1. The moment of enlightenment
“At that time, the Buddha, the World Honored One, in this setting, attained to supreme, correct awareness of all things. His knowledge entered into all times with complete equanimity; his body filled all worlds; his voice universally accorded with all lands in the ten directions. Like space, which contains all forms, he made no discrimination among all objects. And, as space extends everywhere, he entered all lands with equanimity. His body forever sat omnipresent in all sites of enlightenment. Among the host of enlightening beings, his awesome light shone clearly, like the sun emerging, illuminating the world.”
The Avataṃsaka Sūtra (Flower Ornament Sutra; 華嚴經)
The bodhisattva vow is to achieve Buddhahood in order to liberate all beings from suffering.

2. A Few Basics of Buddhism and How to Integrate Them
[click]
Today we’ll discuss a few of the basic concepts of Buddhism. [click]
And how to integrate those ideas into our daily lives.
A Few Basics of Buddhism
and How to Integrate Them
into Our Daily Lives
Session 1

3. A Few Basics of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths (S. Catvāry Āryasatyāni; C. 四聖諦)
[click]
We’ll start by talking about the Four Noble Truths (Sì Shèng Dì). [click]
Then we’ll briefly introduce the concept of mindfulness. (Chinese : niàn) [click]
We’ll follow this with a short meditation session.
An Introduction to Mindfulness (S. Smṛti; C. 念)
Short meditation session

4. (S. Catvāry Āryasatyāni; C. 四聖諦)
Four Noble Truths
(S. Catvāry Āryasatyāni; C. 四聖諦)
Let’s start with the Four Noble Truths.四聖諦

5. Who formulated the Four Noble Truths?
About the title
Who formulated the Four Noble Truths?
Who formulated the Four Noble Truths? [click]
These were taught by Sakyamuni Buddha around 2500 years ago.
Śākyamuni Buddha

6. Sanskrit (and Pali) term
About the term “Buddha” (佛)
“Buddha”
Let’s start by talking about the term “Buddha.”
Sanskrit (and Pali) term
Literal meaning: “awakened one” or “enlightened one”

7. Two aspects of “Buddha”
About the term “Buddha” (佛)
Two aspects of “Buddha”
The expansive, profound aspect
The specific aspect

8. “Buddha” at the expansive, profound level
About the term “Buddha” (佛)
“Buddha” at the expansive, profound level
The absolute reality that permeates all beings
“Buddha” is the essence of every one of us
Most of us are not aware of our Buddha nature as a result of our delusions
[click]
At the profound level, “Buddha” signifies the reality that permeates all beings.
“Buddha” is the essence of every one of us. That is our true nature.
However, most of us are not aware of our Buddha nature as a result of our delusions.

9. “Buddha” at the more specific level
About the term “Buddha” (佛)
“Buddha” at the more specific level
“Buddha” refers to an individual who has awakened, who experiences absolute reality
There are many such enlightened ones
Śākyamuni Buddha is one who awakened

10. Śākyamuni Buddha (釋迦牟尼佛) – part 1
About Śākyamuni Buddha”
Śākyamuni Buddha (釋迦牟尼佛) – part 1
Born a prince of the Śākya clan in northern India near the border between India and present-day Nepal
Lived a life of luxury
Became aware of aging, sickness, death, and those who walk a spiritual path

11. Śākyamuni Buddha (釋迦牟尼佛) - part 2
About Śākyamuni Buddha”
Śākyamuni Buddha (釋迦牟尼佛) - part 2
Left home to seek the truth underlying ordinary reality
Awakened to that truth
Out of compassion chose to share his wisdom with others, to share a path of release from suffering
Known as “Śākyamuni” (sage of the Śākya clan)

12. Four Noble Truths (S. catvāry āryasatyāni; C. 四聖諦)
Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦)
Truth of Origination of Suffering (S. Samudayasatya; C. 集諦)
Four Noble Truths: Sì Shèng Dì
Truth of Suffering: Kǔ Dì
Truth of Origination of Suffering: Jí Dì
Truth of Cessation of Suffering: Miè Dì
Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering: Dào Dì
[click]
We’re going to start with the First Truth, the Truth of Suffering.
Truth of Cessation of Suffering (S. Nirodhasatya; C. 滅諦)
Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering (S. Mārgasatya; C. 道諦)

13. Four Noble Truths四聖諦 Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦)
Take this guy. [click]
Super rich. [click]
Big house because each time he got richer he bought a bigger house. [click}
With all his money he can’t possible be suffering, right?
Okay, let’s look at the various types of suffering discussed by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Mahāsatipaţţāna Sutta .
How can this very wealthy man be suffering?

14. Four Noble Truths四聖諦 Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦) Birth
Aging
Death
Sorrow
Mourning, inward grief…
Lamentation 悲聲
Pain
Sadness
Distress 愁苦
Bodily pain
Painful or unpleasant sensation resulting from mental contact
Source: Mahāsatipaṭṭāna Sutta (On the Foundations of Mindfulness, as translated by Maurice Walshe.

15. Being attached to the unloved
Four Noble Truths四聖諦
Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C.苦諦)
Being attached to the unloved
“Here, whoever has unwanted, disliked, unpleasant sight-objects, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles or mind-objects, or whoever encounters ill-wishers, wishers of harm, of discomfort, of insecurity with whom they have concourse, intercourse, connection, union, that, monks, is called being attached to the unloved.”
Definition of concourse
1 :  an act or process of coming together and merging
2 :  a meeting produced by voluntary or spontaneous coming together
Source: Mahāsatipaṭṭāna Sutta (On the Foundations of Mindfulness, as translated by Maurice Walshe.

16. Being separated from the loved Not getting what one wants
Four Noble Truths四聖諦
Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C.苦諦)
Being separated from the loved
“Here, whoever has what is wanted, liked, pleasant sight-objects…well-wishers…mother or father…and then is deprived of [them]”
Not getting what one wants
Source: Mahāsatipaṭṭāna Sutta (On the Foundations of Mindfulness, as translated by Maurice Walshe.

17. Four Noble Truths 四聖諦 Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦)
Truth of Origination of Suffering (S. Samudayasatya; C. 集諦)
[click]
Now we’re going to talk about the origination of suffering. What causes suffering?
Truth of Cessation of Suffering (S. Nirodhasatya; C. 滅諦)
Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering (S. Mārgasatya; C. 道諦)

18. Taṇhā (S. Tṛṣṇā; C. 愛) Four Noble Truths 四聖諦
Truth of Origination of Suffering (S. Samudayasatya; C. 集諦)
Taṇhā (S. Tṛṣṇā; C. 愛)
Three types of craving:
Craving for sensuality (kāma)
Craving for continued existence (bhava)
Craving for nonexistence (vibhava)
Literally: “thirst”
Translated as desire or craving
“It is that craving which gives rise to rebirth, bound up with pleasure and lust, finding fresh delight now here, now there: that is to say sensual craving, craving for existence, and craving for non-existence.”
Source: Mahāsatipaṭṭāna Sutta (On the Foundations of Mindfulness, as translated by Maurice Walshe.

19. Four Noble Truths 四聖諦 Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦)
Truth of Origination of Suffering (S. Samudayasatya; C. 集諦)
[click]
We’re going to start with the First Truth, the Truth of Suffering.
Truth of Cessation of Suffering (S. Nirodhasatya; C. 滅諦)
Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering (S. Mārgasatya; C. 道諦)

20. Four Noble Truths 四聖諦 Nirvāna
Truth of Cessation of Suffering (S. nirodhasatya; C. 滅諦)
Nirvāna
“Nirvāna is the liberation actualized after having understood the truth of suffering and removed its cause. It is the liberation that moves beyond the confusion of afflictions and suffering, the dualities of self and others…” (Master Hsing Yun in Where Is the Way : Humanistic Buddhism for Everyday Life, p. 9-10)
[click]

21. Four Noble Truths 四聖諦 Truth of Suffering (S. Duḥkhasatya; C. 苦諦)
Truth of Origination of Suffering (S. Samudayasatya; C. 集諦)
[click]
Okay, so how do we eliminate desire?
The Buddha laid out a path for us to do just that.
Truth of Cessation of Suffering (S. Nirodhasatya; C. 滅諦)
Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering (S. Mārgasatya; C. 道諦)

22. (S. Aṣṭāṅgamārga; C. 八正道) (also called the Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga)
Eightfold Path
(S. Aṣṭāṅgamārga; C. 八正道)
Now let’s talk about the Eightfold Path
(also called the Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga)

23. Eightfold Path (S. Aṣṭāṅgamārga/Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga ; C. 八正道)
Right view (S. Samyagdṛṣti; C. 正見)
Right intention/thought (S. Samyak-Saṃkalpa; C. 正思)
Right speech (S. Samyagvāk; C. 正語)
Right action (S. Samyakkarmānta; C. 正業)
Right livelihood (S. Samragājiva; C. 正命)
Right effort/diligence (S. Samyagvyāyāma; C. 正勤)
Right mindfulness (S. Samyak-Smṛti; C. 正念)
Right concentration (S. Samyaksamādhi; C. 正定)

24. Upset over relationship
Mindfulness (Sanskrit: Smṛti; Chinese: 念)
Let it go
Based on an analogy made by Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh:
Around the third week of February each year, Horsetail Fall lights up Yosemite National Park with a spectacle of orange and red. The phenomenon, which has taken on the decidedly majestic nickname "firefall," is an optical trick of the sunset when a host of conditions are just right.
If the waterfall is flowing with snowmelt, if Earth is aligned with the sun just so — as it is this time of year — and if the skies are clear enough to let that sunlight through, the fall appears to flare with the fiery glow of lava.
Imagine standing there, seeing this with your friends. Beautiful, yes?
Now imagine that while you are standing there you are worrying about projects your doing [click], upset about a relationship [click], having fears about your job [click].
Do you enjoy the beauty of the falls?
What if, for just a minute or two, [click] you let go of all those negative thoughts? [click}
Now you are free to enjoy the fall. Now it takes no effort to enjoy the fall. It just happens.
This is what mindfulness is all about.
Mindful breathing means that you let go of all those thoughts that gnaw at you and just enjoy your breathing. Be mindful when you inhale. Not forcing it. Just observing it. Be mindful when you exhale. Not forcing it. Just observing it. Allow yourself to enjoy the simple act of breathing.
Worry about projects
Upset over relationship
Fears about job
Horsetail Fall in February
Photo courtesy of US Dept of Interior

25. Meditation – Mindful Breathing
Counting breaths
Count each exhalation
1, 2, 3, … 10
After ten start over
1, 2, 3, … 10

26. May all beings be happy and free of suffering
May all beings be happy and free of suffering. May they achieve enlightenment in this lifetime.

27. = Emptiness (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā; Chinese: 空) Emptiness Nothingness
Empty of independently-arising, permanent, unchanging self-nature

28. Flower What happens when conditions change? E N R G Y NUTRIENTS
Primary cause:
Seed E N R G Y
Conditions:
Water
Nutrients
Energy
What happens when conditions change?
NUTRIENTS

29. Dependent origination /Dependent arising (S. Pratītyasammutpāda; C. 緣起)
The flower is empty of an independently arising, non-changing, eternal self-nature
All phenomena (sentient beings, inanimate objects, events) share the trait of dependent origination
Chinese: yuanqi
This includes us

30. 5 Aggregates (S. Skandha ; C. 五蘊)
These five aggregates are the building blocks that we typically use to construct our sense of personal identity; they are the things that we cling to as being “mine,” “I,” and “my self.” (Bhikkhu Bodhi. In the Buddha’s words, p. 22)
Form or materiality (S. Rūpa; C. 色)
5 Aggregates – wǔ yùn
Form - sè
Sensation – shòu
Perception – xiǎng
Mental formations – xíng
Consciousness – shi
Sensations/feeling (S. Vedanā; C. 受)
Perception or discrimination (S. Saṃjñā; C. 想)
Mental formations/Volition/Volitional formations/Conditioning factors (S. Saṃskāra; C. 行)
Consciousness (S. Vijñāna; C. 識)