The purpose of learning Buddhism is to eradicate the Three Poisons (Greed, Anger, Ignorance), and the way to do so is through diligently practicing the Three Practices (Also known as the Three Trainings): 'sila (discipline), samadhi (meditation), and prajna (wisdom).

1.'sila 戒

Generally known as precepts or discipline, 'sila helps us prevent unwholesome karma from arising, and encourage the achievement of vir-tuous deeds. It is the guideline to our physical and mental conducts. In our daily lives, not only should we observe the precepts strictly, we also need to refrain from violating them and strive to practice virtuous deeds in order to purify our body and mind, and enter the state of samadhi.

Precepts are practiced or observed for the following three purposes: 1) Observe the rules: To observe precepts such as the Five Precepts, Ten Precepts, or even the Upasamapada Pre-cepts to prevent all evil conducts from arising. 2) Practice all virtuous deeds: To see the cul-tivation of all kind deeds as a requirement, and thus do only deeds of kindness. 3) Grant compassion to all sentient beings: To discipline oneself in showing compassion to all sentient beings, and thus do good deeds to benefit them.

All of the above can be summarized into the following:

Do no evil, practice all good;

Purify one's own mind, thus is the teaching of all buddhas.

2.Samadhi 定

Generally known as meditation, it ceases the arising of phenomena and filters out our de-filements to help us focus our mind on spiri-tual cultivation. Meditation is a practice through which we cultivate and settle our mind. During our practice of meditation, not only do we guard our six sense organs, stay away from delusive thoughts, we also eradicate our defilements and focus our mind on a cho-sen target so as to attain the state of physical and mental peacefulness. Subsequently, wisdom will arise from our mind.

There are three types of samadhi: 1) Mun-dane samadhi: A practice done by heretics or ordinary beings. By observing their breaths, they attain the status of supernatural beings as a result. 2) Supramundane samadhi: This practice is chosen by those who follow the sravaka and pratyekabuddha paths (known as the Two Ve-hicles), contemplating forms to attain the fruit of the Small Vehicle; 3) Supramundane Ulti-mate samadhi: This is practiced by bodhisattvas who travel the Mahayana path, by contemplat-ing the mind, they attain the supreme fruit of bodhi wisdom.

【Key Words】

1. Three Poisons 三毒
2. Greed 貪
3. Anger 瞋
4. Ignorance 癡
5. 'sila 戒律
6. discipline紀律
7. samadhi 定
8. meditation 禪修