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Date Posted: 20:58:46 05/22/07 Tue
Author: Antônio de Oliveira Sette Câmara
Subject: TASK 3 - Process Analysis Essay

ANTÔNIO DE OLIVEIRA SETTE CÂMARA - 2007 / 01
INGLÊS: PRODUÇÃO DE TEXTOS - PROFESSOR: ADRIANA TENUTA
TASK 3 - PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

THE EIGHT STEPS TOWARD ENLIGHTENMENT

The Gautama Buddha lived around the 6th Century B.C., at about the same time Socrates was debating in the streets of Athens. He was born a wealthy kshatriya (a member of the warrior caste) and lived happily, secluded in his palace with his wife and small child. But, having once escaped to see how was life outside, he learned of human suffering, disease, aging and death, and decided to give up everything to seek for the final answers about life and death.

After many years of ascetic discipline in the forest, he became enlightened and decided to preach the truth to all human and non-human beings. The essence of his message is that there is no such thing as that which we call “I”, “Ego”, “individual”, “self” or “permanent identity”, but only impermanent and ever-changing “psychic aggregates”, shadows, false ideas of ourselves. To understand this is to awaken to Reality, the Void.

To escape from the realm of illusion and attain enlightenment, the Buddha prescribed what he called the Eightfold Path, comprising eight successive steps according to the Raja Yoga tradition: Yama, Nyiama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dhyana, Dharana and Sammadhi.

Yama, the first step, consists in five abstentions: (I) ahimsa, to abstain from violence toward any sentient being; (II) satya, or devotion to truth (abstention from lying); (III) asteya, to refrain from stealing; (IV) brahmacharya, avoidance of sexual incontinence; and (V) aparigraha, or abstention from worldly possessions. Yama is, thus, a set of NEGATIVE precepts or prohibitions.

Niyama, the second stage, comprises five observances: (I) Saucha, which means purity; (II) Santosha, or contentment; (III) Tapas, austerities or discipline; (IV) Svadhyaya, study; and, finally, (V) Ishvarapranidhana, that is, surrender to God. These POSITIVE observances correspond to our Judeo-Christian religious Commandments.

The third requirement is Asana, a Sanskrit word meaning postures of the body. We Westerners are acquainted with these asanas from hatha-yoga, which is studied and practised all over the world and aims at improving bodily health.

Pranayama, the control of prana or vital energy, is the fourth step on the way to Liberation. It comprises a series of respiratory exercises aiming at gaining energy, strength and clarity of mind.

These first four steps are, so to speak, preparatory for the next four, designed to take the practitioner to the doorstep of Ultimate Reality, and which we will now describe briefly.

The fifth step is called Pratyahara, or abstraction from the objects of the senses, and implies directing our attention inwardly, abandoning consciousness of any outer objects. This prepares the way for the next, more difficult step.

Dharana, the sixth step, consists in concentration, i.e., fixing the attention on a single object and not letting the mind get distracted in any way.

Dhyana, or meditation, is the seventh stage. The Buddhist sages say that through meditation everything can be known: past, present and future, oneself and others, all that is manifested in the universe and also what is beyond.

The eight and last step is Samadhi, a supra-conscious state in which there is neither Self nor Other, and from which one does not return. Samadhi can be of two kinds: Sabikalpa Samadhi, in which there is still some consciousness of the outer universe; and Nirbikalpa Samadhi, or “seedless” Samadhi, when there is complete absorption in the Ultimate Reality, and from which one does not return.

Let us hope that, following in the footsteps of the Buddha, all beings may find their way to Eternal Happiness and Freedom.

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