* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Atisha`s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
Buddhism and violence wikipedia , lookup
Buddha-nature wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist influences on print technology wikipedia , lookup
Persecution of Buddhists wikipedia , lookup
Pratītyasamutpāda wikipedia , lookup
Triratna Buddhist Community wikipedia , lookup
Sanghyang Adi Buddha wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist art wikipedia , lookup
Greco-Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist philosophy wikipedia , lookup
Tara (Buddhism) wikipedia , lookup
Nirvana (Buddhism) wikipedia , lookup
Mahayana sutras wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist ethics wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in Cambodia wikipedia , lookup
Dhyāna in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and psychology wikipedia , lookup
Early Buddhist schools wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in Thailand wikipedia , lookup
Korean Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
History of Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Chinese Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Dalit Buddhist movement wikipedia , lookup
Buddhist texts wikipedia , lookup
History of Buddhism in Cambodia wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and Western philosophy wikipedia , lookup
Abhisamayalankara wikipedia , lookup
Enlightenment in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and sexual orientation wikipedia , lookup
History of Buddhism in India wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in Myanmar wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism in Vietnam wikipedia , lookup
Silk Road transmission of Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Women in Buddhism wikipedia , lookup
Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent wikipedia , lookup
Introduction to Buddhism Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee University of Arkansas Reading Assignment • Maguire: Introduction • Maguire: Notes on the Text Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 2 Geshe Thupten Dorjee • 50 Years In Exile • Born in Tibet during the Chinese Communist invasion in 1959. • 1961 – escape to Bhutan. • 1973 - Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India – Original monastery established in Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 – After the 1959 invasion, the monastery was forced to close and was almost completely destroyed • 1998 - Geshe Lharampa (equivalent to Ph.D. in philosophy) • 2002 – Geshe Ngarampa (tantrayana) Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 3 Geshe Lharampa Degree • 25 Years of study: Major Buddhist and non-Buddhist Indian Philosophy texts, Tibetan culture, and history 1. Prajnaparamita: Perfection of Wisdom (Tibetan, Pharchin) 2. Madhyamika: Middle way Philosophy (Tibetan, Uma) 3. Pramana Vertika Karika: Valid Cognition (Tibetan, Namdrel) 4. Abhidharma: Buddhist Metaphysics (Tibetan, Zoe) 5. Vinaya: Buddhist Ethics (Tibetan, Dul-Wa) Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 4 Geshe Ngarampa Degree • • • • Geshe Ngarampa = Doctor of Philosophy in Tantra Gyuto Tantric University, North India. Advanced studies: 4 Categories of Buddhist Tantra. Tantra literally means “continuum”; refers to the set of esoteric teachings and practice of Buddhism. • Four Categories of Tantra 1. Action Tantra (Kriya Tantra) 2. Performance Tantra (Carya Tantra) 3. Yoga Tantra 4. Highest Yoga Tantra (Anuttarayoga Tantra) Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 5 Typical Curriculum of Study • Collected Topics on Valid Cognition: Logic, epistemology, and psychology. • Debate manual: Commentary on Dignaga’s “Compendium on Valid Cognition” by Dharmakirti (7th century). • Emphasis on debate • Buddhist philosophy is based on logic and reason • 9 hours per day are devoted to discussion and intellectual understanding of Buddha’s teachings • Requires memorization of all root texts (thousands of pages) Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 6 Debating the Tenets Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 7 Introduction to the Tenets • Perfection of Wisdom – 7 years – 70 topics related to the spiritual path of Buddhist practitioners at all levels, – Based on Maitreya’s (fourth century) Ornament for Clear Realizations and various commentaries. • Middle Way – 4 years – Madhyamika philosophy based Chandrakirti’s (7th century) Entrance to the Middle Way. – 10 Bodhisattva perfections and grounds are covered, although the main topic is emptiness. Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 8 Introduction to the Tenets • Abhidharma – 4 years – Topics such as cosmology, meditative states, and psychology – Based on Vasubandhu’s (4th century) Treasury of Abhidharma. – Also study Non-Buddhist Systems for better understanding of Buddhist Philosophy “For Gelugpa, it is much more important to memorize and debate than it is to read broadly.” Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 9 Introduction to the Tenets • Tantrayana – Gyuto Tantric University – Requires successful completion of oral examination in front of the entire college of monks – Tests the candidate’s knowledge and memorization of the root Guyasamucha (King of Tantrayana) texts and related topics Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 10 Textbooks • Jack Maguire: Essential Buddhism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices • Geshe Sonam Rinchen: Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 11 Maguire’s Questions 1. How did Buddhism begin? 2. How did it turn into such a dynamic force in the world? 3. What do its adherents believe? 4. How do they express their faith? 5. Why are so many westerners drawn to it? 6. What is its relevance to our individual lives and to society as a whole? Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 12 Three Basic Formats • Maguire describes “three basic formats” of Buddhism: 1. Theravada 2. Mahayana 3. Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) • While Maguire uses “Vajrayana” to distinguish between “Tibetan Buddhism” and other forms, Vajrayana is better viewed as a particular practice within Mahayana Buddhism Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 13 Buddhist Philosophical Schools Tibetan Mahayana Perspective • Hinayana • Mahayana – Theravada – Sutra (sutrayana) • Vaibhasika • Sautantrika • Cittamatra • Madhayamika – Svatantrika – Prasangika – Tantra (Tantrayana, Vajrayana) • • • • Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION Kriya Tantra Carya Tantra Yoga Tantra Anuttarayoga Tantra 14 Theravada Buddhism • Most common in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar) • Emphasizes monasticism • Arhat ideal (individual liberation) • Major texts (written in Pali) – Tipitaka (3 Baskets) • Vinaya Pitaka • Sutta Pitaka • Abhidhamma Pitaka Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 15 Mahayana Buddhism • Developed in India around the 4th century • Expands Buddhism to laypersons • More liberal monastic codes • Bodhisattva ideal – liberation of all sentient beings • Major texts – Perfection of Wisdom sutras – Diamond sutra – Lotus sutra – Tibetan commentaries Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 16 Mahayana Schools • Zen (Ch’an) Buddhism – Common in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam – Blends Mahayana Buddhism with Taoism – Aims at taking the rational and intellectual mind out of the mental loop – Zen is something you do – it cannot be described in words – Two major schools • Rinzai • Soto Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 17 Mahayana Schools • Tibetan Buddhism – Importance of the Lama or teacher – Importance of ritual and initiations – Preoccupation with relationship between life and death – Rich visual symbolism – Prominence of supernatural beings – Elements of earlier Tibetan religions Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 18 Mahayana Schools • Vajrayana Buddhism – Developed in India around the 5th century CE – Came to Tibet in 7th – 8th centuries CE – Often viewed as the third major school of Buddhism, after Theravada and Mahayana – Esoteric, secret practices designed to achieve enlightenment quickly Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 19 Mahayana Schools • 4 Major Tibetan Schools 1. 2. 3. 4. Nyingma Sakya Kagyu Gelug Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 20 Mahayana Schools • Pure Land Buddhism (China, Japan) – Pure Land Buddhism offers path to enlightenment for people who can’t handle the subtleties of meditation and long rituals – Essential practice is the chanting of Nichiren Buddhism (Japan) The Lotus Sutra is the only the name of Amitabha Buddha: path to enlightenment. Namu amida butsu Other Buddhist practices no – Teaches rebirth in the “pure land”, longer provide a path to a sort of Buddhist “heaven” enlightenment. Focus on this world, and the importance of the individual. Main practice is chanting: Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (I devote my life to the law itself.) Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 21 Atisha’s Questions 1. What is a practitioner of the Great Vehicle like? 2. Can the altruistic intention arise in an ordinary person? 3. Does one need to hold the individual liberation vows as a basis for the Bodhisattva Vow? 4. When someone holding the individual liberation vow takes the tantric vow, does the individual liberation vow become the tantric vow or does that person then old two vows? 5. Do skillful means and wisdom need to be combined or not in order to complete the two great stores of merit? 6. Which is the correct view, Cittamatra or Madhyamika? 7. How does one enter the door of Mahayana secret mantra? Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 22 Reading Assignment • Maguire: Chapter 1 • Atisha: Introduction • Atisha: Prologue Introduction to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 23