Mediation on how to be happy
We cannot expect others or objects to be the way that we want them to be. But we can expect ourselves to have the wisdom to view everything in a correct view.
In order to be happy, one must understand everything in this world is impermanent. All things that exist must have their collected conditions and they only temporarily exist. Impermanent means changing moment by moment. If we understand the concept of impermanence, we will not be disappointed and fall into unhappiness when we do not get what we expect. Things exist because of the collected conditions. We need to know ourself. What condition or conditions do I lack? Prepare the conditions of causes for the results.
We have no control over external conditions or objects. If our mind attaches on impermanent existing objects or temporary happiness, we will eventually fall into unhappiness because we expect the impermanent existence to be permanent.
If one's goal is to aim for permanent happiness, he or she will achieve realization wisdom.
Wisdom brings inner peace and long lasting happiness.
In order to be happy, one must understand everything in this world is impermanent. All things that exist must have their collected conditions and they only temporarily exist. Impermanent means changing moment by moment. If we understand the concept of impermanence, we will not be disappointed and fall into unhappiness when we do not get what we expect. Things exist because of the collected conditions. We need to know ourself. What condition or conditions do I lack? Prepare the conditions of causes for the results.
We have no control over external conditions or objects. If our mind attaches on impermanent existing objects or temporary happiness, we will eventually fall into unhappiness because we expect the impermanent existence to be permanent.
If one's goal is to aim for permanent happiness, he or she will achieve realization wisdom.
Wisdom brings inner peace and long lasting happiness.
Ways to Free Yourself is to Cultivate Wisdom by Jason 1/5/13
When Buddha gave teachings he made it suitable for the audience…Our wisdom level, not able to understand what’s blockingus…our obstructions keeping us from enlightenment…
How can we help ourselves and others in the future is the fundamental goal of Buddhism…to accrue merit and virtue to endsuffering.
Middle way main point is dependent of arising and no intrinsic nature.Non-Buddhist philosophy – whatever the eye sees is the truth. Buddhist philosophy-whatever the eye sees is emptiness. Who am I…the true I….5 sensory aggregates sensory consciousness is conventional truth…but does taste have self-nature? The music we hear? What we see? The ultimate truth is that these are all empty…Madyamaka approach is the middle way and dependent of arising. How do we know things exist conventionally? 5 sensory aggregates, (we see with eye, smell with nose, hear with ear, taste with tongue, feel with body)
Noble being sees no intrinsic nature…sees emptiness.Ordinary being has no analytical consciousness, this is mundane knowledge…whatever they see, that is the truth…this type of consciousness occurs in all persons...someone with supermundane knowledge is a noble being…2 kinds of middle path-one says things have intrinsic nature, one says no intrinsic nature. ..One school says dependent of arising, does have intrinsic nature, and the other school says dependent of arising, and does not have intrinsic nature. We need supermundane knowledge to free ourselves from reincarnation. Analyze why things existing. Does it have intrinsic nature or not? Everything existing has no intrinsic nature. Not self-existing…this helps us away from attachment…use emptiness as knowledge to help not generate attachment... Conventional truth is our knowledge sees cup and knows it exists as name we have given it and we see it…ultimate truth is does it have intrinsic nature or not?
Why we have to understand emptiness…to not attach and not suffer. The first perfection is the perfection of generosity.
Everything that exists must have a reason...nothing exists causelessly. Ordinary people do not understand karma and it’s effects, but they experience them pleasure and pain arise conventionally from virtue and non-virtue. Who has the higher perception who realize emptiness is a noble being. Noble beings with higher perception belong to the seeing path; in that they realize emptiness, see things as no intrinsic nature and dependent of arising…
Ordinary people see things exist conventionally...all people see this way. Essentialists believe in intrinsic nature, dependent of arising has intrinsic nature. Everything we see exists conventionally. To accumulate virtue, keep the precepts. Who gives us suffering? A divine creator? Virtue? No…only our own non-virtuous actions give us suffer. Does pleasure and pain come from a heaven?
How can we help ourselves and others in the future is the fundamental goal of Buddhism…to accrue merit and virtue to endsuffering.
Middle way main point is dependent of arising and no intrinsic nature.Non-Buddhist philosophy – whatever the eye sees is the truth. Buddhist philosophy-whatever the eye sees is emptiness. Who am I…the true I….5 sensory aggregates sensory consciousness is conventional truth…but does taste have self-nature? The music we hear? What we see? The ultimate truth is that these are all empty…Madyamaka approach is the middle way and dependent of arising. How do we know things exist conventionally? 5 sensory aggregates, (we see with eye, smell with nose, hear with ear, taste with tongue, feel with body)
Noble being sees no intrinsic nature…sees emptiness.Ordinary being has no analytical consciousness, this is mundane knowledge…whatever they see, that is the truth…this type of consciousness occurs in all persons...someone with supermundane knowledge is a noble being…2 kinds of middle path-one says things have intrinsic nature, one says no intrinsic nature. ..One school says dependent of arising, does have intrinsic nature, and the other school says dependent of arising, and does not have intrinsic nature. We need supermundane knowledge to free ourselves from reincarnation. Analyze why things existing. Does it have intrinsic nature or not? Everything existing has no intrinsic nature. Not self-existing…this helps us away from attachment…use emptiness as knowledge to help not generate attachment... Conventional truth is our knowledge sees cup and knows it exists as name we have given it and we see it…ultimate truth is does it have intrinsic nature or not?
Why we have to understand emptiness…to not attach and not suffer. The first perfection is the perfection of generosity.
Everything that exists must have a reason...nothing exists causelessly. Ordinary people do not understand karma and it’s effects, but they experience them pleasure and pain arise conventionally from virtue and non-virtue. Who has the higher perception who realize emptiness is a noble being. Noble beings with higher perception belong to the seeing path; in that they realize emptiness, see things as no intrinsic nature and dependent of arising…
Ordinary people see things exist conventionally...all people see this way. Essentialists believe in intrinsic nature, dependent of arising has intrinsic nature. Everything we see exists conventionally. To accumulate virtue, keep the precepts. Who gives us suffering? A divine creator? Virtue? No…only our own non-virtuous actions give us suffer. Does pleasure and pain come from a heaven?
Wisdom: True or False? by Jason Waterman 12/1/12
We must stay away from the 8 worldly pleasures for studying Buddhism or giving teachings in Buddhism.
In order to achieve Enlightenment, we need to overcome 2 obstructions: obstructions of afflictions and obstructions of phenomenon. Life very fragile…we can lose our life very easy. Buddhism is able to control our mind to lead us to a better future life. Stay away from the 3 poisons: attachment, anger and ignorance).
Life is very valuable…we can study today, not guarantee we can study tomorrow. We must cultivate the merits and wisdom to achieve Enlightenment. Let go of wrong view…if we have a polluted mind, everything that goes into our mind gets mixed up. We must cultivate virtues that make us happier. Wrong view means one doesn’t believe cause and effect…doesn’t belief one makes effort will have accomplishment. Buddha like doctor…teaching like medicine….ourselves like a patient…dharma teacher like Buddha. If we don’t take medicine we can’t get better.
Motivation is very important Whatever motivation we are is what we will achieve.
3 types of dedication 1. Tacher always exist in the world 2. Dharma teachings always exist in the world 3. I and others achieve Enlightenment rapidly.
Use dharma (keeping the precepts, concentration and wisdom)to turn away from the three poisons…
Insight meditation means to generate wisdom….without wisdom, we cannot do well in any area…wisdom will overcome ignorance…
Ignorance…cannot be free from suffering …can’t see true nature of things…After die…reborn again in the cycle of reincarnation…to break the cycle of samsara must generate … Concentrate on an object is not the same as wisdom….must study the dharma…
How can we cut off the root of reincarnation? Achieve wisdom and realize no intrinsic nature.
What is no intrinsic nature? A way to explain emptiness…Must use the 4 reasonings by Nargarjuna…not exist from itself, not from another, not from both, and not causelessly… Why things exist? From dependent of arising…Everything has no intrinsic nature…
In order to achieve Enlightenment, we need to overcome 2 obstructions: obstructions of afflictions and obstructions of phenomenon. Life very fragile…we can lose our life very easy. Buddhism is able to control our mind to lead us to a better future life. Stay away from the 3 poisons: attachment, anger and ignorance).
Life is very valuable…we can study today, not guarantee we can study tomorrow. We must cultivate the merits and wisdom to achieve Enlightenment. Let go of wrong view…if we have a polluted mind, everything that goes into our mind gets mixed up. We must cultivate virtues that make us happier. Wrong view means one doesn’t believe cause and effect…doesn’t belief one makes effort will have accomplishment. Buddha like doctor…teaching like medicine….ourselves like a patient…dharma teacher like Buddha. If we don’t take medicine we can’t get better.
Motivation is very important Whatever motivation we are is what we will achieve.
3 types of dedication 1. Tacher always exist in the world 2. Dharma teachings always exist in the world 3. I and others achieve Enlightenment rapidly.
Use dharma (keeping the precepts, concentration and wisdom)to turn away from the three poisons…
Insight meditation means to generate wisdom….without wisdom, we cannot do well in any area…wisdom will overcome ignorance…
Ignorance…cannot be free from suffering …can’t see true nature of things…After die…reborn again in the cycle of reincarnation…to break the cycle of samsara must generate … Concentrate on an object is not the same as wisdom….must study the dharma…
How can we cut off the root of reincarnation? Achieve wisdom and realize no intrinsic nature.
What is no intrinsic nature? A way to explain emptiness…Must use the 4 reasonings by Nargarjuna…not exist from itself, not from another, not from both, and not causelessly… Why things exist? From dependent of arising…Everything has no intrinsic nature…
How can we understand Buddhsm?
6 steps to study Buddhism 1. Study 2. Think about it 3. Put it into practice 4. keep the precepts 5. meditation 6. wisdom…teachings
are to generate wisdom…
Patrice the 6 perfections
1. Generosity 2. Keeping the ethical discipline 3. Patience 4. Joyous perseverance 5. Meditation 6. Wisdom
What’s good about wisdom? Able to see true nature of things…omniscience. Conventional awareness: ordinary beings awareness.
Noble beings awareness: sees no intrinsic nature. Moon and reflection of moon: both have no intrinsic nature. What makes the conventional object exist? By giving it a name from the consciousness, but it’s empty of intrinsic nature….the reflection…the image of the moon, knowing by conventional consciousness….but if the shadow is not true, is the object? Conventionally…yes. Dependent of
arising has no intrinsic nature. Reflection of object is not true object…Ignorance is blocking us…not able to see things as no intrinsic
nature…Form: either has a shape or color. Whoever has ignorance; emptiness does not appeal to them. Conventional truth vs. ultimate truth….Ordinary being…not able to see no intrinsic nature…The moon and the moons reflection…both are conventional truth and conventional consciousness…moon and moon shadow are recognized as true by the word consciousness…whatever ordinary person sees, we cannot say that it isn’t true... is conventionally true…Empty on intrinsic nature is not empty of existence…Middle path is not empty in existence, but empty in intrinsic nature…What does sensory consciousness see? Conventional truth…but not the true.
Sensory consciousness cannot see no intrinsic nature….…whatever they see are not true…not the ultimate truth.
are to generate wisdom…
Patrice the 6 perfections
1. Generosity 2. Keeping the ethical discipline 3. Patience 4. Joyous perseverance 5. Meditation 6. Wisdom
What’s good about wisdom? Able to see true nature of things…omniscience. Conventional awareness: ordinary beings awareness.
Noble beings awareness: sees no intrinsic nature. Moon and reflection of moon: both have no intrinsic nature. What makes the conventional object exist? By giving it a name from the consciousness, but it’s empty of intrinsic nature….the reflection…the image of the moon, knowing by conventional consciousness….but if the shadow is not true, is the object? Conventionally…yes. Dependent of
arising has no intrinsic nature. Reflection of object is not true object…Ignorance is blocking us…not able to see things as no intrinsic
nature…Form: either has a shape or color. Whoever has ignorance; emptiness does not appeal to them. Conventional truth vs. ultimate truth….Ordinary being…not able to see no intrinsic nature…The moon and the moons reflection…both are conventional truth and conventional consciousness…moon and moon shadow are recognized as true by the word consciousness…whatever ordinary person sees, we cannot say that it isn’t true... is conventionally true…Empty on intrinsic nature is not empty of existence…Middle path is not empty in existence, but empty in intrinsic nature…What does sensory consciousness see? Conventional truth…but not the true.
Sensory consciousness cannot see no intrinsic nature….…whatever they see are not true…not the ultimate truth.
Only Nargajuna's Middle Way Explains Emptiness Thoroughly
May 12, 20012
When we understand Emptiness everything makes sense. If we do not understand Emptiness, nothing makes sense and this causes us to suffer because we attach our minds on anything that we thought really exists.
We say things are empty because they are considered to have no self-nature. We consider something that is dependent on others and not fully able to exist by way of their own production as being dependent of arising. Since we cannot produce something from itself, from others (cause not related to itself), from two (different)/either sources or causelessly, we can infer that they are dependent arising and therefore are free of intrinsic nature. For instance, a tea pot is made of clay, water, heat, a person’s idea and name tea pot. This tea pot is not produced by the tea pot itself, not by a cause not related to the tea pot, not produced by either itself nor from others, and not produced causelessly. It is produced by an idea to have a pot which to hold tea. This pot only temporarily exists and has no self nature.
When we understand Emptiness everything makes sense. If we do not understand Emptiness, nothing makes sense and this causes us to suffer because we attach our minds on anything that we thought really exists.
We say things are empty because they are considered to have no self-nature. We consider something that is dependent on others and not fully able to exist by way of their own production as being dependent of arising. Since we cannot produce something from itself, from others (cause not related to itself), from two (different)/either sources or causelessly, we can infer that they are dependent arising and therefore are free of intrinsic nature. For instance, a tea pot is made of clay, water, heat, a person’s idea and name tea pot. This tea pot is not produced by the tea pot itself, not by a cause not related to the tea pot, not produced by either itself nor from others, and not produced causelessly. It is produced by an idea to have a pot which to hold tea. This pot only temporarily exists and has no self nature.
Why is it important to understand intrinsic nature? My 5, 2012
Intrinsic nature means the true nature of reality. If we can rise above
ignorance and see the true nature of reality, we can avoid many things that
cause us suffering. Suffering happens because we become too serious about other's actions, words or the way they treat us. We then assume that they are always this way, when in reality it was only at that specific time. If we do not attach ourselves to that particular moment in time (of the past), we will free ourselves from that hurtful situation. That moment in time has no self nature (meaning it's not the true nature). If we can realize this we can free ourselves from mental attachments of past events. This is the beginning practice to understand impermanence of reality. Everything changes moment by moment. Nothing is set forever.
ignorance and see the true nature of reality, we can avoid many things that
cause us suffering. Suffering happens because we become too serious about other's actions, words or the way they treat us. We then assume that they are always this way, when in reality it was only at that specific time. If we do not attach ourselves to that particular moment in time (of the past), we will free ourselves from that hurtful situation. That moment in time has no self nature (meaning it's not the true nature). If we can realize this we can free ourselves from mental attachments of past events. This is the beginning practice to understand impermanence of reality. Everything changes moment by moment. Nothing is set forever.
This week's study class: Insight Meditation. April 21, 2012
Nargajuna's Middle Way Explanation.
In order to eradicate the root of suffering or to be free from reincarnation, one
must realize that all phenomena have no self nature. To apply Nargajuna's
teaching one must realize that all objects are not produced by itself, not
produced by others, not produced by both (self and others) and not produced
causelessly. It exists because of Dependent of Arising, which means that we are
dependent upon many causes to exist at the time, though everything will change
when the conditions change. Nothing will exist forever because of the
impermanent nature of reality. Whoever understands this concept will be able to
understand Emptiness. This is called Wisdom. With Wisdom itself one cannot achieve enlightenment. One must also use wisdom to benefit sentient beings by practicing the six perfections to collect merit. The six perfections are: Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Joyous Perseverance, Meditation and Wisdom. With sublime wisdom we will obtain the embodiment of truth. And with merit will obtain the embodiment of form. The Buddha has both two types of bodies: Formless and Form body. In order to benefit sentient beings Buddha can exist in a form body, in any form, suitable to living beings' needs. If we know the advantages and disadvantages of having wisdom and skillful means, then our direction of practice will be clear, which makes our life meaningful.
In order to eradicate the root of suffering or to be free from reincarnation, one
must realize that all phenomena have no self nature. To apply Nargajuna's
teaching one must realize that all objects are not produced by itself, not
produced by others, not produced by both (self and others) and not produced
causelessly. It exists because of Dependent of Arising, which means that we are
dependent upon many causes to exist at the time, though everything will change
when the conditions change. Nothing will exist forever because of the
impermanent nature of reality. Whoever understands this concept will be able to
understand Emptiness. This is called Wisdom. With Wisdom itself one cannot achieve enlightenment. One must also use wisdom to benefit sentient beings by practicing the six perfections to collect merit. The six perfections are: Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Joyous Perseverance, Meditation and Wisdom. With sublime wisdom we will obtain the embodiment of truth. And with merit will obtain the embodiment of form. The Buddha has both two types of bodies: Formless and Form body. In order to benefit sentient beings Buddha can exist in a form body, in any form, suitable to living beings' needs. If we know the advantages and disadvantages of having wisdom and skillful means, then our direction of practice will be clear, which makes our life meaningful.
This week's study class: Insight Meditation. April 14, 2012
Meditation includes two forms: Serenity and Insight.
This week's study will be based on examining concentration of meditation (Serenity) and then Insight Meditation in order to realize the true nature of reality and find out what's causing us to suffer. We suffer because we have attached ourselves to illusionary objects and events that have happened in the past. Due to impermanence everything changes moment by moment; and our suffering arises from us habitually grasping and attaching ourselves to these particular situations. The only object in a Noble's sublime wisdom is Emptiness, also called the Ultimate Truth.
This week's study will be based on examining concentration of meditation (Serenity) and then Insight Meditation in order to realize the true nature of reality and find out what's causing us to suffer. We suffer because we have attached ourselves to illusionary objects and events that have happened in the past. Due to impermanence everything changes moment by moment; and our suffering arises from us habitually grasping and attaching ourselves to these particular situations. The only object in a Noble's sublime wisdom is Emptiness, also called the Ultimate Truth.