The Goals (4)

What is the final aim of existence?

The final aim of existence is to attain Enlightenment.

Sub-topics

The Third Noble Truth — Nibbana as awakening to the true nature of Reality and becoming one with Reality; as ‘blowing out of the fires’ which lead to rebirth.

Theravada and Mahayana beliefs about Enlightenment should be addressed.

Therevada Buddhism

‘The way of the elders’

Historical Buddha, now dead and beyond our contact. He is ‘Tathagata’ – thus gone.

Nibbana achieved through life as a monk or nun.

Ideal is to be an ‘Arhat’ (worthy one), a living Buddha who has attained Buddhahood entirely by his own efforts.

Theravada Buddhism

Nothing can help you through prayer.

Sees its task as transferring the purity of the Buddha’s Dharma from generation to generation.

Theravada

Historical Buddha’s teachings only.

Siddhartha achieved enlightenment after many lifetimes.

By his own efforts alone.

Buddha is ‘Tathagata’. Beyond our contact.

Therevada: who are they?

Strongest in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia.

Remain close to original teachings of Buddha.

Therevada Understanding

Only achievable by following Noble Eightfold Path.

Lay people can only hope to be reborn as a male monk.

Lay support monks, monks give good Karma to Lay.

Check Your Learning

Therevada Buddhism

Mahayana

Ultimate goal is not to be an Arhat but a Bodhisattva (a being who is free from Samsara but who returns to save others still locked in the cycle).

Mahayana

The heavenly Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can help those who call upon them in devotion.

More ritual in Mahayana as a means of focus and fulfillment of emotional needs of a broad variety of Buddhists.

Mahayana

Most important virtue in Mahayana is compassion for others.

Along with compassion there is wisdom.

The word Mahayana means ‘great vehicle’. It is called this because it has so many different forms that one is bound to suit everyone.

Great variety WITHIN Mahayana.

Mahayana Three bodies of the

Buddha: Earthly Buddhas like

Siddhartha Gautama Heavenly Buddhas who

have their paradises ‘Buddha’ as

representing ultimate reality without body

Mahayana Buddhism

Believe that Therevada Buddhism is too narrow and individualistic.

Bodhisattva’s are dedicated to helping others attain enlightenment.

Many varieties…

Pure Land(China/Korea/Japan)

Began because Amitabha (left) believed that people are too attached to world and cannot leave Samsara without assistance.

If you call upon his name he will help. Seen as a saviour.

Pure Land cont.

Pure Land Buddhists believe that through chanting Amitabha’s name they may be reborn into a better world- the Pure Land.

The Pure Land is a place where it is easier to achieve Nibbana.

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhists believe that everyone has a Buddha nature.

Each Buddhist has gained a perfect rebirth and so should devote their life to spiritual progress and attaining Nibbana.

Tibetan cont.

Being reborn as a human (particularly as a Buddhist) is as rare as a blind turtle swimming in a vast ocean, only surfacing once a century and putting it’s head through a small ring floating at the surface.

The opportunity shouldn’t be wasted!

Zen BuddhismJapan in particular

Zen Buddhism finds enlightenment out with scriptures and even words an letters.

The essence of Zen is to understand the meaning of life directly without being misled by logical thought or language

“All beings by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas.”

Zen cont.

Zen looks inward for enlightenment. There is no need to search outside ourselves for the answers; we can find the answers in the same place that we found the questions.

Human beings can't learn this truth by philosophising or rational thought, nor by studying scriptures, taking part in worship rites and rituals.

Zen cont.

The first step is to control our minds through meditation and other techniques that involve mind and body; to give up logical thinking and avoid getting trapped in a spider's web of words.

Can you experience a satori?

Zen koans

A Cup of Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Zen koans

Obedience The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.

His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate with Bankei.

"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"

"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.

Zen koans

Obedience Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.

Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."

The priest obeyed.

"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here."

The priest proudly stepped over to the right.

"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."

Zen koans

Announcement Tanzan wrote sixty postal cards on the last day of his life, and asked an attendant to mail them. Then he passed away. The cards read:

I am departing from this world.This is my last announcement.

TanzanJuly 27, 1892

Zen koans

The Most Valuable Thing in the World Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: "What is the most valuable thing in the world?" The master replied: "The head of a dead cat." "Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?" inquired the student. Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its price."

Zen koans

The Stone Mind Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in the country. One day four travelling monks appeared and asked if they might make a fire in his yard to warm themselves. While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. He joined them and said: "There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside your mind?" One of the monks replied: "From the Buddhist viewpoint everything is an objectification of mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind." "Your head must feel very heavy," observed Hogen, "if you are carrying around a stone like that in your mind."

Zen koans

If you see Buddha, kill

him.

Therevada and Mahayana

Way of the elders.

Accept only the teachings of the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama).

Greater vehicle.

Interpret and adapt teachings to suit. Furthermore, there have been and are many Buddha’s who can help you attain Nibbana.

Therevada and Mahayana

The highest aim is to become an Arhat, or ‘worthy one’. To escape from the cycle of suffering, Samsara. To attain liberation from Dukkha.

The highest aim is to become a Bodhisattva, or ‘enlightened being’ and help others reach Nibbana, to become an Arhat could be seen as selfish. The key concept to emphasise here is compassion. The Bodhisattva deliberately chooses to stay in the Samsaric cycle to help the unenlightened reach Nibbana.

Therevada and Mahayana

3 Areas for personal development: Morality (Sila), Concentration (Samadhi) and Wisdom (Panna).

Bodhicitta: motivation of compassion and the liberation of all beings from suffering.

Therevada and Mahayana

To become an Arhat there are 4 stages of progression p.83

Develop the 6 perfections: generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom. The Bodhisattva is the perfect combination of wisdom and compassion.

Therevada and Mahayana

To attain Enlightenment you must be a male monk (no need to worry about daily responsibilities and obligations of lay person).

Reaching Nibbana is down to ones self-effort alone.

Anybody can attain Nibbana (some believe you are enlightened already).

There are Buddha’s and Bodhisattva’s that can help you on your quest.

Therevada and Mahayana

To attain Enlightenment you must follow the Noble Eightfold Path.

Methods follow the teachings of the historical Buddha, emphasis on causing no harm and meditation.

There are many means to reach Nibbana e.g. Zen Koans.

Generally more ritual as a means of focus.

Therevada and Mahayana

Takes many lifetimes and involves following the eightfold path rigorously.

Satori, for example, can happen instantly.

Mahayana Role Models

The Dalai Lama: so spiritually developed almost godlike. Often people pray and bow to them.

A criticism: is this what the Buddha taught?

Other Mahayana Differences

Skillful Means or ‘upaya’: a Bodhisattva will know what to do in any situation.

Ultimate emptiness or ‘shunyata’. All things are ultimately empty

Other Mahayana Differences

“There is no distinction between nirvana and samsara”

Nagarjuna

Ultimate emptiness or ‘shunyata’. All things are ultimately empty. Nirvana and Samsara are to be understood within the framework of the Two Truths, Ultimate and Relative. Although relatively speaking Nirvana and Samsara are opposed, they are both ultimately empty (due to Anicca) and are therefore the same.

Other Mahayana Differences

The Ultimate Goal. Mahayana distinguishes nirvana (freedom from suffering) from complete buddhahood.

The final aim is to liberate all beings from rebirth.

Other Mahayana Differences

Tathagatagarbha: nirvana is not something we lack and are trying to attain, it is there all the time.

We must only rid our ignorance to it rather than acquire new wisdom that we lack.