"I teach only two things, O disciples, the fact of suffering and the possibility of escape from suffering."
A. The FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:
1. There is suffering. (Dukkha)
Think especially of the "unnecessary or surplus suffering"
we cause to ourselves, to others, & to our partnerships.
2. Suffering has its causes.
Generically, they fall under 3 headings --
Greed, Hate, Ignorance (Confusion about who you are) or
CLINGING -- Excessive Liking, Attachment, Greed, Over-possessive, Addictive,
etc.
CONDEMNING -- Excessive Disliking, Aversion, Hatred, Resentful, Envious,
etc.
IDENTIFYING -- with possessions, prestige, power, roles, beliefs, etc.
3. Reduce the causes (that is
reduce the Clinging, Condemning and Identifying)
and you will reduce the suffering. (esp. surplus suffering)
4. There is a way to do this -- the Eightfold Path.
Think of the Eightfold Path as a spiral
-- you circle again and again. It is a virtuous circle because
each time you go
round you gain deeper insight and fuller compassion -- then you continue
on the
Conduct Phase
and on the Meditation Phase and again return to the Insight/Compassion
Phase.
My Eightfold Path song is as follows:
(to be sung over and over)
KNOWING, LOVING,
HERE WE GO NOW.
(The 1st line can also say:
Prajna, Prajna, Great Karuna
SPEAKING, ACTING,
RIGHT VOCATION
-- which means
Wisdom, Wisdom,
STEADY, MINDFUL,
CONCENTRATION
Great Compassion.)
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B. The Yin-Yang Symbol and
the Three Phases of the Eightfold Path
The Yin-Yang symbol can be drawn to show the upward and outward energy of spring to summer as the side of the circle to the left and the downward and inward energy of the Fall and Winter as the side of the cicle on the left. The upward and outward energy is Yang and the downward and inward energy is Yin.
The segmens of the eightfold path can also be placed on a circle
At the bottom of the circle are the Knowing/Loving Phase. This begins as
a "Knowing that all is not well." plus a "Resolve to change." However,
as a person practices the eightfold path, the knowing turns into a wisdom
and the resolve turns into a compassion (a type of loving).
The next segment (called Sila or the Conduct Phase) is like the yang side
--- an upward and outward movement -- "speaking, acting, right vocation."
The last segment (called Samadhi or the Meditative Phase) is like the yin
side
--- a downward and inward movement -- "steady, mindful concentration."
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C. The FOUR DIVINE ABODES:
Abode Object Near Enemy
Love
Universal care
Attachment
and connections
Compassion Suffering of others Pity
Sympathetic Joy Happiness of others Comparison
Equanimity
Balanced Openness
Indifference
I take this treatment of the Four Abodes from Joseph Goldstein & Jack Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom (Boston: Shambhala, 1987), chapter 15, "The Path of Service," pp. 159-170.
© John G. Sullivan,
1999
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A SHORTENED FORM OF THE FIVE WONDERFUL PRECEPTS
Traditional Formulation
1) Don’t kill. 2) Don’t steal. 3) Don’t engage in sexual misconduct. 4) Don’t use false speech. 5) Don’t use intoxicants.
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My Newer, more Expansive Formulation
(shorter and slightly modified from
Thich Nhat Hanh’s version)
Awareness
Cultivation
Awareness
of Gross
Forms of Vice
of the Virtue
of more subtle forms of Vice
Aware of the suffering
caused by _________,
I am committed to cultivate ________
& to reduce ________
in its many forms.
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1. The First Precept: REVERENCE FOR LIFE
Aware of the suffering
caused by Destruction of
Life,
I am committed to cultivate
COMPASSION AND REVERENCE FOR LIFE
& to reduce "killing"
in its many forms.
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2. The Second Precept: GENEROSITY
Aware of the suffering
caused by Stealing, Social
Injustice and Exploitation,
I
am committed to cultivate
KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY
& to reduce "taking what is not given"
in its many forms.
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3. The Third Precept: SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Aware of the suffering
caused by Sexual Misconduct,
I
am committed to cultivate
SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUE INTIMACY
& to reduce "the sexual manipulation of others"
in its many forms.
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4. The Fourth Precept: DEEP LISTENING AND LOVING SPEECH
Aware of the suffering
caused by Unmindful Speech
and Inability to Listen,
I am committed to cultivate
LOVING SPEECH AND DEEP LISTENING
& to reduce "the failure of communications"
in its many forms.
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5. The Fifth Precept: DIET FOR A MINDFUL SOCIETY
Aware of the suffering
caused by Unmindful Consumption,
I am committed to cultivate
MINDFUL EATING, DRINKING AND CONSUMING
& to reduce "destructive addiction"
in its many forms.
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