Synopsis
The Ven. Sumańgala shares techniques taught to monks only for millennia, giving the serious student the best equipment available with which to achieve awakening. So, if your goal is to become a self-sufficient angler in the sea of spiritual knowledge, come cast your line upon the rich waters of the orthodox Buddhist scriptures with the guidance of the Ven. Sumańgala and be prepared to discover limitless wisdom on the path to Nibbāna. There are diverse ethnic groups living together on the planet surface. On this planet, this book illuminates signposts to new routes for how you can live your life, so you can find your way back on the right path whenever you get lost in life.
The meditation methods which have been used to achieve powerful states of insight are still being taught in Kannī tradition. However, this state of enlightenment cannot be reached easily by normal human beings. To attain this stage, one must have at least 1st level of concentration called jhāna (absorption concentration) or upacāra samādhi (access concentration), then switch to vipassanā. Being based on the upacāra samādhi, a yogī could clearly see the characteristics (impermanence, suffering and non-self) of vipassanā objects (nāma and rūpa). In this tradition, we teach mindfulness through breathing meditation for 35 days according to the Pāḷi texts and commentaries. Within about 10 days, a yogī can acquire a conceptualized light sign (nimitta). If he continues to practise vipassanā for 20 days, he can get the strength to bear the life’s hardships. Finally, he can achieve the total cessation of suffering.
In ānāpānassati practice, yogīs are strictly instructed to see the breathing air that touches on the place, tip of between nostrils. By using the nimitta, they will see rūpa kalāpa and can understand anicca (impermanence). Generally, this meditation course takes 55 days, but for a special course lasting only 10 days is offered during holidays, designed for government officials, or business men and busy lay people. In the 10 days course, yogīs have to practise at least 8 hours a day, one hour sitting, half an hour walking rotationally until 9 pm. In this special course, yogīs practise 7 days for samatha and 3 days for vipassanā.
Within the 25 days of thorough practice, you will experience deep concentration. You can achieve the benefit of concentration within a short period of practice. Even if you have gotten a golden chance in your mouth, you should not criticize without chewing it once or twice. Therefore, your task is ‘just trying it’. Aside from this, you will get life wisdom and knowledge coming in handy on your life journey, especially when you are in trouble. The wisdom of life will encourage you to contemplate philosophical questions pertaining to the ways of human nature, the way of the world and the meaning of life, for sure.
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