--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "rjkjp1" <rjkjp1@...> wrote:

>
> Dear Venerable Sujato,
> Welcome back to the list, hope you had a profitable vassa.
> I agree with much of your message below as I think the technique
> orientation of some of these meditation courses is something new,
> and hence questionable, in Theravada. Haven:t read the article yet
> but if you want to continue the discussion let me know and i will
> study them and give my opinion.
> with respect
> robertk
>
> --- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Bhante Sujato" <sujato@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi> technique, i never tell them to change it, unless it seems

to

> be
> > harmful. There was one woman on a retreat i was teaching who had
> > been doing Goenka technique for many years, and felt like her
> > emotions had just been bleached dry. She was desparate, and on

the

> > verge of giving up meditation altogether, so i encouraged her to
> do
> > some metta to try to juice her heart up again.
> >
> > But normally I just try to support whatever practice they are
> doing.
> > Only if they ask will i discuss the controversial issues around
> > meditation, as these hardly help the actual problem.
> >
> > I hope no-one feels offended, but i really feel like i've said

all

> i
> > have to say on this issue, and will try to avoid geting drawn

into

> > further discussions, particularly as i will be very busy in the
> > upcoming period. (I'm off to Singapore and Malaysia in a few

days

> > and will catch up with Piya, Ven Kumara and other Pali groupies).
> >
> > in Dhamma
> >
> > bhante Sujato
> >


>Hello friends

`Meditative attainments, Hindu, Jhana, I, me, mine'…
Re reading it, I acknowledge a further gratitude to
Ajahn BrahmaVamso, whose enlightened comments on the
The path helped much.
Connected to that, and further the discussion about
`(Panna natti) ajhayato'. (DhammaPada 372)
My former thought was that it is
Connected to `ajja'- `breaking-up, analyses: which was a wrong
assumption.

`>the root of jhaayati to burn
is jhaa. The corresponding Sanskrit root is k.saa. In
Middle Indic languages k.s becomes jh. This explains
the Paali root jhaa and the verb jhaayati. Since
Sanskrit dhy becomes jh in Paali, the root jhaa to
meditate from Sanskrit dhyaa, and the root jhaa to
burn have become indistinguishable.

>(Quote: thanks to Dr.Pind.)

taking the word root `jha' as `meditation',
Of a more general `practice' than Samantha only, also in order to
avoid The partiality on the question of Vipassana/Samatha.

"Monks, these are the four developments of concentration. Which
four? There is the development of concentration that, when developed
& pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now. There is
the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued,
leads to the attainment of knowledge & vision. There is the
development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads
to mindfulness & alertness. There is the development of
concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the ending of
the effluents.
...

"And what is the development of concentration that, when developed &
pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now? There is the
case where a monk — quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from
unskillful qualities — enters & remains in the first jhana:'...
(angutara nikaya. samadhisutta)

but an opposing view, suggesting the importance of Jhanaa
is the Sandaka Sutta (m.n.)
Where habits (Sila – Bhikkhu Bodhi translation)
Are removed by general observation of morality Sila
(Here, and at the scheme of the `limbs of enlightenment'
Sila is represented by Viriya or Vayamo, effort.).

Intentions are removed by Sama Samadhi only:
Unwholesome intentions by the practice of the First Jhana,
Wholesome intentions by the practice of the second Jhana.


The science and practice of Samatha is not recommended to those with
a sluggish,And slowest mind set.
And investigation of phenomena is not for the emotional, too quick,
person.
(The discourse on fire, Aggi Sutta, Bhojjanga Samyuta)

The practice, the life of the good and the intelligent than is
balancing the deep formative, psychological conditioning we, and the
world, in response, have.
The middle way, as the Blessed one declares, that leads to
understanding, to dispassion, to wisdom, to light, to freedom.

Possibly, the Blessed one early, original teaching were
Of a Samatha nature as influenced by the Indian context.

Still, there are arahats who are `released by wisdom' only,
As they do not `experience with their bodies' the blissful states.
(Since the AruupaJhanas are associated with the mind only (4th
Jhana),
And `can be known by purified mind-consciousness released from the
five faculties'
(MahaVeddalaSutta. M.N. 43).
They cannot constitute the discriminative advantage of the `one
released in both ways'
Ubhayovimuti).

It seems that the Blessed one made his teachings open as to enable
the benefits to the greater audience.
include, correct,' bring to light', elucidate and show the full way
of religion,
The path to enlightenment, as distinctly.
Accrediting also the earthly needs of the pottujjajana,
An added benefit of the samatha practice is the need to be
protected from defilements,
to illuminate the way of the monk, a `professional', a `swan' who
easily, gracefully surpasses the `crow' of a mundane bound
individuals.

I had come to the teaching from a yoga background,
Jnana was a breed of yoga, and Samadhi the highest goal…
There was an emphasis on the `now' the present ability to experience
bliss,
The psycho analytical logical process somewhat disregarded,
And belief was everything.
Often, in retrospective, the Sivananda yoga school seemed like a
very good way of life.
but in the wild east, tags seems to matter much,
Almost a punishable offence…

the yoga people I knew were really caring, helpfull people, I do
wonder sometimes weather as a yoga teacher wasn't I doing better for
the world?
It seems sometimes hard to believe the deep long term implications
that intentions and right understanding can have.

Also do some traveling soon, the wandering jubu… India is a dream
but I need a kapakaro, A care taker there, so Thailand probably,
where a monk can go with no money
Bangkok is Wat Sanghathan ; Ajahn Katapunno's simple and power full
books
Are on the net, highly recommended.

Love to all.

Avera hotnu

Jothiko Bhikkhu

p.s
If anyone contemplate ordination,
I suggest doing so as soon as possible,
The road is long; there is much to do,
A chance is as rare as obtaining a human life.