Buddhism

Created 2022-10-29 (2014-02-26) Updated 2025-02-23

AN 1.51

Monks, this mind is radiant but, it is defiled by invading negative thoughts. An ordinary person who does not understand the Buddha's teachings, does not realise this. So I say that the ordinary person who does not understand the Buddha's teaching is not capable of developing his mind.

AN.5.57: Upajjhatthana Sutta (Five subjects for contemplation)

Five rememberances:

• I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing
• I am sure to become ill; I cannot avoid illness
• I am sure to die; I cannot avoid death
• I must be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me
• I am the owner of my actions, heir of my actions, actions are the womb (from which I have sprung), actions are my relations, actions are my protection. Whatever actions I do, good or bad, of these I shall become the heir.

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AN.8.53: Dānavatthusutta (Reasons for giving)

There are eight reasons for giving:

• out of affection
• in an angry mood
• out of stupidty
• out of fear
• "Such gifts have been given before by my father and grandfather and it was done by them before; hence it would be unworthy of me to give up this old family tradition"
• "By giving this gift, I shall be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world, after death"
• because of thinking "When giving this gift, my heart will be glad, and happiness and joy will arise in me"
• it ennobles and adorns the mind.

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MN 20 Removal of distracting thoughts

If unwholesome thoughts arise, the following remedies should be applied in the order shown:

• give attention to something wholesome instead
• examine the danger of remaining with the unwholesome thought
• try to forget those thoughts, and not give attention to them
• give attention to stilling the thought-formation of those thoughts
• crush mind with mind

MN 52:4 Atthakanagara Sutta (The man from Atthakanagara)

Says that it is possible to obtain nibbana in the first jhana.

Here, householder ... enters ... in the first jhana. He considers this ... "is conditioned and volitionally produced. But whatever is conditioned and volitionally produced is impermanent, subject to cessation." If he is steady in that, he attains the destruction of the taints.

Unclassified

David Johnson described "thinking an examining thought" as:

What that is is the wholesome observation thought that comes up. "Oh - this is so interesting... etc." It is not hindrances. It is also the act of putting your mind on the lovingkindness and then sustaining the feeling.

EXITS

Anguttara Nikaya

Anguttara Nikaya, relating to giving

Samatha Vipassana Dhammasuka Google Group