Buddhism for Young Students Continue Last page To begin doing something correctly or sloving a problem, we must clear our minds first. Then we must isolate and recognize the problem, comphend the problem and know the cause of the peo- blem. Right understanding, must, therefore, come first before action. If we do somethinhs with- out clear and right understanding we may not success in our work. For example, if we misunders- tand the formula of mathematics we will go wrong then get wrong result. Therefore, right unders- tanding and clear mind is needed. That is why the Buddha said that mind training comes first. To start working upon the Path, we must see our life and the three characteristics of life in general: impermanence, dissatisfaction and selflessness. We must possess a clear understanding of the nature of existence, (or moral laws of human living) and of the factors and component elements which comprise the continuing round of birth and death. This is the first step of the Middle Way. 2. Right or Correct Thought The mind should be clear of unwholesome thoughts before we act. That way, the mind can be pure and ready for any action or problem solving. Someone have a bad thought their minds were influenced by that thought then they do bad deed get bad and harmful result to public. By this way people get suffering. Therefore, think first before doing any thing. At a higher level, it means our mind is free from sensory desire, illwill, cruelty, hatred, doubts, worries, tension, anxiety and laziness. At the same time, we should be willing to relinquish anything that obstructs our mental and psychological progress in meditation practice. This is the second step of the Middle Way. " Clear the mind and be with the present from moment to moment.' 3. Right or Correct Speech Before we practice tranquility meditation, we must clear ourselves by retraining from lying, back-biting, harsh talk and also from idle gossip. We create a connecting link between thought and action or thinking and doing characterized by wisdom and loving-kindness. Correct speech is full of good words, not loud or excited. Correct speech is not prejudiced, or bearing ill-will or selfish interest. Correct speech should be lovely, truthful, timely and appropriate to the situation and the audience. This is the third step of the Middle Way. 4. Right or Correct Action Right Action generally consists of observing the Five Precepts that are the basic principles of the Buddhist way of life. Their positive and negative injunctions are as follows: 1. Not kill, but to practice loving kindness to all living beings. 2. Not to take what is not given, but to practice charity and generosity. 3. Not to misuse the senses, but to practice purity and self-control. 4. Not to indulge in lying or harsh speech, but to practice sincerity, honesty and thought ful speech. 5. Not to take any intoxicating drinks or drugs which will lead to uncontrolled behavior, but to practice restraint and mindfulness. It is essential that those who aspire to the highest livelife by and practice these principles. It one follows these principles, one,s life and work will not harm oneself or others. This is the fourth step of the Middle Way. 
The Middle Way of Life ( The Teaching of the Buddha) PARTH 11 1. To teach the student about Right Livelihood according to Buddhist teching 2. To teach the student about Right Effort 3. To teach the student how to follow the Middle Way 4. To teach the student three levels of the Eight - Fold Path Consequences: 1. The student can explain the correct meaning of good and bad livelihood. 2. The student can tell Right Effort correctly. 3. The student can explain how to concentrate his or her mind correctly, and how to be mindful while studying. 4. The student can classify Eightfold Path into three levels. In the last lesson, we studied the first four steps of the Eightfold Path, namely, Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, and Right Action. In this lesson, we will study the second part of the Eightfold Path namely; Right Livelihood, Right effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. 1. Right or Correct Livelihood Right Livelihood deals with occupations which are not harmful to anyone. The lay Buddhists should avoid from kinds of trades. They are: 1. Trading in weapons, 2. Demeaning people in various way, 3. Trading in liquor, 4. Selling poison, 5. Lending money at excessively high interest (usury). We must consider our responsibilities to ourselves and others when choosing the best way to earn a living. Buddhists should observe and follow right occupations which exclude the five kinds of work mentioned above. Right Occupation helps one to follow the Five Precepts. 2. Right or Correct Effort. Trying to be a good child, a good student, to do good and to avoid unwholesome behavior are right efforts in Buddhism. Here we shall study some details of Right Effort which consists of four- fold endeavors. 1. The effort to eliminate unwholesomeness that has already arisen in the mind. 2. The effort to prevent new unwholesomeness in the mind. 3. The effort to cultivate beneficial quality in the mind. 4. The effort to promote the beneficial quality which have already been cultivated. For example, students in Buddhist Sunday School try to study Buddhism and Thai Language every Sunday and try to finish their assignments or homework. This is Right Effort. 3. Right or Correct Mindfulness. Right Mindfulness is the development of awareness in the service of spiritual progress. In simple terms, it means mental training, ability to examine things to recognize what is important and not be astray into unwholesomeness. Whatever we do we should do mindfully, paying full atten- tion. When you study with full attention, you get good results. If you work mindfully, you will do good work and make few mistakes. Mindfulness is an important instrument of work. At a higher level, when you meditate, you are aware of all things appearing in the mind. There is also wrong or incorrect mindfulness. Cheating or stealing can be done mindfully, but this is wrong application of mindfulness. 
4. Right or Correct Concentration.
Right concentration is the final step of the Eightfold Path, the Middle Way of Buddhism. It means "focusing the mind." The practice of meditation leads to full understanding of the imper- manence of things and eventually to Nibbana. In simple terms, one must focus oneself. When you want to do somethings you must concen- trate first. Concentrate your mind before and while you study, read or work. You will then get good results. Concentration needs to be practiced again and again. The three levels of Eightfold Path Now we shall describe the Eightfold Path in three levels: Sila (Moral) level: Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood. Thisis the basic training for lay people. Samadhi (Mind training) level: Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. This is the middle level of training for those who wish to attain a higher level of mind training. Panna (Wisdom) level: Right understanding, Right thought. This is the third level of training for the monastic life and those who wish to attain enlightenment in this very life. It is derives from the second level. One must clear the mind before starting any action. The Eightfold Path can be applied to any kind of work. It is a scientific method of Buddhist mind development. NOTE: In the classroom, the teacher may divide the students into three groups, representing the three levels of the Eightdfold path. Each group will give an example of the Eightfold Path at their levels. Introduction to Buddhist Meditation 1. To teach the student buddhist meditation 2. To educate the student about the role of meditation in work and study 3. To teach the student what should be done before starting work Consequences: 1. The student has learned about Buddhist meditation and tell its meaning clearly. 2. The student clearly explains the role of Buddhist meditation in doing work. 3. The student understands and tell what to do before starting work. Buddhist Meditation The following paragraphs are questions and answers about Buddhist meditation. These questions may come. You should know understand the answers of these questions. Question: What is Buddhist meditation ?. Answer : Buddhist meditation is the way to calm one,s mind according to Buddhist teaching. It is single pontedness of mind. It is the way to control one,s own mind and to concentrate. It is the way to purity the mind from unwholesome thoughts such as hatred, selfish desire, greed, ignorance, metal defilement or impurities. In short, meditation is the way to purity hatred, greed and ignorance. Meditation is good for all people at all age groups. Question: Why should we train our minds?. Answer : In Buddhism, the mind is of primary ignorance. It is the most important element in the human being. All deeds, wholesome or unwholesome, are the result of processes of the mind. That is why the Buddha has repeatedly proclaimed that the mind is the forerunner of all actions, the chief of all things. Therefore, the mind should be trained and refined. Meditation helps in training and refining the mind, it helps the meditator practice mindfulness in all aspects of living. Meditation helps everyone lives and works effectively and successfully. For example, the student needs concentration and full attention, while doing his or her homework to get a good grade. If they do their work without full concentration they will not be able to remember what they did, what they studied. Question : How many kinds of meditation are there?. Answer : There are two kinds of Meditation. Tranquil Meditation (Samatha Bhavana) and insight Meditation (Vipassana Bhavana). Concentration Meditation aims at training single- pointedness of mind. It is done by fixing the mind on a chosen object such as the image of the Buddha or a circular dise painted a particular color. You focus the mind on an object until you remember that object clearly. Then close your eyes slowly and do not think of anything else. Keep your mind on that object until you want to stop meditating. This is the way the mind temporarity becomes calm. Anger, worry, restlessness lust and doubt are temporarily suppressed. "The well trained mind brings real happiness and permanent peace to the world of beings." Continue Next Time Please ( May, 10, 2008) |
Buddha Samadhi
