The Buddha was a man who woke up to the truth-the word ' buddha 'means'to have awoken He realized why beings suffer and how to come away from that suffering.
The Buddha's teaching was,therefore, based on each person experiencing the truth of suffering and the ending of suffering for themselves. It is simple and obvious as well as profound and mysterious.The essence of his teaching can be summed up in the following four truths:
1.The truth of suffering: To face the reality of our own suffering.A distinction is drawn here between physical pain and mental suffering.Suffering in Buddhist terms means anguish,heartache,longing,wishing,hoping for a person or an object or a condition which is not present.
2.THE TRUTH OF THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING:To acknowledge the fact that we suffer because we don't like what we have;we desire things to be different from how they actually are.Desire itself is then seen to be the root cause of suffering rather than the inability to achieve the object of our desires.
3.THE TRUTH OF THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING: To realize that,by resisting the pull to desire things,suffering ceases.To experience this as a reality is called nirvana-the cooling of the heat of wanting and anguishing.
4.THE TRUTH OF THE WAY OF LIFE THAT IS FREE OF SUFFERING: To live in a manner which values the moment as it is,is free of suffering in oneself.This is a totally harmless way of life and eightfold all beings.It is generally presented as the noble eightfold path:right view,intention,speech,action,livelihood,effort, mindfulness,concentration.
The following extracts and sayings will give the reader a taste of Buddhism.The attempt has been made to draw from all the traditions which have developed over the centuries right back to the Buddha himself,who lived two and a half thousand years ago.
It is suggested that the each page be taken one at a time,rather than read straight through as a book.Each piece can be quietly reflected upon.It will then work for you and bring spiritual happiness and nourishment.
May all beings be well and happy.
RICHARD AND DIANA ST.RUTH.
People ask me what my religion is.
I tell them,'My religion is kindness.'
TENZIN GYATSO.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The foolish believe that their
Own interests will suffer
if they put the benefits of others first.
DOGEN.
Japanese zen Master,1200-1253.
The more we take the welfare.
of others to heart and work for their benefit,
the more benefit we derive for ourselves.
This is a fact that we can see.
And the more selfish we remain and
self-centred, the more selfish our way of life is,
the lonelier we feel and the more miserable.
This is also a fact that we can see.
TENZIN GYATSO.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
When selfishness really hurts,
then the path is easy.
In the religious life,
never take leave of good sense.
PHIROZ MEHTA.
Buddhist scholar, 1902-1994.
Act so that you have no cause to be
ashamed of yourselves;and hold fast to this rule.
JEYSUN MIAREPA.
TIBETAN BUDDHIST YOGI,1025-1135.
Let no one think lightly of evil,
thinking-"it will not touch me.
Drop by drop is a water pot filled;
Little by little the fool becomes filled with evil.
Damapada verse 121
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