Buddhism
RMPS
Intermediate 1 / 2
Course Notes
Part 2
The Goal and the Means
1
Contents
Introduction (page 2)
The goal of Buddhism
Nirvana (Page 2 - )
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism (page 5)
The Arahat Theravada Buddhism
(page 5)
The Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
(page 6)
The Means of reaching the goal
The Buddha
(see Part 1)
The Four Noble Truths (see Part 1)
The Noble Eightfold Path (page 6 - 9 )
The Five Precepts (page 10)
Meditation (page 13 - 14)
Samatha meditation (page 14 - 15)
Vipassana meditation (page 15)
Worship in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
(page 16 )
APPENDIX
Success criteria (page 17)
2
Introduction
In part two we are turning our attention to the goal of Buddhism and the
means of achieving that goal. Every religion teaches that human existence is
flawed in some way and we are all in need of salvation. Buddhism is no
different. You have learned already that for Buddhism the flaw in our
existence is suffering (Dukkha) cause by our craving (Tanha) which keeps us
from every finding lasting peace and happiness and traps us in the endless
cycle of Samsara. You have also learned that the Buddha taught that craving
(Tanha) can be stopped and that we can find peace and happiness. Every
Buddhist believes that reaching true peace and happiness and the perfect
state of nirvana is possible for everyone. If we follow the Buddha’s teaching
of the Eightfold Path this is where it leads. Remember for Buddhists the
belief in the concept of compassion is important. To live a life of compassion
means that you are not all self centred in your attitudes. You display a deep
feeling of sympathy towards others who are suffering and you have a desire
to help them overcome their suffering and find peace and happiness. When
talking about the final goal to which the Eightfold Path leads, Buddhists refer
to this as reaching Nibbana (Pali) or Nirvana (Sanskrit).
The Goal of Buddhism is Nirvana
The goal of Buddhism is to reach Nirvana sometimes called Nibbana. This
is the perfect state of peace and happiness in which all suffering has
come to an end and the individual is set free from the cycle of Samsara.
About Nirvana
 The word Nirvana means to ‘blow out’
 Nirvana is reached when the flames of suffering are extinguished,
or blown out.
 This is what the Third Noble Truth states (craving can be stopped).
 The flames of suffering are fuelled by greed, hatred and ignorance,
the three root poisons.
 Nirvana is NOT heaven.
 The Buddha was not interested in the question what is it that exists
in Nirvana, or where they go?
3
 He was more interested in the present here and now.
 It is easier to explain what Nirvana is not rather than what it is.
 The Buddha said Nirvana cannot be explained it can only be
experienced
 Nirvana is a state of mind that is free from craving.
 It is freedom from the driving force or power of greed, hatred and
ignorance.
 It is freedom from the cycle of Samsara, death and rebirth
 It can be understood as Enlightenment or Liberation.
 It can be achieved when you are still alive.
Summing up
Nirvana is about two important things:
1. Waking up to reality. (Seeing clearly the way things are)
2. Becoming one with reality (Acting according to your awareness)
Blown Out
1. Nirvana is the goal of the Buddhist religion.
The Eightfold Path leads to the destination.
Samsara has ended, the wheel has stopped turning
The flames of suffering are no longer burning.
2. Craving has ceased, the poisons are no more.
Arahat or Bodhisatva they stand at the door.
Its something you experience and can’t explain.
Nirvana the goal is on a different plain.
3. We all can reach it, if we try very hard.
To stay on the path you must watch your guard.
For desire is lurking without a doubt.
But the flames of suffering can be blown out.
4
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Introduction
Just in the same as religions such as Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity divide
up into different groups such as Protestants and Catholics to use Christianity
as an example. The same has happened within Buddhism. These groups emerged
because of various disputes about the understanding of the teaching of the
Buddha. The two groups or sects as they are sometimes called are
Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. The word Theravada means
‘The way of the elders’ and the word Mahayana means ‘greater vehicle’.
Mahayana Buddhists refer to Theravada Buddhism as Hinayana Buddhism
which mean ‘lesser vehicle’ This is explained below. In this course you will have
to know in what ways these two groups are different in their understanding of
the Buddha’s teaching.
The reason I am mentioning these two groups here, is because they both have
different views on how a person can reach Nirvana, although both accept
the Noble Eightfold Path is the way. It is also about self help. So what are
these groups saying about how to reach Nirvana. Let’s look at the Theravada
group first.
The Arahat in Theravada Buddhists
They believe Nirvana can be reached in this life. It is not something that
comes after death. When someone attains Nirvana in their life the
Theravadan Buddhists call that person an Arahat (an enlightened person).
You are most likely to become an Arahat if you are a monk or nun, rather
than an ordinary (lay) person because you have less distractions in your life
and can focus more on following the Eightfold Path. This is why they are
known as the lesser vehicle. This means that fewer people will reach
Nirvana, because not all become monks and nuns. When a person reaches the
stage of being an Arahat this is the stage before entering into Nirvana. This is
the state of paranirvana. When the Arahat dies he leaves the cycle of
Samsara and enters into Nirvana never to be reborn.
5
The Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
The Mahayana Buddhists also believe in following the Eightfold path to reach
Nirvana. But they believe that the Theravadan way is too difficult. This is
because they say you have to become a monk or nun. The Mahayana Buddhists
believe that anyone is capable of reaching Nirvana, and that you do not
need to become a monk or a nun to speed things up. This is why they are
called the ‘greater vehicle’. More people can reach Nirvana. For them when
a person reaches the point where the flames of suffering have been blown
out and craving has ceased they become a Bodhisatva which mean ‘a being
of enlightenment’.
A Bodhisatva is respected because he could leave the cycle of Samsara
behind and enter into Nirvana becoming a Buddha. But he chooses not to.
Instead he chooses to be reborn in order to help others reach
enlightenment. It is this belief in the Bodisattva that sets Mahyana
Buddhism apart from Theravada Buddhism. Theravada Buddhists believe
that they can pray to a Bodhisattva and get help to progress to a better
rebirth. This is called the ‘transference of merit’.
This attitude of the Bodhisattva demonstrates the importance of compassion
which means that you are not all self centred in your attitudes. You
display a deep feeling of sympathy towards others who are suffering and
you have a desire to help them overcome their suffering and find peace
and happiness. The Dalai Lama often speaks about compassion.
M – B
T – A
Mahayana (Greater vehicle) - Bodhisatva
Theravada (lesser vehicle) - Arahat
6
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Fourth Noble truth stated that the way to reach Nirvana was to follow the
teaching of the Buddha known as the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is
therefore the means by which a person can achieve Nirvana. It probably will
take many lives, before you reach the goal. But by following the path you can
ensure a better rebirth each time. The Eightfold Path is also known as the
Middle Way. It is when you live between the two extremes of luxury and
poverty. Living your life with everything in moderation is what the Buddha said
was the best way.
The symbol of Buddhism the wheel is known as the Damma wheel. The wheel
began to turn when the Buddha first began teaching his followers. The eight
spokes of the wheel stand for the eight steps of the path. There is no order of
sequence among the steps. There is not one that comes before any of the
others. Some describe them as eight paths all interchanging and mixing with
each other. All leading to Nirvana.
The eight steps of the path fall into three categories., which are sometimes
referred to as the Three Ways. These are Wisdom, Morality and Meditation.
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Wisdom (Understanding the truth about existence and
the effect of this on our actions as we live our
lives)
Morality (Living by applying the basic Buddhists principles
in order to decide what is the right thing to do
in any given situation)
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Meditation (This is about training your mind to see the
Right Concentration
truth clearly and get rid of all that will
hinder you as you journey along the path)
7
Four Aspects of the Noble Eightfold Path
For your purposes in studying Buddhism at Intermediate 2 level, you need to
know what is meant by the following:




Right Intention
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Speech
Right Intention. Is found under the grouping which we call the Way of Wisdom.
This is about your attitude to life
Having the right motivation to follow the path
It should be your intention to always to act in a selfless way.
Actions that are skilful involve having the right intention
It should be your intention to Remove thoughts of a self
It should be your intention to banish selfish thoughts and replace
them with selfless thoughts
 It is your intention to focus on reaching enlightenment
 It should be your intention to live and act in ways that are not
influenced by the three root poisons.






Right Action. Is found in the grouping called the way of morality









This is a practical step and demands application
It is about always trying to do the right thing
It is about acting in a way that cause least harm or suffering
It is about being aware of how actions affect others
It is about being in control of one’s actions.
It is about thinking about the consequences of your actions
Intentional actions carry karmic consequences
It about always trying to act in a skilful way
It is about trying to avoid acting in an unskilful way
8
Skilful and Unskilful actions
An action is skilful if the action is carried out with the right intention. That is
to bring about good. Not a selfish and greedy motivated action. It is an action
that is done after careful consideration of the consequences. This means
thinking how this action will affect others and the will happen as a result of the
action. Will this action bring about good? Will it bring harm? It is an action
that is your action, that you have decided is a good, helpful, caring, or right
thing to do. An unskilful action is an action with wrong or bad intentions, does
not consider the consequences and is motivated by the three poisons greed,
hatred and ignorance.
NOTE
It is skilful actions that lead to good karma and a better rebirth and
eventually enlightenment
Right Livelihood. Is found under the grouping which is the way of Morality.
 This is a practical step. It is something you do.
 Its about doing a job or earning a living in a way that does not
cause suffering. (e.g. doctor, nurse, vet, joiner, plumber, teacher)
 Its about not working at a job that exploits animals, children or
people’s health and the environment.
 Some Buddhist’s may have difficulty working in the cigarette or
alcohol industry or in the manufacturing of weapons. Also jobs that
exploit animals or damage the environment should be avoided.
Right Speech. Is also found in the grouping way of Morality.






Again this is a practical thing.
Avoid telling lies
Avoid gossip
Avoid boasting
Avoid talking behind people’s backs
Avoid speech that is hurtful, putting people down.
9





The






Always speak in a thoughtful way
Speech can cause great harm
Speak in a way that is helpful, encouraging and kind
Speak in an honest way but do not be cruel
Skilful speech is encouraged think about your intention and the
consequences of what you say.
benefits of following the Eightfold Path are:
Helps overcome suffering.
Gives guidelines on how to live free from craving
Helps to overcome attachment and gain good Karma
Helps to free ones self from samsara
It brings calm and peace to a person and helps gain wisdom
Creates a freer and more tolerant society
Some difficulties of trying to follow the Eightfold path are
 It is hard to keep to the path. Responsibilities of work and family
take up time
 Pressure of work and the time work takes, can keep people from
following the path.
 Other attachments and cravings which we are exposed to in the
modern world hinder our progress.
 Sometimes the path might not seem realistic in the busy modern life.
 Some Buddhists believe that you have to withdraw to a monastry to
progress along the path quicker.
The Five Precepts
Before we look at the Five Precepts, we need to look at what we call ‘Ethics’
Ethics is a word which refers to thinking about what is right and wrong
(morality). Doing the right thing is important to all human beings even those
who are not religious. Ethics is something everyone is interested in. Everyone
has opinions on what is the right thing or the wrong thing to do. When we take
10
time to sit down and think about what we think is right or wrong, then we
are doing Ethics. Most religions set out rules and regulations about what is
right and wrong believing that these are the commands of God. But Buddhism
says that you have to work out from within yourself what is right and
wrong.
Doing the right thing is good for all sots of reasons. It makes you as a person
feel good when you do what is right. It makes the world a better place to live in
when people do good rather than bad. People admire and respect those who do
what is right, condemning and punishing those who chose to do what is wrong.
Buddhists also believe that doing the right thing and avoiding doing bad
creates good karma which will affect a person’s next rebirth. Buddhists know
that there are certain right ways to behave. The Eightfold Path lays down the
guidelines. But what does this mean in practice? The Five Precepts set out
further guidelines on how to live a good life. Any Buddhist can follow these
precepts. By doing so you are keeping closely to the Guidelines and spirit
of the Noble Eightfold Path. Do not see these as strict rule more as training
aids to help you make progress towards enlightenment.
The five precepts are
K
1. I undertake to refrain from killing
2. I undertake to refrain from stealing
S
3. I undertake to refrain from misusing sexuality
S
4. I undertake to refrain from harmful speech
S
D
5. I undertake to refrain from taking drugs
So how are they generally interpreted?
1. I undertake to refrain from killing
K
This could mean avoiding killing an animal, or even an insect. But this
does not mean that all Buddhists are vegetarian. Some Buddhists such as the
Dalai Lama eat meat. Buddhists monks who carry begging bowls are
11
sometimes given meat which they eat. But the idea behind the precept is
that they should not take life or cause unnecessary suffering or harm.
All living things are in the cycle of Samsara. We should help them along
towards enlightenment, not cut their life short.
It also applies to avoiding killing people. Because of this some Buddhist
engage in the martial arts which concentrate on defence rather than attack.
They want to learn how to avoid killing an enemy. The aim rather to disarm
the attacker.
Buddhist refuse to support any action that causes harm. They will speak
out against war, injustice, cruelty and aggression and any human right
abuses..
They encourage environmental protection and the preservation of
species.
2. I undertake to refrain from stealing
S
Obviously this means not taking people’s property that does not belong
to you. But it can also apply to giving back change if you have been given to
much. Not dodging your fare on the train. Not buying products like clothes
from a shop that is cheap because they do not pay their workers a good
wage.
3. I undertake to refrain from harmful speech
S
This obviously means not telling lies. Sometimes we mislead people by not
telling them everything they should know. This is also a form of lying.
Sometimes if someone asks us if we heard what they said and we say yes,
when the truth was actually no, them this too is a form of lying. If we
exaggerate a story or when explaining what happened then this too is
lying. Sometimes people say one thing to one person and another thing to
another. This too is not being truthful. But remember there are some
situations when the best thing to do is to lie. It all depends on the
situation. Remember what it means to act skilfully. Is your intention good?
Are the consequences good?
4. I undertake to refrain from misusing sexuality
12
S
This precept obviously suggests that rape, paedophilia and incest are
wrong. These are obvious to everyone. But it also refers to using
someone selfishly for your own personal pleasure or enjoyment without
really caring for them or their feelings. Also some people can be obsessed
with sex which distracts them from following the path.
5. I undertake to refrain from taking drugs
D
Buddhists believe that drugs and alcohol are not healthy because of the
way they affect our personalities, and our self control. When under their
influence we act in ways that we would not normally do. We lose our
concentration and our awareness of what we are doing, to keep to the
path. We end up acting in a way that is unskilful. Remember drugs and
alcohol can lead to horrible accidents. They can lead to violence and abuse.
Buddhists also want people to be aware of reality, drugs cloud reality,
distort reality.
Ethics for Monks and nuns
The moral rules for monks are far more detailed. If you decide to become a
monk, then you have further many more rules over and above the Five
precepts. The Five further precepts of the monastic life are:
1. To abstain from food after midday;
2. To abstain from a luxurious bed, ie to sleep on a mat;
3. To abstain from frivolous amusements, e.g. music, dancing, shows.
4. To abstain from personal adornments, ie no jewellery, and to wear
only the monk’s basic rob;
5. To touch no silver or gold, ie to have nothing to do with money
The practice of Meditation
Meditation is probably one of the first things that come to mind when people
think about Buddhism. We are now going to turn our attention to understanding
what the importance of meditation is within the religion of Buddhism.
13
Meditation is the eighth part of the Noble Eightfold Path. So it is not an
end in itself, it serves the purpose of helping Buddhist along the path
towards enlightenment. Some western non Buddhist practice meditation to
calm themselves down or relax, but in Buddhism meditation is much more than
this.
So what is meditation?
It’s a stilling of the mind. Our minds are usually full of thoughts and
distractions. Every moment of every day our minds are bombarded by sounds
and thoughts. So meditation involves a quieting and stilling of the mind.
It’s about perceiving reality. It’s about achieving an altered state of
consciousness and becoming aware of the way things are. While meditating a
Buddhist is consciously thinking about what is real and true.
It’s a training of the mind to focus on specific things rather than fleeting
from one thought to the next. During meditation a Buddhist can focus on
anything. Some examples may be to focus on the teachings of the Buddha, a
Buddha image, a flower, a mandala pattern, a tree or just your breathing.
So what are the benefits of meditation?
The Buddha taught that there are seven important benefits from meditation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Getting rid of defilements. (the emotions that keep us from progressing)
Putting aside sorrow and worry. (Not allowing these to dominate us)
Getting over miseries. (getting over life’s disappointments)
Ending physical suffering.
Ending mental suffering.
Attaining the early stages of Nirvana.
Attaining Nirvana itself.
All forms of meditation have the same things in common.
 Mindfulness of the things around you in order to see things clearly.
Different attitudes to the importance or centrality of Meditation
14
Some Buddhists think that meditation is very important in the journey
towards enlightenment. It is a central part of the Eightfold Path.
Theravada Buddhists believe that achieving wisdom is the way to reach
enlightenment. It is an important part of the life of monks and nuns as they
live in the Sangha (a Buddhist spiritual community) It is necessary for
reaching enlightenment, as it helps a person to see things as they really are.
It helps to get rid of the three root poisons in one’s life, which hinder one’s
journey.
Others however regard living a good life and concentrating on right
action, speech and livelihood is more important. Having compassion for all
beings is important. The Morality aspect of the Eightfold Path which
leads to enlightenment is given more priority in the Mahayana tradition
of Buddhism. They also believe that you can gain good Karma from a
Holy man or a Bodhisattva. This gaining of merit from another is called
the ‘Transference of Merit’ leading to good karma. Always acting in a
skilful way, they say brings greater peace to the world and the lives of
others around you. It helps you gain a better rebirth and progress towards
enlightenment. Being compassionate and selfless, caring for others is not so
self centred as meditation seems to be.
There are two main types of meditation.
1. Samatha meditation: Stilling
This is sometimes called ‘calming meditation’. It is linked closely to the
Theravada tradition. The aim of this meditation is to still and calm the mind.
It helps our minds to be still. To stop the bombardment our minds
experience which we spoke of above. It helps us to focus on what really
matters. This is the first step to seeing things clearly.
When you are mindful of what you are doing, you are in a better position to
understand and put into practice the teachings of the Buddha. This will
benefit you and others. To gain this stillness is the first step of
meditation towards enlightenment. To start Samatha meditation all you will
15
do is focus on your breathing. When stray thoughts enter your mind you
should be aware of them but let them pass.
Once your mind is still you can concentrate your mind on thinking about:
 Positive thoughts about all beings. Start with self love and radiate
out to others.
 Think about how you can help others who suffer.
 Think about sharing the joy of others who are happy.
 Think about experiencing love for everything equally.
Vipassana meditation: revealing
Sometimes referred to as ‘insight meditation’. This involves more
focusing of the mind on the true reality of things. It is a more
intellectual process. It involves the person meditating in analysing his own
physical and mental states, and the environment he lives in. It involves deep
thinking about the teachings of Buddhism, such as the Four Noble truths,
Dukkha (suffering), Anicca (impermanence) and Anatta (No self). The idea is
to make these real in your own experience. Once this has happened you
gained what is called vipassana (insight) into oneself and the world, and to
have increased in wisdom. It is Vipassana meditation that leads to
enlightenment because it is helping the person reach a true realisation
of the true nature of reality and get rid of the negative hinderances.
Worship in the Theravada and the Mahayana traditions
It may sound strange to talk about Buddhist worship when you have been
told that Buddhist do not believe in God. Well Buddhism a large and varied
religion which has developed in different parts of the world over hundreds
of years. Their traditions of worship can be quite different.
Some Buddhists do believe in gods and in helpful and unhelpful spiritual
beings. Worship for them involves keeping on the side of the good spiritual
beings. Mahayana Buddhists also believe that appealing to Bodhisatvas can
help them progress towards enlightenment.
16
Buddhist worship can involve the following:
Showing the Buddha reverence
Learning the teachings of the Buddha
Reciting key Buddhist ideas
Sharing with other Buddhists in your common journey
You can use visual aids top help you focus on the teachings of the
Buddha.
 Celebrating special events in the life of the Buddha.





Worship in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism
 For monks and nuns it is rarely more that reciting Buddhist
teachings.
 Lay Buddhists do this too, but will also make offerings to Buddha
statues.
 Focus is often on the image of the Buddha
 Giving of food to the monks in the Sangha (religious community)
Worship in the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism
 Much more elaborate, colourful and varied.
 It includes, chanting, special rituals for certain events or times of
year.
 Prayers, mantras chanted or written on colourful prayer flags.
 The spinning of prayer wheels.(hand held or floor mounted)
 Praying to Bodhisattva’s to help you on your journey to enlightenment
 Often involves a mixture of older religious traditions which have been
adopted by Buddhism.
17
RMPS Higher: Intermediate 1 / 2
World Religion: Buddhism (Part 2) The Goal and the Means
Success Criteria
What you need to know in order to pass an assessment
You need to be able to:
1. Explain the importance of the law of Karma and how it works.
2. State the Four Noble Truths and explain the connection between them.
3. Give an understanding of the concept of Nirvana
4. Explain the difference between an Arahat in the Theravada tradition and a
Bodhisattva in the Mahayana tradition.
5. Explain the purpose of the Noble Eightfold Path.
6. Describe how it divides up into the three sections or ‘ways’
7. Explain what is meant by Right Intention; Right Speech; Right Action; Right
Livelihood.
8. State what the Five Precepts are.
9. Explain what they mean in practical living
10. Describe the two types of meditation
11. Explain the importance of meditation
18
12. Explain what is meant by worship and describe worship practice and experience
in both the Theravada and the Mahayana traditions.
19