The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

2 December 2024

Student:  One of the chanting is giving prayers to the Sangha, ’Uju-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, Ñāya-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, Sāmīci-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho,’ which refer to the Sangha who have practiced straightforwardly, methodically, and masterfully. Why did the Buddha have to say it three times?

Than Ajahn:  4 times. The first one is Supaṭipanno. Because this is how you should practice. 

Supaṭipanno means to practice well. Uju-paṭipanno means to practice straightforwardly. My translation of Ñāya-paṭipanno is to practice for the eradication of your suffering, for getting rid of your suffering. Sāmīci-paṭipanno is to practice correctly according to the teachings of the Buddha. 

So you need these 4 in order to practice properly to get the result. You have to Supaṭipanno, Uju-paṭipanno, Ñāya-paṭipanno and Sāmīci-paṭipanno. If you can do these 4, then you can become a noble disciple because these are the qualities of the noble disciples.

Student:  I was doing the chanting and was trying to understand the difference between these four words because they sound the same thing to me. 

Than Ajahn:  They are different. Supaṭipanno means you have to be a good student. You have to be an ‘A’ student to be Supaṭipanno. 

You have to practice all the time, 100 percent. 

If you only practice 50 percent, then this is half Supaṭipanno. 

To practice straightforwardly [Uju-paṭipanno] means to practice toward nibbāna. You don’t want to practice for any other purpose. You don't want to practice to become a deva. You don’t want to practice to become a brahma. 

You want to practice to become a noble disciple, to be an arahant.

The third one [Ñāya-paṭipanno] means that you want to practice for the eradication of dukkha in the four noble truths.

Can you do these 4? Not yet? You only practice 10% of your time, right? So you only get 10% Supaṭipanno result, not even a passing grade because a passing grade should be 50%. [laugh]

Student:  That’s true. How about Sāmīci-paṭipanno? 

Than Ajahn:  It’s to practice correctly: sammā-diṭṭhi, sammā-sankappa, sammā-kammanta. You have to practice correctly: Right-practice.  For example, when you keep the 8 precept, you are not supposed to eat after midday. You shouldn’t eat at 2 P.M. If you eat at 2 P.M., this is not considered to be practicing correctly. 

You have to not eat after midday: this is to practice correctly. 

“Dhamma in English, Jun 28, 2022.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto

www.phrasuchart.com

YouTube:  Dhamma in English.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g

#ajahnsuchartabhijato

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

18 November 2024

Question:  When we come out of meditation and we like to share the merit with our parents who has passed away, is it possible or not possible?

Than Ajahn: Well, it was never mentioned by the Buddha. He only mentioned giving dāna and giving to charity, and then you can dedicate that merit to the departed. But regarding dedicating the merit from the result of your meditation for the departed, he didn’t mention it. But you can try. There is nothing to stop you from doing it.

Layperson: But you know that sometimes the king and people go to some temples to chant, pay respect and give merits to kings who had passed away. So, it’s not impossible, right?

Than Ajahn: Well, it’s not possible and it’s not impossible because the Buddha didn’t say either way. 

He only said to dedicate the merit to the dead by giving dāna, by giving offerings to monks and once you’ve done that, then you have merit, so you can dedicate this merit to the people who died.

Layperson: And if they haven’t died, can we give it to them or not?

Than Ajahn: No.

Layperson: And we cannot give it from the meditation.

Than Ajahn: No, you cannot because if I can give it to you, then you don’t have to meditate, right?

Layperson: But sometimes we want to share.

Than Ajahn: I know. I think if it’s possible, the Buddha would have mentioned it. The merit that you can give is the merit that you do by charity. Maybe it’s because it’s the thing people can do readily, right away because most people won’t be able to meditate any way. 

So, maybe you can if you can meditate and you can have this serenity, and you dedicate this serenity. But for the people, whether they are waiting for it and can accept it or not, it depends. It’s because nothing can stop you from dedicating whatever you have.

Layperson: No, I heard in your dhamma talk that some people asked if someone they know died, what could they do? You said truthfully, ‘Well, if they didn’t practice throughout their lives, what can you do? You just let them go. Some are auspicious. They have their own kamma.”

Than Ajahn: Yes, it’s the law of kamma, ‘Whosoever does any good or evil kamma, will receive the result of that kamma.’

Layperson: The foreigners say, ‘What goes around, comes around,’ the same thing.

Than Ajahn: Yes, the same thing. You reap what you sow.

“Dhamma in English, Aug 4th, 2017.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto

www.phrasuchart.com

Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g