����������������������������������������������������������������������ͻ
� �
� BuddhaNet: Buddhist Info Network Buddha Dharma Education Assoc. �
� Web Site: www.buddhanet.net PO Box K1020 Haymarket NSW 2000 �
� Email: bdea@buddhanet.net Tel: +61-2-92123071 AUSTRALIA �
� �
����������������������������������������������������������������������ͼ
------------------------------------------
What do Buddhists consider Wisdom
Venerable Mahinda
--------------------------------------------------
Abridgement of Unibuds Dhamma talk given on Friday,
August 20th 1993 at the University of NSW.
-----------
Wisdom is a very important quality to possess. Wisdom is
very clearly spelt out in the teachings of the Buddha,
in the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path
consists of 1 Right Understanding, 2 Right Thought, 3
Right Speech, 4 Right Action, 5 Right Livelihood, 6
Right Effort, 7 Right Mindfulness, and 8 Right
Concentration.
Panna (wisdom) comprises Right Understanding and Right
Thought. Right Understanding means to know and
understand the Four Noble Truths.
Right Thought means to think three kinds of thoughts:
- Thoughts of renunciation or thoughts which do not have
lustful desires.
- Thoughts of goodwill to others as opposed to thoughts
of illwill.
- Thoughts of harmlessness as opposed to cruelty.
The Noble Eightfold Path can lead us to the end of
suffering and all conflicts. However in order to get
into this path it takes us a certain amount of wisdom.
Right understanding refers to our understanding of
fundamental truths about life and the world around us.
We should try to understand two laws; the Four Noble
Truths and the law of cause and effect - karma. This is
very basic and fundamental to Buddhism.
Every action has a reaction just like Newton's 3rd law
of motion. Karma has both physical and moral effects.
Good begets good and evil begets evil. A good doer
experiences evil as long as the good karma ripens not.
There are people who indulge in wrong things and appear
to have good lives. The results of their actions will
come back to them sooner or later. Also those who
perform unwholesome or bad actions are reborn in
unfortunate states.
When you practice with a higher, more peaceful state of
mind, your higher understanding of karma allows you to
transcend worldly existence. You must train your minds.
For example, you hear me now, the vibration of my voice
box - this is the cause. The sound hits your eardrum...
The process of hearing involves so many individual
causes and effects If you understand this, that when
causes arise, affects also arise, your wisdom for
responding to other events in your life will improve.
We must understand dhukka. Dhukka is suffering, or
unsatisfactoriness. Associating with people or
conditions or unfulfilled desires, subjects you don't
like, people you don't enjoy, is dhukka. For example,
how long can you laugh? One day? Two? Three? Even
laughter is dhukka. You cannot maintain your laughter.
The Five grasping Aggregates are also dhukka. These
five characteristics of self-awareness are; 1 Physical
form which has given rise to the body, 2 Feelings and
sensations, 3 Perception, 4 Mental formations, thoughts
and imagination, and 5 Conciousness.
If you don't grasp the aggregates, they come and go. If
you grasp the aggregates, that is, if you grab your
thoughts, objects and you think it is real, it will
condition some emotions in you. Then you will attach
yourself to the feelings/emotions you have generated to
the sensations/object you have grasped. After you have
attached yourself to something and you lose it, you get
very upset.
To overcome suffering you need to overcome your craving.
You should follow the Noble Eightfold Path and try to
always see things as they are.
minerals. Whether you are Buddhist, Christian, or
Muslim, this change will happen to you!
The truth of existence is that everything is changing.
Anything that is changing is dhukka. Is your body yours?
Can you keep your body? Your hair, which you love so
much keeps falling out. Also your nails, your teeth,
your skin... They are all dying cells, but you cling to
them, cling to your eyebrows, and you give them pastel.
Delusion is looking in the mirror and thinking you can
keep your beautiful looks. The body is made up of
elements. When you die and they put you in a box, your
body will be reduced to carbon and perhaps a few
But wisdom is not the pure accumulation of knowledge
and theories. These dhamma talks you attend I hope will
help compliment your university studies. Tell me which
Faculty teaches you how to overcome your craving ? Which
Faculty helps you overcome your anger ? Everytime you
radiate thoughts of loving kindness to all sentient
beings, you are building your wisdom. Your compassion
helps others, removes their fears, and anxieties and
gives them confidence. I hope you have all gained some
wisdom this evening !
Abridgement of Dhamma talk given on Friday, August 20th
1993 at the UNSW as reported by Mick Kiddle.