art of living. Goenka Flashcards
how do you benefit from Buddhism
by applying its daily teachings in life, i.e.
practical application is important
purpose of meditation as per Goenka
to purify the mind, so it is free of suffering and full of insights
in western context, meditation means what three things
- mental relaxation
- day dreaming
- self-hypnosis
heart of suffering
attachment, there is no I
what is it like to memorise shlokas without applying
a herds man counting cows of other, instead of tending his own herd
whole point of the Buddha’s teachings
practical application in the here and now. It’s not just intellectual speculation. Buddhism is something to be used every day, like an instrument or tool.
applying Buddha’s teaching is what
is to free oneself from suffering by acting in present, once we have tranquil mind, we will not create problems in society.
what did buddha discover
we are not constant entities, we are always in flux, in change
4 process of mind
consciousness:
is simply the receiving bit of the mind: it doesn’t pass judgment on anything
2. perception
identifies what has been seen, and judges it as positive or negative.
3. sensation
it’s either pleasant or unpleasant, depending on our perception
4. reaction
reaction occurs, and we act to either prolong the sensation if it’s pleasant, or to avoid it if it’s unpleasant.
CPSR, Captain sir
why there is no I
Buddha, say, mind is ephemeral, it is continuously changing, thus there is no permanent I
what is important to avoid suffering
recognising the state of impermanence we are in
ephemeral
lasting for short time
what Buddha believed as cause of suffering
attachment to fixed conception of I, and the world around us
alleviate suffering
become less attached to yourself and world
what is the problem with becoming attached
we forget the central truth which Buddha discovered, that we are constantly in a state of impermanence and thus what we have shall pass on one day
this causes us to suffer.
but if we do not forget the truth and do not become attached then its all good
what did Buddha advised for Nirvana
practicing morality or sila
what is right speech
kind, gentle, heart warming, well timed and truthful
practicing sila is kind of
common sense, protecting oneself and others
The key message here is: Practice sīla to eliminate suffering.
Practicing sīla means refraining from all words, deeds, and actions that harm other beings. This is easy enough to understand and to justify. In fact, these are the rules of most societies.
But practicing sīla is also about protecting ourselves. We abstain from harmful behavior because doing bad things, like stealing or injuring other people, will cause a great deal of agitation in our minds. And that agitation will lead to deep unhappiness later on.
Sīla allows us to achieve a peaceful state of mind. When we live in a wholesome way, by bringing happiness to others, we’re much more content. And as Buddhism requires those practicing it to deeply examine their minds, it’s necessary to cultivate a peaceful mental state. Just as it’s impossible to see the bottom of a turbulent pool of water, an agitated mind is hard to peer into.
So how exactly do you practice sīla correctly? First, you have to practice right speech. This means avoiding lies, idle gossip, setting people against each other, backstabbing, and speaking in a harsh way. Right speech is gentle, kind, heartwarming, well-timed, and truthful.
Second, you should act properly. This means avoiding what the Buddha called “impure acts” – things like killing other living things, rape, adultery, and intoxication. Right action means nonviolence, kindness, and seeking the good in all living things.
Finally, you’ll need to have a right livelihood, which abides by the same principles as right acts. This means a job that doesn’t cause harm to other living things, or encourages others to do harm. Any livelihood that means killing, directly or indirectly, is not a right livelihood. Likewise, a job that involves selling alcohol or drugs, or that promotes gambling, is not a right livelihood either. The aim is to stop propagating suffering in the world.
Practicing sīla, then, is a kind of common sense; it’s intended to protect yourself and others.
how do we benefit the world by practicing sila
we are not part of spreading the suffering in the world
3 rights
right efforts, right awareness, right concentration
how do we cultivate experiential wisdom
by insight meditation, vipassana, just looking for the sensations, as they come and go and thus realise, that whole world is just sensation only actually
sensation is the truth of everything that is, and it is ephemeral
