3 Levels of Practices: 4 Noble Truths, 12-Links of Dependent Origination, 6 Paramitas
3 Steps in Cultivation: Stating Intention, Study, Practice
3 Basic Practices: Precepts, Concentration, Wisdom
2 Types of Obstacles: Perceptual attachments, Behavioral errors

Level 1: Acknowledge the 4 Noble Truths, and follow the 8-fold path:

4 Noble Truths (四聖諦):

Suffering (苦). gathering(集), extinction(滅), path(道)
Gathering of 5 skandhas leads to suffering. Following the 8-fold path leads to extinction of suffering.

8-fold path (八正道): Right perception(正見), right thinking(正思), right speech(正語), right conduct(正業), right livelihood(正命), right effort(正精進), right intention(正念), right concentration(正定)

2nd Level: Contemplate on the 12 Links of Dependent Origination:

12 Links of Dependent Origination(十二因緣):

How do things (including our self) arise, sustain, and fall? Buddhist describes it in the following 12 links:
1)      Ignornace leads to movement (from the source)
2)      Movement leads to consciousness (individual dualistic)
3)      Consciousness manifest itself in names and forms
4)      Names and forms arises with the sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind)
5)      Sense organs functions with senses
6)      Senses leads to feelings
7)      Feelings leads to attachment
8)      Attachment leads to the concept of getting
9)      Getting leads to having
10)   Having leads to the concept of birth
11)   Birth leads to the concept of aging and dying

3rd Level: Perfect the 6 Paramitas (pathway to enlightenment):

6 Paramitas (六度波羅蜜:charity, precepts, endurance, diligent, concentration, wisdom)

* * *

3 Steps in Buddhist Cultivation:

Stating one’s intention (發心) – study (修) – practice (行)

3 Basic Practices (三無漏學):

Precepts(戒), Concentration(定), Wisdom(慧)
Collecting the mind is precepts, sustaining precepts is concentration, concentration leads to wisdom. – Surangama Sutra.  楞嚴經云: “攝心為戒, 因戒生定, 因定發慧。”

2 Types of Obstacles 見思惑:

Perceptual attachments (見惑):  to body(身見)、to duality(邊見)、to false teachings(邪見)、to states(見取見)、to teachings(戒禁取見)
Behavioral errors (思惑): greed(貪)、anger(嗔)、ignorance(痴)、pride(慢)、doubt(疑)