20120908 factors of englightenment and maitreya buddha

Updated Mar 2010

加拿大佛教會湛山精舍　

禪修學佛入門 Introduction to

Buddhism and Meditation2012/09/08

Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Temple

Updated Mar 2010

Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Temple

ná mó fó tuó南無佛陀

Namo Buddha

ná mó dá mó 南無達摩

Namo Dharma

ná mó sēng qié南無僧伽

Namo Sangha

加拿大佛教會 © 2006 Buddhist Association of Canada

Buddhist Association of Canada

Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Chán Meditation



We are all connected to each other on a subatomic level and have the ability to create and influence matter with our thoughts. By increasing our own consciousness and compassion for others and the world around us, we can create a life free of suffering for ourselves and improve the lives of others through achieving enlightenment. The seven factors of enlightenment derived from Buddhist spirituality and philosophy are: mindfulness, investigation into the universal law of nature, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, equanimity.

Seven Factors of Enlightenment



Mindfulness is that which watches what is occuring at the present moment in the body and mind.

To see through the third eye, the reality of the moment.

I. Sati-Sambojjhanga (mindfulness)



Nonsuperficiality 深入 Keeping the object in view Face to face with the object Seeing the Four Nobel Truths and Three

Dharma seals Mindfulness is the cause of mindfulness Clear comprehension and pure experience Inclining the mind toward mindfulness

I. Sati-Sambojjhanga (mindfulness)



Investigation of phenomena.

This is the wisdom or insight that can differentiate the corporal body and the mind and percieves both as imperanemt, unsatisfactory and non-self.

II. Dhammavicaya-Sambojjhanga (Investigation of the Dhamma)



Knowing the true nature of DharmaDispelling darknessUltimate realitiesSpontaneous insight is the cause of investigationAsking questionsCleanlinessA balanced mindMaking friends with the wiseReflection on profound truthTotal commitment

II. Dhammavicaya-Sambojjhanga (Investigation of the Dhamma)



This is the balanced mental effort that is generated while being mindful.

To see the impermanence of every thing and realise illusion.

III. Viriya-Sambojjhanga (effort, energy)



Patient enduranceSupport for the exhausted mindCourageous mindA heat that vaporizes defilementsDisadvantages of laziness and delights of freedomPersistenceWise attention is the cause of energyReflecting on states of miseryRemembering the Noble onesAppreciation for supportReceiving a Noble HeritageRemembering the Greatness of the BuddhaSeeking energetic friendsInclining the mind toward developing energy

III. Viriya-Sambojjhanga (effort, energy)



This is the interest and lack of boredom that arises due to seeing things as they really are.

It is often associated with a feeling of lightness, lifting of the body or a thrill of joy that can make hair on the body stand up.

Piti-Sambojjhanga (explosive deep joy, happiness)



Lightness and agility 輕快 , 輕安Five types of rapture depending degrees of joyWise attention causes raptureRemembering the virtues of the BuddhaRejoicing in the DharmaRejoicing in the virtues of the SanghaConsidering your own virtueRapture during an emergency or change of conditionRemembering your own generosityInclining the mind toward raptureSeeking refined people

Piti-Sambojjhanga (explosive deep joy, happiness)



With the arising of rapture, the mind becomes calm and peaceful. This is called tranquility.

To have a cool mind stabilised when facing extraordinary challenges (frightful or charming).

V. Passadhi-Sambojjhanga (tranquility, calmness)



Calming the mind and bodyExtracting heat from the mindNonagitationWise attention brings tranquilityProper food and good environmentComfortable postureNeither over enthusiasm nor sloppinessChoosing calm and kind friendsInclining the mind toward peacefulness

V. Passadhi-Sambojjhanga (tranquility, calmness)



With the arising of tranquility, the mind is not distracted and no longer wanders here and there but is aware of each object that appears in the mind. This is concentration.

Concentration: To focus on one point,

To gather all the power of the thoughts in one far behind the language expression.

To be one with the inner mind without help of reason.

VI. Samadhi-Sambojjhanga (concentration)



NonagitationFixed concentration and moving concentrationGathering the mindConcentration permits wisdom to ariseParenting your mindSteady attention causes concentrationCleanliness, balanced mind, clear mental image, uplifting

discouaged mind, calming overenthusiastic mind, cheering the mind that is withered by pain, continuous balanced awareness, choosing friends who are focused, reflecting on the peace of absorption, inclining the mind toward concentration

VI. Samadhi-Sambojjhanga (concentration)



With the arising of concentration, the mind sees each object in a detached and calm way.

It feels neither aversion to pain nor is it overpowered by pleasure but it is calmly and effortlessly observant of the impermanence, unsatisfactoriness or soullessness of every constituent of body and mind. This is called equanimity.

Not indifference, Not fatalism, But to realise the universal illusion and product of our six senses (the brain too). It is intuition of the ultimate truth.

VII. Upekkha-Sambojjhanga (equanimity)



Mediating the internal contest Faith balanced with intelligence, energy balanced with

concentration Neither excess nor lack A good driver just lets the horses pull Continuous mindfulness causes equanimity Balanced emotion toward all living thing Balanced emotion toward inanimate thing Avoiding people who go crazy Choosing friends who stay cool Inclining the mind toward balance Purifying our mental defects and physical illnesses Don’t forget liberation

VII. Upekkha-Sambojjhanga (equanimity)





Thevadava (the teachings of the elders, the most orthodox school of Buddhism)

Mahayana (great vehicle) Vajrayana (Vajrayana is as an extension of

Mahayana Buddhism)

Three Vehicles of Buddhism:



Three collections (Sankrit tripitaka 三藏 ): sūtra-piṭaka (sermons collection) 經 ( 經藏 ) vinaya-piṭaka (rules collection) 律 ( 律藏 ) abhidharma-piṭaka (philosophical treatises

collection) 論 ( 論藏 ). The three collections of the śrāvakas 聲聞藏

pratyekabuddhas 緣覺藏 and bodhisattvas 菩薩藏 — the three vehicles

Theravada Vehicle ( 南傳佛教 )Scriptures:



Vinaya Pitaka ( 律藏 ) Four-Part Vinaya ( 四分律 ) Five-part Vinaya (Mahīśāsaka Vinaya) 五分律 Ten Recitations Vinaya Sarvâstivāda vinaya 十

誦律 Collection of texts concerning the rules of conduct governing the daily

affairs within the Sangha

the Vinaya Pitaka also includes the stories behind the origin of each rule, providing a detailed account of the Buddha's solution to the question of how to maintain communal harmony within a large and diverse spiritual community.

Vinaya Pitaka ( 律藏 )



The collection of suttas, or discourses, attributed to the Buddha and a few of his closest disciples, containing all the central teachings of Theravada Buddhism. The suttas are divided among four nikayas.

Sutta Pitaka ( 經藏 )



Dīrghâgama 'long' works, cosmological; 長阿含經

Mādhyamâgama (middle-length) , metaphysical; 中阿含經

Saṃyuktâgama, general, on dhyāna, trance, etc. 雜阿含經

Ekôttarâgama, numerically arranged subjects. 增一阿含經 .

Four Āgama Sūtras ( 四阿含經 )



Abhidhamma Pitaka ( 阿毘達磨藏 the philosophical psychology of Buddhism)

The collection of texts in which the underlying doctrinal principles presented in the Sutta Pitaka are reworked and reorganized into a systematic framework that can be applied to an investigation into the nature of mind and matter.

Abhidhamma Pitaka ( 阿毘達磨藏 the philosophical psychology of Buddhism)



literally the "Greater Vehicle” and is associated with the oldest historical sect of Buddhism, the Mahāsāṃghika. It is called “great” because it involves very great motivation, a vast view, and enormous practice.

Mahayana Vehicle:



These are largely preserved in the Chinese Buddhist canon, the Tibetan Buddhist canon, and in extant Sanskrit manuscripts. Some six hundred Mahāyāna sutras have survived in Sanskrit or in Chinese and Tibetan translations

Scriptures:



(The Chinese Buddhist canon includes Āgama, Vinaya and Abhidharma texts from Early Buddhist schools, as well as the Mahāyāna sūtras and scriptures from Esoteric Buddhism. Currently, this is about 8416 volumes).

The Prajñāpāramitā sutras (like the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra, are considered fundamental by most Mahāyāna traditions).

Mahayana sutras:



Saddharma-pundarīka-sūtra; 妙法蓮華經 , the White Lotus Sutra (it is the main scripture for the Tien Tai school in China and the Nichiren schools in Japan)

Pure Land sutras The Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra The Avataṃsaka Sutra Tathāgatagarbha class sutras Agama sutras Mahāyāna Vaipulya scriptures ( 大乘方等經典 ) Commentaries (sastra): Yogacara The awakening of Mahayana faith Lucid Introduction to the One Hundred Dharmas ( 大乘百法明門論

)

Mahayana sutras:



Mahayana Buddhism is divided into two systems of thought: the Madhyamika and the Yogacara. The Madhyamikas were so called on account of the emphasis they laid on the middle view. Here, the middle path, stands for the non-acceptance of the two views concerning existence and nonexistence, eternity and non eternity, self and non-self. In short, it advocates neither the theory of reality nor that of the unreality of the world, but merely of relativity.

Mahayana Buddhism:



The Yogacara School is another important branch of the Mahayana. It was so called because it emphasised the practice of yoga (meditation) as the most effective method for the attainment of the highest truth (Bodhi). All the ten stages of spiritual progress of Bodhisattva hood have to be passed through before Bodhi can be attained.

Yogacara School:



Vajrayana is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle. Vajrayana is as an extension of Mahayana Buddhism since it differs in its practices, rather than its philosophy. The Mahayana has two practice paths: the Sutrayana method of perfecting good qualities and the Vajrayāna method of taking the intended outcome of Buddhahood as the path.

Vajrayana School



Tripitaka - the first Buddhist text to be translated into Tibetan.

Mahayana Sutras, especially those concerning Wisdom, the writings of Nagarjuna and his followers

Tantric text and Commentaries - Deals mainly with Ultimate Reality as singular Unity, and the union of world (male) and cosmos (female).

Vajrayana School – Scriptures:

Maitreya Buddhisattva彌勒菩薩

Namo Fo (Buddhaya) 南無佛

• Maitreya (Srt), Metteyya (Pāli), is foretold as a future Buddha of this world.

• He is referred as Ajita Bodhisattva in Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra

• Name literally means The Loving One - Bodhisattva Maitreya (Chin: Mileh-fo) is often depicted as a fat, laughing monk whose belly some considered auspicious to rub.

• He is also referred to as The Monk with the Cloth Bag.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhahood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitabha_Sutra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitabha_Sutra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Sutra

. Maitreya will be a successor of the historic Śākyamuni Buddha. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya references a time when the Dharma will have been forgotten on Jambudvipa (as the locus of human existence ) 閻浮洲, 贍部洲, 譫浮洲, and 南贍部洲.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambudvipa

http://www.buddhism-dict.net/cgi-bin/b95bb-6d6e-6d32

http://www.buddhism-dict.net/cgi-bin/b8d0d-90e8-6d32

http://www.buddhism-dict.net/cgi-bin/b8b6b-6d6e-6d32

http://www.buddhism-dict.net/cgi-bin/b5357-8d0d-90e8-6d32

• Maitreya currently resides in the Tuṣita Heaven , said to be reachable through meditation.

• Tuṣita (Skt) is one of the six deva-worlds of the Kāmadhātu (desire realm), located between the Yāma heaven and the Nirmāṇarati heaven.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tushita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tushita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_(Buddhism)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cosmology

Three principal scriptures of the Maitreya sect 彌勒三部經 :

• Contemplation of Maitreya Bodhisattva Ascending to the Tusita Heaven Sūtra

彌勒上生經• Contemplation of Sūtra on the Descent of Maitreya

彌勒下生經• Buddha pronounces the Sutra of Maitreya’s great

attainment of Buddha hood 佛說彌勒大成佛經

• He descends from Tusita heaven and takes birth in the city of Ketuma. He will rule over Ketuma Pure Land (associated with the Indian city of Varanasi).

• Maitreya Bodhisattva, seeing the evanescence and impermanence of the treasure platform, will know that all saṁskṛta dharmas will perish. Training Himself to remember impermanence, Maitreya Bodhisattva will praise past Buddhas as the cool nectar, with a stanza on impermanence:

All processes are impermanent,Which are the dharma of birth and death.Having ended birth and death,Nirvāṇa is delight!

• After speaking these verses, he renounces from family life to learn the way to Buddha hood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi

http://www.sutrasmantras.info/glossary.html


• He will renounce family life in the morning and, that evening, will subjugate the four kinds of māras and attain anuttara-samyak-saṁbodhi under Dragon-flower three. He will then speak in verse:

Long thinking of the suffering of sentient beingsAnd wanting to rescue them, I was unable to do so.Today I have attained bodhi.Suddenly, obstructions are no more.

I have verified the emptiness of sentient beingsAnd the true reality of their original nature.My sorrow and suffering nevermore,My lovingkindness and compassion are unconditional.



For the sake of rescuing you all,I have given to innumerable peopleMy kingdom, my head, my eyes,My hands, my feet, and my wife.

Beginning today are my liberationAnd the unsurpassed great silence and stillness.I will expound them to you allAnd widely open the Sweet Nectar Way.

Such fruition of great rewardIs all born from perfection in the six pāramitās,Such as almsgiving, observing precepts, and developing wisdom,And is acquired from great lovingkindness and compassionAs well as from untainted merit.

Three dragon-flower assembly 龍華 3 會 or three Maitreya’s assembly

(To preach the Buddha truth and deliberate the Sentient beings who have not been deliberated during Sakyamunia’s era)

• The first assembly teach the sentient beings who have taken 5 precepts.

• The second assembly teach s. who have taken the refuge in triple gem.

• The third assembly teach s.b. who have uttered the words “Namo Buddhaya” (means taking refuge in the Buddha).

Kalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning an aeon, or a relatively long period of time (by human calculation) in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.

• Maha-Kalpa – A great Kalpa or aeon. A great kalpa begin from the beginning of a universe till it is destroyed and another begins in its place. It has 4 periods:

• Creation or formation period.• The appearance of sun and moon, light and the period of

life, human and general. It is the continuation of the formed world

• Destruction period, first by earth, then water, then fire, then deluge then a great wind and world dissolution

• total destruction, gradually reaching the void.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_cosmology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cosmology

Five treatises of Maitreya The Dasabodhisatta-uddesa and Anagatavamsa both

give instructions on what people must do if they are to meet Buddha Metteyya.

• Practise three teachings (sasana): give gifts (dana), observe morality (sila), and cultivate development of the mind (bhavana).

• These three actions are the basis of meritorious action (punna). Through these actions a person can be assured of rebirth in the higher planes of existence

• Developing the mind leads to the temporary purity attained through the Jhana states. But it can also lead to insight (Vipassana) and true liberation.



www.ChamShanTemple.orgTom Cheung 張相棠Dennis A. Yap 葉普智Kam Cheung 張仁勤

Questions and Comments 討論



yuàn xiāo sān zhàng zhū fán năo

願消三障諸煩惱We wish to rid ourselves of the three hindrances and all klesas.

yuàn dé zhì huì zhēn míng lĭao

願得智慧真明了We wish to gain wisdom and real understanding.

pŭ yuàn zuì zhàng xī xiāo chú

普願罪障悉消除 We wish all sinful hindrances to be totally eradicated.

shì shì cháng xíng pú sà dào

世世常行菩薩道In one life after another we always follow Bodhisattvas’ paths.

回向Parinamana (Transfer of Merit)

Spiritual

20120908 factors of englightenment and maitreya buddha