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Basic Buddhist Teachings (Spring 19 - The Person Who Uses the Tiger)
Today, the practice of mindfulness, concentration, and insight is the essence. Mindfulness is the seed that leads us to the Buddha; concentration is the undistracted focus on the object of observation; insight arises from concentration. The three important samadhis are:
- The emptiness samadhi – concentrating on emptiness, non-self;
- The signlessness samadhi – recognizing the non-fixed nature of all forms;
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The aimlessness samadhi – ceasing all running after external things in order to touch the wonders already present in body and mind.
In daily life, with each step of walking meditation, washing the dishes, or eating a meal, we can dwell in mindfulness, thereby nourishing concentration and giving rise to insight.
Faith is the second seed, an antidote to the hungry ghosts – those who live “lonely,” without faith. Faith is based on three elements: the reality, the virtue, and the capacity of the Three Jewels. To transform the hungry ghost within and to cultivate the roots of spirituality in ourselves, we need to take refuge in the sangha, our second family, and live according to the six principles of harmony (Lục Hòa):
- Harmony in dwelling together
- Sharing benefits equally
- Observing precepts together
- Speaking harmoniously
- Sharing views and understanding
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Harmony in intention and joy
combined with mindfulness to build a foundation of peace and stability.