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About Anandapanyo Bhikkhu
Expertise
I can answer questions about Buddhist practice, Buddhist understanding and how to apply Buddhism to daily life. I can help analyze Buddhist sayings and teachings. In addition, I can help with questions Buddhism stories, fables and Vinaya(rules). I have meditated for over 10 years and can help you start with meditation. In addition, I can help provide insight into what to do when you feel that you have hit a wall with your meditation. My main area of expertise is how to think in accordance with Sammaditthi (the right view - and number 1 in the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. If I cannot answer your question, I have many able teachers with over 20 years experience to help me, so chances are I will be able to find an answer for you.

Experience
I have been practicing Buddhism for over 13 years. I started studying under various famous Thai Theravada masters. Finally, I met and studied under Phra Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo who has recently passed away on Nov 11, 2008 and is widely accepted as a great Arahant (fully enlightened) teacher of our time. In addition, I have personally read and studied much of the Buddhist scriptures and popular literature available. I have recently undertaken the ordination vows and have become a Buddhist monk in the theravada forest monk tradition. I reside at a temple with many dedicated practitioners and great teachers. I have been practicing training my mind to be aligned with right view (sammaditthi) for over 10 years. I have also been meditating for over 10 years. In my time spent with Acariya Thoon, I learned many things and was able to incorporate them into my life. In addition to practicing Buddhism within temples and my home, I used to own two restaurants and managed commercial real estate. I had to deal with many different and problems. I learned how to use Buddhism to fix my problems, both externally (my environment) and internally (within me).

Organizations
Wat San Fran Dhammaram Temple KPY - a non-profit religious organization

Publications
none

Education/Credentials
Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of California Santa Barbara MBA from San Francisco State

Awards and Honors
none

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Buddhists - buddhism

Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 10/20/2009

Question
should all bad karmas be worked out first before achieving nirvana?

can u explain these terms insight, contemplation meditation? how is doing good being applied there?

my question is that are good deeds absolutely necessary to gain enligtenment i had heard tales of a robber getting enligtened, upali gained enligtenment by shaving buddha's hair? i know all things are impermenent isnt that realziing the truth now?

how does conventional truth reconciled with absolute truth? it seems for me conventional truth is more of a illusion truth because it is not the ultimate truth the ultimate truth is emptiness

why still there is morality if good and evil are just our point of view whats good in buddhism may not apply to muslims at all its relativism

Answer
Dear Jaya,

"should all bad karmas be worked out first before achieving nirvana?"
No, you cannot directly control that

"can u explain these terms insight, contemplation meditation? how is doing good being applied there?"

Insight - deeply and fully understanding. Knowing why is came, where it came from, the process and how to eliminate it.
Contemplation Meditation - reflect, and use insight to contemplate upon a particular topic.

Insight is the parami of panna
Contemplation Meditation uses Panna (insight), Sati (concentration), and many others. All of these are considered good acts.

"my question is that are good deeds absolutely necessary to gain enligtenment i had heard tales of a robber getting enligtened, upali gained enligtenment by shaving buddha's hair? i know all things are impermenent isnt that realziing the truth now?"

I have explained this to you already. Good and bad deeds occur on the path to enlightenment. How can you stop doing good or bad deeds? You don't even fully know which deeds are good or bad. You don't know when you have committed them. You don't know where they came from. You don't even know why you have committed them. Therefore, how can you possibly not do any good or bad deeds? You are focusing on the wrong point. Elimination of anything cannot be done by brute force. I stress again, ELIMINATION OF ANYTHING CANNOT BE DONE BY BRUTE FORCE. You must understand and have insight pertaining to the thing you want eliminated. Then you must eliminate it in such a way that prevents it from coming back. For example, if you want to cut down a tree. If you just cut branches, or leaves, that will NOT prevent the tree from growing. However, if you study and understand how the tree works, what makes it grow and what it needs, you can cut out the trunk, pull out all the roots, and/or add cement to the dirt. This way, not only have you destroyed the tree, you have also destroyed its cause.

"how does conventional truth reconciled with absolute truth? it seems for me conventional truth is more of a illusion truth because it is not the ultimate truth the ultimate truth is emptiness"

Absolute truth is the only truth that truly exists. Conventional truths intersects with absolute truth, but not all conventional truths are absolute truths. Conventional truths are not all illusions, some of them do align with absolute truth.

"why still there is morality if good and evil are just our point of view whats good in buddhism may not apply to muslims at all its relativism"

What is good in Buddhism applies to ALL. This is because Buddhism is based on absolute truth, not someone's opinion. The Truth the Buddha taught was not his opinion. It is truth that is undeniable, it is truth that is universally understood. Therefore, that truth, which we call Dharma applies to all. Such as:

1. All things endure suffering
2. All suffering has a cause
3. All suffering will end when the cause ends

1. Everything creates suffering
2. All things are impermanent
3. All things are not-self

1. Good actions are those that create no bad effects
2. We should not kill
3. We should not use words to hurt others
4. We should not act inappropriately regrading sexuality
5. We should not take that which is not given
6. We should not take intoxicants.

These things cannot be argued by Christians, Buddhists, Muslims or anybody who uses reason to contemplate them. Therefore, the Dharma is not only for Buddhists, but for everyone.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

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