Buddhist Meditation

DEPARTMENT OF BUDDHIST STUDIES

INTERNATIONAL BACHELOR PROGRAM IN BUDDHIST STUDIES

MAHACHULA BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY, WANG NOI CAMPUS,

ACADEMIC YEAR 2012

Exam              : Mid-Term Examination Answer-sheets

Semester         : First Semester (1/2012)

Course No.     : Buddhist Meditation -V

Lecturer         : Dr. Phrakru Ghositthiputthisart

Vamsapala,

 ID; 530120115

1.      What is Dhammanupassana? Explain one kind of them.

In my understanding of this meditation object on Dhammnupassan is 'contemplation of the mental-objects which is the last of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Although I have not investigated the Pali in detail, the 4th satipatthana is called Dhammānupassanā The word "Dhamma" here need not be translated "mental qualities" In my opinion, the word "Dhamma" here means all experience able "phenomena" or "things. For example, the five aggregates are included in Dhammānupassanā but the body aggregate is not a "mental quality" however it is a "phenomena" or "thing".

The Mahasatipatthana Sutta gives four ways of contemplation. They are Kayanupassana (contemplation of the body), Vedananupassana (contemplation of feeling), Cittanupassana (contemplation of consciousness), and Dhammanupassana (contemplation of Dhamma).  Generally we can mention The Faculty of Knowing, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, thus all depend on mind but I want to explan only one that is  Dhammanupassana which  consists of the chapters on hindrances, aggregates, sense-bases, enlightenment factors, and noble truths. We shall begin with the chapter on hindrances. Dhammanupassana Nivaranapabbam (Hindrances) When the Buddha taught Dhammanupassana, he first gave instructions on how to contemplate the five nivarana. The phenomena which are called nivarana are to be repeatedly contemplated; thus it is mentioned in Mahasatipatthana.

In the Abhidhamma, Aniccanupassana-ñana (impermanence), Dukkhanupassana-ñana (suffering), Anattanupassana-ñana (non-self), these are more important things to realize on final object of Dhammanupasana. 

On having fully acquired these insights into impermanence, suffering, and non-self, the maturity of knowledge of the path (magga--ñana) and knowledge of fruition (phala--ñana) takes place and realization of Nibbana.

2.      What is present moment? How do you develop it? explain

How do I explain about this present moment because the present moment has a different meaning. The present moment is the only thing where there is no time. It is the point between past and future. It is always there and it is the only point we can access in time. Everything that happens, happens in the present moment. Everything that ever happened and will ever happen can only happen in the present moment. It is impossible for anything to exist outside of it. Therefore it is obvious, that past and future don’t have a reality on their own. They are just mental concepts in our heads. Past is the thinking of memories while future is the projection ahead. But anything can really happen only in the present moment. Nothing else regarding time really exists in reality.

May I explain about this present moment from Buddhist meditation view, present moment has focus on Mindfulness it is the awareness and balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn't more complicated than that.  It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it."

To develop mindfulness we need concentration however we cannot say mindfulness which one coming first, anyone can be because thus are always together exiting at same time. In particular, shamatha ("peaceful dwelling") meditation develops mindfulness; people sitting in shamatha train themselves to stay alert to the present moment, observing and then releasing thoughts instead of chasing them. Satipatthana vipassana meditation is a similar practice found in Theravada Buddhism that is primarily about developing mindfulness.

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