Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha
Be the answer that does not wait for the question.
The Triple Gem
1. The Buddha — The self awakened one. The original nature of the Heart
2. The Dhamma — The Teaching. The nature of reality
3. The Sangha — a. The Awakened Community. b. Any harmonious assembly. c. All Beings.
The Four Noble Truths
All Buddhist teachings flow from the Four Noble Truths.
1. The Noble Truth of Dukkha - stress, unsatisfactoriness, suffering
2. The Noble Truth of the causal arising of Dukkha, which is grasping, clinging and wanting
3. The Noble Truth of Nirvana, The ending of Dukkha. Awakening, Enlightenment. "Mind like fire unbound"
4. The Noble Truth of the Path leading to Nirvana or Awakening
The Eight Fold-Path
1. Right View, Understanding
2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality
7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness
8. Right Samadhi "concentration", one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness
The Four Bodhisattva Vows
1. I vow to rescue the boundless living beings from suffering; (Link to 1st Truth)
2. I vow to put an end to the infinite afflictions of living beings; (Link to 2nd Truth)
3. I vow to learn the measureless Dharma-doors; (Link to 4th Truth)
4. I vow to realise the unsurpassed path of the Buddha. (Link to 3rd Truth)
The Five Precepts
I undertake to:
1. Abstain from killing living beings
2. Abstain from taking that which not given
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct
4. Abstain from false speech
5. Abstain from distilled substances that confuse the mind. (Alcohol and Drugs)
The Five Precepts in positive terms
I undertake to
1. Act with Loving-kindness
2. Be open hearted and generous
3. Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment
4. Speak with truth, clarity and peace
5. Live with mindfulness
The underlying principle is non-exploitation of yourself or others. The precepts are the foundation of all Buddhist training. With a developed ethical base, much of the emotional conflict and stress that we experience is resolved, allowing commitment and more conscious choice. Free choice and intention is important. It is "I undertake" not 'Thou Shalt". Choice, not command.
The Ten Paramita
Paramita means gone to the other shore, it is the highest development of each of these qualities.
1. Giving or Generosity
2. Virtue, Ethics, Morality
3. Renunciation, letting go, not grasping
4. Panna or Prajna "Wisdom" insight into the nature of reality
5. Energy, vigour, vitality, diligence
6. Patience or forbearance
7. Truthfulness
8. Resolution, determination, intention
9. Kindness, love, friendliness
10. Equanimity
The Four Sublime or Uplifted States
Full development of these four states develops all of the Ten Paramita.
1. Metta — Friendliness, Loving-kindness
2. Karuna — Compassion
3. Mudita — Joy, Gladness. Appreciation of good qualities in people
4. Upekkha — Equanimity, the peaceful unshaken mind
The Five Powers or Spiritual Faculties
1.Faith, Confidence
2. Energy, Effort
3. Mindfulness
4. Samadhi
5. Wisdom
The Five Hindrances
1. Sense craving
2. Ill-will
3. Sloth and Torpor
4, Restlessness and Worry
5. Toxic doubt and the ruthless inner critic
The Four bases or Frames of Reference of Mindfulness
1. Mindfulness of the Body — breath, postures, parts
2. Mindfulness of Feelings, Sensations — pleasant, unpleasant and neutral
3. Mindfulness of States of Consciousness
4. Mindfulness of all Phenomena or Objects of Consciousness
The Three Signs of Existence or Universal Properties
1. Anicca — Impermanent
2. Dukkha — Unsatisfactory, stress inducing
3. Anatta — Insubstantial or Not-self
1. The Buddha — The self awakened one. The original nature of the Heart
2. The Dhamma — The Teaching. The nature of reality
3. The Sangha — a. The Awakened Community. b. Any harmonious assembly. c. All Beings.
The Four Noble Truths
All Buddhist teachings flow from the Four Noble Truths.
1. The Noble Truth of Dukkha - stress, unsatisfactoriness, suffering
2. The Noble Truth of the causal arising of Dukkha, which is grasping, clinging and wanting
3. The Noble Truth of Nirvana, The ending of Dukkha. Awakening, Enlightenment. "Mind like fire unbound"
4. The Noble Truth of the Path leading to Nirvana or Awakening
The Eight Fold-Path
1. Right View, Understanding
2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality
7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness
8. Right Samadhi "concentration", one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness
The Four Bodhisattva Vows
1. I vow to rescue the boundless living beings from suffering; (Link to 1st Truth)
2. I vow to put an end to the infinite afflictions of living beings; (Link to 2nd Truth)
3. I vow to learn the measureless Dharma-doors; (Link to 4th Truth)
4. I vow to realise the unsurpassed path of the Buddha. (Link to 3rd Truth)
The Five Precepts
I undertake to:
1. Abstain from killing living beings
2. Abstain from taking that which not given
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct
4. Abstain from false speech
5. Abstain from distilled substances that confuse the mind. (Alcohol and Drugs)
The Five Precepts in positive terms
I undertake to
1. Act with Loving-kindness
2. Be open hearted and generous
3. Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment
4. Speak with truth, clarity and peace
5. Live with mindfulness
The underlying principle is non-exploitation of yourself or others. The precepts are the foundation of all Buddhist training. With a developed ethical base, much of the emotional conflict and stress that we experience is resolved, allowing commitment and more conscious choice. Free choice and intention is important. It is "I undertake" not 'Thou Shalt". Choice, not command.
The Ten Paramita
Paramita means gone to the other shore, it is the highest development of each of these qualities.
1. Giving or Generosity
2. Virtue, Ethics, Morality
3. Renunciation, letting go, not grasping
4. Panna or Prajna "Wisdom" insight into the nature of reality
5. Energy, vigour, vitality, diligence
6. Patience or forbearance
7. Truthfulness
8. Resolution, determination, intention
9. Kindness, love, friendliness
10. Equanimity
The Four Sublime or Uplifted States
Full development of these four states develops all of the Ten Paramita.
1. Metta — Friendliness, Loving-kindness
2. Karuna — Compassion
3. Mudita — Joy, Gladness. Appreciation of good qualities in people
4. Upekkha — Equanimity, the peaceful unshaken mind
The Five Powers or Spiritual Faculties
1.Faith, Confidence
2. Energy, Effort
3. Mindfulness
4. Samadhi
5. Wisdom
The Five Hindrances
1. Sense craving
2. Ill-will
3. Sloth and Torpor
4, Restlessness and Worry
5. Toxic doubt and the ruthless inner critic
The Four bases or Frames of Reference of Mindfulness
1. Mindfulness of the Body — breath, postures, parts
2. Mindfulness of Feelings, Sensations — pleasant, unpleasant and neutral
3. Mindfulness of States of Consciousness
4. Mindfulness of all Phenomena or Objects of Consciousness
The Three Signs of Existence or Universal Properties
1. Anicca — Impermanent
2. Dukkha — Unsatisfactory, stress inducing
3. Anatta — Insubstantial or Not-self
The 20 Most Difficult Things
The Buddha said, "There are twenty difficult things
to attain in this world:
1. It is hard for the poor to practice charity.
2. It is hard for the strong and rich to observe the Way.
3. It is hard to disregard life and go to certain death.
4. It is only a favored few that get acquainted with a Buddhist sutra.
5. It is hard to be born in the age of the Buddha.
6. It is hard to conquer the passions, to suppress selfish desires.
7. It is hard not to hanker after that which is agreeable.
8. It is hard not to get into a passion when slighted.
9. It is hard not to abuse one's authority.
10. It is hard to be even-minded and simple-hearted in all one's dealings with others.
11. It is hard to be thorough in learning and exhaustive in investigation.
12. It is hard to subdue selfish pride.
13. It is hard not to feel contempt toward the unlearned.
14. It is hard to be one in knowledge and practice.
15. It is hard not to express an opinion about others.
16. It is by rare opportunity that one is introduced to a true spiritual teacher.
17. It is hard to gain an insight into the nature of being and to practice the Way.
18. It is hard to follow the way of a savior.
19. It is hard to be always the master of oneself.
20. It is hard to understand thoroughly the Ways of Buddha."
[from "Pathmaps" (Buddhanet)]
to attain in this world:
1. It is hard for the poor to practice charity.
2. It is hard for the strong and rich to observe the Way.
3. It is hard to disregard life and go to certain death.
4. It is only a favored few that get acquainted with a Buddhist sutra.
5. It is hard to be born in the age of the Buddha.
6. It is hard to conquer the passions, to suppress selfish desires.
7. It is hard not to hanker after that which is agreeable.
8. It is hard not to get into a passion when slighted.
9. It is hard not to abuse one's authority.
10. It is hard to be even-minded and simple-hearted in all one's dealings with others.
11. It is hard to be thorough in learning and exhaustive in investigation.
12. It is hard to subdue selfish pride.
13. It is hard not to feel contempt toward the unlearned.
14. It is hard to be one in knowledge and practice.
15. It is hard not to express an opinion about others.
16. It is by rare opportunity that one is introduced to a true spiritual teacher.
17. It is hard to gain an insight into the nature of being and to practice the Way.
18. It is hard to follow the way of a savior.
19. It is hard to be always the master of oneself.
20. It is hard to understand thoroughly the Ways of Buddha."
[from "Pathmaps" (Buddhanet)]
