RELS 108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Anatta, Socratic Method, Flower Sermon
Document Summary
The cause of our suffering is our desire for self-fulfillment. The cure for life"s suffering is to overcome the man who woke up . To overcome, you use the eightfold path. Four passing sights: old age, sickness, death, peaceful hindu monk. Leaves kingdom and family in search of enlightenment. Meditation under the bodhi tree (raja yoga) The great awakening -- saw through to his own true nature, which is the true nature of the entire universe. Eightfold path (do not need to know all 8 steps, just the intention of it) The way leading to the end of suffering. Anatta -- no individual soul. your soul is shared with the universe. Anicca/impermanence, non-attachment -- change is inevitable, but we can direct the change. Nirvana -- to extinguish our identification with the finite self and move into boundless life itself; live in bliss. Mahayana (big raft) -- compassion for all. Theravada (little raft) -- focus on personal nirvana.
