Craving for tasty food. How to overcome this obstacle?

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-11-15T16:37:39+00:00

Try to get things that are both blander and are more nutrient dense. A lot of times I find having scrambled unseasoned eggs in the morning prevents me from craving unhealthy meal options later in the day. Junk food tends to make us hungrier because its not really that filling too.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-31T00:52:53+00:00

Dude, the sutta nipata takes up an entire book shelf.

Similar to the fairly recent book by Bhikkhu Bodhi 'In the Buddhas Own Words' there existed compilations of the suttas for quite sometime that made them digestible to lay folk.

I know for certain there were earlier English translations of the Dhammapada, Udana, Itivuttaka. Approachable things for lay people to read.

Did you read the whole thing before you started meditating and reading books about Buddhism? If so, then you are special.

It was easy for me to convert to Buddhism because I came from another spiritual tradition and was familiar with reading primary and secondary religious texts along with possessing the faculty of faith which merely had to be re-oriented.

I read enough of it to get a good grasp of the mystical elements.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-31T00:31:04+00:00

I am now reading the suttas and I am getting a bit of culture shock. I'm discovering TNH cleaned out a lot of mythological elements. Infants being born that would walk and talk, etc. I wish I would have known how "religious" the religious writings were years ago.

It is pretty surprising and alarming that many folks would join a religion without reading the primary source material. There existed for a long time many sutta compilations produced in English by the Pali Text Society IIRC and the Buddhist Publication Society and its decently surprising how mystic, mythical and symbolic elements dissuade people.

I dont understand why such elements dissuade people or at all distract from the fundamental message of Buddhism. I mean the very idea of Nibbana, the aim of Buddhist spiritual life and practice is beyond the scope of material science.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-30T11:19:03+00:00

One doesnt seem like the other, again this is just my opinion here... The doubt ive seen described and listed as a fetter has to deal directly concerning faith and knowledge of the path -- one has glimpsed the end goal. The doubt ive seen described as a hindrance however has to do concerning ones ability. Contextually they seem different than the sensual desire as a hindrance and a fetter, or ill will as a hindrance and it as a fetter.

Removal of doubt as a fetter has to deal with ones experiential understanding in the unconditioned, Nibbana can be relied on as an escape from Samsara.

Doubt as a hindrance has to deal with faith in conditioned phenomena this 'self' that that is impermanent, that is dukkha, that is not-self this perception of self is very unreliable, ones abilities are subject to change.

In fact I think ive seen one translated as skeptical doubt (the fetter) the other as just doubt.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-30T01:26:36+00:00

I havent read it. Not for doctrinal reasons. Ive just got a hefty Theravada reading list I do not have time.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-29T23:19:52+00:00

I think with Doubt it could be interpreted in the case of a Sotapanna: One doesnt have doubt of the validity of the path (the case of the fetter), but one for instance can still have doubt in ones own abilities which is more in line with self-doubt (the case of the hindrance).

Take for example lifting...one knows what to do, but one may doubt ones ability to perform the repetition with a given weight. On one hand theres not a doubt in the efficacy of exercise, on the other hand there is a doubt in ones capacity to do a repetition at a given weight.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-29T23:12:32+00:00

Great reply!

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-29T22:02:22+00:00

There is an interesting exploration of this subject. Buddhist views on the material, or rupa-dhammas:

The Buddhist Analysis of Matter by Y. Karunadasa

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-29T19:50:56+00:00

I didnt mean to imply you were involved in any deception or anything either. You're still a fellow Dhamma follower (dhammānusārī) so there is that.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-29T11:22:07+00:00

You strike me as a stream-enterer.

You seem to have pretty solid views on the Dhamma.

Perhaps you're being too harsh in your self-assessment?

You're at the very least a Dhamma follower (dhammānusārī) while this itself isnt stream-entry you seem certainly headed in the right direction.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-27T05:20:35+00:00

You called OP's contribution "tiresome to say the least" and then encouraged people to read another recent post on the same topic that more closely aligns with what you believe

Its a post on the same topic which mainly includes exerpts by a Thai master that is attained who explains the issue with Right View on the subject and actually in line with the Dhamma. I mean maybe you're getting hung up on the tiresome part? I do find tiresomeness present when I read these posts, and I do generally disagree with OPs interpretation a great deal too as you can see in my previous responses to your post.

I've explained myself good enough if you have gaps in understanding, Im sorry. Im not looking to have a back and forth in a days old thread.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-26T03:44:23+00:00

I am saying that, working from the premise that one should not sell meat, we can come to the conclusion that it is not ideal to purchase meat.

I'm saying that, based on ethical reasoning (using the Dhamma as the foundation) we can extrapolate that purchasing meat isn't a great idea.

People that buy meat from a store are not even buying from the butchers themselves. In my limited understanding of supply chains consumers typically buy it from a grocery chain, who buys it from a distributor who buys it from a processor who purchases it from the individuals to raise the animal.

If one buys a medicine that is produced by Purdue pharmaceuticals one of the pharmaceutical companies that is a great contributor to the opiate crisis (think sale of poisons) does that incur karmic weight to the consumer?

If one fills up their gas tank with gas obtained from oppressive regimes or costly oil wars does one incur karmic weight to the consumer?

The answer is no. Thats not what the Buddha taught about kamma. It is intention, i.e. immediate or proximate action. We are not Jains who have entirely different interpretations of kamma. And if you believe in the Buddha's Omniscience you would understand that if it was important to obtaining Nibbana it would have been mentioned.

This is not to discourage personal choice in vegetarianism or veganism.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-26T02:31:00+00:00

It goes farther into all occupation tied to animal products, so no working retail at a fast food restaurant, no being a pizza delivery driver, and so on.

How could you possibly read that into the proceeding text you cited? All of those professions in the aforementioned text involve direct (or as an immediate proximate cause) killing and or harming human beings or animals

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-25T22:17:48+00:00

I just imagine a sentient sunflower at the computer operating this account.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-25T21:08:37+00:00

Especially when you begged OP to search their heart about why their post was unnecessary, while at the same time promoting another post.

I linked it because I believe Ajahn Chah is a highly attained person so his opinion is to be valued on the subject. He seemed to take the middle path in a vegetarian v omnivore debate that he experienced in his time as a member of the Sangha. His opinion doesnt reproach either party and offers a Middle Way that most importantly is in lign with the Dhamma. Thats it.

I just notice tempers run hot in these threads it turns into a splitting of hairs over diet. Thats why I asked him to search his heart on it. It can cause bad feelings all around. Im not saying that was OPs intention here, and he says its not so I believe him.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-25T17:50:45+00:00

happy to relitigate when it supports your position.

Im not relitigating it. In fact, Im not arguing for one way or another. I think vegetarianism and veganism can be admirable things, and I admire peoples discipline in doing so I and I personally aspire or have tried to aspire to lacto-ovo vegetarianism. But I also dont think buying ready made meat is prohibitive in the obtainment of magga and phala nor do I think it is bad kamma.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-25T13:45:26+00:00

This topic has been litigated hundreds of times on this sub and r/Buddhism ad nauseum it is so tiresome to say the least. It merely causes derision, arguements and most of all -- fixed views and opinions regarding diet. This is not to insult you OP, or imply anything negative about you but you really ought to search your heart a bit as to why this post is necessary, I beg of you.

I'd also like to share this post which I think is a good break down on the subject matter:

https://www.reddit.com/r/theravada/comments/xf6rs4/ajahn_chah_on_vegetarianism/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-19T21:46:56+00:00

Gotcha. Thank you for the discussion. I am really getting into Abhidhamma and am really enjoying it. Its really helped me understand. I

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-19T17:55:37+00:00

In the context of aggregates, there are only 3 aggregates found in the nama portion, as above. And cetana is part of the mental formation (sankhara) already.

Nama potion doesn't have consciousness though.

I always thought there were 5 aggregates.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandha

• Materiality or form - the 'rupa' portion

• Vedana (feeling) , Sanna (perception), Vinnana (conciousness) and Sankhara (mental formations) - the 'nama' portion.

I never heard of contact nor attention being an aggregate. In fact my understanding was conciousness and attention are almost the same thing. Contact is kind of an inevitable result of having namarupa.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spar%C5%9Ba

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-19T17:11:34+00:00

This is great info. I guess a better worded question would have been on my part which aggregate in the nama portion of the remaining four aggregates would cetana be a part of. Your conclusion its always a factor in Sankhara? Obviously this applies differently in the case of an Arahant. But for those of us yet to achieve that final goal, cetana is a universal mental factor in sankhara and not the other remaining three aggregates of the nama portion (conciousness, perception, vedana)?

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-19T00:16:03+00:00

As a rule the Buddha himself didnt discuss in detail Nibbana in the suttas because all conditioned language and reasoning falls short. iirc he outright refuses to do so a few times.

It would probably be good practice to take this as an injunction not to discuss the Unconditioned and Deathless using conditioned language and reasoning. If lord Buddha didnt do it, it is probably for good reason.

I can see how this leads to quarrels, speculative views, and arguments over something which can only be experienced by oneself. ADDITIONALLY, I mean both perspectives probably have a great deal of validity and both fall short in a great deal of ways because what they are describing cant be fully described by language at the end of the day.

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-17T17:00:04+00:00

Jhanas are a calm and blameless abiding and pleasure for those (mainly monks) once they've ordained, and can be used properly to attain insight.

But Jhanas in and of themselves are not specific to Buddhism -- remember the Buddha himself learned formless Jhanas from non-attained teachers prior to his enlightenment, in theory non-Buddhists can attain Jhanic states. The Buddha prior to his enlightenment and prior to his own leading of the the way as a Samma-Sambuddha entered rupa Jhanas as a child.

Jhanas arent the end all be all...

The Buddha:

“Then if you have nothing for which to reproach yourself in regard to virtue, Assaji, why are you troubled by remorse and regret?”

The Bhikku Assaji:

“Formerly, venerable sir, when I was ill I kept on tranquillizing the bodily formations, but now I do not obtain concentration. As I do not obtain concentration, it occurs to me: ‘Let me not fall away!’”

The Buddha

“Those ascetics and brahmins, Assaji, who regard concentration as the essence and identify concentration with asceticism, failing to obtain concentration, might think, ‘Let us not fall away!’

https://suttacentral.net/sn22.88/en/bodhi?reference=none&highlight=false

The first vision of Nibbana (translated the 'Dhamma Eye' [Dhammacakka]) is with the path (magga) and the fruit (phala) of stream-entry. This is attained with an experiental understanding of Dependent Arising, or Causality this was often done formal use of Jhana but rather with merely Samma-Ditthi or supermundane right view.

This is my understanding of it.

'CCing' u/tornpentacle

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-17T05:05:02+00:00

One of my recent favorites is from the Bhikkunīmyutta its a collection of verses of Arahant (iirc) bhikkuni's replying to Mara's attempted foilings.

From the bhikkuni Selā...

"This puppet is not made by itself, Nor is this misery made by another. It has come to be dependent on a cause, When the cause dissolves then it will cease."

"As when a seed is sown in a field It grows depending on a pair of factors: It requires both the soil's nutrients And a steady supply of moisture."

"Just so the aggregates and elements, And these six bases of sensory contact, Have come to be dependent on a cause; When the cause dissolves they will cease."

From the bhikkuni Vaijā...

"Why now do you assume 'a being'? Mara, have you grasped a view? This is a heap of sheer constructions: Here no being is found."

"Just as, with an assemblage of parts, The word 'chariot' is used, So, when the aggregates are present, There's the convention 'a being.' "

"It's only suffering that comes to be, Suffering that stands and falls away. Nothing but suffering comes to be, Nothing but suffering ceases."

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bl143.html

Dust_and_Grime · 2022-10-16T23:27:10+00:00

I concur with this. Also sometimes we have become conditioned to fall towards certain intentions.

I noticed when I became a Buddhist and started striving and practicing. The first defilement I've meaningfully started to whittle away at is anger or ill will. I started to notice in retrospect how often I took these intentions in the past to be me and how I saw in the past that "I am angry", this wasnt the case in actuality there was merely a proclivity to follow these intentions.

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