Back to the basics....
Vastmind
Memphis, TN Veteran
Just a little reminder for myself and anyone who might receive....
Buddhism by the Numbers: The Four Noble Truths
These four truths are called noble because they liberate us from suffering. They are the Buddha’s basic teaching, encapsulating the entire Buddhist path.
One : Suffering
Life always involves suffering, in obvious and subtle forms. Even when things seem good, we always feel an undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty inside.
Two : The Cause of Suffering
The cause of suffering is craving and fundamental ignorance. We suffer because of our mistaken belief that we are a separate, independent, solid “I.” The painful and futile struggle to maintain this delusion of ego is known as samsara, or cyclic existence.
Three : The End of Suffering
The good news is that our obscurations are temporary. They are like passing clouds that obscure the sun of our enlightened nature, which is always present. Therefore, suffering can end because our obscurations can be purified and awakened mind is always available to us.
Four : The Path
By living ethically, practicing meditation, and developing wisdom, we can take exactly the same journey to enlightenment and freedom from suffering that the buddhas do. We too can wake up.
-- http://www.lionsroar.com/buddhism-by-the-numbers-the-four-noble-truths/
Comments
We just went back and covered them in our sangha meeting last weekend as well
Appreciated.
Thanks for the reminder @Vastmind.
It's interesting @Vastmind , I see the 4NTs as part & parcel of daily practice and 'always' relate daily experiences to these truths....so as to become fluent ie, where they are no longer foreign concepts.....
People often want to skip ahead without ever fully understanding the First Truth.
We of a Hinayana persuasion like to work on the path set out by the Buddha elders:
Just to remind:
Right worry about the world
Right sorting out worldly problems
Right remaining ignorant
Right making lots of money
Right living a wasteful life
Right hate
...
eh ...
... wait ... wait ... I got it all wrong again
http://secularbuddhism.org/2013/05/03/what-is-the-eightfold-path/
Good link @lobster . Backs to basics ... Part 2, that was.
One of the earliest sutras and one of my favourites is 'The Rhinoceros Sutra'
http://www.hermitary.com/solitude/rhinoceros.html
It is an idealisation of extreme, full time practice. It does however give important pointers, that can be understood and applied to our self reliance.
^^^ That link got stopped. Sick...with a virus. ?? Norton says...Nah...walk on, Rhino...
So...I'll shoot from the hip...we start with the 4NT, and the 8 follow as the path, ....then...an 'idealisation of extreme'....hahaha. Don't know if I can connect those dots...as basic....
I think saying "Do you" right after saying there is no 'I' could be confusing to newbies learning the basics...hahaha I'll read the sutra today during lunch and play the cartoon you usually attach with this, you know the one....and I'll see what I can chew on...
I can read it, @Vastmind .... I think the problem may be "at your end"....
Ven U Vimalaramsi claims there are some radical mistakes with the translation of the suttas made in the late 1800s. He will use a different word then "right" to the 8 fold path...
What happened with the translations in Buddhism, was, in the late 1800s, a very good scholar by the name of Rhys Davids went to Burma, and he took all of the texts, and he translated them into English. And because he was the first one to do the translation, a lot of the words that he used are still being used today. and actually, because he didn't have the practice, and he really didn't do much studying, to find out what the real meaning was behind some of the suttas, there's some pretty radical mistakes.
Now when the Buddha was talking about the eightfold path, he used the word "samma," and Rhys Davids translated that as "right." This is "right" view, this is "right" thought--all of these kind of things. But actually, the word "samma" has a softer meaning to it. So I choose to use the word "harmonious." If you think of "right," it's like black-and-white: right and wrong. But when you use the word "harmonious," it has more of a flow to it, and that's really closer to the meaning of "samma" than "right" is.
Harmonious Perspective or Right View (Understanding)
Harmonious Imaging or Right Thought
Harmonious Communication or Right Speech
Harmonious Movement or Right Action
Harmonious Life Style or Right Livelihood
Harmonious Practice or Right Effort
Harmonious Observation or Right Mindfulness
Harmonious Collectedness or Right Concentration
Yes, we know. It's a bit like the translation of the word 'Dukkha'. In fact, it's the same with any language, when translating some terms... some, you simply cannot convey the true intention or feeling of, simply by lexicographical or etymological translation.
For example, the Greek 'Kefi'.
The Italians have 'Allegria'.
The French, using more than one word already, because translation is a challenge!) say 'Joie de Vivre'.
The English Language has no exact term to adequately convey the sentiment or feeling.
'Joy of Life' is the literal translation of the French, but the essential, emotional impetus, is distinctly lacking.
So knowing what we know, and understanding that 'right' is not in this case, merely the antonym of 'wrong', 'Right' will have to suffice, because it's familiar and succinct.
However, thanks for your input. It helps in 'joining the dots' and giving a wholesome and more complete elaboration on the subject.
On Treasury of Truth Illustrated Dhammapada by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Thero translates the eight factors of the path this way.
1) Harmonious perspective
2) Harmonious feeling
3) Harmonious speech
4) Harmonious action
5) Harmonious living
6) Harmonious practice
7) Harmonious introspection
8) Harmonious equilibrium
Moderator Note: This discussion is not about the different interpretations or translations of the Eightfold Path. It is about practice and understanding of the basic primary teachings of the Buddha.
No further examination of the literal meaning of the Eightfold Path is necessary.
Thank you.
Good companionship means increasing the inspiration to wake up. We may have a little fun, stumble, be overwhelmed, be unwise, or hindered BUT
We too can wake up.
... not maybe, not perhaps, not theoretically but verified by countless experiential insights across the dharma centuries.
Even Birthday Bodhi Buddha Boy Jesus is good company on occasion:
King James Bible Mathew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
How do you understand the 8 fold path without interpreting it?
^^^ sometimes we come across non dharma scriptures, trivialisations, convoluted justifications or cultist interpretations BUT the closer we stay to our innate purity and understanding (the dove) the more the wise serpent (not all snakes are bad according to Christian Gnostics) integrates and expresses that simple dharma.
For example good sangha are both 'basic' and hence sublime in their expression of dharma.
That is the silliest sutra I have read in a long time. I loved it. Thanks for sharing. It deserves its own thread.
I've often pondered on the significance and power of the Noble Truths, and how often what we practice and focus on has nothing whatsoever to do with them.
Personally I feel Buddhist Basics, expressed as a template in the 8 fold path is a counter measure to the banality, irrelevance and trivia of what life often offers.
I feel it is functional for lay people to increase their simple and complex enjoyment of family friends and [insert pleasure]. More important for me is to resonate and increase the effects of meditation, focus, moral behavour etc.
Buddhism makes me want to be a better person. Iz plan!
In a sense, all things and all teachings are aspects of Buddhism for Buddhism is life.
^^^ Potentially, with mindfulness and awareness the value and nature becomes more apparant ... Hence the practice.