Year 1: Buddhism

What is Buddhism and Why is it in the Program? Year 1 Date Updated: May 13 2021 Introduction ψ  Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that addresses as a religion a set more, rules, principles, and ethics that serve to…

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What is Buddhism and Why is it in the Program?

Year 1

Date Updated: May 13 2021

Introduction

ψ  Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that addresses as a religion a set more, rules, principles, and ethics that serve to guide one’s daily living choices.  As a philosophy, it is a wider picture which addresses metaphysics, knowledge, truth, and the meaning of life.  (http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/religion-miscellaneous/difference-between-philosophy-and-religion/#ixzz6uoI1WBjT)  It originated in eastern and central Asia and stems from the teaching of the last Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama from India,  and the teaching of his predecessors, which espouse wisdom, virtue, happiness and compassion.  During the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, Buddhism spreading through much of Asia.

Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on the Buddha’s teachings (born Siddhartha Gautama in the 5th or 4th century BCE) and resulting interpreted philosophies. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravāda (Pali: “The School of the Elders”) and Mahayana (Sanskrit: “The Great Vehicle”).

It has become the world’s fourth-largest religion with over 520 million followers, and 7% of the global population. And thee are probably main reasons for its popularity.  They are:

1.  It is a family tradition with holidays and religious precepts that bring harmony into the core family unit and extends out to the community.
2. Buddhist precepts are practical and realistic for creating a joyful, peaceful life with less suffering.
3. Emotional encouragement for social relationships are fundamental with kindness and compassion as choices and skills that can be developed with practice.
4. Buddhism provides two major legs of lifestyle choices which are the Ascetic, and the Mainstream person.  This gives the person choices without guilt of materialism.
5. As a Buddhist the person has Choice, Accountable and No Authority of a teacher unless they actively seek one and there is no intermediary to heaven or hell.
6.  There were no religious wars to force people to convert to Buddhism or relating to power struggles.  Everyone has choice.
7.  There are no mandatory beliefs that a “good Buddhist” should follow.
8. Men and women are treated and regarded equally and have the same choices as to the direction, speed, and quality of their Enlightenment.
9. There is no punishment for leaving the fold in Buddhism.
10. It is not a faith teaching and everyone starts at the same place but finishes based upon their desires and energies to transform/grow/evolve into being fully & completely Enlightened.
11. You ae encouraged to question everything and use only that which feels real to you of the teaching.

The Purpose of Buddhism in Psionic Circles

In Buddhism, Buddha (/ˈbuːdə, ˈbʊdə/), means “awakened one,” and it means that the person has attained nirvana and Buddhahood.  The highest spiritual state of being is termed Samyaksaṃbodhi (Full complete Awakening).  The title is  used for other beings who have achieved bodhi (awakening), such as the other human Buddhas who achieved enlightenment before Gautama, the five celestial Buddhas worshiped primarily in Mahayana, and the bodhisattva named Maitreya, who will achieve enlightenment in the future and succeed Gautama Buddha as the supreme Buddha of the world.

In our studies we will learn the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths: the goal of Buddhism is to overcome suffering (duḥkha) caused by desire and ignorance of reality’s true nature, including impermanence (anicca) and the non-existence of the self (anattā).  Most Buddhist traditions emphasize transcending the individual self through the attainment of Nirvana or by following the path of Buddhahood, ending the cycle of death and rebirth.  During this year we will take a prescribed pathway to understanding these Noble Truths.  The essence of the Noble Truths is around suffering.  What it is?  Why it is?  How to overcome it?

We will spend more time on the Noble Eightfold Path.  The Noble Eightfold Path (Pali: ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga; Sanskrit: āryāṣṭāṅgamārga)[1] is an summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth in the form of nirvana.  The Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi (‘meditative absorption or union’).

In early Buddhism, these practices started with understanding that the body-mind works in a corrupted way (right view), followed by entering the Buddhist path of self-observance, self-restraint, and cultivating kindness and compassion; and culminating in dhyana or samadhi, which reinforces these practices for the development of the body-mind.

As we learn to incorporate the teaching of the Noble Truths along with the Noble Paths we will then contain our morality, with the practice of meditation and insight. This keeps us on the right path so that our Soul and Spirit open up in a healthy way giving us joy and pleasure in life for ourselves and our families and friends.

Mastery of these lead to the Paramitas (perfections, or virtues).  This is the complete opening of our Souls and their magical and mystical gifts.

BENEFITS OF A PSION STUDYING BUDDHISM

1.  Mental Health Benefits Of Buddhism
   Develops ethics, mindfulness, dedications to charity and community.  Calm demeanor Insight and a liberating wisdom
   Endorses widespread inquiry through knowledge, discourses, ancient texts, dialogue, diverse methods and environments
   Recognition of the importance of solitary practice  in various locations including: caves or forest

2.  Physical Health Benefits Of Buddhism
Cultivate good physical habits and virtues of the body.
Stress free body
Elimination of disease
Perfect harmony and function of organs
Mastery of the body.
Social Well-being Benefits
Easier to get along with
Kind hearted and compassionate
Balanced in groups
Social
Leadership qualities

3.  Spiritual Well-being Benefits
Recognition of the five domains for consciousness – heaven, human, animal, hungry ghost and hell – dependently arising on causes and conditions.
Explores relative/ultimate truth.
Ends rebirth (rebecoming, renewal) of the ego, of personality issues.

Buddhism, creates physical, emotional, and mental relaxation and thus social flexibility.  This functions as an operational ability and manifests as Enlightenment.  The more you practice and work corporately with your soul, and spirit the better your agility.  Your first year is about perfecting your mental character.      Buddhism cultivates a strategic ability that enables long-term vision and the culmination and completion of the vision.   You are becoming Enlightened.

For your teaching papers and materials please see your package that has been mailed out to you.

Thank you for reading!

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