Handouts & Class Notes - Truth of Suffering - Fall 2011 Classes

Below are links to Handouts 1-9 for the Fall term of the Perfection of Wisdom Course topic:  the Four Noble Truths.  Handouts 1-9 cover the First Noble Truth - the TRUTH of SUFFERING, which was the subject of the first * Classes held September 12-, 2011.  Click on TRUTH of ORIGINATION for Handouts on the Second Noble Truth.

The Handouts, prepared by Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, serve as the text for the Fall 2011 semester.  Also below are links to CLASS NOTES/Partial Transcripts (DRAFT) of Truth of Suffering (prepared by Ven. Tenzin Nordron).

Please note:  Even though the Creative Commons logo copyright logo does not appear on the downloadable Charts and Handouts, they are also covered by Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs" Copyright.  [See right hand column.]

Handouts 1-9.  Four Noble Truths - TRUTH of SUFFERING

2011 Handout 1 - Ornament for Clear Realization's two verse on Mahayana Practice Instructions; the Four Noble Truths; the TRUTH OF SUFFERING:  Three Kinds of Feelings.

2011 Handout 2 - Six categories of Feelings.  Three-fold Division of Suffering:  Suffering of Suffering; Suffering of Change; Pervasive Compositional Suffering (cont. Handout 3).

NEW CORRECTED - 2011 Handout 3 - cont. Pervasive Compositional Suffering: Contaminated Five Aggregates.  Four-fold & Eight-fold Categorization of Sufferings of Suffering:  Five types of Sufferings of Birth (cont. on Handout 4).

2011 Handout 4 - Eight-fold Categorization of Suffering, cont.:  Sufferings of Aging.  Five Sufferings of Sickness.

2011 Handout 5 - Five Sufferings of Sickness, cont. 2-5.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Death.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Encountering what is Unpleasant - 1-2, cont. on Handout 6.

2011 Handout 6 - Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Encountering what is Unpleasant, cont. 3-5.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Separation from what is Pleasant.  Suffering of Not Getting What We Want.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Having the Five Aggregates - 1-3, (cont. in Handout 7.)

2011 Handout 7 - Sufferings of Having the Five Aggregates, cont. 4-5.  Six-Fold Categorization of Suffering (cont. in Handouts 8 & 9):  1):  1) Suffering of Uncertainty.

2011 Handout 8 - cont. Six-Fold Categorization of Suffering:  2) Suffering of Insatiability.  3) Suffering of Having to Give up our Bodies Repeatedly.  (cont. in Handout 9)   

2011 Handout 9 - cont. Six-Fold Categorization of Suffering:  4) Suffering of Repeated Rebirth.  5) Suffering of Repeatedly Descending from High to Low.  6) Suffering of  Having No Companions.

CLASS NOTES/partial transcripts  

Rough drafts of class notes/partial transcripts of Classes on the First Noble Truth of Suffering - offered for what they are worth - are posted here as they  become available. 

(If you are interested in assisting in proofing/editing, contact Ven. Tenzin Nordron.)

Class 2 NOTES

Class 4 NOTES
Class 5 NOTES

If any of the links do not work, please leave a comment or notify us by e-mail.

Class 5 - Truth of Suffering - Five Aggregates, Six Categories

Download PDF's of Class materials and MP3 Tracks from the 5th class of Fall 2011 term held on Wednesday, September 21:

DOWNLOAD Handouts used in Class 5 & Class NOTES  (i.e., very rough transcript):

2011 Handout 6 - Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Encountering what is Unpleasant, cont. 3-5.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Separation from what is Pleasant.  Suffering of Not Getting What We Want.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Having the Five Aggregates - 1-3, (cont. in Handout 7.)

2011 Handout 7 - Sufferings of Having the Five Aggregates, cont. 4-5.  Six-Fold Categorization of Suffering (cont. in Handouts 8 & 9):  1):  1) Suffering of Uncertainty.

2011 Handout 8 - cont. Six-Fold Categorization of Suffering:  2) Suffering of Insatiability.  3) Suffering of Having to Give up our Bodies Repeatedly.  (cont. in Handout 9)   

Class 5 NOTES - rough draft transcript - offered for what they are worth. (If you are interested in assisting in proofing/editing, contact Ven. Tenzin Nordron.)

ALL FALL 2011 PDFs re Truth of Suffering are HERE.

DOWNLOAD MP3 TRACKS:

Track 1 - Buddha said:

In brief, the Five Contaminated Aggregates are suffering.

Two of the Five Aggregates are Mental Factors:

• Discrimination - ordinary and intellectual.   
• Feelings 

Understanding the Five Aggregates in relation to the four Form Concentrations and four Formless concentrations. 

• Five-fold Categorization of Feelings (in terms of coarser/subtler; easier/harder to overcome):
• Limited Discrimination of Desire Realm must be overcome to attain Form Realm.
• Form Realm Concentrations overcome Worldly/Contaminated Feelings - only Buddhist Path can overcome the Neutral contaminated feeling.
• First Concentration of the Form Realm overcomes the mental feeling of displeasure.
• Second Concentration of the Form Realm overcomes the unpleasant feeling associated with physical consciousness.  
• Third Concentration of the Form Realm overcomes the pleasurable feeling associated with mental consciousness.  
• Fourth Concentration of the Form Realm overcomes the pleasurable feeling associated with physical consciousness. 

• Having then transcended the Extensive Discrimination of Form Realm, one may attain the Immeasurable Discrimination of Formless Realm.  Buddhism does not urge attainment of Formless Realm rebirth with its four concentrations of: 

• Limitless Space, Limitless Consciousness, Nothingness, Peak of Cyclic Existence.

Track 2 - Suffering of (having) the Five Aggregates (5 points) – [Handout 6, p. 2]:

• Five (contaminated) Aggregates are Vessels of Suffering (1) in the future; (2) that presently exists; (3) the Suffering of Suffering. [Handout 7] - (4) the Suffering of Change

Track 3 - Five Contaminated Aggregates are vessel of

• (4)  Suffering of Change, cont.; and of 
• (5) Pervasive Compositional Suffering. 
• Neutral Feelings are a Pervasive Compositional Suffering.

Track 4 - Necessity ofunderstanding First Noble Truth in order to generate Renunciation (which is required to generate Bodhicitta).

Six Categories of Suffering

     1.  Suffering of uncertainty. [Handout 8] - regarding the relationships we have with other people.

     2.  Suffering of insatiability:  As it says in the Compendium of the Perfections (a Perfection of Wisdom Sutra):

You get what you want,

Use it up, then acquire more,

And still you are not satisfied

What could be more pathetic than this? 

     3. Suffering of having to give up our bodies repeatedly.

4th - 6th Sufferings [(4) Suffering of repeated rebirth.  (5) Suffering of repeatedly descending from high to low.  (6) Suffering of having no companions.] in Class 6.

If any of the LINKS don't work, please leave a COMMENT or notify us by E-Mail.

This is the 5th class of the Fall 2011 Perfection of Wisdom course
addressing the Four Noble Truths, the 2nd sub-topic of the 2nd Topic
(Mahayana Practice Instructions) of Chapter 1 of Maitreya's
Ornament for Clear Realizations - Abhisamayalamkara.

Class 4 - Truth of Suffering of Sickness, Death, Encounters, Separation

Download PDF's of Class materials and MP3 Tracks from the 4th class of Fall 2011 term held on Monday, September 19:

DOWNLOAD Handouts used in Class 4 & Class NOTES  (i.e., very rough transcript):

2011 Handout 4 - Eight-fold Categorization of Suffering, cont.:  Sufferings of Aging.  Five Sufferings of Sickness - 1) Changes the nature of the body; (cont. on Handout 5).

2011 Handout 5 - Five Sufferings of Sickness, cont. 2-5.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Death.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Encountering what is Unpleasant - 1-2, cont. on Handout 6.

2011 Handout 6 - Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Encountering what is Unpleasant, cont. 3-5.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Separation from what is Pleasant.  Suffering of Not Getting What We Want.  Five Contemplations of the Sufferings of Having the Five Aggregates - 1-3, (cont. in Handout 7.)

Class 4 NOTES - rough draft transcript - offered for what they are worth. (If you are interested in assisting in proofing/editing, contact Ven. Tenzin Nordron.)

FALL 2011 PDFs re: Truth of Suffering are HERE.

DOWNLOAD MP3 TRACKS:

Track 1 - Discussion:  Implications of third type of Birth, "from moisture", etc.

Track 2 -  Discussion: How a Cause of Production is also Cause of its Effect's Destruction.

• Presentation of Impermanence, Cause & Effect.

Track 3 - Review Sufferings of Birth and Aging.
              Sufferings of SICKNESS [Handout 4 - p. 2] - Five contemplations:

1. Sickness changes the nature of the body [cont. on Handout 5]. 
2. Pain & anguish increase and are seldom absent.  
3. No desire to enjoy pleasing objects. 
4. Forced to recourse to unpleasant objects, even though one does not want them.  
5. Lose one's vital energy, i.e., one dies.

Track 4 - Sufferings of DEATH [Handout 5] - Five contemplations:  One is separated from nice/beloved:

1. Objects of Enjoyment,
2. Close relatives, 
3. Companions, and 
4. beloved Body.  Also: 
5. At the time of death one experiences terrible suffering and distress.

Track 5 - Sufferings of Encountering What Is Unpleasant - Five contemplations:

1. Encountering an Enemy.  
2. Fearing one will be Harmed by one's Enemy. 
3. [Handout 6] Fearing one's Enemy will Spread Malicious Rumors about Oneself. 
4. Dreading death.  
5. Fearing Rebirth in suffering existence due to one's non-Dharmic activities.  Also misc. sufferings from poverty, disagreeable jobs, being resented, unattractive, etc.

    Sufferings of Separation from What is Pleasant - Five contemplations:  When one is separated from loved ones, One: 

1. Grieves; 
2. Verbally Laments; 
3. Harms one's own body; 
4. Becomes sad when one remembers and yearns for the qualities of the departed; and generally experiences
5. Suffering of no longer enjoying what one has lost.

If any of the LINKS don't work, please leave a COMMENT or notify us by E-Mail.

This is the 4th class of the Fall 2011 Perfection of Wisdom course
addressing the Four Noble Truths, the 2nd sub-topic of the 2nd Topic
(Mahayana Practice Instructions) of Chapter 1 of Maitreya's
Ornament for Clear Realizations - Abhisamayalamkara.

Class 3 - Truth of Suffering - Birth & Aging

Download PDF's of Class materials and MP3 Tracks from the 3rd class of Fall 2011 term held on Friday, September 16:

DOWNLOAD Handouts used in Class 3:

2011 Handout 3 - cont. Pervasive Compositional Suffering: Contaminated Five Aggregates.  Four-fold & Eight-fold Categorization of Sufferings of Suffering:  Five types of Sufferings of Birth (cont. on Handout 4).

2011 Handout 4 - Eight-fold Categorization of Suffering, cont.:  Sufferings of Aging.  Five Sufferings of Sickness - 1) Changes the nature of the body; (cont. on Handout 5).

ALL FALL 2011 HANDOUTS & CHARTS are HERE.

DOWNLOAD MP3 TRACKS:

Track 1 - Review Three Kinds of Sufferings (Suffering, Change, Pervasive Compositional).

• Q&A (Is Ignorance arisen from Neutral Feeling?).  
• Handout 3:  Contaminated and Uncontaminated Karma.

Track 2 - [Handout 3]  Another Categorization of Suffering:

• Four Types - (1) Birth, (2) Aging, (3) Sickness, (4) Death - incorporated into 
• Eight Types: (5) Encountering what is Unpleasant, (6) Separation from what is Pleasant, (7) Not Getting What we Want, (8) (having) the Five Aggregates.  
• How do these 8 fit into the Three Types of Suffering?  
• Introduction to 1st of the 8: Birth.

Track 3 - 1. Five contemplations of the Suffering of BIRTH:

• Birth, itself, is Suffering. 
• Birth with Negative Tendencies produces Suffering.

Track 4 - Five contemplations of the Suffering of BIRTH, cont.

• Born with Negative Tendencies, cont. 
• What are "Seeds and Imprints".  
• Birth is Source of suffering. 
• Birth is Source of Afflictive Emotions:  
• Operation of Afflictive Emotions. 
• Birth Results in Unwanted Separation, cont. in Track 5.
  

Track 5 - [Handout 4].  Second of 8 Kinds of Suffering:  Five Contemplations of the Suffering of Aging

1. Handsome body deteriorates.
2. Physical strength and vigour deteriorate.  
3. Senses deteriorate.  
4. Enjoyment of sense objects fades.  
5. Suffering of the diminishment of one's lifespan.

It is well that aging happens little by little. 

If it happened all at once, it would be intolerable.

             - Kadampa Geshe Gamapa

If any of the LINKS don't work, please leave a COMMENT or notify us by E-Mail.

This is the 3rd class of the Fall 2011 Perfection of Wisdom course
addressing the Four Noble Truths, the 2nd sub-topic of the 2nd Topic
(Mahayana Practice Instructions) of Chapter 1 of Maitreya's
Ornament for Clear Realizations - Abhisamayalamkara.