Unwelcoming of the Hindrances

What does it mean to be "established in virtue" as the Suttas often say.
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[@HillsideHermitage]

A new essay by Sister Medhini available at: www.hillsidehermitage.org/fixed-views-vs-unfixed-certainties/

[@ahdumbs1161]

This was astoundingly helpful and found me at a time where I thought I was a “bad Buddhist” because I couldn’t stop hurtful thoughts from coming into my head. But now it’s clear: i must leave the door open, to let good thoughts come through, bad thoughts, and everything in between-but it is only the wholesome thoughts I acknowledge and keep as good guests. The rest will have to just hangout at the doorway until they stop coming around. lol

[@jaroslav6109]

Another true gem from Hillside Hermetige. Thank you Bhante and all present in this discussion. I actually after being celibate for some months now started seeing this for myself and you have put it in words for me. Hugely appreciated, thank you all for your help.

[@amirnikzad1352]

Insightful and inspiring dammah talk, May all breath-takers in all across the universe be in peace , safe and happiness ☘️🙏

[@Spiritualjourney259]

Venerables I am so thankful for your guidance.

[@zorananda]

Thank you ajahns and sister Medhini. This has pretty much answered my questions from the previous talk. I think i now do understand better what is meant by faith alone being able to take one to the establishment in virtue, i.e., right view, i.e. freedom from suffering. Applying the right attention in regards to the thoughts and mental images that pressure you in regards to your unwholesome behavior, does not require any particular reflective thinking or understanding. You just need not give in into welcoming them in a way that will result in everything revolving around them. It means you don't need to understand beforehand that this practice will result in the purification of your intentions and the freedom from suffering. It means that you can take it on faith, just as you did with the restraint of bodily and verbal actions , not knowing if ,how and when it will result in the freedom from suffering , but simply do it on account of faith and then wait and see what the results will be. Take on faith that the right attention in regards to the thoughts and images that pressure you, i.e. not denying them, not ignoring them, not wanting them to go away but also not welcoming them and letting them take the center stage ,will lead to the establishment in virtue in the way that it will prevent your unwholesome behavior to even reach the bodily and verbal level because it was dealt with already on the level of thoughts and mental images. On account of faith , without understanding the procedure nor knowing the result beforehand.

[@cliffmilbrun2803]

At 13:40 he’s also explaining how anapanasati works

[@kwest84]

Good talk, thank you! 🙏

[@pascal1317]

Thank you for this beautifull present

[@cajuputoil3468]

Sadhu Bhante🙏🏻♥️

[@hariharry391]

🙏

[@picketytwin]

thank you bhante , so by lack of virtue ,leads to ignorance and acting out through any of the mind body complex ,you are setting up the stage for the defilements to act out behind the flame of consciousness ,with the ceasing of the consciousness flame ,everything gets extinguished ,exiting the platos cave...

[@sampajano]

Crucial point.. appreciate the sharing. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu 🙏

[@DV4api]

Absorbtion is to be practiced with the right view. That's where peace can be found!

[@MrStpnwolf]

Wonderful Bhante🙏🙏🙏

[@JoshSmith-ff8dw]

I'm really struck by the similarities between the techniques taught on this channel and exposure therapy for OCD. I guess this is because such therapy fundamentally deals with the problem of unwanted mental phenomena. Discerning a middle way between acceptance and resistance, refusing to fuel and maintain what needs fuel and maintenance, not appropriating phenomena precisely because they are phenomena, etc. As if the domain of intrusive thoughts now includes everything rooted in the three poisons. This confirms my intuition that psychology is a miniaturization of the dhamma

[@TrevorMurray-hl3li]

I completely agree with everything you said and I think this all the time. Pretty fascinating.

[@JoshSmith-ff8dw]

@@TrevorMurray-hl3li Good, then I'm not going crazy.

[@nolifeonearth9046]

Bhante, If I see an arisen unwholesome state in me, I attend to it through the source and in consequence the assumption of ownership and the pressure are dropped. However, since those states arise in the first place, my practice must be incomplete. From what I take away here, there must be a preceding act of welcoming. This also aligns with my experience. Therefor, I try to purify my thoughts as they arise by being more watchful of the mind to see this act of welcoming. This, I experience to be only effortless, when the mind shies away from sensuality in the first place by seeing the danger in it. What leads there is the contemplation of several themes and yoniso manasikara. However, I fail to establish consinstency in this practice. I live normally as a lay person and work a full time job. Greetings and best wishes.

[@thegr8goblin]

Is it just me or has the sound quality just increased X10 ?

[@restlez2002]

🙏🏼the fear of the pressure is linked to the grasping of the self or the view of self?🙏🏼

[@user-rb1om7bj8l]

Hi Bhante, thank you for this video. What kind of mental development can someone without the right view, who keeps the 5 precepts and is in a faithful relationship expect to make in the Dhamma - would there be any way in such circumstances to make it easier to live a wholesome life? I speak as a single man who keeps the 5 precepts but is unsure of whether to pursue a relationship. I haven't committed to the 8 precepts as I don't think I would be taking them sincerely - i.e I would be taking the 3rd precept as 'celibacy until I find a partner'. Also - I know you made a video about the use of psychotherapy and I understand it doesn't address the issue of uprooting. However, do you think there is any benefit at all? You mentioned it may be useful for specific issues. How could it be used in the most Dhamma compatible way .

[@ThaniyoThero]

Anyone commited to the five precepts but not commited to abandoning greed, aversion or ignorance, can expect some circumstantial mental strength generated by that bodily and verbal restraint but only so long as circumstances do not change. Once circumstances become too uncomfortable and offer up an escape through breaking those precepts, such person will break them because he was never commited to removing the roots of bad actions. Just keeping the 5 precepts will not purify your mind for you. It will just allow you an opportunity to do so. Again, not breaking 5 precepts that you have commited to is a degree of virtue. But if you are not actively trying to abandon the roots of those bad actions, you are not developing virtue. Such virtue is circumstantial and will be lost sooner or later. If you work on uprooting the internal causes of bad actions by no longer acting out of greed, aversion and distraction through body, speech AND mind then you are developing your mind and developing real virtue. When those unwholesome intentions are constantly not chosen and you finally surmount them, then even if external circumstances change for the worse and you are presented with the option to commit a bad action you would be incapable of doing so due to the mind having been purified from acting out of greed, aversion and ignorance. Such a peaceful mind is incapable of inflicting itself and others with suffering. If that mental purification practice is not undertaken and not commited to, then this Dhamma practice has not even started and one can expect no development. In brief, the cultivation or maintenance of lust, anger or distraction is the opposite of mental development. A developed mind is ,here, called "developed" because it no longer acts out of unwholesome intentions which cause suffering. The choice is yours and so will be the consequences. As for psychotherapy, it could be helpful if the therapist encourages you to give up lust, aversion and ignorance, which is what causes all your problems.

[@user-rb1om7bj8l]

@@ThaniyoThero Thank you for your response Bhante. How can I begin to head in the direction of even considering taking the 8 precepts? I remember a video from this channel a while back in which it was said that it was better to take the 5 precepts for life rather than the 8 precepts for a week. I know that if I currently 'undertook' the eight precepts I would a) not be able to cope with mental pressure and b) would not be taking the 3rd precept seriously.

[@ThaniyoThero]

​@@user-rb1om7bj8l. The issue is that you don't value keeping the eight precepts as much as you value not keeping them. And that's because you have never kept them long enough because if you did, their value becomes quite apparent. To change that you can re-evaluate your actions with complete honesty and reflect on which ones are for your long term benefit and which ones keep you tied to suffering. And then simple give it a good try. Have some faith and apply those precepts for a year.

[@user-rb1om7bj8l]

@@ThaniyoThero Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question Bhante.

[@Farzadhoss]

What is the sutta mentioned at the beginning?

[@ThaniyoThero]

Ud 4:1 Meghiya (Meghiya Sutta)

[@raajuuteddd2202]

Is this sutta which talks about the precepts and the establishment in precepts? If so thank you