[NerbuitW]

Good morning everybody,

I am enrolled in a college class which explores world religions. Throughout the last several weeks I have been reading about and exploring various religions in the world and I really liked what I read about Buddhism. Because of that I have decided to write my final paper about Buddhism and thus am seeking the help of some of the professionals in this forum. I have some questions that I hope someone could spare some time to answer, here they are!


1. What is the ultimate goal of a person's life and what is the process one takes during life to reach that goal?

2. Please explain the process of the afterlife.

3. To the person responding, how active are you in Buddhism? What is your personal involvement and your understanding of it?

4. Do your personal beliefs correspond to the formal religious doctrine?


That’s all I am looking for; I would appreciate anyone who would take the time to help me out. I look forward to discovering more about Buddhism with you!

Thanks,

Kris

[uphokyhuP]

Welcome Kris,

Perhaps if you devised a short numbered questionnaire for our Buddhist members, you might get more response ?

with kind regards,

Aloka

[br`lorance]

Welcome Kris,

Perhaps if you devised a short numbered questionnaire for our Buddhist members, you might get more response ?

with kind regards,

Aloka

Thank you Aloka,

I will revise my post to be easily read.

Take Care,

Kris

[Zfdeisde]

1. According to Zen Buddhism (as well as other traditions) the ultimate goal is attain enlightenment for both yourself and all sentient beings. The process taken to achieve this goal is the eightfold path. However, Zen students focus greatly on Zazen (sitting meditation) and Koans.

2. I don't believe in an afterlife. The Buddha himself didn't believe reincarnation to be true. But, he did teach rebirth.

3. I consider myself very active. I practice Zazen on a daily basis and practice mindfulness throughout my entire day. I read books on Buddhism to further my understanding. My understanding of Buddhism is that it is a path to follow that allows you to be free of mental suffering through the complete understanding of mental suffering.

4. I agree with mostly everything the Buddha has said and with mostly everything the writings of teachers I've read have said. However there are certain aspects of certain Suttas and Sutras that I do not agree with. I'm basically a naturalist and do not believe in anything 'supernatural.' I see 'supernatural' beliefs as unsupported and unimportant to Buddhism. The Buddhist teachings I find important have no need for superstition to complete them. For example the four noble truths, the eightfold path, emptiness, 'not-self,' impermanence, the list goes on and on.

If you have more questions feel free to ask.

[pharweqto]

1. What is the ultimate goal of a person's life and what is the process one takes during life to reach that goal?

Buddha taught:

4. Do your personal beliefs correspond to the formal religious doctrine?

Buddha taught on two levels thus there are two levels of formal doctrine

2. Please explain the process of the afterlife.

Buddha did not explain this. on level 1, Buddha simply taught beings fare on according to the actions (karma) they have performed. on level 2, Buddha taught the five aggregates of an enlightened being simply come to an end

'If there is a world after death, if there is the fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then this is the basis by which, with the break-up of the body, after death, I will reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world.' This is the first assurance he acquires.

"'But if there is no world after death, if there is no fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then here in the present life I look after myself with ease — free from hostility, free from ill will, free from trouble.' This is the second assurance he acquires.

Kalama Sutta Then, friend Yamaka, how would you answer if you are thus asked: A monk, a worthy one, with no more mental effluents: what is he on the break-up of the body, after death?"

Thus asked, I would answer, 'Form is inconstant... Feeling... Perception... Fabrications... Consciousness is inconstant. That which is inconstant is unsatisfactory. That which is unsatisfactory has ceased and gone to its end."

Yamaka Sutta

[ulw7A8Po]

1. What is the ultimate goal of a person's life

It is happiness.

All the mess mankind does -and has done- is because this pursuit is wrongly achieved.

Gotama Buddha show the -definitive- Noble Path toward it.

and what is the process one takes during life to reach that goal? To live and follow the Four Noble Truths. They teach us the process and the goal, which is the everlasting cessation of Dukkha.

2. Please explain the process of the afterlife. I have never believed in such things and Buddha didn't taught any kind of after life doctrine. He show that in the unawakened mind there is birth of the illusion of a self and arises moment after moment; he taught how to end that mental state in this present life.

3. To the person responding, how active are you in Buddhism? What is your personal involvement and your understanding of it? Teachigs of Buddha are about practice and it has to be done while meditation and while being in daily life. The involvement with his doctrine is absolute as it is the confidence in it.

4. Do your personal beliefs correspond to the formal religious doctrine? Verified facts in live -not believes- have matched perfectly with what the Buddha taught. I don't feel that his teachings are about a religion. Surely it is a doctrine and it has a formality in terms of something well expounded and systematized to engage in gradual process of progressive achievements.

Thanks,

Kris You are welcome Kris.

[Nppracph]

Wow I am so impressed with the amount and quality of the replies received so far, I want to thank each of you for your help with my understanding of this.

For my second question I was expecting different answers than the ones I received, I am actually a bit confused now because it was my understanding that life was like a cycle with births and rebirths until one reaches enlightenment and the cycle is broken; Nirvana was a recurring theme in the textbook that I read. I understood the process as you live and die and repeat the cycle until you attain enlightenment and proceed to live in Nirvana thus breaking the cycle of lives. Is this completely wrong or not? I just assumed that meant reincarnation, in addition to karma led up to your eventual enlightenment.

Thanks again everyone! You have been extremely helpful so far!

[erepsysoulperj]

For my second question I was expecting different answers than the ones I received, I am actually a bit confused now because it was my understanding that life was like a cycle with births and rebirths until one reaches enlightenment and the cycle is broken; Nirvana was a recurring theme in the textbook that I read. I understood the process as you live and die and repeat the cycle until you attain enlightenment and proceed to live in Nirvana thus breaking the cycle of lives. Is this completely wrong or not? I just assumed that meant reincarnation, in addition to karma led up to your eventual enlightenment.

Thanks again everyone! You have been extremely helpful so far!

Kris,

We have a Study Links section where you will find reliable resources and web pages about the teachings of Buddha. Maybe it can be a good idea to have a look there.

Also, at post # 5, you will see several quotations about Buddha's words. To have a look there can be good, too.

[Sttim]

until you attain enlightenment and proceed to live in Nirvana

Hi Kris

Nirvana isn't a place, its freedom of mind from greed, hatred and delusion and this can happen in one lifetime, if we study, meditate and practice Buddha's teachings as he advised.

I think you might find it helpful to look at the Buddhist Studies section at Buddhanet

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/index.htm

with kind regards

Aloka

[WepKeyday]

Kris,

We have a Study Links section where you will find reliable resources and web pages about the teachings of Buddha. Maybe it can be a good idea to have a look there.

Also, at post # 5, you will see several quotations about Buddha's words. To have a look there can be good, too.

I will definately look at the Study Links area of the site and re-read the quotations from Buddha.

Hi Kris

Nirvana isn't a place, its freedom of mind from greed, hatred and delusion and this can happen in one lifetime, if we study, meditate and practice Buddha's teachings as he advised.

I think you might find it helpful to look at the Buddhist Studies section at Buddhanet

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/index.htm

with kind regards

Aloka Thank you for clearing that up for me Aloka!

I am so glad I came here to learn you all have been very nice and helpful. Thank you so much!

[klubneras]

You are very welcome, good luck with the paper !


.

[beckercpa]

...my understanding that life was like a cycle with births and rebirths until one reaches enlightenment and the cycle is broken; Nirvana was a recurring theme in the textbook that I read. I understood the process as you live and die and repeat the cycle until you attain enlightenment and proceed to live in Nirvana thus breaking the cycle of lives. Is this completely wrong or not?

hi

as mentioned, there are two levels of understanding, one which encourages non-harming (morality) and another which encourages enlightenment

kind regards

Two Kinds of Language

There are two languages: Dhamma language and everyday language. Everyday language is based on physical things and on experiences accessible to the ordinary person. Being based on the physical rather than the spiritual, it serves only for discussion of physical, worldly matters and situations. It serves only for the tangible things perceived under ordinary everyday circumstances.

By contrast, Dhamma language has to do with the mental world, with the intangible, non-physical world. In order to be able to speak and understand this Dhamma language, one must have gained insight into the mental world. Consequently, only people who have seen Dhamma, the Truth, speak the Dhamma language, the language of the nonmaterial mental world which is above the physical.

****

Now, going a little higher, we come to the word "birth" (jati). In everyday language, the word "birth" refers to physically coming into the world from the mother's womb. A person is the born physically only once. Having been born, one lives in the world until one dies and enters the coffin. Physical birth happens to each of us only once. This birth from the mother's womb is what is meant by "birth" in everyday language.

In Dhamma language, the word "birth" refers to the birth of the idea "I" or "ego" that arises in the mind throughout each day. In this sense, the ordinary person is born very often, time and time again; a more developed person is born less frequently; a person well advanced in practice (ariyan, noble one) is born less frequently still, and ultimately ceases being born altogether. Each arising in the mind of "I" in one form or another is called a "birth". Thus, birth can take place many times over in a single day. As soon as one starts thinking like an animal, one is born as an animal in that same moment. To think like a human being is to be born a human being. To think like a celestial being is to be born a celestial being. Life, the individual, pleasure and pain, and the rest-all these were identified by the Buddha as simply momentary states of consciousness. So the word "birth" means in Dhamma language the arising of the idea of "I" or "me," and not, as in everyday language, physical birth from the mother's womb.

Two Kinds of Language Two Truths Doctrine

The Awakened One, best of speakers,
Spoke two kinds of truths:
The conventional and the ultimate.
A third truth does not obtain.

Therein:
The speech wherewith the world converses is true
On account of its being agreed upon by the world.
The speech which describes what is ultimate is also true,
Through characterizing dhammas as they really are.

Therefore, being skilled in common usage,
False speech does not arise in the Teacher,
Who is Lord of the World,
When he speaks according to conventions.

Khathāvatthu Aṭṭha kathǎ Mn. i. 95 [Theravadin Commentary] The Leash

The Blessed One said: "Monks, from an inconstruable beginning comes samsara [cycling]. A beginning point is not evident, although beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are roaming around & wandering on

Just as a dog, tied by a leash to a post or stake, keeps running around and circling around that very post or stake; in the same way, an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person assumes form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

He assumes feeling to be the self...

He assumes perception to be the self...

He assumes (mental) fabrications to be the self...

He assumes consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

He keeps running around and circling around that very form... that very feeling... that very perception... those very fabrications... that very consciousness. He is not set loose from form, not set loose from feeling... from perception... from fabrications... not set loose from consciousness. He is not set loose from birth, aging & death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses & despairs. He is not set loose, I tell you, from suffering & stress.

But a well-instructed disciple does not assume form to be the self, or the self as possessing form, or form as in the self, or the self as in form.

He does not assume feeling to be the self...

He does not assume perception to be the self...

He does not assume fabrications to be the self...

He does not assume consciousness to be the self, or the self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in the self, or the self as in consciousness.

He does not run around or circle around that very form... that very feeling... that very perception... those very fabrications... that very consciousness. He is set loose from form, set loose from feeling... from perception... from fabrications... set loose from consciousness. He is set loose from birth, aging & death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses & despairs. He is set loose, I tell you, from suffering & stress.

Gaddula Sutta: The Leash

[seperalem]

Hi,

Depending on your interest a very good resource from the Tibetan buddhist prespective is the book "The words of my Perfect Teacher" Revised Edition by Patrul Rinpoche.

This text touchs on all of the questions that you have asked but keep in mind that it is from the mindset of only one of the Schools of Buddhism.

All the Best