Here’s an 58-min recorded video Dhamma Talk (100MB .mp4).

Topics:

  • Pārāyana, Parayana, Sutta Nipāta, Sutta Nipata, Early Buddhist Texts, Brahmins, psychic powers, nature of existence, discontentment, disharmony, discord, desire, craving, dukkha, mindfulness, brahmaviharas, jhanas, 9th jhana


Sutta References:

  • Khuddaka Nikaya -> Sutta Nipāta -> Pārāyana:

    • Snp 5.1 - Ajita’s Questions

      With what is the world shrouded? Because of what doesn’t it shine? With what is it smeared? Tell me. What is its great danger & fear?

      The Buddha: With ignorance the world is shrouded. Because of stinginess, heedlessness,1 it doesn’t shine. With longing it’s smeared—I tell you. Suffering-stress: its great danger & fear.

      Ajita: They flow every which way, the streams. What is their blocking, what their restraint—tell me— with what are they finally stopped?

      The Buddha: Whatever streams there are in the world: Their blocking is mindfulness, mindfulness is their restraint—I tell you— with discernment they’re finally stopped.

      Ajita: Discernment & mindfulness, name-&-form, dear sir: Tell me, when asked this, where are they brought to a halt?

      The Buddha: This question you’ve asked, Ajita, I’ll answer it for you— where name-&-form are brought to a halt without trace: With the cessation of consciousness they’re brought to a halt.

      Ajita: Those here who have fathomed the Dhamma, those who are learners, those who are run-of-the-mill: When you, dear sir, astute, are asked this, tell me their manner of life.

      The Buddha: He should not hanker for sensual pleasures, should be limpid in mind. Skilled in all mental qualities, he, the monk, should wander mindfully. vv. 1032–1039

    • Snp 5.2 - Tissa-metteyya’s Questions

      Who here in the world is contented? Who has no agitations? What thinker knowing both sides, doesn’t adhere in between? Whom do you call a great person? Who here has gone past the seamstress? —craving.

      The Buddha: He who in the midst of sensualities, follows the holy life, always mindful, craving-free; the monk who is —through fathoming things— unbound: He has no agitations. He, the thinker knowing both sides, doesn’t adhere in between.1 He I call a great person. He here has gone past the seamstress: craving. vv. 1040–1042

Other References:

  • Blaise Pascal’s famous quotation (from his book “Pensées”): “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”

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