Hangers

Hanger 1

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him."

A) How does the quote above incorporate the message behind the ideal Buddhist?

• A Buddhist seeks to follow dharma, the sacred teachings and philosophy of the Buddha.

• The passage suggests that acts of "pain" and "happiness" will follow one into the next life, insinuating to samsara, the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth.

• Sila, the ethical and moral conduct of Buddhists, is called into context when the importance of acting with morality and kindness is mentioned in the passage.

B) Define the term punya and how it relates to the text.

• Punya is usually described as virtue or holiness

• It is usually sought after in hopes of creating more positive karma in one's life and following the teachings of the Buddha

• It is found in the text when "acts of pure thought" and "happiness" are mentioned.

• Because incorporating punya in daily life leads to positive karma, one is more likely to have a better life in the cycle of samsara.

• Acts of evil thought refer to the opposite of punya, which can be known as tanha, the desire, thirst or craving that is usually associated with selfish desires. This is the second of the four noble truths.

• Those who wish to reach nirvana must follow the eightfold path, pursuing a life in accordance with Buddha's teachings and living with "pure thought" and "happiness".

• Karma is believed be a "shadow that never leaves", in other words it is an ever-present force that is determined by past actions. i.e. Negative actions will attract negative karma and vice versa.

Hanger 2

"... finished is birth, lived is pure life, what should be done is done, nothing more is left to be done."

a) What is the word that describes the concept of the quote?

• arhat, which refers to a person who is fully enlightened

• they are free from all impurities

• the word is translated as "one who has nothing more to learn"

• for Theravada Buddhism, the arhat becomes an enlightened one and experience nirvana (through the Eightfold Path)

• for Mahayana Buddhism, the attainment of nirvana by an arhat is different than achievement of the buddha

b) What is dharma and how does it get one to the point described in the quote?

• The dharma is the law or elements of existence.

• The Eightfold Path is "the way to salvation. It provides guidance on how to overcome desire/thirst/craving.

• The Eightfold Path provides the way in which one should think and behave, providing the wisdom to get to this fully enlightened state.

• The Four Noble Truths are also a way to salvation.

• The Four Noble Truths promote contemplation and self-discipline.

• The self is the cause of all suffering, and that is why the way to get liberation from suffering is to attain a state of not-self, which is anatta.

• This is all because this "immortality" of the fully enlightened/state of salvation does not mean the continuation of individual existence.