HOW DO WE BALANCE EAGERNESS WITH SPIRITUAL MATURITY? - Dhamma Q&A

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Meghiya Sutta (Ud 4.1):

"The question I would like to ask is about Meghiya’s eagerness. Meghiya sees that, unlike the Buddha, there is something further to do and there is something to add to what has been done, but his liberation of mind is not fully mature. May I know how we should check that our eagerness and maturity in mind is balanced?"

We take the opportunity, while answering this question, to take an extended look at Venerable Meghiya, the challenges he faced and how he matured in his spiritual practice after following the Buddha's admonishment, advice and wise counsel. Following this teaching Venerable Meghiya attained the fruit of stream entry, proving he was obedient to the Buddha (or "suvaco", easy to instruct) and eventually he attained the fruit of arahantship. With the Buddha and the noble disciples as his good friends and companions, the whole of the spiritual life, it is understandable why he was able to realise nibbana.

The key areas that we will focus on are:

• — understanding the challenges faced by Venerable Meghiya and how one determines spiritual immaturity
• — the five things recommended by the Buddha that leads to maturity in one who's liberation of mind is not fully mature
• — the Buddha's emphasis on good friendship
• — additional suttas references and examples to support this teaching
• — cross-references to other relevant Dhamma talks on the podcast (Virtue - https://bit.ly/3DVPwwp; Beneficial Talk - https://bit.ly/3LDQNKa; Energetic - https://bit.ly/3StqCbs; and The Story of Radha Thera - https://bit.ly/3StqJno)

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

• — Mahāgopālaka Sutta (MN 33)
• — Samacittavagga (AN 2.38)
• — Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54)
• — Mahāsuññata Sutta (MN 122)
• — Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53)
• — Desanāhāravibhaṅga (Ne 4)
• — Dutiyasekha Sutta (Iti 17)
• — Sambodhi Sutta (AN 9.1)
• — Mitta Sutta (SN 56.26)
• — Upaḍḍha Sutta (SN 45.2)
• — Sambahulabhikkhu Vatthu (Dhp 328-330)
• — Mahākassapasaddhivihārika Vatthu (Dhp 61)
• — Meghiythera Vatthu (Dhp 33-34)
• — Rādhatthera Vatthu (Dhp 76)
• — Meghiyattheragāthā (Thag 1.66)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who requested this talk.

The video of this Dhamma session has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpiytVy0ZOY

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

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