Category Archives: wisdom

Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 3

This irregular “Dharma Questions” series deals with “dharma” meaning both the truth of the nature of reality and some Buddhist teachings. Amongst other things these questions can be:
• thought experiments
• borderline musings not meant to be answered
• from laziness of not contemplating or researching them yet

There’s 19 (groups of) questions. Here’s a sampling of two:

How do sankhārā [formations/mental formations/volitional formations] come from ignorance? What is the process?

How does effort for vitakka wax and wane? How does vitakka turn into, or allow, or go along with vicāra?

Resources for Abhidhamma — Advanced Buddhist Thought, Inquiry, Analysis and Psychology

After auditing the now public Abdhidhamma and Development of Buddhist Thought, part of Mid-America Buddhist Association’s Diploma in Pali and Buddhist Studies (DPBS) I was inspired to create this post. (If interested in checking out ongoing classes at MABA, please email to request free auditing, or please enroll). Here’s some Abhidhamma resources, some of whichContinue reading “Resources for Abhidhamma — Advanced Buddhist Thought, Inquiry, Analysis and Psychology”

Irregular Inquires — Questions For Regular Contemplation: Ethics

“Whenever you want to do [while you are doing, and having done] a bodily action [verbal action, mental action], you should reflect on it: ‘This bodily action [verbal action, mental action], I want to do [are doing, and have done] — would it [is it, was it] lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others,Continue reading “Irregular Inquires — Questions For Regular Contemplation: Ethics”

Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)

“Monks, these are the four developments of concentration. Which four? There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now. There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the attainment of knowledge & vision. There is the development ofContinue reading “Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)”

Mindful Practice Of Body, Qi And Mind – 1st Annual Review | (4/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)

For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I review the 63 consecutive weeks of online practice Denny continues to lead. The original (amended) show notes are as follows: (From Josh): (Depending on temperament and experience level, some may find this chat tedious,Continue reading “Mindful Practice Of Body, Qi And Mind – 1st Annual Review | (4/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)”

The Buddha’s Images For The Five Clinging Aggregates

“What is your definition of self,” is often one of the first questions I ask someone once it is clear they are serious about seeking, and/or clear about their spiritual path, or even someone heavily seeped in philosophy. From what I innerstand, while the historical Buddha never simply denied that there’s a “self” directly andContinue reading “The Buddha’s Images For The Five Clinging Aggregates”

Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 2

This irregular “Dharma Questions” series deals with “dharma” meaning both the truth of the nature of reality and some Buddhist teachings. Amongst other things these questions can be:
• thought experiments
• borderline musings not meant to be answered
• from laziness of not contemplating or researching them yet

There’s more or less 17 questions. Here’s two:

Why do the Ānāpānasati instructions omit details on how to bring mindfulness to the fore and calm bodily formations?

What is the root condition (and causes) for (each of the) unwholesome roots of greed, ill-will and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha)?

Study Group: A Commentary by Inoue Gien Roshi on Keizan Zenji’s “Record of the Transmission of Illumination”

A Confluence Zen Center study group, for six consecutive Thursday evenings starting April 8th: . . . will be reading a commentary by Inoue Gien Roshi on Keizan Zenji’s , “Record of the Transmission of Illumination” [German-English translation in PDF from Terebess and PDF from Shastaabbey]. This is the current text that Daigaku is translating. WeContinue reading “Study Group: A Commentary by Inoue Gien Roshi on Keizan Zenji’s “Record of the Transmission of Illumination””

Wisdom Snippets: 33 synonyms for Nibbana

Thirty-three synonyms for Nibbana from Unfabricated-ConnectedAsaṅkhata Saṁyutta  (SN 43): 1. The Unconditioned2. The destruction of lust, hate, delusion3. The Uninclined4. The taintless5. The truth6. The other shore7. The subtle8. The very difficult to see9. The unaging10. The stable11. The undisintegrating12. The unmanifest13. The unproliferated14. The peaceful15. The deathless16. The sublime17. The auspicious18. The secure19. The destructionContinue reading “Wisdom Snippets: 33 synonyms for Nibbana”

Wisdom Snippets: Core Contemplations

What’s here now when there’s no problem to solve? Wouldn’t it make sense — and be universally beneficial — to reflect and contemplate (more) on what’s really, truly important in (your) life? If yes, here’s perhaps a few: What is important? What stops me right now from complete happiness? What does this depend on? WhatContinue reading “Wisdom Snippets: Core Contemplations”