Perception and reality

"#Must_have_faith_in_kamma, #must_rely_on_wisdom. Wisdom means knowing the aggregates, sense bases, elements, truths, and dependent origination. 'Patience is the highest austerity.'

Let's examine through conventional truth and consciousness-seeing: When someone speaks harmful words to us, don't we exist as recipients? Look at the body - does the flesh diminish? If not, is there need for anger? Can it hurt like a needle? Is there need for anger? #This_is_conventional_truth.

From ultimate truth and wisdom-seeing perspective, examining the Three Baskets, don't we find five aggregates? #In_the_five_aggregates_isn't_form_included? Form of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects, along with heart-base and mind-objects.

Didn't the Buddha teach that this material form is like a bubble in a stream? If we see, hear, and know it as a bubble, do we still find anything to love or hate? #Free_from_love_and_hate.

In that freedom, does this bubble have any essence? When struck, doesn't it #burst_and_become_water? It came from water, returns to water. Consider this.

Understand this water metaphor: Take a newborn, five days old, who dies. Leave it through Tagu-Kason (April-May). After three-four days, doesn't it all turn to liquid? Nothing remains.

Does anything of that child remain? All becomes liquid. #Isn't_it_taught_starting_from_kalala_fluid? Think about it. Examining like this, will there still be attachment to permanence? No.

"Therefore, for vipassana wisdom and path wisdom, #one_must_know_each_form_and_mind_to_reach_voidness. Search in form - do you find beings? Search in mind - do you find beings? What's found: #beings_or_mind_and_matter?

Perception covers what's seen. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception? We see color-form, but perception says 'princess,' 'prince.' Then doesn't 'karmic connection' arise? Doesn't 'pleasant sound' arise? Consider this.

When seeing 'karmic connection,' does it occur in form-aggregate or in the concept of prince/princess? #We_see_through_the_concept_of_prince/princess, through the concept of beings, through the concept of male/female. That's why we find 'karmic connection.'

When hearing a sound, doesn't aversion arise? Does this aversion occur in sound-aggregate or in the concept of being? #It_occurs_in_the_concept_of_being. Perception covers what's heard. Isn't it taught that doubt is cleared by investigating perception?

We hear sound, but perception says 'being,' perception says 'insult.' We get angry because we hear 'insult.' #If_we_hear_'sound'_would_we_get_angry? Consider this. Isn't it taught that perception covers what's heard, and doubt is cleared by investigating perception?

Isn't it taught 'mindfulness when seeing, mindfulness when hearing'? With mindfulness in front, #is_it_person_or_sound? Beings or sound? Princess/prince or sound? Male/female or sound? #Just_sound.

Don't we find ear-consciousness as mind-phenomenon? Sound as material phenomenon? Two things: mind and matter. Beings or mind-matter? Persons or mind-matter? Princess/prince or mind-matter? #With_mind-matter_isn't_it_right_attention?

Consider what the Mogok Sayadaw taught: 'Ear receives Dhamma, wisdom turns to aggregates.' So #mind-matter_is_aggregates. Consider this.

Sound is form-aggregate, knowing consciousness is ear-consciousness - consciousness-aggregate. Turning to aggregates like this, do you still find beings? Princess/prince? Persons? #What's_found_is_mind_and_matter.

Finding mind-matter, do you find princess/prince? Beings? Why not? (Because they don't exist, Lord). If they don't exist, do you still find pleasantness in their sound? Do you still find harshness? Consider this carefully..."

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.

Buddhist Psychology 1.2.1

The Buddhist Psychology 1.1.1

Cittānupassanā (For Beginners)

No-Self ,nonpermanent ,the five aggregates and identity-view

"When examining the six sense doors and aggregates, do you find various humans, devas, brahmas, animals, and hungry ghosts, or do you find the five aggregates? Is it because beings aren't found that they don't exist? (Yes, Lord)

#If_they_don't_exist_why_cling_to_humans_devas_brahmas? What we find isn't beings but the five aggregates. Isn't it worth examining how these five aggregates exist?

What's the nature of the form aggregate? (The nature of change and destruction, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find form or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?

What's the nature of the feeling aggregate? (The nature of experiencing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find feeling or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?

What's the nature of the perception aggregate? (The nature of recognition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find perception or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?

What's the nature of the formations aggregate? (The nature of volition, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find formations or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?

What's the nature of the consciousness aggregate? (The nature of knowing, arising and passing, Lord). Do you find consciousness or its non-existence? If it doesn't exist, how can you cling to it?

Since beings never existed from the start, is there anything to cling to? The aggregates that seem to exist - don't they arise and pass away? Can they be clung to? Like this, #doesn't_identity_view_fall_away?

This requires faith. #With_faith_and_practice_breakthrough_comes_quickly. Consider this.

Distinguish between what appears and what's found. What appears is beings, what's found is five aggregates. What appears is beings, what's found is mind, mental factors, and matter. What appears is beings, what's found is mind and matter.

With this faith, practicing diligently, isn't it taught you can attain in the morning what you practice in the evening, or attain in the evening what you practice in the morning? Within seven days perhaps. This is essential. #This_needs_repeated_repeated_study..."

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.

The Taxila Copperplate: A Priceless Record of Kushan-Era Buddhism

Discovery & Significance

In 1904 (2447 BE), Sir John Marshall unearthed a copperplate inscription at Taxila, Pakistan—one of the most important Buddhist epigraphic finds. Dating to 78 CE (Year 78 of the "Maharaja Moga" era), it reveals:

1. Royal Patronage:

   • King Patika, son of the Kshatrapa Liaka Kusulaka, enshrined Buddha’s relics and built a monastery (sangharama) in Taxila.

   • Mentions Rohinimitra, the architect-supervisor—a rare nod to ancient engineers.

2. Doctrinal Clarity:

   • Explicitly names the Buddha as "Śākyamuni", countering claims that Gandharan Buddhism was "non-historical."

3. Geographical Proof:

   • Confirms Taxila’s ancient name (Takshashila) and its status as a Buddhist hub.

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Key Inscription Details

• Script: Kharoṣṭhī (used in NW India from 3rd c. BCE–3rd c. CE).

• Language: Hybrid Sanskrit-Prakrit, typical of Kushan administrative texts.

• Current Location: British Museum, London (Room 33).

Translation Highlights:

"In the 78th year of Maharaja Moga, on the 5th day of Panemos, Patika—son of Liaka Kusulaka, satrap of Taxila—established relics of the Bhagavān Śākyamuni and a monastery. [...] For the worship of all Buddhas, his parents, and the welfare of his family."

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Why This Matters

1. Kushan Chronology: The "Year 78" likely marks the start of the Kanishka era (still debated).

2. Relic Cult: Shows lay-devotee kings funding stupas—a practice Ashoka pioneered.

3. Global Legacy: Taxila’s multiculturalism (Greek, Persian, Indian) birthed Greco-Buddhist art.

Did You Know? The Kshatrapas were Saka rulers—proof of Buddhism’s appeal across ethnic lines!

(Source: Marshall’s Taxila: An Illustrated Account, 1951)

The Amitābha Buddha of Mathura: A Rare Pre-Mahāyāna Icon

Discovery of an Anomaly

On 14 August 1977 (2520 BE), Indian archaeologists unearthed a red sandstone Buddha statue base at Govindnagar, Mathura, inscribed in hybrid Sanskrit-Prakrit (Brahmi script). Dated to 104 CE (647 BE), it records:

"In the 26th year of Mahārāja Huvishka, on the 26th day of the 2nd month of spring, the merchant Nāgarakṣita—son of Buddhapila and grandson of Balakatta—installed this image of Bhagavān Buddha Amitābha for the worship of all Buddhas. By this merit, may all beings attain supreme enlightenment."

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Why This Shakes Buddhist History

1. Pre-Mahāyāna Amitābha:

   • Proves Amitābha devotion existed in India 1,800 years ago—centuries before Pure Land Buddhism flourished in China.

   • Challenges the assumption that Amitābha was "invented" in Central Asia or China.

2. Kushan-Era Pluralism:

   • Under King Huvishka (r. 150–180 CE), Mathura’s workshops produced images of Amitābha, Maitreya, and Śākyamuni—showing early Mahāyāna’s roots in mainstream Buddhism.

3. Merchant Patronage:

   • The donor Nāgarakṣita ("City-Protected") reflects lay-driven cults, akin to later Silk Road Pure Land communities.

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The Forgotten Trail

• Xuanzang’s Silence: The 7th-century pilgrim noted Amitābha’s absence in India—yet this inscription predates him by 500 years.

• Mathura’s Hidden Legacy: The statue itself is lost, but its base (now in Mathura Museum) hints at a vanished Amitābha cult absorbed into later Mahāyāna.

Did You Know? The date aligns with Kanishka’s era (78 CE start), suggesting Amitābha worship began under the Kushans!

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Amitābha vs. Amitābh Bachchan

While Bollywood’s Amitābh Bachchan eclipsed the Buddha in modern India, this artifact whispers: "The ‘Buddha of Infinite Light’ was here first."

Where to See It: Mathura Museum’s Kushan Gallery—where a broken stone speaks louder than scriptures.

(Source: Epigraphia Indica, Vol. 39, 1971–72)

In_the_sound_itself_isn't_it_free_from_good_and_bad...

"Look at the Dependent Origination taught by the Buddha - from ignorance to aging-death. Reaching aging-sickness-death is #due_to_ignorance. It's unwise attention.

Wrongly perceiving mind-matter as beings, seeing them as princes and princesses, as humans, devas, or brahmas - isn't this unwise attention?

For one who sees mind-matter as it is, isn't this taught as right attention? #Isn't_this_wisdom? Think about it.

When seeing mind-matter, do you still find beings? Do you still find insults? If not found, can anger arise? When turning to the aggregates, aren't you increasingly freed? #This_is_temporary_cessation.

Material form, like sound, doesn't it cease after being heard? Doesn't the knowing mind also cease? Do you find mind-matter or impermanence? Isn't this taught as 'characteristic of impermanence, truth of suffering'?

Therefore, #non-existence_is_impermanence_knowing_is_path. Likes and dislikes arise from wrong attention.

With ignorance conditioning wrong attention, doesn't it end in aging-death? But with right attention: 'With the complete fading away of ignorance, formations cease.'

When ignorance ceases, do formations come? Past formations, present kamma - think about it. When ignorance ceases, do craving and clinging still come? Don't the defilements cycle cease? When defilements cease, doesn't the kamma cycle cease?

Will there be future aggregates? #Isn't_this_non-birth? Without aggregates, isn't there peace? Without defilements, isn't there coolness? #There_is_only_the_nature_of_peace_and_coolness.

We need precise understanding in seeing and hearing. Hearing 'insult' is wrong attention. Hearing 'sound' is right attention.

Take a couple who married due to past connections. After several years and children, they face difficulties and fight. They separate. After some months, others help reconcile them. They ask: 'How many times have you separated?' 'Four times, but now we're stable.'

'When eating, don't you accidentally bite your tongue? Why did you bite it?' 'It was accidental.' 'This too was accidental, be patient.'

With understanding from both sides, don't they reunite? If there was real hatred, could they unite? If there was real love, would they fight?

Search the woman - no inherent lovability. Search the man - no inherent lovability. #It's_wrong_attention_of_our_mind. Consider - free from love and hate.

This is #its_natural_characteristic. Sound too is natural, free from good and bad. Finding a sound harsh or pleasant happens in one's mind. #In_the_sound_itself_isn't_it_free_from_good_and_bad..."

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.

The analogy of taste experiences

"Try eating hot chili. When you eat it, do you find the chili or the spiciness? You find the spiciness. When someone who can't handle spicy food accidentally eats it, don't they spit it out? They spit it out because it's unpleasant.

But for someone who loves spicy food, if they can't have chili, they feel unsatisfied. When they get to eat it, aren't they delighted? #One_person's_experience_differs_from_another's.

Yet if a hundred different people taste the spiciness, isn't the spicy nature the same? That's #the_nature_of_spiciness. Does this spiciness discriminate between making you feel good or bad? It's free from both good and bad - it's just its nature.

Consider bitter herbs. Someone who dislikes bitterness spits it out when accidentally tasting it. But someone who likes bitter herbs finds it delightful. Are these two experiences the same? #The_bitter_taste_shows_no_favoritism though the bitterness is identical for both.

This is #happening_in_their_minds. #Observe_that_mind carefully. Isn't it taught that mastering the mind brings happiness? This is crucial.

#Examine_all_six_sense_doors this way. With sweet tastes, some find it pleasant, others don't. With bitter tastes, some enjoy it, others don't. Study this.

Looking at natural phenomena: When seeing, there's just visible form. Does the form itself contain like or dislike? In sounds? In smells? In tastes? In touches? This is #wisdom_of_natural_phenomena.

When examining these arising phenomena, don't they all cease? Can you find anything in what has ceased? #Both_the_equanimous_mind_and_the_judging_mind_are_impermanent.

Whether rich or poor, middle class - don't all die? Is death good or bad? The wealthy can't escape aging, sickness, death. What truth is this? (Suffering truth, Lord).

Whatever arises - good or bad - #isn't_it_taught_all_formations_are_impermanent? Everything ends in impermanence - wealth, poverty, middle status.

For one who understands the Four Noble Truths through the three characteristics (impermanence, suffering, non-self), isn't this the path, fruition, and Nibbana? #Only_this_wisdom_leads_to_the_summit. Isn't this worth studying?"

"When you hear Dhamma and it fades, search within yourself - isn't it taught that you'll find Dhamma there? When_you_know_its_true_nature_truth_emerges. Following likes and dislikes won't lead to truth.

Just as spiciness shows no favoritism, neither do forms. Study all six sense doors this way. Isn't it taught as arising and passing away?

Everything is taught as 'sabbe sankhara anicca' - all formations are impermanent. Whatever arises, you need to know it as "impermanence." #Can_you_know_impermanence_without_knowledge_of_characteristics? You need direct knowledge to distinguish concepts from ultimate realities, breaking wrong view first through understanding, then through development.

When you turn to the aggregates, don't they change and perish? If perishable, permanent or impermanent? Is impermanence pleasant or suffering? Is this suffering under anyone's control? Does it follow beings' wishes? Isn't it taught as non-self?

When you see impermanence, do you find mind-matter? When you see suffering, do you find mind-matter? When you see non-self, do you find mind-matter? Don't you need to distinguish between characteristics and mind-matter? This_is_full_understanding_by_investigation.

When impermanence, suffering, and non-self combine, isn't it taught as arising-passing? What truth is this? (Suffering truth, Lord). Don't you need to know this truly? When truth is known, doesn't falsehood vanish? This_is_knowledge_of_things_as_they_really_are.

With continued practice, seeing only arising-passing, knowledge matures. Doesn't the mind want liberation from aggregates? #This_is_knowledge_of_disenchantment.

Searching the whole body, can you find even a needle-point of happiness? If not found, isn't it determined as complete suffering?

At this point, don't the three moral factors of the path enter - right speech, action, livelihood? Combined with five insight knowledges, aren't there eight? At this time, are aggregates still found? Arising-passing still found? Isn't_this_taught_as_supramundane?

Stream-entry path and fruition - isn't it worth examining what's eliminated? Wrong view and doubt are eliminated as latent defilements. When these are gone, do mental actions still come? Physical and verbal actions? If not, aren't actions leading to lower realms finished? #This_is_full_understanding_as_abandoning.

For one who gains these three understandings (direct knowledge, investigation, abandoning), countless past unwholesome actions from beginningless samsara - don't they all turn to ashes? Can they still give results? Don't_they_all_become_ineffective_kamma?

This is what we must strive to achieve."

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.

Turning knowledge to the aggregates

"Consider the Mogok Sayadaw's teaching: 'Ears hear the Dhamma, wisdom turns to the aggregates.' When greed, anger, and delusion arise, #are_we_turning_to_the_aggregates_or_not?

People see beings and bodies, thus greed, anger, and delusion arise. #Would_these_arise_if_we_saw_aggregates? Isn't it taught 'Ears hear Dhamma, wisdom turns to aggregates'? #Faith_is_needed.

Isn't it taught that five factors lead to path-knowledge:
1. Faith
2. Health
3. Straightforwardness
4. Strong effort
5. Insight into arising and passing of mind-matter?

In Ñātapariññā, isn't it taught to observe arising-passing of five aggregates when sense objects meet sense doors? How clear this is! Whether sitting, walking, standing, or lying down - all for knowing aggregates. #When_aggregates_are_known_in_six_sense_doors_identity_view_breaks.

The five aggregates as objects of observation - don't they cease after being seen? Permanent or impermanent? When impermanence characteristic and suffering truth are truly known, doesn't wrong view cease? Does craving come? Clinging? Kamma? Don't the three types of Dependent Origination break?

When impermanence characteristic and suffering truth are known:
- Sensual and becoming taints cease
- When aggregates are known, wrong view and ignorance taints cease
- Don't all four taints end?
- When they end, doesn't origin of suffering die?
- Doesn't the cycle of aggregates end?
- #This_is_cessation_truth

We must strive to reach this state..."

This teaching emphasizes the importance of directly knowing the five aggregates to break free from the cycle of suffering.

Sadhu! Together let us keep the Dharma wheel rolling.