Transcript Dukkha - 羅致廉醫生| DR. Robert CL Law

Introduction to
Buddhism
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(II)
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Dr. Robert C L Law
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Buddhist Lodge of Laity
January, 2008.
The Four Noble Truths 四聖諦
• First sermon he gave after enlightenment.
• Includes the most important teachings of the
Buddha accepted by all schools of
Buddhism
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Suffering
苦
• Cause of Suffering
集
• Cessation of Suffering
滅
• Path to Liberation
道
The First Noble Truth苦諦
• The basic premise of Buddhism---life is
suffering, dukkha
• “ I teach dukkha and the cessation of
dukkha”
• What is the meaning of dukkha ?
The First Noble Truth苦諦
• Dukkha– suffering, unsatisfactory , dislocated
( du-difficult , kha- to endure)
• Types of dukkha associated with
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life, sickness and death
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failure to achieve and possess
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being chained to an unpleasant situation
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separation from love ones.
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the inherent unsatisfactory nature of life -- all
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good things must and will come to an end,
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resulting in a sense of perpetual insecurity
Dukkha misunderstood
• Not everything in life is suffering.
• No dukkha in one’s life ? we tend to ignore
dukkha , not to think about it--- the story of LT
• A Middle Path--- neither totally pessimistic nor
totally optimistic
• Thich Nhat Hanh -----do not try to prove that life
is full of suffering but rather try to look at the
good things in life while recognizing and
accepting their impermanent nature)
The Second Noble Truth集諦
• Tanha --- “thirst” “craving” “attachment”
• Examples : attachment to sensual pleasures
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attachment to view of eternalism
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attachment to view of nihilism
• It refers to craving for private fulfillment ,
never ending desire : better cars , better
houses etc.
• If we have a proper view of life, we are free
Third Noble Truth 滅諦
• “From craving springs grief, from craving springs
fear. For him who is wholly free from craving,
there is no grief, whence fear?” ( Dhammapada, 法
句經)
• There is hope . If the cause of suffering in life is
tanha ( craving) , if we eliminate it , suffering will
disappear .
• But how ? First you must realize it and then……..
The Fourth Noble Truth道諦
• The way to put a stop to suffering is to
follow the Eightfold Path (八正道)
• This can be divided into three sections :
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Morality 戒 , Sila
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Concentration定 , Samadhi
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Wisdom 慧, Panna
Morality 戒 Sila
• Right Speech 正語-- no falsehood,
slandering, harsh words, frivolous talks
• Right Action (Conduct)正業 正行– no
killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct,
drinking intoxicants ( Five Precepts) -volition counts
• Right Livelihood 正命--- no poison
peddling, slave trading, prostitution,
butchering etc. Any job that requires “wrong”
conduct.
Concentration 定 Samadhi
• Right Effort (Diligence)正精進(方便)–
develop the proper will and determination
to follow the way in an appropriate
manner—prevent/discard evil ,
develop/promote good.
• Right Mindfulness 正念--- proper
awareness of the nature of the self and the
world --- body, sensations, mind and the
world( phenomena)
• Right Concentration正定– develop “onepointedness” of the mind in a state of bliss.
Wisdom 慧, Panna
• Right Understanding 正見--- a proper
understanding of the Four Noble Truths,
and the true nature of things
( impermanence and no-self)
• Right Thoughts 正思惟– No lustful
desires , benevolent thoughts instead of ill
will, harmlessness instead of cruelty.
Nature of the Eightfold Path
Not sequential , but morality, concentration
and wisdom are interdependent.
A moral life promotes peace of mind making
meditation easier.
Mindfulness allows one to see the true nature
of things to develop Wisdom.
Wisdom required to judge what is the proper
conduct, etc.
Importance of The Eightfold Path
• Stress on morality and volition.
• Stress on actual practice in everyday life.
• A blue-print for Buddhists ( monks or
laymen) as to how to live their lives to
attain enlightenment.
• But what is enlightenment ?
What is enlightenment ?
• Southern Transmission---Nirvana ( Nibbana)涅盤
• Explained as the extinction of lust, hatred and
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delusion. ( 貪, 瞋 ,癡)
• Not some kind of heaven
• Not death
• An indescribable state of mind that can only be
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experienced ( like drinking a glass of water)
• Can be attained in this life --- “In this very one fathomlong body ,along with its perceptions and thoughts, do
I proclaim the world( re:suffering), the cessation of the
world, and the path leading to the cessation of the
world”.
Questions about Nirvana(Nibbana)
• Where is Nirvana ? ---- the simile of the
whereabouts of fire
• Is Nirvana nothingness as it cannot be perceived
by the 5 senses ?---- parable of the fish and turtle .
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“ If any teach Nirvana is to cease ,
Say unto such they lie
If any teach Nirvana is to live,
Say unto such they err “
What is Enlightenment
( Cont’d)?
• In Mahayana ( including Tantric Buddhism)
----- attainment of Buddhahood .
• But what is Buddhahood ?
• Reside in heaven permanently ?
• A State of mind ?
• Different levels of understanding --- Skilful
Means
What about Pureland 淨土 ?
• The most popular sect in Asia
• Enlightenment in this life is too difficult, we
need to rely on “other power”
• There is an easier way :
• Reciting the name of Amitabha (阿彌陀佛)
• ---- he will come to collect you to pureland
for further practice towards Buddhahood
Pureland ( cont’d)
In the Infinite Life Sutra 無量壽經, 48 vows ---No. 18 –With 10 recitation of the name of
Amitabha ( Namo Amitabha ), one is certain
to be reborn in Pureland.
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First introduced to China in 3rd Century during
the warring years prior to Tang Dynasty.
A real place ? A state of mind ?
-------neither or both ?
What is Enlightenment
( Cont’d)?
• In Mahayana ( including Tantric Buddhism)
----- attainment of Buddhahood .
• But what is Buddhahood ?
• Reside in heaven permanently ?
• A State of mind ?
• Different levels of understanding --- Skilful
Means
The Six Paramitas 六度
• In stead of Morality, Meditation and
Wisdom, Mahayana teaching of “perfection”
allows one to “cross over to the other shore” :
• Generosity 布施
• Precepts 持戒
• Endurance 忍辱
• Diligence 精進
• Meditation 禪定
• Wisdom 般若(智慧)
Generosity 布施
• A very important aspect in everyday
practice in Mahayana Buddhism
• Probably easiest thing to do , but is it ?
• “Giving forgiveness” to your enemy or
people that you do not like
• Give what ? Money , kindness
• Greatest gift of all ---- dharma ( teaching)
• Giving results in a happy state of mind ?
• “ If you know that you are giving , then you
are not giving “ ----- Diamond Sutra
Precepts ( 持戒)
• Five Precepts
• One should not do any evil thing, but do all
good things 諸惡莫作, 諸善奉行
Endurance 忍辱
• Endurance of pain ,
• Able to remain “ unmoved” by sensual
pleasures
• Able to receive, embrace, and transform
everything
Diligence
• Maintaining a positive attitude
• Continuous effort
• Watering the positive “seeds” in us while
keeping a watch on the negative “seeds”.
Meditation
• Samatha ( Shamatha) – concentration to
calm our body and emotion
• Vipassana( Vipashyana) --- looking deeply
into oneself and into the true nature of
things.
• Meditation in everyday life – respond rather
than react
Wisdom
• A perfect understanding of the true nature
of things :
• Dependent Origination
• No-self
• ( more about these later)
Relationship of the Paramitas
• Not Sequential
• Not Independent
• Interrelated .
Generosity 布施
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Precepts 持戒
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Endurance 忍辱
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Diligence 精進
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Meditation 禪定
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Wisdom 般若(智慧)
• Should we take a break here ?