FETTERS, BOUNDLESS STATES AND PERFECTIONS

FETTERS
Things that slow us down and restrict our freedom
Self-delusion
Doubt
Clinging to Ritual
Sensuous Lust
Ill Will
Greed for Fine Material Existence
Greed for Immaterial Existence
Conceit
Restlessness
Ignorance



BOUNDLESS STATES

Friends on the way to freedom

The boundless states or brahmaviharas are considered friends on the way to Nirvana. They help in dissolving the idea of a separate self.

1. Loving kindness
   
2. Compassion
   
3. Sympathetic Joy
   
4. Equanimity
   

Near
enemy is a quality that can masquerade as the original, but is not the
original. Far enemy is the clearly opposite quality. The boundless
state serves as an antidote for the quality mentioned as the far enemy.

Pali	English	Description	Near Enemy	Far Enemy
metta	loving kindness	good-will, friendship, unconditional love for all beings	selfish love	hatred
karuna	compassion	empathy, to feel with someone instead of for someone	pity	cruelty
mudita	sympathetic joy	spontaneous joy in response to others success	hypocrisy	envy
upekkha	equanimity	even-mindedness based on insight into the nature of things	indifference	anxiety

PERFECTIONS

Qualities that need to be perfected

The ten perfections (paramis) are
Generosity (dana)
Morality (sila)
Renunciation (nekkhamma)
Wisdom (panna)
Energy (viriya)
Patience (khanti)
Truthfulness (sacca)
Resolution (adhitthana)
Loving-Kindness (metta)
Equanimity (upekkha)

The five aggregates (skandhas)

we are made up of The five aggregates (skandhas) are

Form (rupa) .......is made up of


earth
water
fire
wind

Feeling (vedana) is one of


pleasant,
unpleasant
neutral

Feelings arise when there is contact between the six internal organs and the six external objects.

Internal Organ External Object
Eye Sight
Ear Sound
Nose Odor
Tongue Taste
Body Touch
Mind Mental Object





Perception (samjna) a is related to the six external objects

Volition (samskara) is the response of the will to the six external objects

Consciousness (vijnana) grasps the characteristics of the six external objects


Visual consciousness
Auditory consciousness
Olfactory consciousness
Gustatory consciousness
Tactile consciousness
Mental consciousness

Essential Of Buddhism

Essentials of Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path


Noble Eightfold Path

Three Qualities Eightfold Path

Wisdom (panna) Right View
Right Thought
Morality (sila) Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Meditation (samadhi) Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Contemplation





Three Characteristics of Existence


1. Transiency (anicca)
2. Sorrow (dukkha)
3. Selflessness (anatta)

Hindrances

1. Sensuous lust
2. Aversion and ill will
3. Sloth and torpor
4. Restlessness and worry
5. Sceptical doubt

Factors of Enlightenment


1. Mindfulness
2. Investigation
3. Energy
4. Rapture
5. Tranquillity
6. Concentration
7. Equanimity