Last week I stumbled upon a sinhala sermon by swaminwahanse on RU-vid and I was thinking if there were other sermons. Lo behold a friend of mine sent me a sermon on the history of Buddhism by Swaminwahanse. Talk about Cause and Effect. May you attain the Ultimate bliss of Nibbana! 🙏🙏🙏
Wonderful to hear that the talk might have been helpful. If you ever have questions that you'd like to see in a Dhamma discussion, let me know. May you attain Nibbāna as well.
Dear Bhante, what a great Dhamma discussion. I often wonder about some strange thoughts I have on occasion- I have now an explanation to where they come from. Samsara is a very complex and intricate experience, thank you for shedding light on one of its qualities. Sadhu!
Very happy it might have been helpful, Andrew. The senior monks (Kruba Ajahn's) in the Thai Tradition sometimes tell the junior monks about these types of things. It's good to have a general knowledge so that one can take care of oneself well.
The part where you talk about spiritual beings (ghosts, Devas) having "laws of physics" that are highly Virtue related or based makes sense in more than one way. I would add to the "ghosts can do nothing or very little if you stick to virtue" another side of the story: If you stick to virtue, maybe the Devas have a much greater influence on your circumstances and thus can help you much more easily (plenty of examples in the suttas). Our two existences, usually, do not have points of contact (as we have with animals, for example), so the aggregate of virtue (not only from this life) might actually be the connection in some way that "connects our worlds". And of course, there is also the aspect that Devas value Virtue (that's how they came to that state) and with that they will want to help here and there a human who adheres to virtue (keeps the precepts) and maybe even more if he practices towards enlightenment.
That is true. Help from the devas is also an excellent protection. When one is virtuous and practices the Dhamma evil being have less ability to harm and good beings are more likely to help.
After distinguishing my thoughts from outside thoughts, as you say beautifully, i reflected on the conditionality of my own thoughts. They only arise due to other preconditions. They are ownerless.
It makes sense regarding the level of virtue of a person. Since morality and virtue is a reflection of wisdom (without wisdom they won't see the need to stay truly virtuous even in private), one with dull wisdom would automatically grasp onto all incoming thoughts and perceptions as their own, and act accordingly. Meanwhile the one with discernment and faith is already has a certain level of detachment and will only act according to the Dhamma, whether or not it's an internally or externally inspired mental activity. They won't be subjected to mind control whether it's from propaganda or evil spirits.
I don't believe in ghosts but i know the 'dead' are present Its fascinating this fear of ghosts for Thai people. I read about the Romans who were terrified of death which is why their cemeteries were outside the city walls. Great talk 🙏
There are no such things as ghosts. There's no such thing as a spiritual world it's all a concept that should be discarded. Wake up to the universal reality, just the mind.
The part about the native american kids still confused about 'why did the white man kill us' made me so sad. What depths of vile acts greed can take one to ! It also fills one with Samvega, that this human life is so short and so valuable - to be spent in the effort to uproot craving, lest one fall to Apaya.
one place i lived i i learnt to have 99 percent no fear of a ghost i named it switch cos it would make light switch sounds all day and night at night it would gently poke a semi solid finger into my back to say goodnight fact is most ghost only like to play pranks and or just show that they still exist otherwise harmless
Thank you for this extremely interesting talk. My new house is behind a cemetary and I walk through there a few times a week. Will make sure to send extra metta to all beings who may be there.
Very happy it might have been helpful, Chris. That eounds like a nice idea. Can also share merits with the beings there after doing a good deed, like spreading mettā.
