The Buddhist Path to Peace - Introduction

In studying the Buddhist Path to Peace one discovers 3 Dharma Seals:

Impermanence - We and our whole reality are in a state of flux and constant change.

No Self - No one has any fixed or permanent self

Nirvana - When we recognize our true nature, this very life is the liberation from suffering

The term Dharma defined:

The Sanskrit term Dharma (help·info) (Devanāgarī: धर्म) (Pali: Dhamma) is an Indian spiritual or religious term, that means one's righteous duty, or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. Contextually, it implies one's religion, in Indian languages. Throughout Indian philosophy, Dharma is present as a central concept, that is used in order to explain the "higher truth" or ultimate reality of the universe.

Why do we suffer? How can we free ourselves from fear and stress? How can we live in harmony with ourselves and each other? What is the crucial problem of human suffering?

The answer: We need to free ourselves from bondage to fear and pain!

In this blog series we will look at how we can escape from the ropes that keep us bound to our suffering. Many of us do not even realize that we are bound... it is such a normal state of being to most of us. But if we can shed some of our suffering we will be more open to a life full of peace and tranquility.

I know what you are thinking now! Tranquility???? How in the world can I live in tranquility? Believe me, it is possible. First we will start out with a few seconds of tranquility. Then we will increase that time frame to minutes... then perhaps hours! (Days? Month? Years? Lifetimes?)

For now, close your eyes wherever you are and think... I am tranquil. Right here. Right now. For just a few seconds. There is no fear, no chaos, no negative emotions. I am whole, complete, and healed.

aaaaahhhhhh, freedom!

In depth:

Buddha's View of Saṃsāra (general life of suffering)

According to the Buddha, the beginning point of Saṃsāra is not evident. It is just like finding the beginning point of a circle. All beings have been suffering in Saṃsāra for an unimaginable period, and they continue to do so until attaining of nirvana. The Assu Sutta [1] of Pali Canon provides a great explanation of our existence in Saṃsāra:

At Savatthi. There the buddha said: "From an inconstruable (sic) beginning comes transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating & wandering on. What do you think, monks: Which is greater, the tears you have shed while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time — crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing — or the water in the four great oceans?"

"As we understand the Dhamma taught to us by the Blessed One, this is the greater: the tears we have shed while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time — crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing — not the water in the four great oceans."

"Excellent, monks. Excellent. It is excellent that you thus understand the Dhamma taught by me.

"This is the greater: the tears you have shed while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time — crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing — not the water in the four great oceans.

"Long have you (repeatedly) experienced the death of a mother. The tears you have shed over the death of a mother while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time — crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing — are greater than the water in the four great oceans.

"Long have you (repeatedly) experienced the death of a father... the death of a brother... the death of a sister... the death of a son... the death of a daughter... loss with regard to relatives... loss with regard to wealth... loss with regard to disease. The tears you have shed over loss with regard to disease while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time — crying & weeping from being joined with what is displeasing, being separated from what is pleasing — are greater than the water in the four great oceans. "Why is that? From an inconstruable beginning comes transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating & wandering on. Long have you thus experienced stress, experienced pain, experienced loss, swelling the cemeteries — enough to become disenchanted with all fabricated things, enough to become dispassionate, enough to be released."