Buddha-Dhamma is as vast as the universe and as concise as a moment’s flash of insight. Many sentient beings have gotten lost between the two, unable to resolve through direct personal experience the many teachings available today.
Fundamental perspectives are required for us to begin sorting out the multiplicity of experiences and concepts.
Here, we offer a clear, direct, and practical guide into the essentials of Buddhism, that is, the Dhamma.
While many Buddhists take Dhamma to be “the Buddha’s teaching,” it really means “Natural Truth” or “Natural Law.”
Of course, this is what the Buddha taught and demonstrated, but we must be careful to distinguish the teaching from the Truth itself. Thus, to understand Buddhism one must begin with the Dhamma.
This guide examines the three inter-related aspects of Dhamma and pinpoints the key elements in each.
Although Dhamma is One, we interact with it in three basic ways: study (pariyatti-dhamma), practice (patipatti- dhamma), and realization (pativedha-dhamma).
Dhamma study is finding the right perspective on our human predicament and what we must do about it.
Dhamma practice is developing and correctly applying the basic tools needed for spiritual survival. Dhamma realization is the benefits that occur naturally with correct practice.
Each aspect can be approached in many ways. Here, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu approaches each in a direct and practical way.
Ajahn Buddhadasa conceived of these talks as an introduction to the study, practice, and realization of Buddha-Dhamma.
He emphasizes that practice is the key. Nonetheless, without sufficient and correct study, one cannot practice properly.
And without realization or the fruition of the rightful benefits of practice, everything is wasted. In short, we cannot have one without the others.
We must have all three elements of this trio, and they must be fully integrated through practice.
This guide is translated from the first series of talks given by Ajahn Buddhadasa to foreign meditators attending the monthly courses at Suan Mokkh.
It is intended for Western Dhamma friends, including those who are new to Buddhist understanding and practice.
We hope that the perspectives offered here will help new students of Buddhism to get their bearings straight from the start.
Those who have studied and practiced Buddhism for some time, no matter what the school or approach, should also find this guide helpful.
We can never be too clear what Dhamma and Dhamma practice is about. Many have gotten lost for lack of clarity and a good guide.
Ajahn Buddhadasa is keen to foster “mutual good understanding among religions.” This translation should contribute to that effort by clarifying what exactly Buddhism is about.
Many non-Buddhist visitors to Asia have trouble separating the local culture from the Buddhist teachings about Dhamma.
We hope that non-Buddhists who read this may understand the true nature of our religion. Then, “dialogues” will have honest and worthy foundations.
It does nobody any good to compare (or criticize) the best of one path with the misuses of another.
We must offer each other what is best from each of our paths and then understand and appreciate each other. In this way, all religions may work together to combat our common enemy — selfishness.
We hope that this little book will enable you to start your practice of Dhamma on the right foot.
Confusion about what practice really is, meditating for the wrong reasons, inability to integrate meditation with daily life, and uncertainty about where practice actually leads all wreak havoc on the spiritual lives of both “beginners” and “old hands” alike.
The Buddha stressed the need for “right understanding” (samma-ditthi) which is not a particular dogma or acceptance of some doctrine. Rather, it is an attitude of alert and joyful investigation of life character- ized by the four noble truths.
These truths are not to be believed or accepted; they are to be reflected upon and scrutinized until we have mined them for all they are worth.
May we all find in this life the inner knowing which frees us from any doubt as to what is true and what is not, without having to defend or proselytize that understanding.
May all beings be free.
