Basic Buddhist Course

Basic Buddhism

Syllabus Outline

British Broadcasting Corporation

Chapter Topics

1. Evil, Good, and Pure

• The Five Aggregates and their relationship to the Three Universal Characteristics

2. Life of the Buddha:

• Before birth to enlightenment
• Brahma Sahampatti
• Some early utterances of the Buddha

3. First Sermon of the Buddha

• Outline of the Four Noble Truths
• The Noble Eightfold Path

4. The Noble Eightfold Path:

(1) Right Understanding

• (a) The Four Noble Truths
• (b) Ten Kinds of Immorality
• (c) Ten Kinds of Meritorious Deeds
• (d) The Three Universal Characteristics
• (e) The Ten Fetters
• (f) The Noble Ones
• (g) Dependent Origination

(2) Right Thought
(3) Right Speech
(4) Right Action
(5) Right Livelihood
(6) Right Effort
(7) Right Mindfulness

• The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Mahasatipatthana Sutta)

(8) Right Concentration

• Jhanas & The Five Hindrances
• Form (rupa) and Formless (arupa) Jhanas
• The Noble Eightfold Path

5. Brahma Vihara - The Four Sublime States

• Explanation of the Discourse on Loving-Kindness (Metta Sutra)
• Eleven Blessings of Loving Kindness (metta) Meditation
• Equanimity on eight worldly conditions

6. The 31 Realms of Existence

• Destruction of the Universe by Fire, Water, and Wind
• The Four Modes Of Birth
• Body affected in four ways

7. Karma and Rebirth

• The Five Niyamas - The Five Cosmic Orders

8. Dependent Origination - Two explanations

9. The Discourse on Layman Codes of Conduct (Sigalovada Sutra)

10. The Lion's Roar on the Turning of the Wheel (Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutra)

11. Other Related Topics:

• Theravada and Mahayana
• Introduction to Vajrayana
• The Buddha - The Seven Weeks After Enlightenment
• The Buddha's Daily Routine
• The Buddha’s Female Disciple - Yasodhara
• The Buddha's Ministry (First 20 Years)
• Introduction to The Dhammapada

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