Dear Derek, Dimitry, Frank, Rick and Yong Peng,

thank you all for your kind answers to my presentation and questions.

So as to avoid confusion of multiple mails / answers, I have made a
selection of some parts of answers which I wish to comment on.

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From Dimitry, re "das'angikka-magga" and jhaana:

Janavasabha sutta DN 18 (Ro: 2.217)
Sangiiti sutta DN 33 (Ro: 3.271)
Dasuttara sutta DN 34 (Ro: 3.292)

and my favorite

Mahaacataariisaka sutta MN 117 (Ro: 3.76)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn117.html

as well as multiple suttas from AN 10

The exact terms are sammaa~naa.na and sammavimutti

However they denote rather the abilities of the Arahant than the path
of the learner, and stem naturally from jhanas of sammaasamaadhi.

I know three distinct modern approaches: commentarial one, represented
by Ajahn Brahmavamso, http://watthai.net , some approach taught by Leigh
Brasington, a student of Ayya Khema's
http://members.home.net/lnblnb/meditate.htm
and a sutta-based approach of Thanissaro Bhikkhu
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/modern/wings/3e.html

However Thanissaro Bhikkhu tells that jhanas arise by themselves in
due time. According to my knowledge, they are mastered intentionally
(See AN 5.28
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/anguttara/an5-28.html )

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I am not entirely convinced that sammaa-~naa.na and samma-vi'mutti denote
rather the abilities of the Arahant than the path of the learner, and stem
naturally from jhanas which would themselves stem from sammaa-sam'aa'dhi.
From my limited experience of practitioner, sammaa-~naa.na and the first
jhaana seem narrowly connected, possibly also the 2nd jhaana, but then this
jhaana I have been working on only for a while, and my personal experience
is not strong enough for me to comment wisely. Intellectually, in a
cognitive sense (please pardon me for the paradox here), it seems to me
that jhaana (2) 3 and 4 are related to samma-vi'mutti - but then, this is
only an intuition.

As for jhaana arising by themselves in due time, or rather being mastered
intentionally... Well, this is delicate. Nothing would happen without
appamaada (heedfulness), but on the other hand to progress to vi'mutti in
Buddhist meditation it's quite clear that the meditant must be no one,
going nowhere. In due time, yes, but after much appamaada. Intentionally,
yes, but when time has come for the intention to go. As an analogy, I think
of a classical dancer. So much work, so much effort, so much strength. And
then, when there is action, there is no more A dancer, but pure, fluid
dance, without any apparent effort.

Presently, my difficulty is the passage to 3rd jhâna, not to mention the
4th, but I am not too worried, I know it will happen in due course, if I
continue to practise gently but firmly.

---------------------------------------------

From Frank:

Can you say more about Kangaroo island, and the
dhamma activity there? I'm planning on retiring very
soon to pursue full time dhamma practice, and
currently my plan is to head to Hawaii (like you I
love nature), but I've heard some things from friends
about the economic advantages (of the us dollar)
living in Australia or New Zealand, so naturally I am
curious to learn more about it, especially if there is
a thriving community of dhamma practitioners.
--------

Well, Kangaroo Island has 4'200 people - one of the rare place on Earth not
yet over-populated - one inhabitant per square km. The community of Dhamma
practitioners around Buddhayatana in American River (ca 200 inhabitants) I
would not qualify of thriving (though it's not less "thriving" that the
local Christian Church...), only beginning modestly - but it's there, and
my wife and myself we strongly intend to nurture it until it matures.
We have bought enough land (11 ha) in American River to allow for a
reasonably-sized community of people wishing to work for the Dhamma. We go
progressively, first we work for the sangha of practitionners on the Island
to become firm. Then, we will invite a bhikkhu(nii). From there, around
this nexus, there could be both more monks, and a full-fledged lay
community, all working together, each person in its own quality and
qualification.

As for financial matters... The USD shall not remained over-valued for much
longer. On the other hand, the AUD is not exactly a strong currency... so
it is quite possible that a retiree with USD source of revenue might find
some andvantage to live in Australia where spending would be in AUD.
Personnally, if economically the project seems sound, I would first visit
Kangaroo Island to make it sure that the place is one I would love to live
on. So, dear Frank, next time you go to Australia, come to visit us and see
for yourself.

------------------
From Yong-Peng:

The books from Khuddaka Nikaaya and available in English translation(s) are:
(1) Khuddakapaa.tha
(2) Dhammapada
(3) Udaana
(4) Itivuttaka
(5) Sutta-Nipaata
(6) Vimaanavatthu
(7) Petavatthu
(8) Theragaathaa
(9) Theriigaathaa
(10) Jaataka
(12) Pa.tisambhidaamagga
(14) Buddhava.msa
(15) Cariyaapi.taka

No known/published English translation:
(11) Niddesa
(13) Apadaana

[An Analysis of the Pali Canon, Russell Webb, Wheel Publication 217/220]

2. If I did not remember wrongly, the study of Dasa.ngika Magga had
been done by Japanese or Taiwanese scholars. I will keep in mind and
update the group when I come across any such references.
-------
It would be interesting to have your input on this matter dear Yong-Peng.
Not that I find it important as a matter of doctrine, but it does seem to
me to be relevant in a practical sense, for walking on the Path.

Is there any Web site where it would be possible to find an English version
of (12) Pa.tisambhidaamagga?

Again, thank you to everyone of the Pali-sangha. Merci.

Mettacittena,

Jivasattha Gabriel Bittar



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I I
I Jacqueline "Jîvarakkhî" Bittar I
I Dr Gabriel "Jîvasattha" Bittar, I
I PhD University of Geneva I
I email: bittar@... I
I bittar@... I
I phone +61 8 8553 7442 , fax +61 8 8553 7444 I
I mob. ph. +61 4 2743 5148 I
I I
I Institut Suisse de Bioinformatique I
I Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics I
I http://www.isb-sib.ch/DEA/plan_etudes.html I
I I
I À Bientôt Seayu Lodge, I
I http://kangaroo-island-au.com/seayu_eng.html I
I et http://kangaroo-island-au.com/seayu_fre.html I
I und http://kangaroo-island-au.com/seayu_deu.html I
I I
I Buddhâyatana, buddhayatana@... I
I http://kangaroo-island-au.com/buddhayatana.html I
I I
I 4/5 Warawee road / 34 Falie court I
I PO box 281, American River, Kangaroo Island I
I South Australia 5221 I
I I
I GMT +9h30 (allow for +1h when "summer time" in SA) I
I I
I a'niccâ vata san'khârâ I
I ( a'niccaa vata san'khaaraa ) I
I "impermanent are structural fluxes" I
I "instables sont les flux structurels" I
I Siddhârtha (Siddhaartha) Gautama Buddha I
I I
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