Just another Sader site
According to the Qur’an, we are followed throughout our lives by Kiraman Katibeen, the Noble Writers. These two angels sit on our shoulders and record our good and bad actions in a book of deeds.
If you knew that everything you did would be recorded, would you act differently? In what way?
Sufis are Muslim mystics. They help people to escape worldly interests by becoming aware of spiritual things. Sufis often use stories as part of their teaching.
There was once a small boy who banged a drum all day long. His parents and neighbours were at their wits end; no matter what they said, the boy would not be quiet.
Various experts came to help. The first told the boy that he would perforate his eardrums. The second told the boy that beating a drum was a sacred activity and should only be done on special occasions. Other experts offered the neighbours earplugs, gave the boy a book to distract him, gave the neighbours books on how to control their anger, and gave the boy meditation exercises to calm him. The boy kept beating his drum.
Finally a Sufi came along. He looked at the boy and the drum, then pointed to a hammer and chisel lying nearby and said, “I wonder what is inside the drum?”
Why do the solutions of the “experts” fail? What do you think happens after the Sufi makes his comment?
Sufis are Muslim mystics. They help people to escape worldly interest by becoming aware of spiritual things. Sufis often use stories as part of their teaching.
A powerful king presented a challenge to the wise men of his kingdom.
He said, “I had a dream in which I possessed a ring. The ring helped me bring peace to my state. If I looked upon it when I was unhappy, it made me joyful. If I looked upon it when I was happy, I became sad. Can you find me such a ring?”
The wise men consulted with one another. Finally they found a solution. They had a jeweler make a ring, which they presented to the king. On the ring were engraved the words, “This too will pass.”
Explain the message of this story in your own words.
Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Nepal in about 563 B.C.E. He was the son of a king. When Siddhartha was born, his father was told that the boy had two possible futures. He would be either a great king or a great spiritual leader.
Siddhartha’s father wanted him to be a king. He gave Siddhartha every luxury and kept him from any sadness. Then a series of carriage rides changed Siddhartha’s life. On the first ride, he saw an old person for the first time. He had not known that old age existed. On the next ride, he saw a sick person. He became aware of sickness and disease. Next he saw a corpse, and became aware of death. Finally he saw a holy man who had given up the world for the sake of spiritual things. Siddhartha decided that he too would give up the life he knew in order to seek spiritual fulfillment.
Why do you think that seeing old age, sickness, and death prompted Siddhartha to leave his life as a prince?
Siddhartha Gautama was raised as a prince. Then a series of carriage rides changed his life. He left his home to search for spiritual fulfillment. He eventually found enlightenment, becoming the Buddha, the Awakened One, and the founder of Buddhism.
Think of an event or experience that changed your world. (It doesn’t need to be as complete or as sudden as the change Siddhartha experienced.) Describe the experience and how it affected you.
After his enlightenment, the Buddha passed a man on the road.
This man saw that the Buddha was different from other men.
He asked the Buddha “Are you a god?”
The Buddha replied “No.”
The man continued, “Then are you a magician or a wizard?”
“No.”
“Are you a man?”
“No.”
“Then what are you?” said the man.
The Buddha answered, “I am awake.”
Thus he was given his name. Buddha means “The awakened One.”
What do you think the Buddha meant by this answer?
The Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. He said:
Do not accept anything on mere hearsay (i.e., thinking that thus have we heard it from a long time). Do not accept by mere tradition (i.e., thinking that it has thus been handed down through many generations). Do not accept anything on account of rumors (i.e., by believing what others say without any investigation). Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything by mere supposition. Do not accept anything by mere inference. Do not accept anything merely considering their appearances. Do not accept anything merely because it agrees to your preconceived notions. Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable (i.e., should be accepted). Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (and therefore it is right to accept his word).
What do you think the Buddha meant by this?
When Siddhartha became fully enlightened, he realized that people are not really separate from each other; we are all interconnected. He also realized that nothing in life is permanent; things change. Suffering is always a part of life, but there is a path that leads away from suffering.
In Buddhism, enlightenment means reaching a state beyond desire and suffering. But the word also has other meanings. Write about the meanings of the word enlightenment.
People who listen and accept the teachings of the Buddha are said to “take refuge.” This means they go to the Buddha (the Enlightened One), dharma (the teachings of Buddha), and the sangha (those who follow the Buddha) for protection.
There are many challenges in life. What do you need refuge from? To whom or what do you go for protection?
The Four Noble Truths are central to Buddhism. These truths were taught by the Buddha shortly after he became enlightened.
The First Noble Truth is that life is frustrating and full of suffering, or dukkha.
The Second Noble Truth is that suffering is caused by tanha, the desire for private fulfillment.
The Third Noble Truth is that suffering can come to an end. If suffering is caused by selfish desire, it can be cured by overcoming desire.
The Fourth Noble Truth is that there is a path that leads away from suffering, the Eightfold Path. This path consists of eight practices that the Buddha believed would lead to enlightenment.
How could these four ideas form the core of a way of life?