By Dr Padmaka Silva, Compiled with instructions by Ven Nawalapitiye Ariyawansa Thero
In Nibbida Sutta the Buddha stated that an individual who practises five activities invariably gets disgusted or becomes dispassionate. Can we then develop a confidence with regard to getting liberated from Sansara? We can. Actually we can develop complete confidence. If an individual is clever he can arrive at a complete confidence. If this Dhamma is practised it is definitely possible to arrive at Nibbana. Such a person can develop his Saddha to a level that cannot be changed by anyone. If you become clever you will be able at this moment itself to build up the confidence to the effect “If I practise this Dhamma it will invariably be possible to attain Nibbana”. One must have the ability to develop this confidence. Such a person is fortunate. <http://dhammamedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/essentian.jpg> If one arrives at such a confidence what does he do? He wishes “I also must practise this Dhamma”. Should he develop confidence in himself? No. He should have confidence in the Dhamma. He believes “If one practises this Dhamma he can definitely realize Nibbana”. Should he go on saying this? No. This is something that arises in oneself. That is what is certain. That certainty is common to oneself as well as to others. He does not say “If practised this Dhamma will be appropriate for me I don’t know how it will be for you”. Such a thing does not happen under conditions of certainty. Also there is no such thing as “This will be appropriate for you. But I do not know how it will be for me”. If something is certain it will work equally well for all. Therefore try to come to that state of certainty in respect of Dhamma. That state of being without doubt arises in respect of the Buddha’s understanding. He thinks “I must try to practise this”. He does not get into a hurry. He thinks of practicing this Dhamma little by little. He starts the journey. He has given up the hurry. You can see what a gain can be achieved by believing in this Dhamma. This preaching explains that one who practises these five factors will definitely get disgusted with this world with understanding. What type of person will get disgusted with understanding? The person with Yata Bhuta Nana. Yata Bhuta Nana in respect of what? In respect of Panca Upadanakkhandha. If Yata Bhuta Nana arises in someone with respect of Panca Upadanakkhanda, such a person starts becoming dispassionate. For the arising of Yatabuta Nana in Panca Upadanakkhanda what should one have? He should have concentration. Thus you see that one who practises the aforesaid activities get Yatabhuta Nana also arising in them. Why? To get definitely disgusted there should be Yatabhuata Nana. Therefore Yatabhuta Nana arises. If there is no understanding of Panca Upadanakkhanda will Yatabhuta Nana arise? It does not arise. Yatabhuta Nana arises in one who develops an understanding in Panca Upadanakkhanda. Therefore doesn’t an understanding of Panca Upadanakkhanda arise in the individual who practises the aforesaid factors? What should be there for the formation of an understanding in Panca Upadanakkhanda? Which category of person gets that understanding? An understanding of Panca Upadanakkhanda arises in an individual with concentration as “This is the Rupa. This is the arising of Rupa. This is the annihilation of Rupa”. In this manner the individual with concentration understands about the Panca Upadanakkhandas Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, Sankhara and Vinnana. Thus the individual who practises the five factors attains concentration. Thus we see how Samma Samadhi gets formed. Concentration that helps to form dispassionateness with understanding or the concentration that helps the formation of Yatabhuta Nana in Panca Upadanakkhanda is referred to as Samma Samadhi. In whom does this Samma Samadhi arise? In a person with Samma Ditthi. Does Samma Ditthi get generated in a person who practises the five factors? It is generated. What is Samma Ditthi? Wisdom to understand the Four Noble Truths. In that case does the wisdom to understand the Four Noble Truths arise in the person practicing the said five factors? It does. That means the person who practises the five factors develops an understanding of the arising and cessation of Panca Upadanakkhanda. Although it is not directly mentioned in the preaching, an understanding with respect to Panca Upadanakkhanda arises in the individual practicing the five factors. Then Samma Ditthi arises. Then it becomes possible to develop Samma Samadhi. Yatabhuta Nana arises in the person having Samma Samadhi. He gets disgusted. Definitely disgusted. Will the individual who practises these factors get misled? No. He does not go astray. Doesn’t the individual practicing these factors follow the correct path? Yes he is following the correct path. That means if one were to have confidence in such a sermon he has invariably developed confidence in the path to Nibbana. Does the individual who has developed confidence in the path in that manner get afraid, become doubtful or get into a hurry? No. Will he be in immense delight? He will be in immense delight. Why? He looked for the path to Nibbana and found it. That is why he is delighted. Do you see what happens to the individual who has faith in the Dhamma? Will a group of people who have such a strong confidence be lazy and lie idle. There is no reason for it to be so. Therefore if a group of people remain in laziness, in discomfort, in a state of gloom, in a state of sloth, like immature bamboo trees dried by sun what could be the reason? It shows they have not acquired confidence in Dhamma. Then what should they do? They should think of developing confidence in these Dhammas as quickly as possible. What we are now doing is providing help for that. That help is only a guidance. The confidence has to be built up by the individuals themselves. The individual who fails to develop confidence in this Dhamma may read these preachings. He may even explain it to others. But he wonders how to acquire concentration. He wonders how to acquire Samma Ditthi. How to understand Panca Upadanakkhanda. What is this Panca Upadanakkhanda? What is Rupa? He starts searching. Many people do not have any idea as to what should be done. They grope in the dark. Now see how we get understanding. We always say that this Dhamma is something practical. There is nothing secretive in it. Practical means that it is something that has to be done by us. Shouldn’t we have confidence in something we are going to do? Why do people climb the Adam’s peak? Can one see the Buddha’s foot print from a distance? No. people know where it is. They know the way. Therefore they proceed along the way to the peak with a lot of effort. They can see the foot print only after going a long distance. Then what is the first thing we should do? Developing confidence in the Dhamma. The nature of the person who has confidence in the Dhamma is practicing the Dhamma. After practicing for sometime he understands that what he believed is true. Then a conviction that cannot be shaken by anyone arises in him. Will he abandon the Dhamma after that? No. He will never abandon the Dhamma. What has he got to do after that? He continues to practise the Dhamma. This article has been taken from DailyNews<http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/07/21/fea10.asp> online edition. From: http://dhammamedicine.net/2011/07/27/cultivating-confidence-in-meditation/ -- *~~~ සබ්බදානං ධම්මදානං ජිනාති ~~~* http://groups.google.com/group/amadamgagula -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "::SN::" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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