Buddhist teachings

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Buddhist teachings
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Buddhist teachings

• Buddhist teachings play the predominant role in
  defining the religious life of Buddhism rather
  than the Buddha
• Buddhist teachings (Dharma) are difficult to
  understand
• They are gained through a profound meditative
  experience
• In order to understand them, one must meditate a
  lot as well
• Buddhism does not depend on a revelation from the
  divine for its truths.
• Buddhist truths were discovered through the
  inward reflections of a man
• The Buddha
• Everything the Buddha discovered is discoverable
  in oneself
• Rather than relying heavenly on faith, Buddhism
  emphasizes the development of wisdom
• Making Buddhism the most psychologically oriented
  religion

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The 3 Marks of Existence

• In Hinduism, the goal is to be liberated from
  Samsara and become one with Brahman- the ultimate
  reality.
• The Buddha discovered something else change
• Everything is changing
• The Buddha summarizes this changing nature of
  reality by noting Three Marks of Existence
• No self (Anatta)
• Impermanence (Anicca)
• Suffering (Dukkha)

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No-self (Anatta)

• Anatta (no-self)

• Anatta means there is no ultimate reality within,
  no essence underlying existence
• Rather than finding Atman, the Buddha found
  no-self
• The essence of Buddhism is, there is no essence
• Example where were you 10 years ago?
• You simply did not exits 10 yrs. ago
• You simply do not exist now
• You, in the future, will not be the you you are
  now

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Impermanence (Anicca)

• Anicca means impermanence
• It focuses on the idea that existence is
  constantly changing
• Life is a constant change
• Nothing we experience in life ever remains the
  same
• We get used to things our own face, family,
  friends, house, car, neighborhood- that seem to
  remain the same but that is an illusion for they
  are changing daily
• E.g. a river
• We may perceive the river as a real and
  unchanging thing, but actually it is an ongoing
  flow, a constant sequence of change.
• The same occurs to the self it appears to be
  real and unchanging, but in fact it is an ongoing
  flow

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Suffering (Dukkha)

• Dukkha means suffering or sorrow but also
  dissatisfaction
• It refers to the fact that life can never be
  fully satisfying because of its inescapable
  change.
• It is the natural result of anicca and anatta
• 3 MARKS OF REALITY ACTIVITY

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The four noble truths

• The 4 noble truths are the creed for Buddhism
• The 4 noble truths lead to liberation/nirvana
• During the Third Watch of the night of his
  enlightenment Gautama perceived the Four Noble
  Truths
• To live is to suffer
• Suffering is caused by desire
• Suffering can be brought to cessation
• The solution to suffering is the Noble Eight-fold
  path

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1st Truth To live is to suffer (Dukkha)

• Birth, old age, disease, death
• To live means to experience anxiety, loss, and
  even anguish
• Having a body means that we can be tired and sick
• Having a mind means that we can be troubled and
  discouraged
• The past cannot be relived and the future is
  uncertain

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2nd Truth Suffering comes from desire (Tanha)

• The Buddha saw that suffering comes from wanting
  what we cannot have and from never being
  satisfied with what we do have
• Tanha can be translated as desire, thirst,
  craving
• Some desires are food, clothing, friendship,
  beauty
• Desire is insatiable

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3rd Truth Suffering has an end

• this truth goes against Western notions
• Any kind of attachment will bring suffering
• Material possession
• Loved ones
• The shaven head and special clothing of monks and
  nuns symbolize their radical detachment from
  worldly concerns
• The essence of this truth is this I cannot
  change the outside world, but I can change myself
  and the way I experience the world

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4th Truth the solution to end suffering

• The solution to end suffering is the 8-fold path
  
• The way to inner peace
• The 8-fold path is represented in Buddhist art by
  a wheel with 8 spokes
• The 8 steps of the path form a program that leads
  to liberation from the impermanence and suffering
  of reality.
• The word right in the following list is a
  translation of a word that might better be
  translated as correct
• Right views
• Right intentions
• Right speech
• Right conduct
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right meditation

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Nirvana

• So, if you follow the 8-fold path, and you end
  all desires, then what?
• Nirvana literally means blowing out (ie like a
  candle). Nirvana happens when all desires stop.
• No desires No more Karma
• No Karma No more re-birth.

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Nirvana vs. Final Nirvana

• WaitThe Buddha obtained Nirvana by becoming
  enlightened. For the next 30-40 years he teaches
  the dharma, so we know he continued to exist. If
  Nirvana means the end of Karma, why didnt the
  Buddha just disappear after becoming enlightened?
• Answer Nirvana simply means you stop producing
  Karma because he stopped all desires and hence
  all actions. All individuals who reach
  enlightenment still have residual karma they
  have to burn up.
• When that residual Karma is burned up, then the
  enlightened being can enter into Final Nirvana
  by dying and not returning to Earth by being
  reborn.

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Buddha dies at age 80

• So, what is this Final Nirvana? Is it an
  afterlife? Will you enjoy it?
• The Buddha specifically refused to answer this
  and many other philosophical questions concerning
  God or an afterlife. How could the Buddha
  describe something he hadnt yet done?
• The Buddha promised only two things about final
  nirvana It was the end of suffering and the end
  of re-birth.