Retreat Talks at Dhamma Sukha

BV-Interview-3 Why Meditate, Power of Precepts, why TWIM Works

David Johnson interviews Bhante Vimalaramsi and asks some general questions.

Why meditate? What does this do for me.

What precepts do and why you have to maintain them.

Why and how TWIM works.

 

Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center ->  https://www.dhammasukha.org/

David Johnson ->  http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

http://lifeismeditation.weebly.com/

BV-Interview-2 Wrong Mindfulness? - Craving? Two Types of Jhana? Concentration vs Aware Jhana

David Johnson interviews Bhante Vimalaramsi on two important subjects. What is Mindfulness? A new definition based on the suttas is given based on the Satipatthana Sutta.

Based on this new definition of mindfulness this leads to a whole new type of Jhana, not an absorption jhana or state of concentration, but, rather, an aware relaxed, open state.

What is confusing is that these two types of jhana are related and have similar characteristics. The Buddha had rejected the concentration states that he found in the first few years of his journey; later he found a different type of jhana. Bhante discusses this.

What is Craving? Bhante talks about tension and tightness.

https://www.dhammasukha.org/
http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

http://lifeismeditation.weebly.com/

BV Interview-1 The Journey/Mindfulness/Jhanas - What is Mindfulness? What are Jhanas? How do they lead to NIbbana? New Perspectives on Buddhism

Bhante Vimalaramsi is interviewed by senior student David Johnson (Author - The Path to Nibbana) on his personal journey of awakening. Also Bhante's many unique views are probed in this 1 1/2 hr discussion of Bhante's views and what he found through his own practice.

Questions answered:

How did he come to meditation.

The disaster that happened to him before he left for Asia.

What is the Mango story and how did he get along with a Cobra in a Thai cave!

Why is noone really paying attention to the Suttas.

What is the real meaning of Mindfulness.

What is the Tranquilize step and its importance as described in the Satipathana Sutta and the Anapansati Sutta.

What are Jhanas and how do they arise.  Are there really two types of Jhanas? Why?

How do the Jhanas lead to Nibbana?

What does he teach now? What is TWIM?

 

Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center ->  https://www.dhammasukha.org/

David Johnson ->  http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

 

Taking your Daily Refuges and Precepts 6 min -Listen and Repeat

Recite along with David Johnson the refuges and precepts each day. Simply listen and repeat. 

Text of Daily Refuges and Precepts:

 

Good morning, good evening, wherever you are! My name is David Johnson. I'll be leading you in the precepts and refuges and the Dhammapada verses today. If you need a copy of what I am reading from, please go to our website www.dhammasukha.org. So let's get started.

Please sit with your backs straight, and calm your mind, now repeat after me.

 

I now take refuge in the Buddha.                 

I now take refuge in the Dhamma.       

I now take refuge in the Sangha.        

For the second time, I take refuge in the Buddha.      

For the second time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.    

For the second time, I take refuge in the Sangha.      

For the third time, I take refuge in the Buddha.        

For the third time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.       

For the third time, I take refuge in the Sangha.

 

So let's take our daily precepts.

Please clear your mind and pay close attention, then repeat after me.

1. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from killing or harming living beings, on purpose.
2. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking what is not given.
3. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from any wrong sexual activity.
4. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from telling lies and harsh speech.
5. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking drugs and alcohol.
6. I undertake to keep the precept to be loving and kind to myself and all beings.          

 

Now you have taken the three refuges and the precepts and these lead to Happiness and Peace. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

 

Now, let us read the verses of the Dhammapada together.

Mind is the forerunner of all evil states. Mind is chief; mind made are they. If one speaks or acts with an unwholesome mind, because of that, suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draft-ox.

2] Mind is the forerunner of all good states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one, even as one’s shadow that never leaves.

3] “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me”, in those who harbor such thoughts hatred is not appeased.

4] “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me”, in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred is appeased.

5] Hatred is never overcome by hatred in this world. Hatred is only overcome by love. This is an eternal law.

11] In the unessential we imagine the essential, in the essential we see the unessential, anyone who entertains such wrong thoughts never will realize the truth.

12] What is essential we regard as essential, what is unessential we regard as unessential, anyone who entertains such right thoughts will realize the truth.      

16] Here one develops a mind that rejoices now, and in the future one rejoices. In both states the well-doer rejoices. One who rejoices a lot will be able to see the purity of their own deeds, speech and thoughts.

18] When one is happy now, they will be happy in the future. In both states the well-doer is happy. Thinking “I have done good in the past” one becomes happy and will easily experience a blissful state of mind.

19] Though a person recites sacred texts, but doesn’t act accordingly, that heedless person is like a cowherd who counts others’ cows. They have no share in the fruits of the holy life.

 

20] Though a person recites the sacred texts very little, but acts in accordance with the teaching, they give up lust, hatred and delusion. They truly know what is good and this leads to a mind that is free from suffering. They cling to nothing here and in the future. In this way, one shares the fruits of the holy life.

Bhante Vimalaramsi explains how he found the missing step that gets you to Awakening

Bhante goes over his story and how he found the path.

Metta Meditation has faster progress to Nibbana than Breath

Bhante Vimalaramsi discusses how the Buddha taught Metta to reach awakening and he mentioned it many more times than the breath meditation or anapanasati.

In the suttas he clearly says that using Metta as part of the Brahmavihara Meditation is a fast way to Nibbana.

2017 MN 146 Nandakovada Sutta - Advice from Nandaka

Nandaka gives advice to the Nuns on Impermanence.

Recorded: July 7, 2017
Where: DSMC
Talk by Bhante Vimalaramsi
Abbot - Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
http://www.dhammasukha.org/
http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

2017 MN 13 Mahadukkhakkhandha Sutta

The Greater Discourse on the Mass of Suffering
The dangers of sensual pleasures leading to suffering.

Recorded: July 9, 2017
Where: DSMC
Talk by Bhante Vimalaramsi
Abbot - Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
http://www.dhammasukha.org/
http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

2017 MN 105 Sunakkhatta Sutta

In this sutta we learn that the path attainment is prone to being lost unless it is taken care of by keeping precepts, just like a wound which is newly opened and must be cleaned and tended to.

Recorded: July 6, 2017
Where: DSMC
Talk by Bhante Vimalaramsi
Abbot - Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
http://www.dhammasukha.org/
http://www.thepathtonibbana.com/

Satipatthana Sutta MN 10 - Bhante Vimalaramsi - Another perspective on Mindfulness

Bhante comments on the standard sutta about the four foundations of mindfulness but gives a different view of what Mindfulness is and how Breath is done.