Wednesday, December 5, 2007

BECOMING A BUDDHIST - Mrs. LE

Professor: Dr. REDICK
PHIL 335
LE, KIM-CHI
Date: November 26, 2007



BECOMING A BUDDHIST

HOMEWORK # 15


1.- How does one become a Buddhist?
Everyone can become Buddhist by tradition. When we become a Buddhist we have to learn and practice the basics:
Theories & Practice:
All composed things are like a dream, a phantom, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning. That is how to meditate on them and that is how to observe them.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:
Duhkha (dukkha): suffering, unsatisfactory.
Samudaya: We pray or ask but we could not get it.
Nirodha: The one we do not like but always appears beside or in front of us.
Marga (magga): There is a way to realize this state.
THE FOUR PASSING SIGHTS:
Old person. Every body has to be old.
Sick person. Every body has to be sick.
Dead person. Every body has to be dead.
Sramana (monks). Only way the monks can follow the path of Buddha. They could have a happy life with enlightenment, and transcendent way. They could reach nirvana, live in pure land, or become a Buddha.
THE FIVE PRECEPTS:
1.- Refrain from killing.
2.- Refrain from stealing.
3.- Refrain from sexual misconduct.
4.- Refrain from lying.
5.- Refrain from intoxicant.
Then the next step comes, where we have to bear 8 precepts, then up to 10.
The monks have to bear 350 precepts. The nuns have to bear 400 precepts.
The reason to keep the precepts is because to help everyone
THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH (THE MIDDLE PATH):
Right understandings (Samyag drsti=Chinh-kien).
Right thought (Samyak samkalpa=chanh-tu-duy).
Right speech (Samyag vaca=chanh-ngu).
Right action (Samyak karmanta=chanh-nghiep).
Right livelihood (Samyag agiva=chanh-menh).
Right effort (Samyag agiva=chanh-tinh-tien).
Right mindfulness (Samyak smrti=chanh-niem).
Right meditation (Samyak samadhi=chanh-dinh).
Buddhists never convert anyone.
2.- What methods of spiritual practice do Buddhists carry out?
- Meditation is the one spiritual practice: Sit down, wash your mind.
Come to the temple and then the monks or the nuns will preach to everyone, practice together, and perform rituals together.

1 comment:

Kip Redick said...

Joanna Andrusko
I have often felt that I understood most religions but I must admit Buddhism escapes me. I feel that I do not understand it because there is no presence of a higher power in Buddhism. It is such a self-reliant religion, there does not seem to be any imploring to the almighty. I am not saying this is a bad thing but I think it is very unique to more modern Eastern religions. Or am I mistaken? Is there an almighty beyond oneself in Buddhism? I do not pretend to be an expert on the religion, on the contrary I know only what I have learned in religion classes at CNU. But I would love to know if there could be some reconciliation between that religion and my own. Is there knowledge beyond that of your own in Buddhism? Is the ultimate reality the divine or a state of reaching omniscience yourself? How divine are we all in Buddhism?