The Principles

The philosophy of Buddhism can become very complicated — our monkey minds love to dance with complications! But the basic principles are simple:

I teach dukkha, its origin, cessation, and path.
That is all I teach.

Gautama Buddha ref

The Four Noble Truths – cattari-ariya-saccani

1. dukkha sacca: Life is “suffering” — (literal meaning “sourness”) — uncomfortable, unsatisfactory, and sometimes downright painful.
2. samudaya sacca: The origin, or cause, of suffering is the mind’s resistance to this inescapable situation.
3. nirodha sacca: But cessation, the end of suffering — a non-struggling, peaceful mind — is possible.
4. magga sacca: The way for ending suffering is the Eightfold Path.

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The Noble Eightfold Path – ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo

1. Complete Understanding sammā-diṭṭhi: realizing the cause of suffering.
2. Complete Intention: motivation to end suffering
3. Complete Speech: speaking in a way that cultivates clarity
4. Complete Action: behaving in ways that maintain clarity
5. Complete Livelihood: supporting oneself in a wholesome way
6. Complete Effort: cultivating skillful (peaceful) mind habits
7. Complete Concentration: cultivating a steady, focused, ease-filled mind
8. Complete Mindfulness: cultivating alert, balanced attention

Whether we say “Right” or “Wise” or “Complete” … it just means “skillful” — things that work. Like, right effort, concentration, and mindfulness when crossing the street means, look both ways, watch for cars, keep alert for unexpected events.

The Three Refuges – tisarana

We can take refuge from these sufferings in these Three Jewels, and find our way out and home:

Take refuge in the Buddha

… in the example of the Buddha, and all teachers and enlightened beings who inspire and guide us.

Take refuge in the Dhamma

… in the basic truth of reality, and the teachings that help us understand it.

Take refuge in the Sangha

… in the community of seekers and path-treaders, known and unknown.

We already take refuge anyway! We are “taking refuge” in the excitement of activity, in surfing the Web or our emotions, in drinking or relationships or sleeping … so here are some refuges to explore that might last a bit longer, and lead to some true cessation.