Monday, May 4, 2020

Dharma armor of invincibility. Which sutta passages give you that feeling?





(wikipedia)
In some tellings, Excalibur's scabbard was said to have powers of its own, as the one wearing it would not lose even a drop of blood. Any wounds received while wearing the scabbard would not bleed at all, thus preventing the death of the wearer. For this reason, Merlin chides Arthur for preferring the sword over the scabbard, saying that the latter was the greater treasure.


Dhamma are the weapons used by the army (right effort) to fight against defilements 

In the simile used in this sutta:  AN 7.67 šŸ° 
But it occurred to me some of the weapons, whilst chanting them, also act as an armor of invincibility, like Excalibur's scabbard. So as long as one is continuously chanting it (and reflecting on its meaning), one is invulnerable to the 5 hindrances and defilements.


Which sutta passsages work for you like that? Here are a few of my favorites:


AN 4.14 saį¹ƒvara 

1. eye

cakkhunā rÅ«paį¹ƒ disvā
With-the-eye, [visible]-form (he) sees.
na nimittag-gāhī hoti
(he) Does-not {grab}-signs ****.
Nā-nubyaƱjanag-gāhī.
Does-not {grab}-features.
yatvādhikaraį¹‡amenaį¹ƒ cakkhu’ndriyaį¹ƒ a-saį¹ƒvutaį¹ƒ viharantaį¹ƒ
Since-if-he-were-to {dwell with the} eye-faculty un-restrained ***********,
Abhijjhā-domanassā pāpakā a-kusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuį¹ƒ,
greed-(and)-distress (and) evil un-skillful states would-invade [his mind].
tassa saį¹ƒvarāya paį¹­ipajjati,
His restraint (is put into) practice.
rakkhati cakkhu-’ndriyaį¹ƒ,
(he) protects (the) eye-faculty.
Cakkhu-’ndriye saį¹ƒvaraį¹ƒ āpajjati.
The eye-faculty restraint (he) undertakes.

similarly for 2. ear ...  6. mind

1. Kāma-vitakkaį¹ƒ

uppannaį¹ƒ kāma-vitakkaį¹ƒ
(with an) arisen {thought of}-sensuality
nā-(a)dhivāseti
(he) Does-not-tolerate (it)!
pajahati
gets rid (of it),
vinodeti
removes (it),
Byantī-karoti
destroys (it),
anabhāvaį¹ƒ gameti;
annihilation! (he makes it) go (there)!

(same formula for next 3)

2. Byāpāda-vitakkaį¹ƒ

3. Vihiį¹ƒsā-vitakkaį¹ƒ

4. Pāpake a-kusale


AN 4.14 seven awakening factor sequence also infuses you with a feeling of invincibility:

power of chanting, going to war with Māra


SN 22.29: Such impeccable, irrefutable logic, so sobering

It's said in such a plain straightforward way I feel powerless to follow wrong thoughts while chanting and reflecting on each word of this sutta.

SN 22.29 one who delights in dukkha, not freed from dukkha

excerpt:
SN 22.29 abhinandana-suttaį¹ƒ
SN 22.29 delight-discourse
♦ 29. sāvatthi-nidānaį¹ƒ.
(In) sāvatthi-(this)-originates.
“yo, bhikkhave,
"**, *********, [if]
rÅ«paį¹ƒ abhinandati,
form [is what] {he} seeks-delight (in),
dukkhaį¹ƒ so abhinandati.
suffering (is what) he seeks-delight (in).
yo dukkhaį¹ƒ abhinandati,
he, (who) {seeks-delight in} suffering,
a-parimutto so dukkhasmāti vadāmi.
not-free (is) he (from) suffering, (I) say.
yo vedanaį¹ƒ abhinandati,
[if] feeling [is what] {he} seeks-delight (in),
dukkhaį¹ƒ so abhinandati.
suffering (is what) he seeks-delight (in).
yo dukkhaį¹ƒ abhinandati,
he, (who) {seeks-delight in} suffering,
a-parimutto so dukkhasmāti vadāmi.
not-free (is) he (from) suffering, (I) say.

(and so on for all 5 aggregates, and a converse way stating way to freedom of suffering for all 5)


Which are your favorite passages that you find make you invulnerable to hindrances and defilements?

submit your suggestions.

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