Pañña - Understanding the Dhamma in the Proper way

Vesak

Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death
of the Buddha

Vesak (Vesakha) is a holiday observed by Buddhists in countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Tibet, Bhutan, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia. Vesak is also known as "Buddha Purnima," "Buddha Day," "Buddha's Birthday," or "Buddha Jayanthi day." Furthermore, Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nibbhana), and death (Parinibbhana) of Gautama Buddha.

Vesak is celebrated on the full moon day on the 5th or 6th lunar month based on the Buddhist calendar and according to the Therevada Tradition. This year, the full moon Uposatha day falls on the 3rd of May.

On Vesak, Buddhist devotees will assemble at temples to recite, and pay homage to the triple-gems. In addition, Buddhist practitioners, would take oil lamps (symbolising the dispelling the darkness of ignorance), flowers (knowing that the flowers will fade like our bodies and other conditioned phenomena), and incense sticks (made of fragrant substances in respect of the Master who dispelled the darkness of ignorance). In some temples with a Bodhi tree (ficus religiosa), devotees would pour a cup-full of fresh water on the trunk of the tree not to think about helping the tree grow, but most importantly, to contemplate on the tree that represents the Buddha and his enlightenment under the tree where the Dhamma eventually spread all over the world for the happiness of all beings. 

Vesak by Gangarama

In many countries where Buddhism is practiced, homes would be decorated with illuminated lanterns and buddhist flags posted as well. Streets would be decorated with strips of colours that represent the buddhist flag. Many charitable homes would have long tables with offerings (dansal) of food and beverages to any devotee the aged, the handicapped, the sick, and the impoverished. Alcoholic establishments are supposed to be closed on Vesak as devout Buddhists will nourish themselves with vegetarian meals. 

Moreover, on Vesak, Buddhists would not just pay homage to the Buddha by offering flowers, oil lamps, or incense sticks, but also to meditate, live peacefully, learn the Dhamma, practice the Dhamma, follow the eight precepts, and strive to ensure that young individuals are able to follow the teachings of the Buddha, as the Dhamma is the eternal law that is unconditioned.

Thorana (pandal) in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Vesak isn't a public holiday in certain countries and the way Vesak is celebrated is different but harbour the same principles pertaining to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. From the holy temple at Swayambhu in Nepal to the Borobudur temple in Indonesia, many Buddhists and non-Buddhists will assemble at the temple and contemplate on the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away. However in Sri Lanka, Vesak is celebrated for one week. The sale of meat and alcohol is usually prohibited. One of the differences among other countries is how well-lit pandals (thoranas) are structured and placed at various religious places or major intersections in cities, illustrating a story from one of the past lives of the Buddha (jathaka katha). Buddhist devotional songs are also heard from loudspeakers set up in various areas. 

On this Vesak Day, the 3rd of May, I wish all my Dhamma friends from around the world, peace, and prosperity on our stream through this mass suffering of samsara to the end (Nibbhana). I wish for the happiness, and tranquility of all beings in all corners of the universe be it dark or bright from the support of beings from celestial realms, protection from illnesses, nightmares, corrupt authorities, thieves, fire, flood, evil spirits planetary influences, quarantines, wrong views and misconceptions, uncivilised people, ferocious animals, ghosts and other evil beings. I wish for all beings to be free from harm and danger, free from mental suffering, free from physical suffering, and taking care of themselves blissfully.

Namo Buddhaya!

Photos: http://junaidi.deviantart.com/art/Vesak-2557-372981492, http://tuanfawaz.deviantart.com/art/Vesak-lights-at-gangarama-1-300692520

The Origin and Cessation of Suffering

Figure 1

Just like the title of this blog, we shall focus closely on 'right view.' Some refer to it as perfect understanding. However, it's best to refer to the pali word 'samma-ditthi'. This is the first factor of the noble eightfold path and it is crucial to the way we bring an end of our sufferings that has been going on for eternity.

This post will feature just two images pertaining to the detailed analysis of the way suffering begins and the way suffering should end in a step by step method of understanding that is  critical to the buddhist way of thinking. Figure 1 simply shows the way in which sufferings begin. According to MN-38.17 (The Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving), the Buddha provides the order of how conditions are dependent on other conditions to come to be but unfortunately lead to suffering. Moreover, ignorance as a condition leads to volition/formations, formations as a condition in turn will lead to consciousness that becomes a condition and the same process continues to mentality-materiality to six-fold sense base; to contact; feeling; craving; clinging; being; birth; ageing and death; that in turn leads to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair.

Nonetheless, after a noble disciple learns the process of dependent origination, he/she must make effort to reverse the process. Henceforth, the teachings by Venerable Sariputta as mentioned in MN-9 (Right View) gives us insight in the detailed analysis of the conditions and what must be done to eradicate suffering in the reverse order method with right view. In addition, it is key to first construct our wisdom and knowledge of the conditions, (1) what they are, (2) how they arise, (3) how they cease, and also (4) know the way that that particular condition ceases, necessary to eliminate sufferings (figure 2).

Figure 2

Sources:
Mahatanhasankhaya Sutta/The Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving
Right View/Sammaditthi Sutta

The significance of Poya days

In Sri Lanka, Poya full moon days are holidays. On such days, the sale of meat and alcohol are forbidden. In my visits to Sri Lanka in the past, I noticed that regular television shows are either paused or skipped and Dhamma talks are broadcasted in most channels. Many people go to temples and follow the eight precepts. Poya is a Sinhalese word, that comes from the Pali word Uposatha meaning "to fast". Many of these full moon days occur every month and signify important events during the Buddha's time and during the dispensation. Sometimes a full moon can occur twice a month. In the image below the list of full moon days are mentioned, and the reason why they are commemorated.

Note: The poya day in Novemeber is Ill/il in case you were wondering. The letters seem identical.

Source: http://www.srilanka.travel/srilankan_public_holidays

Image: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Full-Moon-113210615

The Evolution and Devolution of Humans

Just so you all know this is my first ever blog. This blog is a reference and I hope you consider this as a learning point. If I mention any suttas/sutras, do take the time to read them as they will really help in understanding the Buddha’s teachings.

Good luck!

Intro

A wheel-turning monarch? No one in this world would have any idea of what such a term means. It’s simply because a wheel-turning monarch would not even exist in a world like this. Especially when the lifespan of humans is less than 100 years! It just makes no sense to people today to have a ruler who rules a large continent or more as the world today is made up of independent states with political boundaries.

Who is a wheel-turning monarch? A wheel-turning monarch is a ruler who rules the world without a sword. He rules justly by abiding by the law or Dhamma. He has a wheel treasure and asks a man if the wheel slips from its position. If the wheel slips, the man will have to report and notify the king. In that period, there is no poverty, because the king distributes wealth to all the people. He also doesn’t have issues relating to war because he controls a large portion of the land by four quarters and all the people abide by his laws. Furthermore, the king rules by the Dhamma, meaning people have understood to harbour wholesome thoughts and practise good deeds they are aware, so that they reap good results in due time.

Interesting? Today a king would have a sword, or a royal army to protect the king. A president may not have a gun or a sword but his military personnel or body guards are there to protect him and the nation. This isn't the scenario in the era of a wheel turning monarch where fighting and hatred are unheard of and if known, they are to be curbed. That great period for humans is a period without theft, use of weapons, killing, lying, speaking ill-will of others, adultery, harsh speech, false opinions, incest, excessive greed, deviant practices, or lack of respect of elders, parents, and monks. Unfortunately, today, the world is run by rulers not by the Dhamma. If it was, the people would have one salary and no group would be well off than another. Everyone would be happy. However, today, many rulers fail to rule justly since nations depend on trade, consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources, sustenance of monetary or economic values, defense of the country from threats, and so on.  

Explanation of the Suttas

I highly recommend reading the Aganna Sutta (DN, 27), Brahmajala Sutta (DN, 1), and the Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta (DN, 26) as they interrelate and mention how humans came into being. The Aganna sutta and Brahmajala sutta are the most interrelated as they describe the beginning of time and what the world was before humans existed. They explain what happened for humans to come into existence and provide us with details on how humans developed unwholesome and wholesome thoughts that can be reflected onto this world for us to prove that what the Buddha said was true. For instance the dependence on food lead to celestial like beings, to become coarser and less attractive while they were once independent on nutrition and self-luminous. Has anyone seen a self-luminous person today or rice that grows ready for us to eat, or a tasty mushroom that has the colour of butter and tastes like pure wild honey? 

The Cakkavatti-Sihanada sutta mentions an ongoing cycle where humans once live in harmony but eventually greed, hatred and ignorance lead to humans living for shorter time-periods unlike their predecessors, and what happens when they stop killing at a time when the lifespan is only 10 years. This sutta can greatly help us reflect on the world today and help us identify and check-mark the unwholesome deeds and thoughts such as lying, killing, and adultery and understanding why us humans don’t deserve to be born in a time where the lifespan of the world is 80,000 years. Can we see theft, crime, poverty, arrogance, and incest. If we check-mark yes to all of them, then yes we do live in a time when the lifespan of us humans is less than 100 years! The sutta will help us think about ourselves and what we need to do to be better such as attaining Nibbana (Nirvana) so that we don’t continue forever living in unpleasant times.

The future (2015 and beyond)

Since we live in a time when the lifespan is less than 100 years, we should think what the world could come to in the future. For instance, we highly depend on the Internet, but many of us cannot stand an Internet speed of 56k. We also watch a lot of television. Improvements in picture clarity from 720p HD to 1080p Full HD to 4K Ultra HD means we are become ever more greedy for the best picture clarity. Anything less than 1080 or 720p is going to make us angry and jealous and envious of those who own the best televisions. That was just one example. The same applies to whatever one likes be it music, cars, sports, fashion, and much more. We are also followers of the media where supposedly the most intelligent, the most beautiful, and the most prosperous are seen on TV or heard on the radio and everyone tries to become like them instead of having confidence in oneself. Today most people lack confidence in themselves since they don’t think rationally as they either depend on a celestial being or a popular idol to ensure that they are on the correct path instead of thinking about themselves, and understand how to improve themselves. One could further argue that the current state of the media and the social structures will lead to the end of the Dhamma.

The end of Buddhism

The end of the Dhamma according to the Anagata-vamsa will be as follows:

Passing away of teachings:

1.  The disappearance of the attainments
2.  The disappearance of the method
3.  The disappearance of the learning
4.  The disappearance of the symbols
5.  The disappearance of the relics

1. The disappearance of the attainments:

• Monks will be able to acquire the analytical/deep knowledge known as Arahantship (full sainthood), up to 1000 years after the passing away of the Buddha
• There comes a time when humans will only be able to become Anagami (Non-returners)
• Then there will be a time when monks can only become Sakadagami (Once returners)
• Then, a time when only the fruit of Sotappana (Stream-entry) can be achieved
• Last, after the death of the last Sotapanna, the attainments will disappear

2. The disappearance of the Method:

• There comes a time when the disciples unable to attain any of the four fruits of sainthood, and will only practice the four purities:

1.      Restraint with regard to disciplinary code for monks

2.      Restraint of the senses

3.      Purity with regard to one’s livelihood

4.      Morality with regard to the four requisites

• As time goes on they will keep the discipline of the four deadly sins:

1.      Refraining from sexual conduct

2.      Refraining from taking that which is not given to them

3.      Refraining from killing human beings

4.      Refraining from claiming to have attained the four spiritual levels

• When the last monk has broken the precepts, or dies, the method will disappear

3. The disappearance of the Learning

• A time comes when Kings or other position of authority are irreligious, this causes people to become irreligious as well.
• Famine, drought, and scarcity of food will become prevalent
• The devotees will stop providing the four requirements to the monks (robes, alms, support for the sick, and dwelling places)
• People will not join the order and the knowers won’t teach the novices
• Learning will slowly disappear
• The Abhidhamma will disappear
• Next, the Sutta-Pitaka (Anguttara Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Majjhima-Nikaya, and the Digha Nikaya) will disappear.
• The jataka stories slowly disappear
• Further, the Vinnaya Pitaka begins to disappear
• People will be unable to recall the four lines of the Dhamma
• Learning will disappear

4. The disappearance of the symbols

• Monks will deteriorate
• They will discard the robe and have a yellow strip of cloth
• They will take a trade and support a child and wife
• As time goes on they will give up this symbol of the Sangha and begin to kills animals and birds
• The symbols will disappear

5. The disappearance of the relics

• The relics of the Buddha will not receive honour and respect
• The relics from all over the world of men, Gods and Brahmas will congregate together under the great Bodhi tree
• The Gods will form an effigy and perform a miracle and will teach the doctrine
• The Gods will cry out saying “The One possessing the ten forces will pass into Nibbana.”
• They then weep saying, “From henceforth we shall be in darkness.”
• The relics will put forth flames and burn the effigy

The burning of the effigy will be the last day of Buddhism marking 5000 years after the Gotama Buddha’s passing away. Then on, the world leads into chaos with people soon become ever more violent as morality declines. The lifespan goes decreasing as human beings wouldn’t know the meaning of morality. That would be the worst time to be born as a human as one may know who their parents are but wouldn’t know the moral meaning of a parent and thus no one acts in a wholesome manner. The lowest lifespan is 10 years with women reaching child barring age at 5! Interestingly the sutta mentions that tastes of salt, sugar, and butter will also disappear when humans live short lives. Something not mentioned is that world population is expected to be high and crowded as everyone commits adultery and children are produced.

A new beginning

There comes a time when the people who live up to the age of 10 prey on other humans with swords. This is called the sword interval. A mother takes on a son, Father for daughter, father for son, brother for brother, uncle for… so on and so forth. It is going to be a bloody interval. But the population could decrease since everyone kills everyone for seven days (1 week). Nonetheless, there’s a group of humans that think killing is fruitless and it is of no use killing because they are not happy and repeatedly lament. They then go into a solitary place such as a forest and stay there until the bloodshed is over. They begin to realise the bad deeds their fellow people made and continue to unwrap  wholesome thoughts such as not killing. Later, they stop stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and drinking. The lifespan then increases from 10 to 20 and all the way up to 80,000 years where a new wheel turning monarch rules the four quarters of the world through his Dhamma/Law. At that time there will be 3 diseases: Old age/decay, hunger/thirst, and desires.

The period of the Metteya Buddha

There is a lot of information on the Metteya Buddha on Google and it is quite an interesting subject. According to the commentaries, the Metteya Buddha will be born during a wheel turning monarch’s reign. Due to the fact that the wheel turning monarch conquers through virtue, wisdom, and righteousness in a large part of the continent, the teachings of the Metteya Buddha could spread fast in a large spatial region covering what is not just India, but also the Middle East, Northern Asia, Eastern Asia and later beyond these areas just like the Gotama Buddha’s teachings have spread over the years especially during King Asoka’s time.

Metteya Buddha will teach just the Dhamma like the Gotama Buddha excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, and excellent in conclusion as many beings will attain the fruits of enlightenment. However, after the Metteya Buddha’s dispensation, there comes a time (100,000 world cycles) where no Buddhas will appear. The reason for a long period could be that many have attained enlightenment and there won’t be many virtuous followers for a long time. Nonetheless, there will be an infinitude of Buddhas in the future and an infinitude of disciples; a never-ending process of evolution, and devolution; rising, and falling, it is our job to leave the never ending journey of mass madness and progress to never experience the samsaric journey of ignorance, hatred, and delusion ever again.

Last, I have included a video by Bhante Anandajoti on the Aganna Sutta and the Cakavatti-Sihanada Sutta: