{"id":27689,"date":"2019-10-04T13:21:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T06:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/?p=27689"},"modified":"2019-11-07T12:10:52","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T05:10:52","slug":"venerable-sariputta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/venerable-sariputta\/","title":{"rendered":"Venerable Sariputta"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row \"><div class=\"wpv-grid grid-1-1  wpv-first-level first unextended\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px\" id=\"wpv-column-3fc2680671f6dc1805f3215521cf6b7b\" ><h4>Dhamma Video Conference Talk and Q &amp; A with Ajahn Anan &#8211; October 4th, 2019<\/h4>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> <span class='dropcap1 '>L<\/span> uang Por Anan<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">\u00a0Welcome to all of you from your centers, all the monks and novices. Today is another opportunity for us to learn about Dhamma. In the beginning, we all have some degree of wisdom, we desire to build knowledge and this leads to our faith. If we have more faith than wisdom, then we can end up confused. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">The important qualities that we need are mindfulness and wisdom. This is true no matter what we do. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">In the Buddha\u2019s time, there were many of his disciples who had great mindfulness and wisdom regardless of whether they were male or female. There was also the chief right hand disciple of the Lord Buddha, Venerable Sariputta, foremost in wisdom. This wisdom is a clear knowing that knows cause and effect. This wisdom knows the good and bad of different actions. So, we will learn about the biography of the chief right hand disciple of the Buddha who was the foremost in wisdom\u2014 Venerable Sariputta. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><b>Video:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #333333\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><i>Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Welcome to all the monks, novices, and all the laity. Today we will learn the biography of Ven. Sariputta, the right hand chief disciple of the Lord Buddha. He was foremost out of all the monks in wisdom. As for the left hand chief disciple, Ven. Maha Moggallana, he was foremost in psychic abilities. The Ven. Elder Sariputta was declared by the Buddha as \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #1c1e21\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Dhammasen\u0101pati\u201d, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">the General of the Dhamma, in excellently expounding the teachings of the Buddha. He also praised Ven. Sariputta in many other aspects.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">For example, when the monks paid their respects to the Lord Buddha before going off to practice in solitude, they would pay their respects to the Buddha, and the Buddha would ask them, &#8220;Have you bid your farewell and paid respects to Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Maha Moggallana yet?\u201d This was because they gave encouragement and blessings to the monks before they go off wandering. The Lord Buddha compared Ven. Sariputta to a mother who gave birth to a child as he would guide the monks to be established in the fruit of sotapanna, the init<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">ial fruit of awakening. As for Ven. Maha Moggallana, he was like a mother who raised a newborn baby as he would advise on the higher noble attainments to the monks, such as Sakkadagami, Anagami, and the fruits of Arahantship.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Ven. Sariputta had great expertise in teaching the Dhamma such that the listener could understand easily. In addition, he was also full of the quality o<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">f &#8216;kata\u00f1\u00f1ut\u0101 katavedit\u0101&#8217;, or gratitude\u2014 knowing \u201cwhat others have done for us and what we must do in return\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Before Ven. Sariputta was ordained, there was an occasion where he listened to the Dhamma from the Ven. Elder Assaji. Sariput<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">ta had a lot of wisdom then, as he could see that the Ven. Elder Assaji had graceful composure and radiant complexion. He knew that this was certainly an ascetic who had attained to some noble virtues. He followed him to listen to the Dhamma and was wise to wait until Ven. Elder Assaji finished his meal before paying respects and making a request to listen to the Dhamma. And so, Ven. Elder Assaji, preached the Dhamma:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Of those things that arise from a cause,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">The Tath\u0101gata (Buddha) has told the cause,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">And also what their cessation is:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">This is the doctrine of the Great Recluse (Buddha)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Ven. Sariputta had long been seeking the Dhamma that leads to freedom from suffering. When he listened to the teaching that \u201call phenomena that arise from a cause or of the nature to cease\u201d, he understood deeply and the stain-free eye of Dhamma arose. He became Awakened (Buddha). He was awakened to the truth that all things are of the nature to arise, persist, and cease.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">At this time the Ven. Elder Assaji was going to continue teaching the Dhamma, but Ven. Sariputta stopped him respectfully and asked where was Lord Buddha residing. Ven. Assaji answered, \u201cIn Veluvana Monastery\u201d. Ven. Sariputta took the Dhamma he had understood from Ven. Assaji and went to tell Ven. Maha Moggallana. Ven. Maha Moggallana also attained to stream entry at that time. Then, they both went to invite their old teacher, the ascetic Sanjaya to pay respects to the Buddha together. But Sanjaya answered: \u201cI won\u2019t go. In this world are there more ignorant people or intelligent people?\u201d Ven. Sariputta replied that there are more ignorant people. Their old teacher Sanjaya said that he will stay with the ignorant people, because there were more of them, and the intelligent people could go to the Buddha.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">The Ven. Elder Sariputta was not only foremost in wisdom, but he was also foremost in gratitude. When he knew in which direction the Ven. Elder Assaji was residing, he would first bow to Ven. Assaji, then he would point his head in that direction and take his rest. A rumour arose that the Ven. Sariputta respected Ven. Assaji more than the Buddha. When the Buddha was asked about this, the Buddha said that this was the respect for his teacher Ven. Assaji, who was the one who brought him into the Dhamma. Here, the Buddha praised Ven. Sariputta as being the foremost in gratitude. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Even when an elderly brahmin named Radha gave just one spoon of rice during alms to Ven Sariputta, Ven. Sariputta later accepted this brahmin to ordain him, looked after him, and taught him until, eventually, Ven. Radha attained to becoming an arahant. On top of that Ven. Sariputta was praised as being foremost in being easy to teach and instruct. He had gratitude and recollected the virtue of his mother, and went to teach his mother before he passed away and entered into parinibbana.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">We also can see the refined nature of Ven. Sariputta\u2019s wisdom.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">At one time the Buddha taught the Dhamma beautifully. After the sermon finished, the Buddha asked Ven. Sariputta, &#8220;Sariputta, do you believe in this <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><span lang=\"en-GB\">Dhamma<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> that I have taught?&#8221; Ven. Sariputta respectfully replied, &#8220;I do not yet believe.&#8221; The Lord Buddha said, &#8220;Wise people shouldn\u2019t believe easily. Investigate and take it into practice before you believe. Don\u2019t believe easily. See the results first, then you can believe.&#8221; Here, you can see a person with all-encompassing and deep wisdom. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Even though it was the Lord Buddha who was giving the Dhamma teaching, Ven. Sariputta would not believe it until he had investigated and contemplated it. He was an arahant whose mind was purified, and he had the mindfulness and wisdom to contemplate everything that he perceived. This is because in the Buddha\u2019s time, all the other teachers who taught would say that their teaching and way of practice was good and they would then criticise the others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">For example, there was one town called Kesaputta, in the Kosala Kingdom. The people of that town were called the Kalama people. The Buddha then taught the Kalama Sutta. When the Kalama people knew that the Buddha came to their town, the Kalama people came to ask for advice from the Lord Buddha. They then asked the Lord Buddha, \u201cThere was one Brahmin who came to visit this area, and he said that only his view was the correct view, and he criticized others&#8217; views as incorrect, so, is this true or not?&#8221; The Lord Buddha said,&#8221;Kalamas, your doubts about this are correct\u201d. So the Buddha gave a teaching to the Kalama people that:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Do not just believe based on tradition<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Do not just believe based on scriptures<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Do not believe based on one\u2019s speculation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Do not believe based on one\u2019s logic and reasoning<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Or even if one\u2019s thoughts and others\u2019 are compatible, do not believe<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Or more than that, do not believe just because that person inspires confidence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">And at the highest, even if that person who speaks is our teacher, if we haven&#8217;t yet contemplated it for ourselves, then do not just believe.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Instead, one should reflect: is that thing harmful? If it is harmful, then one should give it up. If it is of benefit, then one should follow and practice it. This is the origin of the Kalama Sutta, which the Lord Buddha taught the Kalama people. It can be seen that this contemplation on faith based on the principles in the Kalama Sutta will give us great wisdom. Therefore, we should listen to the teachings of various teachers and traditions, and then compare and contemplate them. Is what they said correct? Is it of benefit? Is it of harm? This requires mindfulness and wisdom. So we have to build and instruct our wisdom, following the example of the chief disciple, the Ven. Elder Sariputta.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Each person differs in their level of mindfulness and wisdom. Whether rough or refined, it differs according to people\u2019s spiritual development. One who has trained and developed a lot will have refined mindfulness and wisdom, and their minds will be refined. Whereas one who has little training and spiritual development will have a mind that is rough. When they do various work, it won\u2019t be refined. But for those who have trained and developed spiritually, they will do a more refined work in every aspect.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">I have heard there\u2019s a saying, \u201cThe thorns don\u2019t become sharp only when the tree has grown big. Even when the tree is small, the thorns that are small are already sharp.\u201d That is, a person born with the mindfulness and wisdom they have previously built, they will be intelligent even if they are a child. When they grow older, their intelligence increases. They have better mindfulness and wisdom than the others. This is up to their spiritual development. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">May you all build your parami through mindfulness and wisdom. May you clearly contemplate the things that you perceive. This is called having wisdom arise. It is an important aspect in our learning of Dhamma. May you all prosper in the Dhamma. May you all grow in blessings.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><b>Questions and Answers: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">1. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: If a normal person wants to have good mindfulness and wisdom, what type of merit do they have to make or do?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: This mindfulness and wisdom, it doesn\u2019t just arise on its own. It is not like it comes out automatically. It has its own causes for it to arise. So one needs to listen to Dhamma teachings, associate with wise people, and contemplate and investigate the things that they have heard or read. One must also train the mind to develop and cultivate mindfulness and wisdom, whether it is through meditation or other methods to make the mind peaceful. When listening to Dhamma teachings, one needs to contemplate and investigate the things that one hears and understand them clearly. All this requires training. One needs the right supports in order to train the mind. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">2. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: Does the disciple of the Buddha who is foremost in wisdom build their parami in a different and harder way compared to a normal person?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><a name=\"__DdeLink__345_2243869253\"><\/a><a name=\"__DdeLink__324_3233504359\"><\/a> <span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: The disciple of the Buddha who is the foremost in wisdom, they need to build their parami much greater than an ordinary disciple of the Buddha. One would need to build parami a lot and for a much longer duration of time, as well. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">3. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: Why is it that we are not able to recollect or remember our past lives or even sometimes past events from 3 days ago? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: This comes down to a question of training the mind. The mind is said to be the forerunner of all things and the predominant factor of things. If we train the mind, we can bring to the mind to have special abilities. The reason that we can\u2019t remember is because our minds simply do not have the the level of development required. This level of development of the mind depends on using samadhi to control the mind. This control of mind is very important. We can imagine: if we were able to recall all of our past lives then it might be the case that we could remember times in past lives where people we know from this life had insulted us or harmed us in various ways. If we did not have control over the mind, then it would be likely that we would get very upset. We can see how just remembering past events from this life tends to make us angry and upset at certain people. So to use this ability skilfully, we would need to be able to have a great deal of control over our minds. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: Can you remember everything that has happened in this one life of yours?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> : No, Ajahn.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: So you have to practice well in the present.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: Yes, Thank you Ajahn.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">4. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: How does one investigate the Dhamma?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: You can say that everything is Dhamma. All phenomena are Dhamma. In the Satipatthana Sutta, The Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness, the contemplation of Dhamma is taught. That sutta begins with mindfulness of the body, then contemplation of feelings, then contemplation of the mind whether it has greed, anger or delusion present. All of these things, body, feelings and the mind itself, we can say all fall under the category of Dhamma. Dhamma includes the defilements of the mind as well as the factors which bring the defilements to an end, which are sila, samadhi and wisdom. It is necessary to have a lot of wisdom to see<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #00000a\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"><span lang=\"en-GB\"> the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> whole picture and to understand everything that falls under the broad category of Dhamma. The important thing for now is that our mindfulness and wisdom hasn\u2019t progressed into that stage yet, so in the present we practice and cultivate mindfulness of the body first.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">5. Luang Por Anan: Question for Mysore. Among the young people there, is everyone good friends with one another? Is there any argument or conflict?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: No, Ajahn, here we are living in harmony without any difficulties. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: So, thes<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">e qualities of harmony and unity in a group are Dhamma. You can also say that even if<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> sometimes we might feel jealous, or two different personalities might not be compatible and there might be friction between them, then we can say that all these feelings are a kind of Dhamma as well. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">6. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: What different types of training did Venerable Sariputta (Foremost in Wisdom) undergo compared to Venerable Moggallana (Foremost in Psychic abilities)?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: They built their causes or parami differently. For Venerable Sariputta, it\u2019s not that he didn\u2019t have psychic powers, it\u2019s just that he wasn\u2019t foremost in them, and it is the same for Venerable Maha Moggallana where he also had wisdom, its just that he wasn\u2019t the foremost in that quality. They built their parami differently. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Venerable Maha-Moggallana had very strong samadhi and his practice was led by his samadhi. He trained a lot to be skilled <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">in this<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">, but he didn\u2019t contemplate a lot. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">H<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">is samadhi <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">was stronger than his<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> wisdom. With that strong samadhi, the wisdom would arise from samadhi. In his last life, he listened to the teachings of the Buddha and practiced for 7 days. His samadhi <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">was built to<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> a very high level, and he attained to becoming an Arahant. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Venerable Sariputta contemplated and investigated for 15 days after hearing the teachings of the Buddha and then attained to becoming an Arahant. So, he had to train, investigate, and contemplate for a longer time compared to Venerable Maha-Moggallana. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">This also comes down to different character traits that people have developed in the past. For instance, some people don\u2019t like to think very much, and, for those people, it\u2019s very easy to calm the mind and develop peace. For <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">ourselves,<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> we need to build and train in all aspects of parami or spiritual qualities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">We should determine our minds to build in goodness, and, with all the goodness that we have built, we make an aspiration: may we develop and be full of wisdom and psychic abilities, and then we spread loving-kindness to all beings. May they be well and happy, and may all the merits <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">and parami <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">that one has made take care of oneself. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">M<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">ay all these causes lead one to develop both wisdom and psychic abilities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">We build in all the parami and in all aspects of merit. Building in dana, sila, a<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">n<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">d bhavana. We build goodness along with wholesome qualities to purify our minds. With all the goodness that we build, we share and dedicate this to others, and, when we see others doing good deeds, we rejoice and anumodana. With all this, then we train our mind and these are all the causes that allow us to develop wisdom <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">and<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> samadhi. These factors will help us and be the causes for us to attain, to see the Dhamma. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">7. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: How do the 5 precepts benefit us?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><a name=\"__DdeLink__484_3910590407\"><\/a> <span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">I will<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> ask the question back, if we all have our own personal possessions and no one steals anyone\u2019s else possessions, is that beneficial to us? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">The benefit of not killing, the first precept, is giving oneself long life. If we kill animals, then we will tend to receive the results as diseases that will shorten our life. When we refrain from stealing and we respect other people\u2019s property, then the result is that our own property doesn\u2019t get stolen or taken away from us. When we practice the third precept and we respect other people\u2019s families and their relationships, then we will experience happiness in our own families and relationships. The benefit of the fo<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">u<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">rth precept, speaking truthfully, is that we become trusted and respected member of society. Finally the fifth precept, the benefit of refraining from drinking alcohol and taking intoxicants is that we have a high level of mindfulness, wisdom, and intelligence as a result. Another quality of keeping precepts is that, over time this quality of being virtuous is like a noble treasure that develops in our own hearts and minds. This virtue is something that can\u2019t be taken away by anyone else <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">and<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> it can\u2019t be washed away by floods or destroyed the way material possessions in the world can be destroyed. So, you can say that virtue is like a noble treasure that we have in ourselves.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">8. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: How did Venerable Moggallana pass away?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: Even though Ven. Moggallana had great psychic powers, he also had a certain amount of old kamma that brought up its results in his lifetime. There was a group of monks outside of the Buddhist religion who saw that Venerable Moggallana was a treasure to the Buddhist religion. They attacked Venerable Moggallana. At first Venerable Moggallana would use his psychic powers to escape, but these assassins would come back and attack again. After many rounds, he saw that this was his old kamma coming up, and that it <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">was<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> the end of his life or Parinibbana. Finally, when these assassins attacked <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">again<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">, they left Venerable Moggallana for dead. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">After this, he used his <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">psychic powers to pay final respects to the Buddha then enter Parinibbana. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">9. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: Why do Bhikkhunis have more Vinaya compared to Bhikkhus?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: You can compare this to laws in different countries. One country might have a smaller number of laws than another country, and those laws would be suitable for those different places. In the Vinaya, the Buddha laid down each rule in response to a situation that had come up. A greater number of situations had come up for the Bhikkhunis. The rules for the Bhikkhunis are suitable for their practice and the rules for Bhikkhus are suitable for the Bhikkhus\u2019 practice. Men and women are different, so they have different conditions. For example, there is a rule that Bhikkhunis can\u2019t spend time in a monastery alone, they need to have a Bhikkhu Sangha nearby, whereas the reverse is not true for the Bhikkhus.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">10. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: The Buddha was once injured by a rock that had been thrown by Devadatta to the point where he bled from that injury. What past kamma did he do to receive that result?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><a name=\"__DdeLink__192_2662251443\"><\/a> <span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: There was a past life where maybe he was a child playing by throwing rocks, and the rocks either hit a Pacceka Buddha or a Samma Sambuddha in the heel. That may have been one cause. There was a past life, as well, where the Bodhisatta had killed his younger brother in a dispute over property. That would be another kammic condition that could cause him to receive that injury from the stone. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">11. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: Some Kruba Ajahns say that when one lets go, <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">one<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> must let go with awareness. How does one let go with awareness? How does one know that the letting go is correct?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: When one says awareness, we can also say <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">that<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> we let go with mindfulness. However, when there\u2019s mindfulness there needs to be wisdom, as well. One needs to see suffering <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">clearly. I<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">f one sees <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">suffering clearly<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">, then one will see the cause of <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">suffering<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">, which is attachment. One then contemplates the drawbacks of that attachment and the drawbacks of having suffering. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">W<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">isdom arises from that, and one lets go of that particular thing to which one is attached. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">It doesn\u2019t mean that one can let go of everything or that one can do <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">this<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> all the time. However, if one is able to contemplate <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">and<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> see clearly with mindfulness and clear comprehension what the cause of that suffering is, then one is able to let it go. Despite that, sometimes one just forgets about it and one lets go without wisdom. One doesn\u2019t see yet the cause of that suffering, and this isn\u2019t yet true knowing. There is still delusion there, so one needs to build awareness in order to let go properly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\">\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">12. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Q<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">: What do the colo<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">u<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">rs mean in the International Buddhist Flag?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">Luang Por Anan: They are the six colours in the Buddha\u2019s aura, which are the results of the parami that the Buddha built as a Bodhisatta. Those colours are symbolized in the flag. The blue colour is the symbol of the limitless compassion of the Buddha. The yellow colour is the colour of the Middle Way (Noble Eightfold Path) that the Buddha cultivates and then teaches. The red colour symbolizes the blessings of success and victory from mindfulness and wisdom. The white colour <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\">symbolizes<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif\"><span style=\"font-size: medium\"> purity. Orange is the quality of the Buddha\u2019s wisdom. The combination of five colours or the clear colour is the colour of the universal Dhamma or the Buddha\u2019s attainment to the clear perception of the truth. Each colour has a deep meaning.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dhamma Video Conference Talk and Q &amp; A with Ajahn Anan &#8211; October 4th, 2019 uang Por Anan:\u00a0Welcome to all of you from your centers, all the monks and novices. Today is another opportunity for us to learn about Dhamma. In the beginning, we all have some degree of wisdom, we desire to build knowledge&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reflections"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27689"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27720,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27689\/revisions\/27720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/watmarpjan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}