Today I went to bed early as I was not feeling well.
Ring ring ring
I was woken up by bedside phone. Time was 11 at night. It seems strange. I was wondering who and why and what?? I thought it must be important to call me that late.
It was a lady from Norway who likes to ask a few questions concerning Dhamma .
Following are her questions.
(1). Is it better to go on vegetarian diet while I am practicing meditation ?
(2). Abortion or Termination of pregnancy becomes a common practice in most of countries nowadays for various reasons. Is it a sin of killing according to Dhamma . And also is it a sin of killing if someone sick takes antibiotics to get rid of germs.
3) As I continue with my meditation practice, I am finding it harder to concentrate on anything else. Therefore, I am finding myself neglecting day to day chores. Please answer me why and also how to meditate while doing day to day activities.
4) There is a new method of meditation in which Yogi just meditate anything in this world is NOTHING , anything occurred is NOTHING . Is it correct method ?
Please let me know
Although I am not very well , It is my duty as a Sangha to answer Dhamma questions .
Pure vegetarian diet is not recommended for yogis by Buddha .
I will explain further . In story of Maha Karla of Dhammapada ahtakahtar, there are 7 recommendations for monks practicing susanna dutin ( cemetery hardship ) ( one of the 13 special practices to destroy hindrances .
1)Vegetarian diet
2)No afternoon naps
3)Be free from sloth
4)Be diligent and hard working
5)Be absolutely sincere
6)Be of good intentions
7)Be in cemetery only during bedtime of lay people .
Out of these , vegetarian diet is only meant to prevent being disturbed by other worldly beings who like the smell of meat .
And the 10 types of meat prohibited are
human , elephant , dog, horse, snake, lion, tiger, leopard, bear, wildcat .Apart from these ten , other prohibitions are
1)If one has seen the living being killed for offering
2)If one has heard the living being killing for offering
3)If one is doubtful a living being is killed for offering
When asked , Tipitakadara sayadaw said just to avoid toothache from meat sticking between teeth . Therefore, it is clear that sayadaws having vegetable diet on health ground only .
Therefore, the important point in meditation is not vegetarian diet but one's own sila , concentration and wisdom .
The sin of killing happens only when these 5 prerequisites are fulfilled.
1) Being a living being
2) Knowledge that it is a living being
3) Intention of the kill
4) Volition of the kill
5) Result of the living being dead
If one of these 5 factors missing, then the sin of killing does not occur .Therefore, Termination of pregnancy for any reason would be sin of killing.
As microscopic germs are not living beings, taking antibiotics is not committing the sin of killing.
Being absorbed in meditation can occur by so many causes such as awareness of impermanence or delight just to name a few .
For example , Prince Nanda , half brother of Buddha started meditating just to meet up with angels but he has achieved arahatship .
At the end of the day, it does not matter the reason. As long as yogi continues practicing, concentration and wisdom would be achieved.
As Concentration matures , interest in normal day to day activities.
At that stage , yogi would like to concentrate on mediation by attaining ascetic life.
If it cannot be achieved , livelihood could be difficult . So yogi needs to continue working.
In contrary to popular belief , meditation does not need to be confined to meditation centre .Meditation can be practiced in all 4 postures namely walking ,standing , sitting or lying .
As clearly stated in maha-satipatthana sutta , Yogi needs to be mindful of all body postures continuously all the time . Enlightenment can occur at any place or any time .
In Srilanka , there are so many people achieved enlightenment during hiking or having their meals . Also in tipitaka history , A lady achieved enlightenment by applying knowledge that body was withering away similar to vegetables she was frying . Therefore, practising meditation in any available time and place is the excellent system .
As to 4th question ,the golden rule to test any meditation method is maha-satipatthana . In maha-satipatthana sutta ,it is said that satipatthana is the only way to be cleared of defilement
In maha-satipatthana sutta , It is said be mindful and aware the walking while walking . Be mindful and aware the sitting while sitting . It is not stated sitting is NOTHING. It is stated that the way to enlightenment is Knowledge Of Reality As It Is . Therefore , just being mindful of reality is the only way to enlightenment . Therefore, the technique of minding that all the things in this world and the whole world is NOTHING is a definitely wrong way .
Translate by U Tint
Ring ring ring
I was woken up by bedside phone. Time was 11 at night. It seems strange. I was wondering who and why and what?? I thought it must be important to call me that late.
It was a lady from Norway who likes to ask a few questions concerning Dhamma .
Following are her questions.
(1). Is it better to go on vegetarian diet while I am practicing meditation ?
(2). Abortion or Termination of pregnancy becomes a common practice in most of countries nowadays for various reasons. Is it a sin of killing according to Dhamma . And also is it a sin of killing if someone sick takes antibiotics to get rid of germs.
3) As I continue with my meditation practice, I am finding it harder to concentrate on anything else. Therefore, I am finding myself neglecting day to day chores. Please answer me why and also how to meditate while doing day to day activities.
4) There is a new method of meditation in which Yogi just meditate anything in this world is NOTHING , anything occurred is NOTHING . Is it correct method ?
Please let me know
Although I am not very well , It is my duty as a Sangha to answer Dhamma questions .
Pure vegetarian diet is not recommended for yogis by Buddha .
I will explain further . In story of Maha Karla of Dhammapada ahtakahtar, there are 7 recommendations for monks practicing susanna dutin ( cemetery hardship ) ( one of the 13 special practices to destroy hindrances .
1)Vegetarian diet
2)No afternoon naps
3)Be free from sloth
4)Be diligent and hard working
5)Be absolutely sincere
6)Be of good intentions
7)Be in cemetery only during bedtime of lay people .
Out of these , vegetarian diet is only meant to prevent being disturbed by other worldly beings who like the smell of meat .
And the 10 types of meat prohibited are
human , elephant , dog, horse, snake, lion, tiger, leopard, bear, wildcat .Apart from these ten , other prohibitions are
1)If one has seen the living being killed for offering
2)If one has heard the living being killing for offering
3)If one is doubtful a living being is killed for offering
When asked , Tipitakadara sayadaw said just to avoid toothache from meat sticking between teeth . Therefore, it is clear that sayadaws having vegetable diet on health ground only .
Therefore, the important point in meditation is not vegetarian diet but one's own sila , concentration and wisdom .
The sin of killing happens only when these 5 prerequisites are fulfilled.
1) Being a living being
2) Knowledge that it is a living being
3) Intention of the kill
4) Volition of the kill
5) Result of the living being dead
If one of these 5 factors missing, then the sin of killing does not occur .Therefore, Termination of pregnancy for any reason would be sin of killing.
As microscopic germs are not living beings, taking antibiotics is not committing the sin of killing.
Being absorbed in meditation can occur by so many causes such as awareness of impermanence or delight just to name a few .
For example , Prince Nanda , half brother of Buddha started meditating just to meet up with angels but he has achieved arahatship .
At the end of the day, it does not matter the reason. As long as yogi continues practicing, concentration and wisdom would be achieved.
As Concentration matures , interest in normal day to day activities.
At that stage , yogi would like to concentrate on mediation by attaining ascetic life.
If it cannot be achieved , livelihood could be difficult . So yogi needs to continue working.
In contrary to popular belief , meditation does not need to be confined to meditation centre .Meditation can be practiced in all 4 postures namely walking ,standing , sitting or lying .
As clearly stated in maha-satipatthana sutta , Yogi needs to be mindful of all body postures continuously all the time . Enlightenment can occur at any place or any time .
In Srilanka , there are so many people achieved enlightenment during hiking or having their meals . Also in tipitaka history , A lady achieved enlightenment by applying knowledge that body was withering away similar to vegetables she was frying . Therefore, practising meditation in any available time and place is the excellent system .
As to 4th question ,the golden rule to test any meditation method is maha-satipatthana . In maha-satipatthana sutta ,it is said that satipatthana is the only way to be cleared of defilement
In maha-satipatthana sutta , It is said be mindful and aware the walking while walking . Be mindful and aware the sitting while sitting . It is not stated sitting is NOTHING. It is stated that the way to enlightenment is Knowledge Of Reality As It Is . Therefore , just being mindful of reality is the only way to enlightenment . Therefore, the technique of minding that all the things in this world and the whole world is NOTHING is a definitely wrong way .
Translate by U Tint
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