Download Mahayana Buddhism - Rochester Community Schools

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Sects of The Buddhist Philosophy
Theravada Buddhism
Scripture
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The Pali Canon
– Large collection of scripture
– Pali language (dialect of Sanksrit)
– Records conversations of the
Buddha
– Considered a spiritual masterpiece
Scripture
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The Tripitaka
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The Three Baskets
• Created after the Buddha’s death
• 500 elders agreed on a definite body of the
Buddha’s teachings
– Palm leaf manuscripts kept in three woven baskets
• Sutta Pitaka
– Basket of discourse
– Literal words attributed to the Buddha
• Vinaya Pitaka
– Basket of discipline
– Contains regulations of monastic life
• Abhidhamma Pitaka
– Basket of special doctrine
Wood Printing Blocks for Tripitaka
Worship and Practice
• The Triple Gem
– The Buddha
– The Dharma
– The Sangha
The Triple Gem: The Buddha
• The Buddha
– I go to the Buddha for refuge
– One takes refuge in the
Buddha not by worshiping him,
but by paying homage to him
as a supreme teacher
The Triple Gem: The Dharma
• The Dharma
– I go to the dharma for
refuge
– Does not cure suffering
(like medicine), unless we
take it and embrace it
The Triple Gem: The Sangha
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The Sangha
– I go to the sangha for refuge
– ½ million Theravidin monks in SE Asia
– Shaved heads, simple robes, ownership of
basic items, celibate, alms bowl
– Spiritual guidance, blessings, advice
– Monasteries are the center of village life
– No nuns (became sexist as religion
developed)
– Vipassana Meditation
Meditation
Devotional Practices
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Consecrating a new Buddha image
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Close eyes with beeswax
Cover head with cloth
Meditate
Preach about the Buddha and dharma
throughout the entire night
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train image
initiate image
Strong sangha unity
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana in General
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Goal of all to be liberated; no monastic heirarchy
Practice of monastics and laypeople equally
Different divisions and practices within; differs from
uniformity of Theravada
Honors the teachings of the Pali Canon
Honors the teachings of extensive Buddhist literature
(Perfection of Wisdom scripture)
Practices deeds and qualities of Buddhas and
bodhisattvas
Emphasizes the importance of religious experiences
Dharma is not only embodied in scripture
Each school offers a special set of methods or skillful
means for enlightenment, but they maintain many
common characteristics
Bodhisattvas
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“Being of wisdom”
All beings are capable of enlightenment
Postpone their own enlightenment for the sake
of helping others find their own enlightenment
Four Great Bodhisattva Vows
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Beings are infinite in numbers, I vow to save them
all
The obstructive passions are endless in number, I
vow to end them all
The teachings for saving others are countless, I
vow to learn them all
Buddhahood is supreme achievement, I vow to
attain it
The Buddha
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In Theravada Buddhism, the Buddha is viewed as a
historical figure
In Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha is regarded
as a universal principle
He is immanent in the universe
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Three bodies
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The Buddha has three forms
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When it occupied the earth in the form of Siddhartha Gautama, it
took on the Body of Magical Transformation (nirmanakaya ).
Body of Bliss (sambhogakaya ) occupies the heavens in the form of a
ruling and governing god of the universe.
Body of Essence (dharmakaya ), which is the principle underlying the
whole of the universe. This Body of Essence, the principle and rule of
the universe, became synonymous with Nirvana .
Sects of Mahayana Buddhism
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Rationalist Sect
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Reason and study of scripture in search of
enlightenment
Pure Land Sect
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Live virtuous life
Recited Amitabha’s (a Buddha) name
Achieve salvation and life after death in “pure land
of Western Paradise.”
Priests can marry
Sunday service
Sects of Mahayana Buddhism
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Sociopolitical Sect
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Japanese
All sects of Buddhism are a perversion to
true teachings of the Buddha
Sects are teaching falsehoods...therefore
everyone is suffering
Sects of Mahayana Buddhism
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Intuitive Sects
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Zen and Ch’an
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Basic principles
– Enlightenment as an individual matter
– Meditation
– Realization of the Buddha nature within
themselves
– Externals, texts, monastic disciple, temples
are important, BUT only direct insight can lead
to enlightenment
– Sudden flash of insight, not rational thought,
scripture or faith
– Intuition or inspiration comes after a period of
meditation
Sects of Mahayana Buddhism
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Bodhidharma
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Legendary life
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Mission from India to China
Taught emperor that he found truth in meditation
and sudden insight
Retired to a cave, spent ten years meditating
Kept falling asleep, fit of rage, cut of his eyelids
Tea sprouts sprung up as they hit the ground
Tea introduced to India from China monks could
stay up this way)
Bodhidharma
Sects of Mahayana Buddhism
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Zen Masters
– Teachers of novices
– KOANS: riddles
• Reason is to be distrusted; people
must deliberately confuse reason
before they can find truth
• Carefully constructed an go beyond
reason
• Sound of one hand clapping?
Vajrayana Buddhism
• Sect of Mahayana
• Most elaborate branch
• Developed in India, moved to Tibet.
Historically practice in Nepal, Bhutan,
Sikkim and Mongolia; Currently practiced
throughout the Tibetan diaspora and in N.
America and Europe
Vajrayana Buddhism
• Shamanistic religion in Tibet called Bon.
• 7th Century CE, powerful Tibetan king became
interested in Buddhism.
• Sent a group of students to India to study Buddhism,
all died on their journey through the heat.
• One member of a second group survived and
returned with Sanskrit texts.
• After being translated in Tibetan, declared national
religion and encouraged Buddhist virtues.
• After a combination of Bon features and Buddhist
features were couple, Vajrayana (the “Diamond
Vehicle”) or Tantrayana
Vajrayana Buddhism
• Advanced esoteric path: speeds up the path and
allows enlightenment in one lifetime.
– Extreme, rigorous practices derived from tantric yoga
of India
– Construct and indestructible “diamond body” that will
allow them physically to sustain entries into the
intense energies of higher levels of consciousness
• Lamas-guide disciples through a series of tantric
practices (highest teachers)
– Some considered incarnate of bodhisattvas
– Trained from very young age; can help people
advance toward Supreme Truth
Vajrayana Buddhism
• Deity yoga: meditating on one of the many
deities who embody various qualities that
the practitioner wishes to manifest
• Levitation, clairvoyance, meditating
continuously without sleep, warming body
from within while sitting naked in snow.
The Dalai Lama
• Dalai Lama: Tibetans suffered persecution from
communist Chinese (1951) destroying
monasteries and scriptures, killing 1/6 of people.
Hundreds in exile include the Dalai Lama;
spiritual and political leader.
• Speaking appearances have made revival in
interest of Buddhism
• Dharamsala: headquarters in northern India
• Read passage on pg 157 of your textbook