Social background Distinguished philosophers and religious teachers with diverse views on life & goals Extremes: - Annihilism after death –end of all –eat, drink & be merry – religion is foolish aberration, mental disease – distrust for good, purity & compassion - Strict ascetism -emancipation –purely religious –five monks –austerity of self mortification Middle Path –desert futile austerity –

Departure from austerity Changed unsuccessful hard course –deserted 5 disciples –lost confidence in Buddha, criticised Him returning to life of comfort Buddha happy alone – persisted in enlightenment – object in life 2 months after enlightenment on Asalha (July) full moon day Buddha delivered First Discourse -5 monks –Deer park in Isipatana near Benares

Dhammacakkapavattana Definition Dhamma=wisdom or knowledge; truth Cakka=founding or establishment; wheel Dhammacakka= founding/establishment of wisdom Dhammacakkapavattana =Exposition of the Establishment of Wisdom =Turning /Establishment of the Wheel of Truth

Middle Path Avoid extremes of self indulgence & self-mortification -> no perfect peace -retards spiritual progress -> & enlightenment- weakens one’s intellect Realised that both futile Enunciated most practicable, rational and beneficial path -> perfect purity & absolute deliverance

Five monks Closely associated with Buddha for 6 years Only humans present at sermon Books state many devas and brahmins also present Sermon meant for the monks

Outset of sermon Avoid extremes “The 2 extremes (anta) which should not be resorted to by a recluse (pabbajitena) Anta=end/extreme Pabbajita=one who has renounced the world

Two extremes **Attachment to sensual pleasures Base, vulgar, worldly, ignoble, profitless short-lived delusion Never completely satisfying Result in unpleasant reactions Worldly happiness=acquisition of wealth & enjoyment of possessions -> pleasures for layman –delight in fleeting pleasures **Renunciation is pleasure

Middle Path Majjhima Patipada Produces spiritual insight and intellectual wisdom to see things as they truly are –see things in its true perspective Leads to subjugation of passions ->peace Leads to attainment of the four supramundane paths of sainthood, to the understanding of the Four Noble Truths, and finally the realisation of the ultimate goal (Nibbana)

Middle Path =Noble Eightfold Path 1. Right understanding 2. Right thoughts 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration

1. Right Understanding Is the cognitive aspect of wisdom Clear doubts to guide them on the right way Deals with knowledge of oneself as one really is Leads to right thoughts Grasp the impermanent and imperfect nature of worldly objects and ideas, and to understand the law of karma and karmic conditioning. Is not necessarily an intellectual capacity, begins with the intuitive insight that all beings are subject to suffering and it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all things.

2. Right Thoughts (a) Non-attachment or renunciation Loving kindness and harmlessness vs selfishness, ill-will and cruelty – resulting in right speech - good will, meaning resistance to feelings of anger and aversion –not thinking or acting cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion Refers the kind of mental energy that controls our actions. described best as commitment to ethical and mental self- improvement.

2. Right Thoughts (b) Three types of right intentions: 1. the intention of renunciation - resistance to the pull of desire, 2. the intention of good will, meaning resistance to feelings of anger and aversion 3. the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion.

3. Right Speech first principle of ethical conduct -viewed as a guideline to moral discipline - essential, for mental purification Words can break or save lives, make enemies or friends, start war or create peace. Right speech: 1. to abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies and not to speak deceitfully, 2. to abstain from slanderous speech and not to use words maliciously against others, 3. to abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others, 4. to abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth. Positively phrased, this means to tell the truth, to speak friendly, warm, and gently and to talk only when necessary.

4. Right Action Second ethical principle -involves the body as natural means of expression -deeds that involve bodily actions. Unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. Explained in terms of abstinence: 1. to abstain from harming sentient beings -abstain from taking life (including suicide) and doing harm intentionally or delinquently, 2. to abstain from taking what is not given -includes stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness, and dishonesty, 3. Abstain from sexual misconduct -act kindly and compassionately, be honest, respect the belongings of others, keep sexual relationships harmless to others – 5 Precepts

5. Right Livelihood Earn one's living in a righteous way and that wealth should be gained legally and peacefully four specific activities that harm other beings to avoid: 1. dealing in weapons, 2. dealing in living beings (including raising animals for slaughter as well as slave trade and prostitution) 3. working in meat production and butchery 4. selling intoxicants and poisons, such as alcohol and drugs. -other occupation violating the principles of right speech and right action should be avoided.

6. Right effort Prerequisite for the other principles of the path –in itself an act of will, nothing can be achieved, whereas misguided effort distracts the mind from its task, and confusion will be the consequence. Mental energy is the force behind right effort-can occur in wholesome or unwholesome states - fuels desire, envy, aggression, and violence can on the other side fuel self- discipline, honesty, benevolence, and kindness Four types of endeavours in ascending order of perfection: 1. prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states, 2. abandon unwholesome states already arisen, 3. arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen, 4. to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

7. Right mindfulness (a) Is the controlled and perfected faculty of cognition -is the mental ability to see things as they are, with clear consciousness Begins with an impression induced by perception, or by a thought, but does not stay with the mere impression Conceptualise sense impressions and thoughts immediately -interpret them and set them in relation to other thoughts and experiences -go beyond the facticity of the original impression

7. Right mindfulness (b) mind then posits concepts, joins concepts into constructs, and weaves those constructs into complex interpretative schemes - happens only half consciously, obscured views is anchored in clear perception and it penetrates impressions without getting carried away Enables us to be aware of the process of conceptualisation to actively observe and control the way our thoughts go. four foundations of mindfulness: 1. contemplation of the body 2. contemplation of feeling (repulsive, attractive, or neutral) 3. contemplation of the state of mind, and 4. contemplation of the phenomena.

8. Right concentration One-pointedness of the mind - the development of a mental force that occurs in natural consciousness, at a relatively low level of intensity - a state where all mental faculties are unified and directed onto one particular object –no distortion Combination of right effort and right mindfulness to produce Right Concentration means wholesome concentration, i.e. concentration on wholesome thoughts and actions –through meditation - mind focuses on a selected object -first directs itself onto it, then sustains concentration, and finally intensifies concentration step by step. Through this practice it becomes natural to apply elevated levels concentration also in everyday situations.