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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jai Narayan on April 8, 2004, at 9:05:07
Buddha is "the awakened one".
There are "Four Noble Truths" on which Buddhism is based. Many forms: Theravada Buddhism, Zen, Pure Land Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism and Vajrayana are all variations. These are all very different in form but they all work together and relate to the teachings of this one man know as the Buddha.
The key philosophy and teaching is that nothing is permanent. There will be happiness but there will always be sadness too.
This suffering is known as duhkha and the understanding of the term is the first step on the Buddhist path, the first of the Noble Truths.Is this interesting? Do you want me to share any more?
Posted by rayww on April 8, 2004, at 13:19:35
In reply to Buddhism and the first of the Four Noble Truths, posted by Jai Narayan on April 8, 2004, at 9:05:07
Do you want to share more? If it is something that has helped you it will likely help someone else too.
Posted by Jai Narayan on April 8, 2004, at 14:57:21
In reply to Re: Buddhism and the first of the Four Noble Truths, posted by rayww on April 8, 2004, at 13:19:35
Posted by gardenergirl on April 9, 2004, at 1:20:01
In reply to Re: Buddhism and the first of the Four Noble Truths, posted by rayww on April 8, 2004, at 13:19:35
Please share more. I have limited knowledge of buddhism, but I am very interested. Just don't have time right now to research. So if you are willing to spoon feed me, I am more than willing to partake!
gg
Posted by Jai Narayan on April 9, 2004, at 9:40:16
In reply to Re: Buddhism and the first of the Four Noble Truths, posted by gardenergirl on April 9, 2004, at 1:20:01
Here I go....
The first step on the Buddhist path. Understanding suffering is know as duhkha. Everything is duhkha: birth is suffering, aging is suffering and death is suffering both physical and mental. This suffering is our natural tendency to constantly crave that which we do not have. All is impermanent....happy moments of joy pass, joyfull experiences pass...saddness is inevitable. So the first step is to see and understand this suffering and impermanence within our lives.
Once suffering is fully understood then comes the path to the cessation of duhkha. This path airms to end every form of duhkha and help one attain nirvana.
Nirvana is the eradication of greed, hatred and delusion.
**Now for my own sharing**.
I have been meditating upon my suffering and all the suffering around me.
We are all suffering.
I have noticed my joy and happiness is fleeting.
I used to see suffering as a comfortable place to live because it was familiar...
I had gotten used to suffering and pain and I had a hard time letting my pain go.
I call that my blue period.
I was so sad all the time. That was my normal.
I know that sounds strange but it's true.Now I have moved into my red phase and I am open to other emotions, as well as, saddness. All my emotions are all still connected with desire and suffering.
I am so aware of my tendency to crave that which I do not have.
I think about something I might want and the desire for this thing spins out of control till I have the object of my desire.
This object doesn't seem to deliver the imagined satisfaction but there is a momentary feeling of happiness and joy.
Almost immediatly I become dissapointed.
I go on to the next desire and the same thing happens.
I have tried to narrow the desires down to very few but that only makes the desire stronger and the satifaction more unattainable.
So my next step is continue to observe suffering and hope that I can understand and embrace nirvana.Buddha is said to have attained nirvana after many rebirths.
He said,"I remembered many, many former existences I had passed through: one, two births, three, four, five....fifty, one hundred...a hundred thousand, in various births."
So this was a long process.I have heard an enlightened friend say that at this time our ability to move through our spiritual lessons is open to us like never before.
there's more if you are still into this.
Posted by EmmyS on April 9, 2004, at 21:12:26
In reply to More on Buddhism ))))gardenergirl(((( hugs, posted by Jai Narayan on April 9, 2004, at 9:40:16
Posted by gardenergirl on April 10, 2004, at 11:22:37
In reply to Re: More Buddha 101 please sweet Jai (nm), posted by EmmyS on April 9, 2004, at 21:12:26
Posted by Jai Narayan on April 10, 2004, at 13:40:50
In reply to More on Buddhism ))))gardenergirl(((( hugs, posted by Jai Narayan on April 9, 2004, at 9:40:16
Rebirth is part of the continuous process of change. Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. All beings move through incarnations. There are various dimensions of existances.
There are 31 in Buddhism.
We will look at 2.
1. The world of sense/desire where one is relatively miserable.
This includes animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings.
A rebirth in these states of woe is the result of unwholesome karma.2. The world of pure form which is relativaly fortunate.
This includes the realms of the gods, the demigods and human beings.
Rebirth in these fortunate realms is the result of wholesome karma.You might ask what is Karma?
Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, as in the actions we preform will have a result.
We are all responsibile for our lives, it's important to be aware that our actions hold consequences.
The Buddha said "What you are is what you have been, what you will be is you do now."
*
Jai Narayan
Posted by karen_kay on April 12, 2004, at 13:52:06
In reply to Buddhism and rebirth, posted by Jai Narayan on April 10, 2004, at 13:40:50
Posted by NikkiT2 on May 19, 2004, at 6:31:01
In reply to Buddhism and rebirth, posted by Jai Narayan on April 10, 2004, at 13:40:50
Jai,
Thankyou for these.. I'm also the a Buddism road these days.. Just taking things slowly. Was wonderful the spend quality time with Buddhists, and an amazing afternoon spent talking with a Buddhist Monk while I was away..
I hope by the time I visit them again next year I will be able to take a larger part in the religion.. but I am still at the early stages of learning.
I thought of taking classes.. my local Buddhist center does classes.. half of it is learning more about Buddhism, and the second half in Meditation.. and its free so looks good.. Just the agorophobia / social phobia that still lingers is holding me back!!
Thank you..
Nikki x
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