The Four Contemplations that Turn the Mind
The Four Contemplations are the four basic tenants of Buddhism. They point out that attaining a human birth is an extraordinary gift and it behooves us to honor and value that opportunity by living an exemplary life of wisdom and compassion for ourselves and others.
The Four Contemplations are:
This Precious Human Birth
Impermanence
Karma
Samsara
This Precious Human Birth
The Buddha emphasized that having a human birth is the result of good karma and that being born into a body with reasonably good health, intelligence, and the spiritual aspiration to take a spiritual path to assist others is known as “Unique Occasion”.
In addition, being born into a situation and circumstance where one has access to spiritual teachings with the means and freedoms to study them is called “Right Juncture”. Therefore, we should not take our lives for granted but do our best with whatever gifts we possess.
Impermanence
The Buddha emphasized that all relative things are dual in nature. We exist in a seemingly never-ending maze of opposites, happy or sad, rich or poor, lucky or unfortunate, and so on. These opposites are by their very nature situational and impermanent. Our own identity is also impermanent. For example, where is the “you” when you are asleep?
By understanding impermanence, we do not mistakenly seek happiness outside of ourselves but learn to go inward, to our intrinsic nature which is not subject to the relative conditions of life and death.
Karma
This is the law of cause and effect. All beings who live in ignorance of their true nature exist in a world dictated by karmic circumstances. This is aworld characterized by polar opposites or duality.
Our actions, if they are positive, life-affirming, generous and kind will produce a good result. If our actions are negative, self-destructive, motivated by hate toward ourselves and others they will produce a negative result. We cannot escape this duality while living in ignorance.
Buddhist philosophy teaches that we are the creators of our own fate and destiny. If we wish to escape this wheel of karma, we need to wake up.
Samsara
The Buddhists call this world of conditioned existence and ignorance, samsara. The world, as we know it, is driven by desire, delusion, and craving. As long as one is living in samsara (ignorance), suffering continues, even after death. However, this cycle of rebirth, suffering, death, and another rebirth can come to an end.
The Buddha taught that there is an end to suffering and that end is found when one enters the spiritual path. Suffering is seen as part of the illusion caused by ignorance. Once we realize that spiritual liberation and spiritual bondage are both self-generated, the conditions for a spiritual awakening are met and with great persistence, one can realize and experience self-realization or enlightenment.
Four Contemplations that Turn the Mind
The Four Contemplations are presented in two sessions. The first session covers the topics of This Precious Human Birth and Impermanence. The second session covers the topics of Karma (the law of cause and effect) and Samsara (the world of illusion). Both of these sessions conclude with a brief meditation.
The Four Contemplations that Turn the Mind - Part 1
In this session, we begin our discussion of the four contemplations that turn the mind by discussing This Precious Human Birth and Impermanence.
The Four Contemplations that Turn the Mind - Part 2
In this session, we continue our discussion of the four contemplations that turn the mind, covering the topics of Karma (the law of cause and effect) and Samsara (the world of illusion).
Recommended Meditations
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - this meditation introduces us to mind in its natural state which is spacious, open, and free.
Mindfulness Breathing Meditation - in this meditation we keep the mind focused on the present moment by attending to the breath.
Meditation on Spaciousness - this meditation slows down the number of thoughts that enter the mind and increases the space between one thought and the next.
