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| .: Basics of Buddhism :. |
| .: Welcome to Metta Sangha -- Online Sangha for Teen Buddhists! :. |
| The Four Noble Truths 1. Suffering is a necessary aspect of sentient existence. 2. Suffering stems from attatchments to impermanent things. 3. Cessation of suffering is attainable. 4. The Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering. Eightfold Path Wisdom (pañña) 1. Right Understanding (or Right View, or Right Perspective) - samma ditthi "And what, monks, is right understanding? Knowledge with regard to sadness, knowledge with regard to the origination of sadness, knowledge with regard to the stopping of sadness, knowledge with regard to the way of practice leading to the stopping of sadness: This, monks, is called right understanding." 2. Right Thought (or Right Intention, or Right Resolve) - samma sankappa "And what is right thought? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill will, on harmlessness: This is called right thought." Virtue (Ethical Conduct) (sila) 3. Right Speech - samma vaca "And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech." "Surely a person is born with an axe in her mouth, and she cuts herself with it when she speaks foolish words." --Shakyamuni Buddha Buddha's advice on Right Speech: If it's not true, not beneficial, and disagreeable, don't say it. If it's not true, not beneficial, and agreeable, don't say it. If it's true, not beneficial, and disagreeable, don't say it. If it's true, not beneficial, and agreeable, don't say it. If it's true, beneficial, and disagreeable, know when to say it. If it's true, beneficial, and agreeable, know when to say it. 4. Right Action - samma kammanta "And what, monks, is right action? Abstaining from taking life, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from unchastity: This, monks, is called right action." 5. Right Livelihood - samma ajiva "And what, monks, is right livelihood? There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones, having abandoned dishonest livelihood, keeps his life going with right livelihood: This, monks, is called right livelihood." Concentration (Mental Development) (samadhi) 6. Right Effort - samma vayama "And what, monks, is right effort? (i) There is the case where a monk generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the non-arising of evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet arisen. (ii) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence (tries persistently), upholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the abandonment of evil, unskillful qualities that have arisen(rejects ineptitude). (iii) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet arisen.(hopes) (iv) He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence (tries), upholds & exerts his intent for the maintenance (strives), non-confusion (concentrates), increase (grows), plenitude (achieves), development (branches out), & culmination (flowers in) of skillful qualities that have arisen: This, monks, is called right effort." 7. Right Mindfulness - samma sati "And what, monks, is right mindfulness? (i) There is the case where a monk remains focused on (his/her) body in & of itself... ardent, aware, & mindful...putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. (ii) (He/she) remains focused on feelings in & of themselves...ardent, aware, & mindful...putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. (iii) (He/she) remains focused on the mind in & of itself...ardent, aware, & mindful...putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. (iv) (He/she) remains focused on mental qualities in & of themselves...ardent, aware, & mindful...putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. This, monks, is called right mindfulness." 8. Right Concentration - samma samadhi "And what, monks, is right concentration? (i) There is the case where a monk...not ardent, quite withdrawn from sensuality, but mindful and alert, enters in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from detachment, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. (ii) With the stilling of directed thought & evaluation, he enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration; fixed single-pointed awareness free from directed thought & evaluation; assurance. (iii) With the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful & fully aware, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana which the Noble Ones declare to be "Equanimous & mindful, (he/she) has a pleasurable abiding." (iv) With the abandoning of pleasure & pain...as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress...he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither in pleasure nor in pain. This, monks, is called right concentration." These have developed into the Five Precepts: The Five Precepts Trying to practice these vows is the bottom line of being Buddhist -- in fact, it's the bottom line of being human. Trying to live up to these vows is what being Buddhist is all about. 1. I vow not to harm nor kill any sentient being. 2. I vow not to take that which is not mine and has not been given to me. 3. I vow not to engage in harmful sex. 4. I vow not to lie, spread rumours, or use hurtful language. 5. I vow not to drink nor take drugs which cloud the mind. The Triple Gem and Refuge The Buddha is the guide. The Dharma is the path. The Sangha are the teachers or companions along the way. When we take refuge, i.e. "become Buddhists," we are taking refuge in the Triple Gem. The Three Poisons 1. Desire or Attachment 2. Aversion or Hatred 3. Delusion or Ignorance Samsara and the Realms of Rebirth Samsara is the "Cycle of Life" and once we are enlightened, we are free from this cycle. The Realms of Rebirth are different realms in which we may be reborn in depending on our Karma. The Realms of Rebirth are: 1. Devas/gods. 2. Asuras/titans. 3. Manushyas/humans. 4. Tiryakas/animals. 5. Pretas/hungry ghosts. 6. Narakas/hellb-eings. |
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