73 corpses, 600 crocodiles discovered in Thai temple linked to meditation practice | GRAVITAS | WION
(WION) Dec. 3, 2024: GRAVITAS. In a shocking discovery, Thai police uncovered 73 [donated] corpses at a Buddhist temple in Phichit Province, allegedly used for a controversial "[mindfulness of] death meditation" practice.
The Theravada Buddhist temple, which also houses [cares for] over 600 crocodiles [in a fenced off pond], has sparked national outrage [international curiosity] as authorities investigate the bizarre rituals [monastic practices].
Watch the full story to learn more about this chilling [and blood curdling and utterly inexplicable] revelation [that is a lot like Hindu occultAghori Shiva-the-Destroyer-worshipping cannibalsadhuactivity in India made infamous by investigative journalist and controversial Christian scholar (Zealot) Dr. Reza Aslan, Ph.D. and a 2015 episode of his show Believer, which was accused of "religion porn" and anti-Hinduism].
#thai #temple #worldnews
Reza Aslan eats with Hindu cannibals
Buddhist reflections on death
Is there anything sexier than this bag of bones?
Paṭikkūlamanasikāra [1] is a Pāli (Buddhist language) term generally translated as "reflections on repulsiveness or the foul." It refers to a traditional Buddhist meditation whereby 31 parts of the body are contemplated (beginning from the inside) in a variety of ways. In addition to developing mindfulness (sati) and stillness (samādhi), this form of meditation helps the monastic practitioner overcome lust and sensual craving. Along with cemetery contemplations such as the contemplation of the nine stages of decay, this type of reflection or systematic contemplation is one of the two meditations on the naturally "foul" or "unattractive" (asubha) aspects of the body we love, cling to, consider beautiful, and lust after. More
ABOUT:
WION (the World Is One News) examines global issues with in-depth analysis. It provides much more than the news of the day. Its aim is to empower people to explore their world. With a global headquarters in New Delhi, it brings news on the hour, by the hour. It delivers information that is [never sensational or distorted and] not biased. It is journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to world politics. People are tired of biased reportage [like "bodies found in temple for strange ritual"] and it stands for a globalized united world. So for it, the World is truly One.
Why is Brian the [horn-] dog hitting on his best friend Peter's wife Lois? But she sees what he's up to.
What nerve Brian has! Poor Lois is accosted while convalescing in her own bedroom. What if he were to see what he's been after as it really is, foul (asubha) and repugnant?
Reflections on repulsiveness
Help! I feel imprisoned by lust, always craving what I don't have but can't stop thinking about.
.
Venerable, what is the cure for obsessive lust?
Paṭikkūla-manasikāra [1] is a Buddhist Pāli language term that is generally translated as "reflections on repulsiveness."
It refers to a traditional Buddhist meditation. In it, 31 parts of the body are contemplated in a variety of ways. In addition to developing mindfulness (sati) and stillness (samādhi), this form of meditation is considered conducive to overcoming lust and craving.
Along with cemetery contemplations such as the contemplation of the nine stages of decay, this type of meditation is one of the two meditations on "the foul" or "unattractive" (asubha) [2].
Translation
Did you see it, Bri? - Stewie, I smelled it!
Paṭikkūla literally means "against" (paṭi) "the slope" or "embankment" (kūla) and has been translated adjectivally as "averse, objectionable, contrary, disagreeable" and, in its nounal form, as "loathsomeness, impurity" [3].
Manasikāra, derived from manasi (locative of mana thus, loosely, "in mind" or "in thought") and karoti ("to make" or "to bring into") and has been translated as "attention" or "pondering" or "fixed thought" [4].
What are you looking at? Why are you staring?
In contemporary translations, the compound term paṭikkūla-manasikāra is generally translated as "reflections on repulsiveness" or, adding contextual clarity at the expense of literal accuracy, "reflections on repulsiveness of the body" [5].
Alternate translations include "attention directed to repulsiveness" [6] and "realization of the impurity of the body" [7].
For Emmy consideration, Family Guy tries to get fancy to woo Hollywood and get an award already.
Try not to laugh clips
Is it a laughing matter? Vulgar cartoon obscenity once canceled in America
Benefits of this strange practice
I remember how warm and sexy she was. Grrr!
This type of meditation is traditionally mentioned as an "antidote" to sensual lust, passion, and obsession [8].
This is also one of the "four protective meditations" along with anussati ("recollection") of the Buddha, mettā (universal loving-kindness, benevolence, agape) practice, and the recollection or mindfulness of death [9].
I love my owner's wife
In individual sutras, this type of contemplation is identified as a contributor to a variety of mundane and transcendental goals. For instance, in the Girimananda Sutta (AN 10.60), Ananda's recitation of this and other contemplations immediately cures an ailing monk [10].
In the Sampasadaniya Sutta (DN 28), Ven. Sariputta declares that meditating on these 31 body parts leads to "the attainment of vision, in four ways" and briefly outlines how this method can be used as a springboard by which one "comes to know the unbroken stream of human consciousness that is neither established in this world nor in the next" [11].
With a debased mind/heart, where will someone be reborn? What future is to come?
.
In addition, in the Iddhipāda Samyutta's Vibhanga Sutta (SN 51.20), this meditation subject is used to develop the four Bases of Power (iddhipādas) by which one is able to achieve liberation from all suffering [12].
While the Pali canon invariably includes this form of contemplation in its various lists of mindfulness meditation techniques [13], the compendious 5th-century Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) identifies this type of contemplation (along with mindfulness of in-and-out-breathing or anapanasati) as one of the few body-directed meditations particularly suited to the development of samādhi (Vism. VIII, 43) [14]. More
AI (simulated Family Guy LIVE action movie trailer); Seth MacFarlane, Family Guy (cartoon); Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
Michael Cohen was Trump's lawyer and right-hand man, his fixer paying off women to keep quiet. He was so close to Trump that he could smell him. That is, Cohen could not avoid smelling the foul odors. According to Joel Casler, a TV producer who knows him and his family very well, Trump is incontinent (unable to hold his feces) and reeks of soiled trousers, wet leg, soggy socks, bad denture breath, constant flatulence, and soiled underwear. For Cohen to independently dub Trump "VonShitzinPantz" is confirmation of the noises Trump is making in court, farting so loudly that he sometimes accidentally wakes himself up.
Jimmy just doesn't like Donny. - No, what about Davey on DT's glitches?
Jimmy Kimmel makes it into Trump trial, Donald falsely claims he "can't even testify" because of the gag order, crazy abortion law repealed
What are the most attractive US accents?
(Jimmy Kimmel Live) May 2, 2024: Kimmel is officially part of the record of the People vs. Donald Trump, prosecutors entered into evidence a series of text messages between Trump lawyers and Stormy the Porn Star Daniels about the JKL show, Trump has been encouraging MAGAots to come support him in front of the courthouse but was greeted by a single fan (a nut), he is very upset about reports that say he’s been falling asleep during the trial (though he can't deny being awakened by his own farts and/or incontinence into his adult diapers), the courtroom sketch artist appears to hate him, today he tried to float the idea that because of the gag order he’s not allowed to testify on his own behalf (the same way he claimed the judge was keeping him from Barron's graduation when he never attended any of his children's big day and is free to go to this one with a day off from court), he played rally shows in Wisconsin and Michigan yesterday where he fired up the crowd telling them everything’s a disaster and America is dead, there's a new water pressure edition of Drunk Donald Trump, the state Senate in Arizona finally voted to repeal their antiquated abortion law from 1864, South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi "the Dog and Horse Killer" Noem went on Hannity last night to try to do damage control after she revealed she once gladly shot her puppy out of hate (but only made things worse for herself), and the best feature of the show This Week in Unnecessary Censorship, which is right up there with celebrities read mean tweets about themselves. #Kimmel
Flame-throwing, fart-machine Trump embarrassed he dozes during trial, Republican Klan Mom Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Mike Johnson
Mr. Trump is not allowed near open flames.
(Jimmy Kimmel Live) May 1, 2024: Today is the first day of May and once again our nation’s news media can’t believe it, according to a new study of American accents the most attractive one is the Southern accent (followed by NY and CA), Marjorie Taylor Greene is furious because her plan to oust Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House has been foiled, Ted Cruz is co-sponsor of a bill that would make it harder for consumers to get a refund from airlines in the event of delay or cancellation, Naptain America got his day started by asking where Sleepy Joe is, Trump touched down in Waukesha this afternoon in his first big rally since being fined for contempt of court, the Toot Fairy is going to try healthy "vay-gun" (vegan) food for once instead of his all ultra-processed fast food and slaughtered flesh diet, Wisconsin also got a visit from the Pillow Fairy Mike Lindell, JKL reveals its new product, The MAGA Blaster (fart machine) is revealed on Hollywood Blvd. after court records reveal that Trump's personal lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen used to refer to Trump in written records as "VonShitzInPantz," and pothead stoners (Heshers) try to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. #Kimmel
Che & Jost (SNL, 5/4/24); Jimmy Kimmel Live (from Hollywood, California, on ABC), May 1-2, 2024; Pfc. Sandoval, Seth Auberon, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
What was that, Mr. Trump? - He who smelt it dealt it, Judge, so you should know, you SOB.
Trump FARTS in open court and stews over Jimmy K, Guillermo grinds with Madonna
Adderall makes me incontinent
(Jimmy Kimmel Live) April 22, 2024: Opening arguments began this morning in the People of the State of New York vs. Donald Jessica Trump, he posted little bursts of lunacy on Truth Social in protest, his lawyers made it clear that they are going to continue to try to deny that Trump had sex with porn star Stormy Daniels (and paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about the sex they didn't have), Trump is rumored by many to be farting in the courtroom.
[According to family friend and longtime TV co-worker Noel Casler, Trump defecates (makes feces) in his pants and adult diapers. Listen to Casler's in-depth knowledge of Trump's explosive and foul smelling bowels:]
But there’s no way to prove it, so please don’t repost this video out of context with dumb captions like “The Shart of the Deal” or “Gassolini,” Farting Donny has reportedly been stewing in private over everything from the ugly look of sketches of him in court to Jimmy making fun of him every night on ABC TV, New York Times reporter Susanne Craig wrote that Trump is STILL having trouble staying awake during the trial and nods off constantly.
I smell bad, wear a girdle, am bald and diseased
(The world will hear testimony from Trump's old friend David Pecker tomorrow), Taylor Swift’s album dropped over the Earth Day weekend and Jimmy was confused about a bumper sticker he saw, and Guillermo traveled to Mexico City over the weekend as a special guest of the singer Madonna who pulled him up on stage at her concert for gay sexual activity.
Subscribe to get the latest #Kimmel: http://bit.ly/JKLSubscribe
Visit the Jimmy Kimmel Live website: http://bit.ly/JKLWebsite
Like Jimmy Kimmel on Facebook: http://bit.ly/KimmelFB
Like Jimmy Kimmel Live on Facebook: http://bit.ly/JKLFacebook
Follow @JimmyKimmel on Twitter: http://bit.ly/KimmelTW
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on Twitter: http://bit.ly/JKLTwitter
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on Instagram: http://bit.ly/JKLInstagram. #Kimmel
Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven, Sayalay Aloka (eds.), Asubha Sutra: Unattractiveness (AN 4.163, PTS: A ii 151) based on a very idiosyncratic translation by Ven. Thanissaro, Wisdom Quarterly
"Meditators, there are four types of meditation practice. What are these four?
painful practice with slow progress,
painful practice with quick progress,
pleasant practice with slow progress,
pleasant practice with quick progress.
Surgery will do what karma didn't.
1. "What is the first? A meditator takes up and maintains attention on the unattractiveness of the body, aware of the foulness of food, not delighting in anything in the world, focused on noticing that all formations (fabrications, compounded things) are impermanent (falling apart, hurtling toward destruction, altering from moment to moment). The perception of death becomes well established in such a person.
"appear weakly. Because of their weakness, one attains only slowly the realization [Note 1] that culminates in the end of the defilements. This is called painful practice with slow realization.
I got old so fast and now I'm trans.
2. "What is the second? One remains focused on unattractiveness (foulness) with regard to the body, aware of the loathsome aspects of food, aware of non-delight regarding the whole world, (and) focused on impermanence regarding all formations. The perception of death becomes well established. And one dwells dependent on these Five Powers (strengths) of a learner.
"And these Five Faculties appear intensely. Because of their intensity, one attains quickly the realization that leads to the ending of the defilements. This is called painful practice with fast realization.
3. "What is the third? One — quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful states — enters and abides in the first meditative absorption (jhana) -- accompanied by rapture and pleasure born of seclusion and applied and sustained attention.
"With the stilling of applied and sustained attention, one enters and abides in the second absorption -- accompanied by rapture and pleasure born of concentration, unification of mind (samadhi), free from applied and sustained attention — with internal assurance.
It's hard to mask beauty, which shines through.
"With the fading of rapture [replaced by something superior and more subtle], one remains equanimous, mindful, and alert, sensing pleasure with the body. One enters and abides in the third absorption of which the noble ones say, 'Equanimous and mindful, one enjoys a pleasant abiding.'
"With the overcoming of pleasure and pain — as with the earlier fading of joy and distress [gladness and sadness] — one enters and abides in the fourth absorption -- accompanied by equanimity and mindfulness, having overcome pleasure and pain. One dwells depending on these Five Powers of a learner.
"But these Five Faculties appear weakly. Because of their weakness, one attains only slowly the immediacy that leads to the ending of the defilements. This is called pleasant practice with slow realization [2].
When I turn inwards, bring attention to the internal experience of thing, it all becomes clear.
.
4. "What is the fourth? One remains quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful states — and one enters and abides in the first absorption -- which is accompanied by rapture and pleasure born of seclusion, accompanied by applied and sustained attention.
"With the stilling of applied and sustained attention, one enters and abides in the second absorption -- which is accompanied by rapture and pleasure born of concentration, unification of mind free from applied and sustained attention — with internal assurance.
Equanimity (impartiality) is sublime.
"With the fading of rapture, one remains equanimous, mindful, and alert, and senses pleasure with the body. One enters and abides in the third absorption, of which the noble ones say, 'Equanimous and mindful, one has a pleasant abiding.'
"With the overcoming of pleasure and pain — as with the earlier fading of elation and dejection — one enters and abides in the fourth absorption, which is accompanied by purity of equanimity and mindfulness, which is [beyond and] neither pleasant nor painful.
"One dwells dependent on these Five Powers of a learner. And these Five Faculties appear intensely. Because of their intensity, one attains quickly the concentration that culminates in the end of the defilements. This is called pleasant practice with fast realization.
"These are the four types of practice."
NOTES 1: According to the Commentary, this means the "immediacy" or concentration forming the Path. This is an apparent reference to a passage in Sn 2.1: "What the excellent Enlightened One extolled as pure and called the concentration of unmediated [immediate] knowing, no equal to that concentration is to be found. This, too, is a excellent treasure in the Dharma. By this truth may there be well-being."
2: Because the description of pleasant practice here contains the standard meditative absorption (jhana) formula, while the description of painful practice contains no mention of absorption, some writers have taken this as evidence that there is an alternative path to enlightenment that does not involve the jhanas. However, this reading ignores the description of how painful practice and pleasant practice can yield either slow or fast realization. Insight comes slowly when the Five Faculties are present in a weak form and quickly when they are present in an intense form. But in both cases the faculty of concentration — which is defined by the standard formula of the absorptions (SN 48.10) — has to be present for the ending of the defilements. Because this is true both for painful and pleasant practice, both sorts of practice need absorption (jhana) in order to succeed.
Summertime and the living's not that hard. Rachel's on the telephone with Ross's card. All people in trance will agree, we're two apartments locked down like a girl's penitentiary.
Summertime, unofficially, it's Memorial Day weekend when we remember the dead in memory. Not the Vets; they've got their own day. But the Dead, like the ones from the 60s.
Sexy as a dead, sunburned bird
It was the summer of '69, and Lana wasn't even a glint in her father's eye. We had the plague, like the last one. No one was flirting, no one was hitting the springs. He was afraid of her, and she was afraid of him. And I thought, "What a great time forasubhameditation!"
Bodies are gross, but only when we look very closely and mindfully (attentively but dispassionately, watching while letting go). Otherwise, we get sucked into the illusion of beauty, attractiveness, longevity, and matter's ability to fulfill or satisfy. Things, like bodies, disappoint. That is the first sign of wisdom in the Four Ennobling Truths.
Mindfulness means awareness of all one is doing or experiencing in the present.
Enlightened advice
"We practice to learn letting go." - Ajahn Chah
There is a funny story told about the enlightened Thai Buddhist Meditation Master Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org). It seems there was once a young Western monk who was stressed and dissatisfied with the monastic life. He had left a very beautiful girlfriend back home, and he missed her. His erotic thoughts about her pestered him and often ruined his meditation.
Hi, Jason! Want to come to the museum with us?
Such intrusive thoughts left him agitated, dejected, confused, and filled with great sensual longing and misgivings about having abandoned the worldly life to live the left-home life in the beautiful and peaceful Thai forest.
One day while standing with another monk on the road in Isan, a car pulled up. It was Ajahn Chah's driver, and the great master was in the front seat. He motioned them, asking if they would like a ride back to Wat Pah Nanachat, the international Buddhist meditation center. They were about to jump in. But the young Western monk did not feel worthy. He hesitated. His friend convinced him that it was all right.
Wat Pah Nanachat ("International Forest Monastery") for Westerners, Northeast Thailand
.
Ask the meditation master. He knows everything.
In the car Ajahn Chah sensed something was not right with the white monk, only a year into his training. He asked if it was by any chance a girl? The young monk was shocked that the great master might understand such things as tug at a young man's fancy and cleave painfully to his heart.
Ajahn Chah asked if it was possible for the young monk to perhaps contact the girl. It was, but what was the use? Ajahn Chah suggested that it might help his meditation greatly if he requested her to send him something, a reminder of herself and all that he left behind.
The young monk's eyes widened. He was very interested and in awe of Ajahn Chah's liberal mindedness. But what would I do with the token she sent me? Monks aren't allowed to have anything but the five requisites and maybe some books.
Well, Ajahn Chah suggested, you could put it in a bottle with a cork, maybe wear it around your neck? And then that way every time you felt great longing for her, at night when you really missed her and what you had had with her, you could uncork it and take a little whiff.
The monk was ecstatic at the possibility and honored at the special exemption he was being offered by their great master. He said, you mean like a lock of her hair or a perfumed love letter or used stockings? No, Ajahn Chah, explained:
Sure, I can send you something.
I was thinking you ask her for some of her _ _ _ _ and keep that in the bottle. That way every time you miss her, you take the slightest whiff, and I don't think you'll miss her much anymore. You'll be filled with revulsion. And it should do wonders for your meditation and letting go.
The young monk pursed his lips and smiled. He should have known better than to think he could get away with some alluring reminder of the cramped home-bound life he left behind. His meditation improved dramatically just calling to mind the great master's advice, and there was not even any need to contact his ex.
My ex? He wants something? I'll send that S.O.B. a reminder of me he'll never forget!
Yuck. Time to check out. This is no time to be mindful. Where's my cell phone?
Sati-sampajanna is "mindfulness and clear comprehension" or uncluttered awareness as one goes about one's business in life. If one is sitting and wishes to get up to go over there, one does so mindfully and clearly aware of what one is doing.
This applies, not surprisingly, to ALL that one is doing. And if one eats mindfully, one should also excrete mindfully. Even without eating, excreting will happen. It's the red blood cells sloughing off, and there's water to evacuate, too. This may sound repulsive.
Is it not better to pop in an air freshener, wear headphones, take one's mobile phone in while trying not to drop it in the toilet? Surely it's better to just refrain from flushing until the call is over, anything to stay distracted when answering the calls of nature?
My favorite chair, The Stone Throne
Mindfulness can lead to insight more readily when giving mindful (nonreactive observation) attention to an unattractive (asubha, loathsome, foul) thing rather than a pleasant one. One is pulled in by the pleasant and pulled out by the unpleasant.
What would more readily lead to insight about the true nature of this human body, staring at an alluring beauty or a bloated corpse that's oozing? Exactly! And we love ourselves and see ourselves in this body, of this body, as possessed of a body, owners of a body -- and such conceit is hard to break.
But if we pay attention in the restroom, all will be well: We will be able to let go of pride, egoism, conceit, lust, clinging, and coveting not only for ourselves but for other distractions that walk around in tight yoga pants.
We will finally be able to overcome the allures Cupid and Mother Nature built into the system to keep us bound up in the Sensual Sphere (kama-loka) and the unending Cycle of Wandering (samsara). See Part #2.
All materials on this site are submitted by editors and readers. All images, unless otherwise noted, were taken from the Internet and are assumed to be in the public domain.
In the event that there is still a problem, issue, or error with copyrighted material, the break of the copyright is unintentional and noncommercial, and the material will be removed immediately upon presented proof.
Contact us by submitting a comment marked "private."
Do not follow this journal if you are under vinaya or parental restrictions. Secure protection by Sucuri.
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at creativecommons.org/about/licenses.
