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COURSE

A Guide to the 3 Buddhist Trainings: Morality, Concentration, and Wisdom

With Ishar Keshu

Welcome! This course goes over the foundational Buddhist teaching of the Noble Eightfold Path, which can be divided into 3 categories of training – morality (sīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (pañña). In addition to learning about Buddhism, you’ll learn practical tips on how to: • Create a positive, uplifted, and joyous state of mind • Uproot any hidden negative mental states (known as the “Five Hindrances”) that cloud your mind • Gain wisdom and key insights from understanding the nature of reality • Concentrate and calm your mind • Reduce the causes of suffering in your life and train your mind toward happiness • Cultivate wholesome character traits that promote virtue, happiness, and well-being in your life and the lives of others • …and so much more from the material found in this course! Let's get started!

Learn about the threefold trainings, found in the Noble Eightfold Path in Buddhism.

11 Days

2.4k students

4.8 stars

15 min / day

English

About this course

Loving-Kindness (Metta)

One-Pointed Concentration

Philosophical Reflection

Meet your Teacher

Ishar Keshu

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Austin, TX, USA

Ishar is a registered Yoga Teacher and avid meditation practitioner. His background draws from Buddhism (Zen and Theravada), Hatha Yoga, and Mysticism. Having nearly a decade of experience teaching beginning yoga and meditation students, he is known for distilling down the essentials of contemplative practice in an easy-to-understand manner, without watering any content down, as seen in modern spiritual teachers today

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11 Days

2.4k students

4.8 stars

15 min / day

English

Lesson 1

Day 1: Introduction - The Buddha's Story

Welcome! This lesson goes over the story of Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who decided to leave his life of luxury to start a journey to find out how to end suffering. You'll learn what led him to develop the Noble Eightfold Path, from which this course is based upon.

Lesson 2

Day 2: Introduction - The 4 Noble Truths & The Noble Eightfold Path

This lesson goes over the Buddha's first known sermon known as 'Turning the Wheel of Dhamma'. In this discourse, he teaches his former ascetic friends the principles of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Lesson 3

Day 3: Introduction - Structuring your Practice

This lesson goes over how to organize the Noble Eightfold Path in an easy-to-understand manner. If you're a newer student, this is done by either simplifying the path into 3 categories; morality, concentration, and wisdom. Once you've gotten a grasp of the teachings, you can memorize each of the 8 practices that comprise the Noble Eightfold Path. An experienced student can go further by memorizing each of the sub-categories for each of the practices on the path.

Lesson 4

Day 4: Morality - Understanding Morality (Sīla)

This lesson covers the first of the threefold trainings of the Noble Eightfold Path which is Morality (Sīla). Morality or sīla is comprised of Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.

Lesson 5

Day 5: Concentration - Understanding Concentration (Samādhi)

This lesson covers the second of the threefold trainings of the Noble Eightfold Path which is Concentration (Samādhi). The category of concentration on the Noble Eightfold Path is comprised of Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

Lesson 6

Day 6: Concentration - On Loving-Kindness Meditation (Mettā)

This lesson goes over the practice of Loving-Kindness meditation (mettā) which is just ONE of the many concentration techniques you can choose from. In this track, you'll learn why I specifically chose this practice over the others.

Lesson 7

Day 7: Concentration - Loving-Kindness Meditation (Mettā) Guided Meditation

This is a guided meditation that will start with brief instructions, followed by a bell to start the practice, a bell to end the practice, and some takeaways at the end so you'll understand how to practice this on your own.

Lesson 8

Day 8: Wisdom - Understanding Wisdom (Pañña)

This lesson covers the last of the threefold trainings of the Noble Eightfold Path which is Wisdom (Pañña). The category of Wisdom on the Noble Eightfold Path is comprised of Right View and Right Intention. You'll learn how to take the concentration developed in the previous meditation to then apply it to seeing reality clearly.

Lesson 9

Day 9: Wisdom – Vipassanā Guided Meditation (Noting/Labeling)

This Vipassanā guided meditation style was taught by prolific Burmese meditation master, Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. This guided meditation will start and end with a bell and will be followed by some takeaways at the end so you'll understand how to practice this on your own.

Lesson 10

Day 10: Closing – Putting It All Together

This lesson ties together everything we've learned so far about the Noble Eightfold Path and the trainings found within it. You'll learn how to practice these trainings on your own. Outlined in this track are potential paths you can take on depending on your experience level with meditation. A reminder that these are simply recommendations as there isn't a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Find what works best for you!

Lesson 11

Day 10/11: Closing – Conclusion

Thank you for taking this course! This track sums up what we've learned so far and how competence in these trainings is gained through practice. You'll notice that the Noble Eightfold Path works in a feedback loop (i.e increased morality aids concentration which will further aid the insights gained from your wisdom-based practice. As you gain more wisdom, you'll also be able to perfect your morality more, which will in turn help your concentration practice). Likewise, the more you go through this course, the more confident you'll feel in your practice. Enjoy your practice!