Niem Phat Duong Kim Lien (English)

Dhammapada: The first sutta of the Buddha.

The Four Noble Truths with the Four Truths transcend all the effects of external conditions, discuss the nature of human life and the ability to overcome all suffering of human suffering which has become the driving force and belief. Of mankind, before all vicissitudes of life still believe in a bright future of humanity in general and people in particular.

Introductions

Buddhism was born more than 25 centuries, but the teachings of the Buddha still contain the breath of the age and do not seem to be dependent on the change of space and time.

One of the basic tenets of Buddhism is important Eightfold Path (path eight branches - the middle way), contained in the texts Zhuan Falun - the first sermon of the Buddha. The Dharma becomes the focus of attention, in which the meaning of a tolerant, tolerant, or anesthetized attitude is shared by Lao Tzu and Confucius in the concept of " Or "neutral", and as far away as Greece, this idea was shared by Aristote through the concept of "harmony". This seems to be a current issue, helping us to awaken the temptations of contemporary life, seeking a peaceful and peaceful life.

The Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths are even more significant when it is the first sermon given by the Buddha immediately after the enlightenment of the Supreme Bodhi, proving a unparalleled wisdom that has awakened after a long time. Dream rolling in death.

Therefore, learning the doctrine of the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths, along with the birth of the Dharma, the Dharma converts not only theoretical but also the practical practice of every Buddha, Determine the path and purpose for clarity before looking back on the nature of your own.

Context of thought activities leading to the birth of the sutras

Researchers examine the academic life of the Buddha, usually divided into two distinct movements: orthodox and orthodox. The mainstream took the Veda and Upanishad scriptures; The distinct or opposing movements of the Vedas and Upanishads are considered to be anti-or anti-mainstream movements.

Another classification, in more detail, divides the movement of thought into four main categories: orthodox orthodoxy, folk movement, the movement of the Vedas and Upanishads as main ideas but developed More like DuMu, Commentary, Theology ... and finally the non-mainstream.

In addition, there are some researchers, based on the Buddhist sutras, namely, the Sarcopangas , which refer to the six sutras that are commonly referred to in the scriptures as the "external sutras":

1. Purana Kassapa: It is said that good and bad deeds are due to habits, not to any corresponding kamma, so do not believe in anything or be skeptical at all.

2. Makkholi Gosala: naturally, all good deeds, even liberation, follow a natural law, people can not decide Or what is the effort.

3. Ajita Kesakambali: the object of Utopianism. Human beings formed, the dead and then all, so enjoy the pleasures, rejection of morality.

Pukudha Kaccayana (Pukudha Kaccayana): the mind of the mind, said that the immortal soul, the human death is only the dissipation of the elements that make up human beings, but the That element is never destroyed.

5. Sãnyaya bellatthyputta: According to inspirationalism, if you feel like that, say it to the phenomenal world, not sure whether it is true or not. Or wrong.

6. Nigandha netaptta: advocacy of the idea, taking it as the basis for all the narrative. As for the practice, it takes extreme asceticism and respects the precepts.

In general, the academic life of the Buddha was born, Indian philosophical thought has developed strongly, diversified on the topic, rich in the school but not uniform in the Veda or Upanishad. formerly. Schools born during this period may be like spring blooms, each school has different interpretations, sometimes opposing each other in explaining the nature of the world as well as the way. The realization aims to bring the ultimate liberation. This remarkable development not only created a precondition for Buddhism in gathering the quintessence of other schools, but also served as the foundation for Buddhism to supplement, rectify, and correct the weaknesses of other schools. , Formed a new religion - Buddhism, both inherit tradition, and have new,

Content: Zhuan Falun

A) Criticize the misconceptions of the schools

At the beginning of the sutta, the Buddha said: "O bhikkhus, there are two extremes (anta) that the monk (pabbajitena) must avoid ..."

The concept of extremism (anta) is a concept of extreme, extreme or extreme attitudes; And the concept of the renunciation (pabbajitena) is only those who renounce the secular path, cut off the body and seek the path of liberation.

As soon as he began to preach to the five brothers Kieu Tran Nhu in particular and those who sought the path to liberation in general, the Buddha immediately reminded the monks that the monks should give up the two paths of extremism or excess. ; In other words, the Buddha criticized the two paths as the wrong path, not leading to ultimate deliverance. The two roads are:

1. The easiness in sensual pleasures - is vulgar, vulgar, profane, unworthy of the saint, and in vain.

2. The devotion attached to asceticism - suffering, unworthy of the saint, and in vain.

The first is the path of sensual pleasures or excess pleasure and the second is the path of deep ascetic suffering. These are the two paths the Buddha warned would not bring the renunciation of liberation.

It should also be said that at the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, and even before the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, India had existed many different schools or teachings in search of the path of liberation. But in the end, attitudes towards life are usually centered around two main paths: one is giddy and the other two refuse all desires.

One of the doctrines of enjoying the pleasures of the world is the Lokayata - Pali and Sanskrit - allusions to materialism or materialism founded by Carvakas. From the point of view of this doctrine, human beings die, leaving behind all their energies in life, and only the present life is real, so the followers of this doctrine say, " Eat Drink and enjoy all pleasures, because death comes to all , "and that " morality is an illusion, only pleasure is reality. "Death is the last level of life. Madness, madness, nervousness, suspicion of all that is good, noble, pure and compassionate. Willful will

Meanwhile, some schools promote ascetic life. They think that only asceticism can bring man to liberation. This theory is accepted by the majority of practitioners of many different schools. Even Buddha himself and his five brothers Tran Kieu Tran had practiced like that for six years but still did not achieve the ultimate results.

Criticism of these two guidelines, the Buddha said that both are useless, useless, not worthy of the virtues of the saint.

B) The main teachings given by the Buddha in his first discourse.
The doctrine of the Middle Way or the Path of the Eightfold Path

Immediately after criticizing the two guidelines of excessive pleasure and excessive austerity, the Buddha introduced the third path, the Middle Way (Majjhima Patipada). "To renounce these two extremes, the Tathāgata realizes the" Middle Way "(Majjhima Patipada), the path that brings about cakkhu and nana and leads to tranquility (vupasamaya) Abhinnaya, enlightenment (sambhodhaya), and nirvana "

The middle path is not the path between the two extremes but the path that transcends the two extremes. The Buddhist dictionary conception: "Trung means non-dual, is the most treatable, is a non-duality, neutral direction is not biased on one side," that means middle way is the child The line terminates any binomial treatment as usual; Yes no; right left…

In the later stages of development of Buddhism, the understanding of the Middle Way has many different opinions, such as the General for the Middle Way, Truth for the Bat is the Middle Way, The Middle Way , Huayan for the Dharma Realm is the Middle Way ... However, in the Zhuan Falun , the Buddha affirms that the Middle Way is the Eightfold Path or the Eightfold Path.

In the saying:

"O bhikkhus, the middle path that the Tathagata has enlightened, what is the path that brings visions, knowledge and leads to tranquility, sublime wisdom, enlightenment and nirvana?

That is the Noble Eightfold Path (samma ditthi), Right Thought (samma samkappa), Right Speech (Samma Vaca), Right Samma kammanta, Right Livelihood (samma ajiva), Right Effort Mindfulness (samma sati), and Right Concentration (samma samadhi). This is the Bhikkhus, that is "Middle Way" that Tathagata realized.

The first element of the Noble Eightfold Path is Right Understanding, which is intended to break the skepticism of fellow initiates in the Buddha's teachings, and to make a critical judgment in The teachings of the Buddha are: to see the object in the right way, ie see the object as it is can lead to later statements. There is no right perception, that is, seeing objects with subjective eyes, bias or sensibility can lead to mistakes in judgment. To have the right or true view, it is necessary to remove the wrong views, delusions, traditions, customs, habits, power, status of the speaker ... and see them as they are. That is the first element and also the prerequisite in the Buddhist doctrine of the Middle Way.

After having the right perception, as the reality of the object, the second is right thinking, that is, right meditation. True refinement in Buddhism requires the object of thinking to be objective with the object of thought, that is, the subject of thought must eliminate attachment, selfishness and evil. In order to do this, the subject needs to nourish the mettà, the moderate attitude toward the object is thought.

The third branch of the doctrine of the Middle Way is Right Speech - Right Speech. True speech originates from right thinking, as the reality of the object is thought and of course, the true word is for the purpose not only of the real thing but of the object. More perfect, not just speaking.

Right Speech is Right Action - Righteous Action or Righteous Action and Right Livelihood - Righteous Life. The three main factors: Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood are ways of expressing true thinking in order to perfect morality and develop a healthy lifestyle.

The sixth branch is Right Effort - effort to practice in righteousness to eliminate bad seeds and develop kusala. Liberation and enlightenment are not one-sidedly accomplished, therefore, there is knowing, thinking, practicing, but lacking in effort, spiritual practice is soon lost. In the process of diligence, effort ceaselessly, the seventh element - mindfulness - always awakened in every act, gesture, word of employment becomes the essential partner. Effortless but awakening can lead to a reversal of the original intention. From constant effort in awareness to concentration - ie residing in a single object, especially the object that is his own consciousness will lead to a result - our mind is increasingly opaque. In the sea, the elements impure, negativity, Ignorance increasingly efforts are eliminated, instead, the seeds of good, intellectual, pure germ are increasingly. When consciousness, in the awareness of Mindfulness and Concentration, with the constant effort of Right Effort, with the constant practice of Right Speech, Right Action and Right Effort, The result, natural perception will be correct, thinking on a clear. Thus, the Eightfold Path with the eight fundamental branches mentioned above, is both the cause and the fruit, mutually reciprocating for a goal of liberation and enlightenment. Righteousness and righteousness are invisible together, leading to a result, natural perception will be correct, thinking clear. Thus, the Eightfold Path with the eight fundamental branches mentioned above, is both the cause and the fruit, mutually reciprocating for a goal of liberation and enlightenment. Righteousness and righteousness are invisible together, leading to a result, natural perception will be correct, thinking clear. Thus, the Eightfold Path with the eight fundamental branches mentioned above, is both the cause and the fruit, mutually reciprocating for a goal of liberation and enlightenment.

In short, the teachings of the Middle Way - the Noble Eightfold Path were said by the Buddha in the Zhuan Falun Sutta as a basis to critique the two extremes that dominate contemporary Indian society and establish one of the fundamental principles The earliest version of Buddhism, religion has influenced not only India but has now spread to the world.
The Four Noble Truths

Beginning the sutta by advising the departed from extreme extremes, establishing the Middle Way, the Buddha speaks of the Four Noble Truths as the most basic discourse in the whole teaching of the Buddha and also Is the only goal of Buddhism when it exists in this world.

Four Noble Truths (Four Noble Truths) include: Suffering, Suffering, Truth and Truth. Sanskrit Sacca, is the truth, what is really there. The equivalent of Sanskrit (Sanskrit) is Satya, a fact no longer controversial. The Pali word for these truths is Ariya Saccani, because these are the truths that the Buddha found, the greatest of all, Ariya, pure and pure. And completely cleared all defilements.

(1) "This is the Noble Truth"