TWO DUTIES OF BUDDHIST MONK

     A Buddhist monk has two duties, namely, Ganthadhura and Vipassanadhura. Ganthadhyra is the study of theoretical knowledge or Pariyatti (theory) study which can be divided into 2 sections, namely , Dharma scholar section and Pali scholar section as mentioned previously. Vipassanadhura is mind development process in order to achieve Nirvana (extinction of defilement) which is the supreme goal. But the Buddhist monk administration has not organized the study of Vipassanadhura (mind development process) in the country. The article you are reading now is the elementary of Vipassanadhura subject that the Reverend Father of Wat Pak Nam used to teach students. I have clarified the content for ease of study and will explain later on.

NOT JUST MORAL FROM THIS ARTICLE

     Beside gaining moral, you will vision the magic Dharma, the magic Knowledge as well as the magic Perfection. The degree of magic depends solely on your utmost intention. We were born to encounter this doctrine but we did not know at the beginning. If you can process successfully you will certainly realize the fact and think of the doctrine owner.

     The utmost intention means that we must have firm determination to study and practice. We must put all effort to practice everyday without being discouraged. No matter how much time has already been spent, we must never lessen our practice, but, in contrary, we must continuously strengthen our intention. If we can follow this we will eventually have success.

     While you are processing your mind, the Lord of Buddha comes to assist you but you can not see Him because you are in just the beginning of practice. Those who study and practice without diligence should be shameful. Even the Lord had spent full 6 years to discover this Doctrine and achieve the Enlightenment on Visakhapuja Day (the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month). We want to achieve the magic Dharma we must study hard and practice hard. As long as we can not achieve Dharmakaya, the Nirvana (extinction of defilement) is out of the question because the Nirvana stage can be maintained only by Dharmakaya. Now, the opportunity comes, you yourself make the decision.

THE RULE OF STUDYING

     Since this is not the ordinary knowledge, there must be rules of studying. You must try to obtain the essence of the subject. Do not just read through without any deliberation. The rules are as follows:

     1. Pariyatti (theory) studying. You must explore all its content. Read thoroughly until the end. If there is any doubt, you should go back and reread until you can conclude the essence.

     2. Patipatti (practice) studying. According to what Pariyatti (theory) says, you must learn how to practice your mind. You must know steps and details to be taken and what the result of each step is. Memorize the right things with neither deviation nor ambiguity. If you deviate from the right things, mistakes always occur because Kilesa (defilement) will sneak into your mind and the result of your practice will be uncertain.

     3. Pativedha (attainment) studying. After your practice, you must realize what you see in each step. You must learn how to proceed to the next step and how to further process your mind. All these procedures have to be precisely memorized because the mind practice is the very delicate process. This knowledge is not the ordinary one and can be classified as “Paramattha” which means the ultimate reality.

PARIYATTI (THEORY) KNOWLEDGE

The Buddhism Teachings

What Do We Get From Those Teachings?

     Buddhism has excellent teachings. Whoever follows that teachings will be out of suffering and have happiness of all levels, namely, basic, Intermediate and eternal happiness.

     If you practice your mind following eight Maggas. You can attain “Dharmakaya”. The consequences are “no birth; no existence” and no transmigration (cycle of birth and death) forever. The important thing is that you must understand the Buddhism Teachings precisely.

     In essence, the Buddhism teachings are:

1. Sabbapapassa akaranam : Never commit all kinds of sin.

2. Kusalassupasampada : Make all kinds of virtue (kusala).

3. Sacittapariyodapanam : Make the mind pure and bright.

     Etam Buddhana sasanam , These three teachings are the Teachings of all Buddhas.

SUMMARY OF TEACHINGS

1. Do not physically, verbally and mentally commit the sin (abstain from misconduct).

2. Physically, verbally and mentally make virtue (behave righteously).

3. Purify and brighten the mind according to the “Eight Maggas” path.

NO.1 Misconduct abstention is the abstention from “Akusalakammapatha” (the ten bad actions) which contains:

v Three physical misconducts

v Four verbal misconducts

v Three mental misconducts

     Three physical misconducts are:

1. Panatipata means taking life or killing

2. Adinnadana means taking what is not given or stealing

3. Kamesumicchacara means sexual misconduct

     Four verbal misconducts are:

1. Musavada means false speech or lying

2. Pisunavaca means malicious speech or slandering

3. Pharusavaca means harsh speech

4. Samphappalapa means frivolous talk

     Three mental misconducts are:

1. Abhijjha means covetousness

2. Byapada means malevolence or hatred

3. Micchaditthi means wrong view

     These ten misconducts are all sins that should be abstained.

     Doing all good things is concluded from doing “Kusala kammapatha” (the ten good actions) which contains:

v Three physical good conducts

v Four verbal good conducts

v Three mental good conducts

     Three physical good conducts are:

1. Panatipata Veramani means abstention from killing.

2. Adinnadana Veramani means abstention from stealing.

3. Kamesumicchacara Veramani means abstention from sexual misconduct.

     Four verbal good conducts are:

1. Musavada Veramani means abstention from lying.

2. Pisunaya Vacaya Veramani means abstention from malicious speech.

3. Pharusaya Vacaya Veramani means abstention from harsh speech.

4. Samphappalapa Veramani means abstention from frivolous talk.

     Three mental good conducts are:

1. Anabhijjha means having no covetousness.

2. Abyapada means having no malevolence.

3. Summaditthi means right view.

     These ten good conducts are meritorious actions that should always be done.

NO.2 Making all kinds of virtue

NO.3 Purifying and brightening the mind

     Sacittapariyodapanum means purifying and brightening the mind. This teaching is somewhat hard to explain and understand. The mind is intangible but can behave. The mind behaviors are seeing, remembering, thinking and knowing. We have to make our mind clear in order to see the “magic”.

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