Buddhism: the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment AP Language and Composition Ms. Moss

The Four Noble Truths You must recognize the existence of dukkah (suffering/frustration) happiness = impermanent identity = impermanent

The Four Noble Truths You must recognize that all dukkah originates in desire  sensory pleasures  fame/money  attachment to ideas  the failure to understand the nature of our desires

The Four Noble Truths You must recognize that dukkah can cease if desire ceases This occurs when the illusion ends and Nirvana –the ultimate reality-is revealed  You live in the present moment  You have no sense of self (ego)

The Four Noble Truths You must recognize that only through a life of morality, concentration, and wisdom can dukkah be extinguished

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Understanding Buddhists believe that this understanding is achieved by: understanding reality through the Four Noble Truths seeing through illusions of permanence having a pure mind (happiness is sure to follow!)

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Thought or Motives Buddhists believe that all that is done must be done for the right reasons You must uncover the “unwholesome” emotional roots that hinder your clarity (subconscious)

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Speech Buddhists believe that you must relinquish negative manner in your speech and that communication should be used for the service of truth and harmony; therefore, you should not practice vanity, gossip, tale- bearing, harsh words, or lying.

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Action The Buddhists believe you must base your actions on a clear understanding and observe the five basic precepts for moral conduct 1.Avoid destroying life 2.Avoid stealing 3.Avoid sexual misconduct 4.Avoid lying 5.Avoid intoxicants

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Livelihood Buddhists believe that your way of making a living should not violate the Five Precepts. *Your employment should also NOT harm others or disrupt the social harmony*

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Effort Buddhists believe that you will have a continual struggle to cut off “unwholesome states,” past, present, and future.

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Mindfulness Buddhists believe that the way to liberation is through the mind and that you must be aware of every moment.

The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment Right Meditation Buddhists believe that you must apply mental discipline to the quieting of the mind itself… “A still mind is a quiet pool in which the true nature of everything is clearly reflected.”

Buddhism For Buddhists, their version of moksha is not a release but instead---silence---the quieting of one’s own mind… The present “reality” is nothing by maya (illusion) and with the attainment of nirvana, everything---even Buddhism---disappears

Zen Buddhism In Zen Buddhism- there is no deity there is no ceremonial ritual there is no future abode (afterlife) there is no soul or self Zen Buddhism never explains but only affirms

Zen Buddhism Koans ask questions with no answers: “Water is one essence: but drunk by a cow it becomes milk, while drunk by a snake it becomes poison.”

Zen Buddhism “We stand in our own shadow and wonder why it is dark.”

Buddhism Ultimately, in Buddhism, the purpose of this life is to leave this life. “Grandfather dies, son dies, this is good fortune.”