Dhammapada Verse One: Mind Precedes All Things

[rachgoesviral]

Thank you so much for this series of videos. It is exactly what I'm looking for. I have been reading the Dhammapada but my lack of knowledge of the context had limited my understanding. This has helped me greatly. Your teachings have inspired me to develope a daily meditation routine and study the Buddha's words in depth. Thank you. All the best to you.

[majorkoo]

Satu Satu Satu _/\_

[JrDiNisi]

My question is this.. Is the Dhamma not following the middle way? and is not sleeping and allowing your body to be destroyed something Gotama tried for many years only to abandon?

I understand that it is good the monk did not have any attachment to his sight, however I don't see how practicing with extreme measures would be really helpful.

[JrDiNisi]

@JrDiNisi What of the Sutta where Venerable Sona strove very hard and decided to quit, but the Buddha asked him about what he had done in his past, that he was a lute player, then the buddha taught about the string being too loose or too tight, but just right, the middle way, the string plays best.

[prideandjoy21]

what is an impure heart?

[jbearden]

You may do something that many consider to be "good". But, if mind is not pure, this act brings us nothing but troubles. Troubles, that have not even been yet born, arise and follow the impure mind.

[tblong83]

Thanks



[Juanster23]

That tale of the monk who lost his eyes reminds me of a story that Ajahn Chah spoke of. One time in the forest a storm came and the strong winds destroyed the roof of a kuti one of the monks was staying in. After a few days Ajahn Chah noticed the monk had not repaired the roof. When he asked the monk why he hadn't done anything about the roof, the monk replied that he was practicing not clinging to the roof. Ajahn Chah goes on to say that that monk is practicing not clinging but without wisdom.

[TheAncientCelt]

Thank you for sharing this with us all

[ANGELIZ333]

Hi Yuttadhammo, I know is no good to kill, but I have a silly question, how do I overcame my fear of insects? some freaks me out :S

[mh3slayer]

@ANGELIZ333 it is wrong to kill i believe but I was taught if it was defending yourself it is a exception

[ANGELIZ333]

Thanks Yuttadhammo, your videos are great as always :)

[BoomDoneNext]

So then it is the intent that is the most important when karma is involved??? Something like that?

[chanitra1]

after meditation for long time you will know that how good for yourmind.. and some amazing be with you very nice ...... and all good nobody can tell about that without your.... hope your going for teach perople and telling them for meditation naka KrobKrun Pra Ar Jan Yuttadhammo .. sathu anumothami ...

Chada thailand

[chanitra1]

after meditation for long time you will know that how good for yourmind.. and some amazing be with you very nice ...... and all good nobody can tell about that without your.... hope your going for teach perople and telling them for meditation naka KrobKrun Pra Ar Jan Yuttadhammo .. sathu anumothami ...

Chada thailand

[calle899]

i was laughing so hard yuttadhammo when you said that thing about the animal , that it must have been the most useless animal in the world. that was increadibly funny. hahaha

[mysongbox]

Very grateful for the Dhp series. Dhp. is such a valuable & beautiful teachings of the Buddha. Many Buddhists do not know the stories & verses in Dhp. so I'm sure many will support what u do.:)Cannot wait for the rest of it.

[Brakusful]

Great start Bhante, please keep going  _/|\_

[License2Bill]

I'm not sure that buddhism is right for me. I have learned a lot and I am certainly a lot happier now than I was before I begun meditating several months ago, but I feel that buddhism, like many religions, is full of dubious stories. Why believe these tales such as the tales of the blind man when there is no proof of their truthfulness? I understand the messages behind the stories but if they have no basis in reality then reciting them seems to be a complete opposite to the buddhist practice.

[pacman211]

@License2Bill yeah, i feel what you're saying. the conclusion i've come to is, just pick those aspects that make sense to you and work for you...

[yuttadhammo]

@License2Bill interesting logic, but I think it misses the point... whenever we tell something that we have heard, we do it without proof. To say therefore that it has no basis in reality is a bit of a leap. If we trust the person we heard it from, it seems reasonable to believe it. Further, when, as is the case here, the factuality of the story bears little importance in regards to the reason for telling it, it seems unwarranted to even speculate. Why doubt in the first place?

[kusalaviro]

@yuttadhammo It may be important to note also that stories in the Buddhist text are different from those in an Abrahamic text in that you are not required to believe them literally under the threat of eternal damnation. This makes it possible to take the meaning without having to swallow it whole...

[jesshurun]

@License2Bill "I feel that buddhism, like many religions, is full of dubious stories" Buddhism will tell you this stories for you to apply them to your life in your own way challenge it and even make it better. Stories from the bible want to be applied as "ABSOLUTE TRUTHS" so therefor those religious figures WILL NOT let you challenge them. Big Difference if you ask me

[Bakmoon]

@License2Bill I think I should tell you that the stories are not actually a part of the Dhammapada proper. The stories are detailed in the commentary on the Dhammapada, which was written about a thousand years later. If you don't like the stories, you don't have to accept them as the words of the Buddha. I personally look at the stories as something like parables, or aesops fables. Their purpose is to teach and inspire, not to record historical events.

[Yesica1993]

@License2Bill Absolutely right. If there is no evidence for something, then why should we choose to believe it?

[Indika007]

@License2Bill Meditation not all about buddhism. Actually Buddhism is understanding of four noble truth. Forget about the stories start from here...

[Mjakucin1018]

Wonderful :) Deepest regards, thank you

[Shadeslayerintown]

@yuttadhammo Can't find words to convey my gratitude expressively but in my mind, the kamma has already taken place. There are people who benefit from these videos including me and it is a privilege to listen to Shakyamuni's teachings through you.

Buddhistly,

Bharath

[GarethRWhite]

Wonderful idea for a study course. Many thanks, I'm very pleased to watch this series.

[PrimalRhythm]

Interesting, this teaching brings to mind a verse from the Bible: "To the pure, all things are pure [...]," Titus 1:15. 

[uilium]

Thank you Venerable Sir (:

[harehare]

Thank you, Yuttaddammo

[globalman]

I agree.... a very enlightened idea. Thank you.

[JRayChannel]

This is a great idea, please keep going with this series.

[amnesiac2482]

a meditator who got sick? I thought you said in the last video that someone who meditates wont get sick?

[Shadeslayerintown]

@amnesiac2482 Nothing is permanent. All of us have to die, age, get sick etc. Meditation, Vipassana to be specific, is something that helps us to see that sickness is just part of reality and not suffer mentally too.

[yuttadhammo]

@amnesiac2482 I think you thought mistakenly... meditation can help with certain sicknesses, but if, as was the case here (though I didn't go into that part of it), the illness has a karmic basis, there isn't much one can do to avoid it.

[MysticOfTheSands]

@amnesiac2482 Meditation helps deal with the mind, and to a certain extent, on a psycho-somatic basis, with the body (keeps blood preasure and digestive processes in order--provided you do not suffer from pathogenic influences--, has certain positive effects on the brain related to stress resistance etc. But by no means is it some sort of magical panacea. If you have a medical problem, go to the doctor, in all confidence :)

[magus17]

I can't wait to absorb all this knowledge - thank you

[killpath]

I don't know anything about Buddha, I cant wait to learn more. thanks

[vek0zzzz]

Very interesting ..I am looking forward to the other videos .