Study and Discussion Questions for Early Buddhist Discourses

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5) The tenfold formula is supposed to explain the arising and ceasing of suffering without anymetaphysical commitments to a permanent Self—is that possible? Who is it, then, thatsuffers?6) The denial of a permanent Self is perhaps Buddhism’s most notable departure for otherreligious and philosophical traditions. Christians and Platonists believe in an immortalsoul; Hindus believe in the permanent ātman—but the Buddhist tradition denies theseviews of a permanent Self as pernicious lies. What arguments do the Buddhists offer tosupport this position? How might a Christian or Hindu reply to the Buddhist analysis?What specific type of permanent Self do the various traditions declare(material/immaterial, limited/unlimited)?7) What depends on the view of a permanent Self or soul?8) Why would “feeling” be so closely associated with a person’s self? What are the Buddha’scounterarguments to such a view? Are his counterarguments effective?9) Why is it not proper to speculate about the existence of the Tathāgata after death? Should notthe Buddha make some commitment to the status of a Tathāgata after death? Is it not theproper function of a religious tradition to offer some answers (or even solace) on thematter of death?10) Is there any reasonable way to justify the Buddha’s claims about the “seven states ofconsciousness and the two planes” without experiencing these oneself? Must one acceptthese teachings on faith?11) Do other religious and philosophical traditions have “stages of liberation” like Buddhism?Do other traditions focus on psychological development in ways similar to the Buddhistpath?12) In the early Buddhist tradition, the one who is liberated continues to dwell in this world.How is this different from the image of liberation in other religious and philosophicaltraditions? Is there any reason to think liberation can be achieved without removingoneself from this world (after all, even Buddhist see this world as a place fraught withsuffering and woe)?
Study and Discussion Questions for Early Buddhist DiscoursesChapter Four: The Greater Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness(Mahāsatipahāna Sutta)Study Questions1) What does the fourfold foundation of mindfulness (sati) aim to achieve?2) What are the four foundations of mindfulness?3) What techniques of meditation are involved in the first foundation of mindfulness? Whichbodily activities are involved?4) What are the four elements that comprise the body?5) Summarize the techniques of meditation that relate to the cemetery.6) How does a bhikkhu live mindfully observing feeling as feeling?7) What are the mental phenomena relating to the five obstacles that a bhikkhu should observe soas to establish mindfulness?8) What are the mental phenomena relating to the five aggregates of grasping that a bhikkhushould observe so as to establish mindfulness?9) What are the mental phenomena relating to the six internal and external bases of sense that abhikkhu should observe so as to establish mindfulness?10) What are the mental phenomena relating to the seven factors of enlightenment that a bhikkhushould observe so as to establish mindfulness?11) Give a summary description of each of the Four Noble Truths.12) How does craving arise from the various sensory objects, sense faculties and modes ofsensory modes of consciousness?13) What result can be expected for one who develops these four foundations of mindfulness?How long must one develop the four foundations of mindfulness to achieve these results?Discussion Questions1) Is the development of mindfulness a useful tool for achieving religious goals? Is there aconnection between mindfulness and moral conduct as the Buddha suggests? Do otherreligious or philosophical traditions contain psychological or meditative practices similarto mindfulness in Buddhism?2) Is there any reason to believe that the development of mindfulness is effective in providingcontrol over one’s bodily or mental faculties?3) Why are breathing and focalization techniques recommended as the best means for achievingmindfulness? How do such techniques relate to more well known practices like yoga andLamaze?4) The suggested cemetery meditations seem to be a grotesque, even macabre, way to view thebody. Are such negative images of the body warranted? What purpose might thesemeditations have?5) Do the meditative practices suggested for achieving mindfulness make a person aloof anddisengaged from the world or more involved and engaged with the world?
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Study and Discussion Questions for Early Buddhist Discourses

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