This document provides an introduction to Buddhist meditation and the Noble Eightfold Path. It explains the basic method of cessation-contemplation practice in meditation, which involves observing thoughts without judgment. It then describes the three qualities and eight components of the Noble Eightfold Path: wisdom (right view, intention), ethical conduct (speech, action, livelihood), and meditation (effort, mindfulness, concentration). Each component is explained in detail, outlining how followers can apply them to end suffering.

1. Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Temple加拿大佛教會 湛山精舍 禪修學佛入門 Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation2011/05/21

2. Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Templená mó fó tuó南 無 佛 陀Namo Buddhaná mó dá mó 南 無 達 摩Namo Dharmaná mó sēng qié南 無 僧 伽 Namo Sangha

3. Meditation禪修Towards aLiberated andEnlightened Life煩惱輕智慧長

4. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeSit in a relaxed and upright posture, with straight spine, open chest, hands resting naturally on the thighs with thumbs touching each other. To take such a posture already expresses the genuine dignity of being human. To remain in that posture during the ups and downs of our thought and emotional processes expresses the fundamental confidence of trusting in unconditional goodness. The eyes are open [or closed] with soft gaze, slightly down, and we take the same attitude to the other senses—open but not fixed or harshly string to experience something.

5. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeAs we sit there, we allow our minds to identify with the outgoing breath, to go out with it, and then to return to be attentive to the posture as the breath comes in. As thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations begin to pop up, we note them and let them be as they are, not trying to push them away, or holding onto them and indulging them. We begin to become mindful of the precise details of our thought and perceptual processes and also aware of the relationship between them. A thought or feeling arises, and then it goes away. Where it arises from and whence it goes, who can say? But occasionally we might catch a glimpse of non-thought, of open mind. A glimpse can be tremendously refreshing. It is such a relief to realize that we can afford to let go of our conceptualizing process altogether.

6. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeThe meditative practice of watching thoughts without getting involved in them works like a hotel manager who just stands there watching the guests come and go in his hotel without himself participating in all the hustle, bustle and chatter. For a hotel manager who just stands there and watches, after a while all the guests eventually depart the hotel and it becomes empty and quiet. All he does is just stand there and observe the situation without saying a word and soon the lobby quiets down.

7. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeIt's also like a mother who watches her children use up all their energy playing and running here and there, but who remains unruffled and unconcerned until the children eventually tire, lie down and fall asleep. In other words, if you just practice awareness and watch your thoughts, eventually they will die down all by themselves. You don’t have to do anything except watch them. The mental state of clarity you then start to uncover can be described as a quiet field of peacefulness along with awareness.

8. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeWhen your mind empties through this practice of watching, your vital energies (called “chi” by the Chinese) will begin to rise in your body and enter your head. That stream of ascending and refreshing chi energy will silently pour into your brain to quiet your thoughts just as a stream of clear water that enters a muddy pond will soon push the pollutants away as well.

9. The Basic Method of Cessation-Contemplation PracticeAll you have to do to let it happen is just let go of your thoughts and rest your mind. Then it will happen all by itself. The practice of watching enables you to eventually LET GO of thoughts (you actually hold onto them without knowing so meditation is basically the act of breaking this habit) so that this happens naturally.

10. Four Eons四劫The four eons of a world; the periodical gradual destruction of a universe: (1) 成劫 eon of formation; (2) 住劫 eon of existing; (3) 壞劫 eon of destruction, (4) 空劫 eon of nothingness.

11. EONAn eon is the period of time it takes for a universe to come into being and then disintegrate again. But the point is that at the same time one is progressing on this path, one has great loving kindness and compassion for others and is doing wonderful things to benefit others.It is explained that it takes a very long time to progress along the Mahayana path but the fact is time does not really exist; it is not real. There is no such thing as time. In fact, a short period of time and a long period of time are fundamentally the same. They are just like time in a dream. In a dream it does not matter if you think it is a long time or a short time. When you are enjoying the moment, time is non-exist.

12. A full course-of-cognition, also called a Thought-Process, occupies 17 thought-moments. Thoughts are either through one of the five sense-doors or through the mind-door.When an object is presented to the mind through one of the five sense-doors or the course-of-cognition or thought-process runs as follows.1. AtītaBhavanga, Past Bhavanga (stream of being)

13. 2. BhavangaCalana, Vibrating Bhavanga

14. 3. Bhavanga-upaccheda, Arrest Bhavanga

15. 4. Dvāra-vajjana, Sense-door Consciousness

16. 5. PañcaViññāna, Sense Consciousness

17. 6. Sampatticchana, Receiving Consciousness

18. 7. Santīrana, Investigating Consciousness

19. 8. Votthapana, Determining Consciousness

20. 9. -15. Javana, Impulsion

21. 16. Tadālambana or tadārammana (That Object)

22. 17. Registering consciousnessThought ProcessWhen a sense object enters the field of presentation, it produces a perturbation in the stream of being (bhavanga) at No. 2, and causes it to vibrate, which is arrested at No. 3. at the threshold of consciousness.At No. 4, the 5-door adverting arises, accomplishing the function of adverting, and it then ceases. The stimulus impinges on the "sensitive" sense organ. It is here that a thought commences with the arising of attention (manasikāra) which has to be present for a consciousness to arise.There are seven cetasikas (Mental State) that must arise with every thought; they are a must, and attention is one of the seven cetasikas that arise.It is a mano-dhatu (mind element) and not yet mano-viññāna (mind consciousness). There are three mano-dhatus in all, namely,a. dvāra-vajjana which is attention,

23. b. moral sampaticchana (moral receiving) and

24. c. immoral sampaticchana.At No. 5, one of the 5 sense-consciousnesses arises, accomplishing the function of either seeing, or hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching, and then ceases.At No. 6, the receiving consciousness arises accomplishing the consciousness of receiving. Three more cetasikas arise, namely, applied thought(vitakka) sustained thought (vicāra) and determination (adhimokka).At No. 7, the investigating consciousness arises, accomplishing the function of investigating. Here begins mano-viññāna (mind consciousness).At No. 8, the determining consciousness arises, accomplishing the function of determining or deciding.The implusions at No. 9 to 15 called Javana are the moral or immoral consciousnesses which arise due to the, as it were, "tasting" or enjoying the object.

25. "A certain man with his head covered went to sleep at the foot of a fruiting mango tree. Then a ripe mango loosened from the stalk fell to the ground, grazing his ear. Awakened by that sound, he opened his eyes and looked; then stretching out his hand he took the fruit, squeezed it, smelled it, and ate it.Herein, the time of his sleeping at the foot of the mango tree is as when we are subconsciously alive (bhavanga-sota). The instant of the ripe mango falling from its stalk and grazing his ear is like the instant of the object striking the sentient organism (bhavanga-calana). The time of awaking through the sound is like that of adverting by the five sense-doors agitating the subconscious life continuum (pañca-dvāravajjana). The time of the man’s opening his eyes and looking is like that of accomplishing the function of seeing through visual cognition (cakkhu-viññāna). The time of stretching out his hand and taking the mango is as that of the resultant mind element receiving the object (sampaticchana). The time of taking it and squeezing it is as that of the resultant element of mind-cognition examining the object(santīrana). The time of smelling it is as that of the inoperative element of mind-cognition determining the object (votthapana). The time of eating is as that of apperception (javana); Tadālambana isenjoying the taste of the object."

26. The Noble Eightfold Path

27. THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHSThe Noble Truth of Suffering The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering The Noble Truth of the Cessation of SufferingThe Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering

28. Three QualitiesEightfold PathWisdom 1. Right ViewSanskrit: prajñā, Pāli: paññā 2. Right IntentionEthical Conduct 3. Right SpeechSanskrit: śīla, Pāli: sīla 4. Right Action 5. Right LivelihoodMeditation 6. Right EffortSanskrit and Pāli: samādhi 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration

29. WISDOM1. Right ViewCan also be translated as "right perspective", "right outlook" or "right understanding ".

30. Understanding the law of karma and its fruits. This means recognizing that we are responsible for our intentional actions.

31. Understanding the Four Noble Truths themselves. WISDOM2. Right IntentionThe intention of renunciation, the wish to become free from sensuality and selfish desire

32. The intention of benevolence, the kindly wish for other beings to be well and happy

33. The intention of harmlessness, the compassionate wish that other beings be free from pain and suffering on any living creature.ETHICAL CONDUCT3. Right SpeechAbstinence from false speech, and instead, speaking the truth

34. Abstinence from divisive speech, instead speaking words that encourages harmony

35. Abstinence from harsh speech and speaking gently

36. Abstinence from idle chatter and speaking what is meaningful on the proper occasion.ETHICAL CONDUCT4. Right ActionAbstinence from taking a life or killing, instead acting gently and compassionately

37. Abstinence from stealing, and observing honesty

38. Abstinence from sexual misconduct, which for a lay person means respecting others’ marital rights ETHICAL CONDUCT5. Right LivelihoodThis means that practitioners ought not to engage in trades or occupations which, either directly or indirectly, result in harm for other living beings.The five types of businesses that are harmful to undertake are:Business in weapons: trading in all kinds of weapons and instruments for killing.Business in human beings: slave trading, prostitution or the buying and selling of children or adults.Business in meat: "meat" refers to the bodies of beings after they are killed. This includes breeding animals for slaughter.Business in intoxicants: manufacturing or selling intoxicating drinks or addictive drugs.Business in poison: producing or trading in any kind of toxic product designed to kill.

39. MEDITATION6. Right EffortThe sustained endeavour to remove unwholesome states which hinder concentration, such as sensual lust, anger, dullness, agitation and perplexity.

40. The corresponding positive effort is the endeavour to develop and perfect those wholesome qualities which contribute to mental clarity and composure, such as alertness, energy, joy, tranquility and equanimity.MEDITATION7. Right MindfulnessRight mindfulness is cultivated through a practice called "the four foundations of mindfulness" the mindful contemplation of four objective spheres: the body, feelings, states of mind, and phenomena.

41. Mindfulness is presence of mind, attentiveness or awareness.

42. Mindfulness facilitates the achievement of both serenity and insight.MEDITATION8. Right ConcentrationAchieved with Breath Practice – Keeping the mind on the object of meditation.

43. Leads to the four stages of Dhyana(Jhana).

44. i) The First Dhyana (Delight)

45. ii) The Second Dhyana (Joy)

46. iii) The Third Dhyana (Peace)

47. iv) The Fourth Dhyana (Equaniminity)The Buddha claimed that the Awakening he rediscovered is accessible to anyone willing to put forth the effort and commitment required to pursue the Noble Eightfold Path to its end. It is up to each of us individually to put that claim to the test.

48. The Noble Eightfold Path

49. The Way to End SufferingThe Noble Eightfold Path describes the way to the end of suffering, as it was laid out by Siddhartha Gautama. It is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions; and it finally leads to understanding the truth about all things. Together with the Four Noble Truths it constitutes the gist of Buddhism. Great emphasis is put on the practical aspect, because it is only through practice that one can attain a higher level of existence and finally reach Nirvana. The eight aspects of the path are not to be understood as a sequence of single steps, instead they are highly interdependent principles that have to be seen in relationship with each other.

50. 1. Right ViewRight view is the beginning and the end of the path, it simply means to see and to understand things as they really are and to realise the Four Noble Truth. As such, right view is the cognitive aspect of wisdom. It means to see things through, to grasp the impermanent and imperfect nature of worldly objects and ideas, and to understand the law of karma and karmic conditioning. Right view is not necessarily an intellectual capacity, just as wisdom is not just a matter of intelligence. Instead, right view is attained, sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind. It begins with the intuitive insight that all beings are subject to suffering and it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all things. Since our view of the world forms our thoughts and our actions, right view yields right thoughts and right actions.

51. 2. Right IntentionWhile right view refers to the cognitive aspect of wisdom, right intention refers to the volitional aspect, i.e. the kind of mental energy that controls our actions. Right intention can be described best as commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement. Buddha distinguishes three types of right intentions: the intention of renunciation, which means resistance to the pull of desire, the intention of good will, meaning resistance to feelings of anger and aversion, and the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion.

52. 3. Right SpeechRight speech is the first principle of ethical conduct in the eightfold path. Ethical conduct is viewed as a guideline to moral discipline, which supports the other principles of the path. This aspect is not self-sufficient, however, essential, because mental purification can only be achieved through the cultivation of ethical conduct. The importance of speech in the context of Buddhist ethics is obvious: words can break or save lives, make enemies or friends, start war or create peace. Buddha explained right speech as follows: 1. to abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies and not to speak deceitfully, 2. to abstain from slanderous speech and not to use words maliciously against others, 3. to abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others, and 4. to abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth. Positively phrased, this means to tell the truth, to speak friendly, warm, and gently and to talk only when necessary.

53. 4. Right ActionThe second ethical principle, right action, involves the body as natural means of expression, as it refers to deeds that involve bodily actions. Unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. Again, the principle is explained in terms of abstinence: right action means 1. to abstain from harming sentient beings, especially to abstain from taking life (including suicide) and doing harm intentionally or delinquently, 2. to abstain from taking what isnot given, which includes stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness, and dishonesty, and 3. to abstain from sexual misconduct. Positively formulated, right action means to act kindly and compassionately, to be honest, to respect the belongings of others, and to keep sexual relationships harmless to others. Further details regarding the concrete meaning of right action can be found in the Precepts.

54. 5. Right LivelihoodRight livelihood means that one should earn one's living in a righteous way and that wealth should be gained legally and peacefully. The Buddha mentions four specific activities that harm other beings and that one should avoid for this reason: 1. dealing in weapons, 2. dealing in living beings (including raising animals for slaughter as well as slave trade and prostitution), 3. working in meat production and butchery, and 4. selling intoxicants and poisons, such as alcohol and drugs. Furthermore any other occupation that would violate the principles of right speech and right action should be avoided.

55. 6. Right EffortRight effort can be seen as a prerequisite for the other principles of the path. Without effort, which is in itself an act of will, nothing can be achieved, whereas misguided effort distracts the mind from its task, and confusion will be the consequence. Mental energy is the force behind right effort; it can occur in either wholesome or unwholesome states. The same type of energy that fuels desire, envy, aggression, and violence can on the other side fuel self-discipline, honesty, benevolence, and kindness. Right effort is detailed in four types of endeavours that rank in ascending order of perfection: 1. to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states, 2. to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen, 3. to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen, and 4. to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

56. 7. Right MindfulnessRight mindfulness is the controlled and perfected faculty of cognition. It is the mental ability to see things as they are, with clear consciousness. Usually, the cognitive process begins with an impression induced by perception, or by a thought, but thenit does not stay with the mere impression. Instead, we almost always conceptualise sense impressions and thoughts immediately. We interpret them and set them in relation to other thoughts and experiences, which naturally go beyond the facticity of the original impression. The mind then posits concepts, joins concepts into constructs, and weaves those constructs into complex interpretative schemes. All this happens only half consciously, and as a result we often see things obscured. Right mindfulness is anchored in clear perception and it penetrates impressions without getting carried away. Right mindfulness enables us to be aware of the process of conceptualisation in a way that we actively observe and control the way our thoughts go. Buddha accounted for this as the four foundations of mindfulness: 1. contemplation of the body, 2. contemplation of feeling (repulsive, attractive, or neutral), 3. contemplation of the state of mind, and 4. contemplation of the phenomena.

57. 8. Right ConcentrationThe eighth principle of the path, right concentration, refers to the development of a mental force that occurs in natural consciousness, although at a relatively low level of intensity, namely concentration. Concentration in this context is described as one-pointedness of mind, meaning a state where all mental faculties are unified and directed onto one particular object. Right concentration for the purpose of the eightfold path means wholesome concentration, i.e. concentration on wholesome thoughts and actions. The Buddhist method of choice to develop right concentration is through the practice of meditation. The meditating mind focuses on a selected object. It first directs itself onto it, then sustains concentration, and finally intensifies concentration step by step. Through this practice it becomes natural to apply elevated levels concentration also in everyday situations.

58. Basic Terms5 aggregates (skandhas)4 elements6 sense organs, 6 sense objects, 6 sense consciousness12 links of causation (nidāna)4 noble truths 8 fold path6 paramitas4 persuasions3 / 5 vehicles10 realms

59. Basic Terms10 Chinese schoolsLife story of the BuddhaBuddhist History in IndiaBuddhist History in ChinaPractice

60. The Ten Schools of Chinese Buddhism:1. Reality School or Kosa School or Abhidharma School.2. Satysiddhi School or Cheng-se School. 3. Three Sastra School or San-lun School.4. The Lotus School or T'ien-t'ai School 5. The Garland School or Hua-yen School or Avatamsaka School. 6. Intuitive School or Ch'an School or Dhyana School.7. Discipline School or Lu School or Vinaya School. 8. Esoteric School or Mi School or Mantra School.9. Dharmalaksana School or Wei-Shi School or Fa-siang School.10. Pure-land School or Sukhavati School or Ching-t'u School.中国的佛教共分十宗，分别是：俱舍宗、成实宗、三论宗、天台宗、华严宗、唯识宗、律宗、禅宗、净土宗、密宗。

61. The following topics are for the upcoming Saturday Meditation Class:May 21 - Eight Fold path presented by Shirley LewMay 28 - Ten realms presented by Winnie TsangJune 4 - Ten Virtuous Actions by BrandileeJune 11 - Heart Sutra Started by Shengguang Shi and 3/5 Vehicles

62. Questions and Comments 討論www.ChamShanTemple.orgwww.shengguangshi.blogspot.comShengguangShi@hotmail.comShengguang Shi 釋聖光Tom Cheung 張相棠Kam Cheung 張仁勤Dennis Yap 葉普智