art of living. Goenka

Question 1

how do you benefit from Buddhism

Answer 1

by applying its daily teachings in life, i.e.

practical application is important

Question 2

purpose of meditation as per Goenka

Answer 2

to purify the mind, so it is free of suffering and full of insights

Question 3

in western context, meditation means what three things

Answer 3

1. mental relaxation
2. day dreaming
3. self-hypnosis

Question 4

heart of suffering

Answer 4

attachment, there is no I

Question 5

what is it like to memorise shlokas without applying

Answer 5

a herds man counting cows of other, instead of tending his own herd

Question 6

whole point of the Buddha’s teachings

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

applying Buddha’s teaching is what

Answer 7

is to free oneself from suffering by acting in present, once we have tranquil mind, we will not create problems in society.

Question 8

what did buddha discover

Answer 8

we are not constant entities, we are always in flux, in change

Question 9

4 process of mind

Answer 9

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

Question 10

why there is no I

Answer 10

Buddha, say, mind is ephemeral, it is continuously changing, thus there is no permanent I

Question 11

what is important to avoid suffering

Answer 11

recognising the state of impermanence we are in

Question 12

ephemeral

Answer 12

lasting for short time

Question 13

what Buddha believed as cause of suffering

Answer 13

attachment to fixed conception of I, and the world around us

Question 14

alleviate suffering

Answer 14

become less attached to yourself and world

Question 15

what is the problem with becoming attached

Answer 15

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

Question 16

what did Buddha advised for Nirvana

Answer 16

practicing morality or sila

Question 17

what is right speech

Answer 17

kind, gentle, heart warming, well timed and truthful

Question 18

practicing sila is kind of

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

how do we benefit the world by practicing sila

Answer 19

we are not part of spreading the suffering in the world

Question 20

3 rights

Answer 20

right efforts, right awareness, right concentration

Question 21

how do we cultivate experiential wisdom

Answer 21

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