Suggested order of reading my texts and books for those new to Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Here is a suggested order for reading my texts and books if you want to get proper knowledge of general Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in particular:

INTRODUCTION: 

 Some General Notions of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, especially recommended to beginners.

Amida Dharma  - the essentials of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism as it is taught at Amidaji temple. A must-read book for all members and students. 

1. Preciousness of human birth

- this article is part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma - 

Original Photo by nsyll available on Flickr.com

"This free and well-favoured human form is difficult to obtain.

Now that you have the chance to realize the full human potential,

If you don’t make good use of this opportunity,

How could you possibly expect to have such a chance again?"[1]

The first thought that turns the mind toward the Buddha Dharma is the preciousness of human birth and the importance of using it well for escaping samsara.

But what is so special about birth in human form? There are a few elements here. First, the human birth is extremely rare. Second, human birth is a favorable balance between pain and pleasure which makes listening and devoting to the Dharma easier.

To make us realize how rare is birth in human form Shakyamuni Buddha told the following parable from the Chiggala Sutra (Samyuta Nikaya):

The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Towards the Amida Dharma

IMPORTANT UPDATE !
These series of teachings was revised, updated 
and put into book form which you can download from here (click here)

The Four Profound Thoughts are a basic teaching, something like a preliminary to any Buddhist path or practice. They have the effect of turning the mind towards the Buddha Dharma and should be a constant companion no matter one is a beginner or an older follower. Sometimes I may refer to them as the Four Contemplations, the Four Understandings or the Four Reminders. In this post I am going to explain them in the context of the Pure Land Dharma Gate of Jodo Shinshu (Amida Dharma).

The Four Profound Thoughts are:

1. Preciousness of human birth 

2. Impermanence and death  

3. Karma -the law of cause and effect 

4. Samsara is suffering  

If one contemplates, understands, remembers and never forgets these four, then one is a serious follower of Buddha Dharma. Such a contemplation, understanding and remembering is not something special, but a simple knowing that our situation is defined by the above four truths. I will talk about each one of them in detail. Please click on them to read the explanations. 

The Benefits of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha 

a continuation of the Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward Amida Dharma 

- All the teachings/articles in this series are under constant review. 

They will be part of a new book I am working on -

Some general notions of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism (especially reccomended to beginers)

NEW! Click here if you wish to listen this article in audio format!

click here if you want to download this article in pdf

(para a versão em Português clique aqui/ for the Portughese version click here)

(Click here for the Spanish version)

(pentru versiunea in limba romana click aici)

The wheel of life and death depicting

the samsaric states of existence,which are
 explained in detail in this article.

1)Samsara and Nirvana (Budhahood/Enlightenment)

Samsara is the cycle of repeated births and deaths. Because it is the effect of personal and collective (inter-related) karma[1] of unenlightened beings[2], it has no other creator[3] than our own delusions, attachements and cravings. There are many samsaric states of existence, among which we mention, hells, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras or fighting spirits and gods. All beings are born, die, and are reborn again in those respective realms due to their karma, and their existence is accompanied by different types of suffering, obscurations and delusions[4].

The goal of the Buddha Path is to escape from Samsara and attain the state of Buddhahood or Nirvana/Perfect Enlightenment[5]. This is the highest freedom and happiness which does not depend on any external conditions, and it is the potential inherent in all sentient beings, no matter how low they are now on the scale of spiritual evolution. Simply stated, just like all seeds have the natural potential to become trees, all sentient beings have the natural potential to become Buddhas, that is, to awaken to their own Buddha nature. This is what is meant in Buddhism by "all beings have  ”Buddha nature”[6]. Beyond the various layers of our delusory personality, the Buddha nature is the true reality, uncreated and indestructbile, the treasure hidden in every one of us. When it's discovered, the causes of suffering and repeteaded births  and deaths are anihilated and the one who attained it becomes himself a savior and guide of all beings that are still caught in the slavery of samsara.

Algumas noções gerais do Budismo Jodo Shinshu

Faça o download do pdf aqui!

(for the English version click here)

1) Samsara e Nirvana (Estado de Meu primeiro artigo em portuguêsBuda/Iluminação)

Samsara é o ciclo de nascimentos e mortes repetidos. Trata-se do efeito do karma[1] pessoal e coletivo (interdependente) de seres não iluminados[2], portanto não possui outro criador[3] além das nossas próprias ilusões, apegos e desejos. Há muitos estados samsaricos de existência, podemos mencionar por exemplo, os infernos, o reino dos seres famélicos, animais, humanos, asuras ou espíritos guerreiros e deuses. Todos os seres nascem, morrem e renascem novamente em seus respectivos reinos devido aos seus karmas e suas existências é acompanhada por diferentes tipos de sofrimentos e ilusões[4].

O objetivo do caminho do Buda é escapar do Samsara e alcançar o Estado de Buda ou Nirvana[5]/Iluminação Perfeita[6]. Esta é a maior liberdade e felicidade que independe de qualquer causa ou condição e que existe como potencial inerente em todos os seres sencientes, não importa quão baixo seja o estágio em que se encontrem na escala espiritual de evolução. Explicando de forma simples, assim como todas as sementes têm o potencial natural para tornarem-se árvores, todo os seres sencientes têm potencial para tornarem-se Budas, ou seja, para despertar a própria natureza Búdica[7]. É por isso que é dito no budismo que "todos os seres possuem a natureza Búdica". Além de todas as camadas da nossa personalidade ilusória, a natureza Búdica é a realidade última, incriada e indestrutível, o tesouro escondido dentro de cada um de nós. Quando descoberta, as causas dos sofrimentos, nascimentos e mortes consecutivas são aniquiladas e aquele que a atingiu torna-se salvador e guia para aqueles seres que ainda estão aprisionados na escravidão do samsara.