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Dhammapada and the Way of the Monk


            For all Buddhists, regardless of sect, the ultimate goal is a religious quest that ends.
             in enlightenment and complete freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara).
             Enlightenment can be described as a blissful mental state or nirvana (Nibbana). Buddha,.
             the religious figure who inspires Buddhists", describes the enlightened one as, "One who.
             knows [his] former lives, And sees the heavens and the state of woe, And who has reached.
             the extinction of births, Who has perfected higher knowledge, Sage who has fulfilled the.
             final perfection" (Dhammapada, 26:423). Apart from form, this state of existence called,.
             "the essential", is bestowed upon those who can see the world for what it really is.
             (Dhammapada, 1:12). There are four successive stages of Nibbana, the highest of which.
             is (Parinirvana). Buddha describes those in this state as, "the Awakened Ones".
             (Dhammapada, 14:195). Once Parinirvana has been achieved, the believer is called.
             worthy (Arahant), bestowed with buddhahood, and their personal cycle of samsara is.
             permanently broken.
             One who has begun the pursuit of enlightenment in the earthly world must.
             undertake three refuges otherwise known as the Three Jewels. One must take refuge in.
             Buddha, then in the acceptance of the natural order of things (dharma), and finally, one.
             must take refuge in the Buddhist ordained community (samgha) (Dhammapada, 14:190).
             By taking refuge in Buddha, followers must commit not to the worship of Buddha himself,.
             but to his teachings and all that they represent. Followers can be either male or female of.
             any caste or social standing. It becomes their duty (dhamma) to become detached from.
             every desire. Days are spent practicing compassion to all creatures and seeking insight and.
             purity. Devotees can carry out these principles with varying degrees of involvement in the.
             samgha as lay people and still be considered a part of the samgha in the wider sense. Lay.
             people support the religious order with material needs, but remain outside of its monastic.


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