The Dharma is the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha.
- difficult to grasp is the idea of interconnectivity – that all things living and not living are really part of a whole – known as the dharma of dependent origination
- difficult to practice is the idea of looking into ourselves (in the west we often use mindfulness) – achieving a position of belonging to the interconnection
- the Middle Way – living to seek only pleasure or total self denial are not of benefit to us – learn to live in between
- the Four Noble Truths – the True Aspect of Life, the Truth of the Cause of Suffering, the Transcending of Suffering, the Eightfold Path
- the True Aspect of Life – Buddha saw 8 types of suffering
- birth
- old age
- sickness
- death
- being apart from those we love
- associating with those we dislike
- not getting what we want
- the 5 aggregates – form, perception, conception, volition, and consciousness
- the Truth of the Cause of Suffering
- worldly desires or blind passions
- mostly greed, anger, and unawareness (although there are many more)
- the Transcending of Suffering
- the seeking of Nirvana (a state in which we are no longer controlled by our worldly desires or blind passions)
- all things are impermanent and constantly changing
- everything is connected and dynamic
- by transcending suffering we have peace of mind
- the seeking of Nirvana (a state in which we are no longer controlled by our worldly desires or blind passions)
- the Eightfold Path
- Right (in the sense of appropriate) View
- Right Thought
- Right Speech
- Right Conduct
- Right Livelihood
- Right Endeavor
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Meditation
- there are 3 types of traditional parts to the Eightfold Path (Buddhist Ethics and Deportment, Meditation and Concentration, and Higher Wisdom)
- additionally in Mahayana tradition there are 6 practices (giving and generosity, ethics and deportment, perseverance, diligence, meditation, wisdom)
- the True Aspect of Life – Buddha saw 8 types of suffering
- Sutras
- the written teachings of Buddha compiled after his death are called the Sutras
- there are more than 17,00 sutras (about 10 major)
(From the writings of the Buddhist Churches of America and the Book “Jodo Shinshu – A Guide”)