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Buddhist Romanticism

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conceit that conceit is to be abandoned.<br />

“This body comes into being through sexual intercourse. Sexual<br />

intercourse is to be abandoned. With regard to sexual intercourse, the<br />

Buddha declares the cutting off of the bridge.” — AN 4:159<br />

§ 14. Ven. Ānanda: “It wasn’t the case, brahman, that the Blessed One<br />

praised mental absorption [jhāna] of every sort, nor did he criticize mental<br />

absorption of every sort. And what sort of mental absorption did he not<br />

praise? There is the case where a certain person dwells with his awareness<br />

overcome by sensual passion, seized with sensual passion. He does not<br />

discern the escape, as it has come to be, from sensual passion once it has<br />

arisen. Making that sensual passion the focal point, he absorbs himself with<br />

it, besorbs, resorbs, & supersorbs himself with it.<br />

“He dwells with his awareness overcome by ill will… sloth &<br />

drowsiness…<br />

restlessness & anxiety…<br />

“He dwells with his awareness overcome by uncertainty, seized with<br />

uncertainty. He does not discern the escape, as it has come to be, from<br />

uncertainty once it has arisen. Making that uncertainty the focal point, he<br />

absorbs himself with it, besorbs, resorbs, & supersorbs himself with it. This<br />

is the sort of mental absorption that the Blessed One did not praise.<br />

“And what sort of mental absorption did he praise? There is the case<br />

where a monk—quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful<br />

qualities—enters & remains in the first jhāna… the second jhāna… the third<br />

jhāna… the fourth jhāna: purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither<br />

pleasure nor pain. This is the sort of mental absorption that the Blessed One<br />

praised.” — MN 108<br />

QUESTIONS OF SELF & NOT-SELF<br />

§ 15. Then Vacchagotta the wanderer went to the Blessed One and, on<br />

arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of<br />

friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there,<br />

he asked the Blessed One: “Now then, Master Gotama, is there a self?”<br />

When this was said, the Blessed One was silent.<br />

“Then is there no self?”<br />

336

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