Contemplation on Dharma

Week of March 21, 2005 – Contemplation on Dharma


In the Mahasatipatthana Sutra, Contemplation on Dharma is subdivided into the following five sections:
1) Section on Hindrances
2) Section on Aggregates
3) Section on Sense Bases
4) Section on Enlightenment Factors
5) Section on Noble Truths

In the Theravada tradition, the fourth base of Mindfulness is - Contemplation on Dharma.

In the Mahayana tradition, the fourth base is elaborated as – Mindfulness of all Phenomena or Objects of Consciousness.

On the Buddhist website, www.buddhanet.net, Dharma is defined as: The Universal Truth; The Teachings and the inner practice of the Teachings of Buddha; Essential quality and factual reality.

As I have classified in my previous weekly email:

On the Functional level - Dharma is Buddha Sakyamuni’s teachings.
On the Attributes level - Dharma is the Appearance (Attributes) of the Truth: the nature of reality.
On the Essence Level - Dharma is what is to be realized: the reality.

Only through a solid foundation on the contemplation of the body, feelings and mind, will we be able to contemplate the Dharma. In the beginning, by understanding Buddha Sakyamuni’s teachings, we can have a good foundation of what Dharma is. Yet we must go deeper and realize Dharma on our own.

What is Dharma and how do we realize it? Just keep on practicing whatever method you are using - reciting of the mantras, reciting of the Buddha’s name, Tantric, Chan, Pure Land…, be good at it, gain the insight and know-how of the method, use your heart, raise the existential doubt; realization will come somehow, someday!