The Five Benefits of Morality (Sila)

1. Householder, one who is virtuous, possessed of virtue, obtains a large fortune as a consequence of diligence; this is the first benefit for the virtuous in the perfecting of virtue.

2. One who is virtuous, possessed of virtue, a fair name is spread abroad; this is the second benefit for the virtuous in the perfecting of virtue.

3. One who is virtuous, possessed of virtue, enters an assembly, whether of khattiyas (warrior/ nobles) or brahmans or householders or ascetics, he does so without fear or hesitation; this is the third benefit for the virtuous in the perfecting of virtue.

4. One who is virtuous, possessed of virtue, dies not confused; this is the fourth benefit for the virtuous in the perfecting of virtue.

5. One who is virtuous, possessed of virtue, on the breakup of the body, after death, reappears in a happy destiny, in the celestial world; this is the fifth benefit for the virtuous in the perfecting of virtue.

May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruits of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

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The Four Types of Morality (Sila)

1. Hanabhagiya sila - precept of an inferior kind:

An individual after observing Sila does not approach virtuous people but approaches people who have no morality. He does not realize that breaking the precepts and contemplates only on sensual pleasures and on all kinds of anxieties.

He does not control his eyes or guard his sense of sight, he looks at anything that can be seen. He does not guard his sense of hearing, he listens to everything; nor does he take care of his sense of smell; he takes pleasure in all kinds of sweet smell or fragrance. He does not guard his sense of touch, he takes pleasure in pleasant touch senses. Lastly, he is not guarding his sixth sense, which is his mind and would be thinking and planning all kinds of things. This kind of precept is an inferior kind of precept, Hanabhagiya sila.

2. Thitibhagiya sila - precept that is just observed:

An individual after taking the precept does not observe ascetic practices (dhutanga) or be mindful of the virtues of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha nor the virtues of sila, nor practise tranquillity meditation (samatha kammathana) or insight (vipassana) meditation. He merely keeps those precepts. This kind of sila is known as Thitibhagiya sila.

3. Visesabhagiya sila - precept which has a special effect:

An individual after taking the precept practises samatha kamatthana (Tranquility meditation) until he develops concentration (samadhi) power. This person's precept or sila has a special effect and therefore, is known as Visesabhagiya sila. In one's country one has to keep guards, policemen and soldiers for the security of the leaders. In the same way for your security from greed (lobha), anger (dosa) and delusion (moha), kilesa enemies or defilements, you have to keep guards such as practicing recollection of the Enlightened One (Buddhanussati), radiating loving kindness (metta), reflecting on the repellent natural of a corpse (asubha) and recollection of death (maranassati). These are the guardian samatha kammatthanas and at least one of these four kammatthanas should be practiced.

It is most appropriate to practise metta kammatthana when observing precepts. By practicing metta bhavana one is desirous of other's happiness. Hence, one will abstain from taking life, stealing and other misconduct which will make others unhappy. Therefore, one's Sila is secure. That is why practicing metta kammatthana is most appropriate when one is observing precepts.

4. Nibbedabhagiya sila - precept that has a penetrating effect:

By practicing vipassana meditation a certain individual, after taking precepts tries to penetrate the darkness of defilements (kilesa), such as - lobha, dosa and moha which have been inherent in him. This person's sila is known as Nibbedabhagiya sila meaning it has a penetrating power.

Out of the four kinds of sila, Nibbedabhagiya sila which has a penetrating power is the best and most revered.

May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruits of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com

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The Ten Useful Talks (Dasa katha)

The Ten Useful Talks (Dasa katha): 

These are the 10 useful talks a lay devotee must engage after refraining from 32 unskillful talks (Dethis katha) discussed in the previous post. These ten useful talks are ;

1. Having only few wishes & talks about on fewness of wishes ( Appichcha Katha)

2. Content himself/ herself & talks about on contentment ( Santuthti Katha)

3. Secluded himself/ herself & talks about on seclusion (paviweka Katha)

4. Aloof from society & talks about on aloofness from society (Asansagga Kata)

5. Energetic himself/ herself & talks on arousing energy (Weeryaramba Katha)

6. Attained to virtue himself/ herself & talks on the attainment of virtue (Seela Katha)

7. Attainment to concentration himself/ herself & talks on the attainment of the concentration (Samadhi Katha)

8. attained to wisdom himself/ herself & talks on the attainment of wisdom ( Pragna Katha)

9. Attained to deliverance himself/ herself & talks on the attainment of deliverance (Vimukthi Katha)

10. Attained to the knowledge and vision of deliverance himself/ herself & talks on the attainment of the knowledge and vision of deliverance (Vimukthi Gnanadassana Katha)

He/She is the one who advises, informs, instructs, urges, rouses, and gladdens his companions in the holy life. Those are the 10 useful talks that will guide us toward the ultimate bliss of Nibbana.

May all beings be well & happy and attain the fruits of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

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The 32 types of unskillful talks ( Dethis Katha )

The 32 types of unskillful talks ( Dethis Katha ) :

A lay devotee must refrain from 32 types of unskillful talks after observing eight or ten precepts or any kind of Uposatha Sila as these talks of the ordinary people not conductive to good, to giving up, to detachment, to cessation, to appeasement, to knowledge, to enlightenment. They are:

1. Raja katha - Talk about kings,

2. Chora Katha - Talk about robbers,

3. Mahamachcha Katha - Talk about ministers,

4. Sena Katha - Talk about armies,

5. Bhaya Katha - Talk about fears,

6. Uadda Katha - Talk about wars,

7. Anna Katha - Talk about eatables,

8. Paana Katha - Talk about drinks,

9. Waththa Katha - Talk about clothes,

10. Mala Katha- Talk about flowers,

11. Ghanda Katha - Talk about scents,

12. Knathi Katha - Talk about relations,

13. Yana Katha - Talk about Vehicles or conveyances,

14. Gama Katha - Talk about villages,

15. Nigama Katha - Talk about hamlets,

16. Nagaralankara Katha - Talk about towns,

17. Janapada Katha - Talk about states,

18. Eththi Katha - Talk about women,

19. Shura Katha - Talk about heroes,

20. Sura Katha - Talk about intoxicants,

21.Visika Katha - gossip at the street corner and

22. Kumbattana Katha - gossip at the well,

23. Pubba Petha Katha - Talk of those dead and gone,

24. Narnatta Katha - various useless talk apart from these 32.

25. Lokaikika Katha - Talk about the beginning of the world,

26. Samuddakkaikika Katha - Talk about the ocean,

27. Shaswatha Ditti Katha - Talk about eternal soul after death,

28. Uchcheda Ditti Katha - Talk about annihilation of soul after death,

29. Wuridi Katha - Talking about others prosperity,

30. Hani Katha - Talking about others debacle or less fortune,

31. Pancha Kama Suka Katha : Talking about various sensuous pleasures,

32. Attakilamathanuyogi Katha - Talking about Self mortification as a form of liberation.

By engaging in these 32 types of talks, one will develop greed (lobha), ill-will (Dosa), ignorance (Moha) which are hazardous to the eight fold path or Nibbana. There fore one must abstain from these 32 types of talks & engage in 10 types of useful talks Preached in Rathavineeta Sutta in Majjima Nikaya which will be discussed in the next post.

May all beings be well & happy and attain the fruits of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com

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