There is much I love about Buddhism, but one thing I’ve never been able to figure out is what’s with all the numbers? There are lists of the eight this, the four that, the 37 this and on and on.
Last night Patti and I were joking about it and so this morning she sent me a link to this page which details the various lists.
Here’s the lists without the member items:
The Four Noble Truths
The Eightfold Path (ariya-magga)
Three Characteristics of Existence (of Conditioned Phenomena)
Three Pillars of Dhamma (dharma) or Grounds for Making Merit
Three Poisons/Defilements (Kilesas – lit. torments of the mind)
Three Refuges (Triple Gem, Three Jewels)
Three Types of Dukkha
Four Bases of Power or Success (Iddhipada)
Four Brahma-viharas (Highest Attitudes/Emotions)
Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Four Form Jhanas (rupa jhanas) or Meditative Absorptions
Four Taints
Five Aggregates
Five Hindrances (nivarana)
Five Precepts
Five Things that lead to Awakening
Seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga)
Eight Worldly Dhammas (Conditions, Concerns)
Ten Perfections (Paramis/Paramitas)
Ten qualities leading to Buddhahood
Ten Fetters (samyojana)
Four Stages of Enlightenment
Twelve Links of Dependent Origination-
Twelve Links of Transcendental Dependent Arising
37 Factors of Enlightenment or Wings of Awakening