NEW232Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Buddhism And Psychology, Anagarika Dharmapala, Buddhist Cosmology
Document Summary
New232y1 lecture 2 draft notes may 18th (from slide lecture 1 -22) Mythical elements are not meant to be understood literally. Biography of buddha is not to be trusted, because they are written centuries after buddha"s death. Buddha was born as prince, therefore he must be learned many things while he was in a palace. Also, most of people were illiterate and uneducated. First jhana-authentic bliss: first stage of meditative state (spiritual experience, buddha experienced it by content state. The way to enlightenment should be balanced, neither by extreme ascetic practices or pleasure. Even just by having relaxing state, you can reach to enlightenment. You won"t be able to find authentic happiness if you are trying too hard to do something. Because we cannot control external" satisfaction, they are conditional and contingent. Nothing is worth for attachment because everything is impermanent and changing.
