GDW 1

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GDW 100 Intro & Overview of Workshop 27:02

Chanting of the salient parts of the root sutta AN 3.110 upon which the topic of the workshop is built; rationale behind the arrangement of the sections of the workbook; structure of the workshop.

Click on the following titles to see the rest of the day’s videos. The videos are in high definition. If a video loads slowly, you have the option of reducing the resolution, by clicking the wheel icon (settings) at the bottom right of the YouTube screen.

Read Arakkhita Sutta (AN 3.110) in the workbook pp14-15 as well as the Appendix before viewing GDW 101 and GDW 103.

GDW 101 Introduction to Root Sutta and Instruction for D1  05:42

Reiterating the primary message of the Buddha in Arakkhita Sutta (AN 3.110) while pointing out the Buddha’s usage of the words citta and mano in the sutta. Giving instruction on how to approach Discussion Topic D1.

Discussion Topic D1:
What, do you think, is the difference between citta and mano, particularly in the relationship between mind (citta) and mental action (manokamma)?

GDW 102 Guided Open Awareness Meditation  20:56

Participants are required to keep their eyes open while following the guided meditation so that they can continue to practice mindfulness during their daily lives when their eyes are open most of the time.

GDW 103 Presentation of D1  35:03

Participants from various venues shared their group views on the difference between citta, mano and manokamma. This is a composite video of the more interesting clips. Their divergent views showed how confusing these terms could be to most people.

GDW 104 Explanation of D1  57:41

Discussion Topic D1:
What, do you think, is the difference between citta and mano, particularly in the relationship between mind (citta) and mental action (manokamma)?

This composite video is the most comprehensive explanation that Bhante Aggacitta has ever given in any one workshop. Using the explanation given in SKE Melaka as the base, supplementary materials from other venues are inserted at their relevant places to produce this very best explanation of 21 workshops.

The original luminosity of the citta does not mean one is already inherently enlightened [03:00]
Gist of Rune Johansson’s paper: Citta, Mano, Viññāṇa – A Psychosemantic Investigation [05:20]
Features of the 6 senses [11:40]
Uṇṇābhabrahmaṇa Sutta (SN 48:42) [13:28]
Out of the body experience [15:35]
Origins of the Abhidhamma [18:50]
Purpose of the Abhidhamma [20:22]
The Abhidhamma model of citta [21:13]
The 5 aggregates in practice [25:52]
Old and new kamma [40:35]
Modified Abhidhamma model of the cittas of the 6 senses [42:20]
“Involuntary” movements during meditation [46:22]
Theory of natural qi therapy [48:15]
How is citta related to mano? [50:53]
Classification of intention according to the 3 doors of action [54:00]

GDW 105 Questions & Answers on D1  15:27

Discussion Topic D1:
What, do you think, is the difference between citta and mano, particularly in the relationship between mind (citta) and mental action (manokamma)?

Bhante Aggacitta answers questions in different workshop venues according to context. His answers may sometimes seem inconsistent or differing in depth. This will give you a glimpse of why there are apparent inconsistencies or differences of depth in what the Buddha said to different people in separate discourses.

How realistic are Johansson’s findings? [00:15]
Can you elaborate on sentience? [01:08]
What is the mind energy of citta and mano during the death moment? [02:10]
Can the usage of the terms citta and mano be seen from different conceptual frameworks? [03:51]
What does mano perceive? [05:47]
Does mano give the sense of “I”? [06:41]
Which aggregate gives the sense of “I am”-ness? [07:50]
Are the mental responses to spontaneous memories manokamma? [08:03]
Can manokamma be translated into vacīkamma and kāyakamma? [09:28]
When one is possessed by a spirit, whose citta or mano is in control? [12:28]
Why do we translate saṅkhārā as volition constructions instead of just constructions? [12:54]

Read Arakkhita Sutta (AN 3.110) in the workbook pp17-25 before viewing GDW 106, GDW 108 and GDW 109. 

GDW 106 Introduction to Section 2 and Instruction for D2 17:33

Introducing the rationale for the selected extracts from four canonical sources; reminder on what to look out for; summaries of the extracts and highlighting the similes used by the Buddha. This is the most comprehensive introduction comprising the best from various workshop venues.

What to look out for [00:36]
Gaṇakamoggallāna Sutta (MN 107) [01:51]
Scope of dhamma as mental object [04:26]
Difference between grasping at signs and grasping at features [04:49]
How not to grasp at signs & features [08:27]
Simile of 6 animals SN 35:200 [09:05]
Kāyassati = kāyagatāsati [09:46]
Kāyagatāsati represented by the strong post [12:52]
The most beautiful girl in the land (SN 47:20) [13:27]
Kāyagatāsati represented by the bowl filled to the brim with oil [15:13]
Mahāmoggallāna Sutta (Ud 3.5) [15:45]
Sequence from kāyagatāsati to realisation of Nibbāna [16:31]

Discussion Topic D2:
Can you see any link between restraint of the sense faculties and kāyassati (mindfulness of the body) / kāyagatāsati (mindfulness directed to the body)? Give reasons for your answer based on the four excerpts in this section.

GDW 107 Guided Open Awareness Meditation (GOAM)

The clips from 6 different venues have been individually edited and produced as 6 files each as shown below. The instructions for each venue are similar but vary in depth and details. Try out each to see which suits you best.

107a GOAM at Shah Alam Buddhist Society [16:37]
107b GOAM at Mahindarama Buddhist Temple [13:22]
107c GOAM at Buddhist Gem Fellowship [16:11]
107d GOAM at Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society [21:56]
107e GOAM at Subang Jaya Buddhist Association [16:01]
107f  GOAM at Uttama Buddhist Vihara [20:12]

GDW 108 Presentation of D2 50:08

Discussion Topic D2:
Can you see any link between restraint of the sense faculties and kāyassati (mindfulness of the body) / kāyagatāsati (mindfulness directed to the body)? Give reasons for your answer based on the four excerpts in this section.

GDW 109 Explanation of D2 7:56

Using the explanation given in SKE Melaka as the base, supplementary materials from other venues are inserted at their relevant places to produce this composite explanation of 21 workshops.

Gaṇakamoggallāna Sutta MN 107 [00:24]
Chappāṇakopama Sutta SN 35:20 [01:24]
Sense-restraint is a result of kāyagatāsati [02:32]
Janapadakalyāṇi Sutta SN 47:20 [02:50]
“Turning attention outwards” includes following irrelevant mental activities [03:40]
Mahāmoggallāna Sutta Ud 3.5 [04:26]
Progression from kāyagatāsati to Nibbāna [04:32]
Don’t jump to conclusions [05:09]
De-focused awareness reduces chances of grasping at signs & features [07:00]

GDW 111 Introduction to Section 3 and Instruction for D3 41:37

A comprehensive introduction to Section 3 “What Is Kāyagatāsati?” comprising footages from SKE as the base and supplemented with clips from other venues.

Why kāyagatāsati is crucial for a good death [00:20]
Why Kāyagatā Sati Sutta (MN 119) is not included in the extracts [02:00]
Is ānāpānassati kāyagatāsati? [05:30]
Is asubha meditation kāyagatāsati? [10:58]
Simile of a city with 6 gates: Does kāya mean only the physical body? [15:20]
Can kāya mean something other than the physical body?

Five feeling faculties that cease in an irregular order [19:00]
Why is there no pain when one is in the 1st jhāna? [22:45]
Does beauty lie in the eyes of the beholder? [23:42]
Physical and mental pain during meditation [25:17]
Is displeasure always accompanied by dosa (anger, aversion, hate)? [27:00]
Can the Buddha experience vexation? [28:40]
Experiencing happiness with the body in the 3rd jhāna [30:30]
Feeling, perception and consciousness are conjoined [33:30]
Temporary cessation of the mind [33:44]
Contacts with the body after transcending materiality [34:33]
Body witness [36:36]

Instruction for Discussion D3 [40:00]

GDW 112 Guided Open Awareness Meditation at Uttama Bodhi Vihara 19:02

Participants are required to keep their eyes open while following the guided meditations so that they can continue to practise mindfulness during their daily lives when their eyes are open most of the time.

In this particular guided meditation, the participants are required to try to remain absolutely still as an exercise for learning to catch intentions.

GDW 113 Presentation of Discussion Topic D3 42:39

What is kāyassati (mindfulness of the body) / kāyagatāsati (mindfulness directed to the body)? Give reasons for your answer based on the four excerpts in this section.

Participants from various venues shared their group views on this topic. This is a composite video of the more interesting clips. Some presentations are objective and straight to the point, but some are based on over-reading into the suttas or unsubstantiated assumptions.

Using the explanation given in SKE Melaka as the base, supplementary materials from other venues are inserted at their relevant places to produce this composite explanation of D3 from the best of 21 workshops.

00:00:00 Start
00:00:16 Presentations from SABS (Shah Alam Buddhist Society)
00:09:27 Presentations from KMBS (Kinrara Mettā Buddhist Society)
00:12:19 Presentations from SJBA (Subang Jaya Buddhist Association)
00:22:39 Presentations from ML (Mettā Lodge, Johor Baru)
00:32:15 Presentation from SBS (Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary, Taiping)
00:38:58 Presentation from BUBS (Bandar Utama Buddhist Society)


GDW 114 Explanation of Discussion D3 1:07:29

This may appear to be a simple question for a discussion topic, but the answer eluded Bhante Aggacitta himself for many years until he read a PhD thesis by a Taiwanese scholar. From there he got the key to open the doors to understand, in theory and practice, the enigmatic Pāli term kāyagatāsati.

00:00:00 Start
00:00:13 Introduction
00:01:12 Kāya is not JUST the physical body
00:04:29 Kāya is NOT the physical body
00:07:50 Kāya refers to the person or ‘subjective experiencer’
00:09:56 Body in “anybody”, everybody” and “somebody”
00:11:00 Kāyagatāsati is NOT ānāpānassati
00:12:08 Critique A of Kāyagatāsati Sutta (MN 119)
00:13:50 Kāyagatāsati is NOT asubhabhāvanā
00:15:00 Restraint of the 5 senses followed by kāyagatāsati
00:15:26 Critique B of Kāyagatāsati Sutta (MN 119)
00:16:16 Nature of kāyagatāsati
00:17:38 Kāyagatāsati in the context of sense restraint
00:19:41 Difference between “mano” and “kāya”
00:25:09 Gratitude to Asst. Professor Kuan Tse-fu
00:27:05 What is sati?
00:27:47 Current popular understanding of mindfulness
00:29:03 Original vs popular meaning of mindfulness
00:29:36 Asian translations of sati
00:30:37 Interpretation of the Chinese character for sati
00:31:18 4 Rs of mindfulness
00:31:32 Remember
00:34:14 Recollect
00:35:50 Remind
00:36:06 Retrospect
00:37:32 Difference between “recollect” and “retrospect”
00:38:58 2 functions of saññā
00:39:27 What actually is “present-moment-awareness”?
00:41:20 Kāyagatāsati = mindfulness of the ‘subjective experiencer’
00:43:45 ADA Anchor
00:45:32 Why kāyagatāsati can be firm yet fragile
00:46:27 Defocused vs focused open awareness
00:49:08 Unusual nature of mindfulness in Kiṃsukopama Sutta (SN 35.198)
00:50:40 4 qualities of a wise man in Vassakāra Sutta (AN 4.35)
00:52:20 The usefulness and importance of kāyagatāsati
00:53:20 Kāyagatāsati can be samatha and/or vipassanā
00:56:51 Nibbāna cannot be attained without practising kāyagatāsati
00:57:35 Atthinukhopariyāya Sutta (SN 35.153)
00:58:26 5 grounds of acceptance: faith, liking, hearsay, intellection, reasoned acceptance of a view
01:03:30 How to be liberated without depending on any of these grounds
01:04:13 Importance of right view when practising kāyagatāsati
01:06:17 Importance of right effort when practising kāyagatāsati
01:07:13 So, what are you waiting for?