Buddhism pt. 2

Two ways of following the Buddha

• Theravadin Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhism

• Comparison

philosophies within Buddhism

• The Madhyamika School

• The Yogacara School

Buddhism in Asia:

• Ashoka (273 B.C.E-232 B.C.E )

• He saw the suffering of his troops and of those he defeated.

• 5 actions were done as a result of his observations about suffering.

Buddhism in China:

• Ming Ti

• Theravadin Buddhism was not well embraced by the Chinese.

Buddhism in China:

• New schools were founded to teach different routes to salvation.

• • Tian Tai (Tyian-Tai) = heavenly Terrace

• • Hua-Yen

• • Jingtu (ching-T U) = pure land Buddhism

• • Chan (ChAN)

Buddhism in Japan

• Around 552 C.E. Buddhism entered Japan

Shinran

Buddhism in Japan

• Groups of Buddhist spread throughout Japan most of which were centralized around a charismatic leader.

• • Tendai (9th century C.E.)

• • Shingon (9th century C.E.)

• • Jodo

• • Shinran

• • Zen

• • Nichiren

Buddhism in Tibet

• introduced into Tibet around 630 C.E.

• Tibetan Buddhism has three vows: (1) monastic vows, (2) progressive path of the bodhisattva, (3) esoteric precept of the tantras.

Dalai Lama

• Creation happened through pairs of deities who produce the universe by sexual intercourse.

• Whole universe moves in cycles

• Goal is the heightening of energies rather than relaxation.

• Red monks were more liberal in practice

• Yellow monks were more conservative

• The head of the monastery was the lama and he would be reborn after he died

Buddhism and the West

• How do we define the Sangha in the US?

• What does democracy do to the Buddhist traditions?

• Ethnicity?

• Gender equality?

• Level of orthodoxy?

• Sectarian issues?

Worldview

The Absolute:

• Buddha did not believe in traditional gods but he is not an atheist.

• He taught that belief in gods were not essential to the core mission of life.

• All humans have the opportunity of becoming buddhas.

The world:

• world of experience is only appearance the real world is that of enlightenment.

• Debate as to whether one can experience this reality while living or only after death.

Humans:

• human body is not permanent.

• Choices that we make can change the future.

The problem for Humans:

• suffering is the problem for humans.

• Humans are ignorant of their impermanence.

• Suffering is caused by ignorance.

The Solution for Humans:

• Knowledge is the solution.

• They learn the cause of suffering and learn that something can be done about it.

• Middle path leads to release from suffering.

• Buddha is the model to follow and his eightfold path takes discipline.

Community and Ethics:

• Sangha was a well organized body of monks

• Individual responsibility in community living.

• Karma is recognized by Buddhist.

• There is no self to be reborn but ones actions affect others.

• One must live an exemplary life now.

• Strong social concern.

• Impersonal goodwill toward all human beings.

• Morality: avoid theft, drunkenness, injury to othersetc.

• Celibacy for monks (except in the tantric rituals)

• Make no caste distinctions.

Women in Buddhism

• women can become nuns.

• They were considered lower than their male counterparts.

Interpretation of History

• no vision of the end of history.

• More concerned with the progress of the individual than the whole of history.

Rituals and Symbols

• central figure is the Buddha pictured in a meditative state.

• Bowing or kneeling before the image of the Buddha.

• Wheel of dharma that stands for the Buddhas teaching.

• Followers take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha

• Rigorous and extensive initiation into the order.

Life after Death:

• In theory, there is nothing to carry over from one life to the other.

• An individuals moral impact in personal and social life carries over.

• Some forms of Buddhism focuses on the individuals experience after death.

Buddhism and other Religions:

• ready to cooperate rather than condemn