• John Haspel
• Becoming Buddha Cross River Meditation Center Staff
• Becoming Buddha Teachers Training

Essays and Commentary on the Buddha’s Dhamma, Modern Dharmas, and a World Aflame

Introduction

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These are essays and commentary on the timelessness of the Buddha’s Dhamma and the appropriate application of this Dhamma amidst the fabrications, contradictions, and distortions of modern Buddhism, New-Age philosophies, and ever-changing and often chaotic worldly events. 

The necessity of clearly describing and understanding the contradictions between what an awakened human being actually taught and the adaptations, accommodations, and embellishments attached to a Buddha’s pure Dhamma is the central theme for teachers and practitioners of his Dhamma. 

Recognizing and abandoning the compulsion for following fabricated views of self in relation to the people and events of life is the true vipassana or true and useful introspective insight into Three Marks Of Existence. It is the fabricated relationship between wrong views of self and the people and events of ordinary human life that is to be recognized and abandoned as Wise DShamma Practitioners. For most of human history, the establishment of non-physical, non-human realms as the resolution for the confusion and suffering internet in human life has been the primary strategy minds rooted in ignorance of Four Noble Truths cling to maintain ignorance. 

Siddartha Gotama awakened to the profound understanding that it is individual and institutionalized views of self and the people and events of the world are rooted in ignorance of Four Noble Truths. He described the results of human ignorance in the Loka Sutta as ” a world aflame with the fires of passion (for continued self-establishment).”

Awakening or developing full human maturity by recognizing and abandoning all foolish and immature views rooted in this specific ignorance while developing a profound understanding of Four Noble Truths is the sole purpose of a Buddha’s Dhamma. Any religious, spiritual, or philosophical belief that resolves in a speculative, magical, and non-human self-existence is contrary to what the Buddha taught. 

It is through clinging to these fabricated views that continue this specific ignorance. Powerful and subtle strategies are continually fabricated and established as “spiritual practcie.” Now, this “practcie” itself becomes the distortion from understanding these Four Noble Truths. This is practicing ignorance. This practice continues to perfectly entrench one in fabricated wrong views of self.

It should not surprise or distress the well-informed Dhamma practitioner that it is individually held and collectively-supported fabricated views that is at the root of stress and suffering. 

Siddhartha Gotama awakened to the profound understanding that it is ignorance of Four Noble truths that results in all manner of confusion, greed, aversion, and ongoing deluded thinking. This manifestation of ignorance in the world is known as Dukkha, or stress and suffering. Recognizing and abandoning the individual fabricated views resulting in Dukkha is the Dhamma.

Fabricated views used to legitimize religions, Buddhist “lineages,” and spiritual or philosophical concepts are as common and widespread now as they were during the Buddha’s time, perhaps even more so.

Developing the Buddha’s Dhamma as originally presented abandons all magical views and establishes an awakened human being in this present life.

For a complete understanding of what the Buddha actually taught, please read “Foundations Of The Buddha’s Dhamma” further below.

• A Prince Becomes Buddha
• The Authenticity Of The Sutta Pitaka, The Second Book Of The Pali Canon
• Modern Buddhism – A Common Thicket Of Fabricated Views
• Dependent Origination and the Non0Dual Myth
• Dependent Origination and Conditioned Mind
• Salvation-Free Buddhism
• Emerging From Lockdown – Freedom, and Safety Of The Middle Way
• Abandon All Violence – The Dandavagga
• Online Forum Comments – Dhamma and Modern Buddhis Practice

The suttas and commentary linked below are fundamental and foundational to developing a skillful understanding of what the Buddha actually taught.

• Nothing Personal – A Buddha’s Analysis Of Self
• The Buddha’s  Noble Search For The Noble Path
• Nagara Sutta – The Buddha Describes His Awakening
• The Meaning Of Becoming – What Is Awakening – Three Suttas
• Paticcasamuppada Sutta – Dependent Origination – Ignorance of Four Noble Truths
• Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – Four Noble Truths – Context For Dhamma Practice
• Sacca Vibhanga Sutta – Analysis Of Four Noble Truths
• Magga-Vibhanga Sutta – Analysis of The Eightfold Path
• Satipatthana Sutta – Four Foundations of Mindfulness
• Athangara Sutta – The Single Quality For Awakening
• Anapanasati Sutta – Properly Integrated Dhamma Practice
• Vipassana  – Introspective Insight – A Structured Study

Introduction

↓ Skip To Studies If Previously Read ↓

Linked below are five Structured Studies developing deep and profound understanding of key themes of the Buddha’s Dhamma. Providing a structure to developing the Dhamma avoids the grasping-after all things loosely-labeled “Buddhist” of modern Buddhism-By-Common-Agreement prevalent today

The True Vipassana Dhamma Study is focused on the key theme of the Buddha’s Dhamma and the purpose of true Vipassana – skillful introspective insight into The Marks of Human Existence.

The Buddha taught a simple and straightforward method of understanding the truth of lasting peace and happiness. The path leading to lasting peace and happiness is The Eightfold Path. Jhana meditation is one factor of The Eightfold Path.

The Local Knowledge – Uncommon Dhamma Study includes lesser-known suttas revealing the profound though entirely practical depth of an awakened human being’s Dhamma.

The Dhammapada Structured study includes all 26 charters of the Dhammapada restored to its original intent and clear focus.

The Truth of Happiness Dhamma Study provided a comprehensive foundation for authentic Dhamma practice. 

Becoming Buddha Cross River Meditation Center’s
Structured Dhamma Studies

• True Vipassana, True Introspective Insight Structured Study
• Jhana Meditation – Mind and Body United – The Buddha’s Meditation  (In Progress)
• Dhammapada Structured Study
• Local Knowledge – Uncommon Dhamma Structured Study
• Truth Of Happiness Structured Study

These suttas show the importance of developing Right Meditation as taught by the Buddha. Jhana Meditation is the only meditation method taught by the Buddha. he taught Jhan for one reason: To deepen concentration. It is from a well-concentrated mind that supports the refined mindfulness necessary to hold in mind the Eightfold Path as the framework and ongoing guidance for authentic Dhamma practice.

• Right Meditation – Jhana Meditation

• Satipatthana Sutta – Four Foundations Of Mindfulness
• Anapanasati Sutta – An Example Of Authentic Dhamma Practice
• Pamadaviharin Sutta – Dwelling In Mindfulness
• Right Mindfulness And The Development Of Authentic Dhamma

• Authentic Dhamma – Fabricated Dharmas
• Karma And Rebirth Explained
• Acting To Awaken – Karma Sutta
• True Vipassana And Not-Self
• Shunyata – Emptiness – Three Suttas
• Non-Duality – Interdependence – Interconnectedness – Inte-being
• Dependent Origination Flow-Chart
• Fabrications Explained
• Five Clinging-Aggregates
•  Common Hindrances To Authentic Dhamma Practice – Two Suttas

• Articles And Talks  Archive  – Newest First
• Theragatha and Therigatha – Poems Of Awakened Monks and Nuns
• Key Disciples
• Truth Of Happiness Dhamma Study Talks
• Online Forum Comments

• Becoming Buddha Fall 202 True Vipassana Retreat
• Past Retreat Videos, Talks & Pics