The Cessation of Suffering and the Path to Enlightenment

 

 

1.      Four Noble Truths

(The Disease)

a.       Life is dominated by suffering: Separation from the things you love; not getting what it is you want. Unavoidable experience of things you despise: sickness, old age, death.

b.      The cause of suffering is desire and craving

                                                  i.      The cycle of rebirth, suffering, death, rebirth...is perpetuated by desire.  Clinging to the impermanent.

(The Remedy)

c.       Release from suffering is possible.  Stop clinging. Craving for sensual experience, for better rebirth, even for extinction, can be renounced.  Blowing out the flame of a candle.

d.      The way out of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.

WISDOM: The right understanding of existence and the intension to act in accord with this understanding. Dhamma and its focus on healing of suffering

                                                  i.      Right understanding, right intention,

MORAL CONDUCT:

                                                ii.      Right Speech (truth), right action (respecting the well-being of others), right livelihood (promoting peace and happiness of all living beings)

CONTEMPLATION: The discipline of consciousness that leads to self awareness and insight

                                              iii.      Right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. 

e.       These lead to release from samsara

2.      Nirvana: a "blowing out."  An ineffable, transcendental state, ultimate.

a.       involves no union with God.

b.      Escapes ordinary language

 

 

3.      Major Sects (following Ashokas adoption of Buddhism and the spread of Buddha message throughout Asia)

a.      Theravada: “The Way of the Elders”

                                                  i.      No deification of the BuddhaOne Buddha at a time, in human realm. Disappeared into nirvana; only reached through teaching and sangha.

                                                ii.      Salvation for religious elite via effort and self-discipline, rationality.  Individualistic (with support from monastic community)

                                              iii.      Bond between monarchy and Sangha: legitimation, prosperity, spiritual benefit.          

                                              iv.      Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, Burma (Mayanmar), other parts of South East Asia.

b.      Mahayana Buddhism: "The Greater Vehicle"

                                                  i.      Everyone has a chance of liberation.

                                                ii.      Criticizes elitism and selfishness of Theravadan religious.

                                              iii.      Mahayana emphasis on compassion:

1.      Buddha didn't disappear into nirvana, stayed behind to help others to liberation.  Can be contacted via prayer, meditation, and visions. 

c.       Boddhisattva (an enlightened one who, out of compassion, puts off his own final salvation till all others are saved)

                                                  i.      Buddhas continue to exist, always have.  Countless numbers, worlds of buddhas -- boddhisattvas.  Example: Avalokatashvara: The Lord who looks down with compassion. “The lord who sees” - capacity to see the sufferings of others. Smts represented with 1000 eyes.  1000 hands to help in delivering innume