i feel that at one point i found and experienced the middle way within myself but i feel like i have lost the way. i find myself constantly upset and aggitated for no reason sometimes i just sit and cry. i can keep to anything for too long. it appears fleeting at times to be around friends and family when or if they are upset. i feel like at one point i had helped teach them to let go and how but its like nothing seeped through. i feel alone in ever trying to open up to others. friends and family are too stuck on the things they want and how to get them. bassically though i know i am guilty as well at times so i try and want to push away but that does not help either. i suppose i am more awake but not fully merged in the center.. this is where there is great aggitation, constant desire to give up. i attept to meditate but my thoughts will not give up or let go. all i want is to feel the spiritual release where i can give up and just live peaceful and happy.
The Buddha has directly seen the origins of Maha Brahma and understands what it requires to be reborn in his world. In the Brahmajala Sutta (DN 1) the Buddha describes how a supposed Creator God came to believe himself omnipotent and how others came to rely on his sovereignty.
His description was based, not on speculation or hearsay, but on his own direct knowledge. The Buddha explains that when our world system disintegrates, as it regularly does after extremely long periods of time, the lower sixteen planes are all destroyed. Beings disappear from all planes below the seventeenth, the plane of the Abhassara gods. Whatever beings cannot be born on the seventeenth or a higher brahma plane then must take birth on the lower planes in other remote world systems.
MAHA BRAHMA The stories of a Buddha going to teach a brahma take place on the plane of Maha Brahma, the third of the fine-material planes (No. 14). Many people worship Maha Brahma as the supreme and eternal creator God, but for the Buddha he is merely a powerful deity still caught within the cycle of repeated existence. In point of fact, "Maha Brahma" is a role or office filled by different individuals at different periods.
Because these beings seemed to arise in accordance with the first brahma's wish, he becomes convinced that he is the almighty God: "I am the Great Brahma, the Vanquisher... the Lord, the Maker and Creator, the Supreme Being." The other brahmas, seeing that he was already present when they took birth in his world, accept his claim and revere him as their creator.
After ages pass, he becomes lonely and longs for other beings to join him. It just so happens that shortly after the brahma starts craving for company, other beings from the Abhassara plane, who have exhausted their lifespans there, pass away and are reborn in the palace of Brahma, in companionship with him.
Eventually the world starts to re-form. Then a solitary being passes away from the Abhassara plane and takes rebirth on the plane of Maha Brahma. A palace created by his kamma awaits him there: "There he dwells, mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-luminous, moving through the air, abiding in glory. And he continues thus for a long, long time."
He states that although Maha Brahma can perform all sorts of transformations, he cannot actually create independent creatures, change the kammic law of cause and effect, or keep anyone from growing old or dying. Brahma can use his special powers to transport a man to the brahma plane for a short visit, but he cannot ensure that someone will be reborn there.
Eventually this misconception of a Creator God spreads to the human plane. One of the other brahmas passes away and is reborn here. He develops concentration and learns to recollect his previous life with Maha Brahma, but none of his lives before that. Recollecting that existence he recalls that Maha Brahma was considered the "father of all that are and are to be... permanent, stable, eternal."
As he is unable to remember further back, he believes this to be absolute truth and propounds a theistic doctrine of an omnipotent Creator God (Net 69-70, 155-66). The Venerable Ledi Sayadaw, a highly renowned Myanmar scholar-monk of the first part of this century, gave a careful analysis of the powers of Maha Brahma in his Niyama Dipani (MB pp. 138-39).
Lord Gotama Buddha was *not* a devata (god / heavenly being) in his last life when he Awakened ond again-found the Middel Way. he was a deva ond brahma in former lives, but not in his last rebirth as Siddhatta Gotama. this is a Hindu belief, with no connexion to Buddhadhamma, our Buddha was not Krishna nor Mahabrahma. Mahabrahma is the deluded brahma wot foolishly believes in its own mirage that it is a creatour-being.
His answer on alcohol sounded more like a cop-out than an answer. You do not become a snob from drinking wine & one can drink in moderation, not lose control of themselves or get into fights. Can these things happen, yes, but I think he gives people very little credit. The fact that he starts by calling the gentleman "cheeky" for asking shows me that he was not going to give a serious answer.
I just realized im watching this on a sunday morning. I guess this will be my weekly sermon.
Always look forward to his talks. Many Thanks.
True ! Thank you ajan brahmali
Thank you for an insightful talk, I enjoy them a lot.
Great talk.
Ajahn you are an incredible teacher. Thank you so much for this lesson, it is soul food to say the least. Many blessings to you :)
Thanks Ajahn Brahmali, your words have suppressed my cravings for the moment!
This man is amazing - thank you for helping to open my eyes. I've been contemplating a lot of this in my mind.
7lilypads agreed 100%. This particular talk I credit with saving my life a few years ago.
good questions too!
i feel that at one point i found and experienced the middle way within myself but i feel like i have lost the way. i find myself constantly upset and aggitated for no reason sometimes i just sit and cry. i can keep to anything for too long. it appears fleeting at times to be around friends and family when or if they are upset. i feel like at one point i had helped teach them to let go and how but its like nothing seeped through. i feel alone in ever trying to open up to others. friends and family are too stuck on the things they want and how to get them. bassically though i know i am guilty as well at times so i try and want to push away but that does not help either. i suppose i am more awake but not fully merged in the center.. this is where there is great aggitation, constant desire to give up. i attept to meditate but my thoughts will not give up or let go. all i want is to feel the spiritual release where i can give up and just live peaceful and happy.
You can do it buddy. I send you good wishes and I hope you find peace :)
Craving says "fooled you" because the craving is only temporary. Breath is permanent peace. Craving is temporary.
The Buddha has directly seen the origins of Maha Brahma and understands what it requires to be reborn in his world. In the Brahmajala Sutta (DN 1) the Buddha describes how a supposed Creator God came to believe himself omnipotent and how others came to rely on his sovereignty.
His description was based, not on speculation or hearsay, but on his own direct knowledge. The Buddha explains that when our world system disintegrates, as it regularly does after extremely long periods of time, the lower sixteen planes are all destroyed. Beings disappear from all planes below the seventeenth, the plane of the Abhassara gods. Whatever beings cannot be born on the seventeenth or a higher brahma plane then must take birth on the lower planes in other remote world systems.
Can anyone recommend a book with the Sutras (in English, please). Thank you.
MAHA BRAHMA
The stories of a Buddha going to teach a brahma take place on the plane of Maha Brahma, the third of the fine-material planes (No. 14). Many people worship Maha Brahma as the supreme and eternal creator God, but for the Buddha he is merely a powerful deity still caught within the cycle of repeated existence. In point of fact, "Maha Brahma" is a role or office filled by different individuals at different periods.
@dilly2000 he says '-a' after everything
Because these beings seemed to arise in accordance with the first brahma's wish, he becomes convinced that he is the almighty God: "I am the Great Brahma, the Vanquisher... the Lord, the Maker and Creator, the Supreme Being." The other brahmas, seeing that he was already present when they took birth in his world, accept his claim and revere him as their creator.
After ages pass, he becomes lonely and longs for other beings to join him. It just so happens that shortly after the brahma starts craving for company, other beings from the Abhassara plane, who have exhausted their lifespans there, pass away and are reborn in the palace of Brahma, in companionship with him.
Eventually the world starts to re-form. Then a solitary being passes away from the Abhassara plane and takes rebirth on the plane of Maha Brahma. A palace created by his kamma awaits him there: "There he dwells, mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-luminous, moving through the air, abiding in glory. And he continues thus for a long, long time."
He states that although Maha Brahma can perform all sorts of transformations, he cannot actually create independent creatures, change the kammic law of cause and effect, or keep anyone from growing old or dying. Brahma can use his special powers to transport a man to the brahma plane for a short visit, but he cannot ensure that someone will be reborn there.
Eventually this misconception of a Creator God spreads to the human plane. One of the other brahmas passes away and is reborn here. He develops concentration and learns to recollect his previous life with Maha Brahma, but none of his lives before that. Recollecting that existence he recalls that Maha Brahma was considered the "father of all that are and are to be... permanent, stable, eternal."
Uhm.. May I ask what are you trying to prove here?
the middle waya
As he is unable to remember further back, he believes this to be absolute truth and propounds a theistic doctrine of an omnipotent Creator God (Net 69-70, 155-66).
The Venerable Ledi Sayadaw, a highly renowned Myanmar scholar-monk of the first part of this century, gave a careful analysis of the powers of Maha Brahma in his Niyama Dipani (MB pp. 138-39).
Lord Gotama Buddha was *not* a devata (god / heavenly being) in his last life when he Awakened ond again-found the Middel Way. he was a deva ond brahma in former lives, but not in his last rebirth as Siddhatta Gotama. this is a Hindu belief, with no connexion to Buddhadhamma, our Buddha was not Krishna nor Mahabrahma. Mahabrahma is the deluded brahma wot foolishly believes in its own mirage that it is a creatour-being.
His answer on alcohol sounded more like a cop-out than an answer. You do not become a snob from drinking wine & one can drink in moderation, not lose control of themselves or get into fights. Can these things happen, yes, but I think he gives people very little credit. The fact that he starts by calling the gentleman "cheeky" for asking shows me that he was not going to give a serious answer.