The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study)

by Dr Kala Acharya | 2016 | 118,883 words

Buddhism Theravada

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Summary: This essay studies the Buddhist path to enlightenment, by investigating tradition doctrines and literature while also comparing it to other philosophies. The most reliable sources for this research are in the Pali Canon, their commentaries (the Atthakathas), their sub-commentaries (the Tikas), their translation books, the Buddhist literature, Jain Literature and other scholarly interpretations of Buddhist Literature.

The first chapter serves as an introduction to the Buddha and his teachings. The second chapter deals with the “five groups of factor”. The third chapter deals with the “seven factors of enlightenment”. The fourth chapter takes up a comparative study of liberation as per Buddhism and Jainism. The final chapter is the conclusion.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. 1. The Buddha and His Teachings

. 2. Bodhipakkhiya-dhammā (practices leading to enlightenment)

. 3. Outline of this Research

+ Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor

. 1.1. The Meaning of Satipaṭṭhāna (foundation of mindfulness)

. 1.2. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Introduction)

. 1.3.1. Kāyanupassanā—Contemplation of the Body

. 1.3.2. Vedanānupassanā–Contemplation of the Feeling

. 1.3.3. Cittānupassanā–Contemplation of the Mind

. 1.3.4. Dhammānupassanā–Contemplation Of The Dhamma

. 1.4. Power of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness

. 1.5. Satipaṭṭhāna, Vipassanā, and the Only Way

. 2.1. The Meaning of Sammappadāna (supreme endeavor)

. 2.2. The Fourfold Supreme Endeavour (Introduction)

. 2.2.1. Avoid the Arising of Evil and Unwholesome Stage of Mind

. 2.2.2. Overcome Evil and Unwholesome Stage of Mind

. 2.2.3. Develop Wholesome States of Mind

. 2.2.4. Maintain Wholesome States of Mind

. 3.1. The Meaning of Iddhipāda (psychic power)

. 3.2. The Fourfold Psychic Power (Introduction)

. 3.2.1. Psychic Power of Desire (Chandiddhipāda or Chanda)

. 3.2.2. Psychic Power of Effort (Vīriyiddhipāda or Vīrya)

. 3.2.3. Psychic Power of Consciousness (Cittiddhipāda or Citta)

. 3.2.4. Psychic Power of Investigation (Vimaṃsiddhipāda or Mimāṃsā)

. 3.3. The Method of Development of Iddhi (Psychic Power)

. 4.1. The Meaning of Indriya (Faculties)

. 4.2. The Five Faculties (Introduction)

. 4.2.1. Faculty of Faith (Saddhindriya or Śraddā)

. 4.2.2. Faculty of Effort (Vīriyindriya or Vīrya)

. 4.2.3. Faculty of Mindfulness (Satindriya or Smṛti)

. 4.2.4. Faculty of Concentration (Samādhindriya or Samādhi)

. 4.2.5. Faculty of Wisdom (Paññindriya or Prajñā)

. 5. The Five Mental Powers (Pañcabalāni or Bala)—Introduction

. 5.1. Mental Power of Faith (Saddhābala or Śraddā)

. 5.2. Mental Power of Effort or Energy (Vīriyabala or Vīrya)

. 5.3. Mental Power of Mindfulness (Satibala or Smṛti)

. 5.4. Mental Power of Concentration (Samādhibala or Samādhi)

. 5.5. Mental Power of Wisdom (Paññābala or Prajñā)

+ Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path

. 1(a). The Meaning of Bojjhaṅga (factors of enlightenment)

. 1(b). The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Introduction)

. 1.1. Enlightenment Factor of Mindfulness

. 1.2. Enlightenment Factor of Investigation

. 1.3. Enlightenment Factor of Effort

. 1.4. Enlightenment Factor of Joy or Rapture

. 1.5. Enlightenment Factor of Tranquility

. 1.6. Enlightenment Factor of Concentration

. 1.7. Enlightenment Factor of Equanimity

. 1.8. The Practice of Bojjhaṅga

. 2(a). The Four Noble Truths

. 2(b). The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga)

. 2.1. Right Understanding (Sammā-diṭṭhi or Samyag-dṛṣṭi)

. 2.2. Right Thought (Sammā-saṅkappa or Samyak-saṃkalpa)

. 2.3. Right Speech (Sammā-vācā or Samyag-vāc)

. 2.3.1. Abstention from falsehood (musāvāda)

. 2.3.2. Abstention from slander (pisuṇa-vācā)

. 2.3.3. Abstention from Harsh words (pharusa-vācā)

. 2.3.4. Abstention from Frivolous Talk or Gossip (samphappalāpa)

. 2.4. Right Action (Sammā-kammanta or Samyak-karmānta)

. 2.4.1. Abstention from Killing (pāṇātipāta)

. 2.4.2. Abstention from Stealing (adinnādāna)

. 2.4.3. Wrong Sexual Behavior (kāmesu micchācāra)

. 2.5. Right Livelihood (Sammā-ājīva or Samyag-ājīva)

. 2.6. Right Effort (Sammā-vāyama or Samyag-vyāyāma)

. 2.7. Right Mindfulness (Sammāsati or Samyak-smṛti)

. 2.8. Right Concentration (Sammā-samādhi or Samyak-samādhi)

. 2.9. Saccā-ñāṇa, Kicca-ñāṇa and Kata-ñāṇa with regard to Magga-saccā

+ Chapter 4 - Comparative Study of Liberation in Jainism and Buddhism

. 1. Religious Background Sixth Century B.C.

. 2. Vedic System

. 3. The Origin of Śramaṇa Tradition

. 4. Jainism and Buddhism

. 5.1. The Two Categories of Mokṣa in Jainism

. 5.2. Bondage of Soul in Jainism

. 5.3. Three Stages (1): Saṃvara (Self-restraint)

. The five Samitis (voluntary movements of the Jīva)

. The three Guptis (processes of controlling the inner nature of a Jīva)

. The ten-fold Yati-dharma (duties of the Monk)

. The twelve Bhāvanās (reflection or thinking)

. The twenty-six Parīṣahas (endurance of hardships)

. The five Charitras (conduct for further stoppage of the influx)

. 5.3. Three Stages (2): Nirjarā (Dissociation of Karma)

. Two types of Tapas (Austerities)

. 5.3. Three Stages (3): Mokṣa (Liberation)

. 6. Nibbāna (Liberation) in Theravāda Buddhism (Introduction)

. 6.1. Nibbāna in Pāli Canonical Texts

. 6.2. Nibbāna in Pāli Commentarial Texts

. 6.3. Terms for Nibbāna

. 6.4. Four Aspects of Nibbāna

. 6.5. The Types of Nibbāna

. 6.6. Where Nibbāna is

. 6.7. The Way to Nibbāna

. 6.8. How to Attain Nibbāna

. 6.9. Happiness of Nibbāna

. 7. Difference between Mokṣa and Nibbāna

Chapter 5 - Resume and Conclusion

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Last Updated: 26 March, 2023

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