Buddhism Some Essential Concepts

The Four Noble Truths n Life is suffering –meaningless, impermanent, culminating in death n Suffering is caused by craving for things, clinging to desires, pleasures n Freedom from craving brings freedom from suffering n The path to freedom is a middle way between extremes (neither extreme sensuality nor extreme asceticism)

Fourth truth expanded: an eightfold path n Ethical conduct –right speech –right action –right livelihood n Mental discipline –right effort –right mindfulness –right concentration n salvific insight –right understanding –right thought

MENTAL DISCIPLINE: MEDITATION n MEDITATION IS CULTIVATION OF RIGHT MINDFULNESS n RIGHT MINDFULNESS AIMS AT FORGETTING THE SELF AND BECOMING IMMERSED IN WHAT WE DO

OBSTACLES TO MEDITATION: THE FIVE HINDRANCES n LUSTFUL DESIRES n ILL-WILL, HATRED n LAZINESS, SLOTH n RESTLESSNESS, WORRY n SCEPTICISM, SUSPICION

MEDITATION LEADS TO ENLIGHTENMENT n Recognition of the self as an illusion –denial of independent, permanent self –radical interdependence of all reality –not creation but “dependent co-arising” n An awakening to who we really are –unlike Christian salvation (external gift)

The result of enlightenment: n Compassion for all sentient beings n Buddha follows his enlightenment with preaching and teaching n Not a pessimistic nihilism but a path to liberation

CULMINATION OF PATH (4th NOBLE TRUTH) : NIRVANA n FREEDOM FROM CRAVING (3d NOBLE TRUTH) n ELIMINATION OF ILLUSION n LIBERATION FROM SUFFERING n A STATE TO BE REALIZED HERE AND NOW, UNLIKE HEAVEN