What is Right View?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- The first step along the Eightfold Path is Right View. We will see that Right View has three interrelated aspects, all of which are key to unlocking its secrets.
For a very in-depth, scholarly treatment of the subject, see Paul Fuller's book "The Notion of Diṭṭhi in Theravāda Buddhism": amzn.to/2hCXhfa
Music: I Don't See the Branches, I See the Leaves by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: chriszabriskie....
Artist: chriszabriskie....
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Please visit the Secular Buddhist Association webpage!
secularbuddhism...
Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links where I will earn a very small commission on purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of making these videos. Thank you!
I came to understand right view as this: if you embrace a “wrong view”, you’ll suffer. If you believe you’re imune to disease for instance, one day you’ll get ill and you’ll suffer on top of the pain it will cause you. And with time I started doing the opposite exercise: when an idea causes me to suffer, I examine it and eventually conclude it was not the right view.
This can be helpful, but also be aware that there exist unpleasant truths.
To the point, clear, so easy to understand all the meanings of "right view." I came here after giving up on the (non-secular) Buddhists trying to explain this for hours on end. Thank you so much!
Glad it helped!
Thank you. I needed more clarity on ‘right view’ as a secular Buddhist today and you brought it! Thank you.
You’re very welcome Moxie. Glad you found it useful. 🙂
Thank you so much this helped me so much at first I never understood my homework but now I do thanks a lot your are a lifesaver (to be honest I understood you more than my teacher) 😀
Happy to help Riley! 😀
Very clear,easy and upto the point for Understanding..thank you
Buddha has a pure SCIENTIFIC Approach...he should be consider as Scientist..
You’re very welcome chandrakant! 🙏
very clear and brief. so many people muddy these points when trying to convey them.
Thank you Matteo, much appreciated. I’m glad you found the discussion worthwhile.
Thank you for your clear explanations of the Buddha`s teachings . I have been a Mitra for just over a year now and your approach is very refreshing and gives my practice more zest.
You are very welcome Carolyn, thanks for the comment!
Great video Doug. I can see my clinging to views about inequality, racism etc.. Now to try and figure out how to be socially engaged in important social issues while still not clinging to the views. 🙏🏽
Yes, that's the journey. It's not easy! 🙏
Best explanation I've ever heard.
Thanks for the kind words, Jayyo.
this series is fantastic. thank you so much! in my continuing studies, because there is so much Buddhist material out there, I often find my understanding/knowledge feeling spread too thin. it's lovely to come back to the basics and focus on my depth rather than breadth of understanding. thank you for providing this tool for greater understanding. cheers🤙🏼
You're very welcome Graham, glad to help!
Clear explanation, particularly discussing the three types of right view and the accompanying explanations. The music around minutes five through eight was slightly aggravating though .... at least it was through headphones.
Yes, the use of music in a few of my early videos was an experiment that I haven't continued with since!
Great video! This is the best channel about the subject. I am from Brazil and there is little information about secular Buddhism here. Thank you for the great content!
Thanks for watching, Felipe! 👍
I actually really enjoyed the ambient music. Kudos to the producer and musician.
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This is my third time watching your "eight noble paths" Playlist. Just one thing though, I didn't like the music. Or it was maybe too loud. Drowns out your voice. ❤️
Yes, you're not the first person to notice that problem ... Apologies! It was an early experiment with the format. Unfortunately there is no way I can change the videos now, but rest assured I'm not using music anymore. If I ever do decide to go back to background music in the future it'll be done differently. 😬🙂
I agree that the music is distracting from the message. "Keep it simple" said the Buddha (or not!)
@@DougsDharma yay allelujah praise the Buddha-simple-silent
Thank you, it is very helpful
My pleasure!
That's a great intellectual (not conceptual) understanding of the topic.
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Hey Doug,
Thank you for the very good video.
"Bhikkhu's, I do not see even a single thing so blameworthy as wrong view. Wrong view is the worst of things that are blameworthy"
Thanks for watching, Joris!
And conversely, "Bhikkhus, I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen wholesome qualities arise and arisen wholesome qualities increase and expand so much as right view."
It was useful thank you very much !
Very welcome Alfred! 🙏
The Buddha in Samyutta Nikaya 12:15 in his explanation to the Ven Kaccanagotta stated that "the one with Right View does not become engaged and cling through that engagement and mental standpoint, adherence, underlying tendency; he does not take a stand about 'my self'. He has no perplexity that what arises is suffering arising, what ceases is only suffering ceasing. It is in this way, Kaccana, that there is right view"
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this is my first time, and doug this was fantastically useful and also. CLEAR!
which, i suppose, is to say that you conducted your thoughts into speech that was skillful.
I am new to the whole buddhist thing. Quite secular all my life (ie, religion and spirit held no place for me)
I have started looking into buddhism as a way to control my emotions better. To allay the internal angst and fear that wells up.
And so far on my first step up the mountain, it seems to be working.
So once again, thankyou for this clear instruction, and I will certainly be seeking your voice amongst the chorus as I practice these skills.
You're very welcome Paul, thanks for your comment! Yes I've been secular as well, Buddhist practice can be a great fit.
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Excellent explanation! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, Doug!
My pleasure!
Thank you for this video Doug!
My pleasure Crossfade!
I really think it's more important to do deeper studies into the aspects of Buddhism. A lot of people make the mistake of just going over each aspect vaguely and never deepening their understanding.
Yes, both through study and practice. It does take time.
that place looks really pretty : D
😄👍
Thank you for this! Buddhism makes a lot of sense when you speak from an secular point of view. Can you please do a video about no-self and the 5 aggregates?
Thanks Joakim! I have a video coming up in awhile on non-self, the five aggregates would also be a good idea for a video though may be a bit technical for some folks ... 🙂
Doug's Secular Dharma Thank you! I am looking forward to that
Great video, Doug!
Thanks a lot Andre, glad you liked it!
Thanks
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Thank you Doug 💜
You’re very welcome Ana!
Thanks for the analysis and explanation of right view!
One thing I found interesting is you mentioned that the traditional Buddhist idea of wrong view is of people that deny rebirth, eg. there is one life and that's it (annihilationism). At first I was uncomfortable with "magical stuff" like rebirth, devas, etc. but then when I really read it and tried to be generous instead of dismissive I found that it was super helpful to keep me in the present moment and take the practice much more seriously! It's definitely not true that an annihilationist simply "cannot" be expected to act ethically, but that they would be more willing to do unethical things under duress.
That's not really something that's guaranteed though, but at least for me, after believing in rebirth, I took the buddhist path more seriously. I now feel that anything unethical I do can have consequences for me eventually, rather than I can do stupid stuff this life, die forever, and everyone else can just clean up my mess.
If it works for you then that’s great Swastik, thanks.
Actually without believing in rebirth,right view can be achieved.Right view is part of fourth noble truth,which means it is a path to end if suffering. If you believe in suffering,then there is right view.
I loved your video i am confused. How do we use the the right view on practice? With the practical way in our lives? Could i have an example please considering 4 noble truths?
Well right view begins with the idea that there is a difference between right and wrong. To follow it well though we should follow the whole of the Eightfold Path, including ethical conduct, meditation, and pursuit of wisdom.
@@DougsDharma and determines what is right or wrong? It is wrong for example if brings suffering to us or others and right if nobody is hurted? Because sometimes we have to take decisions. How we can know if is the right or wrong one?
@@VasiaMple What matters most is your motivation. Is it kindness, compassion? Or is it anger, greed? If the former, you are on good ground. There are also middle cases that we all have to navigate, and there are not always clear answers.
@@DougsDharma thank you very much. That was helpful 😃
"And how is right view the forerunner? One discerns wrong view as wrong view, and right view as right view. This is one's right view. And what is wrong view? 'There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing sacrificed. There is no fruit or result of good or bad actions. There is no this world, no next world, no mother, no father, no spontaneously reborn beings; no brahmans or contemplatives who, faring rightly & practicing rightly, proclaim this world & the next after having directly known & realized it for themselves.' This is wrong view...
"One tries to abandon wrong view & to enter into right view: This is one's right effort. One is mindful to abandon wrong view & to enter & remain in right view: This is one's right mindfulness. Thus these three qualities - right view, right effort, & right mindfulness - run & circle around right view."
- MN 117
“When, friends, a noble disciple understands the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome, in that way he is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has unwavering confidence in the Dhamma and has arrived at this true Dhamma.
“And what, friends, is the unwholesome, what is the root of the unwholesome, what is the wholesome, what is the root of the wholesome? Killing living beings is unwholesome; taking what is not given is unwholesome; misconduct in sensual pleasures is unwholesome; false speech is unwholesome; malicious speech is unwholesome; harsh speech is unwholesome; gossip is unwholesome; covetousness is unwholesome; ill will is unwholesome; wrong view is unwholesome. This is called the unwholesome.
“And what is the root of the unwholesome? Greed is a root of the unwholesome; hate is a root of the unwholesome; delusion is a root of the unwholesome. This is called the root of the unwholesome.
“And what is the wholesome? Abstention from killing living beings is wholesome; abstention from taking what is not given is wholesome; abstention from misconduct in sensual pleasures is wholesome; abstention from false speech is wholesome; abstention from malicious speech is wholesome; abstention from harsh speech is wholesome; abstention from gossip is wholesome; uncovetousness is wholesome; non-ill will is wholesome; right view is wholesome. This is called the wholesome.
“And what is the root of the wholesome? Non-greed is a root of the wholesome; non-hate is a root of the wholesome; non-delusion is a root of the wholesome. This is called the root of the wholesome.
“When a noble disciple has thus understood the unwholesome and the root of the unwholesome, the wholesome and the root of the wholesome, he entirely abandons the underlying tendency to lust, he abolishes the underlying tendency to aversion, he extirpates the underlying tendency to the view and conceit ‘I am,’ and by abandoning ignorance and arousing true knowledge he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way too a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has unwavering confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma.”
-- MN 9
Thank you Doug 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Really important video
You're very welcome David! 🙏
Hi Doug, I went to Sutta central and typed in mundane right view and nothing shows up. Can you please post the sutta/s that talk about mundane and supramundane right view? Thank you sir. 🙏🏽
Bhikkhu Sujato translates it "right view that is accompanied by defilements." You can find it for example in MN 117.7: suttacentral.net/mn117/en/sujato
Thank you Sir. 🙏🏽
Hi Doug, thanks for your videos. what's your view on Non-duality?
I did a video about it here: th-cam.com/video/43v6lLweukg/w-d-xo.html
Enjoyed the video. Thanks. However, the music was distracting. The natural bird songs are soothing enough.
Thanks for the comment Leo. Yup, I’m aware that the music was too loud in a few videos. You’ll be happy to know I’m not putting music in the newer videos.
Right view (samma ditthi) is wholesome view, equanimous, complete, coherent, correct, true, wise and kind view as opposed to false, defiled, biased, corrupted, harmful, judgemental view. Kamma and rebirth actually comes under supramundane right view as they are to be directly realized.
Thanks Susmita. The conceptual view of kamma and rebirth comes under mundane right view, as we see in MN 117: "And what is right view that is accompanied by defilements, has the attributes of good deeds, and ripens in attachment? There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are duties to mother and father. There are beings reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are well attained and practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight." suttacentral.net/mn117/en/sujato
That said, a direct vision of such things would indeed come under supramundane right view.
It is likely that the concepts "mundane" and "supramundane" in the context of right view actually postdate the Buddha since they do not appear in other recensions of MN 117, which is the only place they appear in that context in the suttas. Anālayo discusses this in his Comparative Study of the Majjhima Nikāya.
How do we access the work and writings of Paul Fuller other than purchasing his very expensive books?
This is the problem of academic publishers. There might be some uploaded to academia.edu, I'm not sure.
Thanks! 😊
You're very welcome John!
Dear Doug, My honest review of this video is that this video should have been based on the Sutta of Great Forty of the Majjima Nikaya. I think the principle behind Noble Eightfold Path is best described there. Even Lord Buddha said that the sutta of Great Forty has been rolled forth and cannot be rolled back. I would say that this Sutta is the one of the most important in Majjima Nikaya and Noble Eightfold fold path is better explained on basis of this.
Thanks, yes that's also a very fine sutta.
@@DougsDharma I will rate you highly as an expert if you explain the Sutta of Great Forty for me.
I did a video on it awhile back: th-cam.com/video/MhKWykJr7ZM/w-d-xo.html
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Is right view a part of fourth noble truth or four noble truth is a part of right view?If right view a part of fourth noble truth,then is there any problem on believing only on kamma as right view?
Does it matter which is part of which?
Hi Doug, no matter how much I listen to talks about this i still don't understand what it is i am supposed ti do besides meditate. Is there something practical i can do to understand it better? Thank you 🙏
The three aims in Buddhism are ethics, meditation, and wisdom. Wisdom comes from proper ethical practice and meditation. So it's really those two that are the heart of Buddhist practice.
@@DougsDharmaok so ethics as in keeping the precepts and practicing loving kindness and generosity etc?
Is it correct? if i say wrong view is one factor which conceal impermanent.
Yes, ignorance and wrong views can be factors for believing things are permanent Koin Kham.
@@DougsDharma
Could you explain more about how ignorance is conceal impermanence ?
Doug, please I'd like to know is what you say at 2:26 cannon? That's critical opposing information.
Yes, the argument he provides in the texts is ethical. I have another video where I go into this a bit more: th-cam.com/video/LgN3MT6m4zI/w-d-xo.html
Without right view, there is no other seven paths.
This video is not working.
Could you please fix it. This playlist is what I been seeking for.
From 20 secs to 3 mins is un responsive
It seems to work for me. I’m wondering if it might be a connection issue on your end. 🙏
Thank you Doug. I am looking into the source of issue. Other videos play fine for some reason.
Thank you.
I really appreciate this succinct discussion of right view, however the music is distracting and extraneous. I will not likely listen again because of it.
Thanks, and sorry about the music. It was a very early experiment in a handful of videos on my channel, but I haven’t used it for years.
Ok! Good to know 🙏
Why secular? What was communal about the original? Sorry I don’t mean any disrespect, just curious.
I'm not sure about your question NoAgenda. What do you mean? I'm a secular practitioner in that I'm skeptical of speculative, supernatural claims. A this-life practice however is perfect for me.
@@DougsDharma thanks for replying. I think I understand your response, I agree that any belief about life after death ( rebirth or no rebirth) is for most of us a ‘belief’ and not ‘first hand knowledge’, so it makes practical sense to not attach too much importance to it. To explain my question (because you asked, even though you have already answered) I was wondering why you felt the need to attach the word secular (most often meant as no religious affiliation) to Buddhism, because I feel that the original as taught by the Buddha was in itself a move away from religious dogma and hence secular to begin with. Now, I see that to you secular is to not choose sides on the rebirth question. Thanks for the great videos you create.
Hello sir please also add commentaries on dhammapada all its verses it would be beneficial for the mankind.
Thanks for the suggestion Sourav but that is way too big a project! If I were to do commentaries on the Dhammapada I would do the chapters rather than the verses and I would probably do so as a course over at onlinedharma.org.
Thanks sir, awaiting for your chapterwise course on dhammapada. I think it will enlighten us to a great extent.
Sir you know Baba saheb
Namo Buddya 🙏🏻☸️☸️☸️
Yes, I did a video on Dr. Ambedkar awhile back! th-cam.com/video/qlH_qieCgCA/w-d-xo.html
great content, no need for the intrusive music though.
Yes it was an experiment, haven’t used it for years now.
If you have doubts in next life, what is your take on Dependent Origination? Also, to attain full absorption of mediation, one must abandon the five hindrances, and one of which is doubt. If you have doubts in next life, it seems to be a very difficult task to achieve the goal.
Thanks for the question GC. I have written about Dependent Origination in the past, and may do a video about it eventually. It's complicated. :)
As for doubt, I think the hindrance of doubt is doubt about the practice and the path. If one felt that belief in rebirth was key to practice, then it would be an issue. If not, not.
Doug's Secular Dharma Thank you for the quick response. I would love to see your video on Dependent Origination.
music big mistake
Yes it didn't work very well. Apologies!
Yes, unfortunately very disturbing. Otherwise the talk is excellent.
I liked it
3:21
Just this, the music is a bit distracting.
Yes, apologies Robert it was an early experiment. I don't add music anymore.
"Mundane Right View" and its necessity to believe in rebirth (as a precondition for ethical behaviour) reminds me a lot of Immanuel Kant's "pragmatic god". In his "Critique of Pure Reason", Kant argued that moral behaviour requires that god's existence is assumed, owing to practical (!) reason. In other words: If you don't believe in a god who guarantess an afterlife where ethical behaviour can and will be rewarded by happiness, there's no real motivation for us to act ethically.
I totally reject this "argument" or belief (as well as any idea of rebirth). In my humble opinion it's all about the four noble truths (or the four noble tasks, as Stephen Batchelor puts it). In the beginning, there can be a conceptual understanding. That's fine. But without practice and experiencing the cessation of reactivity and suffering, this conceptual understanding is only superficial. What is necessary is experiential understanding. That's genuine Right View - in my opinion.
Thanks for the Video, Doug! 🙏
Yes, agreed xiao mao. Right view is all about seeing the necessity of non-attachment.
The purpose of the 8 fold path is to reduce suffering in THIS life. Also, I'd take Rebirth over Hell any day!
@@kenwallach5718 I don’t believe in rebirth
Music disturbs
Yes I haven't used music in my videos for years now. 😊
Rebirth was taught by the Buddha because he saw it. Shame you distort the teachings to try and suit your ignorance
Did somebody say; "Sexier Buddhist" ???