Your Nirvana is assured if you have right view
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Next time a Christian asks you whether you have assurance to Nirvana... tell them this:
Assurance? Yes, Nirvana is assurable. This is Buddha's good news. Just believe (have right view of reality) and be saved.
(but of course, don't stop at belief, go and actually see it for yourself!!)
To stress the importance of right view... I would like to quote what the Buddha said.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/stream2.html#arising
...."Form... Feeling... Perception... Fabrications... Consciousness is inconstant, changeable, alterable.
"One who has conviction & belief that these phenomena are this way is called a faith-follower: one who has entered the orderliness of rightness, entered the plane of people of integrity, transcended the plane of the run-of-the-mill. He is incapable of doing any deed by which he might be reborn in hell, in the animal womb, or in the realm of hungry shades. He is incapable of passing away until he has realized the fruit of stream-entry.
"One who, after pondering with a modicum of discernment, has accepted that these phenomena are this way is called a Dhamma-follower: one who has entered the orderliness of rightness, entered the plane of people of integrity, transcended the plane of the run-of-the-mill. He is incapable of doing any deed by which he might be reborn in hell, in the animal womb, or in the realm of hungry shades. He is incapable of passing away until he has realized the fruit of stream-entry.
"One who knows and sees that these phenomena are this way is called a stream-winner, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening."...
On the topic of Right View, it is said that one who realizes the nature of dharma is said to enter the stream, become a stream enterer, destined to attain Nirvana/Arhatship in no more than 7 lifetimes (or in this lifetime if he works hard for it). He will never again enter into the lower realms. He no longer has self-view (he realizes Anatta), he no longer has doubts about Dharma, he no longer pays attention to meaningless rituals.
However, much is also said about someone who has not attained stream entry, but simply a 'faith-follower' having the Right View of the nature of dharmas - as being Anicca, Dukkha, and Anatta - Impermanent, Unsatisfactory, and Non-self. And having the right view of Dependent Origination/Emptiness.
That is, if you understand, have conviction and belief that the nature of dharma is so... You will not die until you attain stream entry.
Therefore, by simply having the right view you have already gone half the way of your path. This is why Right View is the 1st of the Noble 8 Fold Path.
By having the Right View, your stream entry, your awakening into the nature of dharma is assured this lifetime and thereby your Nirvana is assured to happen in no more than 7 lives.
This is the importance of having the right view.
On another note... I have seen many (really, a lot) of very sincere practitioners who practice very hard... much harder than me. Unfortunately, because they do not have the right view, they get stuck at a certain stage of experience or realization.
For example, they may get stuck at the 'I AM' level of realization. Why? Because there is no one to point them out the right view... So no matter how hard they practice, they cannot go pass that stage... even if they practice for decades or even after they pass away.
Whereas, for me, and many others... who are not very diligent practitioners, but somehow due to having been instilled the right view, certain conditions arise and the nature of Dharma is seen very quickly. In a matter of few years, it can be done.
Never think you can skip 'right view' and just practice and hope that one day you will simply realize things by yourself (a very common mistake, I believe)... cuz, no matter how hard you practice, you still probably won't realize the right view by yourself. You need to understand and have conviction in the Buddha's teachings.
So please... if there is any doubts or things you don't understand about the view of Dharma, please get it sorted out, please have the right view.
If you don't understand Anatta (no-self), or Emptiness, please ask.
There are experienced moderators... like Thusness and Simpo who can point them out to you..
It is really not difficult to grasp this... so make the effort, it is definitely worthwhile.
Don't you want to be assured enlightenment in this life? Yes, this assurance is possible. You just need to have the right view. (Of course, right practice, i.e. direct contemplation, is also important as a follow up to attain enlightenment, but even right view alone ensures your enlightenment within this life)
I am especially indebted to Thusness who pointed out to me the 'right view'... otherwise I will probably get lost in certain phase in my practice like I mentioned earlier.
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In the Suttas, many people attain stream entry after listening to a single discourse by the Buddha (and often happens to be their FIRST discourse they hear from Buddha). This is how powerful 'right view' is... once it gets into you, a shift starts to happen. It can happen immediately... or maybe gradual... but by the end of this life, you will certainly realize the nature of dharma.
Thought I might also share my thoughts on 'why' right view assures enlightenment...
MT says
k
I heard even theory knowelege will lead to direct experience
AEN says
it doesnt 'lead' but it serves as a very important condition...
and once u understand dharma, u will be propelled and inclined towards contemplating them
which leads to insightMT says
comtemplate means think n analyse abt it like four noble truths?
AEM says
not just think and analyse
observe, look at these facts in your direct experience
like the way its taught in mindfulness in plain english ( http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe13.html )
MT says
oh
AEN says
yeah
some thoughts are also needed... but the thoughts are just reminders to look at the bare fact of reality
like 'there is no you'... look... is this so? -
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Happy for you as well.
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Originally posted by knightlll:
Happy for you as well.
Be happy for yourself as well.
Let me ask you this.
Are you confident (not asking if you're enlightened - asking if you have this view) that all phenomena in your experiential universe is arising and passing away every moment?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is inconstant and hence, unsatisfactory?
Are you confident that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions?
If you answer 'Yes' to all, then congratulations, your enlightenment is assured this life and you will not fall into the lower realms. Start contemplating (look at) these facts in your own experience, and I can assure you your enlightenment is very near... it's not a matter of many decades spent meditating in caves, it's much closer than that. Months? A few years at most? Many people think enlightenment is distant but I can assure you, it is never this way, it is not as what most Buddhists and even masters and teachers made it to be, perhaps due to their failure and inability to transmit their enlightenment.
It is not difficult and distant. The original suttas are a more accurate representation of how possible and common it is to be enlightened (that said, there are different degrees of enlightenment like stream entry to arhantship as well as bodhisattva bhumis)
However, if you answer 'No' to any of the above, then tell us what doubts you have and get this clarified. :)
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Haha AEN... I really like your 'sale pitch' style.
But, 'sale pitch' or not, what you said is really true !!!
Get the 'Right View' and one will not turn back anymore...
Why? This is because once the Truth is seen, it cannot be unseened or pretend to be false anymore. One's way of being then gradually realigns towards the truth orientation.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Be happy for yourself as well.
Let me ask you this.
Are you confident (not asking if you're enlightened - asking if you have this view) that all phenomena in your experiential universe is arising and passing away every moment?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is inconstant and hence, unsatisfactory?
Are you confident that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions?
Sorry for the interruption. I paraphrased it to my own understandings...
Are you confident that all phenomena in your experiential universe is arising and passing away every moment?
Not quite sure what confident means here... Confident means---> do-you-think?
After reading this question, I thought of everything is a passing moment. But what we do now will affect the next moment... What we do will "arise" and "pass" at the next continuous moment?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?
I thought of it as like, something that is beyond our control, "arising" or happening, without us the doer.
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is inconstant and hence, unsatisfactory?
Very confident! All things stay in flux, unsatisfactory. Things we held on too deeply, believing it will make us happy but sometimes failed. eg. my PC, or whatever things will spoilt one day...
Are you confident that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions?
Yes. Cause n Effect. 心起å›
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Originally posted by simpo_:
Haha AEN... I really like you 'sale pitch' style.
But, 'sale pitch' or not, what you said is really true !!!
Get the 'Right View' and one will not turn back anymore...
Why? This is because once the Truth is seen, it cannot be unseened or pretend to be false anymore. One's way of being then gradually realigns towards the truth orientation.
Yes... the view is transformative. That's why someone with right view will be incapable of doing something that leads to rebirth in lower realm...
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Originally posted by 2009novice:
Sorry for the interruption. I paraphrased it to my own understandings...
Are you confident that all phenomena in your experiential universe is arising and passing away every moment?
Not quite sure what confident means here... Confident means---> do-you-think?
After reading this question, I thought of everything is a passing moment. But what we do now will affect the next moment... What we do will "arise" and "pass" at the next continuous moment?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?
I thought of it as like, something that is beyond our control, "arising" or happening, without us the doer.
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is inconstant and hence, unsatisfactory?
Very confident! All things stay in flux, unsatisfactory. Things we held on too deeply, believing it will make us happy but sometimes failed. eg. my PC, or whatever things will spoilt one day...
Are you confident that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions?
Yes. Cause n Effect. 心起å›
1) Yes indeed. Everything is instantaneously arising and subsiding... leaving no trace. Each moment becomes a condition for the next moment of arising, and yet all arisings are a fresh and complete reality of itself. In other words... it is not that 'Arising1' caused 'Arising2' or that 'Arising2' originated from 'Arising1' - they are different arisings and don't 'touch each other', but rather, 'Arising2' arises with 'Arising1' as a supporting condition. Arising 1 and Arising 2 are each a complete reality of itself.
For example the thought/intention 'I need to get up now' arises, followed by a bodily action of standing up. The thought 'I need to get up now' serves as a condition for the bodily action... but the thought itself is not a self or doer/controller of action - it is merely an arising that serves as a condition for the action. The volition to stand up is mental, but what actually stands up is the body. Each arising is a complete new reality arising with various supporting conditions.
But what you said is right... each moment of arising becomes a condition for the next moment of arising.
2) Not so clear based on what you said... are you saying is that there are some things beyond our control, and yet there is this notion that there is a 'self' that controls certain things? Is there a 'us the doer' to begin with?
Look thoroughly... are there any things that can be controlled? Are thoughts being controlled? Is there a thinker of thoughts?
If there is a thinker of thoughts, then you will have known what your next moment of thought will be. But do you know what your next moment of thought is? You don't. Thoughts actually spontaneously arise on its own accord (with various supporting conditions like latent imprints and so on).
Look at this more thoroughly.. there is a sutta called Anattalakkhana Sutta - http://www.aimwell.org/Books/Suttas/Anattalakkhana/anattalakkhana.html - Discourse on Not-self. In this discourse, the Buddha go through a list of constituents of experience and rejects them as non-self... look carefully... is there any experience in our control? Are thoughts, sensations, feelings, in our control? If they were in our control, we could have said 'I don't want bad thoughts/feelings to ever arise again', 'I only want good feelings to arise all the time' and they will be controlled in this way, but the fact of the matter is... even these thoughts/feelings arise due to various supporting conditions and there is no controller 'doing' them - bad feelings still occur and we can't stop them.
Also, apart from 'no doership'... another aspect you should look into is 'no agent'. Is there an experiencer, a hearer, a seer?
Look at a tree. In the ordinary unenlightened mode of viewing things, there is always this sense that there is an 'I' inside my body, viewing the 'tree out there' through 'my eyes'. Is this true?
Is direct experience actually broken into 'I' the seer, and the 'seeing', and the 'being seen'? The fact of the matter is this... scenery is being seen, seeing is happening, but no seer is present doing the seeing! There is just pure seeing without seer. And there is no 'seeing and the scenery' - the seeing is precisely just the scenery...
Music being heard, there is no hearer... just music playing vividly and intimately without any inside and outside separation... just sounds arising vividly, then vanishing without traces, all happening by itself without an agent/self.
For the subtleties and different aspects of Anatta, do read the article by Thusness On Anatta (No-Self), Emptiness, Maha and Ordinariness, and Spontaneous Perfection
3) Great!
4) Good... all experiences, actions, thoughts arise due to causes and conditions. It is not a 'you' doing or experiencing things... rather, it is that actions, experiences arise with certain supporting conditions.
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just saw this thread
haha agree with simpo, u sound like me and my agents in a roadshow selling products.
maybe i can design an enlightenment sales script also :D
ok some 3.5 cents worth on this topic.
right view is progressively established with all round practice aka the noble eightfold path.
sila ( right actions, right speech, right livelihood) is the everyday support. with sila, right thoughts can arise and become habitual. this forms new habitual tendencies and, with right effort, become the conditions for old ones to burn out. right concentration, through meditation, provides the momentum and motivation to carry on. we practice this way with right mindfulness and very soon right view will be established.
before right view is established, the understanding of the mind on right view is superficial and pointed to the basic understanding of the four noble truths. after right view is established, the nature of reality being anicca, anatta and dukkha is experienced, and will continue to be reinforced with mindfulness.
maybe to add on to AEN's explanation on looking on the arising and passing of phenomena. a good place to start looking is through thoughts. this is where vipassana meditation comes in. the constant redirection of attention from thoughts to the breath (or stomach) again and again will created enough momentum until it hits a tipping point and we can see that thoughts are arising and passing on their own with each moment a condition for the next. however my feel is, though both 'arising 1' and 'arising 2' are separate phenomena, we can still say that 'arising 1 is the cause/condition for arising 2 to occur'.
comments?
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Originally posted by geis:
just saw this thread
haha agree with simpo, u sound like me and my agents in a roadshow selling products.
maybe i can design an enlightenment sales script also :D
ok some 3.5 cents worth on this topic.
right view is progressively established with all round practice aka the noble eightfold path.
sila ( right actions, right speech, right livelihood) is the everyday support. with sila, right thoughts can arise and become habitual. this forms new habitual tendencies and, with right effort, become the conditions for old ones to burn out. right concentration, through meditation, provides the momentum and motivation to carry on. we practice this way with right mindfulness and very soon right view will be established.
before right view is established, the understanding of the mind on right view is superficial and pointed to the basic understanding of the four noble truths. after right view is established, the nature of reality being anicca, anatta and dukkha is experienced, and will continue to be reinforced with mindfulness.
Hmm... In my understanding, right view should be established even before one starts practicing the rest of the eightfold path. This is why Buddha put Right View at the top of the list. Right view has many aspects, for example, moral law of karma, the three characteristics, suffering. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path#Right_view
If a person is not instilled right view of morality from the beginning, how else would he have properly practiced Sila? If a person is not instilled right view of the three characteristics, for example, how else could he have practiced Right Mindfulness?
That is why right view should be instilled right from the start and serves as a foundation for all the other factors of the noble path.
As the Buddha himself have said:
Bhikkhus, just as the dawn is the forerunner and first indication of the rising of the sun, so is right view the forerunner and first indication of wholesome states.
For one of right view, bhikkhus, right intention springs up. For one of right intention, right speech springs up. For one of right speech, right action springs up. For one of right action, right livelihood springs up. For one of right livelihood, right effort springs up. For one of right effort, right mindfulness springs up. For one of right mindfulness, right concentration springs up. For one of right concentration, right knowledge springs up. For one of right knowledge, right deliverance springs up.
Anguttara Nikaya 10:121
This, btw, also explains why just having the right view alone can assure one's enlightenment. Because having right view will set off a chain effect and lead to the arising of the eightfold path.
That said, it is true that right mindfulness and concentration must be practiced as a follow up for right view to be 'actualized' and realized. As the wiki entry states: Right view begins with concepts and propositional knowledge, but through the practice of right concentration, it gradually becomes transmuted into wisdom, which can eradicate the fetters of the mind.
maybe to add on to AEN's explanation on looking on the arising and passing of phenomena. a good place to start looking is through thoughts. this is where vipassana meditation comes in. the constant redirection of attention from thoughts to the breath (or stomach) again and again will created enough momentum until it hits a tipping point and we can see that thoughts are arising and passing on their own with each moment a condition for the next. however my feel is, though both 'arising 1' and 'arising 2' are separate phenomena, we can still say that 'arising 1 is the cause/condition for arising 2 to occur'.
comments?
Let's say... a sound of bell ringing being heard.
Does the sound originate from the ear? Does it originate from the bell? No! Actually... it is much more complex than that.
The sound of airplane being perceived actually has various supporting conditions... the stick, the bell, the vibration of the air, the ears, the hand hitting the stick, and so on. These supporting conditions all come together and in that instantaneous moment a completely new phenomenon/arising of sound-consciousness has arisen.
Does sound-consciousness have an origin? It cannot be said to have a source, cause, agent, or origin. It does not come from the ears, it does not come from the air, the stick, the bell, and so on.
Rather, it is with the combination of these various supporting conditions, a new and complete phenomenon arises. This is thus called Interdependent Origination.
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Oh btw, it's nice if Buddhists do a roadshow in Orchard road or something to promote enlightenment... must learn from Christian evangelists.. hahaha. Guess some are already doing? I've seen some youngsters who are very good promoters of Buddhism... quite surprised... at the Vesak day event in Orchard. They have very good 'sales script'.
Though I guess none is more straightforward than saying 'believe and be saved!' 'Your enlightenment in this life is assured if you believe!'
lol... I guess nobody dares to make such claims other than me. Of course, the 'believe'/'have conviction' must come from Right View... simply believing Buddha without right view is not enough.
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Originally posted by simpo_:
Haha AEN... I really like your 'sale pitch' style.
But, 'sale pitch' or not, what you said is really true !!!
Get the 'Right View' and one will not turn back anymore...
Why? This is because once the Truth is seen, it cannot be unseened or pretend to be false anymore. One's way of being then gradually realigns towards the truth orientation.
Yeah...He is expressing his overflowing joy from the arising insight of anatta. Unable to contain his excitement; but that too will pass.
The gradeur will be gone in a few months and the joy will re-surface in a more continuous and stable manner if the non-dual luminous essence is seamlessly integrated with the insight of the impermanent and empty nature of our luminous essence. :-)
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Originally posted by Thusness:
Yeah...He is expressing his overflowing joy from the arising insight of anatta. Unable to contain his excitement; but that too will pass.
The gradeur will be gone in a few months and the joy will re-surface in a more continuous and stable manner if the non-dual luminous essence is seamlessly integrated with the insight of the impermanent and empty nature of our luminous essence. :-)
I see...
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Hmm... In my understanding, right view should be established even before one starts practicing the rest of the eightfold path. This is why Buddha put Right View at the top of the list. Right view has many aspects, for example, moral law of karma, the three characteristics, suffering. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path#Right_view
If a person is not instilled right view of morality from the beginning, how else would he have properly practiced Sila? If a person is not instilled right view of the three characteristics, for example, how else could he have practiced Right Mindfulness?
That is why right view should be instilled right from the start and serves as a foundation for all the other factors of the noble path.
As the Buddha himself have said:
Anguttara Nikaya 10:121
This, btw, also explains why just having the right view alone can assure one's enlightenment. Because having right view will set off a chain effect and lead to the arising of the eightfold path.
That said, it is true that right mindfulness and concentration must be practiced as a follow up for right view to be 'actualized' and realized. As the wiki entry states: Right view begins with concepts and propositional knowledge, but through the practice of right concentration, it gradually becomes transmuted into wisdom, which can eradicate the fetters of the mind.
Let's say... a sound of bell ringing being heard.
Does the sound originate from the ear? Does it originate from the bell? No! Actually... it is much more complex than that.
The sound of airplane being perceived actually has various supporting conditions... the stick, the bell, the vibration of the air, the ears, the hand hitting the stick, and so on. These supporting conditions all come together and in that instantaneous moment a completely new phenomenon/arising of sound-consciousness has arisen.
Does sound-consciousness have an origin? It cannot be said to have a source, cause, agent, or origin. It does not come from the ears, it does not come from the air, the stick, the bell, and so on.
Rather, it is with the combination of these various supporting conditions, a new and complete phenomenon arises. This is thus called Interdependent Origination.
Yes the view is very important therefore do not fall into determinism too. There is intention that influences the outcome. Clear seeing that there is no-agent does not lead one into hard determinism; it merely leads one to clearly see the illusionary split of subject/object division, the essencelessness and dependent originated nature of arising. There is no lack of influence of intentionality in the chain of ever becoming. Adopt the middle path so that we will not fall to the extreme.
From a pragmatic perspective, the view is also important because it is difficult to see how the idea of duality (separation) is the direct result of not seeing the anatta and empty nature of Awareness. This is a phase where experience desync with view (dualistic and inherent view) and can lead to quite intense confusion if a practitioner tries to make sense of 'what is'.
Also it is time to re-visit the below two articles in your blog and perhaps refine them with your new found insights:
1. Right View and Spiritual Practices
2. The Link Between Non-Duality and Emptiness
Let go of what has passed.
Let go of what may come.
Let go of what is happening now.
Don't try to figure anything out.
Don't try to make anything happen.
Relax, right now, and rest.
-Tilopa
What is the difference between this and resting in the space of Awareness?
By the way this will also lead to "I AM" without right view. :-)
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Thanks..
The difference between what Tilopa said and the I AM is that what Tilopa is saying is to let all arise subside without leaving traces or grasping, including even 'presence' or 'awareness'.
It does not lead towards disassociation.
Whereas in I AM, there is disassociation from everything but clinging to a background space. There is clinging to something inherent and thus is not a complete letting go.
Just a sharing... a conversation I had with someone on Facebook yesterday on the verses by Tilopa:
G: I like the first two sentences...but what about being aware and appreciating what is happening now..
Me: @G: Presence/Awareness is 'letting go' every moment... whatever arises, subsides. Let it pass. Nothing to cling to, even 'awareness'.
G: I'm talking about the joy of being aware, the pure simple, joy of being alive...Isn't that a good thing?
Me: @G: The joy of being alive is also another experience arising and subsiding... To penetrate into the stream of arising and ceasing, do not hold onto any experiences. Let them come, yes, but not to cling on to any states. Eventually it will be seen that awareness is ever this stream of arising and ceasing.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Thanks..
The difference between what Tilopa said and the I AM is that what Tilopa is saying is to let all arise subside without leaving traces or grasping, including even 'presence' or 'awareness'.
It does not lead towards disassociation.
Whereas in I AM, there is disassociation from everything but clinging to a background space. There is clinging to something inherent and thus is not a complete letting go.
Just a sharing... a conversation I had with someone on Facebook yesterday on the verses by Tilopa:
G: I like the first two sentences...but what about being aware and appreciating what is happening now..
Me: @G: Presence/Awareness is 'letting go' every moment... whatever arises, subsides. Let it pass. Nothing to cling to, even 'awareness'.
G: I'm talking about the joy of being aware, the pure simple, joy of being alive...Isn't that a good thing?
Me: @G: The joy of being alive is also another experience arising and subsiding... To penetrate into the stream of arising and ceasing, do not hold onto any experiences. Let them come, yes, but not to cling on to any states. Eventually it will be seen that awareness is ever this stream of arising and ceasing.
Yes and very well said. :-)There is always a very fine, subtle and stubborn trace of division despite the clear seeing. This is due to the (dualistic and inherent) tendency that runs deep. The lingering tendency prevents full and complete experience of whatever arises by way of very subtle reification and abstraction. We must clearly 'detect' this trace and see what is its supporting conditions.
Practice will reveal that clear seeing + constant reminding of letting go + lingering dualistic and inherent view cannot lead to thorough letting go. The 'view' will always create a very thin layer of division.
Therefore 'the dualistic and inherent view' needs to be replaced with right view for a practitioner to get over the most 'subtle trace'. Experience will eventually turn fully direct, gapless, coreless and liberating.
Seeing liberation as the direct realization of the 'empty nature' of arising and ceasing is different from seeing liberation as the space that is free from arising and ceasing.
The former is gapless and full embracement of transience while the latter is disassociation from transient.
If 'you' are clear, then welcoming of whatever arises is non-dual and letting go is non-dual; no more holding in disguise as letting go and coming and going turns librating. all appearances turn spontaneous, stainless, coreless and crystal present. :-)
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Originally posted by Thusness:
Yes and very well said. :-)There is always a subtle trace of division despite the clear seeing. This is due to the (dualistic and inherent) tendency that runs deep. The lingering tendency prevents full and complete experience of whatever arises by way of very subtle reification and abstraction. We must clearly 'detect' this trace and see what is its supporting conditions. Therefore 'the dualistic and inherent view' needs to be replaced with right view for a practitioner to get over the most 'subtle trace'. Experience will eventually turn fully direct, gapless, coreless and liberating.
Seeing liberation as the direct realization of the 'empty nature' of arising and ceasing is different from seeing liberation as the space that is free from arising and ceasing.
The former is gapless and full embracement of transience while the latter is disassociation from transient.
If 'you' are clear, then welcoming of whatever arises is non-dual and letting go is non-dual; no more holding in disguise as letting go and coming and going turns librating. all appearances turn spontaneous, stainless, coreless and crystal present. :-)
Thanks... you have said it very beautifully.. in the absence of 'holding'/'self'... all there is is points of clarity arising and disbanding...
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Is right view a matter of thoroughly understanding D.O.?
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Is right view a matter of thoroughly understanding D.O.?
The seals and DO.
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Originally posted by Thusness:
The seals and DO.
I see... thanks.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Next time a Christian asks you whether you have assurance to Nirvana... tell them this:
Assurance? Yes, Nirvana is assurable. This is Buddha's good news. Just believe (have right view of reality) and be saved.
(but of course, don't stop at belief, go and actually see it for yourself!!)
To stress the importance of right view... I would like to quote what the Buddha said.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/stream2.html#arising
...."Form... Feeling... Perception... Fabrications... Consciousness is inconstant, changeable, alterable.
"One who has conviction & belief that these phenomena are this way is called a faith-follower: one who has entered the orderliness of rightness, entered the plane of people of integrity, transcended the plane of the run-of-the-mill. He is incapable of doing any deed by which he might be reborn in hell, in the animal womb, or in the realm of hungry shades. He is incapable of passing away until he has realized the fruit of stream-entry.
"One who, after pondering with a modicum of discernment, has accepted that these phenomena are this way is called a Dhamma-follower: one who has entered the orderliness of rightness, entered the plane of people of integrity, transcended the plane of the run-of-the-mill. He is incapable of doing any deed by which he might be reborn in hell, in the animal womb, or in the realm of hungry shades. He is incapable of passing away until he has realized the fruit of stream-entry.
"One who knows and sees that these phenomena are this way is called a stream-winner, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening."...
On the topic of Right View, it is said that one who realizes the nature of dharma is said to enter the stream, become a stream enterer, destined to attain Nirvana/Arhatship in no more than 7 lifetimes (or in this lifetime if he works hard for it). He will never again enter into the lower realms. He no longer has self-view (he realizes Anatta), he no longer has doubts about Dharma, he no longer pays attention to meaningless rituals.
However, much is also said about someone who has not attained stream entry, but simply a 'faith-follower' having the Right View of the nature of dharmas - as being Anicca, Dukkha, and Anatta - Impermanent, Unsatisfactory, and Non-self. And having the right view of Dependent Origination/Emptiness.
That is, if you understand, have conviction and belief that the nature of dharma is so... You will not die until you attain stream entry.
Therefore, by simply having the right view you have already gone half the way of your path. This is why Right View is the 1st of the Noble 8 Fold Path.
By having the Right View, your stream entry, your awakening into the nature of dharma is assured this lifetime and thereby your Nirvana is assured to happen in no more than 7 lives.
This is the importance of having the right view.
On another note... I have seen many (really, a lot) of very sincere practitioners who practice very hard... much harder than me. Unfortunately, because they do not have the right view, they get stuck at a certain stage of experience or realization.
For example, they may get stuck at the 'I AM' level of realization. Why? Because there is no one to point them out the right view... So no matter how hard they practice, they cannot go pass that stage... even if they practice for decades or even after they pass away.
Whereas, for me, and many others... who are not very diligent practitioners, but somehow due to having been instilled the right view, certain conditions arise and the nature of Dharma is seen very quickly. In a matter of few years, it can be done.
Never think you can skip 'right view' and just practice and hope that one day you will simply realize things by yourself (a very common mistake, I believe)... cuz, no matter how hard you practice, you still probably won't realize the right view by yourself. You need to understand and have conviction in the Buddha's teachings.
So please... if there is any doubts or things you don't understand about the view of Dharma, please get it sorted out, please have the right view.
If you don't understand Anatta (no-self), or Emptiness, please ask.
There are experienced moderators... like Thusness and Simpo who can point them out to you..
It is really not difficult to grasp this... so make the effort, it is definitely worthwhile.
Don't you want to be assured enlightenment in this life? Yes, this assurance is possible. You just need to have the right view. (Of course, right practice, i.e. direct contemplation, is also important as a follow up to attain enlightenment, but even right view alone ensures your enlightenment within this life)
I am especially indebted to Thusness who pointed out to me the 'right view'... otherwise I will probably get lost in certain phase in my practice like I mentioned earlier.
If you need seek some form of assurance regarding attaining your own Nirvana, then I can assure you that true Nirvana is actually very distant from you.And why would you specify Christians as an example for questioning your assurance to Nirvana?
If you have such subjective opinions about Christians, then certainly your assurance to Nirvana is not truly assured.
Buddha says "There is no opinions in this world, the world have no opinions of you and you do not have a real opinion of the world. Everything that has happened, will happen, and is happening is not part of the world. The world is neither in the past, present or future. The world is You, You formed part of the world. You will never leave the world and the world will never leave you."
Amitatofu, there is no you or the world that you speaked of.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Be happy for yourself as well.
Let me ask you this.
Are you confident (not asking if you're enlightened - asking if you have this view) that all phenomena in your experiential universe is arising and passing away every moment?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?
Are you confident that all phenomena arising is inconstant and hence, unsatisfactory?
Are you confident that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions?
If you answer 'Yes' to all, then congratulations, your enlightenment is assured this life and you will not fall into the lower realms. Start contemplating (look at) these facts in your own experience, and I can assure you your enlightenment is very near... it's not a matter of many decades spent meditating in caves, it's much closer than that. Months? A few years at most? Many people think enlightenment is distant but I can assure you, it is never this way, it is not as what most Buddhists and even masters and teachers made it to be, perhaps due to their failure and inability to transmit their enlightenment.
It is not difficult and distant. The original suttas are a more accurate representation of how possible and common it is to be enlightened (that said, there are different degrees of enlightenment like stream entry to arhantship as well as bodhisattva bhumis)
However, if you answer 'No' to any of the above, then tell us what doubts you have and get this clarified. :)
Don't we have to attain these realisations with insight rather than being told. I think someone posted about that before.
But I answered no to this one
"Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?"
Could you explain?
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Hi,
To the second question "Are you confident that all phenomena arising is without self, arising without an agent, experiencer, doer?"
Firstly, one must be open to the possibility that what we think we are is just an assumption that is formed by jumping into conclusion and all other 'sentient beings' jumping onto the same conclusion. This is described as Ignorance in the teaching.
We will next investigate what we really are. This investigation CANNOT be conceptual or it will in the end be what we think it should be again with really touching on the raw experience/insight.
Some people will think... we are the soul. No, this is not the answer. The answer goes beyond the concept of a soul which is really a more subtle level of 'self' or sense of indivduality. By the concept of the soul, the world will still be filled with multiple souls and individuals.
By understanding no-self, one will not only understand the nature of yourself, but also the basic fundamental property of the universe.
Questions to ponder:
1. Do you think that all along there are so many things and objects in the world?
What if all the things that are being seen are not really physical objects but are the impressions form by the sense organs datas. What if the environment 'out there' that one see are mere appearance made by dots of colours? What if the sound that one hears are not out there?
2. Do you think your awareness of being alive and living is different from that of other beings' ?
What if every seemingly separate Being or individual are just different focus of attentions/awareness, that is all.
The questions needs to be pondered upon slowly if you want to have some kind of further progress leading to the insight... of firstly non-duality, then maturing into the realisation of no-self.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Hmm... In my understanding, right view should be established even before one starts practicing the rest of the eightfold path. This is why Buddha put Right View at the top of the list. Right view has many aspects, for example, moral law of karma, the three characteristics, suffering. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path#Right_view
If a person is not instilled right view of morality from the beginning, how else would he have properly practiced Sila? If a person is not instilled right view of the three characteristics, for example, how else could he have practiced Right Mindfulness?
That is why right view should be instilled right from the start and serves as a foundation for all the other factors of the noble path.
As the Buddha himself have said:
Anguttara Nikaya 10:121
This, btw, also explains why just having the right view alone can assure one's enlightenment. Because having right view will set off a chain effect and lead to the arising of the eightfold path.
That said, it is true that right mindfulness and concentration must be practiced as a follow up for right view to be 'actualized' and realized. As the wiki entry states: Right view begins with concepts and propositional knowledge, but through the practice of right concentration, it gradually becomes transmuted into wisdom, which can eradicate the fetters of the mind.
Let's say... a sound of bell ringing being heard.
Does the sound originate from the ear? Does it originate from the bell? No! Actually... it is much more complex than that.
The sound of airplane being perceived actually has various supporting conditions... the stick, the bell, the vibration of the air, the ears, the hand hitting the stick, and so on. These supporting conditions all come together and in that instantaneous moment a completely new phenomenon/arising of sound-consciousness has arisen.
Does sound-consciousness have an origin? It cannot be said to have a source, cause, agent, or origin. It does not come from the ears, it does not come from the air, the stick, the bell, and so on.
Rather, it is with the combination of these various supporting conditions, a new and complete phenomenon arises. This is thus called Interdependent Origination.
Thanks AEN for the clear explanation.
in my experience, inititally when i start practice right view on morality and the three characteristic is based on readings and is dualistic and conditional in nature. then as one start to practice and experience some insights, right view is re-established and may differ slightly than what was initially thought. for e.g. the view on suffering when i first ever read the Four Noble truths is different from the view im seeing now.
so that's why i say right view is established with practice, not meaning that it's not impt to learn about right view from the start before practicing the Eightfold Path, but that the view is refined along the way.