5:7:2024 - Fourth Noble Truth • Mindfulness Meditation and Dharma Talk with Venerable De Hong.pptx

5/7/2024 - Fourth Noble Truth • Mindfulness Meditation and Dharma Talk with Venerable De Hong

1. Fourth Noble Truth Ven. De hong May 7, 2024

2. outline Starting 2024: The Four Noble Truths Jan. 2024: The First Noble Truth (last month) Feb. 2024: The Second Noble Truth & Craving/Addiction Mar. 2024: The Third Noble Truth & Buddhist Psychology Apr. 2024: The Fourth Noble Truth//8Fold Path Part I May 2024: The Fourth Noble Truth//8Fold Path Part II

3. Review—last month 8Fold Path Part I If you read the Buddha’s teaching and put it into practice , you will discover the long happiness that full knowledge of the truth can give you. Right View (Skillful Understanding): look at life through the lens of the Four Noble Truths (What are my stresses?; What are their root causes?; How do I bring an end to them?) Right Intention (Skillful Thinking): involves abandoning negative thoughts and replacing them with wholesome thoughts- letting go, loving-kindness, and compassion . Abandoning our habit of clinging to the people and the material things in our lives and to our ideas, beliefs, and opinions.

4. Review—last month 8Fold Path Part I When we fully understand both Right View and Right Intention, meditate, and apply both to our experiences. When we are able to figure out our suffering and its causes, we let go of what causes suffering, practice loving-kindness and compassion. We stop creating negative karma. That’s wisdom. That

5. The Fourth Noble Truth or The Eightfold Path Moral Compass Mental Clarity

6. The Eightfold Path Wisdom Skillful Understanding (Right View). Skillful Thinking (Right Intention) Morality (Moral Compass) Skillful Speech (Right Speech) Skillful Action (Right Action) Skillful Livelihood (Right Livelihood) Concentration (Mental Clarity) Skillful Effort (Right Effort) Skillful Mindfulness (Right Mindfulness) Skillful Concentration (Right Concentration)

7. Morality (Moral Compass) Right Speech “Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: this is called right speech.” SN 45.8 ( Samyutta Nikaya ) Guidelines from the Buddha: If he knew something was untrue, incorrect, or not beneficial, he would not say it. If he knew that something was true, correct, and beneficial, then he would speak. When his words were true, correct, beneficial, and timely, the Buddha spoke regardless of whether his words would be “unwelcome and disagreeable to others” or “welcome and agreeable to others.”

8. 5 Keys to Right Speech “ Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people. Which five? [1] It is spoken at the right time. [2] It is spoken in truth. [3] It is spoken affectionately. [4] It is spoken beneficially. [5] It is spoken with a mind of good-will.” AN 5.198 ( Anguttara Nikaya ) Good-will: Loving-kindness

9. Words are not weapons “The tongue is a boneless weapon trapped between teeth.” Malicious speech can be seen as a weapon. Even when what we say about someone is true, if its intent is to cause the person harm, it is malicious. Malicious speech destroys friendships or relationships We can disguise malicious speech as concern about another’s behavior: if your speech is to manipulate others or to gain someone’s appreciation or gratitude. Public speech can be malicious: tabloid newspapers, talk radio, or internet chat rooms. It knocks someone down to raise someone else up.

10. Speak softly Harsh language-verbal abuse, profanity, sarcasm, hypocrisy, excessively blunt or belittle criticism. It also includes slanderous talk, cruel gossip, lies and cruel or profane jokes. Every person who is born, is born with an ax in his mouth. A fool who uses abusive language, cuts himself and others with that ax. Samyutta nikaya 657 A computer can be considered as an ax. Harsh speech has destructive power on children. Children are traumatized by harsh speech from their parents. But children are nurtured by loving and caring speech.

11. Animals also feel the effect of harsh speech. Kind language is always appropriate and welcome. Speak kind words, words; rejoiced at and welcome; Words that bear ill will to none; always speak kindly to others. [ Samyutta nikaya 657] Speaking our praise and appreciation increases the happiness of everyone involved. Soft words help children flourish and grow up with a positive feeling of self-worth. There is no limit to the amount of joy we can spread to those around us if we speak with kindness and skill. Soft words must be sincere and motived by a noble purpose. Speaking gently and kindly while thinking or doing the opposite is hypocrisy, not virtue.

12. Avoid useless chatter Gossip, foolish or meaningless talk. Gossip about others is a problem regardless of whether what we say about someone is true. Human nature is such that we tend to believe whatever we hear first, even though it is just one person’s version. Gossip leads to quarrels and misunderstanding. It can break up relationships and lead to lawsuits for libel or defamation. Rumors can be used as weapons. People use rumors to whisper insinuations and rely upon others’ willingness to engage in careless talk to do their dirty work. When we hear gossips, we have to two choices: either we end the conversation or we discourage the person from speaking negatively. All unnecessary speech is harmful.

13. Self-purification thru chosen speech Abandoning false speech, abstains from false speech.  Abandoning divisive speech he abstains from divisive speech.  Abandoning abusive speech, he abstains from abusive speech.  Abandoning idle chatter, he abstains from idle chatter.

14. More on Right S peech Right Speech by Thanissaro Bhikkhu https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-vaca/index.html

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16. Morality (Moral Compass) Right Action The five Buddhist precepts/Five mindfulness trainings Abstain from killing Abstaining from stealing Abstaining from speaking falsely Abstaining from sexual misconduct Abstaining from misusing alcohol and other intoxicants https://plumvillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-Five-Mindfulness-Trainings-pdf.pdf

17. Ethical action shifts our focus from what we personally want to what will most benefit us and others. The clarity of mind helps us to make ethical choices and to progress on the enlightenment path. [1] Abstain from killing: He inclination to harm or hurt other living beings arises out of hatred or fear. Mindfulness helps us to recognize our own aversion and to take responsibility for them. Abstaining from killing makes the mind peaceful and free from hatred and to embrace actions motivated by generosity and compassion. Our respect for life grows and we act with compassion toward all living beings.

18. [2] Abstain from stealing: it means making an effort to be honest and to respect the property of others. Taking credit for someone’s ideas is also stealing-cheating on income taxes, writing bad checks, taking bribes, & engaging in fraudulent business practices. Happiness requires peace of mind and a clear conscience. We become less envious of others’ wealth or good fortune. Further, we discover appreciative joy and rejoice in other’s happiness.

19. [3] one should abstain from abuse of all the senses. Sexual misconduct is one particularly damaging form of sensual abuse. Sexual misconduct: rape, manipulate someone into having sex against their wishes, sex with minors, animals, someone’s spouse or partner, someone protected by parents or guardians. Having sex with an appropriate and consenting adult partner is not sexual misconduct. Lust can never be completely satisfied. The wish to fulfill desires does not go away. Lust cannot be eased by fulfilling it physically. Curing this condition requires much restraint.

20. [4] A bstain from false speech: just covered. [5] Abstain from intoxicants: The B uddha said to avoid alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants because they cause “negligence, infatuation, and heedlessness.” Careful use of painkilling drugs and other narcotics prescribed by a doctor does not violate the prohibition. Nor does occasional, light use of alcohol, such as a glass of win. We must use common sense (be very mindful). Else it can cause you to lose your sense of decency, your moral principles, and your inhibitions. In the end you are left swallowing in misery and wondering why all these bad things happen to you. The best cure for addiction to intoxicants is not to use them in the first place.

21. Cautions for traumatized individuals Vulnerable to substance use such as Alcohol Tobacco, vaping All forms of drug use: marijuana, cocaine, opioids, meth, etc. Porn  sex addiction Gambling Food Shopping

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23. Morality (Moral Compass) Right Livelihood Working at a job that harms others is wrong in itself because it violates moral principles. We can avoid jobs that obstruct our spiritual progress. Moral injury is the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass  when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct. https://moralinjuryproject.syr.edu/about-moral-injury/

24. First, what’s your occupation? The Buddha stated that jobs involving weapons, poisons, or killing are definitely wrong livelihood: research and development of chemical and biological weapons, manufacturing and selling insecticides, designing computer guidance systems for missiles, and profiting from sweatshop labor; even writing for a tabloid newspaper, working for a radio talk show with hateful speech, certain violent sports, casino gambling centers, black-market or illegal transactions, fraud, extortion, white-collar crimes, damage your own health, and selling drugs.

25. Second, does my job lead me to break the five moral precepts? If your job passes the first question, then consider if working on this job would break any of the five precepts of skillful action. We are talking about ethics of our occupation. The ethics of a particular workplace can turn an acceptable job into the wrong livelihood: greed (money), hatred (vengeance), or ignorance. Any good job or profession can be made corruption. You just have to be mindful of your actions and their consequences (beneficial or harmful to all parties involved).

26. Finally, are there are aspects of my job that disturb me and keep my mind from settling down? If an occupation passes the first and second tests, you have to reflect on other factors that might impede your spiritual progress. This is complicated and requires some consideration. The best way to determine this is to consider the job’s effect on your mind (coworkers, clients, harmful products…). We must use common sense and our understanding of the buddha’s teachings to figure out what is right. This is from your practice of mindfulness meditation (wisdom). Moral principles do count. You don't want to take part in or support actions that are unethical. The attitude of indifference to moral outrage is also immoral.

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28. Loving-kindness practice Mental ability to wish yourself well, healthy and happy. Or t houghts of goodwill (per Thanissaro Bhikkhu) The antidote to anger and hatred. Mental training of the mind. May I be healthy. May I know how to take care of my physical health. May I be happy. May I find joy and happiness from within. May I let go of anger, ill will, resentment, and hatred. May I be kind and loving to myself.

29. Meditation practices Breathing Meditation (July 2023)  Body Scan (Aug. 2023) Sense Door Practice (Sept. 2023)  Window of Tolerance (Oct. 2023) Concentration meditation (Nov. 2023)  Mindfulness of Feelings (Dec. 2023) Gratitude (Mar. 2024)  Loving-kindness (Apr. 2024)

30. Transfer of merits May the merits of this class and everyone’s practice benefit all sentient beings everywhere!