Thursday, December 08, 2005
May all of you have an enlightening Bodhi Day!
On our holiday blog calendar, you will find that today is the Buddhist holiday of Bodhi day.
It celebrates the day that Prince Gautama Siddhartha achieved enlightenment, and became the original Buddha.
The basic things he learned that day were the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path.
The Four Noble Truths are:
1. Suffering is universal. No one escapes.
2. The cause of suffering is ignorance. Ignorance of self is the greatest ignorance.
3. Ignorance can be overcome.
4. The way to overcome ignorance is the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path includes:
- Right Views means to keep ourselves free from prejudice, superstition and delusion... and to see aright the true nature of life.
- Right Thoughts means to turn away from the hypocrisies of this world and to direct our minds toward Truth and Positive Attitudes and Action.
- Right Speech means to refrain from pointless and harmful talk... to speak kindly and courteously to all.
- Right Conduct means to see that our deeds are peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure... and to live the Teachings daily.
- Right Livelihood means to earn our living in such a way as to entail no evil consequences. To seek that employment to which can give our complete enthusiasm and devotion.
- Right Effort means to direct our efforts continually to the overcoming of ignorance and craving desires.
- Right Mindfulness means to cherish good and pure thoughts, for all that we say and do arises from our thoughts.
- Right Meditation means to concentrate on the Oneness of all life and the Buddhahood that exists within all beings.
I got this information from
Heronwing's Site, and
The Buddhist Temple of Chicago.
I find it interesting that I can't find any blogs where people are celebrating this day. I'll keep searching though!
Posted at 11:47 am by
JanaBanana
