TEACHING

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS (Catur ariya Satya)

Catur: four; ariya: holy; Satya: truth

1. Dukkha ariya satyani, the Noble Truth of suffering (dissatisfaction, pain, anguish). Birth, sickness, ageing, death, to be apart from the loved ones, to be among people we don't like, not having what we wish, and the unbalance between body and mind, these are the 8 sufferings described by the Buddha.
2. Samudaya ariya satyani, the Noble Truth of the cause (dukkha is caused basically by greed, anger and ignorance). Dissatisfaction is caused by attachments, because the attachment results in anger, attachment is also ignorance as it means regarding a "self" separated from the "others".
3. Nirodha ariya satyani, the Noble Truth of the extinction of the causes (the causes of dukkha can be uprooted).
4. Marga ariya satyani, the Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the extinction of the dukkha's causes, it's called Aryashtanga Marga, Holy Eightfold Path or Noble Eightfold Path, and it's composed by:

1. Right understanding (Samyak Drsti): to understand the Four Noble Truth and this Path.
2. Right thoughts (Samyak Sankappa): are the thoughts free from sensual desire (Nekkhamma), free from cruelty (avihimsa), and free from ill will (avyapada).
3. Right speech (Samyak Vaci): not to lie, not to use harsh speech, not to gossip and not to talk idly.
4. Right actions (Samyak Karmanta): not to kill, not to steal, not to misuse the sex, and not to take intoxicants.
5. Right livelihood (Samyak Ajiva): not to work as a butcher, not to trade weapons, not to trade poisons, not to trade drugs or toxic drinks, and not to trade human beings.
6. Right effort (Samyak Vayama): these are the four efforts which tend to: avoid the evil before it appears, overcome the evil already appeared, to develop the good that hasn't appeared yet, and to keep the good that is already present.
7. Right mindfulness (Samyak Sati): mindfulness to the body, feelings, mind and mind objects.
8. Right meditation (Samyak Samadhi): is the meditation oriented to the utmost liberation of the three roots of suffering.

The 6 Perfections (Paramitas)

1. Dana Paramita: to give. Traditionally is the practice of giving to those in need of: food, shelter and medicines. We can also give spiritual support, to help guide, to listen to those who need to be heard, to offer our company, and so on. There are three levels: Simple Paramita, for instance to give money or food. Upa Paramita: to give something more difficult to do, for instance donating an eye or a kidney. Paramatha Paramita: to give the life in order to save other's life, for instance the fire-fighter who risks his life to save people in danger. These three levels apply to all the Paramitas.

2. Sila Paramita: The practice of the Precepts. Not to kill, not to steal, not to lie, not to misuse the sex, not to take substances that cloud the mind. Sila means literally "discipline". Through this practice we freed ourselves from anxiety. For instance, a person who lies always fears to be caught by others.

3. Kshanti Paramita: Patience. Is the practice of standing quietly any hardship. In a former life, Shakyamuni Buddha patiently underwent that King Kalijara cut his limbs one by one, without fostering anger or resentment.

4. Viriya Paramita: Energy or determination. To devote fully to anything we do, from the beginning to the end.

5. Dhyana Paramita: Meditation or contemplative absortion.

6. Prajña Paramita: Wisdom. Wisdom doesn't mean to increase intellectual knowledge, but rather the actual practice of the teachings. If we know that greed is a source of suffering, and yet we continue being greedy, then there is no wisdom. If we give up greed, that's wisdom. And the same principle is true for all the Buddha's teachings. Wisdom means to practice them.

FOUR GREAT VOWS

1. Living beings are countless; I vow to take them all across.

2. Afflictions are inexhaustible; I vow to eliminate them all.

3. Dharma-doors are innumerable; I vow to learn to enter them all.

4. The Way of the Buddhas is unsurpassed; I vow to realize it.

THE THREE REFUGES

Namo Buddhaya

Namo Dharmaya

Namo Sanghaya

Buddham saranam gacchami

Dhammam saranam gacchami

Sangham saranam Gacchami

I take refuge in the Buddha

I take refuge in the Dharma

I take refuge in the Sangha