Buddhist Teachings

Living a Richer Life: Lessons in Enlightenment from a Buddhist Teacher

• The secret to extending life is not by adding more years, but by expanding the fullness of each moment.
• Enlightenment can happen suddenly or gradually, and as a teacher, it's difficult to describe the path without causing problems or a lack of motivation.
• Shingon is a Japanese version of Vajrayana Buddhism, with a common ancestor in late Indian Buddhism.
• The initial Zen concentration practice of breath counting can lead to the experience of zammai, the first stage of samadhi.
• Any positive state experienced during silent sitting practice should be attained in ordinary life.
• Traditional Shinto shamanic practice involves exposure to extreme cold, designed to keep a person in some degree of samadhi at all times.
• Cold-water purification can be used as a biofeedback device to maintain concentration and lessen distress.
• The International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles offers mindfulness, Zen, and Tantra practices.
• The Mahasi lineage emphasizes the power of the noting method in mindfulness practice.
• The U Ba Khin lineage highlights the importance of body sensation in psychospiritual growth.
• The text references Philip Kapleau's book, The Three Pillars of Zen, which includes testimonials of sudden enlightenment experiences.
• Living with richness and enlightenment can make the inevitability of death less problematic.

Introduction to Hindu Philosophy and Darśanas

• Islamic philosophy is not included in the discussion of Asian philosophies due to its roots in the Hellenic tradition.
• Ṛg Veda 10.129 marks the beginning of the Indian sceptical tradition and the belief in the existence of God.
• The Upaniṣads were written as appendages to different Vedas and were passed down through the ancient practice of sitting near a teacher.
• Āstika and nāstika are the two categories of philosophical schools and religious traditions that regard the Vedas as authoritative or not.
• Later writings after the Upaniṣads are classified as śmrti, meaning "memory," as they contain what has been remembered and passed down by the community.
• The six āstika darśanas are Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṁsā, and Vedānta, each providing a distinctive philosophical perspective through systematic reflection on the Vedas.
• Nyāya and Vaiśeṣika form the "empirico-logical" strand of Hindu culture and are the most analytic of the āstika schools.
• Sāṁkhya and Yoga are the philosophical expression of the pursuit of pure consciousness and seek liberation through dualistic discrimination and classical yoga practices.
• Mīmāṁsā and Vedānta are grounded in an interpretation of the Vedas and provide distinctive perspectives on Vedic exegesis and the end of the Vedas, respectively.
• The Cārvāka darśana is known for its materialism, hedonism, and scepticism, standing out among rival perspectives in ancient and classical India as atheists and outspoken opponents of Brahmanical religious authorities.
• Jainism is an ancient darśana native to the Indian subcontinent characterized by a commitment to non-violence and rejection of the Vedas and Brahmanical traditions.
• Despite each darśana's distinctive perspective, no single one can be aptly described as representing the philosophy of Hinduism.