function.md

title	The Practice of Buddhism
subtitle	A Theoretical Outline
layout	multipartcourse
part_header	Module # of An Introduction to Buddhist Practice
google_doc_id	1PYRlHX5s_pqCmVM-X0vFzKAB5UPH6nR6OWaxmEL396E
feedback_id	The+Function+of+Buddhism
description	An overview of Buddhist practice focusing on how ethics and meditation work together to improve our lives.
lecturers	yuttadhammo
icon	fas fa-user-slash
image	https://illeakyw.sirv.com/Images/banners/mihinthalaya.jpg
image_width	1440
image_center_x	10%
image_center_y	51%
big_image	https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Mihinthalaya_Buddha_Statue.jpg
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banner_info	<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mihinthalaya_Buddha_Statue.jpg">Hasitha Senadheera</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0">BY-SA 4.0</a>
epigraph	> 諸佛留藏經， > "All the Buddhas have left us their scriptures > 只為人難化。 > Only because humans are so hard to change." ~ [Shídé (拾得)](/content/monographs/hanshan_rouzer-paul), ~8th c. Tang
next_courses	ebts lay meditation philosophy ethics nibbana
next_course_descs	Read more about the gradual path in the Buddha's own words in this course taught by the one and only Bhikkhu Bodhi. A closer look at the practicalities of living as a Buddhist householder. In this course, we explore the many kinds and facets of meditation and learn what makes mindfulness "right." This course continues our study of the fundamentals of Buddhist thought with an overview of "Right View" from the Theravāda perspective. A thorough and inspiring introduction to Buddhist morality: both practical and idealistic. Notoriously difficult to explain, *nibbāna* is still a critical concept for directing our practice. In this class, we explore what _can_ be said about the unconditioned element.
toc	what-is What is the Practice of Buddhism? prereqs Prerequisites text Textbook outline Course Outline

What is the Practice of Buddhism?

Buddhist practice is to overcome delusion through the cultivation of virtue, mental clarity, and wisdom.

Buddhism supports this “threefold training” by providing both essential, explanatory frameworks and practical guidance. The Buddha himself called this a “Dhamma-Vinaya,” or “Philosophy-Discipline,” but we might simply call it “a way of life” because Buddhism is meant to transform our entire lives from our selfish, restless, unsatisfied “default mode{:target="_blank" ga-event-value="0.15"},” to the pinnacle of human potential: the total eradication of suffering.

Prerequisites

This course is aimed at giving those with some prior meditation experience a more thorough grounding in the ethical and philosophical frame around Buddhist practice. Our goal for this class is to understand the personal transformation that Buddhist practices aim to produce.

The course should be suitable for both advanced practitioners who are striving for Nibbāna and for those who are just starting out on the path. This is done by blending together more beginner-friendly readings with more uncompromising lectures. If either the readings or the lectures aren't very helpful for where you're at, feel free to skip what isn't helpful for you and to just take what is.

Textbook

This course follows the excellent textbook by Bhikkhu Cintita:

{% include content_blurb.html category="booklets" slug="buddhist-life-buddhist-path_cintita" %}

This lovely book forms the backbone of the course and is highly recommended.

The book is divided into two, unsurprising halves: Buddhist Life and Buddhist Path: the exterior and interior transformation of the practitioner which follows the gradual path of Buddhism---from the mundane to the transcendent---often taught by the Buddha himself.

The textbook is designed to be a gentle introduction for absolute beginners.

{% include multipartcourse_outline.html course="function" introtext="This course will proceed in 15 modules following the chapters in Buddhist Life, Buddhist Path:" %}

👆 jump to the module you're currently on or 👇