddha’s instructions on how to tame our mind and actively work with the signs that enable us to overcome any challenges that arise from unwholesome thoughts or states, see what might be preventing us from higher concentration, and figure out what makes us “wobble” or  where we find ourselves in some ways “kicked out” of those higher concentrated states, particularly in the initial stages of absorption.   

In this Dhamma session, we cover: 

• — Right Intention and development of the Noble Eightfold Path (including development of mind or bhāvitā cittā) 
• — Introduction to Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20) 
• — What is meant by pursing the higher mind 
• — Understanding different kinds of unwholesome thoughts and the emphasis on abandoning them 
• — Examining the Buddha's reference to "mastery over the ways of thought" 
• — “Deep dive” into the five signs and similes when pursuing the higher mind 
• — Meditation / Contemplation  

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

• — Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117) 
• — Hārasampātabhūmi (Pe 7) 
• — Kalahavivādasuttaniddesa (Mnd 2/Mnd 11) 
• — Vajjiputta Sutta (AN 3.84) 
• — Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89) 
• — Dutiyasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.90) 
• — Paṁsudhovaka Sutta (AN 3.101) 
• — Vitakka Sutta (Iti 80)  
• — Vassakāra Sutta (AN 4.35) 
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7) 
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)
• — Nimitta Sutta (AN 3.102) 
• — Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 135) 
• — Katuviya Sutta (AN 3.128)  
• — Pamādavihārī Sutta (SN 35.97) 
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Puttamaṁsa Sutta (SN 12.63)
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9) 
• — Paṭiccasamuppāda Sutta (SN 12.1) 
• — Padhāna Sutta (AN 4.13) 
• — Saṁvara Sutta (AN 4.14) 
• — Sekha-patipadā Sutta (MN 53)  
• — Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67) 
• — Pāve­y­ya­ka­hatthi­vatthu (Dhp 327)   

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI--iA79bMw

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we examine the Kaṭuviya Sutta (AN 3.128) and the Buddha's teaching "DO NOT POLLUTE YOURSELF".  This short teaching from the Buddha advises not to pollute oneself, not to become tainted with a stench so that flies will attack and pursue.  

We look into the meaning of the Buddha's teaching, as well as draw on other Dhammas to remind ourselves of the importance of sense restraint to protect ourselves, making effort to abandon what is unwholesome, not to indulge in the unwholesome, and knowing what makes the mind happy.  

This teaching can be beneficial in arousing a sense of urgency in our spiritual practice...

Suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this session: 

The extended talk on the Pamādavihārī Sutta (SN 35.97) can be heard in Episode 21 - https://bit.ly/3vh5Th3

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEBSG--zRV4

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

A short Dhamma talk on the Nikaṭṭha Sutta (AN 4.138). The Buddha talks about four kinds of persons in relation to being on retreat. This addresses the different permutations of where we are disciplined or undisciplined by body or by mind and the conditions are then conducive or not conducive.   

It's very good to examine this teaching of the Buddha from the perspective of seeing how we can be like these different kinds of persons depending on our physical and mental conditions, as well as the progress we are making in our practice.  

We often need to work and train with less than ideal conditions. And it's very important not to wait for perfect conditions or delay the path. Instead, find ways to work around, or optimise the existing conditions, or examine our virtue, or strive harder in our meditation to purify the mind. Sometimes, we can forget that less than ideal conditions can be more conducive to making progress, particularly if we are open to seeing the blessing in difficult conditions.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOqAE2mQoaw

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This is the fifth module in the Youth Dhamma Gradual Teachings series, focused on our younger audience looking into BUDDHA'S GRADUAL INSTRUCTIONS TO LAY PEOPLE ON THE BLESSINGS OF RENUNCIATION (nekkhamma ānisaṃsaṃ).  

This session links with the earlier sessions and confirms the importance of building a foundation of generosity and virtue, and the Buddha's teachings on the heavenly realms and particularly the danger in sensual pleasures. Kamma and Rebirth is a central part of all of these gradual teachings. This next talk in this series will build on top of this and move us further along.  

In this session we look into: 

Suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this session: 

If you have any questions or comments regarding this talk, please email them to suttameditationseries[at]gmail.com or leave a voicemail message via anchor.fm  

Bohoma pin to the people who have asked about gradual instructions for lay people over the past few months. There have been quite a few, so much merit to you. 

Bohoma pin anumodana to the kalyanamittas who helped with the content of this Dhamma session. Much mudita for your Dhammadāna.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU8g_q9vFx0

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

The title of this Dhamma Session is "All the Feels" and focuses on the Buddha's teaching on feeling or experience (vedanā). We study the Salla Sutta (SN 36.6) as well as other supporting suttas.  

The question that is often asked is around "why does the Buddha and the noble disciples constantly talk about bearing with conditions?"; or "how can we not be shaken by difficult conditions?" We seek to find some answers in the Buddha's teachings on feeling (vedanā) and drawing on some of what we have learned in our earlier sessions.

In this session we look at:  

Suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this session: 

Bohoma pin to the people who asked questions that were the basis for this Dhamma talk.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvk9UYUIfhs

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This Dhamma talk is encouragement towards taking a closer look at non-mettā as a way to develop and deepen our mettā or loving kindness practice in daily life. 

The core virtues and qualities of mettā are very important during these challenging times, and there is much we can investigate in daily life that will help us to overcome specific blocks, and ensure we deepen our spiritual practice.  

As always, take what is useful from this session...

Some of the suttas referred to directly or indirectly:

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai