THE BUDDHA'S PRACTICES & TEACHINGS FOR NIVVANA

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Important Buddhism Terms

#Four Noble Truths #Noble Eightfold Path #Sacca (truth) #Adhiṭṭhāna (resolute determination) #Dāna (generosity) #Passaddhi (tranquillity) #Nekkhamma (renunciation) #Upekkhā (equanimity) #Khanti (patience) #Metta (loving-kindness) #Vīrya (diligence) #Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment)

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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

Four Noble Truths चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि (catvāri āryasatyāni) : "The four Arya satyas") are "the truths of the Noble Ones", the truths or realities for the "spiritually worthy ones". ~The truths are: 1. dukkha (literally "suffering"; here "unsatisfactoriness" is an innate characteristic of existence in the realm of samsara;

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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

2. samudaya (origin, arising, combination; 'cause'): dukkha arises or continues with taṇhā ("craving, desire or attachment, lit. 'thirst'). While taṇhā is traditionally interpreted in western languages as the 'cause' of dukkha, tanha can also be seen as the factor tying us to dukkha, or as a response to dukkha, trying to escape it;

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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

3. nirodha (cessation, ending, confinement): dukkha can be ended or contained by the renouncement or letting go of this taṇhā; the confinement of taṇhā releases the excessive bind of dukkha; 4. marga (path, Noble Eightfold Path) is the path leading to the confinement of tanha and dukkha.

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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS: Buddha said...

~idam dukkham, "this is pain" ~ayam dukkha-samudayo, "this is the origin of pain" ~ayam dukkha-nirodha, "this is the cessation of pain" ~ayam dukkha-nirodha-gamini patipada, "this is the path leading to the cessation of pain." _Gamini: leading to, making for. _Patipada: road, path, way; the means of reaching a goal or destination

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According to Emmanuel,

~Dukkha is the opposite of sukha, "pleasure", and it is better translated as "pain". ~Samudaya – "origin", "source", "arising", "coming to existence"; "aggregate of the constituent elements or factors of any being or existence", "cluster", "coming together", "combination", "producing cause", "combination", "rising".

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Conjunct of: sam, uday, nirodha, magga(marg)

~Sam - "with, together with"; ~Udaya - "rising," "swelling up"; "rising up, coming forth"; "elevation, exaltation, rise; growth"; "result, consequence"; ~Nirodha – cessation; release; to confine; "prevention, suppression, enclosing, restraint" ~Magga, Marga – "path".

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The Noble Eightfold Path:

Direct means to nirvana and brings a release from the cycle of life and death in the realms of samsara. The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi ('meditative absorption or union'; alternatively, equanimous meditative awareness).

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The Buddha said (Nagara Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya):

"And what is that ancient path, that ancient road, travelled by the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of former times? Just this noble eightfold path: right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. That is the ancient path, the ancient road, travelled by the Rightly Self-awakened Ones of former times."

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The Buddha said (Nagara Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya)

"I followed that path. Following it, I came to direct knowledge of aging & death, direct knowledge of the origination of aging & death, direct knowledge of the cessation of aging & death, direct knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of aging & death. I followed that path."

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The Buddha said (Nagara Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya)

"Following it, I came to direct knowledge of birth... becoming... clinging... craving... feeling... contact... the six sense media... name-&-form... consciousness, direct knowledge of the origination of consciousness, direct knowledge of the cessation of consciousness, direct knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of consciousness. I followed that path."

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TRIKAYA DOCTRINE

The doctrine says that Buddha has three kāyas or bodies, ~the Dharmakāya (ultimate reality), ~the Saṃbhogakāya (divine incarnation of Buddha), and ~the Nirmāṇakāya (physical incarnation of Buddha). #The Dharmakāya, "Dharma body," ultimate reality, "pure being itself," Buddha nature, emptiness, akin to Nirguna Brahman, it is usually associated with Vairocana;

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TRIKAYA DOCTRINE

#The Saṃbhogakāya, "Enjoyment (or Bliss) body," the divine Buddhas of the Buddha realms, akin to Saguna Brahman, it is usually associated with Amitabha; #The Nirmāṇakāya, "Transformation (or Appearance) Body," physical appearance in the world, it is usually associated with Gautama.

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The scholars of the Sutras and Treatises take the

Three Bodies as absolute. As I see it, this is not so. These Three Bodies are merely names, or props. An old master said: "The (Buddha's) Bodies are set up with reference to meaning; the (Buddha) Fields are distinguished with reference to substance." However, understood clearly, the Dharma Nature Bodies and the Dharma Nature Fields are only mental configurations.

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Sacca (truth) & other terms

#Sacca (truth) #Adhiṭṭhāna (resolute determination) #Dāna (generosity) #Passaddhi (tranquillity) #Nekkhamma (renunciation) #Upekkhā (equanimity) #Khanti (patience) #Metta (loving-kindness) #Vīrya (diligence) #Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment)

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10 Parami (perfection)

~Parami (perfection) ~Pañña (wisdom) ~Sacca (truth) ~Dāna (generosity) ~Passaddhi (tranquillity) ~Nekkhamma (renunciation) ~Upekkhā (equanimity) ~Khanti (patience) ~Metta (loving-kindness) ~Vīrya (diligence)

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Bodhipakkhiyādhammā, 37 practices of Bodhisatvas

Seven sets of thirty-seven qualities are: #The four foundations of mindfulness, #The four right kinds of striving, #The four bases of success, #The five spiritual faculties, #The five spiritual powers, #The seven factors of enlightenment and #The Noble Eightfold Path. (Courtesy: wikipedia & others)

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Four establishments/presences of mindfulness

Four establishments/presences of mindfulness (cattāro satipaṭṭhānā) are: ~Mindfulness of the body (kāyānupassanā) ~Mindfulness of feelings (vedanānupassanā) ~Mindfulness of mental states (cittānupassanā) ~Mindfulness of mental qualities (dhammānupassanā)

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Four right exertions/efforts/strivings

Four right exertions/efforts/strivings (cattāro sammappadhānā) are: ~Effort for the preventing of unskillful states to arise ~Effort for the abandoning of the already arisen unskillful states ~Effort for the arising of skillful states ~Effort for the sustaining and increasing of arisen skillful states

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Four bases of spiritual power

Four bases of spiritual power (cattāro iddhipādā) ~Intention or will (chanda, S. chanda) ~Effort (viriya, S. vīrya) ~Consciousness (citta, S. citta) ~Skill of Analysis (vīmaṁsa or vīmaŋsā, S. mimāṃsā)

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Pañca indriya: Five spiritual faculties

Five spiritual faculties (pañca indriya) are: ~Conviction (saddhā, S. śraddhā) ~Effort (viriya, s. vīrya) ~Mindfulness (sati, S. smṛti) ~Concentration/Unification (samādhi, S. samādhi) ~Wisdom (paññā, S. prajñā)

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Five Strengths (pañca bala)

Five Strengths (pañca bala) are: ~Conviction (saddhā) ~Effort (viriya, S. vīrya) ~Mindfulness (sati) ~Concentration/Unification (samādhi) ~Wisdom (paññā)

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Bodhiyangas: Seven factors of awakening

Seven Factors of bodhi (awakening, understanding) ~Mindfulness (sati) ~Investigation (dhamma vicaya) ~Effort (viriya) ~Joy (pīti) ~Tranquillity (passaddhi) ~Concentration/Unification (samādhi) ~Equanimity (upekkhā)

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Noble Eightfold Path

~Right Understanding ~Right Intention ~Right Speech ~Right Action ~Right Livelihood ~Right Effort/Energy ~Right Mindfulness ~Right Concentration/Unification

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Threefold Partition, Method of Practice

विपश्यना साधना; शील, समाधि, प्रज्ञा 1. VIRTUE : Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood. (By Five Precepts) 2. MIND : Right Efforts Right Mindfulness. Right Concentration (By Dwelling in the four jhanas (meditation) 3. WISDOM : Right View Right Intention (By Knowing Four Noble Truths)

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Four Efforts and Their Supporting Powers

#Effort of Guarding: being keen and alert to interferences from the outside and to all situations and actions that counter the acquiring of the virtues of Calm-Abiding. #Effort of Aspiration: cheerfully and diligently working in such way that despondency or a self-defeating depression are in check and eradicated.

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Four Efforts and Their Supporting Powers

#Effort of Engagement: the application of energy and positive emotion that is balanced and consistent. #Effort of Attainment: not settling for a half-hearted attempt, but full attainment because of the aspiration to end one's own suffering and that of others.

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Six Faults and Eight √Antidotes

1) Laziness (kausidya):√1. Confidence (sraddha) √2. Intentional austerity (cchandra tapasya) √3. Concious exertion (vyayama) √4. Serenity (prasrabdhi) 2) Forgetting the object (avavada-sammosha): √5. Remembrance (smrti) 3) Passivity & 4). Excitation: (laya-auddhatya) √6. Introspection (samprajanya) 5). Non-Application (anabhoga): √7. Application (bhogata) 6). Over-Application (bhogata): √8. Impartiality (upeksa)

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The four types of attention

The four types of attention (catavaramanaskara) are: ~Forceful attention (balavahama) ~Disturbed attention (sacchidravahama) ~Immovable attention (nischidravahama) ~Spontaneous attention (anabhogacahama)

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Nine Meditation-Deepening Stages

~1st Stage Stabilizing in the Mind Cittasthapana ~2nd Stage Continuous Stabilizing Samsthapana ~3rd Stage Habitual Stabilization Avasthapana ~4th Stage Near Stabilization Upasthapana ~5th Stage Habituation Damana ~6th Stage Pacifying Shamana ~7th Stage Thorough Pacification Vyupasthamana ~8th Stage Becoming One-pointed Ekotikarana ~9th Stage Entrance Into Samadhi Upacara-samādhi

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Higher Insight Levels

#Levels One and Two, the meditator starts by using the powers of listening and pondering the meaning of the Dharma and this fires-up the motivation and zeal to stay with the concentration on the breath, the object of meditative concentration. #Level Three and Four, the power of continuous non-discursive recollection of the understanding of the dharma gained by studying and the deeply pondering of it, ...

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Higher Insight Levels

...brings about a capacity for periodic engagement of concentration. #Level Five and Six, through the power of Watchfulness or Alertness, although our engagement is still periodic, wavering is diminishing. This power indicates that the meditator firmly and clearly comprehends what is occurring and what he or she is doing.

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Higher Insight Levels

#Level Seven and Eight, the power of Diligence or Effort, the mind is Concentrated and pliant of both body and mind, and the meditator's engagement in concentration is uninterrupted. #Level Nine, with the power of complete adaptation/habituation full Calm-Abiding is attained, the mind is naturally settled.

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Beyond the 9th Stage

After the 9th Stage is attained, many new and extraordinary experiences come, which have never been experienced before. When these experiences come, this is the sign that Calm-Abiding has been attained. From the heart of the meditating monk emanates a rainbow. The monk is shown flying alone; this is bodily bliss.

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The Vipassana Meditation

~The only conversion involved in Vipassana is from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation. ~Real wisdom is recognizing and accepting that every experience is impermanent. ~With this insight you will not be overwhelmed by ups and downs. And when you are able to maintain an inner balance, you can choose to act in ways that will create happiness for you and for others.

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The Vipassana Meditation

~Living each moment happily with an equanimous mind, you will surely progress toward the ultimate goal of liberation from all suffering. ~The mind spends most of the time lost in fantasies and illusions, reliving pleasant or unpleasant experiences and anticipating the future with eagerness or fear. ~While lost in such cravings or aversions, we are unaware of what is happening now, what we are doing now.

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~We cannot live in the past; it is gone.

Nor can we live in the future; it is forever beyond our grasp. We can live only in the present. If we are unaware of our present actions, we are condemned to repeating the mistakes of the past and can never succeed in attaining our dreams for the future. ~Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.

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~The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion;

He taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal. ~Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist. ~Rather than converting people from one organised religion to another organised religion, we should try to convert people from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation and from cruelty to compassion. (Courtesy: VRI, wikipedia and others)

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Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

"If we can develop the ability to be aware of the present moment, we can use the past as a guide for ordering our actions in the future, so that we may attain our goal. I am against conversion (to Buddhism). In my speech at the UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not from one organised religion to another, but from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation." ~S. N. Goenka

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