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• Buddha Dhamma
  • User’s Guide to Pure Dhamma Website
  • Buddhism – In Charts
    • Recovering the Suffering-Free Pure Mind
      • True Happiness Is the Absence of Suffering
      • Uncovering the Suffering-Free (Pabhassara) Mind
      • Each Citta Starts with Distorted Saññā
      • Contamination of the Human Mind Based on a Sensory Input
      • Contamination of a Human Mind – Detailed Analysis
    • Pāli Words – Writing and Pronunciation
    • Buddha Dhamma – Foundation
    • Saḷāyatana Are Not Sense Faculties
    • Anuseti – How Anusaya Grows with Saṅkhāra
    • Rūpa, Dhammā (Appaṭigha Rūpa) and Nāmagotta (Memories)
  • Buddha Dhamma – A Scientific Approach
    • Introduction – A Scientific Approach to Buddha Dhamma
    • Theories of Our World – Scientific Overview
    • Mind and Matter – Buddhist Analysis
    • Sensual Pleasures – The Hidden Suffering
    • Kammic Energy Leads to Consciousness
    • Brain and the Gandhabba
      • Mind Is Not in the Brain
      • Gandhabba in a Human Body – an Analogy
      • Persistent Vegetative State – Buddhist View
      • Patient H.M. – Different Roles of Brain in Memory
      • Memory Recall for Gandhabba in a Human Body
      • How Do We See? – Role of the Gandhabba
    • Our Two Worlds – Rupa Loka and Nāma Loka
      • Autobiographical Memory – Preserved in Nāma Loka
      • Rūpa and Rūpakkhandha, Nāma and Nāmagotta
      • Response to a Sensory Stimulus – Role of Gati/Anusaya
      • Ārammaṇa Plays a Critical Role in a Sensory Event
      • Nāma Loka and Rūpa Loka – Two Parts of Our World
    • Tipiṭaka – A Systematic Approach
      • Tipiṭaka – The Uniqueness of Buddha Dhamma
      • Pāli Canon Is Self-Contained but Requires Detailed Explanation
      • Vinaya Piṭaka – More Than Disciplinary Rules
      • Abhidhamma Piṭaka – Deeper Analyses of Concepts
    • Antarābhava and Gandhabba
      • Antarābhava – No Connection to Gandhabba
      • Antarābhava Discussion in Kathāvatthu – Not Relevant to Gandhabba
      • Interpretation of the Tipiṭaka – Gandhabba Example
  • Buddhahood Associated Controversies
    • Buddhahood Controversies – Introduction
    • Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part I
    • Pāṭihāriya (Supernormal Abilities) of a Buddha – Part II
  • What is Buddha Dhamma?
  • Foundation of Dhamma
  • The Importance of Purifying the Mind
  • The Grand Unified Theory of Dhamma
    • The Grand Unified Theory of Dhammā – Introduction
    • Our Two Worlds: Material and Immaterial
    • 31 Realms Associated with the Earth
    • Gandhabba – Only in Human and Animal Realms
    • Body Types in 31 Realms – Importance of Manomaya Kāya
    • Gandhabba Sensing the World – With and Without a Physical Body
    • Nibbāna in the Big Picture
  • Buddha Dhamma: Non-Perceivability and Self-Consistency
  • Saṃsāric Time Scale, Buddhist Cosmology, and the Big Bang Theory
  • Evidence for Rebirth
  • Power of the Human Mind
    • Power of the Human Mind – Introduction
    • Difference Between Jhāna and Stages of Nibbāna
    • Power of the Human Mind – Anāriya or Mundane Jhānā
    • Power of the Human Mind – Ariya Jhānā
    • Are There Procedures for Attaining Magga Phala, Jhāna and Abhiññā?
  • Transfer of Merits (Pattidāna) – How Does it Happen?
  • First Noble Truth is Suffering? Myths about Suffering
  • Vinaya – The Nature Likes to be in Equilibrium
• Key Dhamma Concepts
  • Basic Framework of Buddha Dhamma
    • Buddha Dhamma – Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhaṇa
    • Noble Truths, Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhaṇa – Key Relationships
    • Anicca Nature, the First Noble Truth, and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Tilakkhaṇa – Introduction
      • Anicca and Anatta – Two Characteristics of the World
      • Anuloma Khanti and Sammattaniyāma – Pre-requisites for a Sotāpanna
      • Anicca Nature – Not Possible to Overcome Suffering in This World
      • Dukkha in Tilakkhaṇa Is a Characteristic – Not Dukkha Vedanā
      • Attachment to Things with Dukkha Lakkhaṇa Leads to Dukkha
      • How Does Anicca Nature Lead to Dukkha?
      • Anatta is a Characteristic of the World, not About a “Self”
      • Anatta in Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta – Part 1
      • Anatta in Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta – Part 2
  • Saŋ – A Critical Pāli Root
    • What is “Saŋ”? Meaning of Saŋsāra (or Saṃsāra)
    • Saṅkhāra, Kamma, Kamma Bīja, Kamma Vipāka
    • Saṅkhāra – Life is a Bundle of Saṅkhāra
    • Kamma are Done with Abhisaṅkhāra – Types of Abhisaṅkhāra
  • Nibbāna
    • Nibbāna – Is it Difficult to Understand?
    • The Four Stages in Attaining Nibbāna
    • What Are Rūpa? (Relation to Nibbāna)
    • Nirāmisa Sukha
    • Does the First Noble Truth Describe only Suffering?
    • Nirodha and Vaya – Two Different Concepts
    • Nibbāna “Exists”, but Not in This World
  • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta
    • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Distortion Timeline
    • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Wrong Interpretations
    • Anatta and Dukkha – True Meanings
    • Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – According to Some Key Suttas
    • Anicca – True Meaning
      • Anicca – Inability to Keep What We Like
      • Anicca – Repeated Arising/Destruction
      • Anicca – Worthlessness of Worldly Things
      • Anicca – The Incessant Distress (“Pīḷana”)
      • How to Cultivate the Anicca Saññā
      • How to Cultivate the Anicca Saññā – II
      • If Everything is Anicca Should We Just give up Everything?
    • Anatta – A Systematic Analysis
      • Anattā in Anattalakkahana Sutta – No Soul or an Ātma
      • Anatta – No Refuge in This World
      • Dasa Akusala and Anatta – The Critical Link
      • Anatta – the Opposite of Which Atta?
      • Anattā (Mundane Interpretation) – No “Unchanging Self”
    • Tilakkhaṇa – English Discourses
    • The Way to Nibbāna – Transcription of a Discourse by Waharaka Thero
    • Sotāpanna Stage and Tilakkhaṇa
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Tilakkhaṇa
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – Getting Rid of Deeper Wrong Views
      • Associations (Sevana)  – A Root Cause of Wrong Views
    • Why are Tilakkhana not Included in 37 Factors of Enlightenment?
    • Two Versions of 37 Factors of Enlightenment
    • Types of Bodies in 31 Realms – Connection to Jhāna
    • Finest Manomaya Kāya of an Arūpāvacara Brahma
  • Gati, Bhava, and Jāti
    • Namagotta, Bhava, Kamma Bīja, and Mano Loka (Mind Plane)
    • Gati and Bhava – Many Varieties
    • Gati to Bhava to Jāti – Ours to Control
    • Memory, Brain, Mind, Nama Loka, Kamma Bhava, Kamma Vipāka
    • Bhava and Jāti – States of Existence and Births Therein
    • Cuti and Maraṇa – Related to Bhava and Jāti
    • Anusaya, Gati, Bhava – Connection to Manomaya Kāya (Gandhabba)
    • Pāpa Kamma Versus Akusala Kamma
  • Sorting out Some Key Pali Terms (Taṇhā, Lobha, Dosa, Moha, etc)
    • Kama Taṇhā, Bhava Taṇhā, Vibhava Taṇhā
    • Taṇhā – How We Attach Via Greed, Hate, and Ignorance
    • Lobha, Rāga and Kāmacchanda, Kāmarāga
    • Lobha, Dosa, Moha Versus Rāga, Paṭigha, Avijjā
    • What is Avijjā (Ignorance)?
    • Vedanā (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways
    • Indriya and Āyatana – Big Difference
    • Hetu-Phala, Paccuppanna, and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Diṭṭhi (Wrong Views), Sammā Diṭṭhi (Good/Correct Views)
    • Correct Meaning of Vacī Saṅkhāra
    • Pañca Indriya and Pañca Bala – Five Faculties and Five Powers
    • Kāmaccandha [Kāmacchanda] and Icca – Being Blinded by Cravings
  • The Five Aggregates (Pañcakkhandha)
    • Sensory Experience, Paṭicca Samuppāda, and Pañcupādānakkhandha
    • Two Aspects of Saññā - Beneficial and Dangerous
    • Overcoming Attachment to “Distorted/False Saññā” Leads to Nibbāna
    • Five Aggregates – Introduction
    • Difference Between Physical Rūpa and Rūpakkhandha
    • Rūpakkhandha and Rūpa Upādānakkhandha
    • Arising of Five Aggregates Based on an Ārammaṇa
    • Memory Records – Critical Part of Five Aggregates
    • Pañca Upādānakkhandhā – Introduction
    • Five Aggregates – Connection to Tilakkhaṇa
      • Five Aggregates and Tilakkhaṇa – Introduction
      • Icca, Nicca, Anicca – Important Connections
      • “Me” and “Mine” – The Root Cause of Suffering
      • Difference Between “Me and Mine” and Sakkāya Diṭṭhi
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – “Me and Mine” View
      • Atta – Two Very Different Meanings
    • Saññā (Perception)
    • Vedanā (Feelings)
    • Viññāṇa (Defiled Consciousness)
    • Rūpa (Material Form)
    • Pañcakkhandha or Five Aggregates – A Misinterpreted Concept
    • Pañcaupādānakkhandha – It is All Mental
  • Nāma & Rūpa to Nāmarūpa
    • Mental Aggregates
      • What Is Vedanā (Feelings)?
        • Vedanā and Samphassa Jā Vedanā – More Than Just Feelings
          • Vedanā – What It Really Means
        • Does Bodily Pain Arise Only Due to Kamma Vipāka?
      • What is Saññā (Perception)?
        • Saññā – What It Really Means
        • Future Suffering – Why It Arises
        • Vipallāsa (Diṭṭhi, Saññā, Citta) Affect Saṅkhāra
          • Ps 1.8 Treatise of Distortions – Vipallāsakathā
          • Samāropanahāra vibhaṅga (Ne 19)
      • What Are Saṅkhāra (Mental Formations)?
        • Saṅkhāra – What It Really Means
      • Viññāṇa Aggregate
        • Viññāṇa – What It Really Means
        • Kamma Viññāṇa – Link Between Mind and Matter
        • Anidassana Viññāṇa – What It Really Means
    • Rūpa Aggregate
      • Rūpa – What It Really Means
      • Bhūta and Yathābhūta – What Do They Really Mean
      • What are Rūpa? – Dhammā are Rūpa Too!
    • Nāmarūpa Formation
      • Nāmarūpa in Vipāka Viññāṇa
      • Nāmarūpa in Idappaccayatā Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Nāmarūpa – Different Types
      • Kamma Viññāṇa and Nāmarūpa Pariccheda Ñāṇa
• Living Dhamma
  • Essential Buddhism
    • Four Noble Truths – Suffering and Its Elimination
    • Introduction to Citta, Vedanā, Saññā, Saṅkhāra, and Viññāṇa
    • Viññāṇa – Consciousness Together With Future Expectations
    • Connection Between Saṅkhāra and Viññāṇa
    • Viññāṇa and Saṅkhāra – Connection to Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Breath Meditation Is Addictive and Harmful in the Long Run
    • Ānāpānasati Eliminates Mental Stress Permanently
    • Ānāpāna and Satipaṭṭhāna – Fundamentals
    • Sati in Ānāpānasati/Satipaṭṭhāna – Two Meanings of Sati
  • Living Dhamma – Overview
    • Living Dhamma – Introduction
    • Peace of Mind to Nibbāna – The Key Step
    • Starting on the Path Even without Belief in Rebirth
  • Dhamma with Less Pāli
    • Buddha Dhamma for an Inquiring Mind – Part I
    • Root of All Suffering – Ten Immoral Actions
    • Is Suffering the Same as the First Noble Truth on Suffering?
    • Dhamma, Saṅkhāra, Saṅkhata, Rūpa, Viññāṇa, Gati, Āsava, Anusaya
    • Complexity of the Mind – Viññāṇa and Saṅkhāra
    • Citta, Mano, Viññāṇa – Nine Stages of Mind Contamination
  • Living Dhamma – Fundamentals
    • What Are Kilesa (Mental Impurities)? – Connection to Cetasika
    • Suffering in This Life – Role of Mental Impurities
    • Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – Relevance to Suffering in This Life
    • How Are Gati and Kilesa Incorporated into Thoughts?
    • Noble Eightfold Path – Role of Sobhana Cetasika
    • Getting to Samadhi
    • Sexual Orientation – Effects of Kamma and Gati (Saṅkhāra)
  • Mundane Sammā Samādhi
    • Micca Diṭṭhi – Connection to Hethu Phala (Cause and Effect)
    • Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Suffering in This Life and Paṭicca Samuppāda II
  • Transition to Noble Eightfold Path
    • Is It Necessary for a Buddhist to Eliminate Sensual Desires?
    • Sīla, Samādhi, Paññā to Paññā, Sīla, Samādhi
    • Ye Dhammā Hetuppabhavā.. and Yam Kiñci Samudaya Dhammam..
  • Samādhi, Jhāna (Dhyāna), Magga Phala
    • Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction
    • Vitakka, Vicāra, Savitakka, Savicāra, and Avitakka, Avicāra
    • Jhānic Experience in Detail – Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2)
    • Ascendance to Nibbāna via Jhāna (Dhyāna)
    • Paññāvimutti  – Arahanthood without Jhāna
    • Mundane versus Supramundane Jhāna
    • Nirodha Samāpatti, Phala Samāpatti, Jhāna, and Jhāna Samāpatti
  • Mental Body – Gandhabba
    • Our Mental Body – Gandhabba
    • Gandhabba State – Evidence from Tipiṭaka
    • Antarābhava and Gandhabba
    • Ānantarika Kamma – Connection to Gandhabba
    • Mental Body (Gandhabba) – Personal Accounts
    • Abnormal Births Due to Gandhabba Transformations
    • Micchā Diṭṭhi, Gandhabba, and Sotāpanna Stage
    • Working of kammā – Critical Role of Conditions
• Dhamma and Science
  • Dhamma and Science – Introduction
  • Origin of Life
    • Origin of Life – There is No Traceable Origin
    • Human Life – A Mental Base (Gandhabba) and a Material Base (Cell)
    • Clarification of “Mental Body” and “Physical Body” – Different Types of “Kāya”
    • Four Types of Births in Buddhism
    • Buddhist Explanations of Conception, Abortion, and Contraception
    • Cloning and Gandhabba
    • Living Cell – How Did the First Cell Come to Existence?
    • Mystical Phenomena in Buddhism?
    • Views on Life
      • Wrong View of Creationism (and Eternal Future Life) – Part 1
        • Views on Life – Wrong View of Materialism
      • Wrong View of Creationism (and Eternal Future Life) – Part 2
      • Worldview of the Buddha
        • Buddhist Worldview – Introduction
        • “Mind-Pleasing Things” in the World Arise via Paṭicca Samuppāda
        • Sensory Inputs Initiate “Creation of the World” or “Loka Samudaya”
        • Sandiṭṭhiko – What Does It Mean?
        • A Sensory Input Triggers (Distorted) Saññā and Pañcupādānakkhandha
        • Kāma Saññā – How to Bypass to Cultivate Satipaṭṭhāna
        • Is Cakkhu Viññāṇa Free of Defilements?
        • Loka and Nibbāna (Āloka) – Complete Overview
        • Path to Nibbāna – The Necessary Background
        • Path to Nibbāna – Learning Dhamma to Become a Sotāpanna
        • Sotāpanna Stage from Kāma Loka
        • ‘Diṭṭhe Diṭṭhamattaṁ Bhavissati’ – Connection to Saññā
        • Contact Between Āyatana Leads to Vipāka Viññāṇa
        • How Do Sense Faculties Become Internal Āyatana?
        • Indriya Make Phassa and Āyatana Make Samphassa
        • The Framework of Buddha Dhamma
          • The Suffering (Dukkha) in the First Noble Truth
          • Dangers of Ten Types of Wrong Views and Four Possible Paths
          • Sammā Diṭṭhī – Only One Leads to the Noble Path
          • Fear of Nibbāna (Enlightenment)
          • Ghost 1990 Movie – Good Depiction of Gandhabba Concept
          • Mental Body Versus the Physical Body
      • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Not ‘Self’ or ‘No-Self’ 
        • Taṇhā – The Origin of Suffering
        • Paṭicca Samuppāda – A ‘Self’ Exists Due to Avijjā
        • Kamma, Saṅkhāra, and Abhisaṅkhāra – What Is “Intention”?
        • Vacī Saṅkhāra – Saṅkappa (Conscious Thoughts) and Vācā (Speech)
        • Taṇhā Paccayā Upādāna – Critical Step in Paṭicca Samuppāda
        • Moha/Avijjā and Vipāka Viññāṇa/Kamma Viññāṇa
        • Icchā (Cravings) Lead to Upādāna and to Eventual Suffering
        • Dhammā, Kamma, Saṅkhāra, Mind – Critical Connections
        • Paṭicca Samuppāda – From Mind to Matter
    • Origin of Life – One Creates One’s Own Future Lives
  • Good Explanations – Key to Weeding Out Bad Versions of Dhamma
    • Consciousness and the Brain
    • Matter Creates Mind or Mind Creates Matter?
  • Consciousness – A Dhamma Perspective
    • Consciousness Dependence on Number of Dimensions
    • Six Kinds of Consciousness in Our 3-D World
    • Expanding “Consciousness” by Using Technology
    • Expanding “Consciousness” by Purifying the Mind
  • Consistencies with Science
    • Second Law of Thermodynamics is Part of Anicca!
    • Quantum Entanglement – We Are All Connected
    • Infinity – How Big Is It?
    • Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem
    • Truine Brain: How the Mind Rewires the Brain via Meditation/Habits
    • How Habits are Formed and Broken – A Scientific View
  • Buddhism – Inconsistencies with Science
• Elephants in the Room
  • Word-for-Word Translation of the Tipiṭaka
    • Elephant in the Room 1 – Direct Translation of the Tipiṭaka
      • Niddesa (Brief Description) of Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Paṭicca Samuppāda During a Lifetime
        • Idappaccayatā Paṭicca Samuppāda – Bhava and Jāti Within a Lifetime
        • Change of Mindset Due to an Ārammaṇa
        • Khandhā in Idappaccayatā Paṭicca Samuppāda
        • Seeing Is a Series of “Snapshots”
        • Aggregate of Forms – Collection of “Mental Impressions” of Forms
        • Rūpakkhandha in Idappaccayatā Paṭicca Samuppāda
        • Five Aggregates – Experiences of Each Sentient Being
        • Pañcupādānakkhandha – Attachment to One’s Experiences
        • Noble Truth of Suffering – Pañcupādānakkhandhā Dukkhā
        • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Pañcupādānakkhandhā
        • Bhava and Jāti Within a Lifetime – Example
      • Often Mistranslated Pāli Keywords
        • Rāga and Jhāna – Two Commonly Misunderstood Words
    • Elephant in the Room 2 – Jhāna and Kasiṇa
      • “Jānato Passato” and Ājāniya – Critical Words to Remember
      • Samādhi, Jhāna, and Sammā Samādhi
      • Jhāna, Jhāya, and Jhāyi – Different Meanings
      • Jhāna – Finer Details
      • Sammā Samādhi – How to Define It?
      • Ariya Jhāna and Anāriya Jhāna – Main Differences
    • Elephant in the Room 3 – Ānāpānasati
      • Ānāpānasati – Overview
      • Assāsa Passāsa – What Do They Mean?
      • Ānāpānasati Not About Breath – Icchānaṅgala Sutta
      • Mahārāhulovāda Sutta and Ānāpānasati
    • Elephant in the Room 4 – Gandhabba/Manomaya Kāya
      • Does Gandhabba Mean “Semen”?
• Three Levels of Practice
  • Moral Living and Fundamentals
    • The Basics
      • The Pale Blue Dot……..
      • The Law of Attraction, Habits, Character (Gati), and Cravings (Āsava)
      • Habits, Goals, and Character (Gati or Gathi)
      • Wrong Views (Micchā Diṭṭhi) – A Simpler Analysis
      • Four Noble Truths: Recipe for Problem Solving
      • First Noble Truth – A Simple Explanation of One Aspect
      • Difference between a Wish and a Determination (Parāmitā)
    • Calming the Mind
      • Key to Calming the Mind – The Five Hindrances
      • Solution to a Wandering Mind – Abandon Everything?
      • Right Speech – How to Avoid Accumulating Kamma
      • Three Kinds of Happiness – What is Nirāmisa Sukha?
      • Learning Buddha Dhamma Leads to Nirāmisa Sukha
      • How to Taste Nibbāna
      • Need to Experience Suffering in Order to Understand it?
      • Does Impermanence Lead to Suffering?
    • Buddha Dhamma and Buddhism
      • What is Unique in Buddha Dhamma?
      • A Buddhist or a Bhauddhayā?
      • Where to Start on the Path?
      • Recent Evidence for Unbroken Memory Records (HSAM)
      • Buddhism without Rebirth and Nibbāna?
      • “Self” and “no-self”: A Simple Analysis  – Do We Always Act with Avijjā?
    • Dhamma Concepts
      • Kilesa – Relationship to Akusala, Kusala, and Puñña Kamma
      • Ten Immoral Actions (Dasa Akusala)
      • Puñña Kamma – Dāna, Sīla, Bhāvanā
      • Details of Kamma – Intention, Who Is Affected, Kamma Patha
      • The Five Precepts – What the Buddha Meant by Them
      • What is Kamma? – Is Everything Determined by Kamma?
      • How to Evaluate Weights of Different Kamma
      • Account of Aṅgulimāla – Many Insights to Buddha Dhamma
      • The Four Bases of Mental Power (Cattāro Iddhipāda)
      • Why is it Necessary to Learn Key Pāli Words?
    • Buddha Dhamma and Morality
      • Origin of Morality (and Immorality) in Buddhism
      • Is Eating Meat an Akusala Kamma (Immoral Deed)?
      • Do Things Just Happen? – The Hidden Causes
      • Craving for Pornography – How to Reduce the Tendency
  • Working Towards Good Rebirths
    • Sansāric Habits, Character (Gati), and Cravings (Āsava)
    • Complexity of Life and the Way to Seek “Good Rebirths”
    • How to Avoid Birth in the Apāyā
    • Rebirth – Connection to Suffering in the First Noble Truth
      • How the Buddha Described the Chance of Rebirth in the Human Realm
      • Nakhasikha Sutta (SN 22.97 SN 56.51 SN 13.1 SN 20.2)
      • Dutiyachiggaḷayuga Sutta (SN 56.47, 56.48)
      • Assu Sutta (SN 15.3)
    • Kamma, Debt, and Meditation
    • How do we Decide which View is Wrong View (Diṭṭhi)?
    • Three Kinds of Diṭṭhi, Eightfold Paths, and Samādhi
    • Implications of the Rebirth Process in Daily Life and in Society
    • What Does Buddha Dhamma Say about Creator, Satan, Angels, and Demons?
    • Paṭisandhi Citta – How the Next Life is Determined According to Gati
  • Seeking Nibbāna
    • Aṭṭha Purisa Puggalā – Eight Noble Persons
    • Āsava, Anusaya, and Gati (Gathi)
    • The Way to Nibbāna – Removal of Āsavā
    • Kaṇha (Dark) and Sukka (Bright) Kamma and Kammakkhaya
    • Dasa Saṃyojana – Bonds in Rebirth Process
    • The Cooling Down Process (Nibbāna) – How the Root Causes are Removed
    • Why is Correct Interpretation of Anicca, Dukkha, Anattā so Important?
    • How to Cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path starting with Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta
    • Difference Between Giving Up Valuables and Losing Interest in Worthless
  • Sotāpanna Stage of Nibbāna
    • Sotāpanna Stage via Understanding Perception (Saññā) 
      • Sotāpanna Stage and Distorted Saññā
      • Pabhassara Citta and Saññā Vipallāsa
      • Mūlapariyāya Sutta – The Root of All Things
      • Fooled by Distorted Saññā (Sañjānāti) – Origin of Attachment (Taṇhā)
      • Kāma Rāga Arises Due to “Distorted Saññā”
      • Distorted Saññā Arises in Every Adult but Not in a Newborn
      • Purāṇa and Nava Kamma – Sequence of Kamma Generation
      • Saññā Nidānā hi Papañca Saṅkhā - Immoral Thoughts Based on ‘Distorted Saññā’
      • Kalahavivāda Sutta – Origin of Fights and Disputes
    • Sotāpanna Stage – Previous Posts
      • The Sotāpanna Stage
      • Why a Sotāpanna is Better off than any King, Emperor, or a Billionaire
      • Myths about the Sotāpanna Stage
      • Sotāpanna Anugāmi and a Sotāpanna
      • Sotāpanna Anugāmi – No More Births in the Apāyā
      • Four Conditions for Attaining Sotāpanna Magga/Phala
      • Sotāpatti Aṅga – The Four Qualities of a Sotāpanna
      • Sammā Diṭṭhi – Realization, Not Memorization
      • How Does One Know whether the Sotāpanna Stage is Reached?
      • Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissaraṇa
        • Assāda, Ādīnava, Nissaraṇa – Introduction
        • How Perceived Pleasures (Assāda) lead to Dukkha
        • Vedanā (Feelings) Arise in Two Ways
        • Feelings: Sukha, Dukha, Somanassa, and Domanassa
        • Kāma Assāda Start with Phassa Paccayā Vedanā or Samphassa Jā Vedana
      • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – “Seeing the Unfruitful Nature of the World”
      • Akusala Citta – How a Sotāpanna Avoids Apāyagāmi Citta
      • What is the only Akusala Removed by a Sotāpanna?
      • Udayavaya Ñāṇa
        • Udayavaya (Udayabbaya) Ñāṇa – Introduction
        • Nibbatti Lakkhana in Udayavaya Ñāṇa
        • Āhāra (Food) in Udayavaya Ñāṇa
          • Āhāra (Food) in Udayavaya Ñāṇa
        • Udayavaya Ñāṇa – Importance of the Cittaja Kāya
• Tables and Summaries
  • Pāli Glossary
  • Pāli Glossary – (A-K)
  • Pāli Glossary – (L-Z)
  • List of “Saŋ” Words and Other Pāli Roots
  • The 89 (121) Types of Citta
  • Cetasika (Mental Factors)
  • Rūpa (Material Form) – Table
  • Rūpa – Generation Mechanisms
  • Rūpa Kalāpa (Grouping of Matter)
  • Akusala Citta and Akusala Vipaka Citta
  • 37 Factors of Enlightenment
  • Conditions for the Four Stages of Nibbāna
  • Ultimate Realities – Table
  • 31 Realms of Existence
• Paṭicca Samuppāda
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda – “Pati+ichcha” + “Sama+uppāda”
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Overview
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Essential Concepts
    • Nibbāna – Rāgakkhaya Dosakkhaya Mohakkhaya – Part 1
    • Pañca Nīvaraṇa and Sensual Pleasures (Kāma)
    • What is “Kāma”? It is not Just Sex
    • Icchā, Taṇhā, Kāma – Root Causes of Suffering
    • Jāti – Different Types of Births
    • Bhava – Kammic Energy That Can Power an Existence
    • Bhava and Punabbhava – Kammic Energy Giving Rise to Renewed Existence
    • Concepts of Upādāna and Upādānakkhandha
      • Where Are Memories “Stored”? – Connection to Pañcakkhandha
      • Loka Sutta – Origin and Cessation of the World
      • Dukkha Samudaya Starts With Samphassa-Jā-Vedanā
      • Key Steps of Kammic Energy Accumulation
      • Generating Kammic Energy in the “Upādāna Paccayā Bhava”
    • Six Root Causes – Loka Samudaya (Arising of Suffering) and Loka Nirodhaya (Nibbāna)
  • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Kamma and Paṭicca Samuppāda – Introduction
    • Dhamma and Dhammā – Different but Related
    • Difference Between Dhammā and Saṅkhāra
    • Kāma Assāda – A Root Cause of Suffering
    • Gati (Habits/Character) Determine Births – Saṁsappanīya Sutta
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda, Tilakkhaṇa, Four Noble Truths
    • Paṭicca Samuppāda – Introduction
    • What Did the Buddha Mean by a “Loka”?
    • Future Suffering (Loka/Dukkha Samudaya) Starts With Sensory Input (Ārammaṇa)
    • Sotāpanna – One With the “Wider Worldview” of the Buddha
    • Sotāpannā – Just Starting on the Noble Path
    • Yoniso Manasikāra and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Dhamma – Different Meanings Depending on the Context
    • Dhammānudhamma Paṭipatti – Connection to Paṭicca Samuppāda/Tilakkhaṇa
  • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi and Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – Wrong View of “Me” and “Mine” 
    • What Reincarnates? – Concept of a Lifestream
    • Anatta and Sakkāya Diṭṭhi – Two Different Concepts
  • Understanding the Terms in Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Distortion of Pāli Keywords in Paṭicca Samuppāda
      • Saṅkhāra – Many Meanings
        • Saṅkhāra – An Introduction
        • Saṅkhāra - Should Not be Translated as a Single Word
        • Kamma and Saṅkhāra, Cetanā and Sañcetanā
        • Kusala-Mūla Saṅkhāra Are Needed to Attain Nibbāna
        • Rebirths Take Place According to Abhisaṅkhāra
      • Viññāṇa – Two Critical Meanings
        • Abhisaṅkhāra Lead to Kamma Viññāṇa
        • Two Types of Kamma Viññāṇa
        • Summary of Key Concepts About Viññāṇa and Saṅkhāra
        • Anidassana, Appaṭigha Rūpa Due to Anidassana Viññāṇa
      • Memory, Dhammā, and Viññāṇa Dhātu
        • Critical Influence of Wrong Views on Akusala Citta
        • Near-Death Experiences (NDE): Brain Is Not the Mind
        • Gandhabba (Mental Body) Separating from Physical Body in Jhāna
        • Where Are Memories Stored? – Viññāṇa Dhātu
    • Citta Vīthi – Fundamental Sensory Unit
    • Does any Object (Rūpa) Last only 17 Thought Moments?
    • Phassa (Contact) – Contact With Pasāda Rūpa
    • Pañcupādānakkhandha – Arises With an Ārammaṇa
  • How Are Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles Initiated?
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda Cycles
    • Avyākata Paṭicca Samuppāda for Vipāka Viññāna
    • Akusala-Mūla Upapatti Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Uppatti Paṭicca Samuppāda (How We Create Our Own Rebirths)
    • Kusala-Mūla Paṭicca Samuppāda
    • Idappaccayatā Paṭicca Samuppāda
  • Paṭicca Samuppāda in Plain English
    • Introduction – What is Suffering?
    • Introduction - 2 – The Three Categories of Suffering
    • Avijjā Paccayā Saṅkhārā
    • Saṅkhāra Paccayā Viññāṇa – 1
    • Saṅkhāra Paccayā Viññāṇa – 2
    • Viññāṇa Paccayā Nāmarūpa
    • Nāmarūpa Paccayā Saḷāyatana
    • Difference between Phassa and Samphassa
    • Phassa paccayā Vēdanā….to Tanhā
    • Difference Between Taṇhā and Upādāna
    • Upādāna Paccayā Bhava – Two Types of Bhava
    • Nāmarūpa, Viññāṇa, Dhammā – Closely Related
    • Bhava Paccayā Jāti….Jarā, Maraṇa,…
  • Imasmiṁ Sati Idaṁ Hoti – What Does It Really Mean?
  • Paṭiloma Paṭicca Samuppāda – Key to Nibbāna
  • Paṭṭhāna Dhamma
    • Paṭṭhāna Dhamma – Connection to Cause and Effect (Hetu Phala)
    • What Does “Paccayā” Mean in Paṭicca Samuppāda?
    • Anantara and Samanantara Paccayā
    • Āsevana and Aññamañña Paccayā
• Is There a ‘Self’?
  • Does “Anatta” Refer to a “Self”?
    • Cognition Modes – Sañjānāti, Vijānāti, Pajānāti, Abhijānāti
    • Anicca Nature – Chasing Worldly Pleasures Is Pointless
    • Aniccaṁ Vipariṇāmi Aññathābhāvi – A Critical Verse
    • Dukkha – Previously Unknown Truth About Suffering
    • ‘Etaṁ Mama, Esohamasmi, Eso Me Attā’ti – Connection to Taṇhā, Māna, Diṭṭhi
    • “Attā” as “Self” – Wrong Translation in Many Suttās
    • “Attato Samanupassati” - To View Something to be of Value
    • Saññā Vipallāsa – Distorted Perception
    • Sensory Experience – A Deeper Analysis
      • Saññā – All Our Thoughts Arise With “Distorted Saññā”
      • Upaya and Upādāna – Two Stages of Attachment
        • SN 22.53 Attachment – Upayasutta
  • Sensory Experience - Basis of Buddha’s Worldview
    • Citta – Basis of Our Experience and Actions
    • Vipāka Vedanā and “Samphassa jā Vedanā” in a Sensory Event
    • Kāma Guṇa – Origin of Attachment (Taṇhā)
    • Vision Is a Series of “Snapshots” – Movie Analogy
    • Do I Have “A Mind” That Is Fixed and “Mine”?
    • Chachakka Sutta – Six Types of Vipāka Viññāṇa
    • Sakkāya Diṭṭhi in Terms of Attā or “Self” or “Ātma”
    • An Apparent “Self” Is Involved in Kamma Generation
• Dhamma and Philosophy
  • Dhamma and Philosophy – Introduction
  • Philosophy of the Mind
  • Is Buddha Dhamma (Buddhism) a Religion?
  • The Infinity Problem in Buddhism
  • Free Will in Buddhism – Connection to Saṅkhāra
  • Book Reviews
    • “Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt
    • “Waking Up” by Sam Harris
    • “The Language of God” by Francis Collins
    • “Spark” by John Ratey
    • “The Life of the Buddha” by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli
• Bhāvanā (Meditation)
  • Meditation – Deeper Aspects
    • Attaining Nibbāna Requires Understanding Buddha’s Worldview
    • Vipassanā – Buddhist Meditation
    • Mind Operates Like a Machine According to Nature’s Laws
    • Saññā Gives Rise to Most of the Vedanā We Experience
    • Taṇhā – Result of Saññā Giving Rise to Mind-Made Vedanā
    • Āhāra - Food for the Mental Body
    • Buddhist Theory of Matter – Fundamentals
  • 1. Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
  • 2. The Basics in Meditation
  • 3. The Second Level – Key to Purify the Mind
  • 4. What do all these Different Meditation Techniques Mean?
  • 5. Ariya Mettā Bhāvanā (Loving Kindness Meditation)
  • 6. Ānāpānasati Bhāvanā (Introduction)
    • Arittha Sutta - To Arittha (On Mindfulness of Breathing)
  • 7. What is Ānāpāna?
    • Ānāpānassati­sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 118)
  • Is Ānāpānasati Breath Meditation?
  • 8. The Basic Formal Ānāpānasati Meditation
  • Possible Effects in Meditation – Kundalini Awakening
  • 9. Key to Ānāpānasati – How to Change Habits and Character (Gati)
    • Introduction to Character or Personality (Gati)
    • A Broad View of the “Person” Trying to be a “Better Person”
    • How Character (Gati) Leads to Bhava and Jāti
  • Karaṇīya Metta Sutta – Metta Bhāvanā
  • 10. Attaining the Sotāpanna Stage via Removing Diṭṭhāsava
  • 11. Magga Phala via Cultivation of Satta Bojjhaṅga
  • 12. Key Factors to be Considered when “Meditating” for the Sotapanna Stage
  • 13. Kammaṭṭhāna (Recitations) for the Sotāpanna Stage
  • New Approach to Meditation
  • Anussati and Anupassanā – Being Mindful and Removing Defilements
  • Myths about Meditation
  • A Simple Way to Enhance Merits (Kusala) and Avoid Demerits (Akusala)
  • Possible Outcomes of Meditation – Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala
  • What is Samādhi? – Three Kinds of Mindfulness
  • Getting to Samādhi via Formal Mediation Sessions
  • Are you not getting expected results from meditation?
  • How to Attain Samādhi via “Vipassanā Pubbaṅgama Samatha” Bhavana
• Abhidhamma
  • Abhidhamma – Introduction
  • Essential Abhidhamma – The Basics
    • Amazingly Fast Time Evolution of a Thought (Citta)
    • The Amazing Mind – Critical Role of Nāmagotta (Memories)
    • Citta and Cetasika – How Viññāṇa (Consciousness) Arises
    • State of Mind in the Absence of Citta Vithi – Bhavanga
    • Bhava and Bhavanga – Simply Explained!
    • Citta Vīthi – Processing of Sense Inputs
    • Javana of a Citta – The Root of Mental Power
    • Cetasika – Connection to Gati
  • Mind and Consciousness
    • What is Mind? How do we Experience the Outside World?
    • What is Consciousness?
    • What is a Thought?
    • What is in a Thought? Why Gati are so Important?
    • 1. Thoughts (Citta), Consciousness (Viññāṇa), and Mind (Hadaya Vatthu) – Introduction
    • 2. Viññāṇa (Consciousness) can be of Many Different Types and Forms
    • 3. Viññāṇa, Thoughts, and the Subconscious
  • Gandhabba (Manomaya Kāya)
    • Gandhabba (Manomaya Kāya) – Introduction
    • Hidden World of the Gandhabba: Netherworld (ParaLoka)
    • Ghost in the Machine – Synonym for the Manomaya Kāya?
    • Manomaya Kāya (Gandhabba) and the Physical Body
    • Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) and Manomaya Kāya
    • Cuti-Paṭisandhi – An Abhidhamma Description
  • Role of the Brain in Human Consciousness
    • Brain – Interface between Mind and Body
  • Abhidhamma via Science
    • Vision (Cakkhu Viññāṇa) is Not Just Seeing
    • The Double Slit Experiment – Correlation between Mind and Matter?
    • Neuroscience says there is no Free Will? – That is a Misinterpretation!
• Historical Background
  • Historical Background – Introduction
  • Counterfeit Buddhism – Current Mainstream Buddhism
  • Methods of Delivery of Dhamma by the Buddha
  • Misconceptions on the Topics the Buddha “Refused to Answer”
  • Misinterpretations of Buddha Dhamma
  • Preservation of the Buddha Dhamma
  • “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 1
  • “Tipiṭaka English” Convention Adopted by Early European Scholars – Part 2
  • Historical Timeline of Edward Conze
  • Why is it Critical to Find the Pure Buddha Dhamma?
  • Key Problems with Mahāyāna Teachings
  • Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra) – A Focused Analysis
  • What is Suñyāta or Suññāta (Emptiness)?
  • Incorrect Theravāda Interpretations – Historical Timeline
  • Buddhaghosa and Visuddhimagga – Historical Background
  • Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga – A Focused Analysis
  • Background on the Current Revival of Buddhism (Buddha Dhamma)
  • Misinterpretation of Anicca and Anatta by Early European Scholars
  • Tipiṭaka Commentaries – Helpful or Misleading?
• Buddhist Chanting
  • Buddhist Chanting – Introduction
  • Namaskaraya – Homage to the Buddha
  • Supreme Qualities of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
  • The Five Precepts – Pañca Sila
  • Sutta Chanting (with Pali Text)
  • Sādhu – Symbolizes Purified Hadaya Vatthu (Mind)
• Dhammapada
  • Manopubbaṅgamā Dhammā..
  • Sabba Pāpassa Akaraṇaṃ….
  • Appamādo Amata Padam….
  • Na Jacca Vasalo Hoti……
  • Ārogya Paramā Lābhā..
  • Anicca vata Saṅkhārā…
  • Attā Hi Attano Nātho
• Sutta Interpretations
  • Sutta Interpretation – Uddesa, Niddesa, Paṭiniddesa
  • Pāli Dictionaries – Are They Reliable?
  • Nikāya in the Sutta Piṭaka
  • Mahā Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
    • Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – Structure
    • Satipaṭṭhāna – Introduction
    • Kāyānupassanā – Section on Postures (Iriyāpathapabba)
    • Kāyānupassanā – The Section on Habits (Sampajānapabba)
    • Prerequisites for the Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvanā
    • What is “Kāya” in Kāyānupassanā?
  • Mahā Cattārīsaka Sutta (Discourse on the Great Forty)
    • Mahācattārīsaka Sutta
  • Sutta Learning Sequence for the Present Day
  • Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
    • Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – Introduction
      • Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Text
    • Essence of Buddhism – In the First Sutta
    • Majjhimā Paṭipadā – Way to Relinquish Attachments to this World
    • Tiparivaṭṭa and Twelve Types of Ñāṇa (Knowledge)
    • Relinquishing Defilement via Three Rounds and Four Stages
  • Anguttara Nikāya – Suttā on Key Concepts
    • Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma
    • Dasa Akusala/Dasa Kusala – Basis of Buddha Dhamma – 2
  • Na Cetanākaraṇīya Sutta
  • Paṭhama Mettā Sutta (AN 4.125)
  • Kukkuravatika Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 57) – Kammakkhaya
  • Aggañña Sutta Discussion – Introduction
  • Buddhism and Evolution – Aggañña Sutta (DN 27)
  • Tapussa Sutta (AN 9.41) – Akuppā Cetovimutti
  • Yamaka Sutta (SN 22.85) – Arahanthood Is Not Annihilation but End of Suffering
  • Three Types of “Bodies” – Poṭṭhapāda Sutta (DN 9)
• Myths or Realities?
  • Vedās Originated With Buddha Kassapa’s Teachings
  • Animisa Locana Bodhi Poojā – A Prelude to Acts of Gratitude
  • Pāramitā – How a Puthujjana Becomes a Buddha
  • Tisarana Vandana and Its Effects on One’s Gati
  • Does the Hell (Niraya) Exist?
  • Can Buddhist Meditation be Dangerous?
  • Boy Who Remembered Pāli Suttas for 1500 Years
  • Do Buddhists Pray and Engage in Idol Worshipping?
• About Author
• Quantum Mechanics and Dhamma
  • Quantum Mechanics and Dhamma – Introduction
  • Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness
    • Will Quantum Mechanics Be Able to Explain Consciousness?
    • The Observer Effect in Quantum Mechanics
  • Quantum Mechanics – A New Interpretation
    • What Is a Wave and What Is a Particle?
    • Photons Are Particles Not Waves
    • Basis of the Proposed Interpretation – Feynman’s Technique in QED
      • Feynman’s Glass Plate Experiment
      • Feynman’s Method of “A Particle Exploring All Possible Paths”
      • “Exploring All Possible Paths” Leads to Fermat’s Principle of Least Time
• Buddha Dhamma – Advanced
  • Kāma Rāga Dominates Rūpa Rāga and Arūpa Rāga
  • Dasa Māra Senā (Mārasenā) – Ten Defilements
  • Rūpa and Rūpakkhandha – Not External Objects
  • Vipariṇāma – Two Meanings
  • Ārammaṇa (Sensory Input) Initiates Critical Processes
  • Pāli Suttās in Tipiṭaka – Direct Translations are Wrong
• References
  • Parinibbāna of Waharaka Thero
  • Pure Dhamma – Sinhala Translation
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    • Revised Posts – 2014
  • Pure Dhamma Essays in Book Format
  • Buddha Dhamma – In a Chart
  • Nirāmisa Sukha – In a Chart
  • Popup Pali Glossary with Pronunciation
  • Reflections on 2019
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  • Reflections on 2015
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  • List of Pāli words with diacritical mark
  • Mars Curiosity Photos Suggest Life May Have Existed on Red Planet
  • Recent Publications on Benefits of Meditation
  • Laniakea: Our home supercluster
  • Think Outside the Box!
  • There are as many creatures on your body as there are people on Earth!
  • News Article on Robin Williams and Buddhist Meditation
  • World Historical Timeline
  • Second Largest Religion by State in the US
  • Introduction to “Rebirth by Francis Story” – Ian Stevenson
  • Thirty One Planes of Existence
  • Curiosity Rover finds Crater probably was once a Giant Martian Lake
  • Ancient teeth found in China challenge modern human migration theory
  • Notes
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