Comments on: Happiness of Another Dimension http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/ How to Live Life to the Fullest - Personal Growth and Effectiveness Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:51:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Jeffrey Brooks http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-121527 Jeffrey Brooks Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:45:49 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-121527 Now, here is the kicker. How would you feel about feeling that level of bliss and joy and have your meditation teacher tell you, "Just ignore that?" Or, how would you feel if after feeling that bliss and joy you were kicked out of a meditation retreat? How would you feel after feeling that bliss and joy you were kicked out of your local meditation group that you had sat with for 12 years? Or, how would you feel after feeling that bliss and joy you were equated with Devadatta by several Theravadan priests? All of that has happened to me. This is why I translate the suttas for myself now, because I have found I cannot trust any Buddhist priest or meditation teacher. The Fruit of the Contemplative Life Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) .62 First Jhana 62. "With (So) the renunciation (vivicceva) of sensuality (kàmehi), and renunciation (vivicca) of unwholesome mental states (akusalehi), and with applied and sustained attention (savitakkaü savicàraü) and originating from dispassion, he resides in (viharati) the clarity (upasampajja), bliss and joy (pãtisukhaü), of the first (pañhamaü) ecstasy (jhànaü). Originating from dispassion, with (So) his/her entire (imameva) body (kàyaü) saturated (parisanneti2), suffused (paripåreti) fulfilled (parippharati) with the bliss and joy (pãtisukhena) of renunciation (vivekajena) there is nothing in him/her that is unpervaded (apphuñaü) by the bliss and joy (pãtisukhena) of renunciation (vivekajena) in every way (sabbàvato) destroying (Nàssa) the burden (ki¤ci) that clings (abhisanteti1) to his body (kàyassa). Translated from the Pali by Jhananda Now, here is the kicker. How would you feel about feeling that level of bliss and joy and have your meditation teacher tell you, “Just ignore that?” Or, how would you feel if after feeling that bliss and joy you were kicked out of a meditation retreat? How would you feel after feeling that bliss and joy you were kicked out of your local meditation group that you had sat with for 12 years? Or, how would you feel after feeling that bliss and joy you were equated with Devadatta by several Theravadan priests? All of that has happened to me. This is why I translate the suttas for myself now, because I have found I cannot trust any Buddhist priest or meditation teacher.

The Fruit of the Contemplative Life
Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) .62
First Jhana
62. “With (So) the renunciation (vivicceva) of sensuality (kàmehi), and renunciation (vivicca) of unwholesome mental states (akusalehi), and with applied and sustained attention (savitakkaü savicàraü) and originating from dispassion, he resides in (viharati) the clarity (upasampajja), bliss and joy (pãtisukhaü), of the first (pañhamaü) ecstasy (jhànaü). Originating from dispassion, with (So) his/her entire (imameva) body (kàyaü) saturated (parisanneti2), suffused (paripåreti) fulfilled (parippharati) with the bliss and joy (pãtisukhena) of renunciation (vivekajena) there is nothing in him/her that is unpervaded (apphuñaü) by the bliss and joy (pãtisukhena) of renunciation (vivekajena) in every way (sabbàvato) destroying (Nàssa) the burden (ki¤ci) that clings (abhisanteti1) to his body (kàyassa).
Translated from the Pali by Jhananda

]]> By: fiony http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-86737 fiony Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:22:06 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-86737 that 's very intersting! that ’s very intersting!

]]> By: Laurie | Express Yourself to Success http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-86005 Laurie | Express Yourself to Success Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:10:59 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-86005 Happiness is hiding inside and anyone can seek it - anytime, anywhere. The "outside world" gives us a lot of things to enjoy and take pleasure in and if it's not one thing, it's another. Inside happiness is where it's at. Thanks for the post. Happiness is hiding inside and anyone can seek it – anytime, anywhere. The “outside world” gives us a lot of things to enjoy and take pleasure in and if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Inside happiness is where it’s at.

Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Jade http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85902 Jade Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:00:44 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85902 If you chase happiness, happiness will shun away. Happiness comes within, but don't focus on yourself too much. Real happiness comes from helping others and making the world a better place to live. I am sure that blogging makes you happy. If you chase happiness, happiness will shun away. Happiness comes within, but don’t focus on yourself too much. Real happiness comes from helping others and making the world a better place to live. I am sure that blogging makes you happy.

]]> By: Avi Marcus http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85785 Avi Marcus Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:56:55 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85785 Hmm, meditation for happiness - to take it with you. You can just summon happy thoughts during the day, while doing any normal activity (I just split into a big smile while writing this) but it won't be AS extreme as you mentioned. Take a look at http://www.avimarcus.net/2008/07/your-thoughts-how-to-think-positively/ for more ways to think positively and happily all day long. Hmm, meditation for happiness – to take it with you.
You can just summon happy thoughts during the day, while doing any normal activity (I just split into a big smile while writing this) but it won’t be AS extreme as you mentioned.
Take a look at http://www.avimarcus.net/2008/07/your-thoughts-how-to-think-positively/ for more ways to think positively and happily all day long.

]]> By: lain http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85760 lain Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:39:08 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85760 doesn't sound healthy! doesn’t sound healthy!

]]> By: etavitom http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85658 etavitom Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:08:44 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85658 wow. thanks for the great guest post! wow. thanks for the great guest post!

]]> By: Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85629 Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:49:02 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85629 Vern, Thanks for sharing the true source of happiness--going within. Like you, I'm constantly reading, searching and sharing what I learn about attaining the inner joy and happiness you mention here. I'm off to explore your blog. Vern,

Thanks for sharing the true source of happiness–going within.
Like you, I’m constantly reading, searching and sharing what I learn about attaining the inner joy and happiness you mention here. I’m off to explore your blog.

]]> By: Ishani Mitra http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/07/21/happiness-of-another-dimension/comment-page-1/#comment-85594 Ishani Mitra Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:13:10 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/?p=374#comment-85594 Happiness is success!! Happiness is success!!

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