basic beliefs and practices o the basic doctrines of early buddhism, which remain common to all...

Basic Beliefs and PracticesBasic Beliefs and Practices

o The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the four noble truths.

The Three RefugesThe Three Refuges(Jewels)(Jewels)

o The Buddhao The Dharma

(teachings, doctrine)

o The Sangha (the Order)

The Teachings of the BuddhaThe Teachings of the Buddha The Four Noble Truths

Preface to the Four Noble Truths:The Middle Path

Two extremes to be avoided:

(1) Hedonism

(2) Asceticism

This Middle Path is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration . . . .

By avoiding these two extremes, we discover a Middle Path, a path which opens the eyes, which bestows understanding, and which leads to peace of mind, to wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana.

http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering1. The Noble Truth of Suffering

Birth is suffering, aging and deterioration is suffering, disease is suffering, death is suffering. The presence of hateful objects is suffering; the absence of lovable objects is suffering; not getting what we desire [i.e., getting what we don’t want and not getting what wedo want] is suffering. To put it briefly, the fivefold clinging [attachment] to existence [through the body, sensation, consciousness, perception, and volition --the five skandhas or components of humanpersonhood] is suffering.


2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering

The cause is the selfish craving [tanha, “thirst,”“desire”] that leads to rebirth and which isaccompanied by lust for pleasure, seekingsatisfaction now here, now there. This selfishcraving takes three main forms: (a) craving forpleasure, (b) craving for [continued] existence, and(c) craving for non-existence.*

*Some traditions make (c) a craving for prosperity or for personal happiness.


3. The Noble Truth of the 3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of SufferingCessation of Suffering

Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfishcraving – a cessation which consists in the absence ofevery passion [nirvana, “no passion,” the “blowingout” of tanha]. Suffering ceases with the laying asideof, the giving up of, the being free from, the dwellingno longer upon this selfish craving.


4. The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the cessation of suffering

It is the Noble Eightfold Path, that isto say, Right Views, Right Intent,Right Speech, Right Conduct, RightLivelihood, Right Effort, RightMindfulness, and RightConcentration.


Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold Path

Right views (Samma ditthi)

Right intent (Samma sankappa)

Right speech (Samma vaca)

Right conduct (Samma kammanta)

Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)

Right effort (Samma vayama)

Right mindfulness (Samma sati)

Right concentration (Samma samadhi)

Wisdom (prajna)

Morality (sila)

Meditation (samadhi)


1. Right Views1. Right Views

The Four Noble Truths The doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman)

– Transitoriness (anicca): impermanence– The Five Components or Aggregates

(skandhas) of human personhood– Interdependent Origination

Karma & Samsara (rebirth) Nirvana (what is it?)

(Eightfold Path, continued)


The Five Components (skandhas) of personhood

Person

Body (rupa)

Mind (nama)

Sensation (vedana)

Consciousness (vinnana)

Perception (sanna)

Volition (sankhara)

(No-self, cont’d)

The doctrine ofThe doctrine ofInterdependent OriginationInterdependent Origination

((Paticca SamuppadaPaticca Samuppada))

The interdependence & relativity of all things

(No-self, cont’d)


2. Right Intent2. Right Intent(Resolution)(Resolution)

Right intent or resolution

is the intent or resolution to live & act

in accordance with right views.



3. Right Speech3. Right Speech

No lying No slander No harsh or rude talk No profanity No impolite or abusive

language No idle or foolish

chatter

Strive to use language meaningfully & usefully

Learn to maintain “noble silence”



4. Right 4. Right ConductConduct

No harming & killing No stealing No lying & deceitfulness No sexual immorality No use of intoxicants

Eat moderately & not after noon.

Stay away from dancing, singing, & dramatic spectacles.

Do not use garlands, scents, unguents, or ornaments.

Do not use high or broad beds.

Do not accept gold or silver (money in general?).


The Five Precepts (for everybody) & the Ten Precepts (for monks & nuns)


5. Right Livelihood5. Right Livelihood(Vocation)(Vocation)

Choose professions that promote life, peace, & spiritual progress (especially life in the

Specifically prohibited professions: poison peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher, manufacturer & trader of liquor & other intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader, tax collector, caravan trader.



6. Right Effort(purification of the mind)

Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind from arising

Getting rid of such states of mind that may already exist

Bringing about good & wholesome states of mind Developing & perfecting good & wholesome

states of mind that are already present



7. Right Mindfulness

Activities of the body (breathing, walking, sitting, eating, heartbeat, etc.)

Feelings (anger, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, etc.) States of mind (thoughts, ideas, etc.) Ways of conceptualizing things (the Four

Noble Truths, the Wheel of Becoming, etc.)

Focusing of attention on:

(Eightfold P

ath, continued)


8. Right Concentration

One-pointed concentration

The four absorptions:

1 Detachment from all sense objects & from negative states of mind; thought processes accompanied by joy

2 Cessation of all mental activities; internal calm, peace of mind, joy to the point of great elation

3 Cessation of all passions & prejudices; continued sense of joy

4 Cessation of joy; total tranquillity & equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship)

Preliminary concentration on the Four Sublime Moods: love, compassion, cheerfulness, & impartiality



basic beliefs and practices o the basic doctrines of early buddhism, which remain common to all...

Documents

right intent

noble eightfold path

contd slide

right livelihood vocation

right effort purification

order slide

right views samma ditthi

right mindfulness samma