1) Is Satipatthana and Vipassana the same?
Guruji : Exactly the same.
2) Is it possible to attain nibbana in this lifetime?
Guruji : Yes, it is possible.
3) What is the role of Sri Lanka in preserving Buddha Dhamma?
Sri Lanka held the fourth Sangayana and became an important link in preserving the words of the Buddha.
It was all the more important because the teaching was committed to writing here.
Pariyatti is very important to keep the purity of Patipatti. Now is the time for the Buddha Dhamma to arise again with the help of Vipassana. The bhikkhus have to play an important role in this along with lay people.
4) Can a householder attain path and fruit of nibbana without ordaining?
Guruji : One can if one walks on the path of Dhamma.
5) Can the practice of metta alone lead you to nibbana?
Guruji : Metta is good but to reach nibbana one has to eradicate the anusaya kilesa which is possible only with the practice of Vipassana.
Nibbana is freedom from all craving, aversion and ignorance. To attain it, one has to eradicate these defilements.
Nibbana is freedom from all craving, aversion and ignorance. To attain it, one has to eradicate these defilements.
6) Why start with Anapana and not Buddhanusati?
Guruji : For those who already have devotion to Buddha, it may be a beginning but just a beginning.
One has to go further and practice Anapana to walk on the path of Dhamma.
7) What is the importance of sampajañña?
Guruji : To remain aware of sensations and to be equanimous to sensations all the time is very important for the purification of mind. Some people criticize that Vipassana is only a meditation technique and not the essence of Buddha Dhamma. What else is the essence of the teaching of the Buddha!
The practice of sila, samadhi and pañña is the complete teaching of the Buddha.
8) How are non-Buddhists in the West accepting Vipassana?
Guruji : Because the nature of the Buddha’s teaching is such that its practice, Vipassana meditation, benefits one and all. There is no conversion involved.
One becomes a better human being.
One becomes a better human being.
9) It is believed that Vipassana is very serious and suitable only for monks.
Guruji : Certainly it is very suitable for monks but it is also essential for householders!
Even at the time of the Buddha, so many householders attained high stages.
Of course, it is very easy for monks as they have dedicated their lives to the teaching.
They have a great responsibility to progress on the path of Dhamma and to help others on the path of Dhamma.
10) What is the best way to do Buddha puja?
Guruji : The Buddha himself explained on many occasions what is proper Buddha puja (worship of Buddha).
Just before his mahaparinibbana (passing away) when flowers were being showered on him, he said that this is not a proper veneration of Buddha.
He pointed out to two bhikkhus who were meditating seriously at a distance at that time and said that they were venerating Buddha in the right way.
11) I practice dana and sila to secure a better afterlife. Why meditate?
Guruji : Dana and sila will give you birth in some heavenly realm but it is temporary and you may be born in lower realms again in the future.
It is important to eradicate mental impurities to come out of all misery.
It is important to eradicate mental impurities to come out of all misery.
That is the true teaching of the Buddha.
Samadhi and Pañña are essential.
12) Out of the four satipatthanas, why do you not give emphasis to dhammanupassana and cittanupassana?
Guruji : When you become perfect in vedananupassana, you automatically become perfect in kayanupassana because vedana is part of kaya.
Even when one is practicing cittanupassana or dhammanupassana, vedana (sensations) plays a very important role.
Anything that arises in the citta, which is called dhamma, is bound to manifest as vedana in the body.
The importance of vedana is the great discovery of the Buddha.
So when you become perfect in vedananupassana, the other three automatically get strengthened.
Vedana is the essence.
13) Have you met any sotapannas or arahats in this lifetime?
Guruji : Yes, I was very fortunate to be close to an arahat and I met a number of sotapannas.
14) How do you convince so many students to take the Triple Gem?
Guruji : I explain to them that they are taking refuge in the qualities.
There is no Buddha now who will liberate them.
Even at the time of the Buddha, he only showed the path.
One takes refuge in the qualities of the Buddha to get inspiration.
The Buddha is the personification of Dhamma—the universal path of total liberation.
Refuge in the Sangha is not a refuge in any individual.
One takes refuge in the qualities of the saintly Sangha.
I don’t aim to convert anyone.
I don’t aim to convert anyone.
Let a Hindu remain a Hindu but let him become a Dhammic Hindu, a Dharmika Hindu, a good Hindu. Similarly, Muslims should become good Muslims, Christians should become good Christians, Sikhs should become good Sikhs, and Buddhists should become good Buddhists.
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