Gautama Buddha's Third Truth

12/05/14 • 5 min

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Episode 5, 5 December 2014, Gautama Buddha's Third Truth Intro Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog. A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. Find out more, at http://www.buddhismguide.org A transcript of this episode is available at http://www.buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-5-transcript-gautama-buddhas-third-truth This Episode: Gautama Buddha's Third Truth. [00:17] 1. This Truth is called Nirvana, liberation, enlightenment, and so on [00:22] Some think, that if you reach Nirvana you will never be born again, others think you will be reborn, but you can pick where. For people who do not believe in rebirth, they see it as something we can achieve in this lifetime. 2. The Highest Happiness. [01:46] Gautama Buddha said that Nirvana is the highest happiness, but he wasn't talking about mundane happiness we strive for in our everyday lives. He was talking about absolute freedom from evil, freedom from craving, attachment, desire, hatred and unawareness. All of this we can achieve in this very lifetime by truly understanding the Four Nobel Truths, and following the Eight-fold Path. Once we start mediating on these teachings and turning them from knowledge to wisdom, we will start to change our actions of body, speech and mind. Remember, knowledge is something learned, something intellectual, whereas wisdom is a part of our very lives. 3. The first bit of good news. [02:39] So this is the first bit of good news. Nirvana can be reached by anyone, whether they call themselves Buddhist or not. You just have to put in the work. 4. A Second Bit of Good News. [04:02] So this is a second bit of good news. We do not have to die to attain Nirvana. It can be obtained during this lifetime. 5. We do not have to die to realise Nirvana. [04:54] So in a nutshell I believe Nirvana isn't a metaphysical thing, it isn't a place to go to, and we do not have to die to realise Nirvana. It is an extinguishing of our afflictive states of mind and can be reached by anyone in this very lifetime. Outro. [05:14] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed this blog post.

Previous Episode

Everything Must Change

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Episode 4, 4 December 2014, Everything Must Change Intro Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. Find out more, at http://www.buddhismguide.org A transcript of this episode is available at http://www.buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-4-transcript-everything-must-change This Episode: Everything Must Change [00:17] 1. Unawareness [00:21] In the last posting I mentioned unawareness. So, what are the things we are unaware of? Usually, in Buddhism they talk about three main things, namely: Suffering, Non-Self, and Impermanence. I've covered Suffering in the post entitled "Gautama Buddha's First Truth" and Non-Self was covered in the post "How We Experience The World". So I'll talk about the third one here: 2. Impermanence [00:52] 3. The First Seal: All compounded things are impermanent. [01:40] In Tibetan Buddhism there are four seals, and the first seal is: All compounded things are impermanent. 4. The importance of understanding impermanence. [03:35] It means we will achieve freedom from fear, freedom from suffering, and freedom from panic. Because when we know things are not going to last, we are free from any fear, agony or pain of losing something or someone. Impermanence is not only true for pleasurable things but for painful things as well. In Thirty Seven Practices of all Bodhisattvas, it states: Like the dew, that remains for a moment or two, on the tips of the grass and then melts with the dawn, the pleasure we find in the course of our lives lasts only an instant. They cannot endure. Outro [05:43] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed this blog post.

Next Episode

Gautama Buddha's Fourth Truth

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Episode 6, 6 December 2014, Gautama Buddha's Fourth Truth. Intro: Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog. A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. Find out more, at http://www.buddhismguide.org A transcript of this episode is available at http://buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-6-transcript-gautama-buddhas-fourth-truth This Episode: Gautama Buddha's Fourth Truth. [00:17] 1. What is your view? [00:22] In the fourth of Gautama Buddha's truths, he explains the path we need to take to free ourselves from suffering. It is known as the Eightfold Path, and it comprises of three aspects: Seeing Clearly, is the first part and it includes: Right View, and Right Intention. 2. Right View. [01:19] Setting out on the Eightfold Path without the Right View is like starting a journey without a map. If you get into your car without knowing where you are going and what landmarks you are going to encounter along the way, you are bound to get lost. Similarly, if you set of on this path and have no idea what you are doing you will become lost and disillusioned. First, get the view correct and the rest will become clearer. 3. Cause and Effect, and Karma. [02:52] Here, some would say we need to understand the workings of Karma, but this is such a hot potato these days. If you believe in Karma and Rebirth, and it motivates you to be a good person, then follow that view. However if you are not a lover of Rebirth, and prefer to keep your Buddhism firmly planted in this life, then you should understand the workings of Cause and Effect. Whatever we do there will be a result. Life is like an echo: Whatever you put out comes back; Once you have the Right View concerning Suffering and Cause and Effect, you will be ready to move along the path. Next time, I'll talk about Right Intention. Outro. [04:55] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed this blog post.