The Digh Nikaya 5
“Sotapañña: Marks of Stream-Entry for Enlightenment” by Steve Lin
“And when he (The Buddha) knew that Kūṭadanta’s mind was…
… ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, joyful, and confident he explained the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Kūṭadanta: “Everything that has a beginning has an end.”
Then Kūṭadanta …
…saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions.”
Please read and listen to the full Sutta for our series study.
https://suttacentral.net/dn5/en/sujato
THREE INSIGHTS FROM SUTTA SECTION
THREE INSIGHTS FROM SUTTA SECTION
To become a sotāpanna (stream-entry), the mind must be mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, joyful, and confident
It is essential to understand and have confidence in the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.“Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Kūṭadanta: ‘Everything that has a beginning has an end.’”
The condition of the mind determines the stream-entry…“… saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions.”
THREE TIPS FROM SUTTA FOR MEDITATION
Regular contemplate the “Four Noble Truths” about Dukkha suffering, its origin of craving , its ability for cessation, and the noble path.
Train the mind to be “ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, joyful, and confident in the sutta teachings”.
Train the mind to let go of doubt, get rid of indecision, and become self-assured and independent of others.
PREPARATION FOR GUIDED MEDITATION
🧘🏽♂️ MEDITATION PLACE
Find a comfortable place that is quiet to sit and meditate with few interruptions and distractions to the senses.
RELAX
After sitting comfortably on a cushion or pillow or floor, place hands in lap and close the eyes.
TRIPLE GEM (1-2 min)
Prepare the mind and concentration by taking “Refuge in the Triple Gem”.
Visualize each one in the mind (as an object) and generate faith and warm feelings with each one. Don’t rush this.
I take refuge in The Buddha.
I take refuge in The Dhamma.
I take refuge in The Sangha.
SATIPATTHĀNA WARM UP (3-5 min)
“The Breath”
Begin to focus in the breathing without attaching or stressing about it. Just relax and observe the breath.
As you breath in… observe it and release.
As you breath out… observe it and release.
Observing the rhythm of the breath is essential to relax the body and to practice releasing.
Use the out breath to practice releasing.
Relaxed smiling is good to use to help relax.
I often will use the phrase “Peace” (in breath)
“Release” (our breath)
Continue observing breathing until it becomes very subtle or almost unnoticeable. SATIPATTHĀNA WARM UP (3-5 min)
“The Body”
As the breath fades, the mind relaxes, the body also begins to relax.
Observe the body as a (body) form. It’s not self, but only a shell (, that temporarily supports consciousness.
As observing, the body, let the breath and body fade.
SATIPATTHĀNA WARM UP (3-5 min)
“The Mind”
As the breath fades and the body relaxes, the mind tends to become active or stay busy.
As thoughts arise, don’t engage with them. Observe them and then let them fade.
They will rise and they will fall unless there is engagement to feed the thoughts.
SELF-GUIDED MEDITATION
Observe readiness and pliability of the mind and smile with this mind condition… giving thanks
Observe the doubt conditions of the mind… doubts in The Buddha, doubts In The Dhamma Sutta teachings, doubts in The Sangha
Let “insights arise” about these doubts
Observe the confidence and faith in The Buddha, doubts In The Dhamma Sutta teachings, doubts in The Sangha
Let “insights arise” about this confidence
Let go of doubt and embrace the confidence in the Triple Gem
Observe conditions of the mind that’s associated with Dukkha suffering
Observe conditions of the mind that’s associated with cravings leading to Dukkha suffering
Observe conditions of the mind leading to the ending of craving and Dukkha
Observe mind conditions that support daily practice of the Eightfold Path that ends Craving and Dukkha suffering.
Contemplate the marks of the Sotapanna Stream-entry“A person who has seen the Dhamma and consequently, has dropped the first three fetters (Pāli: samyojana, Sanskrit: saṃyojana) that
1. bind a being to rebirth, namely self-view (sakkāya-ditthi),
2. clinging to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāsa), and
3. skeptical indecision (Vicikitsa).”
Contemplate a mind that leans towards these three marks
Give thanks and smile
RESOURSE: “Into the Stream” by Thanissaro Bhikkhu https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/into_the_stream.pdf
Listen to the full sutta by Bhanta Candana
