ABHIDHAMMA

          ABHIDHAMMA, is the term implies in the higher teachings of the Buddha.   It expound ds the quintessence of His profound doctrine.

        The consciousness is defined.  Thoughts are analyzed and classified chiefly from an ethical stand point.  All mental states are enumerated.  The composition of each type of consciousness is set forth in detail. 

          As Mrs.Rhys Davids rightly says, Abhidhamma deals with “(1) What we find (a) within us (b) around and of (2) what we aspire to find?”

          I created the role of ‘DHAMMA SOLDIER’ in the same lines, which has come form my volition itself.  Latter, I found it in Abhidhamma.

          Understanding or realization is purely personal (sandhitika).  The four Noble Truths that form the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings are dependent on this one-fathom body.  The Dhamma is not apart from oneself.  Look within.  Seek yourself.  The truth will unfold itself.

So I humbly advise one and all to study and understand what Ven. Anuruddha Thera, an Indian Monk said in Abhidhammattha Sangha.  By mastering this book a general knowledge of Abhidhamma may easily be acquired.

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NEWS - July 2016

 

 

        I conducted a lecture and discussion at International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, Myanmar.  The topic is ‘Engaged Buddhism in my view’ the participants are from different continents who are students of the University.  They expressed their views freely and shared Dhamma with me.

 

 

 

 

 

THE BASIC TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA

 

• What did the Buddha Teach?

 The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

• What is the First Noble Truth?

 The first truth is that life is suffering i.e., life includes pain, getting old, disease, and ultimately death. We also endure psychological suffering like loneliness frustration, fear, embarrassment, disappointment and anger. This is an irrefutable fact that cannot be denied. It is realistic rather than pessimistic because pessimism is expecting things to be bad.  lnstead, Buddhism explains how suffering can be avoided and how we can be truly happy.

• What is the Second Noble Truth?

 The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion. We will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our expectation, if we want others to like us, if we do not get something we want, etc. In other words, getting what you want does not guarantee happiness. Rather than constantly struggling to get what you want, try to modify your wanting. Wanting deprives us of contentment and happiness. A lifetime of wanting and craving and especially the craving to continue to exist, creates a powerful energy which causes the individual to be born. So craving leads to physical suffering because it causes us to be reborn.

• What is the Third Noble Truth?

 The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained; that true happiness and contentment are possible. lf we give up useless craving and learn to live each day at a time (not dwelling in the past or the imagined future) then we can become happy and free. We then have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.

• What is the Fourth Noble Truth?

The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which leads to the end of suffering.

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ULTIMATE SCIENCE

  Natural scientists investigate the basic principles and laws of nature to explain the physical phenomena that have been occurring for aeons.  But they can’t probe the nature of the mind and they fail to explain the mental phenomena that have enormous influence on physical phenomena.

       Lord Buddha, with his power of omniscience, knew the true nature of the mind and matter and thus can explain all psycho-physical phenomena in the world.

 His ultimate teaching, known as Abhidhamma, describes in detail the nature of the ultimate realities that really exist in nature but are unknown to scientists.  His method of verification is superior to scientific methods which depend on instruments.  

 So Abhidhamma may be regarded as ultimate science – the science of the ultimate truths.

WATER FESTIVAL THAT I OBSERVED

MYANMAR ETHNIC GROUP

 The water Splashing Festival is originated in Brahman of in Brahmin of ancient India. The Brahmans used to go to the rivers at the beginning of a year to take a bath to wash away sins and evils and pray for the Sakra-devanam Indra to come down from heaven to see whether secular people are kind or evil.  

The Water Splashing Festival lasts three to four days.  After announcing the results of the prediction, the Brahman followers would slash water to one another, as a way of praying for rain and good harvest.

 

When Buddhism is spread into Southeast Asia and today it is to the western countries, the water splashing festival changed its original religious meaning, which was replaced by Buddhist stories.  Water splashing is no longer mainly a way of praying for rains and good harvest.  It became a Buddha bathing festival. The Buddhist legend had gradually been mingled with the customs of the local tradition since their conversion to Buddhism.  The modern festival is changed as water festival.

                Today people are totally forgotten the spiritual values of the water festival.  It became a holiday enjoyment.  People, mainly youngsters are couldn’t practice five precept during the festival days. it needs to be reformed.

 

A scene is in water festival on 14^th April, 2016 near SULE Pagoda

at Yangon, Myanmar.