Chapter 04

LET US IMPROVE OUR MERITORIOUS THOUGHTS

1. Meritorious thoughts the wholesome thoughts that arise in the mind. (That leads to pure
thoughts, pure words and pure deeds)

2. The Three Roots of Unwholesome Deeds (Trividha Akusala Mula)

• Lobha - Greed
• Dosa - Hatred
• Moha - Delusion

3. Our minds get defiled (impure) with the unwholesome thoughts of greed, Impure
thoughts lead to impure words and impure deeds.

4. The Three Roots of Wholesome Deeds (Thrividha Kusala Mula)

• Alobha - Non - greed
• Adosa - Non - hatred
• Amoha - Non - delusion

5. Our minds get pure with the wholesome thoughts of non-greed, loving-kindness and
wisdom. Pure thoughts lead to pure words and pure deeds.

6. One day a certain Brahamin came to see Supreme Buddha and asked 'My Lord, I have
learned many lessons, but I am unable to recall them. What is the reason for it?"

7. The Buddha explained citing examples that, it is difficult to retain facts in the mind,
when the mind is often disturbed by the five hindrances (Panca Nivarana). It is easier
to retain facts in the mind, when the mind is free from the five hindrances.

8. The five hindrances (Panca Nivarana)

01 Kamaccanda - Desire for sensual pleasures
 02 Vyapada - Ill-will / Anger
03 Thina-Middha - Sloth and Torpor / Laziness
04 Uddacca-Kukkucca - Restlessness & Repentance
05 Vicikicca - Doubt

9. The Similes for the Five Hindrances (with the different nature of water)
1 Desire for sensual pleasures - Coloured water
2 Ill-will / Anger - Boiling water
3 Sloth and Torpor / Laziness - Mossy water
4 Restlessness & Repentance - Agitated water
5 Doubt - Muddy/ Turbid water

10. Since these five hindrances act as obstacles to attain Nibbana, they are called Nīvarana.
11. When the mind could be trained to tranquility (through Samatha Bhavana) these five
hindrances can be suppressed/ controlled.

12. The definition of ‘Bhavana’ :

• ‘Bhaveti kusala dhamme asevathi vaddheti etayatati bhavana.’
Meditation is the mind-exercise that develops the wholesome thoughts in the mind.

13. The main objective of doing meditation is to concentrate the mind on wholesome
thoughts. Meditation is Twofold.
1. Samatha Bhavana
2. Vidarshana Bhavana

14. Samatha Bhavana :

The meaning of the word ‘Samatha’ is calming down the mind / concentrating the mind
which often gets disturbed/ distracted.

15. The definition of ‘Samatha Bhavana’ : ‘Cittam sametiti samatho.’

It is ‘samatha’ that settles the mind.
16. Another name for SamathaBāvanā
Samadhi Bhavana, Citta Bhavana, Dhyana Bhavana, Concentration Meditation,
Tranquil Meditation, Serenity Meditation

17. The preliminary step to practise meditation is to be virtuous. Virtue (Sīla) is the
foundation to develop the mind.

18. The three parts of the Sīla according to the Noble Eightfold Path.
• Samma Vaca – Right Speech
• Samma Kammanta – Right Actions
• Samma Ajiva – Right Livelihood

19. When practicing Samatha Bhavana, developing of the following attributes is necessary.
1 Indriya Samvaraya (Sense Control) : Controlling of the six sense faculties : eyes,
ears, nose, tongue, body and the mind.
2 Sati Sampajanna (Mindfulness in all postures) : Being mindful in the four main
postures (Satara Iriyavu) sitting, standing, walking and reclining.
3 Santutthita (Contentment) : Being satisfied with what is received.

20. The person who practises Samatha Bhavana should do it under the guidance of a teacher
(Guru) / an instructor.

21. There are 40 meditation objects (Sama Satalis Karmasthana/ Bhavana Kammatthana)
for Samatha Bhavana, out of which one can select an object to suit his/ her character
(Carita).

22. There are six types of characters/ temperaments (Carita)

1. Raga Caritha - Lustful temperament
2. Dosa Caritha - Hateful temperament
3. Moha Caritha - Ignorant temperament
 4. Saddha Caritha - Devout temperament
5. Buddhi Caritha - Intellectual temperament
6. Vitakka Caritha - Discursive temperament

23. One who starts practising meditation, should complete the following pre-requisites.
1 Association of Dhamma friends - (Kalyana Mitra Sevanaya) :
2 Being virtuous (Sila) : Being virtuous and restrained in physical and verbal
actions.
3 Listening to Dhamma (Dharma Shravana)
4 Effort (Viriya)
5 Wisdom (Panna)

24. It is possible to practise meditation in four different postures :

1 Walking
2 Standing
3 Sitting
4 Reclining

25. The highest fruitions that could be gained by practising ‘Samatha Bhavana’
• The 5 types of supreme knowledges - (Panca Abhinna)
• The 8 attainments - (Ashta Samapatti)

26. The benefits of practising ‘Samatha Bhavana’ :

• Evil thoughts pertaining to greed, hatred and ignorance would be controlled.
• Memory power would be improved.
• One could study the lessons easily.
• The mind would be relaxed, satisfied and happy.
• One will have a pleasant appearance.
• Reduction of diseases and enjoying good health.
• Improving the concentration power.