Resources -- Buddhism -- Lists

Pāli
Gradual training
Why are there so many lists? Buddhist texts were transmitted orally for generations before they were written down. Lists can be quite helpful for both organizing and memorizing information, and so they occur frequently in Buddhist teachings. It’s interesting to note that in very old texts thought to have come from the earliest days of the Buddha’s teachings, the lists are not found. In the Atthaka-vagga (book 4 of the Sutta Nipāta), for example, the traditional lists do not show up. The essence of the teachings are clearly there, but they were not yet being framed and presented in terms of lists. 
 
 
Five Precepts

 

  • “I undertake/ take upon myself the training-precept to abstain from destruction of breathing beings.” Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
  • “I undertake the training-precept to abstain from taking what is not given.” Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
  • “I undertake the training-precept to abstain from sensual misconduct.” Kāmesumicchācāra veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
  • “I undertake the training-precept to abstain from lying.” Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
  • “I undertake the training-precept to abstain from a state of neglience (created) from alcoholic drink or drugs.” Surā-meraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.
Lists

Four ennobling truths

dissatisfaction ennobling truth — this is to be understood  (dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ– pariññeyya)

arising-of-dissatisfaction ennobling truth — to be given up (dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ– pahātabba) 

cessation-of-dissatisfaction ennobling truth — to be personally realised (dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ — sacchikātabba)

path of practice leading to cessation of dissatsifaction ennobling truth — to be developed (dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ — bhāvetabba)

— Setting in motion the wheel of the Dhamma, Dhamma-cakkappavattana-sutta, SN 56.11

Five hindrances (pañva nīvaraṇāni)

These are natural directions our minds go that are impediments to establishing an undistracted mind. It’s very useful to be able to be able to recognize these, understand how they arise, how they pass, and how to prevent their arising in the future.

sense desire (kāmacchanda)

ill-will, dislike, hostility, enmity; lit going wrong  (vyāpāda)

sloth & torpor, drowsiness & sluggishness; (thīna, middha)  thīna is lit. being stiff, middha likely related to the word for ‘pillar’

restlessness & worry (uddhacca, kukkucca)

doubt, perplexity (vicikicchā)

 

Awakening Factors (Satta sambojjaṅgā)

mindfulness (sati)

investigation (dhammavicaya), energy (viriya), joy (pīti)

tranquility (passaddhi), concentration (samādhi), equipoise (upekkha)

 

Ennobling Eightfold path (Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo)

Sammā (right, perfect) view (diṭṭhi), intention (saṅkappa), speech (vācā), action (kammanta), livelihood (ājīva), effort (vāyāma), mindfulness (sati), concentration (samādhi)

 

Ten fetters (samyojanā)

1-3:  belief in a self / self-view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi), doubt/perplexity (vicikicchā), attachment to rites & rituals sīlabbata-parāmāsa

4-5:  sensual desire (kāmacchando), ill-will (vyāpādo)

6-10:  lust for form (rūparāgo), lust for formless existence (arūparāgo),  conceit (mānā), restlessness (uddhacca), ignorance (avijjā)