Advayavada Study Plan - week 26 (samyak-samadhi)

Friends,

 

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing and autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time – Advayavada Buddhism places us on course with Nature.

 

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience.

 

Adherence to the familiar Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie, and refraining from alcohol and drugs) and a well-considered understanding of the Four Signs of Being and the Buddha's Four Noble Truths, as explained in this recurring study and action plan, suffice to start off on the Path at any time.

 

Nirvana means, in Advayavada Buddhism, the total extinction of existential suffering (duhkha, dukkha) by becoming fully one with the overall process of change and progress beyond the atavistic constraints of the failing societies surrounding us everywhere.

 

The Path or Middle Way we follow to this end is (1) that of our very best (samyak, samma) comprehension or insight followed by (2) our very best resolution or determination, (3) our very best enunciation or definition of our intention, (4) our very best disposition or attitude, (5) our very best implementation or realization, (6) our very best effort or commitment, (7) our very best observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction, and (8) our very best meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, which brings us to (1) a yet better comprehension or insight, and so forth.

 

By following the Noble Eightfold Path in this way you get in tune with wondrous overall existence; old mistakes are left behind; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new and unfettered impetus.

 

(week 25) Last week’s ASP subject was the Seventh Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) observation or evaluation and self-correction of our efforts in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

(week 26) This week’s ASP subject is the Eighth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi:

 

samadhi = total concentration (of the mind, cf. enstasy); non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object; total absortion in the object of meditation; transcendence of the relationship between mind and object; merging of subject and object; to contemplate the world without any perception of objects; suspension of judgement; turiyatita; satori; bodhi; rigpa; realization of the sameness of the part and the whole, of the identity of form and emptiness, of samsara and nirvana, of the immediate and the ultimate; mystic oneness; perfect attunement with wondrous overall existence; oceanic feeling; wonder, awe, rapture; essential purity; deep love and compassion; awareness of our common ground.

 

(week 27) Next week's ASP subject will again be the First Sign of Being, i.e. the first fact of life: omnia mutantur, everything changes, the impermanence

and changeability (anityata, aniccata) of all existents, including ourselves. Impermanence is certainly the most important property of everything existing, as without actual and potential change, progress and liberation would not be possible.

 

The purpose of this Advayavada Study Plan is that we study (and debate in the group, family circle and/or with good friends) the meaning and implications of the recurring weekly subject, in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

 

Tip: Write down this week's subject ("Think hard about samadhi!”) in your pocket diary!

 

John Willemsens,

Advayavada Foundation.

http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan

Advayavada Study Plan - week 25 (samyak-smriti)

Friends,

 

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing and autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time – in other words, Advayavada Buddhism seeks to place us on course with Nature.

 

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience.

 

Adherence to the familiar Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie, and refraining from alcohol and drugs) and a well-considered understanding of the Four Signs of Being and the Buddha's Four Noble Truths, as explained in this recurring study and action plan, suffice to start off on the Path at any time.

 

Nirvana means, in Advayavada Buddhism, the total extinction of existential suffering (duhkha, dukkha) by becoming fully one with the overall process of change and progress beyond the atavistic constraints of the failing societies surrounding us everywhere.

 

The Path or Middle Way we follow to this end is (1) that of our very best (samyak, samma) comprehension or insight followed by (2) our very best resolution or determination, (3) our very best enunciation or definition of our intention, (4) our very best disposition or attitude, (5) our very best implementation or realization, (6) our very best effort or commitment, (7) our very best observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction, and (8) our very best meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, which brings us to (1) a yet better comprehension or insight, and so forth.

 

By following the Noble Eightfold Path in this way you get in tune with wondrous overall existence; old mistakes are left behind; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new and unfettered impetus.

 

(week 24) Last week’s ASP subject was the Sixth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) effort or commitment in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

(week 25) This week’s ASP subject is again the Seventh Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) observation or evaluation and self-correction of our efforts in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

(week 26) Next week’s ASP subject will be the Eighth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, i.e. the total concentration of the mind (cf. enstasy).  

 

The purpose of this Advayavada Study Plan is that we study (and debate in the group, family circle and/or with good friends) the meaning and implications of the recurring weekly subject, in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

 

Tip: Write down this week's subject ("Double-check what I’m doing!”) in your pocket diary!

 

John Willemsens,

Advayavada Foundation.

http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan

Advayavada Study Plan - week 24 (samyag-vyayana)

Friends,

 

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing and autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time – Advayavada Buddhism seeks to place us on course with Nature.

 

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience.

 

Adherence to the familiar Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie, and refraining from alcohol and drugs) and a well-considered understanding of the Four Signs of Being and the Buddha's Four Noble Truths, as explained in this recurring study and action plan, suffice to start off on the Path at any time.

 

Nirvana means, in Advayavada Buddhism, the total extinction of existential suffering (duhkha, dukkha) by becoming fully one with the overall process of change and progress beyond the atavistic constraints of the failing societies surrounding us everywhere.

 

The Path or Middle Way we follow to this end is (1) that of our very best (samyak, samma) comprehension or insight followed by (2) our very best resolution or determination, (3) our very best enunciation or definition of our intention, (4) our very best disposition or attitude, (5) our very best implementation or realization, (6) our very best effort or commitment, (7) our very best observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction, and (8) our very best meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, which brings us to (1) a yet better comprehension or insight, and so forth.

 

By following the Noble Eightfold Path in this way you get in tune with wondrous overall existence; old mistakes are left behind; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new and unfettered impetus.

 

(week 23) Last week’s ASP subject was the Fifth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) implementation, realization or putting into practice of our plan or intention.

 

(week 24) This week’s ASP subject is again the Sixth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) effort or commitment in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

(week 25) Next week’s ASP subject will be the Seventh Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) observation or evaluation and self-correction of our efforts in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

The purpose of this Advayavada Study Plan is that we study (and debate in the group, family circle and/or with good friends) the meaning and implications of the recurring weekly subject, in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

 

Tip: Write down this week's subject ("Do my very best!”) in your pocket diary!

 

John Willemsens,

Advayavada Foundation.

http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan

Advayavada Study Plan - week 23 (samyag-ajiva)

Friends,

 

In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing and autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence advancing over time – Advayavada Buddhism places us on course with Nature.

 

The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience.

 

Adherence to the familiar Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie, and refraining from alcohol and drugs) and a well-considered understanding of the Four Signs of Being and the Buddha's Four Noble Truths, as explained in this recurring plan, suffice to start off on the Path at any time.

 

Nirvana means, in Advayavada Buddhism, the total extinction of existential suffering (duhkha, dukkha) by becoming one with the overall process of change and progress beyond the atavistic constraints of the failing societies surrounding us everywhere.

 

The Path or Middle Way we follow to this end is (1) that of our very best (samyak, samma) comprehension or insight followed by (2) our very best resolution or determination, (3) our very best enunciation or definition of our intention, (4) our very best disposition or attitude, (5) our very best implementation or realization, (6) our very best effort or commitment, (7) our very best observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction, and (8) our very best meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, which brings us to (1) a yet better comprehension or insight, and so forth.

 

By following the Noble Eightfold Path in this way you get in tune with wondrous overall existence; old mistakes are left behind; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new and unfettered impetus.

 

(week 22) Last week’s ASP subject was the Fourth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) disposition, frame of mind or attitude to carry out our intention to the very best of our ability.

 

(week 23) This week’s ASP subject is again the Fifth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) implementation, realization or putting into practice of our intention.

 

(week 24) Next week’s ASP subject will be the Sixth Step on the Noble Eightfold Path: our very best (samyak, samma) effort or commitment in carrying out our plan or intention.

 

The purpose of this Advayavada Study Plan is that we study (and debate in the group, family circle and/or with good friends) the meaning and implications of the recurring weekly subject, in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.

 

Tip: Write down this week's subject ("Implement my plan!”) in your pocket diary!

 

John Willemsens,

Advayavada Foundation.

http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan