THE FOURTH NOBLE TRUTH
Magga: The Path leading to realization of Nirvana
Summary
-
(pp.49 lower, pp.50 upper portion) It is
-
(1) A way of life to be followed, practiced and developed by each individual
-
(2) Self-discipline in body, word and mind
-
(3) NOT belief, prayer, worship or ceremony, not even religious
-
(4) A path leading to the realization of Ultimate Reality, to complete
freedom, happiness and peace through moral, spiritual and intellectual
perfection.
-
(pp.50) The simple and beautiful religious customs and ceremonies in Buddhist
countries have little to do with the "real path" but they can help the
less advanced people gradually along the Path.
-
The Middle Path (avoids two extremes: searching for sensual pleasures or
asceticism through self-mortification; both are unprofitable.) or The Noble
Eightfold Path:
-
Ethical Conduct ((i)(v): Based on love and compassion)
-
Right Speech (ii)
-
Right Action (iii)
-
Right Livelihood (iv, v)
-
Mental Discipline
-
Right Effort (vi)
-
Right Mindfulness (Attentiveness) (vii)
-
Right Concentration (viii)
-
Wisdom
-
Right Thought (ix)
-
Right Understanding (x)(xi)
-
(i)(pp.46) In Buddhism, one who wants to be perfect should equally develop
two qualities:
-
compassion (love, charity, kindness, tolerance and such noble qualities
on the emotional side, or qualities of the heart.) and
-
wisdom (the intellectual side or the the qualities of mind.).
-
(ii) (pp.47) ... If one can not say something useful, one should keep "noble
silence".
-
(iii) No destroying life, stealing, dishonest dealings, illegitimate sexual
intercourse.
-
(iv) Living by honorable, blameless and harmless profession.
-
(v) (pp.47) Ethical conducts promote a happy and harmonious life for both
individual and for society.
-
(vi) (pp.48) Energetic will to prevent new evil -> remove existing evil
-> strengthen existing good -> develop new good states of mind.
-
(vii) Diligently aware, mindful and attentive to body, feelings, mind and
ideas (Mindfulness):
-
Concentration on breathing etc. in relation to the body.
-
Aware of how the pleasant, unpleasant, neutral feelings appear and disappear.
-
Aware of how the lustful, hatred, deluded or distracted mind arise and
disappear.
-
Know how the ideas, thoughts, concepts appear and disappear and how they
developed.
-
(viii) The four stages of Dhyana (trance or recueillement) : (pp.48 lower
portion) In the first stage, NO passionate desires and certain unwholesome
thoughts (sensuous lust, ill-will, languor, worry, restlessness, and skeptical
doubt) BUT feelings of joy and happiness with SOME activity.
-
(ix) ( pp.49) The thought of selfless renunciation or detachment, of love
and of non-violence to all beings. (True wisdom must include love.)
-
(x) "Understanding of things as they are" : Understanding the four noble
truths to see the "Ultimate Reality".
-
(xi) "Knowing accordingly" (based on worldly knowledge) vs.. "penetration"
(seeing a thing in its true nature, without name or label). Penetration
happens only when (1) one's mind is free from impurities and (2) fully
developed thru meditation.
Discussion
-
Is the Ethical Conduct the same as the normal worldly moral standard?
-
How can we help to promote the "traditional" Buddhists from shallow ceremonies
to real practicing toward the Real Path?
-
Are the modern people (even people like us) able to put effort on the Mental
Discipline intensively ?
|
