Dharma Drum Mountain 法鼓山 English Dharma Class

1. Chan, Buddhism, and us Dharma Drum Mountain 法鼓山English Dharma Class 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 Paying attention to what we are doing, saying, and thinking Reduce our vexations, increase our goodness • “Right” means: • Correct • Skillful • In accordance with the Dharma. Truth, kindness, consideration for others Living an ethical life Meditating to realize the Truth Not earning a living through harming others Seeing the Law of Karma Thoughts of Kindness, generosity, Letting go.

9. The Three Refuges 三歸依 • The importance of refuge • Three Treasures 三寶 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. 歸依處處求 求之遍十方 究竟歸依處 三寶最吉祥

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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. The Two Vehicles

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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-paramitaBodhisattva

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