Heart Sutra and Buddhism : Buddha's Teaching

心经 Heart Sutra

观自在菩萨，行深般若波罗蜜多时。照见五蕴皆空，渡一切苦厄。舍利子，色不异空，空不异色，色即是空，空即是色，受想行识，亦复如是。舍利子，是诸法空相，不生不灭，不垢不净，不增不减。是故空中无色，无受想行识，无眼耳鼻舌身意，无色声香味触法，无眼界，乃至无意识界。无无明，亦无无明尽，乃至无老死，亦无老死尽。无苦集灭道，无智亦无得。以无所得故，菩提萨埵，依般若波罗蜜多故，心无罣礙，无罣礙故，无有恐怖，远离顚倒梦想，究竟涅槃。三世诸佛，依般若波罗蜜多故，得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。故知般若波罗蜜多，是大神呪，是大明呪，是无上呪，是无等等呪，能除一切苦，眞实不虚。故说般若波罗蜜多呪，卽说呪曰：揭谛揭谛，波罗揭谛，波罗僧揭谛，菩提萨婆诃。

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Buddha's Teaching

The essence of the Buddha's teaching is The Four Noble Truths as shown below.

1) Understanding of suffering (dukkha)

2) Understanding of the origin of suffering is due to greed, hatred and ignorance

3) Understanding of the ending of suffering

4) The path leading to the ending of suffering is the Noble Eightfold path.

Noble Eightfold path

1) Right view (come first- Understand the Four Noble Truths)

2) Right thought( To get rid of three poisons- greed hatred and ignorance)

3) Right Speech (No false speech/No divisive speech)

4) Right Action (Avoid harming of life, alcohol and sexual misconduct)

5) Right Livelihood

6) Right Effort (Be diligent in the practice of Noble Eightfold path)

7) Right Mindfulness (Be aware of your thoughts, be contemplative )

8) Right Concentration (Meditation)

You can read more on the Noble Eightfold path from Access to Insight.

Before Buddha parinirvana, he again reminded his disciples of the Noble Eightfold path on the path of liberation from samsara. His last words to the monks,"All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!" Besides the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path, Buddha also taught the precepts, the 12 Dependent Origination, five aggregates of attachment and the six sense basis. Craving for sensual pleasure lead to endless rebirth.

If others teach otherwise like burning of paper houses or indulging in alcohol or sex, then it is not the teaching of Buddha.