Susan M. Purviance. Philosopher, College Professor and Humanist

Yellow Spinning Cog

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What is Buddhism according to the Pali Canon of teachings? A good explanation in plain terms.

Homage and the three refuges
 
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaasambuddhassa.
namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaasambuddhasa.
namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaasambuddhasa.
Homage to the Blessed, Noble, and Perfectly Enlightened One.
 
Buddham saranam gacchaami.
Dhamman saranam gacchaami.
Sanghan saranam gacchami.
I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha
 
Dutiyampi buddham saranam gacchaami.
dhamman saranam gacchaami.
sangham saranam gacchaami.
For the second time, I take refuge...
 
Tatiyampi buddham saranam gacchaami.
dhamman saranam gacchaami.
sangham saranam gacchaami.
For the third time, I take refuge...
 
 
 
The Five Precepts
(in refraining and aspiring form)
 
1.  Paanaatipaataa veramani sikkhapadam samaadiyaami.
--I undertake the rule of training to refrain from taking the life any any living being.
--I aspire to become kind and of service to all beings.
 
2.  Adinnaadaana veramani sikkhapadam samaadiyaami.
--I undertake the rule of trains to refrain from taking that which is not freely given..
--I aspire to become generous to all beings.
 
3. Kaamesu micchacaaraa veraamani sikkhapadam samaadiyaami.
--I undertake the rule of training to refrain from sexual acts which cause harm.
--I aspire to nurture love, relationship, and beauty.
 
4. Musaavadaa veramani sikkhapadam samaadiyaami.
--I undertake the rule of training to refrain from false and harmful speech.
--I aspire to use speech to create happiness, harmony, and understanding.
 
5.  Suraameraya--majja-pamaadatthanaa veramani sikkhapadam samaadiyaami.
--I undertake the rule of training to refrain from the use of intoxicants.
--I aspire to cultivate mindfulness and wisdom.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Reflections on universal well-being, from the Pali Canon
 
[May I so abide] in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill-will, in freedom from anxiety, and may I maintain well-being in myself.
May everyone abide in well-being, in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill-will, in freedom from anxiety, and may they maintain well-being in themselves.
 
 
May all beings be released from all suffering, and may they not be parted from the good fortune they have attained.
When acting on intention, beings are the owners of the action and inherit its results.  Their future is born from such action, companion to such action, and its results will be their home.  Of such acts they will be the heirs.

Stream 2

cabinphotos-22.jpg
another place to do my thinking

Buddhist words on Lovingkindness
 
This is what should be done by one
who is skilled in goodness,
and who knows the path of peace:
Let that one be able and upright, straighforward and gentle in speech. 
Humble and not conceited, contented and easily satisfied,
Unburdened with duties and frugal with means,
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful, not proud and demanding in nature.
Let that one not do the slightest thing that the wise would later reprove,
Wishing rather,
"In gladness and in safety, may all beings be at ease.
"Whatever living beings there may be, whether they are weak or strong,
"Omitting none,
"The great or the mightly, medium, short, or small,
"the seen and  the unseen,
"those living near and far away,
"those born and to-be-born--may all beings be at ease."
Let none deceive another, or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings,
Radiating kindness over the entire world,
spreading upwards to the skies
And downwards to the depths,
Outwards and unbounded, free from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down,
Free from drowsiness, one should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views, the pure-hearted one,
Having clarity of vision and being freed from all sense-desires,
Is not born again into this world.

Susan M. Purviance