Key points of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
In short:
- 1. Suffering exists
- 2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
- 3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
- 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path
Noble Eightfold Path
Three Qualities (the eight aspects of the path can be grouped into three qualities as follows)
- Wisdom (panna)
- a. Right View
- b. Right Thought
- Morality (sila)
- a. Right Speech
- b. Right Action
- c. Right Livelihood
- Meditation (samadhi)
- a. Right Effort
- b. Right Mindfulness
- c. Right Contemplation or concentration or meditation
Three Jewels
- Buddha
- Dharma
- Sangha (the three jewels explained)
Three Characteristics of Existence
- 1. Transiency (anicca)
- 2. Sorrow (dukkha)
- 3. Selflessness (anatta)
Five Aggregates (skandhas)
- 1. Form (rupa) is made up of
- earth
- water
- fire
- wind
- 2. Feeling (vedana) is one of
- pleasant,
- unpleasant
- neutral
- 3. Perception (samjna) is related to the six external objects
- 4. Volition (samskara) is the response of the will to the six external objects
- 5. Consciousness (vijnana) grasps the characteristics of
the six external objects
- Visual consciousness
- Auditory consciousness
- Olfactory consciousness
- Gustatory consciousness
- Tactile consciousness
- Mental consciousness
Five Hindrances
- Sensuous lust
- Aversion and ill will
- Sloth and torpor
- Restlessness and worry
- Skeptical doubt
Seven Factors of Enlightment
- Mindfulness
- Investigation
- Energy
- Rapture
- Tranquillity
- Concentration
- Equanimity
- Perfections (paramis)
- Generosity (dana)
- Morality (sila)
- Renunciation (nekkhamma)
- Wisdom (panna)
- Energy (viriya)
- Patience (khanti)
- Truthfulness (sacca)
- Resolution (adhitthana)
- Loving-Kindness (metta)
- Equanimity (upekkha)
Four Boundless States
The boundless states or brahmaviharas are considered friends on the way to Nirvana. They help in dissolving the idea of a separate self.
- Loving kindness
- Compassion
- Sympathetic Joy
- Equanimity
In the below table, the "NearEnemy" is a quality that can masquerade as the original, but is not theoriginal. The Far Enemy is the clearly opposite quality.
Pali |
English |
Description |
Near Enemy |
Far Enemy or Antidote for |
| metta | loving kindness | good-will, friendship, unconditional love for all beings | selfish love | hatred |
| karuna | compassion empathy | to feel with someone instead of for someone | pity | cruelty |
| mudita | sympathetic joy | spontaneous joy in response to others success | hypocrisy | envy |
| upekkha | equanimity | even-mindedness based on insight into the nature of things | indifference | anxiety |
Ten Fetters of Existence
- Self-delusion
- Doubt
- Clinging to Ritual
- Sensuous Lust
- Ill Will
- Greed for Fine Material Existence
- Greed for Immaterial Existence
- Conceit
- Restlessness
- Ignorance