Not many yogi could remember all the points made by Bante Seng.
I am doing this to let yogi, have a copy to review the lessons.

Any mistakes is my fault, I bear the Karma.
I beg your forgiveness. Cheong
================28/4/2009 Tuesday==================
Bante Seng:- Tonight is the last night of my course here. I wish all of you progress in your Buddhist Practice. We may not meet again, anyway keep up the Practice.

Reference:- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/stream.html

Q 1] What is the best time to meditate on the aggregates?
A 1] The lord Buddha’s teaching is to apply the mindfulness and sampajana [investigative clear comprehension] if possible all the time you are awake. When you see , be aware of the object, be aware of the consciousness arising, and the train of thought that follow. Be aware of the liking or disliking and try to cut the train of thought, or verbal action or bodily action.
As your practice gets more and more fluent you may find yourself able to cut the train of thought easier and faster, as the mind is trained to cut habitual response to stimuli. When you are stronger in your mind you will find that even in your dreams you can cut the habitual response.

Q 2] I read somewhere that you must have met the Lord Buddha in your previous life to want to practice?
A 2] This is speculation, the reality is here and now. The Lord Buddha was asked by his disciple "Who will lead and teach us when he is no more around". The Lord Buddha replied that the Tripitaka [the damma ] will be their guide when he is not around. (Ref: Meghiya Sutta).

As a further word of advice when the Lord Buddha’s Sutta and Dhamma is being chanted or expounded, You should pay attention, it is the representation of the Lord Buddha.
If you turn around and gossip or use your mobile phone, you are going down under the influence of Mara. Therein arises the hindrances of doubt, sloth and topor, sensual desire, ill-will,
which prevents you from progress.

Reference:- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/stream2.html

===================28/4/09========================
=====================25/04/09 Saturday=================
Bante Seng: Tonight was a very hot night. I used the element of wind in my meditation. The wind from the fan blowing onto my body, the body does not know, there was only the touching feeling. The mind is conscious of the feeling. Keeping up these rounds of practice, one and half hour pass so quickly.

==============21/04/09 Tuesday=================
Bante Seng :- revision on Buddhanusati [Recollection of the Qualities of the Lord Buddha] Meditation method for some new yogi.

Q1] How to read past life?
A1] Our present life is chock full of stress, to see your previous lifes of Dukkha might be too stressful,
Anyway according to the Sutta, when you are able to attain to the level of the 4th Jhana you can see your previous life. The main point is that during your practice you should not desire to attain the 4th Jhana, if you desire it, it will never arise. If you can see your previous life, try to learn from it the pre-conditions which sets up the resultant Kamma and let your wisdom grow and mature.

Q2] What are Bhavanga? [Faculties]
A2] Where did you learn about this?

Q2a] Some monk talk about it, but I am not clear and read up on it.
A2a] 5 Faculties 1]Conviction, 2]Persistence, 3]Mindfulness, 4]Concentration, 5]Discernment.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/part2.html#part2-e

Q3] How to use meditation in daily life?
A3] In whatever task one may undertake — directed toward worldly ends or toward the Dhamma — one must bring to bear the qualities of desire, persistence, intent, and discrimination, skillfully balanced with concentration and right exertion, if one wants to succeed at one's task.

==============21/04/09 Tuesday=========================
==================18/4/09 Saturday================
Bante Seng:-Revision of Meditation Methods. i.e. Anapanna sati, Metta. Asubha.
37 factors of Enlightenment
A The Four Frames of Reference.
B The Four Right Exertions 
C The Four Bases of Power  
D The Five Faculties  
E The Five Strengths
F The Seven Factors for Awakening 
G The Noble Eightfold Path 

Bante Seng: when you watch your favorite TV at home you can keep concentrated for 2 to 3 hours because of your interest.
Try to bring up this sort of interest in your investigation of dharma in your Meditation, keeping your concentration on the object, you find that 3 hours would pass so quickly.
Next time you watch TV, try to note how your mind concentrates with interest and focus. Apply this to
your meditation. Use Lord Buddha’s meditation instruction as a guide, skillfully adjust your mind to develop an adaptive way for yourself.
Also note that over time your mind will change and what works now may not work later. You have to be adaptive.
=========================18/04/09 Saturday==============
==================14/4/09 Tuesday================

Q1] Women. How to handle the distraction?
A1] Pretend not to see them.
Be mindfully aware of the process of seeing, or hearing, or smelling, or touch
Use Asubha skill to cut the attraction. Understand why or how the mind is aroused by contact then feeling arises, and watch the process and by now, as the mind can only keep one object, you can concentrate on the process for a longer time.

Q2] How do you recognize a Ariya?
A2] He keeps the 5 precepts so strongly that he will rather die than break the precept.
He has complete confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.
He has Right View.

Q3] How to know you are in Jhana?
A3] The definition (with similes)
[First jhana]
In the first jhana: rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal, [accompanied by directed thought and evaluation]. He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills this very body with the rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal.
[Second jhana]
"Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thoughts & evaluations [i.e. free from directed thought and evaluation], he enters and remains in the second jhana: rapture and pleasure born of composure,
[Third jhana]
"And furthermore, with the fading of rapture, he remains equanimous, mindful, & alert, and senses pleasure with the body. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous & Mindful, he has a pleasant abiding.' He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills this very body with the pleasure.
[Fourth jhana]
"And furthermore, with the abandoning of pleasure and stress — as with the earlier disappearance of elation and distress — he enters and remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity and mindfulness, neither-pleasure-nor-pain. He sits, permeating the body with a pure, bright awareness, so that there is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by pure, bright awareness.

Furthermore FYI :- and what is the faculty of concentration? There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, making it his object to let go, attains concentration, attains singleness of mind. Quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful mental qualities, he enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born of seclusion, accompanied by directed thoughts & evaluations. With the stilling of directed thoughts & evaluations, he enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration, unification of awareness free from directed thoughts & evaluations — internal assurance. With the fading of rapture, he remains equanimous, mindful, & alert, and senses pleasure with the body. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasant abiding.' With the abandoning of pleasure & pain — as with the earlier disappearance of joys & distresses — he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain. This is called the faculty of concentration.

The definition is only book knowledge, skillful means is to be applied to meditation to set up conditions for its occurrence.

Refer to below link for a broader insight.

http://what-buddha-taught.net/Books/Bhikkhu_Thanissaro_Jhana_Not_by_the_Numbers.htm

Q4] The prayer “ All beings are the owners of their action, heir to …..etc… etc… Is it effective?
A4] There is a misunderstanding here, the word “prayer” connotes asking a Being for favor, also there is no idea of Sin in Buddhism. Sin means breaking a rule set by a Being in other religious tradition.

Buddhist do not pray. The chant is a reminder to us that Karma of resultant action is inevitable. Skilful action result in good karma, unskillful action result in bad karma.

Q5] Is it good to set fishes or turtle free?
A5] You have to use wisdom here, setting turtle in a small pond the turtle may not life to its 200 years lifespan. Fishes also may not survive if the pond have too many bigger fishes which will feed on it. The highest merit of giving life is to do dana to Ariya Sangha, the resultant is 1000 x 1000 fold.
Next would be dana to practicing monks and also to good practicing meditators.

Q 6] What chant should be used?
A 6] At the moment of doing the dana, concentrate think and say

“May you live long, be harmonious, happy and strong”.

==================14/4/09 Tuesday=======================

=============11/4/09 Saturday=====================
Q1) Kama Tanha, Bhava Tanha, Vibhava Tanha. Is the subtle Vibhava Tanha similar to Anusaya Kilesa [Underlining Defilement] ?
A1) When the mind is very calm and bright there is the Underlining Defilement which is very hard to see. They are:-
1] Sensual greed
2] Grudge
3] Skeptical Opinion
4] Skeptical Doubt
5] Conceit
6] Craving for Existence
7] Avija [Ignorance]

The practiced mindfulness knows when it arises.

Fyi abridged from Sutta:-

[Monks, with the abandoning & destruction of the seven obsessions, the holy life is fulfilled. Which seven? The obsession of sensual passion, the obsession of resistance, the obsession of views, the obsession of uncertainty, the obsession of conceit, the obsession of passion for becoming, the obsession of ignorance. With the abandoning & destruction of these seven obsessions, the holy life is fulfilled].

Q2) Still cannot see Elements of Earth Water Wind and Fire?
A2) Lord Buddha’s teaching is only a guide. You have to use skillful means to see.

Q3) My feeling of heat suddenly turns into fire, I then wish for it to cool down and it did.
A3) Did you note with mindfulness how the heat turn into fire.
When the mind is very calm and strong, a thought can cause a feeling to turn into intense fire.
Next time remember to note with mindfulness how the mind gets into this calm and strong stage, with practice you can set up the condition for the process to repeat at will. This is the important part to meditation.
=============11/4/09=====================

=============7/4/09 Tuesday===============
Bante Seng repeated the 32 parts of the Body Meditation Lesson.
Since there are no question, he further elaborated the Lord Buddha’s teaching on Anapana Sati, and Metta, Meditation.
Then he highlighted Vipassana. Looking at the body and mind and seeing the 3 characteristic of Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta [Impermanent, Stress, Non-Self].
Where is the Identity of I? The I is only a combination of:-
Body:- can also be known as matter, water, wind and fire.
Feeling:- Pleasant, Unpleasant, and Neutral.
Memories:-a record of words
Mental formation:- causal formations of words and vision
Consciousness:- knowing arising due to external or internal contact

He encouraged the class to try hard to practice. It takes a lot of :-
Word knowledge, Confidence [which comes with study and observation of the 4 Noble Truth, 8 Fold Noble Path,and 7 factors of Enlightenment]. Mindfulness Meditation [samatha and vipassana], which ends with eradication of Kilesa and finally Release

Q1] Are Monks not supposed to cut trees?
A1] There is some dispute about this. During the time of the Lord Buddha a monk wanted to cut down a tree to build his hut. A Deva was staying at this tree and requested this monk not to destroy his home. The monk refused and swung his axe, the Deva raised his child to try and stop the monk. Due to the momentum of the axe swing, the arm of the Deva’s child was cut.
The Deva was so angry that he wanted to kill the monk. A thought sprang up in the Deva’s mind. Since time immemorial no Deva had kill any monk. The Deva stopped.
The Deva went to the Lord Buddha to complain. At that time another Deva staying near the Lord Buddha’s hut had left for another place so the Lord Buddha let this Deva stay at this tree near him.
Lord Buddha made the rule that monk should not cut down trees.

=============7/4/09 Tuesday===============
============4/04/09 Saturday===================
Q & A
Q1] What is happiness?
A1] For a Buddhist:-
a) Nibbana [paramsukham]
b) Obtaining Jhana the first time, becomes Sotapanna. Lord Buddha compare the dirt on his finger-nail to dirt on a mountain, a Sotapanna‘s defilement is that little.
c) Defilement start to finish and underline kilesa only to be severed.
d) No more rebirth, suffering
e) For a Yogi, highest sensual happiness is Jhana.

Q2] Doing walking Meditation, feel warm and have perspiration, Is it burning defilement?
A2] Its exercising the body, burning of defilement is with wisdom and sampajana,

Q3] I have soft and subtle feeling flowing through and see flashes.(not exactly flashes, more like the way we see how fireworks flashes spreading out i.e. not on the flashes appearing but the way it was spreading out and upwards)
A3] When mind is quiet this happens, this appear when mind is concentrated.
Whatever happen keep mindfulness and let go, do not get attached to any phenomenon, Skillfully observe the factors and circumstances which brought this quietness and concentration, so that you can set about the factors and then enter into this concentrated state at will. Otherwise if you get attached to this phenomenon and hunger for it to occur again, due to this greed it will never occur again.

Q4] My mind withdraw and drop into serene silence. (this relates to my question of the mind contracting and expanding, and Phra Seng was asking me whether I was aware of my body at this moment)
A4] In silence is first Jhana.
Seclusion from 6 senses is 2nd Jhana
Dropping Piti and having Sukha left is 3rd Jhana
Dropping Sukha and only Equanimity in mind is 4th Jhana

According to Sutta:- Dropping pleasant or unpleasant feeling.
Mindfulness is pure psychic ability can be attained which are:-
1. Know past life
2. Know other beings’ rebirth and passing
3. Read others’ mind
4. Cut Anusaya Kilesa [underlining defilements] to attain Nibbana in this life.

Q5] Using 5 parts of the Body meditation I could not see the repulsiveness of the body, shall I change to 32 parts?
A5] Lord Buddha taught us to use skilful means.
1. Hair of the head, if it falls into your food in a mess will you eat the food.
2. Your everyday excretion from the nose, ear, eye and mouth, Is it not repulsive.
3. The meat you eat, after chewing for 5 minutes spit it out, will you eat it again.
4. Have a piece of meat and leave it for a few hours or a few days, see for yourself its repulsiveness.

Ordinary people have Inverted sense of good and bad.
1] Seeing impermanent as permanent
2] Stress as Happiness
3] Non-self as Self.

Bante Seng:- Offering to ancestor, should be done via offering to Sangha, and mentally dedicate to your ancestors, if your ancestors are deva beings they will have mudita [communal joy] in your merit.
If they are in lower realm they will be uplifted and be brighter.

============4/04/09 Satruday===================

==============10/02/09 Tueday========================
Anapanasati Meditation [belated addition]

Bante Seng:- Sit comfortably, with body and shoulder erect, then relax the shoulder and feel that the shoulder is slightly heavy.
Note the start of in-breath, and the end of in-breath.
Note the start of out-breath, and the end of out-breath.
When you find your noting has wandered away from the breath, start all over again.
When you are stable at in-breath and out-breath try to note the mid-point of the breath.
The start of the in-breath to the end of the out-breath is known as the entire Body.
The progress starts with knowing long, short, sensitive, calming bodily fabrication, rapture, pleasure,
Mental fabrication, Calming mental fabrication, Mind, Satisfying Mind, Steadying Mind, Releasing the Mind,
Focusing on inconstancy, Focusing on Dispassion, Focusing on Cessation, finally Focusing on Relinquishment.

For convenience here is the translated sutta :-
"[1] Breathing in long, he discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long.' [2] Or breathing in short, he discerns, 'I am breathing in short'; or breathing out short, he discerns, 'I am breathing out short.' [3] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the entire body.'2 He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the entire body.' [4] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.'3 He trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.'
"[5] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to rapture.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to rapture.' [6] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to pleasure.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to pleasure.' [7] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to mental fabrication.'4 He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to mental fabrication.' [8] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming mental fabrication.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming mental fabrication.'
"[9] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the mind.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the mind.' [10] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in satisfying the mind.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out satisfying the mind.' [11] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in steadying the mind.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out steadying the mind.' [12] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in releasing the mind.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out releasing the mind.'5
"[13] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in focusing on inconstancy.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out focusing on inconstancy.' [14] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in focusing on dispassion [literally, fading].' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out focusing on dispassion.' [15] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in focusing on cessation.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out focusing on cessation.' [16] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in focusing on relinquishment.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out focusing on relinquishment.'

Bante Seng:- With further practice faith in the
“The 4 Noble Truth
The 8 Fold Path
The 7 Factors of Enlightenment”
will turn to Confidence
==================10/02/09============

============31/03/09 Tuesday=============
32 parts of the body:-
Kesa Hair of the head Antagunam Small Intestines
Loma Hair of the body Udariyam Gorge
Nakha Nails Karisam Feces
Danta Teeth Matthake matthalungam Brain
Taco Skin Pittam Gall
Mamsam Flesh Semham Phlegm
Nharu Tendons Pubbo Lymph
Atthi Bones Lohitam Blood
Atthiminjam Bone Marrow Sedo Sweat
Vakkam Spleen Medo Fat
Hadayam Heart Assu Tears
Yakanam Liver Vasa Oil
Kilomakam Membranes Khelo Saliva
Pihakam Kidneys Singhanika Mucus
Papphasam Lungs Lasika Oil in the joints
Antam Large Intestines Muttam Urine

Notice the first 5 parts are external covering, after the skin is cut the internal parts are exposed, cut the skin from the flesh and lift the skin off, look at the skin. Next check its color, shape, smell, location and base until you are conversant and established in it.
Again check it's characteristic with regards to it's repulsiveness [Asubha]. Repeat the investigation with each and every part of the body. The last 12 from gall to Urine is liquid.
Ask yourself where is the I? Is it in the skin, in the bones?
All body parts have the same element of Earth, Water ,Wind and Fire.
The I is made up of 5 kandhas [Body, Feeling, Memories, Volition and Consciousness]
A part may become prominent and clearer, (this is a chance to check it more thoroughly, as the nimitta gets clearer the mind withdraws and later comes out again. At this point it is very important: to note how the mind when coming out, puts together the parts and forms the body).
Now put the body parts back into its place.
The main object of this exercise is to see its REPULSIVENESS, and watch the strong emotion arising leading to strong pleasant or unpleasant Feeling.

When the mind can release itself from pleasant or unpleasant feeling Anagami is attained.

BEWARE OF THIS FEELING OF REPULSIVENESS some meditators have thoughts of committing suicide. Counter this with METTA-MEDITATION.

ADVANTAGES OF 32 PARTS OF BODY MEDITATION.
1] When putting the body part back in place, the part is whole i.e. healed.
2] My teacher’s friend [a monk] had very bad T.B. and the Doctor told him to go back to his Temple in the forest [meaning prepare for death]. Asking my teacher what to Do? My teacher told him to meditate on the 32 parts of the body. Surprisingly the T.B. stopped consuming his lung. He lived on with part of his lung destroyed.
3] Another disciple had 3rd stage cancer in terrible pain and only had some weeks to live. Again using this Meditation method her cancer went into remission. Although she can feel pain she said it was bearable.
4] This method is very effective in combating LUST. Normally the first contact is the sight [color, shape] and then the mind goes into thoughts of liking and desiring. With constant practice of this meditation, the mind can quickly and readily cut the train of thoughts of desire.
5] At the moment of Death, there is no revulsion at the body dying. The mind is concentrated and knowing the Dharma will go to a better rebirth.

Q n A
Q 1] Are we supposed to feel repulsive at the parts?
A 1] The repulsiveness gives rise to unpleasant feeling and watching it the mind becomes concentrated and strengthen, this combat LUST in this life and the next life.

Q 2] When I cut the body: another body appears.
A 2] Yes. Good observation. This shows the mind habitually attached to the body.
Next week I shall teach a method to combat this.

The Dharma keeps reminding us of old age, infirmity. Prepare for Dhukka and finally to combat attachment.
At last thought momentbefore Death : if unwholesome memories arises, the mind can see it with Dharma wisdom and able to change it with ingrained practice to gain a better rebirth.

===================28 March 2009 Saturday ======================
Two young kids [Julie 10 yrs n brother Julian 9 yrs brought by parents sat through the meditation session for one and a half hours without moving. Bante Seng praised them for their ability, and said that they had practiced in their previous life and with their good Karma was reborn in a family of Buddhist meditators and in an era where the Lord Buddha’s teaching is still available.
.
Short summary:- We need Kanti [patience and endurance], and to practice till samvega

[the oppressive sense of shock, dismay, and alienation that come with realizing the futility and meaninglessness of life as it's normally lived; a chastening sense of our own complacency and foolishness in having let ourselves live so blindly; and an anxious sense of urgency in trying to find a way out of the meaningless cycle]

arises and leads to nimitta appearing, then work harder to get the ability achieve higher consciousness. When this is obtained be careful of the thought “I have attained”

Why?

The kilesa [defilement] is very subtle, the “I” is defilement, still attached to idea of self. At this stage review the 4 Noble Truth, the 8-fold Path and 7 Factors of Enlightenment. For example go deeper into the Noble Truth and see the origin of Stress. Note that all formations have the same characteristic of anicca, dukkha, anatta.

Next is Indra Samvara Sila [guarding of 6 Senses], note how an external visual object is passed through the eye organ, and then eye consciousness arises. Try to cut the thought that arises with this eye consciousness [eg. Nice I like or ugly I do not like and etc. etc.] It takes patience and persistence and hard work to be able to do this. If you realize that you have gone a long way off, never mind return to your original object of meditation.

Q n A
Yogi 1] Bante your instruction on using parts of the body for meditation, Which part is correct or better?
A 1]. Let the mind do its work and it will drop one by one the parts and settle to one part which it is comfortable with, this nimitta will become clearer and clearer. Burn or chop this part.
As an aside, next Tuesday I will go into the 32 parts of the body meditation, it has other advantages.
When the 32 parts are removed and chop into pieces and then replaced into the body, this part is made whole and new, if it was diseased it will now be healed.
Or you can mentally say “Body parts are Healed” when you replace them into the body. A pure mind will heal the body,

[the Lord Buddha and 2 other Ariya were healed with the Bojhanga Parittam. 7 factors of Enlightenment chant].
Other Monks have been known to heal themselves.

Yogi 2] If I break the precept, What to do?
A 2]. Ask for forgiveness from the Buddha, the Dharma and the Ariya Sangha. Recognize the offence, sincerely apologize and refrain from repeating it. Lord Buddha’s word “Just this recognition, apology and promise to not repeat, you have shown improvement” A yogi with pure precepts and good Samadhi needs wisdom to be able to gain enlightenment.

Yogi 3] What are the 8 Precepts?
A 3]. In addition to the normal 5:-
6. refrain from eating at the wrong time
7. refrain from entertainment, and using of agents to enhance the body
8. refrain from lying on high or large sleeping place.

The 8 precepts so-called “Uposatha of Arahants” is meant to prevent stress, oppression, fear to others. The Uposatha day is kept from 6:00am to the next day 6:00 am. In some temples in Thailand they also keep the 3 positions i.e. sit, walk and stand [no lying position]. On top of which they keep Noble Silence. [No idle talk or gossip]
Lord Buddha in his wisdom also recommended how to consume food. Eating 2/3 full and 1/3 fill with water, and to mindfully remember the food is not for beautify the body, but simply for the survival & continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the holy life.

Bante Seng:- Imagine that you have only tonight left and are going to die in the morning. With such an attitude of mind, see yourself putting in great effort during your retreat. WE monks have to put in more effort, Lord Buddha said that to eat offered food and not practice is equivalent to stealing, it is better to eat a red hot stone and die, thus you only die once. The karma from eating and not practicing is breaking the Monk rules and if we do not recognize the offence and carry on is terrible.
One last thing, the next time you meditate and think it is tough recall, these two kids and remember their persistence, complete faith and confidence in the Buddha, Dharma and Ariya Sangha, be encouraged to practice harder. I too will work hard.

===============888888888888888888888========================

Bante Seng:-tonight I use 5 parts of the body as an introduction which can be expanded into the 32 parts of the body for meditation. This is also used for new monks during their ordination.

Repeat the 5 parts [back and forth]
1. Kesa===============Hair of the head
2. Loma===============Hair of the body
3. Nakha==============Nails
4. Danta==============Teeth
5. Taco===============Skin

6. Taco
7. Danta
8. Nakha
9. Loma
10. Kesa

Until you are conversant and established in it.
Next check its color, shape, smell, location and its base, until you are conversant and established in it.
Again check its characteristic with regards to its repulsiveness [Asubha].
i.e. if not washed for a couple of days it turns putrid and smelly, if not trim or cut, it harbors lice and germs, it gets dirty and must be washed and kept clean.
What you see is already dead only underneath is alive and growing, they are decaying even when attached to the body, and after death decay further.

A certain part will be clearer, focus on this part till it's nimita become very vivid.

Can also look at its 4 elements [Dhatu]
1] Solidity==========Earth
2] Liquid============Water
3] Space=============Wind
4] Energy============Fire

Intuitive Wisdom arises:- when you realize it's Impermanent, Unsatisfactory, Aging all the time. No self in this 5 parts. Using past experience you can deduct and apply the same analytical investigation to the 32 parts of the body. This I shall go into next week. As mind settles down, mind will not focus on all 5 [32] and drops off one by one and finally focus on one.

==========================7777777777777777777777===================
Bante Seng qouted the Vijaya Sutta [Victory over the Delusion Sutta]

Setting at Savatthi. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhuni Vijaya dressed... she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day's abiding.

Then Mara the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhuni Vijaya,
Desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse: [131]

You are so young and beautiful,
And I too am in the bloom of youth.
Come, noble lady, let us rejoice,
With the music of a fivefold ensemble.

Then it occurred to the bhikkhuni Vijaya:

"Now who is this...? This is Mara the Evil One... desiring to make me fall away from concentration."

Then the bhikkhuni Vijaya, having understood, "This is Mara the Evil One," replied to him in verses:

Forms and sounds, tastes and odors,
Tactile objects that delight the mind:
I offer them right back to you,
For I, O Mara, do not need them.

I am repelled and humiliated
By this foul, putrid body,
Subject to break up, fragile:

I've uprooted sensual craving.

As to those beings who fare amidst form,
And those who abide in the formless,
And those peaceful attainments too:
Everywhere darkness has been destroyed.

Then Mara the Evil One, realizing "The bhikkhuni Vijaya knows me,"

sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.
===============================00000000000000===================

Q & A
Q 1] Repulsive feeling arose just now and it rose to my throat, it was uncomfortable?
A 1] Let repulsive feeling rise and see the passing away of this repulsive feeling. go deep into samadhi and see rising and passing away
When the mind can let go of the Lust which arises with feeling then Anagami is reached.

Q 2] How to overcome attachment to money?
A 2] Look at all the Dukkha associated with making money.[white lies, excessive greed and sabotaging colleague and rivals]. When money is used unskillfully result in bad karma.
Look deeper at the dangers it brings and in the end the rebirth in lower realms, because of attachment and abuse of money.

A short story:- A ghost decided to give a Monk his hidden money, but the monk could not find it at the designated place. The ghost was weeping and said it decided not to give. No matter to the Monk, but the ghost remained a ghost and did not get rebirth to a higher realm due to his attachment to his money.

Another story:- An old women at the time of Lord Buddha received her husband's inheritance, she decided to give it all to her sons, who eventually abandoned her. She ordained and practice walking meditation ardently, became a Arahant after letting go of attachment to family and money.
Do more charity to your family and others.

Q 3] Should we keep using all subjects or concentrate on one subject?
A 3] Use one subject to begin with and when stable, must use others for all round development
e.g. Cure ill-will with Metta
Cure Lust with Asubha
Cure distracting thought with Anapanasati

Bante Seng:- Book of Nines [Meghiya] Angutara Nikkaya.

1) Noble friends [Lord Buddha, Dharma vinaya]
2) Sila/Training rules [5 for layman/ 227 for monks] with fear of doing the slightest wrong
3) Right Speech [talk befitting holy life and helpful to mental clarity.
4) Sama Viriya [right energy].
5) Wisdom [rising and passing away of phenomenon or conditioned things.
Which is Noble and penetrating and leads to destruction of Suffering]

Grounded in the above 5 we should also cultivate another four.

6) Reflect on the impurity of body for abandoning Lust.
7) Cultivate Metta as an antidote to aversion.
8) Cultivate Mindfulness of breathing to cut off distractive thoughts.
9) Cultivate perception of Impermanence for eliminating conceit.

"He who perceives impermanence, the perceiving of anatta becomes firmly established.
He who perceives anatta, the elimination of conceit of "I am", occurs in this life attains Nibbana.

These 9 are conditions conducive for making the mind mature for Liberation in this very life.

mmmmmmmmm00000000000000mmmmmmmmmmm

Abridged Book of Nines. [Meghiya] Angutara Nikkaya.

Meghiya said to the Blessed One, "Just now, while I was staying in the mango grove, I was for the most part assailed by three kinds of unskillful thoughts: sensual thoughts, thoughts of ill will, and thoughts of doing harm.. “How amazing! I am still overpowered by these three kinds of unskillful thoughts: -

1,Sensual thoughts. 2, Thoughts of ill will, and 3,Thoughts of doing harm”.

"Meghiya, in one whose awareness-release is still immature, five qualities bring it to maturity. Which five?

1] "There is the case where a monk has admirable friends, admirable companions, and admirable comrades. In one whose awareness-release is still immature, this is the first quality that brings it to maturity.

2] "Furthermore, the monk is virtuous. He dwells restrained in accordance with the Patimokkha, consummate in his behavior and sphere of activity. He trains himself, having undertaken the training rules, seeing danger in the slightest faults. In one whose awareness-release is still immature, this is the second quality that brings it to maturity.

3] "Furthermore, he gets to hear at will, easily and without difficulty, talk that is truly sobering and conducive to the opening of awareness, i.e., talk on modesty, on contentment, on seclusion, on non-entanglement, on arousing persistence, on virtue, on concentration, on discernment, on release, and on the knowledge and vision of release. In one whose awareness-release is still immature, this is the third quality that brings it to maturity.

4] "Furthermore, he keeps his persistence aroused for abandoning unskillful [mental] qualities and for taking on skillful qualities. He is steadfast, solid in his effort, not shirking his duties with regard to skillful qualities. In one whose awareness-release is still immature, this is the fourth quality that brings it to maturity.

5] "Furthermore, he is discerning, endowed with the discernment of arising and passing away — noble, penetrating, leading to the right ending of stress. In one whose awareness-release is still immature, this is the fifth quality that brings it to maturity.

Further more, when the monk is established in these five qualities, there are four additional qualities he should develop:
6] He should develop [contemplation of] the unattractive so as to abandon lust.
7] He should develop good will so as to abandon ill will.
8] He should develop mindfulness of in-and-out breathing so as to cut off distractive thinking.
9] He should develop the perception of inconstancy so as to uproot the conceit, 'I am.'

For a monk perceiving inconstancy, the perception of not-self is made firm.
One perceiving not-self attains the uprooting of the conceit, 'I am' — unbinding in the here and now."

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Little thoughts, subtle thoughts,
When followed, stir up the heart.
Not comprehending the thoughts of the heart,
One runs here & there,
the mind out of control.
But comprehending the thoughts of the heart,
One who is ardent, mindful,
Restrains them.
When, followed, they stir up the heart,
One who is awakened
Lets them go without trace.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm00000000000000000000000mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Q 4] If I do not give to non practicing monks, I am making Judgments?
A 4] Do not judge. You can make a wise decision.
Tell yourself "I know the vinaya. I practice myself"

[Lord Buddha left the temple and went to Palelai forest when the monks refused to listen to him. The lay people stop feeding the monks.]

Q 5] A study claimed the all human were human in their previous life.
A 5] Not necessary:-
Lounphor Chop during meditation: a hen came and claims it was his wife in the previous life, come to this house and I will peck you to confirm. Next day during his alms round a hen did come and peck at Lounphor Chop. Householder tried to drive away the hen, Lounphor stopped them, he told his disciple that he was a rooster in his previous life and this hen was his wife then.
Another Monk claimed he was an earth worm, but in this life he was a good monk full of Metta and even when he had cancer of the colon, he would ask and care about others. Finally seeing that the people took so much trouble to care for him, he fasted for 30 days to pass away.

================================000000000000000000===============
Q ]. Doctor allegedly committed suicide in Melbourne.
What's your view?
A ] Bad question.

Q ] How does Buddhist view it ?
A ] Good question. It breaks first precept, resultant will be a great number of times he will repeat this killing of self.
It's a waste, look at it with compassion. To be born a human is very difficult, and to be born in an era of the Buddha Dharma is much more difficult.

Eg. 1]:- A family friend of mine was talking about suicide since young, finally he did. My guess is he must have killed himself in his previous life. He will take rebirth in animal realm or hell, if rebirth as human will be sickly.
This karma will be repeated for a many time unless someone can help him break it.
It's a pity we did not take him seriously then, we could have asked a great teacher to help. Great teacher can help victim to overcome the traumatic situation.

Eg 2]:- Someone dreamt he was in hell, where he met his teacher, then he awoke, his relatives ran away. He found himself in a coffin and the family in mourning.

Eg 3] We were in Thailand and were talking about Ajahn Fann, A fierce looking Thai who was listening from afar in this temple, came near and introduced himself that he was also a disciple of Ajahn Fann. He said he was an assassin, he died and was in Hell in front of King Yama.
His teacher Ajahn Fann was with him, and he asked King Yama to release him. King Yama said he did not have the authority but that Ajahn Fann have the power. Standing behind Ajahn Fann the assassin saw Ajahn Farn waved his hand and he thought it changed from 54 to 74 from the book of Death.
I asked this man how many he had killed. He said about 200. Later he was caught and was to be executed. The night before his execution at 3:00 am. The Police Chief asked him to change his life and not kill and rob again and to make a vow in Wat Phra Kreow to that effect.
This assassin said he had to do one more last robbery because he was poor. The police Chief refused but gave him B.30,000/= to start a business and released him.
This Assassin related another occasion when he robbed a bus "Give me your wealth, I don't want your life"
A muscular teacher came from behind and grabs hold of him around the stomach. He warned the teacher three times "I only want wealth not your life" but the teacher held on, after the third warning he shot the teacher.

Temple in Thailand feeds all comers. Ajahn Fann saw that the assassin was aiming to kill a bird, and stopped him. Ajahn Farn saw that the bird's life is to end, so he sends Metta and the bird fell dead.
Thus Ajarn Fann prevented him from committing an unwholesome karma, and the bird was reborn to a higher realm.
A lot of Great Teachers have Metta for him, maybe he had previous karma link with these great teachers, he suffered for many years and was then practicing hard when we met.
[In Thailand statute limit for prosecution is 20 years, so he told his story without fear]. He does know why he was released.

Eg 4]:- My mother's horoscope says her life will last till 56 years. Later my sister ordained as a maichee, thus mother's life was prolonged. Later the family asked Ajahn to prolong my mother's life but the Ajahn refused saying that she will be bedridden if prolonged and will cause bad karma by being angry at her condition. When I [Bante Seng himself] ordained [that was 12 years ago] , she was not well then, now she is at age 88. She initially refuse to believe us that our ordination prolonged her life, finally with many nimita and Ajahn's talk she acknowledge our merit, but did not meditate saying no time. I told her to repeat the mantra during washing or doing anything. Now she is practicing.

Eg 5]:- Devas can also help overcome lighter karma, Bante Seng quoted the Kariyana Metta Sutta. Where 30 monks were disturbed by earth bound Devas, and so Lord Buddha gave the Sutta which helped the monks appease the Devas and they helped the monks who gain release that vassa, and as a result of the help given to the monks, the earth bound Devas became more radiant.

Eg 6]:- Another Dharma story= 3 brahmin [father, mother and son]. Another Brahmin visited. This Brahmin greeted the father and mother "May you live long". Father and Mother asked why he did not greet his son.
Answer was that the son will not live past a certain date.
Asking for advice the parents were told to seek Lord Buddha's help.
Lord Buddha told them to invite monks to chant for 7 days and night.
On the final day the Lord Buddha himself came to chant.
Retinues of Brahma and Devas came to listen to Lord Buddha chant surrounding the Lord Buddha and the boy.
When the time for the son to die, Yakka came but since Yakka is the lowest rank of the Devas could not approach to take away the son's life.
The window for the son's demise passed and the son's life was prolonged.

In this example is also shown the efficacy of chanting.

Bante Seng concluded that it is a waste of human live to commit suicide, especially in this modern life where people need the Lord Buddha's dharma instead they throw away the Triple Gem and then cover themselves with Shit [Greed n Hatred].

Bante Seng :-" May you progress in the practice of the Dharma"

=============================17 March 2009 Tuesday========================

Bante Seng :- To-night is the last session on Metta meditation, next Tuesday will be 32 parts of the body meditation. As a preparation, look up pictures showing the inner parts of the body.
As there were no questions Bante gave a impromptu short dharma talk.

1] If you find difficulty in practicing, have patience. Patience is a Virtue.
2] Change attitude towards bodily-discomfort, try to see discomfort as a welcome friend, an encouragement.
3] See the situation with clear comprehension [sati-sampajana]
4] Unsatisfactory condition [ Dukkha ] is present all the time, Realize this.
5] Discomfort causes ill-will against Bante Seng, because he directed us to sit for so long.
Note and observe this happening in your mind.
6] Let sati-sampajana lead you back to practice.
7] In the discomfort, watch the intention to move [ mental ] , body move [ matter ]. Realize now that conditions have changed. Therefore it’s Impermanent.
8] SILA :- It is important to keep Sila via words, thoughts and deeds.
Wisdom in keeping Sila, realize the benefit.
Forced to keep Sila is not right.
Examples of result from breaking the Precepts:- Lieing [ no body will trust you ]
Drunkedness [commit mistakes/crime]
9] Indra Sanvara Sila [ Guarding the 6 Senses ] :-
Watch how a smell triggers your mind to like or dislike it, and the resultant mind's reaction.
Watch how a smell triggers your memory, [It's a rose ].
Watch how a word triggers your liking and wanting arise. [praise or blame]
Try to cut the arising of like or dislike, [smell/odour,and stop there]
Try to cut the arising of like/dislike from words, [hearing/sound and stop there]
10] Right Attention :- Watch if karma arise and cut it.

============================10 March 2009 Tuesday=============
Edited by Bante Seng at 16/Mar/09

Q 1] If a person is in coma, Does he know?
A. There was a Bante in Thailand who is in a coma. Someone whispered into his ear "If you can hear me blink your eyes. The Bante blinked".

A friend had a operation, "She had an out-of-body experience and saw the doctors and nurses around her"
Conclusion : -The body have no consciousness, but the Citta is aware .

Bante Seng emphazises the importance of keeping the Precepts:-

a] A black magician tied an iron-cross with steel wire, and send it flying to attack a Monk. The flying cross hit the monk on his shoulder and fell onto the ground, and sprung around for 4 - 5 hours. If the monk had not kept his 227 precept he would be badly hurt.

b] Similarly a lay Buddhist keeping the 5 precept would be protected from physical and mental harm.

Q 2] I hear another person's heart beat?
A. When the mind goes quiet, it can hear and see other. Not to worry, keep to your subject of mindfulness. [Don't go out of your body].

Q 3] I dream of a ghost and it follow me?
A. It could be real or your imagination. [[They may come to ask you to dedicate merits to them, or as a form of encouragement.]] Important point is not to get carried away and grasp at this. Thinking that you have attained..... Stay inside, have confidence in the Triple Gem, dedicate merit and tell them to go to a higher rebirth.

Q 4] I felt Piti and Sukha, it rises and passes away?.
A. Knowing that it rises n passes away is sati-sampajana, Sound similarly rises n pass away.

Q 5] After some time my mind went blank, what now?
A. At blank, but the 6 senses is still firing, Re-establish Metta by bringing up a merituous memory without trying to hang on or grasp at wanting the feeling to arise, then spread this arisen Metta to combat ill-will.
You may become bored with the blank-state, and loose confidence in the practice resulting in restlessness and doubt, when the 5 hindrances arise it prevents you from achieving your Goal.

Q.6] But bringing up memories is attachment isn't it?
A. If you bring up memories without wanting the Sukha then the Sukha will arise.

Q.7] I feel more Metta for my pet dog?
A. Be careful, Distinguish between Metta and Lust.
There was a lady yogi who thought she was spreading Metta, many man became enamored with her and approach. Actually she was not spreading Metta to the opposite sex. Try not to spread to the opposite sex individually.
Metta is a sense of serene & peaceful feeling without attachment or grasping.

Q.8] I scold and spit at the Buddha, Is there any bad karma?
A. Yes, definitely.
Q.9] I then apologize to the Buddha.
A. Good but apologizing alone is not good enough.
Make a promise that you will try hard not to repeat this.

Q. 10] I see a very bright light and turn away from it?
A. Concentrate at the center of the light if it is stable, you have missed a chance to go to a higher state of mind.
Do not be afraid; Try it next time it comes

Q. 11] I find it difficult to accept that there is no self ?
A.. Not no soul. It's no permanent / unchanging being / identity.

E.G. let a marble be the soul, this life it is in this cup, The marble is poured into the next cup [i.e. next life], and so on. There is no change in the marble [soul] this is reincarnation

E.G. A flame on a candle when it is near its end, is used to light the next candle. [i.e. next life],
Now the new flame is linked partly to its previous flame, this is rebirth this new flame [new life]

Q. 12] again if there is no self which carries over to the next life, then I do not have to worry about what my next life will be. I can do anything I want with no worry.
A. If this is the case. If your wife and children break the precepts?. How would you Feel?
If everyone follow their desires. What will happen to the world / environment you are living in?

Bante Seng :- Our views are changed as we grow older and accumulate new experiences.
Anything done intentionally, we create a force, and because of that we will have to take re-birth.
[[There are many documented instances of re-birth. I D Stevenson]]

The attachment to a soul or self is the most difficult to understand, to accept, and finally to realize.
Even a third stage ariya [ Anagami ] have to finally penetrate/release from attachment to Self Ego, only then becomes a Arahant.

The 11 benefits of Metta are:
1. Sleep happily,
2. Wake up happily,
3. No Bad Dreams
4. Human will like you
5. Non Human will like you
6. Devas will protect you
7. Not harmed by fire, weapons and poison
8. You'll look radiant and beautiful.
9. Jhana easily attained
10. Will not die with a confused mind
11. If you did not gain Nibbana in this life, Brahma world will be the destination after your death.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an11/an11.016.piya.html

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Tonight there were a few yogi who are here for the first time they are going to India to-morrow,
Bante Seng repeated his instruction for them.
Bante Seng introduced his lesson thus:- He follow Lord Buddha's words closely.
Stressing on the teaching and use it to investigate and apply to life and during Meditation.

[[Understanding put hypothesis into test and see the results and benefits.
[hear or read , remember, reflect on it until you have a good understanding and apply it to your everyday life and meditation] If no benefit, review where the cause of failure is.]]

Tonight's theme is Metta Meditation:-
i.e. Mental Factor is strongly stress here and round up with radiating Metta to All.
It’s an antidote for Anger. [to combat ill-will ]

To raise Metta :-
1] Recall a situation where your help is given without precondition. Remember the person's response of gratitude, giving rise to a feeling of pleasure in you. [do not grasp at this feeling nor wish it to arise, let the pleasurable feeling arise by itself.] Spread this feeling through the body.

2] Another method is to Recollect and have confidence in the Lord Buddha, Dharma, and AriyaSangha.
With the arising of these thoughts, this right condition will bring about Piti [rapture],
Observe its characteristics and do not grasp or attach to the feeling of Piti [rapture]. Sukha [unattached Happiness] will follow.
Using either of the above method to bring up Sukha . Let it spread through the whole body, then radiate out to all beings
[ All beings around, Humans, ghosts, insects, inside the Temple, outside i.e. Singapore , the world, the universe, Heavenly beings starting from the Deva realms to the Brahma realms. ]

There are also other ways to bring up this Sukha and peace, important part is not to hanker or wish for it to arise, watch the process [condition, cause and effect ] which brings it about.

Soon you will be able to set the condition at will, and the resultant effect will come about.
Even chanting can help to bring Sukha up provided you are able to focus on the meaning of these words.

E.G. :-
Aham sukhito homi------------May I be happy
Niddukkho homi----------------May I be free from stress & pain
Avero homi-----------------------May I be free from animosity
Abyapajjho homi----------------May I be free from oppression
Anigho homi---------------------May I be free from trouble [of Mind & Body ]
Sukhi attanam pariharami--May I look after myself with ease.

Sabbe Satta sukita hontu-----May All beings be happy
Sabbe..............................etc

also radiate to :-

The 4 Brahma Realms:-
1] Metta======Loving Kindness / Good Will
2] Karuna=====Compassion
3] Mudita======Joy
4] Upekkha===Equanimity

To the 4 Directions:- East, West, North, South .

To the above Direction and below Direction.
==============================14 March 2009 Saturday====================
Date: Saturday, 14 March, 2009,

Q 13] How to handle pain?
A. Either relax that part or ignore the pain if you can,
Further if you are stronger; - Watch the mind's reaction to the pain, notice the tension and the emotions that arise.
See the intention to move that part to ease the pain. See the relief, the grasping for this relief is noted [[this grasping is tanha.]]

Yogi 14] I am in constant pain all the time, I tried saying "May you be well, happy and peaceful" but to no avail.
Bante Seng :- Yes use it as a mantra to bring up tranquility, Do not get attached to wanting tranquility, as Metta arise fully, spread it to others.

Yogi :- It is a constant pain, even in sleep.
Bante Seng :- Can you concentrate and move it to the toe and let it flow out.

Yogi :- It moved from the chest to the eye brow.
Bante Seng :- Move it up to the top of the head and let it flow out.

Yogi :- It's some kind of spasm.
Bante Seng :- Can you recall how it started ?

Yogi :- Initially I use Breath Meditation, then changed to reciting "Buddho" then this energy problem started.
I changed to Pure Awareness meditation, the more I do the greater the pain. Even short out breathe causes pain.

Bante Seng :- Did you try to control your breathing. [Should not control]
Did you try to detach and watch as a third person?
Did you try Samatha power to heal the problem?
Did you try Vipassana [[Separate the pain and the mind [Body is in pain, Mind is not in pain].]]

Yogi :- I tried these and many ways but to no avail, Could it be that the more I meditate the more the bad karma arises.

Bante Seng :- You have wrong view here. The more you practice sincerely and correctly,
Bad karma will be diluted.
Like throwing a lump of salt into the sea, the effect is minimal.
Dedicate your merits to others. Dedicate whole heartedly not only with your words and with a strong focus on the meaning.
Rely on depend on the paramis of "Buddha, Dharma and Ariya Sangha.
Let the Triple Gem be your refuge [protection].

Since the pain affects you the whole day, try awareness the whole day to check the purity of your precepts, for any infringement, apologise and promise to refrain from repeating it.

Bante Seng :- Can you recollect When it started ?
Yogi :- I had good meditation at the begining.

Bante Seng :- I mean did anything traumatic happen ?
Yogi :- Yes. It started after a traumatic experience.

Bante Seng :- Try again the methods taught by the Lord Buddha to bring up Metta.
Have to really bring up Metta for the healing power to cure.