The so called Sotāpanna is also temporary

After Vipassana for only a few months, a person supposedly called a Sotāpanna could become a so called Sakadagami, or level 2 developed person, or level 2 Sekha (studying person). How it can be known ? If a meditator has developed his peaceful meditation skill up to a Jhana level, he would be able to tell from the experience inside the Jhana.
As far as the feeling of the meditator is concerned, there is nothing special to be proud of. Since the selfness, also called Atta, is long gone, after becoming a Sotapanna, there is actually no "me" or anyone to feel proud of the accomplishment at all. It is just another emotionally neutral experience. Since this blog is aimed at sharing meditation experience, it would not be wise to quit this blog and start a new one called Sakadagami-wise. :-)

The short term duration of Sotapanna state demonstrated the fact Buddha taught called the Tilukkhana, or the 3 characters of all things. a) the ever changing nature, thus called suffering called Dukkhata. b) The transient or temporary nature is called Aniccata. c) Independence from mind-control nature is called Anatta.

What is Nirvana ?

Can one describe Nirvana ?
This is an explanation from an experience.

Nirvana is a state that a developed mind can experience it. Nirvana can be experienced when the mind has no Kilasa, i.e. no impurities tainting the mind. It is an experience of utmost bliss, feeling of unlimited freedom. The mind feels unlimited knowledge available, yet it has no craving of anything, it has no desire of any physical or abstract objects. The mind has no attachment to any emotion, good or bad. The mind experiences emptiness or voidness (of any objects that it can recognize). The mind experiences calmness, yet retains full consciousness. It sees bright light, as if the observer was standing outdoor looking up to a sunny sky in an afternoon.

Although most Sekha persons can experience Nirvana only temporarily during meditation, Nirvana is a state which metaphysically exists all the time. Nirvana has no beginning and no ending. Time is infinity in Nirvana. Nevertheless lay-persons, with full Kilase tainting their undeveloped minds, can not experience it. Nirvana can not be wished or craved for.

Is there a meaningful purpose of human life ?

Why were we born ? Is there a duty (or duties) for us human ?
Were we born just to consume, to excrete, to sexually mate, to sleep ? Just to do these 4 main activities every day for a few years and then die ?
If that is the case, then how do humans differ from non-sapient animals ? Non-human animals also have those 4 activities.

I was informed from my teachers (Buddhist monks) and books that we have the main duty to develop our mind, in order to elevate its moral quality. When the mind is developed, it will be happier, more and more.

The purpose of Buddha's teaching is to lead humans into having happiness, from elimination of suffering inside the mind, regardless of their physical environments. If lay-persons and Sehka persons (i.e. the 3 classes of the developed ones, except the Arahanta) keep on developing their minds, they will become less-suffered from all worldly experiences they face in their lives. The state of ultimate happiness that a developed mind can experience is Nirvana, a Sanskrit term (also called Nibbana in Pali term). Sekha persons can experience Nirvana briefly, mainly during meditation. Arahanta monks can experience it anytime they want, not even a meditation is needed. That is according to words of a teacher of mine.

PDF ebook on Phra Aj. Mun

I just stumbled upon a English book on biography of Phra Ajahn Mun from the link below. Link in the page is called "Acariya Mun Bhuridhatta", quite an accurate transcription of Pali into English.

I have had a Thai printed version. I admire his life. Now I have English version in ebook format. I am delighted that English-speaking people of the World have a chance to learn of of his life from this ebook.

webpage

However, I don't think that there are that many wise people out there who might be interested in Buddhism and wanting to read about life of a late forest monk, despite the fact that he is among the greatest Theravada monks.

Bhavana & Kammathana

Bhavana means dhamma (natural entity) that should be developed (in the mind)

Pali explanation: "Bhavetabbhati Bhavana", Dhamma that Pundits should make them prosper at first and then successively so that they continue as a habit until they have further developed, thus is called Bhavana.

Kammathana has 2 Pali roots, Kamma + Thana.

Pali explanation: "Kiriya Kammang", the action is called Kamma.
"Tithati Aetati thanang", Samatha and Vipassana meditations need to establish an object (in the mind), such as Kasina (image), and Nama - Rupa, thus an object is called Thana (foundation).

For laypersons' speaks, Bhavana means an act of conducting either Samatha meditation (seeking internal quiet peace), or Vipassana (seeking to wisely see things clearly as they are). One can say either that "I regularly conduct a Bhavana" or "I regularly conduct a Kamamathana", which essentially means the same as "I regularly conduct meditation".

Buddha taught 40 different ways to meditate, "40 Kammathana". I 've mentioned of Buddhanusati and Morananusati in previous posts.
(Note: variations using mixed ways is practically acceptable in Thailand. I personally meditate using mixed types. I will elaborate it later.)

Morananusati

Morananusati has following Pali roots: Morana = death, anusati = small recall, reminder

Another way to meditate is to ponder about death. Buddha once said to Anandha, according to Tipitaka, that it is not good enough to think of death a hundred times a day, he himself had awareness of death during every breathing.

The picture shows a unique Buddha image posture not found elsewhere, the cremation posture. From Tipitake, cremation of Buddha was put on hold for 7 days awaiting arrival of Phra Maha Gassapa, a very senior monk. (Phra = Monk) When he arrived near Kusinara, and proceeded to pay homage to Buddha's body, his feets protruded from the bandaged white clothes to accept the homage. Soon flame erupted to cremate the Buddha.

The image was taken at a Wat in Pitsanulok, Thailand. I did not write down the name.

Buddhanusati

Buddhanusati comprises of these roots:- Buddha = the one who knows, the observer, the awaken one, the enlighten one. Anusati = small reminder, small recall

One way to meditate is to use Buddhanusati, to deeply appreciate and feel thankful for his life-long efforts toward helping mankind escaping from the birth-death life cycles, which has a lasting effects for billions of people over the past 25 centuries up to now.



The picture shows the Buddha Image for the "First Buddha" at Wat Thasoong's 100 meter long Vihara.

Perhaps I should add that, the time line in Buddhism is infinity. What I means is that there is time beyond the birth of the Universe and time beyond the destruction of the Universe. The Universe started some billions of years ago, and will exist for sometime fore it collapse and terminate. There were infinite number of Universe terminated. And there will be infinite number of the Universe to come. As such, this means that the current Buddha as we know and respect him is among millions of Buddhas, if we would include them all from the past. And there are billions of Bhodisatva awaiting in line to become future Buddhas in the next coming Universe. Nevertheless, some Buddhists believe there is the First Buddha in the far past and highly revere him as well as they revere the current Buddha.