Anupada Sutta MN 111 *Excellent* Talk on Jhanas and the Path to Nibbana

[@CristofEnsslin]

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu. 🙏 I'm so grateful for Bhante's way of teaching the Buddha's teaching. Sharing my notes of this talk below, may it be useful for someone: 5 aggregates = 4 foundations of mindfulness (while being in jhana) Feeling is not emotions. It's just feeling: pleasant or unpleasant or neutral. Feeling and perception always come together. That's how we know whether a feeling is pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Nibbana = state with no concepts. Not to hold on or push away any of the states within the jhanas. It's all impersonal. The "I like it/I don't like it" mind is when we take things personal, the beginning of suffering. Unification of mind = staying on the object of meditation without any problem. When in Base of Nothingness, staying with Equanimity, balance very finely the attention on feeling of Equanimity: too much and mind becomes restless; too little and mind becomes dull. Mind becomes object of meditation in Neither Perception nor Non-Perception. Only job remaining is to observe the mind, watch mind, not the content of the thoughts that still come up. 6R the thoughts, relax, continue to watch mind. Keep sitting with the still mind, for a long time, even if nothing is happening at all. Everyone who is serious enough about meditation to go on a retreat, can experience these states of mind.

[@davidjohnson8218]

Nice summary Cristof!

[@anthonybrown7964]

Such a brilliant talk, one of the best form bhante In my opinion.... also when you reach the stages he is talking about, it is so much more of an interesting thought. I hope I get to repay my gratitude to Bhante and David some day. Sadhu!!

[@waltergoring8428]

This is about the most fascinating thing Ive ever heard.

[@zanzagossu433]

Very grateful for this detailed and informative dharma talk on a topic rarely spoke about!.

[@bachtuyetdang1094]

after 6 years, I listen to this again and be grateful to have this resource on KZbin. In gratitude I bow to the venerable and his assistant.

[@BillSikes.]

Thank you Bhindu, it encourages me to continue my meditation practice, even though my mind is all over the place 🙏🙏🙏

[@FreedomandRights4US]

For some odd reason this talk seems much more full of insight than any other Bhante Vimalaramsi commentary on MN 111. Thank you ;)

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

This was a particularly focused talk about the direct path to nibbana and all of the steps - That is why it says excellent!

[@bachtuyetdang1094]

It also had an audience which enhanced the depth of the talk by deep listening😇😀😍

[@K0GAi.]

Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu! Thank you for delivering such pleasant and soothing sutta and dhamma talk, Bhante. I am liking this sutta so much because of how it's structured I am developing a taste for reciting it from time to time (still with gaps, as I'm trying to remember it, hehe). Sharing the merits with everyone, may all be blessed and well.

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Sadhu! Memorizing a sutta will be very helpful!

[@cristellewhite5351]

With respect Bhante, it takes an arahant to know an arahant.

[@casario2808]

I respect him a lot but I also think he can be dismissive and even sorta superior

[@lordmichael7136]

Bodhisattva Pitaka is superior. Tathagata-garbha Sutras.

[@chadkline4268]

No, there are examples of Arahants not knowing others. Only the Buddha could see who was, and who was not.

[@madhavangopalan7463]

Excellent very very good It is a big loader it seems In our retired life we have plenty of time so why not spending our time usefully in our last days meditation gives immense happiness. Thank you so much r your wonderful talk🙏😀🌺

[@ashwinipanchbhai3182]

Great talk for those who r in path of dhamma and meditating as per tripatika suttas. Seriously with the understanding of NAM RUP(mind n matter) one can reach jhaannas stages ..it will take time n practice ..ven ...bhante please give a discourse on Patthana...because...practice..of ...jhaannas should go simultaneously..with the understanding of Patthanas.

[@WalterTonetto]

ashwini panchbhai *another commentator who is so stoked by his ego* ... so you know _what goes with what, yeah?_ Perhaps you can opine when you‘re making a dress or a suit, but unless you are an earnest yogi, stop telling Bhante what to do, and what not to do!

[@Ansh-vajra]

Grateful for your help

[@HirschfeldComposer]

Great Discourse! There is just one wrong information on mundane level at around 8'10" : The German word "Geist" doesn't mean "soul". The word for soul in German is Seele. Geist means spirit or mind (depending on context). If somone translates Geist as soul, that is just wrong translation. Otherwise: Thank you! SadhuSadhuSadhu!

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

OK- I will let Bhante know - thank you! But you are still saying Geist can be used for Mind -- just NOT soul. :)

[@HirschfeldComposer]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, Geist can be used for mind as well ass for spirit. By the way: is the most venerable Bhante visiting Germany any time next again? His last visit in Germany I missed... Best wishes!

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Google translates Mind as Verstand. Perhaps this gets away from both ideas of spirit and soul? Bhante unfortunately will not be in europe very soon. There was someone working on something but so far it hasn't happened yet. Metta

[@HirschfeldComposer]

Yes, Verstand can be one translation of mind as well, although Verstand mainly means the "rational part" of the mind, so the mind in its function to analyse, abstract and so on, so Verstand does not imply intuition and so on. Thanks for the info. I will keep my eyes open for Bhante's scedule to find on your web site. All the best - .

[@WalterTonetto]

Not correct; the German word for ‚mind‘ is ‚Verstand‘. *When Jung was translated into English, the recurring mistake was to take his „Geist“ and call it „Mind“* - _once again, that is not what C.G. Jung had intended! Germany is rightly accorded the tag of the land of the poets and thinkers („Dichter und Denker“). You see, ‚Denken’ means to think, to ponder ... it’s allied, though, to ‚Danken’, meaning to be grateful and giving thanks. That immediately suggests that proper thinking (think sama samadhi) has to have the element of gratefulness embedded in order to be consequential and on the „right path“. German has subtleties and is a very precise language when it differentiates complex terrain._ I did a course with Bhante in Brisbane on the Brahma Viharas some 5 years or so ago....

[@Lambert06Pasquale06]

Dear Bhante, Is mindfulness of loving kindness and breathing both simply a means to an end, or does loving kindness create an attitude change, among other things, that mindfulness of breathing does not? Thank you for this wonderful playlist!

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Mindfulness of breathing when practiced with the Relax step AND the Metta meditation talked about here --Actually the BrahmaVihara meditation - lead to a radical change, a permanent change of personality. You let go of the neurosis of the mind. This is caused by the unwholesome sensual desire and hatred present in all of our minds. It is a step by step change but it becomes permanent. It doesn't take that long. Why not start now?

[@Lambert06Pasquale06]

@@DhammasukhaOrg I take that as a rhetorical question! Thank you for your reply. I have the eagerness, but do you have a recommendation for someone who has a family and cannot currently participate in a retreat? Long story short, I have been a practitioner for a while (not TWIM) with little success, and as of now only have books, videos, and myself for guidance.

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

@@Lambert06Pasquale06 That is simple. Time for an online retreat. You can take that even if you work or have a family. You just need a few hours a day. If you don't have that then watch the videos and above all Follow the Precepts! 😃

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

@@Lambert06Pasquale06 www.dhammasukha.org/online-retreats

[@aaliyahal-unufi1205]

Does everyone who is trying to become a Arahat need to control their diet? If so, where can I go to find out more information?

[@davidjohnson8218]

No need to change your diet. Not sure where you got that idea. The Buddha ate anything that was offered into his bowl.

[@aaliyahal-unufi1205]

Bhante mentioned the precepts in relation to eating times. He's talking about the extended version of the precepts, right?

[@davidjohnson8218]

@@aaliyahal-unufi1205 Yes- for meditators or monks

[@aaliyahal-unufi1205]

Sorry for asking so many questions but I wanted to be sure exactly what times we are not supposed to eat. You're not allowed to eat after noon- when does this period of not eating end? Am I right in thinking that you can't eat during the night? Thanks so much for your help.

[@davidjohnson8218]

@@aaliyahal-unufi1205 If you are a monk you are not allowed to eat after Noon until dawn of the next day. Only if you are a monk!

[@joseismaelblanco2671]

Estoy muy agradecido por compartir estos videos, y quería agradecer especialmente a los que agregan los subtítulos, aunque sea en otro idioma(.En este caso han subtitulado en polaco,) y aunque mi idioma es el español, la traducción automática es mucho mejor que si uso la traducción automática que reconoce youtube. MUCHAS GRACIAS. SADHU SADHU SADHU!!!

[@PuzzL_]

11:04 can anyone explain this to me? It sounds like he's talking about physically floating off the ground.

[@davidjohnson8218]

Yes- actual floating. There was a monk in a Burmese temple that would have to avoid sitting under the fan as sometimes he floated up to it . It's very rare but it has been seen to happen. In your mind you feel like you are floating in the chair or up in the air. But it isn't really happening. Darn!

[@bachtuyetdang1094]

YES Physical floating does happen. Few monks in Viet Nam were reported by their teachers to experience this. This is quite different from hopping in the air shown on KZbin.

[@moonlighting2610]

@@bachtuyetdang1094 chị Tuyết có ở Việt Nam không ạ?

[@mathieuavisse4623]

it is the mind aspect of piti ( joy ) when it rises the mind feels light , it feels like you are floating , lifting up , the physical aspect of piti are many from electric sensations , ants creeping on the skin , feeling waves of heat etc ... at some point you ll experience that lifting up . i have felt like i was about to leave the ground many times ... never cared to check thou lol does not seem very important anyways . the important is that when you experience piti n( joy à you will remenber the lifting off part

[@moonmissy]

Bhante, is the requirement for Arahant the destruction of 3 poison or do arahant see through them and do not respond to them when they arise? How can tell if someone is an arahant if you can’t see what’s in their mind?

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

They are destroyed never to arise again.

[@sudharmaranwala6349]

I follow the 5 precepts since childhood and I'm a vegan for ethical reasons. I am generally a calm person and never act or speak in anger, but think and observe silence. I meditate everyday and I am an animal lover too. However, although I am very compassionate person, I still cannot meditate and concentrate fully, my mind wanders over petty and mundane things and I have to bring it back all the time. How do I improve this?

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Hello Sudharma - The problem is how you handle the hindrances arising. You must use the 6R's and this will be resolved. You Recognize you have wandered. You release your attention to the thought or the distraction, Relax and tension or tightness that is pulling you to the distraction - for more go to www.dhammasukha.org/the-6rs.html

[@ivanwong3273]

Sudharma Ranwala The "I" very strong in you. Meditate not for yourself but for all beings to end suffering and do good deeds not for merits but for goodness for all beings.

[@fk-hi6gs]

With all respect, German being my mother tongue, I have to correct the Bhante. Geist means not Soul. Soul is Seele. Geist means Mind. As an example, being unmindful is geistesabwesend, mindful is geistesgegenwärtig.

[@davidjohnson8218]

Yes - you are right - we had discussions as to what to use and didn't have any experts in German... All we know is the movie Ghost Busters were fighting the Poltergeist so geist must mean spirits... LOL I gues that begs the question - Is the word Poltergeist not using the language correctly?

[@ShakuShingan]

Does it normally take some time to manage stabilizing the jhanas? I find that I can access the first and second, and sometimes third, and sometimes it is very stable, but other times it feels very shaky because my concentration is not as strong: a thought might arise and I get lost in that.

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Koyomi - It sounds like you are still practicing Concentration Jhanas. What we are doing here is the Tranquil Aware Jhana which have similar characteristics but are "aware jhanas" . You get into these using the special 6R process or applying the tranquilize step that the concentration jhanas do not have. For more about the difference please take a look at talks about sutta 10 or the satipatthana sutta where all of this will be explained. Metta

[@mathieuavisse4623]

@@DhammasukhaOrg could you point out in which suttas i can find something about 6 r process which i cannot find anywhere ...

[@mathieuavisse4623]

note and let go :)

[@christopher42771]

What book is Bante' reading from?

[@davidjohnson8218]

Majjhima Nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi and Nanamoli

[@mcdonaldchump5804]

Can be downloaded for free

[@jkmott59]

What does the term 'lust' mean in the context of these conversations? Is it specifically sexual or is it a term for general intense craving?

[@DhammasukhaOrg]

Means Sensual Desire in all its forms.

[@utkarshrathore4246]

Hello Bhante , I've been meditating for about 2 years, one day I was meditating and suddenly I experienced a state in which my body seem to be vanishing and even after I stopped meditating, I still feel no boundaries of my body, I can still feel sensations in my body and touch but I don't feel any boundary of my body and it feels very lighter in weigt than before . Also the voices around me don't disturb me anymore and I am more aware nowadays. Also, I can't know the smell of things and also taste when I don't think anything. But when I have thoughts then the taste and smell are known but only to a low degree like this is sweet or this is bitter. And there's an equanimous feeling . So which jhana is it that I experienced ? And pls tell me how can I contact you online to learn from you and have my doubts cleared.

[@davidjohnson8218]

Are you doing TWIM or some other practice? If not twim then it is just a concentration state that will pass. If it is TWIM practice what is your meditation object?

[@ishaburger9846]

Soul in German is seeley. Geist means mind inbgerman

[@dhammacharika]

My attention on object is two minutes

[@ceruleandusk]

so there are 8 stages in total?

[@davidjohnson8218]

8 stages and then the experience. Check this book for all the detail: www.thepathtonibbana.com/

[@BillSikes.]

I always thought there were 9, the ninth stage is Samattha, Samadhi or Shi'ni

[@Mrtrainer100]

Thank you.

[@drsr4560]

2”: The 5 Aggregates = 4 foundations of mindfulness

[@madhavangopalan7463]

Excellent very very good It is a big loader it seems In our retired life we have plenty of time so why not spending our time usefully in our last days meditation gives immense happiness. Thank you so much r your wonderful talk🙏😀🌺