The Gradual Training: An Early Buddhist Map of the Path
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- What is the "gradual training"? It's a map of the path we find in early Buddhism, leading from our first inkling of the dharma up to nirvana itself. We will discuss "gradual training" as an idea, and then turn to the map itself, pointing out its major landmarks as found in the early suttas.
☸️ Free mini-course at the Online Dharma Institute: onlinedharma.org.
🧡 If you find this material useful, check out my Patreon page and get fun benefits like exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: / dougsseculardharma
🧡 You can also make donations through: paypal.me/doug...
✅ Videos mentioned:
Playlist on the Noble Eightfold Path: • The Noble Eightfold Path
Sudden and Gradual Awakening: • Sudden and Gradual Awa...
Minimalism: • Buddhism and Minimalism
Equanimity Through Sense Restraint: • Equanimity Through Sen...
The Five Hindrances: • What are the Five Hind...
✅ Suttas mentioned:
suttacentral.n...
suttacentral.n...
suttacentral.n...
suttacentral.n...
suttacentral.n...
Facebook: / onlinedharmainstitute
Twitter: / dougsdharma
❤️ Thanks to Patreon Patrons:
Anonymous (1)
Matthew Smith
Kathy Voldstad
Bob Snead
JC
Pritom Phookun
Shantha Wengappuli
Margo
Karma_CAC
Johan Thelander
Michael Roe
Jorge Seguel
Christopher Apostolof
GailJM
Steven Kopp
Brett Merritt
David Bell
T Pham
VCR
LaShanda Williams
Upayadhi
Andi and Erik
Steve Marlor
ATGuerrero686
Michael Scherrer
Michael Seefeld
Ernie
#onlinedharmainstitute #buddhism #earlybuddhism #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!
Check out this video next on taking the Noble Truths as practices: th-cam.com/video/gKIlz5I_0HA/w-d-xo.html
Consider joining us on Patreon if you find benefit in these videos, and get fun extras like exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
Doug I love how you stick to the early Buddhist texts (Pali Canon) and your own personal experience instead of any of the diluted "new age" Buddhism that is so often taught in the west.
Well I try to stick to the material that interests me the most, at least in general! Thanks for the comment Sanku. 🙏
Been with you since your earliest vids. This is the best buddhist show on TH-cam by far.
Thanks BlueBoo!
I am Buddhist from Thailand. Your video is appreciating. You have kind of good understanding about Dharma though the content has slight difference as it is in English version. You did well. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu.
Thank you very much, very kind of you to say. 🙏
Thank you, Doug. You seem to provide a simple, experiential and broad explanation of Buddhist Dharma that is so often so obscured by over elaboration - perhaps because you focus on early Buddhism and the social and historical contexts from which they emerge. I recently became very interested in the progressive 'Samatha' meditation illustration (as Tibetan thangka, which I then reproduced as a linocut) described in detail by Robert Beer. I think your explanation here helps in expanding the idea of progressive training ... especially for those approaching Theravada Buddhism from outside the monastic path. Thanks again.
You're very welcome Timbo, I'm not familiar with that Tibetan thangka but early meditation practice is quite a fascinating study indeed!
Please tell us in a separate video, how to go about training children from Age 6 to 14 about Dhamma, when they need some teaching to develop at this age..
Unfortunately I don't have much experience with that. I think maybe looking at some of the introductory teachings would be good with children.
@@DougsDharma Thanks Sir
Your work will awakening people and change the world in the future.
Well let's hope that such wise teachings make a difference in the world. Thanks Kim.
Doug you never miss! Blessings
Thanks Shivika! 🙏🙂
You're right Doug, for me at least it's been essential to have a bit of a route map of my journey in Buddhism, with some realistic goals. I seem to have only had a relationship with Buddhism as of this lifetime, and I'd like to think I can build on this, now and in any lifetime to come. I can't be sure whether I have encountered Buddhism before this lifetime, but I'm definitely early in my learning and training.
Initially Buddhist teachings were a revelation and overwhelming, and I clung doggedly to the Pali Canon and Theravadin teachings. It felt safe. But I have now begun to embrace Mahayana traditions and I essentially just try to stick to Buddha's own advice to ask if there is merit in what I am learning, and to act on that accordingly. I think my greatest breakthrough to date has been better understanding of non-self and the teaching of the Heart Sutra. While thats been a real leap forward, I accept that there's a long road ahead of me. I think I'd rather learn slowly and well, and walk the noble path mindfully, than sprint and miss any essential understanding through haste. Thank you, this was really interesting and thought provoking.
Great! Yes I think it’s important for us to read and learn, finding the path that resonates best for us. 🙏
Thank you, Doug. I appreciate you making this video.
My pleasure, Jacob!
I’ve read many books about Buddhism for years before encountering the suttas for myself. It was so exciting and liberating for me, so much so that I could not read another book about Buddhism. The suttas are just so much closer to the source (the Buddha). One of the concepts that inspired me was... the gradual training. I too wonder why it was hardly referenced in any other books. Thanks Doug for this video! My only comment is that I felt you shld have mentioned seeing past lives and understanding the law of karma (as the last 2 steps in the gradual training) instead of skipping over them, you could then comment on why you are not comfortable about these concepts. Nevertheless thank you for this wonderful video!
You're very welcome MengHaw! Yes, I didn't mention all the various aspects of the gradual training. If you look for example at DN 2 there is a huge amount associated with it, way too much for me to get into in a short video. Folks who are interested are encouraged to check out the links in the show notes and learn more!
Turn that layman joins monastery is actually not the important part of the path. I guess that's why actually it's not emphasize d as you rightly mentioned. Even the term Sangha means a group of (4 stages and eight types according to the suttas that we chant even today) enlightened beings (there's not even a gender differentiation s here) rather than just monks as its so misunderstood and traditionally promoted by most monks.
I've noticed after reading the Pali suttas myself that a lot of the books on Buddhism feel often times confused. They have a tendency to mix Mahayana and Theravada philosophy together which can be off putting.
Good one, Doug!
Thanks Maxwell!
Your lecture is with lots of clarity. Thanks..
You're most welcome Arvind. 🙏
There are several kinds of practicing and awakening.
From gradual methodic practicing to gradual awakening.
From gradual methodic practicing to sudden awakening.
From sudden nondual practing to sudden enlightenment.
As Zeno's paradox, Enlighment come true when ready Nondual Nirvana.
Have nice life.
A wonderful video, Doug!
Thankyou for sharing.
I have read quite a lot of Thich Nhat Hanh books, and had quite forgotten the Zen point about washing dishes!
Yes he was a wonderful teacher.
great video, I had somehow missed this one, I take pride in being a completionist of your videography!
I wonder about the tension between gradual training and sudden awakening in Zen (and arguably the Buddha's own story with the bodhi tree). Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
I have a video on that! th-cam.com/video/p0tI1ZjiIQ4/w-d-xo.html 😄
Listening in joy… while washing dishes. :) :) :)
Perfect! 😄
in my comunity everyone uses the satipatana suta is a roadmap towards enlightment, I know some people how uses the gradualtraining as such, but me, I tend to think of the bodhipakkhiyādhammā as a more precise road map to enlightment, Am I wrong?
There are many roads, many instructions and pathways to the same end in Buddhism. Pick the one you find most congenial.
Doug, would this list work as a basic map to awakening?
Path to Awakening
1. 3 Marks of Existence
2. 4 Noble Truths
3. Noble 8 Fold Path
4. 5 Precepts
5. 3 Poisons
6. Natural Law of karma
7. Merit
8. Brahma Vihara
9. Extensive Meditation training
10. 4 Jhanas
11. 7 Factors of Enlightenment
12. Elimination of 10 Fetters
13. Awakening 🙏🏽
Also would you change the order or add anything?
Peace Out 🙏🏽
Hard to say, but that's a good list for sure!
One of my biggest frustrations is being unable to accurately perceive progress in anything I do. Even if the measure was an _immense_ barrel I was slowly filling one drop at a time, it would still be perceived progress. Grrrr..... Of course, life doesn't work that way.
Yes that’s right. Often we do gain progress in small things but the slightly larger ones are beyond us. Or, indeed, we find ourselves taking two steps forward and one step back. It’s normal!
Sadhu Sadhu
Thank you!
🙏🙂
Thanks Doug.
Very welcome!
It’s good to be skeptical about something unfamiliar to you however it’s just as much if one were to be overly skeptical about something unaware to you because it can create an unhealthy mental contradiction or paradox that will distract you from progress in your goal. As for the esoterica and supernatural phenomenon of advanced meditation practices there is simply no _need_ to obsess over what experience is real or not real or even attempting to logically explain or rationalize it because these all rely on preconceived notions that complicity contain their own biases in order to exist in the first place. Like a river reality is a moving and continuously changing entity and words, concepts, ideas, and even logic are all like photographs of this river. These models are just tools to represent reality and not reality themselves. Any experience you have or testimony of an experience someone else has is simply just that. And like reality you can just accept things as they are and move on mentally and focus on your goal. Thinking is not doing, and in order to get anything done you must simply do to either find success, or not find it.
💙Jay Bhim 💙 Namo Buddhay 💙📚🙏
Sadhu Sadhu sadhu
🙏😊
Sir...I have a question for you. How should we deal with hostile enemies according to Buddist philosophy? Shouldn't we use wepons against our enemies in life threatening situation?
Well the Buddha was quite consistent in being pacifist, against violence of any kind. That said, I think he probably understood that lay householders (rather than monastics) were likely to use violence in certain circumstances, e.g., to protect their lives or property.
@@DougsDharma thank you sir🙏
It should be the last possible option.
Do you have any videos explaining in more detail the four jhanas?
Yes, this video on Right Concentration discusses the jhānas: th-cam.com/video/GWcOb1y0xGk/w-d-xo.html
@@DougsDharma thanks Doug. Wonderful video 🙂
Dear Doug, can you please do a video on the role of female in Buddhism? I, a young female myself, have always been interested in Zen Buddhism. I know there are female monks in Buddhism, but that’s about it. I don’t want to make this just about gender like a male vs female thing. I just wonder if the view on practice for women, and spirituality for female is different. I know I come from a very dualist point of view on this topic. However if it really didn’t matter wouldn’t we see more female masters? Have there been any important spiritual females in history for Buddhism for example? Kind regards! (And again I want to state that I don’t mean this in a divisive way)
Hi Kim Jong and thanks for your question! I do have an earlier video on women in Buddhism that you can see here: th-cam.com/video/864ksDOZwXk/w-d-xo.html
Sorry to add this question to this video. A couple of weeks ago I watched one of your videos and you were recommending various books, I believe the ones that are over your left shoulder in view to us subscribers. Can't for the life of me remember what the video was called or even how old it is as I am new to practice and watching your videos in random order.
No problem Anthony. I think you're talking about my recent video on early Buddhism: th-cam.com/video/0dCG2fheAQs/w-d-xo.html
@@DougsDharma Spot on Doug. Many thanks.
I'm curious, what does your practice look like? You must have a routine?
Sure, take a look at this video: th-cam.com/video/ncECq2tcHnc/w-d-xo.html
Is there any limit to the value of re(reviewing) theses mini masterpieces!? I am even looking for a systematic approach to reviewing them all (experimenting with grouping them under the rubrics of Sila, Samadhi, and Panna, or even the full 8 planks of the Noble Path). You have gifted us all with a huge (and growing) body of work. Even compare and contrast works at this point, e.g. pairing this vid with your explication of ''Sudden and Gradual Awakening''. I even remember one on a sort of ''circularly ascending'' method.
On the tension of the householder cf. to the monastic- does any one of the standard collections of the Suttas (I have finally saved enough to nab one of the huge Bhikkhu Bodhi tomes!) contain a greater number of Suttas aimed at the householder? It might make a great episode to look at the various tomes (rapidly becoming the standard English source) and share your evaluations of various ways one might choose one over another as a first choice. I treasure the ''In the Buddha's Words'' anthology, as well as the on line sources, but ''desire'' (as in ''attached desire'', unfortunately!) to feel the weight of a thousand some odd pages resting against my belly!
Knowing the er, ''thoroughness'' (read: tyranny) of the all powerful YT algorithm, I'd not be surprised if channels are penalized by viewers snapping off the ads at the first opportunity. Does it benefit the channel in any way to let them play out (and perhaps using them as a cue for a moment of mindful breathing!)? If so, it might be a way for cash strapped viewers to help out in some small way. I don't know enough about the YT ''set up'', except that NOTHING goes unmeasured or unpunished. Just a thought/question! Metta!
Thanks for that, Smitty! I don't know that any of the Nikāyas has more about householders than another, they all have suttas directed at monastics most of all, and a few at householders as well. The standard "first choice" that Bhikkhu Bodhi takes is to use the Majjhima Nikāya as the jumping-off point. That seems reasonable to me, it's the "middle" one after all. As for ads, yes it would help for folks to see them all the way through, then comment or "like", but it's not something I can control! 😄😄
@@DougsDharma Many thanks! I've asked several experienced folks and the consensus seems to be the M.N. is the best choice. I'm also looking forward to getting your exegesis of the Mahamangala Sutta- the reviews are stellar! Since we chant a portion of this Sutta at the Wat, it will be great to ''take it to heart'' by a more skillful means that trying to learn Pali!
For example, I remember one short sutta where the Buddha explained the gradual training something like hearing, remembering, contemplation, faith, exertion, experience the truth in body and mind. I thought this was the fundamental steps as it exactly matches 4 factors of stream entry.
It could be that it is explained somewhere like that in the early suttas. If you find the citation let me know.
@@DougsDharma i looked it up for you. it is mn 95:
"When, on observing that the monk is purified with regard to qualities based on delusion, he places conviction in him. With the arising of conviction, he visits him & grows close to him. Growing close to him, he lends ear. Lending ear, he hears the Dhamma. Hearing the Dhamma, he remembers it. Remembering it, he penetrates the meaning of those dhammas. Penetrating the meaning, he comes to an agreement through pondering those dhammas. There being an agreement through pondering those dhammas, desire arises. With the arising of desire, he becomes willing. Willing, he contemplates [lit: "weighs," "compares"]. Contemplating, he makes an exertion. Exerting himself, he both realizes the ultimate meaning of the truth with his body and sees by penetrating it with discernment.
"To this extent, Bharadvaja, there is an awakening to the truth. To this extent one awakens to the truth. I describe this as an awakening to the truth. But it is not yet the final attainment of the truth."
[Kapadika Bharadvaja:] "Yes, Master Gotama, to this extent there is an awakening to the truth. To this extent one awakens to the truth. We regard this as an awakening to the truth. But to what extent is there the final attainment of the truth? To what extent does one finally attain the truth? We ask Master Gotama about the final attainment of the truth."
[Buddha:] "The cultivation, development, & pursuit of those very same qualities: to this extent, Bharadvaja, there is the final attainment of the truth. To this extent one finally attains the truth. I describe this as the final attainment of the truth."
@@Amorhoo Yes, thanks that's similar.
@@DougsDharma similar, how? There's no requirement to become a monk here.
I've always thought, it took the Buddha six years to discover the Dharma. He has all the lists, all the parables, all questions answered. If we have all his shortcuts, so to speak (we don't have to discover these truths ourselves), shouldn't it only take six years at most to achieve awakening? Again, since we have all the so-called shortcuts to the Dharma? (Shortcuts may be a misleading term, but you get what I mean.)
I wouldn't worry too much about how other people may or may not progress in their practice, best just to focus on your own. Each of us are different.
@@DougsDharma Sorry, dumb question, I occasionally have those ;) (And I don't mean that self-effacingly.) We really sh9uld be focused on the fact that the Buddha outlined a path at all, genius that he most certainly was.
Thanks for this video Doug. I did find myself wondering though whether a desire to see progress along the path might be considered a kind of 'clinging' and therefore in a way counterproductive? Is there a way of seeing progress in a non-linear, non-clinging way?
Well yes, in much contemporary teaching we are urged not to cling to the path, in a kind of Zen ideal of "no effort". In the early teachings though a mild clinging to the path was seen as potentially useful. I did an earlier video on this topic: th-cam.com/video/ZTqibLMY1LM/w-d-xo.html
Greetings Dough. I was wondering, as per the Buddhist Teachings what fraction of our words can really influence someone else’s reality? Cam wishing someone dead really kill them?
We can't do harm to others simply by thinking. But still, thought can be harmful by laying down the tendency to react badly, since action tends to follow thought.
@@DougsDharma thank you so much Doug. May the Blessings of the Triple Gem always be with you!
Talk about Dignāga and Dharmakirti who created the first system of Buddhist Logic and epistemology.
It's something I might do someday, but in general my channel focuses on early Buddhism, before these scholastic systems of logic were set up.
@@DougsDharma I know but you will able to make a lot of videos. 😁 👍
Have you considered doing a video on The Fire Sermon where 1000 bhikkhus heard the words spoken by the Buddha and all were liberated?
I've thought about it Aron, it's something I might do eventually! 🙂
I just found interest in the Buddhism practice and lessons...About 4months ago...and I was trying to listen to your videos as well as others... but when I had joined some Facebook groups...I got discourage and stop listening tour videos... this was about a month ago. Anyways....how many months or years...does it take to really learn the the fundamentals? I know learning is the rest of my life...but...I Hope understand my question.
There's no easy answer to that question, but I wouldn't get too worried about learning the fundamentals. Practicing is the most important thing. You can check out my playlist on beginning Buddhist practice for more.
Hi sir ,I hope you are doing well !
Sir my name ismahboob zegham from Afghanistan , currently living in Kabul city. And
I want to become a better being in this universe.
So I decided to be a Buddhist and I am really confused about everything !
How can I start ?
Would you mind helping me dear sir ?
I'd suggest beginning by checking out my playlists on "New to Buddhism": th-cam.com/play/PL0akoU_OszRjpRP1nwugCGAJF15oPbBLv.html
and "Beginning Buddhist Practice": th-cam.com/play/PL0akoU_OszRihO7Z4ynccF5rmGgyfNLQr.html
@@DougsDharma tnx so much sir I really appreciate it
Is there a path to nirvana? - The path does not exist, but it can be walked
Doug's Dharma, have you ever done a long retreat before?
I've done a lot of shorter retreats, no very long ones. Someday I'd love to, the problem is getting the time, and also they can be expensive.
Passivism vs Pacifism :praise:
Beautiful Universally Dharma Display Humanity Almighty, LORD Boundless Overviews Destiny Hallmarks Infinite Sovereignty Attest Testament Truths Visualisation Awaken ONE Enlighten Timeless Eyewitness Reviews Nexus Acknowledges Light Logos Yourself.
Future, present, past, time is not fact being in the end, that is another time beginning just do make more Space.
Universe has no beginning no end, is just being do create conscious time. Do play them gods upon playground that rocks galore, are being us Lord.
Doctrines is being a guide for those who do wish one day in one lifetime become truly oneself own individual self enlightened and then one day in one lifetime do graduate become is always self enlightened in lifetimes, no matter what is being limitations and attributes be outfitted Avatar 1 Host vehicle for experience in time. Know then be no rules, do lord Self.
👁️
Peace..
Are you on the path?
Sure.
@@DougsDharma you a Buddha yet?