18. What is what?

What am I? If we want to make a sophisticated answer, it would be “there is no me” and there is no one or no item. All things are the combined element only. If we want to make a simple answer so other people can understand, it would be “we are a living created by nature”.

All living are born only to have perception (feeling). No living could hold the natural items as his (perhaps for a temporary period). Any stupid living could hold that the life is “his” and other items are “his”. Then such living could suffer (there is no one really suffering). Any smart living which dose not hold on to “selfness” and dose not hold that the item are his, such living will not suffer (there is no one really suffering).  The nature has created human with ultimate misconception (Avijja) that selfness is inside every mind of people. That is how nature makes fun of human or how natures deceive.  However it dose not deceive anyone because there is no one deceived. It has deceived the mind of nature (when we understand the meaning of no-self, the problem of life after death will be gone because we understand that “there is no birth of selfness so there is no death of selfness”.

19. What has Buddha taught?

Buddha has taught only “how to get rid of the current suffering” because it is most urgent and essential.  The most wonderful thing is no suffering throughout our life (it is a dream to get rid of suffering in the future life for those knowing nothing about “no-self” because it is fully implanted with the teaching of Hinduism).

The four noble truths are the heart teaching of Buddha to get rid of suffering. The point is that: suffering is caused by selfness and cessation of suffering is caused by no-self.

Buddhism follows the scientific as it does not teach anyone to believe other persons including textbooks and reasoning. However one should believe in what has been tested by himself, believe when there is a proof. And no teaching of Buddha is involved with astrology and black magic but the teaching is that one should depend on himself not other people or any spirit.

There are no rituals or ceremonies in Buddhism. Buddhism is the religion for those with wisdom, honesty, determination and sacrifice, However, those with such qualities seem to be small in number. There are a few because there are those who are not strictly bound to religion and prejudice if there is a reason and scientific method so they will accept.

20.What are the four noble truths?

The four noble truths are the “concept to get rid of current suffering” In brief, the concept is to set the “mind clear”. That is the mind without desire at all times. The way to get a clear mind is through wisdom in no-self (Anatta) (and some other things) with concentrated mind (that is devoted, pure and mindful) including Sila or ethical conducts (proper physical and verbal practices) as a basic.

For Ethical conducts, we can vow to practice if we determine to do so while concentration needs a skill to practice (if the concept is understood the self-practice is possible). Wisdom also required a study to get a proper insight of no-self.

  When contacting with other things, we should have consciousness to exercise wisdom (that is, all things are no-self) with concentrated mind (based on the ethical conduct). If both are proper and sufficient, there will be no desire or the desire incurred will be cased. Then the mind is clear and nirvana will appear with no suffering. If either is not qualified, the mind will not be clear. Then, a further practice is needed.

  When the mind is possessed with desire, it will get used to the desire. If the mind is clear, the habit of having desire is declined. If we could keep our mind clear for a long period (continued days and nights), the habit of having desire is cut short until it has faded and died (no habit of desire). Then our mind will be proper with consciousness and wisdom through a clear mind all the times. Thus our mind will achieve nirvana permanently (no suffering).

   In summary, “selfness has caused suffering”.  That is the ultimate concept of Buddhism, which could be followed by anyone who has a proper understanding. Therefore those who have wisdom should study and follow the concept of the four noble truths to get rid of the suffering in this life and to spread the concept of the four noble truths to colleagues for the world peace in accordance with the intention of Buddha.