Study

Suggested syllabus

Part 1: Overview of Buddhism: origin, the Buddha, spread of buddhism, primary schools, modern Buddhism

1. reading
   1. Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
2. some related references
   1. Schools of Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schools_of_Buddhism
   2. Differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/buddhism/theravada-mahayana.html
   3. Common ground, per https://oneminddharma.com/theravada-mahayana-buddhism/
      1. Four Noble Truths
      2. Noble Eightfold Path
      3. The historical Buddha as the teacher
      4. Dependent Origination
      5. The Three Marks of Existence
      6. The Precepts
      7. Emphasis on meditation practice
      8. Classification of teachings into three categories
      9. The emphasis on the training of the mind and heart

Part 2: Four Noble Truths

1. reading: Four Noble Truths  https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
   This covers the 4 noble truths and, detailing the 4th, the eightfold path
2. reading: The Fourth Noble Truth https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/index.html
   This is very short and shows threefold division of the path (virtue, concentration, discernment)
3. related references
   1. The Noble Eightfold Path by Bhikkhu Bodhi https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html

Part 3: Mindfulness of breath

1. reading: MN118, Anapanasati Sutta: Mindfulness of Breathing https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html

Part 4: The four foundations of mindfulness

1. reading: MN 10, Satipatthana Sutta: Frames of Reference https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html
2. some related references
   1. The Way of Mindfulness https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html Great outline embodied in table of contents; then very long; good alternate reference
   2. DN 22, Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.22.0.than.html

Part 5: Perhaps good next material would be taken from topics common to all schools, such as dependent origination, the precepts, or the perfections

1. Lay Buddhist Practice https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html
2. The Buddhist Layman https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel294.html
3. Pick a topic from the topic index at Access to Insight and read the related works https://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html
4. Recognizing the Dhamma https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/recognizing.html
   Expounds the eight principles: Dispassion, Being Unfettered, Shedding, Modesty, Contentment, Seclusion, Persistence, Being Unburdensome
5. The Ten Perfections https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/perfections.html
6. AN 7.58, Capala (Pacala) Sutta: Nodding https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.058.than.html
   The sutta of suggestions when one is “nodding” during meditation.
7. DN 31, Sigalovada Sutta, The Layperson’s Code of Discipline
8. Scripture
   1. Comparing scripture of schools: https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/page/scriptures-texts
   2. Therevada, Pali Canon, suttas found in the Sutta Pitaka https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sutta.html
      One page gives summary of the books of discourses and the Khuddaka Nikaya
   3. Mahajana, Sanskrit Canon. Include “Lotus Sutra”, “Wisdom Sutra”,  “Heart Sutra”