Austerities Practiced By The Buddha Before His Enlightenment
Channel: Samatha Vipassana Trust
Date: 2022-07-16

Ven. Khema investigated what austerities the Bodhisatta practiced during his 6-year search for answers which were later found unnecessary to experience Nibbana and awakening.
- MN-12, Sections 44-55: details of the Buddha's extent of asceticism during his search. Key point is section 56: "....by such practice, by such performance of austerities, I did not attain any superhuman states..."
- Venerable Khema also gave an explanation of Right Effort and an application of Right Effort with regard to pain management.
- MN-32, Section 7: relates to the 13 Dhutanga practices a monk might choose to practice for 6 months.
- MN-36, Sections 10-11: Saccaka questions the Buddha if there had never arisen pleasant or painful feeling that could invade his mind and remain.
- MN-36, Sections 13-16: Cross-reference to MN-26, Sections 14-17: Under the tutelage of Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta (best teachers of their time), the Buddha reached the planes of Nothingness and Neither Perception nor Non-Perception, but realized there's more to achieve.
- MN-36, Section 20: Similar description heard before in MN-20, but MN-20 contradicts with other suttas (in Majjhima Nikaya and Samyutta Nikaya) on hindrance management.
- MN-36, Sections 20-25: the Buddha is constantly pointing out that ANICCA is constantly functioning.
- MN-36, Sections 30-32: These austere practices do not amount to any superhuman states. Hence the Buddha advised his monks not to do these practices.
- MN-36, Section 31: the terms "applied and sustained thought" can be replaced with "thinking and examining thought". the terms "rapture and pleasure" can be replaced with "joy and happiness".

Date: 10 July 2022
by Sasana Dipika Ven. Khanti Khema

Note: Ven. Khema requests that you set your speed for this talk to 0.75 instead of 1.0 since it is a better speed at which to listen to a sutta reading. Place your cursor on the video and you will see the settings icon to reset the speed. 

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