Today on the day of
Buddha Purnima (Buddha's Birth Anniversary), I'm going to write about the basis
of his philosophy.
Philosophy of Buddha
or Buddhism is one of the most prominent philosophies that originated in India in the 6th century BC. It was founded by
Gautama Buddha, a Shakya prince who left his home to turn into an ascetic in
search of reality of life.
Buddha preached
dharma orally. For almost two centuries, his disciples also kept this precept
before transcribing it.
All of the teachings
of Buddha were compiled by his disciples in 3 parts which are called Tripitakas
(three pitakas). These are Vinay Pitaka,
Sutta Pitaka and Adhidhamma Pitaka. All of these Pitakas are written in Pali
(contemporary popular language spoken by people).
1. Vinay Pitaka -
Rules of the Sangha (community of Buddhists);
2. Sutta Pitaka -
Buddha conversation and teaching;
3. Adhidhamma Pitaka
- Philosophical thoughts of Buddha
These tripitakas
contain only the ancient Buddhist religion.
Here, we'll talk
about the teachings of Budda according to these Tripitakas…
Buddha's ultimate
goal is an end to the sufferings of life and not to the concerns of unknown
philosophical elements. According to him, the search for a solution on subjects
without sufficient evidence is useless.
According to Buddha,
unknown or questionable philosophical subjects do not contribute to the quest
for ascension to nirvana. Buddha advises his disciples to be concerned with
doing work on themselves in order to eliminate the pain.
He says: The answers
to these ten questions are impossible:
1. Is the world
eternal?
2. Isn't the world
eternal?
3. Is the world
infinite?
4. Isn't the world
infinite?
5. Are soul and body
the same thing?
6. Is the soul
different from the body?
7. Does Tathagat
(Buddha) reborn after death?
8. Or will it not be
reborn?
9. Can he decide to
be born or not to be born?
10. Or are the two
questions, to be born or not to be born false?
As Buddha remained
silent on these 10 questions, they are
called "Avyaktani".
The Four Noble
Truths:
1.
Dukkha (दुःख) - the world is full of pain (dukkhas).
2.
Dukkha Samudaya (दुःख समुदय) - there is a source of pain.
3.
Dukkha nirodha (दुःख निरोध) - The extinction of these pains is possible.
4.
Dukkha Nirodh marg (दुःख निरोध मार्ग) - The way or the remedy for the extinction of the
pains exists.
All Buddha sermons
develop these four noble truths.
1. Dukkha (Pain) - Human life is full of pain. Birth, aging
(decay), illness, death, sadness, suffering, desire, depression, all these
originate in attachment (material or human ...). All of these sufferings are
called "Jara-Maran" (जरा - मरण). Attachment to transitory elements (material,
human ...) is at the origin of the chain of death and rebirth. Worldly
pleasures are not the ultimate truth. Losing these pleasures leads to all kinds
of pain. They place humans in the constant concern of losing them or in the
frustration of not having them.
2. Nidan Dwadash (12 diagnostics) -
According to Buddha, none of the
elements of the world is without origin. If there is no origin, there is no
pain (suffering). There are countless pains: birth to death.
The origin of the
“Jara-Maran” is reincarnation.
Each of these twelve
causes is the effect of the previous one:
i.
Jara-Maran (जरा - मरण) - Old age and death;
ii.
Jaati (जाति) - birth;
iii.
Bhava (भव) - Tendency to exist or become;
iv.
Upadaan - (उपादान) - hang on or grab;
v.
Trishna (तृष्णा) - thirst or desire;
vi.
Vedana (वेदना) - feeling: pleasant, unpleasant or neutral;
vii.
Sparsh (स्पर्श) - contact;
viii.
Shadayatan (षडायतन) - five senses and mind / consciousness);
ix.
Nam-Roop (नाम - रूप) - name and form - body and spirit of the embryo;
x.
Vigyan (विज्ञान) - consciousness;
xi.
Sanskar (संस्कार) - mental training or karma;
xii.
Avidya (अविद्या) - (ignorance.
Ignorance
is therefore the original cause of birth (and death). It is also called “भाव - चक्र”. Many
Buddhists recall this chain by turning the wheel.
The past permeates
the present and the present permeates the future. It is a chain where the
twelve nidanas (diagnostic) are impregnated from the origin to the end.
3. Dukkha Nirodha
(Nirvana or the extinction of pain) - Since there is an origin to pain,
suppressing it makes its extinction possible. This extinction of pain is called
Nirvana. According to Buddha, obtaining Nirvana is possible during earthly
life. By overcoming passion, hatred, greed and illusion with pure or moral
conduct, regular attention to noble truths in meditation, one can achieve
wisdom of the mind. Humans are freed from the need for all kinds of desires. He
will have defeated Mara (spiritual enemy).
Moksha = Nirvana
मोक्ष
प्राप्त = अर्हत
(arhat) - the qualified
निर्वाण = दुःख का
नाश - extinction of pain
Once
permanent wisdom (प्रज्ञा) is reached, we are no longer obliged to remain in
permanent meditation, nor to be withdrawn from daily life. Like the Buddha,
after reaching Nirvana, he continued to travel to preach and establish the
Sangha (Buddhist community).
There are two kinds
of karma:
1. inspired by
passion, hatred or illusion;
2. without any
passion, hatred or illusion.
The first is
inspired by our attachment to the pleasure of the senses and is at the origin
of the rebirth. The latter removes the possibility of rebirth.
"Arhats"
(The Qualifieds) are not inactive after Nirvana. They are only sensitive to the
pain and suffering of others.
Nirvana stops the chain of death and
rebirth. Rebirth and the pains from rebirth are no longer possible. Life until
death is full of wisdom and total peace. The state of nirvana is completely
peaceful, stable and without envy. It is impossible to feel this state with
ordinary experiences. However, it can be temporarily felt through overcoming
illness, debts, slavery, imprisonment, etc. Nirvana is noticeable through
temporary detachments and the absence of sensual pleasure. This effect of
well-being can be felt through the fullness which is the path of Nirvana.
4. Dukkha Nirodh
Marg (path or remedy for pain relief) - The path to nirvana exists. It was
attained by Buddha. So everyone can do it too. This is called The Eightfold
Path which is the very essence of Buddhism. This path being spiritual can be
followed by the spirit by any living being.
- Right Vision (सम्यक दृष्टि) - Ignorance is the source of
all pain. It is for this reason that the false feelings that we have in
ourselves, or in the world and in everything that is transient comfortably
lead us astray. We must focus on what is real and not what seems true to
us.
- Right Determination or Right
Thinking (सम्यक संकल्प) - Knowledge of noble truths is not enough, they must be
assimilated in everyday life. The resolution of renouncing the attachment
to worldly matters. Hatred and violence must be taken into account.
- Right Speech (सम्यक वाक) - Determination cannot be
just a thought, but it must be a reality: refrain from making false
speeches, especially do not tell lies, absence of violence, theft, abstain
you speak deceitfully, make gossip and slanderous speeches.
- Right Action (सम्यक कर्मान्त) - Determination must not be
just words but must be carried by action: control of the senses.
- Right Livelihood or Right
Profession(सम्यक आजीव) - Apart from bad speech and negative actions, one must earn a
fair living so that wealth is acquired legally and peacefully from
righteousness. Any profession that violates the fundamental principles of
“Right Thinking” must be avoided.
- Right Effort or Right
Persistence (सम्यक व्यायाम) - Even after these five laws are applied, old and new
bad habits may still dominate. It is therefore necessary to:
- give up old bad
habits;
- stop bad new thoughts from
coming to mind;
- the mind cannot remain empty
of thoughts, it must be filled with good ones;
- which requires regular
efforts to assimilate thoughts that are pure for the mind;
These four righteous
efforts prove that even people who have progressed on the path of dharma must
not stop making continuous efforts to avoid going out of the way to dharma.
- सम्यक स्मृति (Right Attention,
Mindfulness, or Right Awareness) - Right Attention is the ability to
control the mental capacity to see things as they are, with clear
awareness.
- सम्यक समाधि (Right Meditation or Right
Concentration) - Following these seven principles, and having renounced
all bad instincts, we are qualified to access the last principle:
"Right Meditation". In this last step, we must learn at four
separate stages to get nirvana:
- The discussion and
argumentation of noble truths with a peaceful mind, the realization of a
state of detachment and pure thoughts lead to an experience of divine
pleasure.
- After that, we arrive at a
state of mind where there is no longer any doubt, but total "faith in
noble truths". Discussion and argumentation are henceforth useless.
Deep concentration brings tranquility, stability of mind and the
experience of both divine pleasure and total peace.
- The effort to move the spirit
of “pleasure and peace” toward the state of detachment. This effort brings
a state of balance to the mind and the feeling of bodily pleasure. But it
is created from the detachment from the pleasure of meditation.
- Now even the absence of a
sense of balance in the mind, bodily pleasure and that of meditation.
Extinction of all instincts. It is a state of peace, detachment and total
extinction: absence of pleasure and pain: the realization of nirvana and a
state of total wisdom.
The
essence of Buddha's or Eightfold Path sermons: moral conduct / virtue (शील),
meditation (समाधि ) and wisdom
(प्रज्ञा) - Three of the main elements
of this path. There is an inseparable relationship between virtue and wisdom in
Indian philosophy. Without wisdom, virtue is impossible. At the same time, for
the realization of wisdom, virtue is necessary.
Virtue and wisdom
are mutually reinforcing. The first step, “Right Vision”, contains the very
knowledge of noble truths. On the one hand, bad instincts, and on the other,
the knowledge of noble truths creates a dilemma. Good efforts through “Right
Meditation” put an end to this dilemma. Last step of “Right Meditation” is only
possible after having overcome all obstacles.
1. Shailputri Puja - The first day of Navratri is dedicated to the mother Shailputri. Being the daughter of the mountain Himalayas, she is called Shailputri. This form of the mother is very calm, gentle and impressive. She is depicted riding a bull and holding a trident and a lotus blossom. The lotus represents purity and devotion, while the prongs on the trident represent the past, present, and future.
Second day is dedicated to Mother Brahmacharini. As is the mother's name, Brahmacharini means the one who follows devout austerity. She holds “akshamala” or a rosary in her right hand, representing the special Hindu prayers recited in her honor, and a kamandal or water utensil in her left hand, symbolizing marital bliss.
3. Chandraghanta Puja/ Gauri Puja - On the third day, the Chandraghanta form of the mother is worshiped. It is believed that all the tyrannical, or demons are afraid of the sound of the bell of Maa Chandraghanta. This form of Maa Durga, holding the bell-shaped crescent on the head, is the ultimate form of welfare and peace.
Fifth day is dedicated to Skandmata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya. She holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand. She fulfils all the wishes especially a child to the ladies who want to become a mother.
