Brahmas at formless realms are unable to hear the teachings of the Buddha
score:2
Accepted answer
I get the impression that a "human" birth is seen as the best for gaining enlightenment:
- A lower birth (e.g. animal, ghost, hell) has too little ability -- not enough intelligence, or too much unrelenting suffering
- A higher birth has too little need -- no desire for enlightenment, renunciation, liberation -- like if everything seems heavenly, or if you seem all-powerful, or if you and your friends all seem to live forever, then how could understand talk about "suffering"?
The formless realms are associated with the highest heavens -- see here for example: The Thirty-one Planes of Existence
Combining 1. and 2., perhaps it stands to reason then, that if the formless realm results in highest heaven, then it is not conducive to enlightenment.
That's maybe in addition to more mechanical explanation, like,
The inhabitants of these realms are possessed entirely of mind. Having no physical body, they are unable to hear Dhamma teachings.
Also earlier in MN 26 you have it that Alara Kalama himself attained the formless realm, and who taught the Buddha when he was a seeker -- and was (unlike the Buddha) apparently satisfied with that.
More post
- π Different transmissions for reciting various versions of a same mantra acc. to any of Vajrayana branches
- π Loving-Kindness for Concentration
- π Buddhism on suicide
- π How is it that we cycle through the nanas?
- π How to accept and surrender to the mind's non-acceptance of doubt and ill-will?
- π What is the exact meaning of catuparisa (catu-parisa)?
- π How would a Buddhist advise on this subset of problems of motivation?
- π Studying the subject "the four Buddhist schools/systems of tenets" (VaibhΔαΉ£ika, SautrΔntika, CittamΔtra, MΔdhyamika) in English
- π Does the universe ever end?
- π Does the fifth precept ban smoking?
- π How to offer food in Buddhism?
- π Civilization based on the teachings of Buddha
- π Was Buddha/did Buddha teach Vegetarianism?
- π When should one ask a question of someone other than themselves?
- π Are there studies about the difference between meditating in the morning versus in the evening?
- π Ultimate Lack of Discipline
- π What is wrong with my vision of karma?
- π Is there an absolute and known hierarchy in the Dharma?
- π Is it ok to become a monk?
- π Why can't I be happy in the pursuit of Nirvana?
- π let go of wanting to change the past in my meditation practice
- π Impermanence causing depression and anxiety
- π What could I say to someone when they ask me "why do you meditate?"
- π What are some techniques to practice Anatta with the five aggregates?
- π Where does the consciousness (cittas) originate inside the body?
- π Unintentionally killing insects when playing sports and running
- π How to deal with insults?
- π Sensations in practice
- π Right effort and concentration
- π How do we guarantee the accuracy and validity of Buddhist scriptures?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Brahmas at formless realms are unable to hear the teachings of the Buddha
- π Did the Buddha speak Pali? Are the suttas his word verbatim?
- π What are the Core Teachings of Buddhism?
- π Are there examples of the Buddha showing humour in the Pali Canon?
- π What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?
- π Are the 16 stages of Insight mentioned by the Buddha in the early Pali texts or are they a later addition to the Dharma?
- π What are the Eighteen Buddha Attributes?
- π What are the teachings in Buddhism for good social Social Health?
- π What are the Buddhist teachings on how best to live a married life?
- π There is a text where Buddha says that the Dharma he teaches is not a secret doctrine so why are there sects which maintain secrecy?
- π Why did the Buddha contradict about His teachings in these two different suttas?
- π Does Vajrayana accept the idea that Buddha placed Lord Yama (a supposed Bodhisattva) in charge of the hell realms to ensure karmic retribution?
- π Where did the Buddha say that Teachings that don't contain the Noble Eightfold Path cannot lead to Enlightenment?
- π Civilization based on the teachings of Buddha
- π Ignorance of others when practising the teachings of the Buddha
- π Are Teachings developed "after the fact"?
- π What are the occasions did Panchasika or Pansilu meet the Buddha
- π What are the suttas in which the Buddha describes suffering as "burning"
- π In what ways are the Advaita concept of 'Nirguna Brahman' and the Buddhist concept of Buddha Nature similar and different?
- π Are monks allowed to have prescriptions? What did the Buddha say of medicine?
- π Why are exceptionally tall statues of the Buddha and Guanyin built?
- π What are the texts which say or imply what the Buddha looked like?
- π What are the sutta references for the Buddha unsuccessfully attempting to stop wars/battles?
- π Vajrayana Buddhism: Teachings the Buddha reserved for "only some individuals"?
- π Pali Canon: Did the Buddha ever offer teachings without being asked to?
- π Are the formless jhanas without any consciouness of form at all?
- π What are the cylinders in front of the Buddha statue at NanzΕ-in Temple, Japan?
- π About the Buddha Preaching that we Humans are Aliens
- π Form in the formless realms
- π References to descriptions of the formless realms in the suttas (or other Theravada texts)