REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths

Your Map to The Universe

GODS

Formless Realms

4t
h

Neither Perception nor Nonperception (a.k.a The Summit of Existence) Infinite Nothingness Infinite Consciousness Infinite Space Akanishta (The Unsurpassed)

Generally not considered suitable for development of Vipassana, because the clarity is not as strong.

3r
d

2
nd

1s
t

Form Realms Bodhisattv as practice here; the others just do shamatha

4t
h

5 Pure Domains (Noble Beings)

Sublime Light Great Vision Without Distress Not as Great Great Fruit The whole 4th jhana is the best ground for development of vipassana.

Merit-Born Cloudless Light 3r

d

Radiant Virtue Measureless Virtue Lesser Virtue

2
nd

Radiant Light Measureless Light Lesser Light

1
t

Maha Brahma

Along with the state of shamatha just prior to the first jhana, this is the best ground for development of vipassana.

Brahmas Priests Abode of Brahma

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths Desire God realms ( 6 ) Mastery over Ones Own and Others Creations Enjoying Ones Own Creations Tushita The joyful god realm. Like a waiting room for the next Buddha. Not a pure realm but a karmic realm. Maitreya lives here, and Buddhas Mum. They fight and fight, and fight and fight and fight. Fight-fight-fight. Fight-fight-fight. The demigod and Desire god SHOW!!! The Evil Mara lives here

Conflict-Free The 32

Demigods

Abodes of the 4 Kings

( 4 )

4 Great Kings Rahu

White Garland Necklace Splendid Fabric

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths

Humans

The 4 Continents are: Majestic Body Jambu <- YOU ARE HERE Bountiful Cow The not-so-nice Sound Animals living in the depths (sea-creatures), and Scattered animals (on the earth, in water, in trees, in the realms of gods, humans and nagas) They are of several kinds. All are tormented by hunger and thirst. They live below the earth, in the air, or elsewhere. No chance to practice dharma.

Animals

Hungr y hungr y ghosts

No chance to practice dharma.

HELL (1
8)
No chance to practice dharma. 1 Cold 8 Neighbouring Whimpering Howling Chattering Teeth Blisters Oozing Blisters Splitting like a Red Lotus Splitting like a Big Red Lotus 16 counted as 1 1 Temporary/Surrounding Limitless counted as 1

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths Splitting like a Blue Lotus Hot 8 Revival Black Line Crushing Weeping Loud Wailing Heat Intense Heat Incessant

7+1 Pratimoksha (individual liberation) Vows

Tibetan gelongpa gelongma gelopma getsulpa getsulma genyenpa genyenma _______ nyen ne Wylie dge slong pha dge slong ma dge slop ma dge tshul pha dge tshul ma dge bsnyen pha dge bsnyen ma bsyen gnas Sanskrit bhikshu bhikshuni shiksamana Shramanera Shamanerika Upasaka Upasika Meaning Senior munk Senior nun 2-year step from getsulma to gelongma. Junior munk Junior nun Males with lay-vows Females with lay-vows (24 hours)

5 genyen vows
No killing No stealing No adultery No intoxicants No lying You can choose to keep as many of these as you like.

8 nyen ne vows
No killing No stealing No adultery No intoxicants No eating and drinking past noon No music and dance No sitting on a high seat or throne No expensive malas

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths

Other vows
Limited vows Bodhisattva vows Vajrayana vows Dhyana vows (automatically got when you enter the dhyanas) Undefiling vow (1st bhumi)

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths

6 Paramitas
Generosity (dana) Moral ethics (sila) Patience (kshanti) Diligence (virya) Meditation (dhyana) Wisdom (prajna)

Cessation
Types of cessation: Hinayana cessation. Merely the complete pacification of Samsaric suffering. Incomplete (from 1st stage of Arhathood, stream entry, up to the 3rd stage, nomore returning) Complete (4th stage complete Arhathood) Unadorned arhatship (without the capacity for performing miracles) Adorned arhatship (without the capacity for performing miracles) Arhatship with remainder Arhatship without remainder Mahayana cessation = Enlightenment. Nondwelling nirvana. Other kinds of cessation: Symbolic cessation is temporary cessation due to suppression of negative emotions due to shamatha practice. Ultimate cessation is real cessation. Four characteristics of cessation: Ceasing of samsara Peace (beyond impermanence) Perfectly positive can never change - emptiness Renunciation can never fall down

 REVISION NOTES Four Noble Truths

Realisation of Arhats
Stream Entry Emptiness Same as 1st bhumi. Realised the imputed emptiness of self. Do not arise in meditation of cessation. Do arise in the postmeditative state. Once returning Never returning Complete arhathood Between 6th and 7th bhumi. Realised the inherent emptiness of self. Completely cut off at the root.

Negative emotions

Realisation of Bodhisattvas
1st bhumi 6th bhumi 7th bhumi 8th bhumi 10th bhumi/

Emptiness

Same as 1st Arhat stage. Realised the imputed emptiness of self.

Realisation of emptiness lesser than full Arhat.

Realised the inherent emptiness of self. Realisation of emptiness greater than full Arhat. Completely cut off at the root.

Realised the emptiness of phenomen a.

Negative emotions

No obscurations in meditation. Subtle obscurations in the postmeditative state.