𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

The Power of Faith - Ajahn Nyanadhammo

In our practice of the spiritual path, we have to be going in the direction of the goal, the fruit of the path, but to do that, we have to create the conditions before any results can arise. One important group of conditions necessary for spiritual development are the five spiritual faculties (indriya). When these spiritual faculties are developed, they become strengths (bala), they become powers for the mind, to move the mind towards the goal, in the direction of Dhamma.

So the five spiritual faculties – saddha (Faith/Confidence), viriya (energy/effort), sati (recollection/mindfulness), samadhi (concentration), pañña (wisdom) – when they are cultivated and developed, they become a power for the mind.

Faith is the fuel, the energy which propels us on the spiritual path. For many Western people this quality is actually not very strong when we come to Buddhism, because we often come to Buddhism with the approach of having rejected religions of faith, religions which demand belief. We’ve come from a rational, intellectual and logical appreciation of Dhamma; and so we find it difficult to develop those faith practices like recollection of the Buddha, recollection of his teachings, or recollection of the Ariya-Sangha. And that can be one of our weaknesses – that our strong intellectual side is out of balance – so our practice can be very dry and formal. It lacks the zest, the zeal, the earnestness, the uplifting joy associated with sheer faith. So if this is the case, it may be one of the factors that one may need to focus on if one’s meditation is getting stuck or not developing.

So we do have great paramı, especially to have been born in non-Buddhist countries, but then to have come across these teachings and have the opportunity to practise under these conditions, in a tradition which is still vibrant and alive, which is still transforming people into ariyas. All that is needed is there, it’s just a matter of applying the mind to creating the causes, putting forth the effort. And that effort must be constant and steady.

This is not a 100-yard short sprint, this is a marathon. It takes extended and persistent effort, the attitude of "It does not matter how long it takes, I will continue striving." Apart from the foundation of faith in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, we must have the trust in the training (sikkha), for it is this training we are undertaking that leads to liberation. We have to trust in our ability to realise the Dhamma.

Saddha can be increased by having contact with the teachings; by reading the Suttas; reading the life of the Buddha; having contact with good monks, having contact with the ariya-sangha; listening to Dhamma and reciting those teachings, bringing them to mind frequently.

Right Speech Guidelines (samma vaca)

Dwell in Silence - Speak only if you can improve upon silence.
Avoid pointless talk, frivolous talk, idle talk, empty chatter.
Right Speech, Wholesome Speech: Speech that is appropriate and helpful in the spiritual life.

From Sallekha Sutta and Majjhima Nikaya (MN 8):

🔸Others will speak falsehood; we shall abstain from false speech here.
🔸Others will speak maliciously; we shall abstain from malicious speech here.
🔸Others will speak harshly; we shall abstain from harsh speech here.
🔸Others will gossip; we shall abstain from gossip here.

From Anguttara Nikaya V.19:

🔸It is spoken at the right time.
🔸It is spoken in truth.
🔸It is spoken affectionately.
🔸It is spoken beneficially.
🔸It is spoken with a mind of good-will.

Topics of Proper Conversation are:

🔸Talk on modesty, deportment, humility, minimizing the self and observing the appropriate code of conduct.
🔸Talk on contentment and renunciation.
🔸Talk on physical and mental solitude.
🔸Talk on freedom from defilements.
🔸Talk on freedom from the hindrances.
🔸Talk on avoidance of entanglements and of simplicity.
🔸Talk on arousing energy and right effort.
🔸Talk on virtue.
🔸Talk on meditation.
🔸Talk on wisdom.
🔸Talk on release from suffering.
🔸Talk on the knowledge and vision of release from suffering.

Read more here: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-vaca/index.html

#RightSpeech #Buddhism

Saddhammapatirupaka Sutta: A Counterfeit of the True Dhamma

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then Ven. Maha Kassapa went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, "What is the cause, lord, what is the reason, why before there were fewer training rules and yet more monks established in final gnosis, whereas now there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis?"

"That's the way it is, Kassapa. When beings are degenerating and the true Dhamma is disappearing, there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis. There is no disappearance of the true Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has not arisen in the world, but there is the disappearance of the true Dhamma when a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has arisen in the world.

Just as there is no disappearance of gold as long as a counterfeit of gold has not arisen in the world, but there is the disappearance of gold when a counterfeit of gold has arisen in the world, in the same way there is no disappearance of the true Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has not arisen in the world, but there is the disappearance of the true Dhamma when a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has arisen in the world.

It's not the earth property that makes the true Dhamma disappear. It's not the water property... the fire property... the wind property that makes the true Dhamma disappear.[2] It's worthless people who arise right here [within the Sangha] who make the true Dhamma disappear. The true Dhamma doesn't disappear the way a boat sinks all at once.

These five downward-leading qualities tend to the confusion and disappearance of the true Dhamma. Which five? There is the case where the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live without respect, without deference, for the Teacher. They live without respect, without deference, for the Dhamma... for the Sangha... for the Training... for concentration. These are the five downward-leading qualities that tend to the confusion and disappearance of the true Dhamma.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn16/sn16.013.than.html

The Verses of Arahant Godatta - Thag 14.2

Truly pain coming from seclusion is better than the happiness that comes from sensual pleasures.

When foolish people undergo happiness,
they are overjoyed and intoxicated with pride.
When they undergo pain they are deprived in sadness.
Not understanding the true nature of this life,
those foolish people are depressed by both happiness and pain.

Craving sews existences together creating happiness and pain.
Those who overcome this craving can live unshaken like a deeply planted stone pillar.
They can live without being overjoyed or depressed.

No matter if they gain or lose something.
No matter if they gain a bad reputation or a good reputation.
No matter if they gain blame or praise.
No matter if they gain happiness or unhappiness.
They are not agitated.

They don’t stick to any object just like a drop of water doesn’t stick to a lotus leaf.
Those wise, energetic people are happy everywhere.
They are unconquered everywhere.

These verses were said by Arahant Godatta.

https://suttafriends.org/sutta/thag14-2/

Derived from the Book of Protection (Paritta Sutta) from the Pali canon, the Jaya Mangala Gatha is sung here in a rare recording by the Mahabodhi Society of India in original Pali. The Jaya Mangala Gatha is a chant recommended by the Buddha to destroy negativity and to generate auspiciousness…It is said that these verses if chanted with a clear and pure intention are helpful in protecting the seeker by attracting the Good around