Nagarjuna
(c. 150-250 AD)
(Part 1)
The Fundamentals of the Middle Way (Mulamadhyamaka-Karika)
(Text, pp. 77-98)
Background
The Rise and Development of Buddhism
Indian Religion in the 6th & 5th centuries BC
Brahmins - priestly ritual religion
Hinduism
Sannyasins (wandering monks) renunciation & yoga Yoga combined with extreme asceticism & nonviolence
Jainism
The Buddha
Birth (563-483 BC) Youth Marriage & parenthood The Four Passing Sights (aging, sickness, death, renunciation) The Great Renunciation The Great Going Forth The Great Enlightenment The Great Ministry The Great Decease
Siddhartha Gautama
The Three Refuges (Jewels)
o o o
The Buddha The Dharma (teachings, doctrine) The Sangha (the Order)
The Teachings of the Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
Preface to the Four Noble Truths: The Middle Path
Two extremes to be avoided: (1) Hedonism (2) Asceticism
This Middle Path is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration . . . . By avoiding these two extremes, we discover a Middle Path, a path which opens the eyes, which bestows understanding, and which leads to peace of mind, to wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana.
1. The Noble Truth of Suffering
Birth is suffering, aging and deterioration is suffering, disease is suffering, death is suffering. The presence of hateful objects is suffering; the absence of lovable objects is suffering; not getting what we desire [i.e., getting what we don’t want and not getting what we do want] is suffering. To put it briefly, the fivefold clinging [attachment] to existence [through the body, sensation, consciousness, perception, and volition -the five skandhas or components of human personhood] is suffering.
2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
The cause is the selfish craving [tanha, “thirst,” “desire”] that leads to rebirth and which is accompanied by lust for pleasure, seeking satisfaction now here, now there. This selfish craving takes three main forms: (a) craving for pleasure, (b) craving for [continued] existence, and (c) craving for non-existence.*
*Some traditions make (c) a craving for prosperity or for personal happiness.
3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfish craving – a cessation which consists in the absence of every passion [nirvana, “no passion,” the “blowing out” of tanha]. Suffering ceases with the laying aside of, the giving up of, the being free from, the dwelling no longer upon this selfish craving.
4. The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the cessation of suffering
It is the Noble Eightfold Path, that is to say, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold Path
Wisdom (prajna)
Right views (Samma ditthi) Right intent (Samma sankappa) Right speech (Samma vaca) Right conduct (Samma kammanta) Right livelihood (Samma ajiva) Right effort (Samma vayama) Right mindfulness (Samma sati) Right concentration (Samma samadhi)
Morality (sila)
Meditation (samadhi)
(Eightfold Path, continued)
1. Right Views
The Four Noble Truths The doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman)
– Transitoriness (anicca): impermanence – The Five Components or Aggregates (skandhas) of human personhood – Interdependent Origination
Karma & Samsara (rebirth) Nirvana (what is it?)
(No-self, cont’d)
The Five Components (skandhas) of personhood
Body (rupa)
Person
Sensation (vedana) Consciousness (vinnana) Perception (sanna) Volition (sankhara)
Mind (nama)
(No-self, cont’d)
The doctrine of
Interdependent Origination
(Paticca Samuppada) The interdependence & relativity of all things
(See Nagarjuna, Ch 26, pp. 97-98)
11. Birth
12. Aging & Dying
1. Ignorance
Heaven
2. Impulse to Exist
10. Becom- Human Realm ing
3. Demon ConRealm sciousGreed ness Delusion 4. 9. Hatred Hungry MindCling- Animal Ghost Realm Body ing Realm 8. Six 5. Hell Craving Senses 6. 7. Sensations Contact
(Eightfold Path, continued)
2. Right Intent
(Resolution)
Right intent or resolution is the intent or resolution to live & act in accordance with right views.
(Eightfold Path, continued)
3. Right Speech
No lying No slander No harsh or rude talk No profanity No impolite or abusive language No idle or foolish chatter
Strive to use language meaningfully & usefully Learn to maintain “noble silence”
(Eightfold Path, continued)
4. Right Conduct
No harming & killing No stealing No lying & deceitfulness No sexual immorality No use of intoxicants
The Five Precepts (for everybody) & the Ten Precepts (for monks & nuns)
Eat moderately & not after noon. Stay away from dancing, singing, & dramatic spectacles. Do not use garlands, scents, unguents, or ornaments. Do not use high or broad beds. Do not accept gold or silver (money in general?).
(Eightfold Path, continued)
5. Right Livelihood
(Vocation)
Choose professions that promote life, peace, & spiritual progress (especially life in the Sangha).
Specifically prohibited professions: poison peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher, manufacturer & trader of liquor & other intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader, tax collector, caravan trader.
(Eightfold Path, continued)
6. Right Effort
(purification of the mind)
Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind from arising Getting rid of such states of mind that may already exist Bringing about good & wholesome state of mind Developing & perfecting good & wholesome states of mind that are already present
7. Right Mindfulness
Focusing of attention on:
Activities of the body (breathing, walking, sitting, eating, heartbeat, etc.) Feelings (anger, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, etc.) States of mind (thoughts, ideas, etc.) Ways of conceptualizing things (the Four Noble Truths, the Wheel of Becoming, etc.)
(Eightfold Path, continued)
8. Right Concentration
One-pointed concentration and 1 Detachment from all sense objects & the four absorptions: from negative states of mind; thought
processes accompanied by joy 2 Cessation of all mental activities; internal calm, peace of mind, joy to the point of great elation 3 Cessation of all passions & prejudices; continued sense of joy 4 Cessation of joy; total tranquillity & equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship)
Preliminary concentration on the Four Sublime Moods: love, compassion, cheerfulness, & impartiality
Four Stages of Advancement along the Noble Eightfold Path
1 Belief in permanent self 2 Doubt 3 Belief in religious rituals 4 Sensual craving 5 Ill will 6 Desire for rebirth in worlds of form 7 Desire for rebirth in formless realms 8 Pride 9 Self-righteousness 10 Ignorance of the true nature of things