AVIJJÂ SUTTA Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero
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AVIJJÂ SUTTA Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero Meditation Retreat at Nissaranavanaya Meethirigala CONTENTS AVIJJÂ SUTTA ·Dedication and Acknowledgment iii ·Translator's Foreword and Introduction iv Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero ·Editor's Preface vi ·The Author viii ·Dhamma Talk - Day 1 1 ·Dhamma Talk - Day 2 9 Meditation Retreat ·Dhamma Talk - Day 3 27 at Nissaranavanaya Meethirigala ·Dhamma Talk - Day 4 45 ·Dhamma Talk - Day 5 67 ·Dhamma Talk – Day 6 87 This is a compilation of the English translations of the Dhamma Talks and Question/Answer sessions recorded at the Meditation ·Dhamma Talk – Day 7 107 th th Retreat held at Nissaranavanaya between 25 February and 6 ·Dhamma Talk – Day 8 125 March 2011. This Retreat was organised by the Damrivi Foundation. ·Dhamma Talk – Day 9 141 ·Questions and Answers – Dhamma Discussion 159 Printed by The Quality Printers 17/2, Pangiriwatta Road, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. Tel : +94 11 4 870 333 ii Dedication Translator's Foreword and Introduction 'Pubbhâ bhikkhave kôtin nam paññâyati avijjâya Itô param na The Dhamma Talks in this book were given at a ten-day meditation avijjâ'' retreat at Nissaranavanaya, Meethirigala in Februray-March 2011. The Meditation Master is Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva '…Even with my fully enlightened mind state I cannot see the MahaThero and the retreat was organized by the Damrivi beginning of the state of avijjâ (ignorance). Avijjâ has no perceivable Foundation in Colombo. These Talks were based on the Avijja Sutta beginning…' (Book of Tens – Anguttara Nikaya) and were in Sinhala. During these ten days Venerable Dhammajiva effectively captured the Word of the Buddha when describing the genesis of avijja This book contains a compilation of Dhamma Talks and Dhamma (ignorance). In a step by step manner he illustrates the causes that Discussions on the Avijja Sutta by Venerable U Dhammajiva Maha lead up to avijja and then goes further to show how, by using a Thero at Nissaranavanaya in February 2011. Our appreciation goes similar structured formula avijja can be eliminated. On each day of to all those who were responsible for the audio-recording and audio- the retreat, while extracting and expounding the deep Dhamma editing of the discourses, the translation and editing of the embedded within this Sutta, the Meditation Master repeatedly manuscript, proof reading and the printing. brings the yogis' attention to their individual practice. The manner in which he exposes the opportunity to skillfully apply these powerful We offer this Dhamma dana to the Sangha of Nissaranavanaya and it Dhamma teachings to ones' own meditation practice is unique. His is strictly meant for Free Distribution only. style of teaching is dynamic and evolving, and he makes complex Dhamma topics understandable at a theoretical level. He This publication is dedicated to our grandparents. emphasizes that his teachings are for the diligent enthusiast and demands from the yogi strong commitment and application of the Dhamma into their daily lives. Yet, he makes the absolute novice as Sanjay and Deshal de Mel well as the experienced meditator feel at ease and enjoy every moment of the retreat. th 27 April 2012 As a teacher Venerable Dhammajiva inspires yogis with his depth and breadth of knowledge of the Dhamma. The dedicated teaching at Retreats scheduled on almost every day of the month, his unwavering abiding to the vinaya and the diligence with which he puts into practice what the Buddha taught are exemplary. The iii iv experience gained from being a bhikkhu of over twenty years seniority, having taught monks as well as laity for nearly fifteen years both locally as well as globally is reflected in his discourses and Dhamma discussions, as well as during interviews with practitioners from all walks of life. His sharp and incisive mind, the profundity of the teachings laced with lots of wit and humour are what make him a Editor's Preface much sought after meditation teacher today. When I was invited to assist in the editing of these Dhamma Talks I felt During his entire teaching career Venerable Dhammajiva has always honoured to do so. I saw it as an opportunity to deepen my own used the Buddha's discourses as the base for teaching meditation inquiry into the topic of Avijja as well as be of service in supporting the practice to both monastics and the laity alike. Deep suttas from the study of Dhamma. tripitaka are treated by this Master with extraordinary clarity and These talks frequently highlight the importance of association with deep sensitivity. One yogi at the end of a Retreat amply described the wise. This not only includes who we associate with, but also what this experience as one where he felt as though he was sitting in Jeta's we fill our minds with. In studying and contemplating the Dhamma Grove in Savaththi listening to the Buddha. our minds are also 'associating with the wise'. So it is important to discern what kind of Dhamma material serves us best in our (Pali terms have been retained wherever it was felt that the accuracy of the cultivation. meaning of the teachings may have been compromised had they not. The Translator liberally used the Buddhist Dictionary (Venerable Nyanatiloka) The Buddha recommended Dhamma teachers to offer guidance in a and A Pali-English Glossary of Buddhist Technical Terms (Venerable graduated and systematic way so that the information given unfolds Nanamoli and Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi) to give meaning to the content in a coherent and logical manner, sensitive to the needs of the and to add richness to the discourses) audience. Here we are given the steps in the Sutta, then practical examples for each stage of the list, followed by tools to work with potential difficulties that may arise along the way of putting these teachings into practice. Throughout the talks Venerable offers descriptions of the innumerable benefits of cultivation. These talks offer clarity, practical guidance and inspiration to develop the Buddha's Path of practice. In various chapters Venerable Dhammajiva refers to the three stages of progress on the Path: sutamayâ-paññâ, cintâmaya-paññâ and bhâvanâmaya- paññâ. Sutamayâ-paññâ, is knowledge derived from study, cintâmaya-paññâ is knowledge gained through reflection, and bhâvanâmaya-paññâ is the ultimate understanding of The Truth of the way things are, realized through our own direct experience. These talks are a support for the first stage. They articulate the essence of the teachings within the Avijjâ Sutta in a clear, accessible and pragmatic manner. Following the steps described can change the v vi experience of association on all levels of our lives. Seeking out the wisdom and noble example of others can eventually lead us to discover more and more deeply the wisdom within. May all beings be well Sister Kovida The Author Venerable Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero is a meditation teacher with many years of experience. He is presently the Chief Preceptor and Vice Abbot of the Meethirigala Nissaranavanaya, a respected monastery in the strict forest tradition of Sri Lanka. This monastery was founded in 1968 and was led under the guidance of Venerable Matara Sri Òânârâma Maha Thero. Venerable Dhammajiva is a bhikkhu with over twenty years seniority. He was ordained by and trained under the guidance of Venerable Òânârâma at Nissaranavanaya. Subsequently he spent several years in Burma training with Ovadacariya Sayadaw U Pandithâbhivamsa – a leading meditation master who follows the lineage of Venerable Mahâsi Sayadaw. Venerable Dhammajiva was formerly a graduate in Agriculture and obtained a MSc in that subject. He is currently the Meditation Master at the newly constructed Retreat Centre at Nissaranavanya . He conducts many long Retreats during the year for Sri Lankan yogis as well as those from overseas. He also teaches at Retreats held in other parts of the world. He is fluent in Burmese, English and Pali, and has translated several meditation guide books from Burmese to Sinhala and English. He is also the author of several books in English and Sinhalese such as: 'In this Life Itself', 'Towards Inner Peace', 'A Mind Revealed' , 'The Seven Factors of Enlightenment' and 'Walking Meditation'. vii viii effect, it has particular nutrients that feed it. The nutrients that Day 1 - Dhamma Talk constantly feed ignorance are the five hindrances (pañca nîvarana). When we observe the precepts (five, eight, ten or a higher sîla) and we discipline ourselves so that we don't commit unskillful acts by This is the beginning of a series of Dhamma talks I plan to give word or deed we are protected from certain defilements, i.e. during this ten day retreat. These talks will be based on the Avijjâ vîtikkama kilesa (transgressional type of defilements). However we Sutta of the Anguttara Nikaya, Book of Tens (Dasaka Nipâta ). On are not protected from the defilements that spring from the mind the previous retreat I conducted in January this year I based the (pariyu??âna kilesa – obsessional defilements) which are the five Dhamma talks on the first part of the Avijjâ Sutta. These talks will hindrances. We all know these very well, because they attack us be a continuation based on the same sutta. even when we have observed a higher sîla and sit in meditation. Even before the Buddha came into being, certain rishis (sages) and '' Iti kho bhikkhave sappurisasamsevo paripûro ascetics who attained high states of concentration were living in saddhammasavanam paripûretîtî ....'' India. They managed to suppress these hindrances during deep 'Bhikkhus, once the association of true person is fulfilled listening to meditation. As a little boy during the harvesting ceremony, Prince the truth is fulfilled' Siddhârta too attained such states, suppressing the hindrances. All yogis who regularly meditate will know what a difficult task that is.