How To Get Through The Samsara
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This age is the age of information. And information technology is growing fast. Everything seems to be obtained easily through a proper approach. The chance never comes twice. What that chance is being born as a human being.
This human realm is the most capable realm in 31 planes of existence. No other realm excels human realm as man is always courageous and excels other Sattas in terms of courage and Sati. Man has the best Sati. Most Deva and Brahma drift away on their own achievement and they forget to search Dhamma.
Anicca and Dukkha are much more readily perceivable in Manussa realm as man has better Sati than any other Deva or Brahma. In lower realms like Peta, Asura, animals and Niriya or hell, there is a little or little or even no chance to do good deed. Therefore, the best realm is Manussa or human realm, where Bodhisatta develops into Sammasambuddha.
As we all are human beings, the most capable and with richest courage and Sati, now let's focus on Sati. With Sati, we look back. Alas! ....there have been many many lives we have lived infinitely. We have lived. That is not a problem. What is problem is how many lives we have to live in our Samsara.
The problem will never come to an end without developing special wisdom that have penetrative and analytical and directly realizable in nature. These kinds of wisdom are Magga Nana and Phala Nana. As soon as we pass the first gate of Magga, Samsara will have been limited and shortened. When we attain Arahatta Magga, we are ready to get through the Samsara.
May all beings get through the Samsara
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Sattas who have attained Arahatta Magga are READY to get through the Samsara. We have lived many many lives, infinite lives. These lives are on the wheel of Lives that is also called Samsara. The wheel is rotating without any interruption.
This means that life after life is going on endlessly. If this phenomenon is not recognized, the wheel will be rotating as long as lives exist. Lives have to exist as Kamma dictates. Kamma have to arise, as KAMMA SEEDS are being cultivated. Sattas are cultivating Kamma as they do NOT REALIZE the realities.
Realities are realities and they are always true in ultimate sense. These ultimate realities are CITTA , CETASIKA, RUPA, and NIBBANA.
CITTA is an ultimate reality. It is the nature that is aware of object or Arammana. It is conscious to sense or object or Arammana. Basing on this character, there is only one Citta. According to its character, it just knows the Arammana. So it is primarily pure, innocent, radiant and luminous. Cittas are in the first group of ultimate realities.
However, Citta never arises in isolation but arises with other associated mental factors called CETASIKAS. It is these Cetasikas that give Citta different names. Depending on what Cetasikas accompany, there are 89 Cittas or 89 states of consciousness. Cetasikas are included in the second group of ultimate realities. There are 52 Cetasikas and each has their specific typical character. All 52 Cetasikas have general characters as well. Each Citta and each Cetasika will be delineated in the coming posts.
The third group of ultimate realities is RUPA . Rupa are bases. Rupa base for Nama Dhamma both Citta and Cetasika. Rupa also base for Rupa. Rupa have their own characters. Characteristic of Rupa is its changeability. Rupa are subjected to change and they are influenced by Kamma, Citta, Utu, and Ahara. Each of Rupa, Kamma, Utu, Ahara, interactions of Rupa and their four causes will be discussed in the coming posts.
The fourth group of ultimate realities is NIBBANA . Nibbana is an absolute peace as all kinds of fire have been extinguished. These kinds of fire are shaping and forming the existing events, happenings and situations. Fire are mental conditioners or Cetasikas. As conditioned, different kinds of Citta has to arise. Kamma have to arise in connection with Citta. Arisen Rupa are further conditioned by Utu and Ahara. And new and new Rupa have to grow in quantity and they proliferate infinitely and endlessly.
While fire extinguish, and as sources are no more available, no new Nama ( Citta and Cetasikas ) and no new Rupa arise. As there is no Sankhata Dhatu of Nama and Rupa, the Asankhata Dhatu Nibbana is absolute peace and it is not to be compared with Sankhata Dhatu of Citta, Cetasika, and Rupa. This is the fourth group of ultimate realities Nibbana. Nibbana will be discussed in due course.
Sattas are growing Kamma as they do not realize these four ultimate realities. To realize these realities, penetrative wisdom Magga Nana is needed. Here I would like to introduce another Dhamma which is not an ultimate reality but essential to convey the meaning of all realities. It serves as a ' vehicle ' and it is called PANNATTA. Panatta is needed to bring up the necessary information. To do the complete work, Panatta is put into a section and conventional truths are laid down through Panatta so that the complete sense of Satta Loka, Okasa Loka, and Sankhara Lokacan can fully be realized. Panatta will also appear in the coming posts in due course.
So far a good summary of Dhamma has been introduced. Before approaching ' how to get through the Samsara ' , it is necessary to understand the Samsara. As mentioned above the Samsara is nothing but the rotating wheel of lives that is arising of life after life without any interruption. In the conventional sense, life has to be defined again. A life is an existence which starts with Patisandhi Citta, persists throughout the lifespan and ends with the end of Cuti Citta. The whole series Patisandhi, Bhavangha ( alternate with Vithi Citta if there is a sense to respond ) , Cuti Citta and associated Cetasikas and Rupa constitute a life.
The whole life again is refered to as a Satta in conventional sense. Depending in the characters that constitute a Satta, there are different Sattas. Where they arise is known as Bhumi or plane of existence. Sattas are groupped and according to character of the group, there are 31 plane of existence or Bhumis. Bearing the conventional sense in mind, there is no Satta that does not include in any of 31 Bhumis. There is no extra Bhumi apart from 31 planes of existence. There is no temporary Bhumi or resting Bhumi or resting state for Sattas. This means that any given Satta has to be exactly a member of one of 31 Bhumis. These Bhumis will be discussed in the coming posts.
Where are we now ? We are exactly in human realm. Each is rushing through Bhavangha ( Vithi Cittas arise if there arises a sense to respond ) as Patisandhi has arisen. And each of us will end in this very life with Cuti Citta, which again will immediately be followed by next Patisandhi Citta as long as we have not attained Arahatta Magga.
Now we know the point where we are. The destination of the Samsara is still unpredictable as the wheel is still rotating. But what can be seen as destination may be one of two options. One of them isNibbana through the gate Cuti Citta of Arahat. Nibbana is not simply annihilation but full of sense and as mentioned above, will appear in the coming posts.
Another option as destination is endlessly rotating the wheel of lives. As long as Sattas are growing Kamma, the wheel will be rotating endlessly. It is the readers choice whether to choose Nibbana as their destination or to be in the state of rotating in the wheel of lives as their destination. If they choose the wheel of lives as their ndestination '' How To Get Through The Samsara '' is no more needed to read up. For those who choose Nibbana as their destination will need to learn Dhamma that help get through the Samsara.
May all beings get through the Samsara in the shortest way
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The Samsara or the wheel of life has been rotating indefinitely. As Sattas ( beings ) do not realize realities ( Paramattha Dhamma ), they are cultivating new and new Kamma on daily basis and even at most of mind moments. As Kamma are arising, they dictate to arise their specific resultant Dhamma according to the law of Kamma.
Lives have to exist as Kamma dictate ,and in this way the Samsara or wheel of life is endlessly rotating. To stop the wheel or to get through the Samsara is not to cultivate any new Kamma. This is only possible at the moment of arising of Arahatta Magga and thereafter.
Before we attain Arahatta Magga Nana, we will be cultivating Kamma seeds through performing good and bad actions. We can at least stop most of bad actions by strictly keeping Sila or moral conduct. Through Sila, most bad actions will be under control if Sila is kept to its purest form. Even though there are many kinds of Sila, 5 precepts will at least help attaining higher Nana in lay people.
Sila alone is not enough in preventing doing bad things. Sattas may be doing bad things unapparently and inconspicuously in their mind. Most unnotice this phenomenon that they are committing bad Kamma in their mind. Even though most immoral actions have been under control, there are still ongoing cultivation of bad Kamma by proliferating in their mind. These have to be knocked down with a good concentration or Samadhi. Samadhi can be obtained through the practice of meditation.
Just concentration or Samadhi is still not enough if there is no Vijja Nana or penetrative wisdom. This can only be attained through the practice of Vipassana meditation. Vipassana meditation is the practice of Mahasatipatthana, which is a special mindfulness or Sati on Dhamma matter. Mahasatipatthana is not just a simple Sati. This Cetasika Sati has different names in Vipassana meditation.
Sati is one of component of Cetasikas that work as Bodhipekkhiya Dhamma in endeavouring to attain higher Panna through Vipassana meditation. Practising Vipassana meditation will help the meditator understand the realities through Vipassana Nana or wisdom. If realities are DIRECTLY realized, new Kamma will not be cultivated. This will totally stop arising of linking consciousness or Patisandhi Citta. Then the wheel of life is stopped to rotate and the Satta concerned gets through the Samsara.
May all beings practise Vipassana meditation in order to get through the Samsara.
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Those who have a wish to get through the Samsara have a good mind. The pure wish to get through it is switched on by Chandha ( will ). If Chandha exists and this Chandha becomes the head of all accompanying Nama Dhamma, then everything will be sorted out. This is the main key to success for everything including attainment of Nibbana.
This Cetasika Chandha should not be underestimated. If Chandha works to its mightiest strength, success is sure and the promising results are to be seen with time. Chandha makes a power for success. It becomes a will power. This will power can give rise to accomplishing everything. Chandha is one of 4 Adhipati Dhamma ( heading Dhamma ). And it also works as Iddhipada Dhamma ( Causal Dhamma of accomplishing ).
If the Dhammafarer ( represent for all who are searching for Dhamma ) has Samma Chandha, the right wish and will, this will help him in everything he does. If the Dhammafarer has a wish to get through the Samsara, then he will struggle to overcome all hazzards and hassles everywhere.
If Chandha leads him, he will try to collect Dhamma related to the practice which helps get through the Samsara. As the target is Arahatta Magga, which is the noblest Nana, the Dhammafarer is already full of good wish. This helps him to keep at least 5 precepts strictly. And he will do more Sila whenever practicable like keeping 8 precepts on full moon day and dark moon day and possibly mid-waxing moon day and mid-waning moon day. And to the most keeping these Sila for life.
If the Dhammafarer stays with Vipassana all the time, keeping 8 precepts will not be too hard to do. Killing is not of Sappurisa ( good-minded people ) even in subtle or inspicuous way. So Panatipata ( avoidance of killing ) has been already kept in good-minded Dhammafarer. Stealing again in any circumstance and situation is not of the Vipassana meditator. Adinnaadana ( avoidance of stealing ) has been kept under strict control.
Unlawful sex is not of good-minded people. Even sex in general is not the matter to be practised by the Vipassana meditator. If sex in general not of interest, then unlawful sex or Kamesumicchaacara will never be committed by the Vipassana meditator. Telling lies is not of good-minded people. Especially the Vipassana meditator will not lie in any situation.
Moreover, telling unintelligible words like harsh speech, non-sense stories, telling messages that help beloved associate to become dissociated are also not of the Vipassana meditator's practice. Drinking alcohol and taking intoxicants help Akusala Dhamma to arise as they put intelligent wisdom away as ignorance occupies the mind. The desire to be intoxicated is not of the Vipassana meditator's practice.
So, the Vipassana meditator if he is serious will be free of breaking 5 precepts in any circumstance and any situation. As his target is Arahatta Magga Nana, he will do Sila as a basis as much as possible. As he is on the practice of Vipassana all the time, he will not wish to make himself or herself to be good-looking or to be more beautiful by taking food which is much more than enough for living. In this way the practitioner of Vipassana has no problem with '' Vikalabojjanna '' or having meal after mid-day.
If this can be practised, there will be much much more time to practise Vipassana. As thinking of food, thinking for a variety of cuisine, doing shopping, preparation for cooking and cooking itself, preparation for meal, having meal, washing up everything after meal, and much more make the practitioner less time to practise Dhamma. This precept if practicable is quite helpful.
Uccasayana-Mahasayana ( living with luxurious things and or staying above the level where there live senior sounded people stay or staying at high level ) will not be a problem for the Vipassana meditator as this is nothing to do with him.
Nicca, Gita, Vadita, Visuka, Dassana, Malagandha, Vilepana, Dadana, Mandana, Vibusana are not to be practised by the Vipassana meditator. Dancing_which is connected with lobha-hooked amusing, listening to music_which drifts the mind away from Vipassana meditation, playing musical instruments_which is connected with wandering spreading mind with lobha-hooked amusing, singing_which is not the practice of the meditator, watching festive entertainment_which drifts away the mind from the meditational object, overusing body beauty things etc etc are not for the meditator and if he is in practice this is also not a problem.
As soon as the wish ( Chandha ) arises and according to its dictation, all these Sila things will be practised. It is much much better to obtain Sila from a Venerable or if possible from an Arahatta monk than just avoiding of ill-doing by self. Mr Black does not kill any life. Mr White does not kill any life. But Mr Black avoid in his own preference while Mr White avoid these ill-doings specifically as he has obtained Sila given by a Venerable. In this example, Mr White excels Mr Black in terms of Kusala. So whenever practicable Sila should be obtained from a Venerable monk.
Living with Sila makes the individual feel ligher, more plicable, more tender, calmer, more tranquilized and all other Kusala Cetasika or mental factors arise and help him practising Dhamma well. All these Kusala arise from Samma Chandha of the wish that wants to get through the Samsara. As he intends to achieve Arahatta Magga sooner or later, the Dhamma practitioner will start to practise Vipassana meditation as soon as he decides to get through the Samsara.
May all beings feel ease and peace and practise Vipassana
With Unlimited Metta,
Htoo Naing