Foreword: Knowing and Seeing, Ven. Pa-Auk

Tim Ong (YouTube); Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw PDF (scribd.com); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

(Tim Ong, 2020) Pa Auk Sayadaw outlines the entire Ennobling Eightfold Path then focuses on the very first stage of "mindfulness of the body," which is placing bare attention on in-and-out breathing. This Mindfulness of Breathing (Ānāpāna-sati) Meditation instruction was given on May 25th, 2018 in Thailand. Sayadaw describes the step-by-step progression from beginning of sitting meditation through to the preliminary sign (parikamma nimitta), learning sign (uggaha nimitta), and the counterpart sign (patibhaga nimitta) into the first jhana or "meditative absorption."

 

Knowing and Seeing (5th revised edition)

FOREWORD The three trainings of virtuous conduct, mental coherence, and liberating wisdom are the three stages of Buddhist practice.

Through training in these three practices, an ordinary person can attain the supreme nirvana and become a noble one. 

The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga) compiled by Ven. Buddhaghosa is an exposition of these three trainings.

It is based on the Pali language texts and various commentaries. It explains the seven stages of purification and 16 insight-knowledges.

The enlightened teacher Pa-Auk Sayadaw

But how to practice them has been a difficult question for Buddhists for many generations. For this, we are fortunate to have Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadaw.

His teaching is the same as the historical Buddha. Indeed, it is presented in much more detail than what is described in The Path of Purification.

Based on the very same sources, the Pali texts, commentaries, and The Path of Purification, Pa-Auk Sayadaw teaches meditators step by step the stages of purification and insight-knowledge.

The goal of the teaching at Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, in accordance with the Teaching, is to realize nirvana in this very life.

To achieve that end, meditators must comprehend mentality-and-materiality, also known as the Five Aggregates clung to as self, know them as impermanent, incapable of satisfying, and as impersonal (not-self).

As for the objects of insight (vipassana) meditation, they are not only the internal and external Five Aggregates, but also the aggregates of the past, present, and future, gross and subtle, superior and inferior, far and near.

Only after penetrating all of them as hurtling toward destruction (impermanent), unable to fulfill us (suffering), and not-self, can meditators attain the noble paths and fruitions.

These paths and fruits gradually reduce and eradicate various types of defilements binding us to rebirth and suffering.

After knowing and seeing nirvana for the first time, meditators can clearly see the first path and fruition they have attained, which defilements they have abandoned, and which defilements still have to be uprooted.

One continues to practice insight meditation to attain the higher paths and fruits up to the fourth and final stage, full enlightenment (arahantship), whereby one is free and no longer subject to rebirth. One will attain final nirvana in on passing away. More

Knowing and Seeing by Ven. ... by taokhe@yahoo.com.vn