Lesson 8: The Fourth Noble Truth – The Buddhist Path
Instructions:
We’ll begin with Readings from Peter’s book about the basics of the Buddhist Path and then continue on with Chogyam Trungpa’s book. Note: You can also download the lesson’s investigations and exercises in the tab above.
Readings:
Book required: The Truth of Suffering and the Path of liberation
Chapters 5, 6 and 7 from The Tree of Enlightenment by Peter Della Santina. – download links for these available below. The Truth of Suffering and the Path of liberation by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Morality
Reading
Download and read Chapter Five, Morality in The Tree of Enlightenment by Peter Della Santina.
Investigations
Why do you think that equality is emphasised as the key principle for morality in Buddhism?
Can you provide an example of how the body could be an impediment to one’s mental development?
Considering the previous lessons in this manual, what do you think is the most important aspect of morality?
Exercise
The steps for morality are:
Right speech | Right action | Right livelihood
Let’s imagine a scenario through a Fairy Tale or Folklore. Write one page or research a Fairy Tale or Folklore that embarks on a journey that incorporates right speech action and livelihood in adversity. Do you think an enlightened life needs a happy ending?
Mental development
Reading
Download and read Chapter 6: Mental Development in The Tree of Enlightenment by Peter Della Santina
Investigations
‘The Buddha himself put this very clearly when he said that the mind is the source of all things and that all things are created by the mind’ p.75 – in what way do you feel that the mind is the key to freedom?
We might even say that ‘right effort’ is the practical application of confidence – How do you feel this may be so?
The end of distraction is the point of mindfulness. Why do you feel that distraction is a problem?
How do you think concentration helps with mindfulness?
Exercise
The three steps to mental development are:
Right effort | Right mindfulness | Right concentration
Let’s take this playfully out into the world and explore: Firstly, write down a circle with spokes that has effort, mindfulness, and concentration and in the middle put a picture of you in meditation. After your sitting practice choose the following: A morning e.g. Wednesday and a time between 10am to Midday.
Apply how you experience them in your daily activity. This could be on the train, walking to get groceries, waiting to be served in a shop etc. Notice right effort in sitting and being in the world, right mindfulness in sitting and out into the world, and concentration in being in meditation and out into the world.
Wisdom
Reading
Download and read Chapter 7: Wisdom in the Tree of Enlightenment by Peter Della Santina
Investigations
‘Wisdom is described as the understanding of the Four Noble Truths, the Three Universal Characteristics – what else during your progress through this course do you think belongs in the realm of wisdom?
How would you describe seeing beneath the surface of things, and what teaching so far, aid in seeing beneath the surface of things?
How do you understand renunciation as described by the author (P.94)?
Exercise
The two steps to Wisdom are:
Right understanding (or, right view) |Right thought
Stepping back to the candle exercise:
Time yourself for at least 10 minutes by observing lighting and blowing out a candle. Can you recognise its interdependent nature? In this exercise can you recognise its essential nature of the wisdom of right view and right thought?
The Doubtless Path
Reading:
From your book, read Chapter 9: The Doubtless Path in The Path of Liberation and the Truth of Suffering by Chogyam Trungpa
Investigations
Do you feel following a path is important? Why/Why not?
Why is applying the understanding of impermanence important, particularly concerning eternity?
Why would both eternalism and nihilism be a misperception?
Trungpa Rinpoche points out that the big mistakes are ‘waiting to be saved’, ‘wanting to bliss out’, or ‘wanting to indulge’ … why do you think he emphasises these three?
Exercise
Write down: If only I had… If only I felt… Once you’ve written as much as you want, cut all the individual words or sentences, and next time you meditate, put them all around you, imagine yourself as a rock as you sit, and the cut-outs are all an aspect of you. Let your awareness encompass them and see if you can add some clearing and clarity between sitting and noticing them. You can even play with the words by putting them close to you, crowding in on you and then placing them in another room. Note what you experience in this exercise.
Next:
Read Chapter 10 The Five Paths in The Path of Liberation and the Truth of Suffering by Chogyam Trungpa:
Write down the main points that Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche makes in this Chapter.
Congratulations, you have now completed lesson 8, and Section 3 Click on next below to proceed to the Section 3 Assessment.