This “Dhamma Studies: The Fundamentals” course, based on the curriculum of the Thai Nak Tham standardized exams, leads students through a stepwise enumeration of groups of Dhammas similar to that found in the Aṅguttara Nikāya. The Course is broken up into Eight Units with each unit providing enough material for a suggested two weeks of in-depth study resulting in a four-month introductory syllabus. Each Unit features numbered lists of Dhammas in progressive ordering. Thus, Unit 1 contains several Dhamma lists featuring, two, then three items. Unit 2 features further Dhamma lists of three and four items, etc. The course discussion forum hosted through Discord can be reached here.
Unit 8
- Ten Subjects Suitable for Conversation = Kathāvatthu (appicchakathā; santuṭṭhikathā; pavikekakathā; asṃsaggakathā; viriyārambhakathā; sīlakathā; samādhikathā; paññākathā; vimuttikathā; vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā)
- Ten Recollections – Anussati (buddhānussati; dhammānussati; saṅghānussati; sīlānussati; cāgānussati; devatānussati; maraṇassati; kāyagatāsati; ānāpānasati; upasamānussati)
Groups of Ten
I – Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension (sati & sampajañña)
Overview
Mindfulness (sati) and clear comprehension (sampajañña) lie at the very heart of the Buddha’s teaching. Rather than appearing in isolation as it often does in secular contexts, the knowing mental quality of mindfulness regularly shows up in the Buddha’s early discourses paired with the discriminative factor of clear comprehension or alertness. In this lesson, these two mindstates will be examined in their native context of the Pali Canon and through the discerning writings of ancient and modern commentators try to put them into lived practice.
Pre-test yourself
- 1) Definitions
- 2) Sutta Selections
- 3) Ancient Commentary
- 4) Modern Commentary
- 5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
- 6) External Links
- 7) Quiz
- 8) Flashcard Review
1) Definitions
- Sati (सति, สติ, သတိ, සති)
- mindfulness
- awareness
- memory
- Sampajañña (सम्पजञ्ञ, สมฺปชญฺญ, သမ္ပဇည, සම්පජඤ්ඤ)
- clear comprehension (Payutto; TW Rhys Davids;; Bodhi; Soma)
- alertness (Thanissaro)
- clear knowing (Anālayo)
- Extra: constant thorough understanding of impermanence (VRI); full awareness (Nhat Hanh); attention, consideration, discrimination, comprehension, circumspection (PED); introspection (Wallace)
- Review
- Sati
- Sampajanya
- Answer
2) Relevant Sutta Selections
- Sati
- SN 48.10 (excerpt beginning “What is the faculty of mindfulness?”)
Mendicants, there are these five faculties. What five? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. And what is the faculty of faith? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ This is called the faculty of faith. And what is the faculty of energy? It’s when a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. This is called the faculty of energy. And what is the faculty of mindfulness? It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. They meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. This is called the faculty of mindfulness. And what is the faculty of immersion? It’s when a noble disciple, relying on letting go, gains immersion, gains unification of mind. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is called the faculty of immersion. And what is the faculty of wisdom? It’s when a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is called the faculty of wisdom. These are the five faculties.” - DN 22 (excerpt beginning “What is right mindfulness?”) And, bhikkhus, what is Right Mindfulness?Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu[115] following my Teaching keeps his mind steadfastly on the body, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness,[116] thus keeping away covetousness and distress.[117]The bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on sensation, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness,[118] thus keeping away covetousness and distress.[119]The bhikkhu concentrates steadfastly on the mind, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness,[120] thus keeping away covetousness and distress.[121]
The bhikkhu keeps his mind steadfastly on the dhamma, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness,[122] thus keeping away covetousness and distress.[123]
This, bhikkhus, is called Right Mindfulness.
- SN 48.10 (excerpt beginning “What is the faculty of mindfulness?”)
- Sampajañña
- SN 47.35 At Savatthi. “Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell mindful and clearly comprehending. This is our instruction to you.“And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu mindful? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body … feelings in feelings … mind in mind … phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is mindful.“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu should dwell mindful and clearly comprehending. This is our instruction to you.”
- SN 47.35
- Review
- Answer
- Answer
- Answer
3) Ancient Commentary
- Sati
- “sati has the sense of establishment (upaṭṭhāna)” Vsm
- Sampajañña (4 types)
- Clear Comprehension as to Purpose (Pāli: sātthaka): refraining from activities irrelevant to the path.
- Clear Comprehension as to Suitability (sappāya): pursuing activities in a dignified and careful manner.
- Clear Comprehension as to Domain (gocara):[12] maintaining sensory restraint consistent with mindfulness.
- Clear Comprehension as to Non-delusion (asammoha): seeing the true nature of reality.
4) Modern Commentary
- Sati
- Sampajañña
5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
6) External links
II – Protectors of the World (hiri and ottappa)
Overview
Reffered to as the Protectors of the World or the Bright Dhammas, this pair of virtues – conscience (hiri) and fear of wrongdoing (ottappa) – form the basis both for personal integrity and communal harmony. In this lesson, we will examine these wholesome mental qualities through the lens of primary texts and modern exegesis to see how they can best be practiced and lived.
- 1) Definitions
- 2) Sutta Selections
- 3) Ancient Commentary
- 4) Modern Commentary
- 5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
- 6) External Links
- 7) Quiz
- 8) Flashcard Review
1) Definitions
-
- Hiri
- conscience
- self-respect
- sense of shame
- Extra: conscientiousness; dignity
- Ottappa
- concern
- scruples
- fear of wrongdoing
- Extra: moral dread
- Hiri
3) Ancient Commentary
- hiri
- Vism VII.142
- ottappa
- Vism VII.142
4) Modern Commentary
6) External links
III – Graceful Dhammas (Khanti and Soracca)
Overview
An overview of the relevant topic may be included here, along with a video lecture (to the right) and/or audio (also to the right), or simply a photo. I would recommend a video of a lecture, a player with the audio of that lecture, and relevant download links below the player that allow students to access it through various podcast platforms. Additionally, relevant materials for download may be included here. Video cannot be inserted directly into the Tabs unless it is alone without text (though it can be linked to even with text). Audio can be inserted, but will appear more beautiful if inserted here. Additionally, after pasting a full video “lecture” to the right, one may embed specific portions of its audio in the relevant tabs, as has been done in this course.
- 1) Definitions
- 2) Sutta Selections
- 3) Ancient Commentary
- 4) Modern Commentary
- 5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
- 6) External Links
- 7) Quiz
- 8) Flashcard Review
1) Definitions
- Sati (सति, สติ, သတိ, සති)
- mindfulness
- awareness
- memory
- Sampajañña (सम्पजञ्ञ, สมฺปชญฺญ, သမ္ပဇည, සම්පජඤ්ඤ)
- clear comprehension (Payutto; TW Rhys Davids;; Bodhi; Soma)
- alertness (Thanissaro)
- clear knowing (Anālayo)
- Extra: constant thorough understanding of impermanence (VRI); full awareness (Nhat Hanh); attention, consideration, discrimination, comprehension, circumspection (PED); introspection (Wallace)
3) Ancient Commentary
- Sati
- “sati has the sense of establishment (upaṭṭhāna)” Vsm
- Sampajañña (4 types)
- Clear Comprehension as to Purpose (Pāli: sātthaka): refraining from activities irrelevant to the path.
- Clear Comprehension as to Suitability (sappāya): pursuing activities in a dignified and careful manner.
- Clear Comprehension as to Domain (gocara):[12] maintaining sensory restraint consistent with mindfulness.
- Clear Comprehension as to Non-delusion (asammoha): seeing the true nature of reality.
4) Modern Commentary
- Sati
- Sampajañña
5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
6) External links
etc.
Groups of More than Ten
I – The Three Gems (Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha)
Overview
An overview of the relevant topic may be included here, along with a video lecture (to the right) and/or audio (also to the right), or simply a photo. I would recommend a video of a lecture, a player with the audio of that lecture, and relevant download links below the player that allow students to access it through various podcast platforms. Additionally, relevant materials for download may be included here. Video cannot be inserted directly into the Tabs unless it is alone without text (though it can be linked to even with text). Audio can be inserted, but will appear more beautiful if inserted here. Additionally, after pasting a full video “lecture” to the right, one may embed specific portions of its audio in the relevant tabs, as has been done in this course.
- 1) Definitions
- 2) Sutta Selections
- 3) Ancient Commentary
- 4) Modern Commentary
- 5) Relevant Dhamma Talks
- 6) External Links
- 7) Quiz
- 8) Flashcard Review
1) Definitions
- Sati (सति, สติ, သတိ, සති)
- mindfulness
- awareness
- memory
- Sampajañña (सम्पजञ्ञ, สมฺปชญฺญ, သမ္ပဇည, සම්පජඤ්ඤ)
- clear comprehension (Payutto; TW Rhys Davids;; Bodhi; Soma)
- alertness (Thanissaro)
- clear knowing (Anālayo)
- Extra: constant thorough understanding of impermanence (VRI); full awareness (Nhat Hanh); attention, consideration, discrimination, comprehension, circumspection (PED); introspection (Wallace)
3) Ancient Commentary
- Sati
- “sati has the sense of establishment (upaṭṭhāna)” Vsm
- Sampajañña (4 types)
- Clear Comprehension as to Purpose (Pāli: sātthaka): refraining from activities irrelevant to the path.
- Clear Comprehension as to Suitability (sappāya): pursuing activities in a dignified and careful manner.
- Clear Comprehension as to Domain (gocara):[12] maintaining sensory restraint consistent with mindfulness.
- Clear Comprehension as to Non-delusion (asammoha): seeing the true nature of reality.
4) Modern Commentary
- Sati
- Sampajañña