Dharma
Dharma
A term fundamental to Buddhism, dharma derives from the root dhri, which means to preserve, maintain, keep, or uphold. It has a wide variety of meanings, including law, truth, doctrine, the Buddha's teaching, decree, observance, conduct, duty, virtue, morality, religion, justice, nature, quality, character, characteristic, essence, elements of existence, or phenomena. The elements of existence, which, according to the Hinayana schools, are the most basic constituents of the individual and his or her reality. Norms of conduct leading to the accumulation of good karma.
http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php
My Definition:
Feldman, Jay. "Buddhism, Unit 2." University of Idaho, 2013.
Dharma: seeking the truth of "what is the case" avoiding telling stories about our reality and experiences.
Dharma ends delusion/ illusion in experiences and then ends dukkha.
Dharma is recognition of moments of existence as they occur free from delusion. Dharma embraces life as a series of conditions created through interdependent co-arising and a realization of anicca- demonstrating a "letting go" of all moments of experience. Dharma is true attention to lived experience and leads to awakening.
My Journal:
Dharma is the recognition of the four pre-eminent realities. That dukkha exists, recognition of dukkha's causes, realize nirvana, follow the eight fold path. Dharma is thus recognizing that "shit happens." In school, I need to accept the Dharma that at times "shit happens" that I get sick before a test, or get a bad grade, or my boyfriend breaks up with me - only through the acceptance of dukkha can I examine the causes and work to end them. Through this ending I will realize Nirvana and practice it.
Dharma is not metaphysical- there is not God controlling events to whom the individual can appeal. Rather, individuals must gain the skillful habit of recognizing dukkha in life and accepting. This causes the individual to realize the world for exactly as it is without delusions or illusions. For me this is very difficult because I have been taught since I was a child to "visualize" and I will achieve things. In this I am specifically creating illusions which I expect reality to be, when reality does not reach my expectations I become disappointed and cause dukkha in my life. I need to use attention to focus on each moment as it occurs in order to understand causation and realize dukkha.
Dharma is in constant flux. Dharma is change as demonstrated by anicca. Like human beings each moment is dependent upon all conditions which create a moment that is unique in itself and cannot be other than what it is. Often I try to understand reality as a single point, in which a moment can go one way or another and I tell myself a story that if I had only done x... y would not occurred. Dharma depends on Interdependent Co-Arising. As seen in the "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Daisy must recognize the reality, the Dharma, as it is in order to avoid creating dukkha for herself.
We can only understand the Dharma in the moment, right here, right now. Western ideas of "Hindsight is 20/20" is true in that at times we are able to see more conditions but we allow ourselves to tell stories of our experience - altering it. Thus, Dharma can only be experienced and understood in the moment as it occurs. It takes practice and effort to accept "what is the case."
A term fundamental to Buddhism, dharma derives from the root dhri, which means to preserve, maintain, keep, or uphold. It has a wide variety of meanings, including law, truth, doctrine, the Buddha's teaching, decree, observance, conduct, duty, virtue, morality, religion, justice, nature, quality, character, characteristic, essence, elements of existence, or phenomena. The elements of existence, which, according to the Hinayana schools, are the most basic constituents of the individual and his or her reality. Norms of conduct leading to the accumulation of good karma.
http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php
My Definition:
- Jan 22, 2013:
Feldman, Jay. "Buddhism, Unit 2." University of Idaho, 2013.
- Jan 31, 2013:
Dharma: seeking the truth of "what is the case" avoiding telling stories about our reality and experiences.
Dharma ends delusion/ illusion in experiences and then ends dukkha.
- Feb 7, 2013:
- Feb 21, 2013:
- March 14, 2013:
Dharma is recognition of moments of existence as they occur free from delusion. Dharma embraces life as a series of conditions created through interdependent co-arising and a realization of anicca- demonstrating a "letting go" of all moments of experience. Dharma is true attention to lived experience and leads to awakening.
My Journal:
- Feb 22, 2013:
- Jan 31, 2013:
Dharma is the recognition of the four pre-eminent realities. That dukkha exists, recognition of dukkha's causes, realize nirvana, follow the eight fold path. Dharma is thus recognizing that "shit happens." In school, I need to accept the Dharma that at times "shit happens" that I get sick before a test, or get a bad grade, or my boyfriend breaks up with me - only through the acceptance of dukkha can I examine the causes and work to end them. Through this ending I will realize Nirvana and practice it.
- Feb 7, 2013:
Dharma is not metaphysical- there is not God controlling events to whom the individual can appeal. Rather, individuals must gain the skillful habit of recognizing dukkha in life and accepting. This causes the individual to realize the world for exactly as it is without delusions or illusions. For me this is very difficult because I have been taught since I was a child to "visualize" and I will achieve things. In this I am specifically creating illusions which I expect reality to be, when reality does not reach my expectations I become disappointed and cause dukkha in my life. I need to use attention to focus on each moment as it occurs in order to understand causation and realize dukkha.
- Feb 22, 2013:
- Feb 23, 2013:
Dharma is in constant flux. Dharma is change as demonstrated by anicca. Like human beings each moment is dependent upon all conditions which create a moment that is unique in itself and cannot be other than what it is. Often I try to understand reality as a single point, in which a moment can go one way or another and I tell myself a story that if I had only done x... y would not occurred. Dharma depends on Interdependent Co-Arising. As seen in the "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Daisy must recognize the reality, the Dharma, as it is in order to avoid creating dukkha for herself.
- Mar 2, 2013:
We can only understand the Dharma in the moment, right here, right now. Western ideas of "Hindsight is 20/20" is true in that at times we are able to see more conditions but we allow ourselves to tell stories of our experience - altering it. Thus, Dharma can only be experienced and understood in the moment as it occurs. It takes practice and effort to accept "what is the case."
Dharma or all moments of existence, take constant effort. Recently, I have realized that I "believed" I was seeing the world correctly but in actuality I have been living a very biased understanding of my experience. I have ceased to pay attention the moment and need to begin paying attention to conditions again in order to perceive life as it really is.
As the end of semester comes (within a month) I have been finding it more difficult to slow down and perceive the Dharma through attention and experience. I have found both yoga and mediation helpful to "slow down" my life and perceive conditions as they occur. However, though I attempt to clear my mind through meditation in order to see how life actually is- I find it constantly cluttered with concerns. However, through analysis of these concerns I have been able to see several of the conditions as they are and how they are influencing my life. Though I am not following the practice of yoga or meditation as it has traditionally been practiced, it nonetheless has the desired result.
While Buddhism is a helpful practice to view reality in terms of the "Dharma" as it really is - I have nonetheless felt swamped by the terms and practice. Every time I feel that I have a "grasp" of a concept or idea, I am suddenly inundated with new definitions and understandings. I become buried with the definitions and understandings, I form "cool stories" or delusions that prevent me from seeing the conditions which I am working to achieve. I feel that I need to step back and allow moments of experience without reflection, merely paying attention to the moment as it occurs and living experience.
Enlightenment is possible in all moments of existence through Dharma gates according to Zen Buddhism. Dharma, as the true realization and recognition of reality is intimately connected with awakening. If individuals are able to realize reality- even in a short moment, they are able to achieve awakening and Bodhicitta. I quite like this understanding of awakening, rather than an overarching metaphysical mental sphere - awakening is a short term goal (no longer contradicting anicca) and possible in all moments of existence. Allowing me to "fail" one moment and succeed the next. |
Dukkha
Dukkha: "a Buddhist technical term that basically means a pervasive unease, inherent stress, existential angst, the "suffering" or the "unsatisfactoriness" of our lives.
Feldman, Jay. "Buddhism, Unit 2" University of Idaho.
1) 'pain', painful feeling, which may be bodily and mental (s. vedaná).
(2) 'Suffering', 'ill'. As the first of the Four Noble Truths (s. sacca) and the second of the three characteristics of existence (s. ti-lakkhana), the term dukkha is not limited to painful experience as under (1), but refers to the unsatisfactory nature and the general insecurity of all conditioned phenomena which, on account of their impermanence, are all liable to suffering, and this includes also pleasurable experience. Hence 'unsatisfactoriness' or 'liability to suffering' would be more adequate renderings, if not for stylistic reasons. Hence the first truth does not deny the existence of pleasurable experience, as is sometimes wrongly assumed.
Urbandharma.org
My Definition:
Dukkha: unsatisfactoriness, or a sense of suffering in life. A sense of unfulfilled expectation in a moment of experience that creates a sense of disillusionment.
Dukkha: one of the Four Preeminent Realities. Suffering occurs in moments of experience. It is up to the individual to recognize the conditions of experience which will eventually end them. "Dukkha and the ending of dukkha"
Dukkha: one of Three Marks of Existence along with anicca and anatta. Dukkha is impermanent, it is necessary to recognize the transience of dukkha in order to avoid grasping it.
Dukkha develops from the false stories we tell ourselves- creates delusions.
My Journal:
Dukkha is a sense of dissatisfaction, unease, or suffering. The goal of Buddhism is "dukkha (understanding it), and the ending dukkha." It is difficult for me to understand how understanding suffering will lead to its end - in contrary it appears to me that by recognizing suffering will lead to more suffering. This likely comes from the Western perspective of trying to push ourselves away from experiences that cause us discomfort. According to Buddhism, this pushing away leads to more dukkha.
I constantly attempt to push away experiences of dukkha. In doing this I neglect to examine the conditions which caused the dukkha in the first place and deprive myself the chance to grow and develop more skillful habits. I reject the conditions of Dharma, reality, in favor of a created "delusion" to give me greater comfort. This delusion causes dukkha in my life as my expectations go unrealized. I need to stop and experience dukkha in the moment, in order to understand the conditions which led to dukkha.
I grasp at moments of experience in order to continue a sense of comfort. In this I deny the existence of anicca, the impermanence of reality. This grasping causes dukkha because I create a story, or false illusion as to what will occur and become disillusioned when my expectations are not realized. I need to recognize that dukkha is in reality and experiences and that it is a transient phenomena. It will not last forever- by pushing dukkha away I cause more dukkha for myself. In attempting to grasp happy moments I also cause dukkha. With this in mind, I need to practice patience toward myself and create moments of mental clarity through practice and meditation so that I can accept dukkha as it arrives.
In Groundhog Day, Phil constantly tries to avoid dukkha by grasping at conditions that cause comfort. Phil denies the idea of anicca as the day seems to reoccur over and over. However, Phil causes the conditions which lead to dukkha. By developing unskillful habits, for example stealing the groundhog and driving the truck over the cliff, or constantly trying to sleep with Rita, Phil creates dukkha in his life. However, he does not recognize that his creation of dukkha dukkha is causing him more dukkha by starting his day over again. Only through recognizing his part in creating dukkha through conditions can Phil create skillful habits which improve his life. By the end of the movie, Phil is living life in the moment and accepting the pain which occurs. Phil no longer is disillusioned by expectations of grandeur. Like Phil, at times I refuse to believe that dukkha is transient. I allow myself to fall into despair and hopelessness which causes more dukkha to occur, the samsara like cycle of disillusionment and pain thus becomes darker and darker.
Dukkha is a reality but in many ways true suffering is a choice. In C.S. Lewis's "Great Divorce" an individual with a mental illness is described as having a lizard on his shoulder, constantly whispering to him. An angel suggests that the individual allow him to kill the lizard. The individual's choice to kill his mental illness causes him great pain. This is similar to dukkha in that as the individual becomes more aware of the dharma, they also become more aware of the suffering of themselves and others. In embracing dukkha, to understand it, the individual causes themselves pain - but the end result is the cessation of pain and suffering.
Unlike metaphysical religions, dukkha is not created by a malevolent being but by our own actions and conditions. This allows the individual to take responsibility for their own "happiness" or "satisfaction" in life without a "cop out" of a God or other supernatural being.
Feldman, Jay. "Buddhism, Unit 2" University of Idaho.
1) 'pain', painful feeling, which may be bodily and mental (s. vedaná).
(2) 'Suffering', 'ill'. As the first of the Four Noble Truths (s. sacca) and the second of the three characteristics of existence (s. ti-lakkhana), the term dukkha is not limited to painful experience as under (1), but refers to the unsatisfactory nature and the general insecurity of all conditioned phenomena which, on account of their impermanence, are all liable to suffering, and this includes also pleasurable experience. Hence 'unsatisfactoriness' or 'liability to suffering' would be more adequate renderings, if not for stylistic reasons. Hence the first truth does not deny the existence of pleasurable experience, as is sometimes wrongly assumed.
Urbandharma.org
My Definition:
- Jan 22, 2013:
Dukkha: unsatisfactoriness, or a sense of suffering in life. A sense of unfulfilled expectation in a moment of experience that creates a sense of disillusionment.
- Jan 31, 2013:
Dukkha: one of the Four Preeminent Realities. Suffering occurs in moments of experience. It is up to the individual to recognize the conditions of experience which will eventually end them. "Dukkha and the ending of dukkha"
- Feb 7, 2013:
Dukkha: one of Three Marks of Existence along with anicca and anatta. Dukkha is impermanent, it is necessary to recognize the transience of dukkha in order to avoid grasping it.
- Feb 14, 2013:
Dukkha develops from the false stories we tell ourselves- creates delusions.
My Journal:
- Jan 22, 2013:
Dukkha is a sense of dissatisfaction, unease, or suffering. The goal of Buddhism is "dukkha (understanding it), and the ending dukkha." It is difficult for me to understand how understanding suffering will lead to its end - in contrary it appears to me that by recognizing suffering will lead to more suffering. This likely comes from the Western perspective of trying to push ourselves away from experiences that cause us discomfort. According to Buddhism, this pushing away leads to more dukkha.
- Jan 31, 2013:
I constantly attempt to push away experiences of dukkha. In doing this I neglect to examine the conditions which caused the dukkha in the first place and deprive myself the chance to grow and develop more skillful habits. I reject the conditions of Dharma, reality, in favor of a created "delusion" to give me greater comfort. This delusion causes dukkha in my life as my expectations go unrealized. I need to stop and experience dukkha in the moment, in order to understand the conditions which led to dukkha.
- Feb 7, 2013:
I grasp at moments of experience in order to continue a sense of comfort. In this I deny the existence of anicca, the impermanence of reality. This grasping causes dukkha because I create a story, or false illusion as to what will occur and become disillusioned when my expectations are not realized. I need to recognize that dukkha is in reality and experiences and that it is a transient phenomena. It will not last forever- by pushing dukkha away I cause more dukkha for myself. In attempting to grasp happy moments I also cause dukkha. With this in mind, I need to practice patience toward myself and create moments of mental clarity through practice and meditation so that I can accept dukkha as it arrives.
- Feb 15, 2013:
In Groundhog Day, Phil constantly tries to avoid dukkha by grasping at conditions that cause comfort. Phil denies the idea of anicca as the day seems to reoccur over and over. However, Phil causes the conditions which lead to dukkha. By developing unskillful habits, for example stealing the groundhog and driving the truck over the cliff, or constantly trying to sleep with Rita, Phil creates dukkha in his life. However, he does not recognize that his creation of dukkha dukkha is causing him more dukkha by starting his day over again. Only through recognizing his part in creating dukkha through conditions can Phil create skillful habits which improve his life. By the end of the movie, Phil is living life in the moment and accepting the pain which occurs. Phil no longer is disillusioned by expectations of grandeur. Like Phil, at times I refuse to believe that dukkha is transient. I allow myself to fall into despair and hopelessness which causes more dukkha to occur, the samsara like cycle of disillusionment and pain thus becomes darker and darker.
- Feb 22, 2013:
Dukkha is a reality but in many ways true suffering is a choice. In C.S. Lewis's "Great Divorce" an individual with a mental illness is described as having a lizard on his shoulder, constantly whispering to him. An angel suggests that the individual allow him to kill the lizard. The individual's choice to kill his mental illness causes him great pain. This is similar to dukkha in that as the individual becomes more aware of the dharma, they also become more aware of the suffering of themselves and others. In embracing dukkha, to understand it, the individual causes themselves pain - but the end result is the cessation of pain and suffering.
- Mar 1, 2013:
Unlike metaphysical religions, dukkha is not created by a malevolent being but by our own actions and conditions. This allows the individual to take responsibility for their own "happiness" or "satisfaction" in life without a "cop out" of a God or other supernatural being.
- March 14, 2013:
In Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman slowly develops the healthy skill of recognition of the transience of dukkha. Prior to his accident, Millman worked to sustain his state of being, ignoring values of anicca. While practicing this ignorance, Milman had a number of unhealthy habits, including ignoring the current moment of existence. These unhealthy habits further prevented Millman from seeing the world as it really is and created a barrier between him and the Dharma. However, following Millman's accident, Millman chose to believe in the anicca of dukkha and the possibility of full recovery- again Millman is ignoring the Dharma in life; however, he is simultaneously becoming more aware and practicing healthier habits. By the end of the movie, Millman is fully aware of life as it is, a series of conditions connected through ICA, and present in the current moment. Millman's recognition and understanding of dukkha is a process... I just need to recognize this as well.
- March 31, 2013:
The first part of coming to understand dukkha is recognizing it in life, the phrase "dukkha and the ending of dukkha" recognizes this fact. By recognizing that dukkha exists, the individual can begin to change it by following Buddhist practice such as the Eight Fold Path or Meditation; we recognize that there is something we can change as well as the way in which to do it. This is the true value of Buddhism, Buddhism breaks us away from our created understandings of an event and forces us to re-examine life as it is. Other religions, including Christianity form rules and regulations which theoretically are to help us examine dukkha (sin) and live healthier lives; however, because we are not forced to personally confront the issues we often ignore the process and wrap ourselves up in "Dogma's and truths."
- April 14, 2013:
As Buddhism changes in the class form a purely logical and rational practice to a metaphysical one, I find myself growing more and more uncomfortable with my understanding of dukkha. As Buddha becomes a godlike figure to be called upon to help practitioners, dukkha seems to me to take on the qualities of a sin. I need to recognize that dukkha is suffering, it is not good or bad outside the habits that we form around it. In contrast, sin in christianity recognizes an inherent wrongness. In Buddhism, we are only achieving the end of dukkha (not because it's wrong) because it fosters lack of attention to the current moment and unhealthy habits as humans attempt to move away from it.
- April 28, 2013:
With the recognition that the Dharma Gate as the possibility for enlightenment in every moment, I recognized that dukkha does not necessarily have to be eliminated in life for the individual to be able to experience awakening. Rather, the bad habits associated with dukkha need to be eliminated- the bad habits that cause further pain through the second arrow. The removal of dukkha from life in its entirety is impossible - as humans we experience suffering as a course of life (death, disappointment, etc...). However, how we react to dukkha is under our control- if we are able to move from moment to moment recognizing this "control" over habits and how we act - we can create a lasting awakening and an end of dukkha. WE just merely have to eract to each moment, and each dukkha, as it occurs.
- May 1, 2013:
As I become more stressed, I have recognized that my main source of dukkha derives from my sense of self image- created through conditions of my environment and youth. Unhealthy habits that I have created in response to this dukkha, for example poor self-image, anorexia, and dieting are in part due to my refusal to believe in anicca. I believe that I could lessen dukkha by living in the moment and realizing that I am healthy and habit - lessening worries about my weight.