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Buddhist Living
Who is a lay
Buddhist?
He is one who has a deep, steady confidence
and faith in the Buddha, who believes, studies
and practises the Dhamma and who cherishes
the Sangha.
He follows Though living
the Five in a world of
Precepts desires, a
and tries to Buddhist
help others avoids
keep them. becoming
He takes attached to
refuge in such desires
the Buddha, for he knows
Dhamma such things
and Sangha. are
The Mirror of
Happiness
To strengthen the faith in the
Buddha-Dhamma, a lay
follower should realise that
true happiness lies within his
own mind.
By following the Way taught
This happiness,
by the Buddha, hewhencanit is
radiated
experienceon this
others,
peacewilland
multiply in the minds of others
happiness.
and will then be reflected back
to
Thehim again.
mind of faith is pure and
gentle, always patient and
enduring, never arguing,
never causing suffering to
others but always pondering
Daily Observance of a
Buddhist
Buddhists usually keep an altar in the
most prominent part of the house. A
Buddha image is placed in the centre
of the altar along with an incense
burner, a flower vase and two candle
The Buddha image is given the highest
stands.
seat in the room with nothing above
it, and is never treated as ornaments.
The Buddha image is treated with
reverence.
In the morning and evening, the
Buddhist offer flowers, light candles
and burn the incense sticks. The
buddhist then pay reverence by bowing
three times (the first time to the
Buddha; the second time to the
Dhamma; the third time to the
Sangha).
A Buddhist
Home
When there is love in the home, the home will
always be filled with happiness and laughter.
But if there is discord, the home will be
wrecked with sorrows.
When discord arises within one’s family, one
should not blame others but should examine
one’s own mind and follow the right path.
Parents and
children
The Buddha taught that it is very difficult for a
son to repay his parents for their love and
kindness, even if he could carry his father on his
right shoulder and his mother on his left for a
hundred years.
The only way to repay the great debt is to lead
one’s parents to the Buddha’s teachings and
persuade them to follow the Path.
Wisdom
must understand and follow the
3 ways of practice:
1. Discipline for practical
behaviour (Sila)
Every man
should:
• Follow the precepts for
Concentration
good behaviour
• Control his mind and body;
and guard the gates of the
five
• Besenses
afraid of performing
even a trifling evil
• Practise only good deeds.
Moralit
y
Noble Eightfold Path
Journey to
Enlightenment
Ways of
practice
Wisdom
2. Right concentration of the
mind (Samadhi)
Every man
should:
• Dispel greedy and evil
desires from his mind as
quickly as they
mindarise
Concentration
End of Lesson 12