2.1.E Sketch of Life and Teachings of the Buddha Gotama

Some claim that the teaching of the Buddha has a secret part. This is not true. The teaching of the Buddha is open to everyone. But that teaching can be divided into two major parts, namely the part intended for lay people and the part mainly intended for monks and nuns. Much has been written about the life of the monks. But the Buddha advised that lay people should not follow the way of life of monks. Because the way of life of lay people is very different.^[1] The Buddha also gave many speeches to the laity. And even lay people can realize perfect holiness.

In this brief overview of the life and teaching of the Buddha Gotama, we have mainly dealt with that which is intended for the laity.

Prediction of future Buddhahood

At the time of the Buddha Dipankara, one hundred thousand large aeons earlier than now, a rich Brahman with name Sumedha lived in the prosperous city of Amaravati. When he was young, his parents died. Sumedha then inherited the wealth that had been family property for seven generations.

One day the wise Sumedha considered: “Painful is indeed the search for conception in a new existence. And so is death. I am subject to birth, old age, illness and death, and it fits me who has such a condition, to look for the way for the extreme liberation of the fetters of becoming. That way has to be there. It is impossible that it is not there.” And he further considered: "When my parents, grandparents and others died, they did not even take a single coin of all this wealth. But it suits me to effectuate it so that I take it with me when I die." And he gave all his money and goods to the rich and poor in charity. Then he left on his own from the city of Amaravati for the Himālaya Mountains.

On Mount Dhammaka near the Himavant^[2], he made a hut with a roof of leaves, and a walking place where he could walk back and forth. He gained power over the supernatural powers: magical powers, divine ear (clairvoyance), the penetration of the spirit of others, divine eye (clairvoyance), and memory of previous lives. He also got the following eight special features: his mind was very equanimous, very pure, without blemish; His mind had become soft and malleable, immovable.

He dressed in a robe of tree bark and went to live at the foot of a tree. He only ate fruits that had fallen. He strove diligently and within a week he was a master in the eight stages of meditation of the fine material and immaterial realm.

Meanwhile, many people had converted to the teachings of the Buddha Dipankara who on one of his trips arrived in the city of Ramma, together with his retinue of Arahants. There he moved into the large monastery of Sudassana.

The residents of Ramma heard the news and they paid tribute to the exalted Dipankara with medicines, flowers and incense. After this they listened to the doctrine, after which they invited the Exalted One to come and use the meal the next day. Respectfully they said goodbye. On the next day they prepared an excellent meal and set up a pavilion with beautiful flowers and jugs with cool water. They decorated the road with banners and flags and filled the holes in the road with earth. The ascetic Sumedha saw how the inhabitants of Ramma paved the road full of joy. He asked for whom they paved that way. They answered that they had invited the Buddha Dīpankara for the meal, and that they therefore paved the road.

Sumedha then thought that the name "Buddha" is rare and that the origin of a Buddha is even rarer. He stood there, moved, and asked part of the road to pave it and decorate it. The people of Ramma gave him an extremely uneven part that was the most difficult to pave. The wise Sumedha considered that he was able to pave that part by his mental strength, but that it now fitted to provide service with physical exertion. He got earth and began to fill that route. But before he could complete it, the meal was announced by the residents of Ramma. And the exalted Dipankara set off on the way over the colorfully decorated main road. Many went forward to meet Dīpankara.

The ascetic Sumedha saw the shape of the exalted Dīpankara coming over the colorfully decorated main road. And Sumedha thought: "Don't let the Exalted One come into the mud today. May he go on my back with his retinue of Arahans as if he is walking over a bridge. It will be for my permanent salvation and happiness. I will be a Buddha, as he is." Sumedha spread his tree bark in the mud and lay down flat. And he made the following intention to reach the Enlightenment: "May I too become a Buddha in a future period, with all the attributes of a fully Enlightened One. May I too rotate the wheel of the highest Dhamma. May I bring well-being, peace, happiness and truth to other living beings."

There the exalted Dīpankara was approaching. He saw the ascetic Sumedha lying on the muddy ground. He realized that Sumedha in the future would be an Enlightened One, called Gotama. And Dīpankara proclaimed: "Do you see this sober ascetic lying here on the muddy ground? He makes an aspiration to the state of Enlightenment; his wish will be fulfilled. One hundred thousand aeons and four countless world periods from now on he will be an Enlightened One by name Gotama."

After this, the exalted Dīpankara and the many Arahants praised the candidate for Enlightenment and left for the city of Ramma.

When the ascetic Sumedha had heard the proclamation of the Exalted Dipankara, that Buddhahood itself was within his reach, he was full of joy in his heart. And the Great Brahmas, residents of the 10,000 world systems, proclaimed: "Undoubtedly you will be a Buddha, do not return, go further. For sure you will be a Buddha."

“Strive with energy and determination; do not turn back, go on. Surely you will become a Buddha.”

When Sumedha had heard the expressions of the Buddha Dīpankara and the deities of the 10,000 worlds, he was delighted, full of joy. And he thought, "There is no untruth in Buddhas. I will definitely be a Buddha."

And he also considered: "I will search for things that form someone into a Buddha." He then investigated the entire cosmic order and he saw the ten perfections, one after the other. He saw that the first perfection consists of giving, generosity. As a second perfection, he saw virtue in his mind. He realized that the basis for all good states consists of morally good behaviour. He considered further and saw that renunciation is the third perfection. He saw wisdom as the fourth perfection. After this he saw that energy is the fifth perfection. And the sixth perfection is patience, tolerance. Furthermore, he saw that truth, speaking the truth, is the seventh perfection. And determination is the eighth perfection. He considered further and saw that loving kindness is the ninth perfection. The tenth perfection is equanimity. He realized that there were no other things that had to be pursued perfectly to reach Buddhahood. "There are no more than ten perfections. And those perfections can only be found in my own heart; that is the basis of it."^[3]

Sumedha took it upon himself to develop the ten perfections, made a fixed decision, paid tribute to Dīpankara and went to the Himavant, the residence of a crowd of seers. There he disappeared in the big forest on Mount Dhammaka.

After the exalted Dīpankara, 23 other Buddhas appeared and enlightened this world. And from each of them, the Bodhisatta received the prediction that he would become a Buddha one day.

In the Tusita Heaven

The Bodhisatta, the being intended for Enlightenment, fulfilled the perfections and thus having performed such meritorious deeds, he appeared attentively and fully consciously in the Tusita Heaven, the heaven of the contented Devas. He stayed in that heaven attentively and fully consciously. His name was Santusita and he enjoyed heavenly blessings.

When he had reached the end of his heavenly lifespan, the deities of the 10,000 worlds came together and begged the Bodhisatta in respect: “The time has come, powerful Hero; descend into the lap of a mother and awake to the immortal state; cross these worlds with its gods and men, save these worlds, discover the realm of the Deathless.”

After this plea, the Bodhisatta considered: "In what time, in which country, in which district, in which family will I be reborn and how long is the lifespan for the mother?" He made a fixed intention, went out of the Tusita Heaven and accepted conception in the Royal Sakya family.

Sketch of the life of the Buddha Gotama

The Buddha Gotama (Gautama in Sanskrit) was a human being and not a god. He was a peerless teacher. According to Theravada tradition, he was born in Lumbinī, in the Therai plain of Nepal, in the year 623 BC. He was given the name Siddhattha. His mother's name was Maha Maya. His father was Suddhodana Gotama, governor of the tribe of the Sakyas. The capital of the Sakyas was Kapilavatthu. Siddhattha spent his childhood in that city.

At the age of 16, he married his cousin Yasodhara. She was the only daughter of King Suppabuddha and Queen Pamita of the tribe of the Koliyas.

Siddhattha lived in luxury and without worries. But during his trips in the area he saw that man is weighed down by old age, disease and death. He also met an ascetic who led his life for the good of the people. Siddhattha also wanted to live such a life. On the very day he resolved to give up his luxurious life, a son was born to him. Siddhattha realized that he could not easily leave home and wife now. But he had no desire to live the luxurious life of the head of a family. His mind was determined and he gave up all wealth, throne and dominion and happiness with wife and child in search of the incomparable inner peace.

He left palace, city and country and began the homeless life of an ascetic. He went in search of the way that leads to the highest peace. First he went to famous teachers. But they could not teach him the way to that peace. Siddhattha then went on alone. In stages he arrived at Senanigama (now Buddhagaya) near Uruvela. There he stayed. Five other ascetics soon joined him.^[4]

Siddhattha thought that rigorous ascetic exercises would lead him to supreme peace. But it wasn't. Finally, he realized that self-torture and fasting were not getting any results. He remembered how in his youth he sat under a tree and reached a meditative absorption. And he realized that concentration guided by ordered reflections was the way to supreme peace.

He started eating solid food again. The five ascetics thought he had given up his pursuit and departed from him. Siddhattha sat down in a lovely grove at the foot of a fig tree. Concentrated he thought about old age, birth and death. He saw causal origin, saw that everything is interdependent.

Contemplation on the Law of Causal Origination

“This world has truly come into trouble and hardship, has fallen into a state of suffering. One is born, one grows old, one dies, and one is reborn. There is no way out of suffering, no escape from this suffering, growing old and dying. When will there be an escape from this suffering, growing old and dying?”

A proper consideration is: “What is the cause of this manifold suffering in the world? What is the origin and cause of old age and death?” And after mature consideration the Exalted One had the insight:

“From ignorance as cause arise the formations. From the formations as cause arises consciousness. From consciousness as cause arises name and form. From name and form as cause arise the six senses. From the six senses as cause arises contact. From contact as cause arises feeling. From feeling as cause arises thirst. From thirst as cause arises grasping. From grasping as cause arises becoming. From becoming as cause arises birth. From birth as cause arise old age and death, pain, sorrow, lamentation, despair.

In this way the whole mass of suffering comes into being. This is called arising.” - “This is the wrong way.”

“‘The origin, the origin:’ with that came to me insight into things never heard before, came to me understanding, insight, knowledge and clarity.”^[5]

After this the thought arose in the Exalted One: “What must not be present, that old age and death do not arise; from the cessation of which does the cessation of old age and death appear?”

“From the complete disappearance of ignorance and its cessation comes the cessation of formations. From the cessation of formations comes the cessation of consciousness. From the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of name and form. From the cessation of name and form comes the cessation of the six senses. From the cessation of the six senses comes the cessation of contact. From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling. From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of thirst. From the cessation of thirst comes the cessation of grasping. From the cessation of grasping comes the cessation of becoming. From the cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth. By the cessation of birth, old age and death, pain, sorrow, lamentation, wailing and despair are abolished. In this way, the cessation of the whole mass of suffering comes about.”^[6] - “This is called the right path.”^[7]

"This basic law is fixed, the lawful state, the lawful course, the dependence on something, the being caused by a given something.”^[8]

This gave him insight into things never heard before, gave him understanding, insight, knowledge and clarity.^[9]

The causally arising things are impermanent

And further he considered: “There are causally arising things, namely: Old age and death are impermanent, brought about (by formations), causally arising, subject to the law of passing away, disappearing, ceasing, cessation.

They are all impermanent, (by formations) brought about, causally arising, subject to the law of passing away, disappearing, ceasing, cessation.

The Exalted One then also had insight into the characteristic of aniccā, impermanence.

Everything that has come into being causally, everything that is composed, is impermanent, changeable and transitory. Nothing that and no one who has entered into existence remains the same, remains eternally existing. Even the highest god will one day have to bid farewell to divine life. Existence is only temporary. - This is the characteristic of aniccā, changeability and transience.

Pleasure of the World and Escape from the World

And the following thought occurred to the Bodhisatta: “Now, with regard to the world, what is its pleasure, what is its misery, and what is its escape?” And the following became clear to him: “That which gives rise to happiness and joy in the world is the pleasure of the world. That the world is impermanent, full of suffering, and subject to change is the misery of the world. But that which, with regard to the world, is the restraint and cessation of the will’s desire, that is the escape from the world.”

Once the Bodhisatta realized this, he was certain that he had fully realized the unsurpassed highest Enlightenment in the world with its gods and humans. And the knowledge and insight arose within him: “Unwavering is the liberation of my mind. This is the last birth; there is no more existence.”^[11]

The Three Kinds of Knowledge (Tevijja)

And during the evening and night of the full moon in May (Vesakha), the Exalted One understood the three kinds of knowledge (tevijja) thus:^[12] He recalled many past forms of existence. He frequently recalled the past delays in content and place.

After this, he focused his mind on the knowledge of the disappearance and reappearance of beings. With the heavenly eye^[13] that transcends human capacity, he saw how lowly and noble, beautiful and ugly, happy and unhappy beings come into existence according to their deeds: after death, beings with bad lives fall on an unwholesome path, into a place of suffering. Conversely, beings with good lives after death fall on a good path, into a happy world.

And he also focused his mind on the knowledge of the disappearance of blemishes.^[14]

The Unshakable Liberation of the Mind

After the Exalted One had realized causal origination, and the impermanence of causally arising things, and furthermore the pleasure and the misery of the world, and the escape from the world, he discovered as the fourth knowledge the middle path and the Four Noble Truths.

He saw, by means of causal arising, what dukkha, suffering, dissatisfaction is, what the arising of dukkha is, what the extinction, the cessation of dukkha is, and what the path is that leads to the extinction, the cessation of dukkha.^[15] These are the Four Noble Truths.” ^[16]

All this he then saw. And he was certain that he had fully realized the unsurpassed highest Enlightenment. And the knowledge arose in him that the liberation of his mind was unshakable.^[17]

Concentrated thinking brought a light to him and he saw clearly what had long been hidden from him. At the age of 35 he found the way that leads to the incomparable inner peace. He made that way public. He became the perfectly Awakened One, the Exalted One, the Enlightened One, the Buddha of this age.

Causal origin, dependent origination 2

After the Exalted One attained perfect Enlightenment, he thought again about causal origin.

If this is, that follows; with the arising of one, the other arises. If this is not, that does not follow; with the disappearance of one, the other disappears.

Consciousness is caused by mind-and-body and mind-and-body by consciousness. This consciousness returns to mind-and-body. It goes no further. To that extent birth and old age, death, rebirth can arise; to that extent there is the possibility of naming, the possibility of explanation; to that extent there is the whole realm of understanding, namely in this coming together of mind-and-body and consciousness. To that extent one can be born, grow old and die; to that extent one can pass away and reappear. (And then follows the chain of causal origination and cessation).^[18]

Mucalinda and anattā

In the fifth week after Enlightenment, the Blessed One went to the foot of the Mucalinda Tree. There was then a violent storm. But the Blessed One was protected there from rain and cold wind by the mighty Naga^[19] Mucalinda. When the storm passed, the Buddha spoke to Mucalinda about anattā.

"Seclusion is happiness for the contented one; and kindness to the world is happiness for the one who lives in forbearance. Not to please is happiness for the one who has transcended sense. But to be freed from the opinion 'I am', that is the greatest happiness of all.”

Elsewhere in the Pali canon, the lines in verse are the summary of what is taught in the prose. Presumably the Buddha spoke to Mucalinda at greater length than this verse about seclusion, forbearance, overcoming sensual desires, and about anattā, freedom from the belief that one is an abiding, unchanging being.

The two merchants

In the sixth week after Enlightenment, the Blessed One dwelt at the foot of a Rajayatana tree. At the end of that week, rice cakes with honey were offered to him by two merchants. They were called Tapussa and Bhalluka. They came with their caravan from the direction of Ukkala and were on their way to Madhyadesa.^[20]

At that time, ascetics were often invited for a meal by merchants who traveled with their caravan and were sometimes on the road for more than a year. In return for the support, the merchants were then taught in the teachings of those ascetics. The Buddha must also have spoken to them and have explained part of his doctrine. Because they took refuge in the Buddha and in his teachings.^[21] Presumably the Blessed One related part of the usual conversation: of the benefits of virtuous conduct, of generosity, and of salvation and blessing here and hereafter.^[22]

Five mental faculties

From the Rājayatana tree, the Buddha went to the Ajapāla Nigrodha, the goatherd fig tree. The following consideration occurred to him: five faculties, unfolded and developed, have led to the Deathless, namely the faculties of confidence, energy, attentiveness, concentration and wisdom.^[23]

The foundations of mindfulness

The following consideration also occurred to the Exalted One. The path of the four foundations of mindfulness is the straight path for purification of the beings, to overcome sorrow and lamentation, to end pain and sorrow; this is the straight path to the realization of Nibbana.

Those four foundations are: the contemplation of the body, the contemplation of the feelings, the contemplation of consciousness, and the contemplation of mental objects.”

Brahmā Sahampati noticed in his mind these considerations of the Blessed One and immediately he disappeared from the Brahmā heaven and appeared before the Blessed One. Reverently, he affirmed the Buddha's deliberations.

The teaching is difficult to understand

The Buddha had not only recognized that there is dissatisfaction, unsatisfaction, frustration in the world. But he had also discovered the chain of causal origin. These themes are difficult to understand. That is why the Exalted One at first did not want to proclaim the whole teaching because it is deep and difficult to see, difficult to discover. "It is the most peaceful and is the supreme goal of all. This teaching is not attainable by mere reasoning, is subtle, experienced by the wise." He further thought that if he taught the doctrine and others did not understand him, then he would only have the trouble and the burden of it.

The Buddha therefore wanted to refrain from proclaiming the teachings. But because of Brahmā Sahampati he changed his mind and saw that there were also beings who wanted to listen to his teachings and who had faith in his teachings.

The five ascetics and the usual conversation

Thereupon the Blessed One continued on his way to Isipatana (Sarnath near Varanasi) until he came near the five ascetics who once accompanied him in his quest for supreme inner peace.

In the Buddha's first address to those five ascetics, he did not speak directly to them of the higher teachings. But the Buddha first prepared the way for them to become receptive to the understanding of the higher teachings. So he addressed them first with the usual talk, namely, the talk of giving (generosity), of virtue, of a better world, and of the blessing of renunciation. This speech has not survived. It is only mentioned in Digha Nikaya 16, among the six predecessors of the Buddha Gotama.^[24] But its scope can be reconstructed. Many discourses have been given later on the merits of generosity. And virtue manifests itself in following the five rules of good conduct. In a better world one comes when one is virtuous and performs meritorious deeds.

The second part of the usual discourse dealt with the misery, the emptiness and impurity of desire, and the blessing of renunciation.

“Desire, the lusts of the senses are indicated as a danger, as a fetter. And why?

Sensual lust is like a danger and a fetter because one who is inflamed with sensual desires, entangled in his desires, is not free from the dangers and fetters of present existence, and does not become free from the dangers and fetters of future existence.

As danger, as fetter, one indicates the sensual lusts on which the great multitude hangs. But whoever sees danger in attachment, possession, the origin of birth and death, is freed from all delusion without attachment.

Those who are safe, the blessed, whose delusion has already been extinguished in life, they have escaped all evil and danger, all suffering.”

The five ascetics to whom this customary conversation was spoken, were already well prepared and without many hindrances in their minds. After this discourse, the Buddha enunciated the real teachings of the middle, namely the Middle Path, and the Four Noble Truths including dependent origination: dukkha (dissatisfaction), its origin, its cessation, and the way to its cessation.

The Middle Path, the Noble Eightfold Path

"Two extremes should not be exercised by one who has taken upon himself the life of a monk or a nun. They are these two: a) taking pleasure in sense-pleasures, and b) self-torment." The middle path avoids both extremes. It leads to peace.^[25] One strives not to bring into being the evil things that have not yet arisen. One strives to overcome the evil things that have arisen. One strives to bring into being the wholesome things that have not yet come into being. One strives to establish the wholesome things that have come into being, not to let them disappear, but to bring them to growth and full development. This also belongs to the middle path.”^[26]

Not exercising these extremes is not expressly prescribed for laymen. But a noble lay follower may, of course, avoid these extremes. He can, if he wants, follow the middle path. It gives vision, knowledge and it leads to peace, to direct insight, to Enlightenment and to Nibbana. And what is that middle path? It is none other than the Noble Eightfold Path, namely:

1. Correct insight, correct understanding; this is the understanding of the four noble truths.

2. Right thinking; this is having a remembering, peaceful, non-violent disposition.

3. Speaking correctly; this is using true, conciliatory, gentle and wise language (also in writing).

4. Acting correctly; this is refraining from killing, from stealing, and from illicit sexual conduct.

5. Proper livelihood; this is living in such a way that one does not cause damage or harm or injury to others.

6. Right effort; it consists herein that the unwholesome is not allowed to arise, that the unwholesome that has already arisen is conquered, that the wholesome that has already arisen is preserved, and that the wholesome is then developed.

7. Proper attention, which consists in the constant contemplation of the body, of the feelings, of the mind and of the spiritual objects.

8. Right development of mind or right concentration. This can be done through contemplation on the Buddha, Dhamma (the teachings) and Ariyasangha (the community of the saints), or on death, the body, metta, or other subjects.

It is not required to practice all parts of the Eightfold Path exactly one after the other. Much depends on equity. The Eightfold Path is a systematic division. Thus, a certain amount of right understanding is necessary to enter the path of Buddhist teachings. But right understanding is also the result of the path.

The Four Noble Truths

After the teaching of the Middle Path followed the enumeration of the four noble truths, namely:

Depending on the six elements^[27], the conception of the embryo^[28] takes place. Where conception is, there is name and form. Caused by name and form are the six sensory foundations. Caused by the six sensory foundations is the sensory impression (phassa).

Caused by the sense impression is the feeling (vedanā). With regard to the feeler I teach what dukkha, suffering, dissatisfaction is, what the arising of dukkha is, what the extinction, the cessation of dukkha is, and what the path is that leads to the extinction, the cessation of dukkha. These are the Four Noble Truths.” ^[29]

1. The truth of frustration, dukkha.

“Now what is the noble truth of dukkha, the unsatisfying? - The noble truth of dukkha is as follows: birth is dukkha; growing old is dukkha; illness is dukkha; dying is dukkha; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, despair are dukkha; being united with whom or what one dislikes is dukkha; being separated from whom or what one loves is dukkha; not getting what one likes is dukkha; In short, the five groups of clinging are dukkha, unsatisfying, frustrating. That is called the noble truth of dukkha, the unsatisfying.”^[30]

(a) The group of matter, namely solid, liquid and gaseous substances, heat and motion. It also includes the senses and their corresponding objects: eye with visible form, ear with sound, nose with smell, tongue with taste and body with touch. The mind and spirit with thoughts and ideas also belong to it.

(b) The group of feelings: the feelings experienced through the contact of physical and mental organs with the outside world.

(d) The group of mental formations: to this belong all volitional activities (kamma). The volitional activities produce moral results. Voluntary actions include attention, trust, desire, concentration, energy, aversion. - In total there are 52 mental activities.

(e) The group of consciousness: consciousness is a reaction based on one of the six senses and with the corresponding external phenomenon as its object. For example, visual consciousness has the eye as its basis and the visible form as its object.

2. The truth of the origin of dukkha

“What is the noble truth of the arising of dukkha, dissatisfaction, the unsatisfying?^[31] - Caused by not-knowing are the karmic-forming forces.^[32] Caused by the karmic-forming forces is [rebirth] consciousness. Caused by consciousness are name and form. Caused by name and form are the six foundations of the senses. Caused by the six foundations of the senses is the sense impression (the contact). Caused by the sense impression is feeling. Caused by feeling is craving. Caused by craving is clinging. Caused by clinging is the process of becoming. Caused by the process of becoming is birth. Caused by birth come old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, grief, lamentation and despair. Thus is how the whole mass of dukkha arises. Monks, this is called the noble truth of the arising of dissatisfaction, the unsatisfying, dukkha.”

3. The truth of ending dukkha

“What is the noble truth of the extinction of dukkha, dissatisfaction, the unsatisfying? - Through the complete abolition and extinction of ignorance comes the extinction of the karmic-forming forces. Through the extinction of the karmic-forming forces comes the extinction of [rebirth] consciousness. Through the extinction of consciousness comes the extinction of name and form. Through the extinction of name and form comes the extinction of the six sense foundations. Through the extinction of the six sense foundations comes the extinction of sense impression. Through the extinction of sense impression comes the extinction of feeling. Through the extinction of feeling comes the extinction of desire.^[33] Through the extinction of desire comes the extinction of clinging. By the extinction of clinging comes the extinction of the process of becoming. By the extinction of the process of becoming comes the extinction of rebirth. By the extinction of rebirth comes the extinction of old age and dying, and also of sorrow, lamentation, grief, lamentation, and despair. Thus comes the extinction of this whole mass of dissatisfaction, of the unsatisfying. Monks, this is called the noble truth of the extinction of dissatisfaction, of the unsatisfying.”^[34]

4. The truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha

This path is none other than the aforementioned noble eightfold path. And that path must be developed.

While listening to these discourses arose in the venerable Kondañña the passionless, unblemished vision of the truth: "Whatever has nature of arising, also has nature of passing away."

Then the Blessed One uttered these words of joy: "Verily, Kondañña knows, Kondañña has realized the truth." And so this reverend was given the name: Añña-Kondañña: Kondañña who knows. He had reached the first level of holiness.

After these speeches, all the deities cried out that the teaching of the Buddha had begun.

Ordination of the five ascetics as monks

After Kondañña had realized the truth, he asked to be ordained by the Exalted One. The Buddha then ordained him with the words: “Come, monk, live the holy life to put an end to all suffering.” That was the full ordination of the venerable monk.*^[35]

Then the Blessed One instructed the rest of the ascetics in the doctrine. During the discourse, the Venerable Vappa and Venerable Baddiya came to the realization that whatever comes into being will also pass away. They too wanted to be fully ordained. And the Blessed One ordained them with the words: “Come, monks, the doctrine has been well explained. Lead the holy life to put an end to all suffering.” That was the full ordination of those two monks.

Then the Exalted One instructed the two remaining ascetics, Mahānāma and Assaji, in the teaching and they also received the insight that whatever comes into being will also pass away. They said that they had understood the teaching and asked for full ordination. And with the same words as the other monks, they received full ordination from the Exalted One.^[36]

Anattā, the characteristic of non-self

After the discourse on the four noble truths, the Blessed One instructed the five ascetics with the discourse on the characteristic of non-self (anattā). He had spoken briefly about it with Mucalinda earlier.

"The body is not-self, has no enduring core, is without life principle. The senses have no permanent core, they are without a life principle. The mind and mental things are without a permanent core, are without a vital principle.

Form (the body) is non-permanent. And that which is non-permanent is grievous. That which is non-permanent, that which is grievous because it is subject to change, cannot be regarded thus: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self.'

In the same way it is with feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness. Of that one cannot say either, 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self.'

When a noble follower who has learned the truth, sees in this way, he no longer regards form, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness as his self. He no longer considers them his own, no longer appropriates them. Then the passion fades away. And with the cessation of passion he is liberated."

As mentioned before, Kondañña had already reached the first level of sanctity. Through the discourse on the mark of not-self, he and the other four ascetics were completely freed from the blemishes. Their hearts had been brought to the fourth and final level of holiness. They no longer attached themselves to anything. There were then six Arahants, perfect saints in the world, namely the Buddha and those five ascetics. This is also the beginning of the Sangha, the community of monks.^[37]

Very little has been taught in the foregoing specifically for members of the Sangha. And also the discourse on anattā can be understood by lay followers. Attā, a self, was a concept and anattā is its negation.

The Pali word atta has, among other things, the meaning of self, soul. Atta is described as a small creature in the form of a man. That creature would live in the heart in ordinary times. At death it escapes from the body and then continues to live an eternal life of its own. A "soul," then, according to popular belief, was something permanent, unchanging, unaffected by grief. Atta was then understood to mean the thinking, feeling and willing part of man; the vital principle in man, soul. This part was thought to be imperishable, permanent.

The Buddha's teaching rejects such theories and thus differs from other religions and philosophies of life. According to the teachings of the Buddha, a living entity has no soul, no vital principle, no immutable center from which everything is governed. That is the teaching of anatta.

Anattā, the opposite of atta, is translated non-self, not a soul, without a soul, not belonging to anyone, impersonal, not I, being without life principle.

Understanding anattā is very important. It is the realization that there is no permanent core, that a person does not remain as he is, but that he is always changing. It is liberation from the belief that one is an abiding, unchanging being.

The Buddha taught that all phenomena are without a self. There is no core, no self, nowhere, not somewhere inside and not somewhere outside. That was then and still is today very opposite to what is commonly thought. There is no soul that moves from one life to another. No composite thing and no one lasts forever. - This is called the characteristic of anattā (non-self).

Emptiness, suññatā

By emptiness is meant the being empty of something, the absence of something. Just as a hole is recognizable by what is visible around it, emptiness is always recognizable by the 'environment', by that which is present.

Man (and every living being) has no inner permanent core, i.e. man is empty of individuality, empty of anything he can call his own.

“The world is empty insofar as it is empty of an independent thing (attā) and empty of what belongs to an independent thing. The eye is empty of a self and of what belongs to a self. And likewise the visible object is empty of a self, and the eye contact is also empty of it. In the same way it is with the other senses, with the objects of those senses and with the contacts of those senses. So it is with the coordinating sense, recognizable objects, mental awareness and contact. All this is empty of an independent thing and of what belongs to an independent thing. And whatever pleasant, painful, or neutral feelings arise with regard to the senses and to the coordinating mind, they too are empty of a self and of what belongs to a self.”

Forms, feelings, perceptions, mental formations (such as decision, will, attention, trust, thoughts), and consciousness are not themselves. They arise and decay again, depending on causes. Our bodies and our thoughts and feelings are not ours. We cannot say that they belong to us.

Personality

The five groups of existence to which one attaches are called personality. They are also called attachment groups. Being:

2. the grouping of feeling, the existence-group of feeling to which one attaches;

3. the grouping of perception, the existence group of perception to which one attaches;

4. the grouping of the formations, the existence-group of the formations to which one attaches; and

5. the grouping of consciousness, the existence group of consciousness to which one attaches.

Where does greed arise and where does it take hold?

There are attractive and pleasant things in the world; there desire arises and there it takes hold.

Attractive and pleasant are the six senses (including the mind) and the objects of those senses. That is where desire arises and that is where it takes hold. The consciousness that arises depending on sense and object is likewise attractive and pleasurable; there desire arises and there it takes hold. Contact caused by the senses is attractive and pleasurable. There desire arises and there it takes hold. Feelings that arise depending on contact of the senses with the sense objects are attractive and pleasurable. There desire arises and there it takes hold. Perception of shapes, sounds, smells, tastes, of things that can be touched, and of mental objects is attractive and pleasurable in the world. There the desire arises and there it takes hold. The will directed towards and the desire for forms, sounds, smells, tastes, things that can be touched and directed towards spiritual objects is attractive and pleasurable. There the desire arises and there it takes hold. Contemplating and exploring shapes, sounds, smells, tastes, touchable things, and mental objects is attractive and pleasurable. There the desire arises and there it takes hold.”

The five khandhas, the bodily and mental components of personality, are neither individually nor as a whole the self. Neither a self nor an identity can be found anywhere in the heart and mind either. What is experienced as an abiding self is nothing more than a mock personality born of ignorance and illusion - impermanent, unstable, dukkha-filled.

Man is empty of individuality, empty of an unchanging core. There is nothing of which man can say, "Behold, that is now the unchanging, abiding being within me: that am I, and so I remain."

The Christ also pointed out that man is transitory and that this should not be forgotten. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." However, the death and perishability of the body and mind are very often forgotten.

"To be or not to be," Shakespeare made Hamlet say. To be or not to be is what the masses think. But the Buddha discovered dependent (or causative) arising. He pointed out that the statement "to be or not to be" is not correct. "All is," that is the one ending. "All is not," that is the other ending. These two ends should be avoided. What is compounded, what has come into being through causes, remains for a time and will also pass away.

The uncomposed; the solitary dwelling

The Buddha teaches the middle way: causal arising and passing away. The world grasps, holds on, and thinks there is an ego, a self (atta). That opinion leads to frustration, unsatisfaction, dukkha. One remains bound to the thought: “If this is not the self, and that is not the self, then what is the true self?” Such thinking is wrong. The Buddha teaches that there is no self, nowhere, neither internal nor external. Causal arising and passing away, without permanence, is the characteristic of the world, is the characteristic of all that is composed. To seek “the true self” is aimless.

But the Buddha taught that there is something that is not compounded. And what is not compounded cannot break apart. That is permanent. That is what one must seek. - And what is the not compounded?

“There are forms that come into consciousness through the eye, sounds that come into consciousness through the ear, smells that come into consciousness through the nose, tastes that come into consciousness through the tongue, tangible objects that come into consciousness through the body, thoughts that come into consciousness through the mind. One desires them, finds them pleasant, one welcomes them, leans on them. Then satisfaction arises in the one who so desires them, so welcomes them, so leans on them. When satisfaction arises, suffering arises. And then also stimulation arises. Because of stimulation one is bound. And bound with the chain of satisfaction one abides with a companion.

And why? The companion is the desire that is not overcome. That is why one abides with a companion.

But when the craving is removed - and also the aversion - then suffering is removed. And also: when there is no satisfaction, then there is no stimulation and then one is not bound. Then one is without a companion, then one is alone.”

When a sense organ makes contact with a sense-perceptible object, a preference or aversion to that object can arise. Consciousness is then not free but composite. By completely removing desire and hatred, preference and aversion, consciousness becomes completely free; it is then no longer composite.^[38]

Spreading the Doctrine

Many people took refuge in the Buddha and in his teachings. Many joined the Sangha, the community of monks. And when the rainy season drew to a close, the Buddha sent forth his immediate disciples - all of whom were fully qualified to teach others - to proclaim the teachings, for the benefit and happiness of many, out of compassion for the world, for good, wellbeing and happiness of gods and men. No two were allowed to go in the same direction. The Buddha asked them to proclaim the teaching in its own sense and in its own way; intent and to the letter. "For there are creatures with little dust in their eyes who will perish if they do not hear the teaching. They will understand the teaching." At the end of six years they would meet again to solemnly recite the Rules of the Sangha, the Order. The Buddha himself went to Uruvela, to Senanigāma, to teach the doctrine.

The Fire Speech

From Uruvela the Blessed One went to Gayāsīsa, near Gayā. There he taught the Fire Speech.

"Everything is burning, everything is on fire. Now the meaning of this is as follows. The senses are on fire; sensory objects are on fire. The sense-consciousness is on fire; this is the consciousness that arises in dependence on sense and observable object. On fire is sense-contact; this is the convergence of sense, perceptible object and consciousness. Also on fire is everything that arises with sensory contact as a necessary condition and that is felt as pleasant or as painful or as neutral.

And with what is all this on fire, with what does it glow? It glows with the fire of desire, with the fire of aversion and with the fire of illusion. It glows with birth, old age and death, with sorrow, lamentation, pain, care and despair.

In seeing this truth, one turns away from the senses and sense-perceivable objects, from sense-awareness and sense-contact. Gradually the fire of passion dies down and thus one is liberated."

During this discourse the hearts of all human hearers were freed from the blemishes. They no longer attached themselves to anything. All had become saints. The fires of their passions, of desire, aversion and illusion were finally extinguished.

Spreading the Doctrine 2

The characteristics of life - namely, that all formations are dependent originated, that all formations are perishable (anicca), that all formations are unsatisfactory, that they are subject to distress (dukkha), that all things are without a self (anattā) - those characteristics saw the Perfect One, and he made them plain and public. They have been discussed and explained by the Buddha in many discourses. He also explained that there is a way to end dukkha, suffering. He spoke to scholars and kings, but also to beggars and not so bright people. And sometimes the less fortunate understood his teachings before the learned people.

The Buddha taught not only what and how to think and act in order to attain supreme freedom, but also the reasons why. Soon he had many followers, male and female lay followers, monks and nuns.

With his disciples he traveled the highways and byways of northern India and southern Nepal. The Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching his teachings in all aspects. He made no distinction in person. He taught old and young people, rich and poor, sick and healthy. Anyone who wanted to listen to him could enjoy his wisdom.

The Order of Monks (bhikkhu sangha) soon grew to thousands and many monasteries sprang up.

The Order of Nuns, Bhikkhuni Sangha

Maha Pajapati, the Buddha's aunt and foster mother, increasingly realized the truth of the Buddha's teachings. And when her son, Prince Nanda, entered the Sangha, she too wanted to lead a life of renunciation, as a nun. But until then, there was no Buddhist Order of nuns. Therefore, she asked the Exalted One to allow women to enter the Order. But the Buddha was not in favour. "Leaving home and living a homeless life might not suit you," he said. This is not an outright "no" from the Buddha. Rather, he advises Maha Pajapati to abandon her desire.

But Maha Pajapati was not discouraged by this answer. Undeterred, she cut off her hair, dressed in yellow robes, and, accompanied by several Sakya women, walked from Kapilavatthu to Vesāli. Tired from traveling, she stood outside the portico of the tower hall at Mahavana, where the Buddha was then residing. She told Venerable Ānanda, who had seen her standing at the gate, what she desired.

The Venerable Ānanda was deeply moved and appealed to the Buddha on behalf of Maha-Pajapati and the other Sakya women. At first, the Buddha refused to establish a women's order. Then Ānanda asked whether women could also attain perfect holiness, arahantship. The Exalted One's answer was that women could also attain the first, second, third, and fourth levels of holiness. With this, the Buddha placed men and women on an equal footing. And thus, Ānanda succeeded in obtaining the Exalted One's permission for women to enter the Order.

Maha-Pajapati asked the Buddha how the Sakya women who had accompanied her, could be ordained. The Buddha then said that the Bhikkhu Sangha should ordain them as bhikkhunis. A large number of those first bhikkhunis became Arahants.

That the first nuns had to be ordained by the Bhikkhu Sangha is self-evident. After all, there was no Bhikkhuni Sangha at the time. But when more than four women were ordained, the bhikkhunis could perform the higher ordination themselves. The Order of Nuns was an independent institution.

Spreading the Teaching 3

The Buddha quickly gained an excellent reputation. He himself, his teachings, and the community of monks were widely praised. But he also had opponents, such as ascetics who held different beliefs. The Buddha was accused of teaching passivity, of being a teacher of destruction, a despiser, a denier, a tormentor, an outcast. The Buddha remained balanced and refuted their views with the truth, by explaining the true meaning of his words.

The Exalted One's answer was that, in one respect, one can rightly say of him that he teaches passivity, but in another, that he teaches activity. And that, in one respect, one can rightly call him a teacher of destruction, a despiser, a denier, a tormentor, an outcast. But in another respect, one can rightly say of him that he is someone who gives comfort, who proclaims the doctrine for comfort, and that in that sense he educates his disciples.

The Exalted One's answer went on to say that he teaches the non-practice of bad behaviour in deeds, words, and thoughts; that he teaches the non-practice of the many evil and unwholesome practices. In this respect, one could rightly say that he teaches passivity. But the Exalted One also teaches the practice of good behaviour in deeds, words, and thoughts; he teaches the practice of the many wholesome practices. And in this sense, one can rightly say of him that he teaches activity.

Furthermore, that he despises bad behaviour in deeds, words, and thoughts, that he despises the practice of evil, unwholesome things. In that sense, one could indeed say that he proclaims his doctrine with the aim of despising.

Furthermore, he demonstrates a doctrine that denies lust, hatred, and blindness, that denies the multitude of evil, unwholesome things. In that sense, one could rightly say that he is a denier.

Furthermore, he naturally says that one must torment evil, unwholesome things, bad behaviour in deeds, words, and thoughts. And that in the one in whom these tormenting, evil, unwholesome things are destroyed at the root, and no longer subject to new origins, that person is called a tormentor by him. That in the Perfect One these evil, unwholesome things are overcome, destroyed at the root, annihilated, and no longer subject to new origins. And that in this respect one could rightly say that he is a tormentor.

Furthermore, the Exalted One said that the person who has overcome rebirth, destroyed at the root and no longer subject to new origins, is called an outcast by him. That for the Perfect One, rebirth is overcome, destroyed at the root, annihilated, and no longer subject to new origins. In this respect, one could rightly say that he is an outcast.

Furthermore, that he brings the highest consolation; that he proclaims his teaching in order to console, and that in that sense he educates his disciples. In this respect, one could rightly say of him that he is a consoler, that he proclaims his teaching in order to console, and that in that sense he educates his disciples.

Disputes among the monks

Naturally, the monks had great faith in the Buddha. But even during the Buddha's lifetime, disagreements and jealousy arose among the monks. Consider, for example, the dispute at Kosambi. A prolonged dispute arose among the monks there. The Blessed One was called upon for help, but the monks ignored his advice. Unable to end the dispute, the Buddha left Kosambi and traveled in stages to Sāvatthi. A year later, during the tenth rainy season after the Enlightenment, first one group of monks from Kosambi approached the Blessed One, and then the other. Only at the end of that season was the dispute settled.^[39]

There were also monks who were jealous of the Blessed One. For example, Devadatta, the Buddha's cousin, could not tolerate the respect given to the Blessed One. He tried to sow discord within the Sangha. He succeeded to the extent that a small group of monks followed Devadatta's erroneous teachings.

Furthermore, there were some disciples of the Buddha who refused to follow the monastic rules as they were then established. Disagreement already arose during the Buddha's lifetime.

Attendants looking after the Buddha

During the first twenty years after the Enlightenment, the monks Nagasamala, Nagita, Upavana, Sunakkhatta, Sagata, Radha and Meghiya, and the novice Cunda cared for the Buddha, though not regularly. But after the twentieth year, the Exalted One desired to have a permanent attendant. The venerable Ananda was then appointed by the Buddha to look after him.

The Rainy Seasons

The rainy season (vassa) is a period of three months. During this time, according to the rules of the Vinaya, monks are not allowed to leave their place of residence at the beginning of the rainy season for more than seven days. Only for important reasons and in special circumstances may they for seven days be absent from their monastery or from the place of residence where they are required to spend the rainy season according to their vows. The official rainy season of the monks begins either in July or in August. In this respect, one speaks of an earlier or later beginning of the rainy season.

The origin of this rule is as follows. The Buddha was once staying at the Veluvana monastery in Rajagaha. A group of people complained to him that the Buddhist monks were not behaving properly. They were traveling around during the rainy season, walking through the fields and damaging the rice fields of the farmers. The Buddha discussed this matter in a meeting of the monks. At the end of it he pronounced the rule that all Buddhist monks should retire during the rainy season and find shelter in a certain place. They were not allowed to travel around.

During the rainy season there was also an opportunity to teach young monks and lay people.

In the rainy season, the Buddha and his disciples did not move about, but stayed in one place. He stayed there in Rajagaha (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 17th, 20th rainy season), Kapilavatthu (5th, 15th rainy season), Savatthi (6th, 12th, 14th, 21st to 42nd rainy season), Kosambi (9th, 10th rainy season) , the village of Ekanala near Rajagaha (11th rainy season), Calika (13th, 18th, 19th rainy season), and Alavi (16th rainy season).

Illness and parinibbana of the Blessed One

In the 43rd rainy season, the Blessed One again resided at Rajagaha. From there he went on an old trade route via Pataligama and Vesali to Kusinara. In the village of Beluva near Vesali he fell seriously ill. In Pava, the Buddha fell ill again after the meal at the goldsmith Cunda. And on the way from Pava to Kusinara - a short distance away - the Buddha had an attack of weakness. He died in Kusinara (now Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India), in the year 543 BC, aged 80.

He has shown that every human being, everyone can achieve what he himself has achieved, namely the liberation from all dukkha, suffering.

The right lay follower - Start at the beginning

Many lay people try to follow the way of life that is actually intended for monks. They forget that the way of life for lay people is very different from that for members of the Sangha. The Buddha said about this: “When one follows the rules for the laity, one becomes a right follower. For it is not possible, when one has possessions, to fulfill the discipline of the monastic order.”’

It is easy today to study or read about the doctrine for yourself. But that also has a danger. Just as when reading an exciting story one is quickly inclined to look at the back of the book to see how the story ends, so people when reading about the Dhamma tend to take a look at what follows. For example, some think that reading the Abhidhamma brings faster results. Others will delve into what has been written about what is considered the end goal. And because people forget to continue at the front, many people stumble or fall. Some talk about the end goal as if they know everything about it, but have not even reached the starting point, the refuge to the Triple Jewel.

Whatever kind of education one follows or whatever kind of sport one practices, one must first learn the basics. And every skill requires practical experience in addition to theoretical knowledge. A cook with only theoretical knowledge will not make it to chef of a three-star restaurant. Professional knowledge must be accompanied by professionalism.

So it is with the Dhamma. Well versed in theory, but without practice it is not possible to make progress. It is really necessary to take the Dhamma step by step, in stages. One cannot skip anything. And one should not stop training until the goal is fully achieved. Only then will the entire training come to an end.

The Buddha has given many discourses to lay people. They are about a good life here in this world and a good life hereafter. And also the advanced layman can realize the supreme liberation, Nibbana. In the time of the Buddha, many lay people achieved the high goal. And that is still possible today.

When is one a lay follower?

One is a lay follower of the Buddha when one has taken refuge in the Buddha, in the Dhamma, and in the community of saints, the Ariyasangha.

A worldling, someone who does not follow the Buddha's teachings and who is not trained and educated in the Dhamma, does not know which things should and should not be practiced. Because he does not know this, he practices things that should not be practiced and does not practice things that should be practiced. He follows things that should not be practiced, and does not follow things that should be practiced. Because he does this, unwelcome, unwanted, and unpleasant things increase for him, and welcome, desirable, and pleasant things decrease. This happens to someone who is unwise.

The Doctrine for Laymen

"Do good" for lay followers means, first of all, that they follow the rules of good conduct.

The five rules of good conduct

5. I make a firm commitment to abstain from alcoholic beverages and drugs that cause inattention.

These precepts are not obligations. But they form the basis for a good life here and hereafter.

“Killing, stealing, illicit sexual conduct^[40], lying, slandering, foul language, foolish gossip, all of which, if done often, lead to rebirth in hell, or among beasts, or in the world of unhappy spirits.” ^[41]

Just practicing these virtues requires daily effort. Good results don't just happen. And one should not stop exerting oneself half way.

the eight rules of good conduct

The basic rules can be expanded to eight rules. These are especially followed during Buddhist holidays or during special periods of meditation. These eight rules are somewhat stricter than the five basic rules:

4. I firmly resolve to use the right language, that is, no lying, no slandering, no evil speaking, no rough, no harsh, no angry language, no gossip, no evil words, no incorrect words, no untrue words, no disparaging words. But I will use only words that promote unity, harmless words, pleasant to the ear, full of loving-kindness, heart-warming, courteous, worthy of remembrance, timely, appropriate, to the point, friendly, and tolerant.

5. I firmly resolve to abstain from all intoxicating drinks and drugs by which negligence is caused.

6. I firmly resolve not to take solid food or certain drinks at an inappropriate time.

7. I firmly resolve to abstain from dancing, singing, music and inappropriate shows; from wearing jewelry, using perfumes and creams; and from things that tend to beautify the person.

8. I firmly resolve not to use a high and luxurious seat or a high and comfortable bed.

Refraining from evil

Refraining from evil means adhering to the five basic rules. These rules are not negative, but very positive. Whoever does not kill, gives safety and security to others. Whoever does not lie, provides trust. Whoever conducts themselves sexually also provides security and trust. Whoever does not steal, gives safety. The use of strong alcohol and/or drugs intoxicates the mind. And in such a state, one cannot see the truth, or cannot see it clearly.

Things beneficial for lay followers

In the early days of Buddhism, the teaching of the doctrine to the lay follower will have been mainly confined to what is beneficial and a blessing for the here and the hereafter. Devout lay followers, however, were also taught the higher teachings leading to Nibbana, that is, also about causal origin, about anattā and emptiness and the other characteristics of life, about the foundations of mindfulness and the four noble truths with the middle path.

What else did the Buddha teach for the layman? The layman enjoys the joys of the senses. He lives with his wife and children. He uses luxury items. So a very different life from that of a monk.

The Buddha taught that four things are beneficial to the laity on this side, namely: diligence, watchfulness, noble association, and moderation of life.

A layman is industrious if he is adept at earning his living by some kind of work, including agriculture, trade, or livestock, as a civil servant, soldier, or by some craft, handicraft.

The layman is vigilant when he watches over his possessions which he has obtained with diligence and righteousness. He watches over them lest they be stolen, or fall prey to fire or water, or be claimed by unloving heirs.

The layman has noble association when in the town or city where he lives he associates with other laymen of good character, who are virtuous, generous and wise. He pursues such persons.

The layman has a moderate way of life when he knows his income and expenses and arranges his way of life accordingly, neither too lavish nor too shabby. He knows that in that way the income is more than the expenditure and not the other way around.

And four things are for the benefit of the lay follower for the hereafter, namely, faith, virtue, generosity, and wisdom.

The noble lay follower has faith in the Enlightenment of the Perfect One, thus: "Verily, the Exalted One is holy, fully enlightened, perfect in knowledge and perfect in conduct. He is blessed, a knower of the worlds. He is the incomparable leader of those to be subdued and of those who are obedient. He is the teacher of gods and of men. He is the Awakened and Exalted One.”

The noble lay follower is virtuous when he follows the five rules of good behaviour. Virtue also includes taking care of one's parents and showing respect to the elderly.

The noble lay follower is generous when he lives at home with a heart free from the vice of avarice. He gives with open hands, is devoted to the needy.

The noble lay follower possesses wisdom when he understands the arising and passing away which leads to complete destruction of frustration, dukkha.

Thus these eight things lead the man who dwells confidently at home to well-being in this world and to future bliss. And so from day to day in the lay follower merits and mild thoughts increase.

Let one practice deeds of merit that bring lasting happiness: generosity, a balanced life, and the development of loving-kindness (metta). Cultivating these three things brings happiness.

Cultivating metta not only brings happiness but leads to hatredlessness; and sympathy casts out jealousy.^[42]

One of the disadvantages for a lay follower is when he neglects to listen to (or read about) the Good Teaching, when he is suspicious and reads the teaching with malice, looking for errors.^[43]

When one follows the rules and the layman's way of life, one becomes a proper follower. And then the ultimate goal, liberation from dukkha, can also be achieved.

Bhikkhus and lay followers

Good lay followers care for the monks through friendly deeds, by keeping friendly words, by keeping open house for them, and by providing for their material needs. They provide the monks with residence, food, clothing and medicines. In short, they raise any kind of support.

The monks then express their compassion by protecting the laity from evil by persuading them to do good. They are happy with a kind heart. They proclaim what they did not yet know and clarify what they already knew. And they show them, at least, the path to a heavenly state of existence. Monks must teach the laity the teachings, in their perfection and complete purity.^[44]

Furthermore, eight points are important for a layman in terms of dealing with monks: he may not hinder a monk when going around for alms. He may not harm a monk. He may not hinder a monk when taking accommodation. He may not insult a monk. He may not start a monk to argue. He is not allowed to speak ill of the Buddha, Dhamma or Sangha.

To purify one's own mind

Purifying one's own mind is possible, among other things, by contemplating the Buddha, Dhamma and Ariyasangha. Or by reading something about these topics carefully. Furthermore, there are about 40 methods of meditation. They are elaborated for every type of person. But not everybody can or wants to deal with such methods. However, striving to preserve the good one already has by following closely the five precepts, and striving to avoid and overcome bad states of the mind, yields very good results.

Some Meditation Methods

Metta

Very well suited for laypeople is the meditation on metta, loving kindness. This is based on the rule: what you do not want done to you, do not do to others. – As we are, so are the others. And as the others are, so are we ourselves. We must put ourselves on an equal footing with everyone and try not to hurt or harm anyone. The best way to do this is to shower someone with feelings of loving kindness. Love your neighbour as yourself.

"May all living beings be happy and full of peace. May their hearts be filled with happiness. May they be blissful in heart. Whatever living beings there be, whether weak or strong, all without exception, large or small or medium, thin or thick, creatures visible and invisible, the creatures far off or near, - may they all be blissful in heart.”^[45]

Another method is simple, but difficult to put into practice. Start by loving yourself first, by wanting the best for yourself. For if we do not have loving kindness to ourselves, how can we have it to others? Having first showered ourselves with loving-kindness - to the brim, so to speak - we can also give loving-kindness to others, radiate to others. First come those we like: parents, friends, teachers, relatives. Then neutral persons come next, and only finally people we don't like and enemies. But before that happens, one must first practice very well. It should be remembered that one should be careful about radiating metta to persons of the opposite sex. Too much affection might arise in this way. And that is not the purpose of this meditation. And to the dead one should not develop any feelings of loving kindness at all. Insanity might ensue.

"May I be happy. May I be free from desire, aversion and ignorance. May I be free from sickness and sorrow, free from pain and fear, free from worry and sorrow. May I be happy, free from suffering. May I be able to protect my happiness. May I be safe.

my parents..., my teachers..., my relatives..., my friends and acquaintances..., my colleagues..., my neighbours..., my fellow citizens …

… be happy, free from suffering. May they be able to protect their happiness. May they all be safe."

Saddha

Another method of meditation consists of trust, faith (saddha). This is having faith in the Buddha, in his teachings and in the Order of the Saints, the Ariyasangha. Also through faith one can attain the highest liberation. Through faith, the thoughts are focused at one point. It seems as if several thoughts can exist at the same time. This is because they are so incredibly fast. However, only one thought can exist at any one time. And that is why thinking is good when we fix our thoughts on the Buddha, on his teaching or on the community of the saints.

You can also read daily an article about the Buddha or his teachings. This is also part of saddha, trust, faith.

Thinking of the Triple Jewel

“Truly, the Blessed One is holy, fully enlightened, perfect in knowledge, and perfect in conduct. He is blessed, a knower of the worlds. He is the incomparable leader of those who must be subdued and of those who are obedient. He is the teacher of gods and humans. He is the Awakened and Exalted One.”

“Clearly explained is the teaching by the Blessed One; verifiable here and now; with immediate results. It invites everyone to test everything for themselves; it leads to Nibbāna. It can be understood by the wise, each for himself.”

“Of good conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of upright conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of wise conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of dutiful conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. This Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One – namely, the four pairs of persons, the eight kinds of individuals – is worthy of offerings, is worthy of hospitality, is worthy of gifts, is worthy of reverential greetings, is an incomparable field of merit for the world.^[46]

Vipassana

Another common meditation is insight meditation. It may be practiced not only at home, but even while walking, waiting for the bus, on the train, etc. The purpose of this way of meditation is to gain direct insight, without detours. One must always be vigilant for this. That is not always possible as a layperson. But sometimes a few minutes a day are suitable to be attentive.

The insight meditation consists of contemplating the body, the feelings, the mind, and the mental objects.

To contemplate the body is to pay attention to breathing. This calms the body and also the mind. The breath is not held longer or shorter in a special way. But the breath is the point to which attention is drawn again and again. Whether we inhale and exhale short or quickly, or inhale and exhale slowly, we simply pay attention, without disturbing the natural breathing. And if the mind wanders, then the attentiveness has to bring those thoughts back to the breath.

Or one pays attention to the feelings. One is aware when they arise and when they pass away; one realizes when they are pleasant, or unpleasant, or neutral.

Or one pays attention to the mind. One knows when the mind is with or without desire. One knows when it is with or without aversion. One knows when it is with or without ignorance. One knows when it is narrow, absent-minded, educated, focused; and one knows when it is not.

Or one pays attention to the mental objects. One knows when sensuality is present or when it is absent. One knows when disgust, sloth, rigidity, restlessness, pangs of conscience, and doubt are present; and one knows when those factors are absent.

Daily practice of meditation - even if only 10 or 15 minutes - brings more progress than the occasional practice of meditating a whole or half day.

Volitional actions and moral consequences

Another aspect of Buddhism is the teaching of kamma-vipaka. Kamma (Karma in Sanskrit) means any action we want to perform. And vipaka is the result of such an action of will.

The Buddha recognized that moral actions have consequences, moral consequences. The teaching of kamma–vipaka can be briefly described as follows: whoever does good, meets good; and whoever does evil meets evil.

Someday our good deeds will have good consequences. And bad deeds will have non-good consequences. We may experience those consequences already in this life, but also in later lives. And not always the good result comes immediately after the good deed. It is possible that after a good deed first comes the result of a bad deed we have done before. It then seems as if the good deed has bad consequences. But that is a wrong opinion. We cannot predict the order in which the results of volitions will appear.

This law of cause and effect is neutral. It is the one who applies the law who uses this law for good or for evil.

Kamma is volitional action. The will must absolutely be involved in the act. Only then one speaks of kamma. The act is conditioned, is subject to conditions. It is always a consequence of wanting, but wanting depends on other circumstances. Willing only ends when the goal is reached.

Man is the creator of his own world, of the world in which he lives. There is no one else who determines our lives except our own will. The results of volitional actions, however, are inscrutable.

Actions of will distinguish between high and low. Because of an unvirtuous and wrong way of life, one appears in a lower sphere; because of a virtuous and right way of life one appears in a higher sphere.

The result of an action of will will be experienced in this life, or in the next life, or in a future existence. While one result may override another, one cannot escape the moral consequences.

Where is volitional action stored? This question was put to the Reverend Nagasena. The answer was: “Volitional action is not said to be accumulated in this stream of consciousness or in some part of the body. But according to mind and matter it rests and manifests itself at the appropriate time. It is just like with apples; they are not stored in the apple tree. But depending on the tree, they arise in the appropriate season.”

One reaps the fruits of volitional actions. But not all moral consequences are experienced in this cycle of existence. Otherwise a liberation from misery, birth and death would be impossible. Sometimes one can erase the effects of unwholesome acts of will by making strong wholesome acts of will.

It should be clear that our life is a mixture of joys and sorrows resulting from wholesome and unwholesome deeds.

The doctrine of volitional action and moral outcome is not a doctrine of fatalism. Man is a product of his past actions. And part of his future is also a result of the past. But man has free will. That's really important. With that free will he can now and here determine his life and his future. “The will I call action, for by will one does the deed with the body, by words or in thought. There are volitions that ripen in states of misery. There are acts of will maturing in the world of men. And there are acts of will that ripen in happy spheres.”

It should be emphasized that not everything is the result of volitional actions. Therefore, there should be no discrimination. And - if possible - help should always be provided everywhere. This is clearly taught by the Buddha. Once he spoke about the treatment and care of the sick. He describes three types of patients:

1. Those who no longer heal, whether they receive good medicine and good treatment or not.

Because we do not know what type the sick person belongs to, every sick person must receive good medicine and good treatment.

Rebirth

The foregoing doctrine of moral causes and moral consequences is closely related to the doctrine of being born again. The latter is not equivalent to reincarnation. Reincarnation means becoming embodied again, starts from a solid, permanent core. Buddhism has no such thing. Rebirth is based on a lifestream that produces new life after death.

“It is impossible to explain the disappearance from one existence and the entry into a new existence, or to explain the growth, increase and development of consciousness independently of physicality, feelings, sensations and mental formations.”

Consciousness arises through body and mind. Conversely, consciousness is the condition for name and form. Consciousness is without essence, it is always consciousness of something. Consciousness depends on causal factors. There is no consciousness without content.

The content of our consciousness is our world. The existence group of form to which one attaches includes not only one's own body, but any perceived form to which the illusion of "I" can attach itself: that belongs to me, or that does not belong to me, that I like, or that pleases not me.

Consciousness is the connecting link. But nothing passes on to the next body, so not even consciousness.

At the time of the Buddha, a monk had the mistaken understanding that after death, a person's consciousness comes out of the body and moves to another body where that person is then born. The Buddha explained to him that no factor moves from one body to another. Consciousness arises through causes. Consciousness cannot arise without causes. Seeing-consciousness arises in dependence on eye and form. Hearing consciousness arises in dependence on ear and sound. Smell consciousness arises in dependence on nose and smell. Taste consciousness arises in dependence on tongue and taste. Touch consciousness arises in dependence on body and touch object. Mind-consciousness arises in dependence on mind and mind-object.

Right insight consists in an understanding of the process of causation (paticcasamuppāda).

The same or someone else?

Is the one who is reborn the same as the deceased, or is he someone else? - It is not the same person who is reborn, nor is someone else reborn. There is no eternal abiding, nor is there a complete annihilation. The Buddha teaches that the truth lies in between. If one assumes that the same person is reborn, then it follows that one believes that an abiding self continues from existence to existence. But such a self does not exist. If one assumes that someone else is reborn, then one believes that there is no connection between the separate kinds of existence. But such a connection does exist. It is produced not by an abiding atta, but by the links mentioned in the chain of causation.

The worlds of existence

Associated with rebirth is the appearing in the various worlds of existence. Those worlds of existence can be subdivided as follows:

a) There are four unhappy spheres (vinipāta), also called the four worlds of suffering (apāya) or the unhappy places (duggati). They are the world of hells, the animal world, the world of the unfortunate spirits (petas), the world of the demons (asuras). The life span in these spheres of misery is indefinite; it is not linked to a fixed term, but depends on the evil deeds one has done as a human being in past lives.

b) After this come the seven happy states (sugati). These spheres are divided into the human world and the six worlds of the devas, literally, "the resplendent ones." The devas are celestial beings commonly called "gods" or "deities." But a deva is not a god in the usual sense. The devas are not immortal, nor are they omnipotent or omniscient.

The six spheres of the gods are temporary happy abodes. The deities are usually invisible to the human eye. They have a spontaneous birth and appear as juveniles or as young girls of 15 or 16 years old.

c) They are followed by the eleven worlds of the Brahmās. They are neither omnipotent nor omniscient. And they don't live forever. The life span of the Brahmas is limited, although it lasts a very long time.

d) Furthermore, there are the five Pure Abodes (suddhavasa). In this only the non-returners are born again. They live there until their lifetime ends and then they attain Perfect Holiness.

e) And finally there are the four worlds of the immaterial sphere. There is no form or matter in it at all. Only the four spiritual groups (feeling, sensation, mental formations and consciousness) are present, without a body. In these four formless spheres those are born again with experience in the four disembodied meditative levels.

Few are born again in heaven or as human beings. Many more creatures are reborn as peta, as an animal or in the world of hells. The relationship between rebirth in a happy sphere and that in an unhappy sphere is like the dust on the nail of the finger of the Buddha and the great earth.

Even those who dwell in the Brahmā world can be reborn as a peta, as an animal, or in a hell. Only the levels of holiness protect against rebirth in an unhappy atmosphere.

The levels of holiness

(1) The worldlings. By them are denoted the monks, nuns, lay men and women who have not attained any of the levels of sanctity.

(2) Those who have faith. It will long benefit them to good and happiness; they are moving towards a heavenly sphere.

(3) Those who follow the teaching, who have faith, – they go to Enlightenment, they will arrive safely on the other shore.

At each level of the path of holiness, a distinction is made between (a) entering the path at that level, and (b) realizing the fulfillment or fruition at that level. This is how you get:

(4) Those who have entered the stream [to Nibbana], the Sotapanna. They no longer have any doubts about the Buddha, Dhamma and Ariyasangha. They have unshakable confidence.

(6) The once-returners, the Sakadagami. They have trod the path of once-return and have overcome three fetters; in them greed, hatred and ignorance are diminished. They come back to this world one more time to put an end to dukkha.

Through the path of perfect holiness, ignorance has been completely conquered. The opinion 'I am', the belief in personality has completely disappeared.

And all kinds of desire, including the desire for existence in the subtle and immaterial spheres, have been destroyed. Also one is then free from the higher shackles of self-importance, conceit, and restlessness.

There are no more than these eight kinds of saints. They are firm in wisdom and firm in virtue. Gifts given to these saints bring great reward.

The stains of the mind

Before entering the path of holiness, as well as during the walking of that path, several hindrances, fetters, blemishes of the mind must be overcome.

The following four obstacles must first be partially removed. For they render understanding powerless; they hinder progress and concentration. Being:

5. Doubt about the Buddha, Dhamma and Ariyasangha. This blemish must be completely gone in order to progress on the path of holiness.

There are many other hindrances, blemishes of the mind to be overcome. At each level of holiness, more stains are removed, more obstacles are overcome, more hindrances are removed. And they never come back. Thus, with effort and constant striving, one comes to perfect holiness.

The goal, Nibbana

That which is not permanent, which is frustrating and subject to change, of that it is not right to think, 'This is mine, this is me, this is my self. This applies not only to the senses, but also to sensory consciousness, awareness and sensory contact. Whoever recognizes this no longer appropriates the senses, sensory observable objects, sensory awareness, sensory contact. He no longer desires it. The result is an incomparable mental freedom and inner peace.

The aim of the Buddha's teaching is to attain that inner peace. The teaching is aimed at freeing us from everything that can bring frustration, suffering, is aimed at freeing us from the slavery brought about by desire, greed, by aversion, hatred, by wrong views and ignorance. The goal of Buddhism is Nibbana (Nirvana in Sanskrit). This term literally means: extinction. It is not an end to everything. But it is the extinction of the fires of desire, aversion, and delusion. Lay people can also obtain that freedom from slavery.

If we see the relativity of everything, then we become less involved. We no longer take it personally. And then we become more free in acting and thinking.

"Complete freedom from desire does not make thinking and acting impossible. On the contrary, one then stands victorious over things. Nothing and no one can then disturb us. That is true happiness." (Buddhadasa Bhikkhu)

Nibbana is not a disappearing into nothingness. Nibbana is mental solitude, being without desire for anything, without aversion to anything. When one is attached to something or someone, it soon causes worry, distress, frustration. Whoever is free from appropriating something, has no worries.

The consciousness that is associated with something else, with desire for something, with aversion to something, with ignorance, is called the multiple consciousness.

The consciousness that has no desire, aversion, ignorance as a ‘companion’ is free. That is called the single consciousness. It does not attach itself to anything. The consciousness that calls nothing its own is infinite and brightly shining.

A person with such a single consciousness does not regard feeling, perception, formations, consciousness as the self, as an ego. He is not fettered by the bonds of feeling, perception, formations, consciousness; he is unfettered internally and externally. The battle is fought; he or she has transcended all forms of existence, has risen above good and evil.

Summary of the Dhamma

Venerable Ratthapāla once summarized the Dhamma taught by the Exalted One as follows:

“Life in any world does not last, it is wiped out.” (We are all subject to old age and death).

“Life in any world is without protection and without protector.” (We are all subject to sickness and disease).

“Life in any world has nothing of real property; one must leave everything behind and move on.” (Sensory pleasures and possessions are not permanent, they cannot be carried over to another life.)

“Life in any world is incomplete, unsatisfying, subject to desire.” (If the desire has not calmed down, one remains unsatisfied in the world.)^[47]

Theravada and the Pali Canon

During the life of the Buddha and for several centuries afterwards nothing was written about the teachings. That was not common at the time. At that time, writing was used for trade and administration, but not for education. Teachings were then put into verses that could be more easily memorized and passed on from one person to another and from one generation to another. The Buddha himself, therefore, left no written texts.

The oldest known tradition of the Buddha's teachings is that of the Theravada school. It is preserved in the Pali Canon. In the past, the teachings were passed down orally. Entire groups of monks memorized certain parts and then recited those texts together. If someone did not remember a word or a sentence exactly, then others filled it in. That's how those texts were preserved until around 250 BC. they were brought to Sri Lanka. There they were written down.

The reliability of the written texts (the Pali Canon) has been questioned by several scholars from Europe. But oral tradition is very reliable. Anthropologists have demonstrated this, for example with folk tales. And especially when the narration is recited in groups, errors and mistakes will be avoided.

In the first century BC (5th century after the Buddha), Sri Lanka was disrupted by an invasion of Tamils from India, and by a great famine. Chaos reigned throughout the country. The oral transmission of the teachings was threatened by the death or departure of monks. Under these circumstances, it was decided to commit the teachings to writing. This happened around 90 BC, during the reign of the pious Sinhalese king Vatta Gāmani Abhaya (101-77 BC). A council of Arahants was held at that time. Its purpose was to revise the commentaries on the Tipitaka. At the end of that council, for the first time in Buddhist history, the Pāli Canon, including its commentaries, was written down. This took place at Aluvihāra (Aloka-Vihāra) in the Matale District of Sri Lanka.

2. The Sutta Pitaka. These are the speeches on various topics. There are sections that deal with the lives of holy monks and nuns. But they are not just for the monks and nuns. Many of its speeches are intended for lay people. They deal, among other things, with the economic and also the spiritual well-being of the layman.

3. The Abhidhamma Pitaka. This is the philosophical treatment of the subjects enunciated in the Sutta Pitaka. There are doubts about the authenticity and age of the Abhidhamma Pitaka. It most likely originated more than 300 years after the Buddha's death.

Various schools

After the Buddha's Parinibbāna, his teaching was the only guide. False doctrines had already arisen by then. Hence the idea of purifying the teachings arose. Three months after the death of the Buddha, a council of many Arahants (perfect saints) was convened under the leadership of the venerable Mahā Kassapa to establish the proper teachings (sutta pitaka) and discipline for monks and nuns (vinaya pitaka) and to remove false teachings from it.

However, the texts as we have them today were not recited then. Later additions and changes were made.

Elder Upāli was the recognized authority on the Vinaya, the rules of conduct for the Order. He was assigned to recite the Vinaya rules along with the circumstances that led to their adoption.

Elder Ānanda was asked to recite the sermons (suttas). He had an extraordinary memory and knew many things by heart. Almost the entire Sutta Pitaka was recited by him with the background and/or occasion.

Venerable Upāli and his pupils were requested to preserve the Vinaya Pitaka. Venerable Ānanda was ordered to preserve the Digha Nikāya with his disciples. The pupils of the venerable Sariputta - who himself had died before the Buddha - were asked to take care of the Majjhima Nikāya. The Samyutta Nikāya was for the Venerable Mahā Kassapa and his disciples; and the Anguttara Nikāya was for the venerable Anuruddha and his pupils.

So groups of reciters (bhānakas) then formed. Each group had its own views on certain matters. And the historical events were remembered differently in each group. At that time already the foundations for later schools were laid.

Not everyone agreed with the agreements of the first Council. There were monks who continued to recite the teachings as they memorized them. After all, the Buddha had said that the teachings should be memorized and learned in one's own language or dialect.^[48] So there were already different texts, and probably also different schools.

Later, the influence of the brahmins and monasteries became very great. At that time, monastic rules (Vinaya) were considered more important than the sermons (suttas). Order was essential in the monasteries.

Due to the great distance in India, there was little or no contact between the groups. Communication was difficult. About 100 years after the death of the Buddha, there were several regional organizations, each with its own characteristics.

A separate school then emerged, the Mahāsanghikas. The orthodox group was called the Theravādins or the Sthavīravādins (the group of the Elders or Seniors).

Theravāda (Sthaviravada) was very strongly represented in the western part of North India. The Mahāsanghika school was mainly established in its eastern part.

About 200 years after the Parinibbāna of the Buddha, there were several divisions within Theravāda. Each school had its own version of the Canon of sacred texts and had its own opinions about its interpretation.

Almost nothing has survived of those other movements. We only know a few names (about 15-30 schools from the early period). Several of its texts have survived in Chinese or Tibetan translations.

Towards the end of the first century of the Christian Era, there was a split of the Buddha's teachings into a southern and a northern school. The southern school was named Hinayana, the little vehicle. It pursued the salvation of the believer and kept itself free from the influences of Brahmanism and Hinduism as much as possible. It is representative of the original teachings of the Buddha. The northern school is called Mahayana, the great vehicle. It primarily strives to contribute to the salvation and redemption of all living beings.

The Mahayana gave rise to two important schools, namely the Madhyamika and the Yogacara. Over time, it conquered Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. In Northwest India, Mahāyāna developed into a concept of divine or transcendent wisdom: Prajnā-pāramitā.

The different movements that can be found in Buddhism today have arisen both because of differences in language and culture and because of the different emphasis on some of the teachings. These schools of thought differ in the practice of the doctrine; but all of them are based on the original words of the Buddha Gotama.

Many Buddhas

Besides the historical Buddha Gotama many other Buddhas are known. They lived many eras before this time. The name Buddha means: Enlightened One. And all those who by their own power have recognized the perfect truth, and then taught them, are called Buddhas. And in the future, many Buddhas too will appear.

Don't rely on hearsay

It was said that the Buddha used cunning to convert the followers of dissenters to his own teaching. But this accusation is not true. The Buddha refuted this claim as follows:

"Do not follow hearsay, do not follow tradition, do not follow everyday opinions, do not follow the authority of scriptures, do not follow mere reasoning and logical conclusions, do not follow invented theories and preconceived opinions, do not follow the impression of personal advantage, do not follow the authority of a master. And when you yourself see that these things are unwholesome, reprehensible, that they are disapproved of by intelligent people and that they lead to misfortune and suffering, then you can give them up.

What do you think: does the greed, the hatred, the blindness, the impetuosity that arises in man, lead to his good or to his evil?” “To evil, Lord.”

"Out of greed, out of hatred, out of blindness, out of impetuosity, with a deceived spirit, one kills what lives, steals, and mars his neighbor's wife, and speaks lies and incites others to do the same; and this will cause one trouble and suffering for a long time." "That is so, Lord."

“These things are unwholesome, reprehensible, they are disapproved of by wise men. And they, when carried out and undertaken, lead to misfortune and suffering.

But when you yourself see that these things are wholesome, blameless, that they are praised by wise men, and that they lead to blessing and well-being, then you can make them your own.

What do you think: does the being without desire, - the being without hatred - the being without blindness, - the self-control that arises in man, tend to his good or to his evil?”

“Free from covetousness, free from hatred, free from blindness, free from impetuosity, not overcome by covetousness, with a spirit unbound, one does not kill the living, one does not steal, one does not abuse his neighbour’s wife, one does not speak lies or incite others to do so; and this will be a blessing and a good thing for a long time.”

“What do you think, how is this? Are these things beneficial, are they praised by wise men, and do they lead to blessing and well-being?”

“Indeed, Lord, these things, when carried out and undertaken, lead to blessing and well-being.”

“It is for this very reason that we have said that you should not follow hearsay, nor tradition, nor everyday opinion, nor the authority of scriptures, nor mere reasoning and logical conclusions, nor invented theories and preconceived opinions, nor the impression of personal advantage, nor the authority of a master. But when you yourself see that these things are wholesome, blameless, that they are praised by wise men, and that they bring happiness, lead to blessing and well-being, then you can make them your own.”^[49]

Conclusion

The Buddha taught that one should avoid extremes. By neither leaning too much to one side nor too much to the other side, one remains in balance.

The Buddha discovered that everything is interdependent. When this is, that follows. When this is not, that will not follow.

He further realized that everything that is composed, is subject to decay. He saw the truth of impermanence, anicca.

He also discovered that there is dukkha, stress, frustration in the world. He discovered the cause of dukkha. He discovered that dukkha can be destroyed. And he discovered the way to end dukkha.

The Buddha also saw the moral consequences caused by volitional actions (kamma). Furthermore, he recognized that there is no atta, no permanent core, in a living being, but that there only arise empty phenomena, that they arise, remain for a while, and then pass away. This is the doctrine of anatta, not self.

Change and death are unstoppable. Dukkha, frustration is caused by being attached to something or to someone, is caused by the fact that one likes something or that one dislikes something. It is a form of desire; and that desire cannot be fulfilled because everything here is imperfect.

The desire or aversion arises upon contact of a sense organ with a corresponding object. When we see something, desire for the visual object (or a person) can arise. When we hear something, a desire or aversion to the sound (music, noise) can arise. When we smell something, a desire or aversion to the pleasant or unpleasant odour may arise. When we taste something, craving or aversion to the taste may arise. When we touch something, desire or aversion to the touched may arise. When we think something, attachment to thoughts or ideas may arise.

But when there is no more desire, there is no more dukkha, no more frustration. Not clinging anymore, one is free. And how is that desire abolished? By recognizing causation and non-self, and by the path of right understanding, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right development of mind. Or in other words:

“Develop virtue and noble behaviour. Train the mind to be calm, steady, and focused, so that it is docile and can be worked with. Develop wisdom and insight into the true nature of things. They are then no longer the cause of suffering.” ^[50]

Everything in this life is unsatisfied, unfinished, imperfect. Attaching to something that is imperfect creates suffering, frustration.

There is nothing to find independently in this life. Nothing is an independent, self-existing entity. Attaching to something that is not independent is the cause of suffering, frustration.

Everything in this life is subject to change, is impermanent. When one is attached to something that is changeable, suffering, frustration arises.

By actually understanding these aspects of life one comes to rest. The emergence of desire for something or the emergence of aversion to something, attachment to something then becomes less and less. People no longer consider things as property, as belonging to themselves. They are no longer attached to it. They are released, they are no longer touched. And finally, desire no longer arises at all. One is without desire. When one is completely detached, then one is free.

Many have preceded us. And they still acted in this life. The Buddha himself and the perfect saints did not vanish into nothingness, but they remained active in this life. They taught the doctrine in word and in deed.

“Whoever is completely free from desire, who is no longer attracted to anything or disliked by anything, he or she has attained Nibbana. His or her mind has gained lasting freedom and independence.” (Gnanarama)^[51]

The path to that freedom and peace is discovered and taught by the Buddha. His teaching invites investigation, it can be verified here and now for truth, with immediate results. It can be understood by wise people, everyone for themselves.

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http://www.palikanon.com/

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https://www.facettenvanhetboeddhisme.nl

[1] See Sutta Nipata.II.14, v. 393; Ang.Nik.II.131-134; Ang.Nik.I.24 sub III and IV.

[4] The names of those ascetics are: Kondañña, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahānāma and Assajī.

[5] Sam.Nik.XII.10; see also Sam.Nik.XII.1-9, 11-22, 27, 33, 37-39, 46-48, 50, 52-60, 65; Maj.Nik.9, 38, 141.

[6] Sam.Nik.XII.10; see also Sam.Nik.XII.1-9, 11-22, 27, 33, 39, 46-48, 50, 52-60, 65; Maj.Nik.9, 38 and 141.

[9] Sam.Nik.XII.10; see also Sam.Nik. XII.1-9, 11-22, 27, 33, 37-39, 46-48, 50, 52-60, 65; Maj.Nik. 9, 38, 141.

[13] The divine eye = the ability to see as the denizens of heaven can see; clairvoyance.

[14] blemishes: asava, literally "influxes." Common translations are: tumors, depravities, propensities. - There is a list of four blemishes, namely: a) sensual desire, b) desire for existence, c) wrong views, d) ignorance.

[15] Dukkha: dissatisfaction, the unsatisfactory, frustration; the unsatisfying aspect of this existence; suffering caused by imperfection, dissatisfaction. The Pali word dukkha is often translated as "suffering," but it doesn't just mean physical suffering, but also encompasses the frustration, the mental suffering caused by the fact that everything here on earth is unsatisfactory, imperfect. While there is joy and happiness, it is only temporary. And it is precisely this temporary, imperfect quality that is the cause of suffering, frustration. This is what is meant by dukkha, suffering.

[18] The realization that everything arises and passes away causally, that there is no abiding ego to govern everything, leads to Nibbana, the end of all suffering, a state free from worry and full of inner peace.

[19] Nāga literally means "snake", "dragon", but is also used for male elephants and powerful beings (including humans).

[20] Ukkala = part of Orissa. Madhyadesa = the middle land, the land between the Himālayas and the Vinhyas. It is bounded on the east by Prayāga (= Allahabad) and on the west by Vinasana (in Rajastan). Its eastern border extended to the border of Bangladesh and encompassed Magadha and Anga (in Monghyr and Bhagalpur districts, Bihar state).

[21] The Sangha, the community of monks, did not yet exist at that time; therefore there were only two refuges.

[22] Those merchants will have told about their meeting with the Buddha and about what he told about his teachings on their way and when they returned home. Thus, the teachings of the Buddha were already partially known far from Buddhagaya.

[23] These factors or powers are called in Pali: bala. They can be obtained by the four foundations of mindfulness.

[24] Later the Buddha spoke this sermon more often to make the listener docile and receptive to the teaching. Mentions of it are found in Udana 5.3. and Ang.Nik.VIII.12, 21 and 22.

[27] The six elements are: the earth element, the water element, the air element, the fire element, the space element, and the consciousness element. (Ang.Nik.III.62).

[28] gabbhassāvakanti; literally 'descent of the embryo', an expression based on pre-Buddhist ideas; compare Maj.Nik.38.

[31] In the usual version of the four truths (Sam.Nik.LVI.11) only craving (tanhā) is mentioned as the cause of the arising of dukkha. Our text (Ang.Nik.III.62) explains the origin of dukkha more fully by the series of 'causal arising'.

[32] 'Karmic formative forces' (sankhāra). The Pāli term sankhāra in this context means the karmic, i.e., rebirth-producing, volitional actions.

[33] “There are attractive and pleasant things in the world, namely, forms, sounds, smells, tastes, things that can be touched, and objects of the mind. There that desire is abolished and there it is extinguished.”

[34] Ang.Nik.III.62. - Cf. the Sammāditthi Sutta, Right View (Maj.Nik.9) where the Venerable Sariputta also discusses the law of causal origination and adds that the path to cessation of the chain of causal origination consists in the Noble Eightfold Path.

[37] One or two bhikkhus do not constitute a Sangha. There must be at least four monks together. (Khantipalo, Bhikkhu: Banner of the Arahants, Kandy 1979, p. 7).

[40] According to Buddhism, sexual misconduct is sexual intercourse with someone under the care of parent(s), brother, sister, relatives, or with persons belonging to a religious order. Also wrong is sexual intercourse with those who have a spouse, with those who are betrothed, or with people who are in prison. The latter include prisoners of war, slaves, hostages and dependents.

[43] This applies to lay followers of the Exalted One. It is not intended for followers of other religions or philosophies of life. They do not need to read or listen to the doctrine. It is better for them if they are not evil-minded towards the Dhamma.

[50] Rahula, Ven. Walpola Sri : 'Validity and Vitality of the Theravada Tradition,' in: Voice of Buddhism, Dec. 1990, Vol. 28.

[51] Gnanarama, Ven. Pategama: The Mission Accomplished. Singapore 1997, p. 108-128.

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Facets of Buddhism

Sketch of Life and Teachings

of the Buddha Gotama

Introduction