1. Dharma Drum Mountain 法鼓山 English Dharma Class
Chan, Buddhism, and us
Thursday October 27th, 2011

2. Four Noble Truths 四諦 Truth of Suffering 苦諦 Cause of Suffering 集諦
Cessation of Suffering 滅諦
The Path to the Cessation of Suffering 道諦

3. Second Truth - The basic cause
Attaching to vexations
greed, hatred, delusion
believing in them
Vexations “color” our minds
Clothes are dyed with color
Or take on the smells around them
Therefore, transforming our vexations eliminates suffering

4. Five Causes of Mental Disturbance
Greed
Anger
Arrogance
Despair
Doubt
The Great Bodhisattvas are free of these Five Causes.
Their statues show us what this looks like.
Prajnaparamita Bodhisattva

5. Two Methods of Healing the Mind
Recitation of the Buddha’s Name
Meditation

6. Truth of Cessation – 滅諦 It is possible to be free from suffering.
Nirvana (Nibbana) 涅槃
滅 – Cessation 煩惱
解脫 – Liberation
無為 – the Unconditioned, Unborn, Unformed, Unmade
Like a flame going out
Released – where does the flame go?

7. Truth of the Way – 道諦 Noble Eightfold Path - 八正道
Right View/Understanding – 正見
Right Intention/Thoughts – 正思惟
Right Speech – 正語
Right Action – 正業
Right Livelihood – 正命
Right Effort – 正精進
Right Mindfulness – 正念
Right Concentration – 正定
“Right” means:
Correct
Skillful
In accordance with the Dharma.

8. The Three Refuges 三歸依 歸依處處求 求之遍十方 究竟歸依處 三寶最吉祥 The importance of refuge
Three Treasures 三寶
歸依處處求
求之遍十方
究竟歸依處
三寶最吉祥
People seek refuge
everywhere,
Seeking refuge in all the ten
directions,
Finally realize that the
ultimate place of refuge
Is to be found in the most
auspicious Three Treasures.

9. The Refuge of the Buddha
Refuge in his Awakening
Refuge in his Teaching
Refuge in his Action
Faith in the Buddha
confidence

10. The Refuge of the Dharma
Hearing, studying, and contemplating
Four Noble Truths
Refraining from creating suffering
Training our minds
There is always something we can do

11. The Refuge of the Sangha
“Good spiritual friends”
Teachers
Fellow practitioners
All beings

12. Master Ren-jun (仁俊法師) and Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Two Vehicles
Theravada
the “Way of the Elders”
the “small” vehicle 小乘
self-cultivation, self-liberation
South-east Asia
Mahayana
the “Great Vehicle” 大乘
Bodhisattva Practice
Universal liberation
East Asia, Tibet
Master Ren-jun (仁俊法師) and Bhikkhu Bodhi

13. The Two Vehicles

14. Mahayana: the Way of the Bodhisattva
Breaking through the self-delusion
Two pillars:
Compassion
Wisdom
One who cannot let go of himself lacks wisdom.
One who cannot let go of others lacks compassion.

15. Emptiness 空
Without the understanding of Emptiness, a bodhisattva is not a Bodhisattva
無我，無常，中道
Non-self, impermanence, and the Middle Way (無有及無無有)
Inter-dependence
Dependent Co-arising 緣起
Cause and effect
nothing is without a cause
Non-substantiality
Nothing is more one thing than another
Freedom
Liberation from limitations

16. Buddha Nature 佛性 What is Buddha Nature? Something? Nothing?
is it caused or uncaused?
Ability to awaken from the dream of ignorance and suffering
Faith and cultivation
Nourish our Buddha Nature

17. Paramitas – the Perfections
波羅密
Six Paramitas
Giving 佈施
Morality 持戒
Patience 忍辱
Effort 精進
Meditation 禪定
Wisdom 智慧
Prajna-paramita Bodhisattva

18. Four Essentials for Practice
Faith
Trust and confidence
Understanding
Study and Right View
Practice
Action in accord with the Dharma
Realization
Awakening
Confirmation