FNT and NEP enough?

[Stephen K]

Just a quick question.

Are the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path enough for englightenment?

In other words, are other teachings, such as, for example, the brahmaviharas, or the 10 parami, indispensable for the attainment the final goal?

If one only follows the FNT and NEP, would that be enough?

[PeterB]

I am sure they are enough Stefan. If you allow a pictorial metaphor, its like the Third Noble Truth opens out into Eightfold Path, and from another angle into the Brahma Viharas. In turn the Paramis overlap with the Brahma Viharas, no's eight and nine ( ? ) of the paramis are not different from two of the Brahma Viharas. They are I think different aspects of the same thing with a slightly different emphasis here and there . So yes , they give all of philosophical underpinning that we need to inform our anapanasati and Brahma Vihara practice.



P.

[Jechbi]

If one only follows the FNT and NEP, would that be enough?

My opinion: It would be enough for those other things to surely follow. These all go together, like a flower goes with it stem and roots.

[PeterB]

Good analogy Jechbi.

[Stephen K]

I mean, as beneficial as the various practices are, are all of them indispensable? The Fouth Truth states only the NEP as the means for attaining Nibbana, it doesn't mention other practices. Yet the Blessed One taught many other practices; are these indespensable?

[PeterB]

It seems to me Stefan that the other practices are included in Samma-Samadhi and Samma-Sati.

[pink_trike]

Imo, the whole thing is right there in the FNT and 8FP. Everything else is additional commentary and aids to recognizing what is clearly spelled out in the FNT and 8FP.

The FNT and 8FP are profoundly simple...but they are also deep and alive. The more we take them to heart the more they reveal, ultimately revealing all.

[cooran]

Hello Stefan and all,

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana says, regarding the Brahma Viharas:

"They are so important in the practice of Vipassana meditation that they are included in the second step of the Noble Eightfold Path. In fact, no concentration is possible without these sublime states of mind because in their absence the mind would be filled with hatred, rigidity, worry, fear, tension and restlessness."
Article here:
http://www.bhavanasociety.org/main/reso ... ess_metta/

metta
Chris

[Cittasanto]

All teachings are aspects of the FNT including the NEP

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Imo, the whole thing is right there in the FNT and 8FP. Everything else is additional commentary and aids to recognizing what is clearly spelled out in the FNT and 8FP.

The FNT and 8FP are profoundly simple...but they are also deep and alive. The more we take them to heart the more they reveal, ultimately revealing all.

As Chris pointed out, just because brahma-viharas (and other teachings for that matter) are not explicitly referenced in 4NT or 8NP, they are certainly part of it.

Metta,
Retro.

[BlackBird]

All teachings are aspects of the FNT including the NEP