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I read the following comment on the internet:

Buddhadasa, his health failed him revealed he had no attainment in "Anapanasati", though written 550 pages on it. He was just a Bhikkhu-scholar groomed by Theosophical Society, his teaching contained poison.

Is there any evidence Buddhadasa was groomed by the Theosophical Society? Also, what evidence exists the health of Buddhadasa failed him to prevent Anapanasati? When he was in his final years, I saw he would sit very still crossed legged (although with back supported by chair) for up to 3 hours giving a talk. There was no visible evidence to most people in the audience he had physical discomfort (unlike the audience, who often sat in physical discomfort for at least 2 hours). In fact, at a time when it was said his passing was imminent, I saw him lose often consciousness when giving a (live translated) lecture when the translator would speak; then he would be woken up; and continue the talk exactly at the point he previously stopped. Most importantly, what errors did Buddhasasa make in his teachings about Anapanasati?

Dhamma Dhatu
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    I don't know Bikkhu Buddhadhasa, but I've met several monks and laypeople who can stand still in lotus posture for much more than 3 hours, I believe that by itself is a feat but not a mark of some kind of attainment. – Miguel Ping Sep 02 '18 at 12:24
  • I don't know anyone without a calm body that can sit still for 3 hours. Regardless, the question is not about "attainment". It is about basic anapanasati. One thing I am confident about is you cannot sit still for 3 hours. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 02 '18 at 23:15
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    The quote you mention specifically says "... had no attainment in Anapanasati". I don't understand how you can be confident of someone else's practice. – Miguel Ping Sep 04 '18 at 11:41
  • Well, you made a comment elsewhere referring to Mahayana Masters. How could you be confident in them? Buddhadasa taught Anapanasati correctly because it accords with the Dhamma. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 11:57

2 Answers2

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According to your question:

Did the Thai monk Bhikkhu Buddhadasa teach Anapansati incorrectly?

Buddhadasa's ānāpānassati is the translation version of paṭisambhidāmagga, visuddhimagga, and ānāpānassati's commentary. He copied all of them from the commentary.

So, for the anti-abhidhammist, it is incorrect. But for the abhidhammist it is correct.

Bonn
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  • This answer is obviously wrong because Buddhadada obviously did not copy "all" of it. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 12:54
  • Obviously, the conclusion of the original is a copy. Or you can give me the difference place of them? Everyone can read in my link to prove what I have written above. – Bonn Sep 04 '18 at 12:59
  • I have never read Buddhadasa's 550 pages. I tried to read it once but found it too long with too much unnecessary things. The book translated in 1988 is sufficient and better. https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books3/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Anapanasati_Mindfulness_with_Breathing.htm However, the parts highlighted in my answer are correct according to the suttas. For the anti-abhidhammist, the parts i highlighted are correct – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 13:02
  • You can compare it with the link I put above. – Bonn Sep 04 '18 at 13:04
  • I do not need to compare it. Obviously, the 550 page book is based on paṭisambhidāmagga, visuddhimagga, and ānāpānassati's commentary. However, this does not mean it is all incorrect. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 13:05
  • You never read from the other teacher, can't prove whether it is incorrect or correct as well. – Bonn Sep 04 '18 at 13:12
  • Its correct according to the suttas. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 13:26
  • I can quote the correct words and ignore the incorrect words of the thieve to admired him as a guiltless person as well. Because I have biases. But if I want really prove the evidence I must try to understand them all, thieve, plaintiff witnessed, and defendant. This is how people should do before judge something. That's the reason why I memorize them in pāli before judge them. – Bonn Sep 04 '18 at 13:36
  • You are welcome to quote whatever you wish but this is irrelevant to the question. The question is about the correct teaching of anapanasati. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 04 '18 at 21:16
  • Can't you read your own question? – Bonn Sep 05 '18 at 01:34
  • I can read the question. You did not answer the question. – Dhamma Dhatu Sep 05 '18 at 06:17
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About anapanasati, there are many modern teachers talking about this but I have only read Buddhadasa comment extensively on the key phrase found in the sutta, namely: "He trains himself".

The same as Buddhadasa, the suttas define the term "training" to refer to the Threefold Training, as follows:

There are these three trainings. Which three? The training in heightened virtue, the training in heightened mind, the training in heightened discernment.

AN 3.88 Sikkha Sutta: Training

This below from his 550 pages is merely one point providing evidence to a hypothesis that Buddhadasa taught anapanasati correctly and every one else taught anapanasati incorrectly.

enter image description here

Related to the point above, the Buddha said he teaches about suffering & the cessation of suffering (MN 22). Suffering is created by the mind rather than by the body. Since the phrase: "He trains himself" must include insight into suffering & the ending of suffering, that is, the four noble truths, I have also only read Buddhadasa teach this from step 3, as follows:

enter image description here

This above from his 550 pages is merely a 2nd point providing evidence to a hypothesis that Buddhadasa taught anapanasati correctly and every one else taught anapanasati incorrectly.

Below from his 550 pages is a 3rd point providing evidence to a hypothesis that Buddhadasa taught anapanasati correctly and every one else taught anapanasati incorrectly. I have never read the following explanation by any other teacher; yet the explanation below accords with the principles in the suttas about feeling & perception.

enter image description here

Buddhadasa explains this more clearly in his later work, below:

EXPERIENCING THE MIND-CONDITIONER

Now we come to step seven: "experiencing the mind­-conditioner (cittasankhara-patisamvedi)." If we have completed step six successfully, then we know all about the feelings of piti and sukha. What does the arising of piti do to the citta? What does the arising of sukha do to the citta? What kind of thoughts does piti condition? What kind of thoughts does sukha condition? We have noted and scrutinized these effects since steps five and six. Once we come to step seven, it is easy to realize that, "Oh, piti and sukha are mind-conditioners." These vedana are mind-conditioners in the same way that the breath is the body-conditioner. The method of study and observation is the same as in step three. (107)

We have observed that piti is coarse and excited, whereas sukha is fine and peaceful. Thus, when piti conditions or brews up a thought, the thought is coarse. On the other hand, when sukha brews up a thought, it is calm and tranquil. This is how we realize that the vedana condition thoughts. Then we realize that the feelings condition both coarse thoughts and subtle thoughts. We call this activity "conditioning the mind." (108)

When piti is strong, it causes trembling in the body. And if it is very strong the body might even dance or bounce with joy. This feel­ing is coarse and powerful. On the other hand, sukha is calming, soothing, and relaxing. We learn that their characteristics are very different. When piti dominates the mind, it is impossible to think subtle thoughts. We feel a tingling all over; it makes the hair stand up all over our bodies. So we need to be able to control piti. Sukha, however, has advantages. It leads to tranquil, refined states. It can cause subtle, profound, and refined thoughts. It is as if these two feelings are opponents or foes. But that does not matter, for we know how to regulate them. We are able to control them by training according to the method we are now practicing. Just this much is to understand the citta-sankhara reasonably well already.

In the end, we will realize that the feelings (e.g., piti and sukha) are mind-conditioners. When piti conditions it, the citta is coarse and its thoughts are coarse, both the mind and the thoughts are coarse. When sukha conditions or supports it, the citta is subtle and tranquil, and its thoughts are subtle and tranquil. Both feelings condition the mind, but from different angles. The vedana are conditioners of the citta, thus they get the name "mind-conditioner (citta-sankhara)." (112)

Unveiling the Secrets of Life: a Manual for Serious Beginners

Dhamma Dhatu
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