Food for Thought #56
Merely studying the Dhamma yields speculation or hypothetical knowledge based on reasoning; penetrating insight occurs in the minds of those who have experienced truth in the course of their studies. True practice of the Dhamma involves piercing the curtain of ignorance.
Food for Thought ❖ อาหารของดวงใจ
This work is a discussion of different kinds of food that is simultaneously intended to be fodder for thought and further contemplation that can lead beyond normal thought. In this text, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu consistently makes a distinction between two kinds of "food" or sustenance—physical and spiritual (or "mental"); through a variety of teachings and examples he discusses what it means to be "hungry" in terms of physical senses and spiritual needs. The overall theme of this work involves showing the difference between the quests for these two different kinds of food and the values associated with and derived from each type of seeking. His similes and metaphors dealing with food are especially clear and useful as teaching devices since they strike so close to home.
Dhamma Q&A with Students from Puget Sound University
“My question has to do with kamma and duty. It seems to me that there are two different duties, a higher one and a lower one: one to the self or to the ridding of the self, and one for the community, to society. I was wondering which duty comes first. An example that I thought of was an animal that was struck by a car that was still alive but in deep suffering and he would die in time. You had a duty to the animal in the sense of society to end his pain, but you also have the duty to the self of not killing the animal to end the pain.”
The Rules Do Not Limit the Compassion
Two monks arriving at a river ford noticed a beautiful young woman sitting under a tree, crying. She told them that she was frightened and lost and didn’t dare to cross the swift-flowing river by herself. The younger of the monks felt sorry for the woman.
Food for Thought #55
A person can experience penetrating insight into disturbances and delusions, into phenomena that could overcome the mind because it could not keep up with them. This insight severs the roots of all types of delusions: it does away with doubts related to misunderstanding, misguided infatuations, hatred, and confusion. It makes the mind supremely bright, calm, and tranquil.
Dhamma Q&A with Students from Puget Sound University
“We have read “Dhammic Socialism,” and in “Dhammic Socialism” a caste system based on function and responsibility is discussed. We have also learned that the Buddha rejected the caste system in India. So I was wondering if Ajahn Buddhadasa could please explain what he means by caste and how it is to function in dhammic socialism?”
Practising Mindfulness of Precepts
The most effective means to ensure that our actions and speech remain in harmony with our values is practising mindfulness of precepts. When we commit ourselves to the precepts and frequently reflect on them, we create the conditions for them to pop up in our mind whenever the intention to transgress arises.
Food for Thought #54
Controlling the senses gives the mind a break and stops it from being bombarded by impressions; we can cease being controlled by impressions, whether good or bad. The deep rest that comes from gaining control of the senses serves as food for the mind, food that will sustain us in our efforts to attain higher levels of spiritual practice.
In Samsara Exists Nibbana ❖ ในวัฏฏสงสารมีนิพพาน
To the ordinary person, samsara is generally thought of as something differed and opposed to Nirvana (Pali: Vatta: Nibbana): man is always roaming in this whirlpool of samsara until he reaches out at Nibbana. But I would like to propose here that Nibbana does exist in that very whirlpool. The wise man, searching without external effort, can discover it, but the fool cannot; and it is the matter of one’s own ability. — What is the basis for saying this? —
Dhamma Q&A with Students from Puget Sound University
“How does compassion arise if you’ve detached yourself so much that you are not affected by the people suffering? How far does the detachment go?”
No True Conflict between the Two
Theravāda takes a rather modest and downbeat approach to helping others. Whereas the Bodhisattva vow states boldly, ‘Suffering beings are beyond number; I vow to save them all’ the Theravāda are more circumspect.
Food for Thought #53
To put this another way, overcoming the power of the senses is accomplished by bringing actions and speech under control, which is called "ethics"; bringing the mind under control is called "concentration "; and using a trained mind to attain deep, difficult truths and understand them with clarity is called "wisdom" - a wisdom that is able to channel the senses in a proper direction only.
Why Were We Born? ❖ เกิดมาทำไม
In this booklet the Ven. Buddhadasa examines the perennial questions "Why was I born? what am I living for? What is the purpose of life?" The answer he gives is that man's task in life is to break free from the bondage of his own mental processes.
Dhamma Q&A with Students from Puget Sound University
“Ajahn Buddhadasa has written that with the proper understanding of Dhamma language it’s possible to recognize the common message of all religions. How is it possible to convey this commonality using everyday language to religious zealots who do not seem to comprehend the Dhamma language of their own tradition?”
Three Key Kinds of Intoxication
Looking back on my teenage years, wandering alone through places like Afghanistan, I am struck by how reckless I could be at times. It is tempting to look on my attitude on such occasions as fearless. But, in fact, it was simply intoxication.
Food for Thought #52
According to Buddhism, we overcome the power of the senses by abstaining from evil and performing good deeds instead. After this, we try to find a way to purity the mind and keep it free from the root causes of depression, revealing the easily and not - so - easily seen - including all bad habits that serve as a catalyst in the incessant formation of bad habits.
Exchanging Dhamma While Fighting ❖ รบกันพลางแลกธรรมกันพลาง
Our world nowadays has fallen into the whirlpool of danger, so much so that we inevitably have to solve the problems arising from this situation by the method of ‘exchanging Dhamma while fighting’. But those who are fighting have never realised this truth and they may not even be ready to listen to it. This is the point I have taken here to complain about. When things are like this what should we do? This is the point that I want to present for discussion.
Dhamma Q&A with Students from Puget Sound University
“If everything goes according to Dhamma and the natural law, including the mind which is naturally free of impurities, then how is it that the idea of self, which arises instinctually, is unnatural and impure and needs to be gotten rid of?”
The Great Master’s Treasure
To most householders, the accumulation of wealth seems the best way to provide a safety net for the uncertain future. This is reasonable: there is no question that material resources have an important role to play. But the wise give equal precedence to less tangible preparations.
Food for Thought #51
The study of the principles of the Dhamma is a major factor in controlling and overcoming the senses; as the senses are overcome, increasing tranquility and realization are experienced. Tranquility comes from stilling the senses; realization of the truth comes from opening the curtain of sense - related frustration that has obstructed your view for so long.