Dhamma Letter No. 64
Discover more from The Dhamma Letter
There are three kinds of defilements described in the Nikaya such as:
1. Defilements caused by sensual desire
2. Defilement by existence
3. Defilements from ignorance
Three roots of defilement are:
Lobha (greed/attachment)
Dosa (aversion/anger)
Moha (delusion/ignorance)
First, defilements enter through the six sense organs. (Dhamma letter No. 13)
Feelings are associated with Good, Bad, or Neither Good nor Bad (Mental), and feelings are associated with Painful, Pleasant, Neither Painful nor Pleasant (Physical).
Defilements can be from memories of the past and worries about the future that haven’t happened yet. Defilements are caused by not being able to stay in the present moment.
Defilements arise through physical and mental reactions (kamma). Defilements can be annihilated through right thought (Samma-sankapa) which is part of the noble eight-fold path. The right thought arises through wisdom by having the right view.(Dhamma letter No. 60, No. 61, No. 62)
Defilements cause suffering, and results in a longer distance from Nirvana.
Repetition of one thought creates a path, inscribes tendencies, and creates vitality. Therefore, you should use your sati (mindfulness/awareness) skillfully to generate wise thoughts.
First of all, there should be thoughts of letting go of strong sensual desires, thoughts without malice, and thoughts of not harming others.
When the defilements caused by the first wild sensual desires are controlled, the strong desire for existence still remains which then acts as defilements. The defilement of existence comes from ignorance.
The reason we need to develop wisdom through vipassana meditation is to get rid of this fundamental root, ignorance.
To be continued...
May you develop your concentration and insight through meditation!
May you be peaceful and happy!
May all practice well for Magga (道, the path of enlightenment) and Phala (果, the fruit of enlightenment)!
With Metta,
Ayyā Kosallā & Mahāpajāpatī Bhikkhunī Sangha
Edited by Euna Bonovich
If you have any questions related to dhamma & meditation, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at Bhikkhuni.Kosalla@gmail.com.
법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.
위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)
The Korean Dhamma Letter is here 담마레터.
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Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu!
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!
Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!
Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu !