Buddhism #2 – Flashcards

"vehicle", means raft or school, so schools of buddhism; doesn't matter which one "raft" you get into because all will take you to Nirvana, so Theravada B don't say that Mahayana B's won't get to Nirvana etc, vehicle (schools)

Theravada 38% southeast asia Mahayana 56% China and northern asia Vajrayana- Tibet and Nepal Zen (Ch'an) - China and Japan Pure Land - China, Korea, Japan

"The way/teaching of the elders", strongest in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and then also in Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, "southern B", for monks, emphasis: importance of the Buddha as a historical figure, original teachings of the Buddha are central not the Buddha himself, more focused on his teachings, individual's path to meditation with emphasis on wisdom, detachment and seclusion thru a life of religious disciplines and therefore a monastic life, set up a "monastic hierarchy" since monks and nuns with most time to meditate so seen as further along on path to Nirvana than lay people, important relationship btwn monks and laity bc they receive things from laity (sustenance) laity provides food medicine and cloth for robes, monks provide for laity as spiritual guides and will host retreats; Arhat- "solitary saint" worthy one, saint, ideal buddhist sage who is like a saint

"solitary saint" worthy one, saint, ideal buddhist sage who is like a saint

Pali Canon; Sanskrit meaning "Three baskets" and also known as the Pali Canon in TB, compilation of three collections of B texts; began as oral tradition in Sanskrit, then written in Pali-vernacular,

code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns, 227 rules for monks and 311 for nuns, highlight offenses in decending order of seriousness with a story that explains reason for rule; recorded the life and ministry of the Buddha rules for monastic life, monastic regulations for monks (227 of them) and nuns (311), each rule is followed by a story explaining the reasoning for the rule and this contains the life and ministry of the Buddha himself; part three: the gold and silver chapter- don't take either or confess, part fourteen: the fire chapter- confess if deprive animal of life

discourses attributed to Sidd, topics like morality later become part of B doctrine, his life and attainment of enlightenment in this pitaka (sutra) teachings of the Buddha, discussions and discourses attributed to Sidd, story of his birth and attainment of enlightenment, there are 10000 suttas or sayings contained in 5 collections, the last collection contains 15 books one of which is: **Dhammapada-most famous (part one of the books of Sutta Pitaka), summary of Buddha's teachings/sayings; huge! p248

most famous (part one of the books of Sutta Pitaka; his sayings and teachinga

examines Buddha's psychological teachings, analyzes B doctrine in detail, big interest for monks or serious students than average lay buddhists scholastic reworking of the Suttas,7 books, generally claimed to represent not the words of the Buddha himself but those of disciples and great scholars, textbook says it examines the Buddha's psychological teachings, and analyzes Buddhist doctrine in detail; more suited for monks and serious students, than average lay people, (Buddhanet.net) it's a huge collection of systematically arranged, tabulated and classified doctrines of the Buddha; contains profound moral psychology and philosophy of the Buddha's teachings, in contrast to the simpler discourses in the Sutta Pitaka

" the great vehicle" "the great ox cart", for common people so vehicle big enough to carry all of followers, they named the Theravada Bs- Hinayana "the Lesser Vehicle", largest division of Buddhism-half the world's Buddhists, geography: northeast Asia: China, Japan, Korea, parts of Mongolia; sometimes called "Northern Buddhism", Mahayana is more of an umbrella term for a large variety of schools- including Vajrayana/Tibet + Nepal, Pure Land/ China Korea Japan, Zen/China + Japan; Emphasizes: the Buddha himself- seen as a divine savior figure, the idea of grace (not personal wisdom in Theravada which is gained through meditation on the teachings of the Buddha), puja- religious devotion and prayer- makes it more open to and popular w/ the masses, Buddha is not a god or diety but similar interaction, compassion, bodhisattvas

Buddha- is one who discovers the supreme path with his own efforts, w/out recourse to a teacher, fully awakened/enlightened, has reached Nirvana; after death is not reborn- off the wheel of samsara and into the permanent Nirvana Arhat- "solitary saint" completely awakened/ enlightened has experienced Nirvana by getting rid of all desires, learned Dharma from a teacher, seeks release only for himself, when he dies he will be off wheel of samsara and not be reborn Bodhisattva- "buddha in the making" is awakened/enlightened, the Mahayana ideal + is worshipped as a deity, takes vow to save all sentient beings through acts of love and compassion- "until the last blade of grass has become enlightened", postpones Nirvana for self and jumps back on wheel of samsara to be reborn again and again but w/out any negative karma, 100% altruistic and does so out of compassion, is eventually going to become a Buddha Vow: 1)however innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them 2)however inexhaustible desires are, I vow to extinguish them 3)however immeasurable the dharma gates are, i vow to enter them 4) however difficult it is to reach enlightenment i vow to attain it

person who compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity; Mahayana + Vajrayana temples tend to have shrines venerating bodhisattvas "buddha in the making" is awakened/enlightened, the Mahayana ideal + is worshipped as a deity, takes vow to save all sentient beings through acts of love and compassion- "until the last blade of grass has become enlightened", postpones Nirvana for self and jumps back on wheel of samsara to be reborn again and again but w/out any negative karma, 100% altruistic and does so out of compassion, is eventually going to become a Buddha Vow: 1)however innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them 2)however inexhaustible desires are, I vow to extinguish them 3)however immeasurable the dharma gates are, i vow to enter them 4) however difficult it is to reach enlightenment i vow to attain it

Lotus Sutra, Wisdom Sutra, Heart Sutra

(enlightenment is made available not only to monastics but to all bc of the great compassion of bodhisattvas) believe this contains the final teachings of the buddha so Tripitaka in second place; believe all living things possess Buddha-nature, all people not just religious elites can attain enlightenment and promotes bodhisattva ideal to help others reach Nirvana the final sermon by the Buddha on: Buddha-nature= all ppl can attain enlightenment, not just religious pros (monks/nuns) + Bodhisattva= while attaining your own enlightenment help other do the same by sharing wisdom and compassion

how to achieve perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva- go beyond knowledge of the ordinary/rational, transcend world of existence and treat contradictions as paradoxes, ex: light and dark are opposites but here, the are both ultimately the same bc both are naught describes achieving the wisdom of the bodhisattva by going beyond the ordinary and rational and being able to live with the contradictions of life and treating them as paradoxes (light and dark are same)

is summary of the Wisdom Sutra which describes Nirvana, emptiness, and ultimate reality

"the vehicle of the diamond", smallest division of B, receive the name from vajra- the diamond scepter(smallish, held in hand) held by Buddha, Tantric Buddhism or Tibetan B; geography: Himalayan region of Asia- Tibet since 1959 invasion and slaughter by People's Republic of China, Nepal, some of Mongolia, dominant school in Tibet; Dalai Lama escaped^^ and lives in exile in India, can enter Nirvana in this lifetime here and now, "fighting fire with fire"- harnessing life's basic energy of desire and turning it against itself to propel the individual towards enlightenment vs shutting off the energy of desire to stop suffering, Combination of MB and Tantrism

1950s People's Republic of China started sending troops and 1959 totally invaded Tibet and took the sovereignty of the people; Dalai Lama is the political and spiritual leader of Tibet so was taken away from his position but was able to escape, Tibet still a part of China so no self governance, can't say out loud the name of the Dalai Lama or have a picture of him or will be put in jail

combo elements of H and paganism including mystical elements and erotic rituals; tantric elements use sexual energy for spiritual purposes not for sensual pleasure. whereas other forms of B see sexual energy as problematic, Vajrayana uses it in spiritual practices, sensual energy is harnessed thru prayer and religious rituals- rituals spiritual practices and chanting mantras is popular

tantrism- some forms of worship and ritual are done to harness the powerful energies of Ultimate Reality in order to one day be with UR, so tantric texts are how to do rituals or meditations to reach enlightenment

Lama- a title for a teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan B, the name is similar to the sanskrit term guru, historically the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries, hierarchy of clergy in Tibetan B the head of whom is the Dalai Lama, lots of lamas Dalai Lama- high priest, the tradition temporal head (gov leader) of ominant sect of B in Tibet and MOngolia, lots of diff names for him, revered by Tibetan B as the living incarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion- Avalokiteshvara, known as the Ocean of Wisdom, become it bc chosen thru a line of decent based on re-birth, not natural birth 14th Dalai Lama- born 1935, current, Tensin Gyatso, was discovered as the 14th DL in 1940, according to B belief the current DL is a reincarnation of a past lama who decidede to be reborn again to continue his important wok, instead of moving on Choosing the DL- the High Lamas of Tibet choose the next DL by searching for a boy born around the same time as the death of the DL, found in several ways: dream- one of High Lamas may dream about some mark or location that will ID the boy, smoke- if previous DL was cremated, High Lamas will watch the direction of the smoke and search accordingly, Oracle Lake- high lamas go to a holy lake, named Lhamo Lhatso in central Tibet and watch for a sign from the lake itself, this may be either a vision or some indication of the direction in which to search, the home and village of Tenzin Gyatso was ID'd in a vision from this lake; once HL think they found him they'll present him with things of the previous DL and see how he reacts, 14ths real name was Lhamo Thondup and grabbed onto a bell from the previous DL and said it was his Palace in Lhasa Tibet*** for DL, taken as a very young boy, his brothers moved with him Initiation on the Lion Throne official in ceremony, the symbol of Tibetan pol and spiritual leadership, his hair was shaved and as tradition called for, he received a new name - Long but Tenzin Gyatso, westerners would call him Tenzin Gyatso or simply His Holiness the DL, Tibetans call him: Gyalwa Rinpoche, or Kundun, Yeshi Norbu; the young Dalai Lama was then moved to the Potala Palace, where he would live and study for the rest of his childhood and teen years; 1959 fled to Dharamsala, India and is exiled there still Nobel Peace Prize 1989

TiB uses variety of visual aids, they remind them of the spiritual domain within the physical world, Tibetan Temple Ceremonies are noisy and visually striking and chants cymbals gongs by formally dressed monks, takes place in strikingly designed temples and monasteries, TiB monks use advanced spiritual practices and techniques in form of elaborate visualization and intense meditations, some monks can control their body temperature, heart rate and normally automatic functions

sacred geometric symbolic of universe; sanskrit meaning "circle", patterned icons that visually excite made from flowers, grains of rice or sand, basic form of most B mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point, mandalas are commonly used by tantric Buddhists as an aid to meditation: they envision a "sacred space" a "Pure Buddha Realm", not art pieces to keep-are destroyed, as a meditation on impermanence, after days or weeks of creating the intricate pattern of a sand mandala the sand is brushed together and placed in a body of running water to spread the blessings of the mandala

from sanskrit meaning gesture, symbolic choreographed movements that draw on energies of the movement, some involve whole body but most are just hands and fingers

a sacred word or phrase that assists one in focusing during meditation; syllable or phrase repeated over and over and has spiritual significance, in order to harness spiritual potency of sound (Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum- Sanskrit- hail to the jewel of the lotus)

a colorful panel of rectangular cloth, Lung ta- "Wind Horse"- the center of a prayer flag features a powerful or strong horse symbolizing transformed bad fortune unto good fortune and on back is bearing three flaming jewels that symb the three jewels of B, mantras surrounding them (400 trad ones), prayer for the long life and good fortune who hangs one, Four Dignities-images or names of four powerful animals adorn each corner of a flag: dragon, garuda (eagle), tiger, snow lion; Five Pure Lights- colors of flag represent the elements and arranged left to right: blue white red green yellow, blue is ether or wind, white is air, red is fire, green is water, yellow is earth, common misconception-the flags don't carry prayers to a deity, the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all, trad prayer flags are used to promote peace compassion strength and wisdom; faded ones mean the prayer has been answered

prayer beads, sanskrit meaning garland, used for keeping count while reciting chanting or mentally repeating a mantra, the practice is known as Japa, Tibetan malas are typically made with 108 beads, Guru Bead-the large dangling bead where you start, Resting Beads- ¼ thru different beads for marking progression or for resting, Wrist mala- 27 beads to count prostrations pilgrimage/prostration- for TiBs pilgrimage refers to the journey from ignorance to enlightenment from self-centeredness and materialisticness to deep sense of relativity and interconnectedness, it's not about getting there but the process, "to circle around a sacred place"-word for pilgrimage neykhor, will take a few steps then prostrate on the way to pilgrimage

cylindrical wheel in a spindle made from metal wood stone or other material, Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum is written in the sanskrit, flick wrist and top wheel spins, spinning the wheel has same effect as if were chanting the chant out loud or saying oral prayers (Mani wheel- hold in hand) (stationary wheels are big and stationary and several in a row in monasteries or temples and engraved with mantra, walk past and spin with hand), water wheel turned by flowing water, fire wheel turned by the heat of a candle, wind wheel turned by the wind

and the Ghanta bell- vajra is sanskrit "thunderbolt" and dorje in tibetan word"indestructable", trident shaped and small symbolizing power, masculine principle= compassion of the Buddha, paired with Ghanta (bell) brass bell w/ high pitch, female principle=wisdom, receptiveness, voice of buddha, held on right hand when meditating and bell in left, hands move in graceful measure

bell with vajre stuff

ceremonial scarves made out of silk, either yellow or white, show peace love purity and compassion, mantras all over them and other symbols, would hold a gift in a kata if giving something to the Dalai Lama, pure heart of the giver, 14th DL gives them a lot to visitors which symbolizes purity of intentions and the beginning of a relationship

religious paintings meant to enhance meditation, like icons that they follow traditions and techniques, either painted on canvas or made out of material (silk) and hand sewn with embroidery and applique, usually about life of Buddha or one of the historical Lamas, used as teachings tools like stain glass windows in Christianity; meditate before they start to paint, uses a type of mud to make a solid surface so paint won't soak into cloth

spiritual and political leader of Tibet til takeover by Chinese comms and forced to leave T in 1959 so went to Dharamsala, India; he received Nobel Peace Prize 1989 bc non violent campaign to end Chinese gov's genocide of their people and persecution from Tibet, to describe Tibetan people-"good heart" gifts in spirituality, peace, non violence, natural world relationship, human relations Controversy- he says he will not be reborn in a country run by the People's Republic of China or any country that is not free, 2011 he said that reincarnation could be chosen when he's still alive in same way that Catholics use papal conclave and could be the last DL or could be a girl, March 2015- China wants DL to reincarnate but they want to choose who his reincarnation is lol Was invited to the Global Peace Initiative of Women- DL met Sr. Joan Chittister

name given to Dalai Lama once he was discovered; it was Lhamo Thondup

fled here after Chinese took over Tibet in 1959

Scriptures- use M texts plus tantric canon of their own, Kanjur, Tanjur, Tibetan Book of the Dead

"teachings", "teachings"/ "the translation of the word" about 108 volumes, translation of the words spoken by the Buddha himself, sutras and tantras, translated from Sanskrit and other Indic langs and some Chinese

"translation of the treatises", are commentaries on the Kanjur, commentaries on the Kanjur, translation of the treatises, huge collection of writings in Indic langs

Badro Thodol, contains various writings on death dying and rebirth, it describes what life is like bwn death and rebirth, read it while dying or if someone has died Bardo Thodol (Tibetan) Bardo= "liminality" being on the threshold of two states, Thodol="liberation", english: The Liberation Through Hearing During the INtermediate State, deals with stages of dying, death and rebirth, a funerary text that describes the experiences of the consciousness after death during the interval known as bardo btwn death and rebirth, the Bardo Thodol is recited by lamas over a dying or recently deceased person, or sometimes over an effigy of the deceased

means "meditation", Chinese form of a B meditation from India, emerged 7th C w/ two opinions about the attainment of enlightenment: only happen suddenly or it comes gradually. Both thru a master-student relationship that one learned to meditate properly and how to deal with questions insights and challenges; one common technique for meditation was use of gong'an or known as koan- a paradoxical statement or story used to clear mind of its many obstacles so that insight and enlightenment could happen, Ch'an, Chinese form of B that started in India and came to china in 6th C and went to japan in 12th C, a combo of Mahayana B and Taoism (Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu advocating humility and religious piety, nature religion), Ch'an means meditation, in the West, Zen is most widely known form of B, not about his teachings or about him but all about meditation for like hours, Emphasises: direct experience of enlightenment, heart of Zen is the practice of meditation as the way to experience enlightenment, direct personal experience on a moment to moment basis rather than scholarly education, direct experience of truth that is beyond logical thinking and feelings and thoughts- Zen insights cannot be expressed in words- can be seen a negative and world-denying but is intended to help attain a healthy mind which sees the everyday world as relevant by focusing on the here and now, practice of Zen doesn't have to be as a monk or nun- can be practices outside of the monastery, Satori= a temporary state of Zen spiritual enlightenment that is experienced with increasing frequency and intensity (diff than Nirvana which is permanent state of enlightenment); close relation btwn a Zen master and disciples, master uses Koans= puzzles that are designed to short-circuit the workings of logic and therefore lead to direct insight into reality, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" then you go off and meditate for hours and hours on that koan and next day will give master your answer and if he doesn't like it you will meditate on it again; two sects: Rinzai = emph "sudden awakening" and Soto= emph "gradual awakening"

World Parliament of Religions in Chicago 1893 had Japanese Zen master D T Suzuki come all about mindfulness born 1870, studied at University of Toyko where began being Zen, 1921 founded Eastern Buddhist Society, got Japan's National Medal of Culture, taught at Colombia University, lectured on Jodo Shinsu B at Buddhist Churches of America, translated Kyogyoshinso into English; trained and meditates like a monk wrote two books: Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism and An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, pub'd 32 works in Japanese and 30 in English, pub'd The Eastern Buddhist- a magazine for Westerners; foremost person in spreading it to the West put emph on: The importance of adolescence in moral development where we begin to question the mysteries of life We are too attached to our egos Suffering helps you build character Intellect creates illusions of life that keep us from the infinite truth of life The ultimate essence of Zen is to reconstruct the moral structure of one's personality died 1966 in Kamakura, Japan

attended an international meeting of B and C monks in Bangkok, Thailand; friends with D.T. Suzuki born in Prades, France in 1915; went to Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky and became trappist monk; spiritual master, writer, social activist, devoted; autobio: The Seventh Storey Mountain, wrote about a lot like social problems and such died in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998 by electrocution, started studying B in 1950s, related Zen Bs to Desert Fathers (eliminate self to become part of the transcendent-- father's suffering and Buddhists empitness), photographed a lot, pub'd book with Suzuki, met Dalai Lama in 1968,

Rinzai + Soto

emph "sudden awakening

emph "gradual awakening"

sitting meditation (Zafu- meditation pillow)

Satori= a temporary state of Zen spiritual enlightenment that is experienced with increasing frequency and intensity (diff than Nirvana which is permanent state of enlightenment)

well known Zen form of poetry (5-7-5)

black and white landscape painting, Zen monasteries in Japan had big influence in 13th C- 15th C, style ink painting influenced by calligraphy, uses only black ink, to paint you must clear mind and apply brush strokes without too much thinking, termed mushin ("no mind state") central to many J arts like sword and tea stuff, not realistic painting, goal is to reproduce or capturing the spirit of the subject, so to paint a horse try to paint its temperament not its muscles etc, flower-liveliness and fragrance, form of expressionistic art, landscapes are imaginary or loose adaptations, mountains are common and water is included, tech: using tonality and shading by varying ink density and control pressure, artists spend years practicing basic brush strokes to refine their movements and ink flow and China considers artists national treasures, huge spiritual practice, use washi paper which is very absorbent, use an inkstick that they grind on an inkstone, the sticks are small and decorated, brushes are made from bamboo

(Japanese)- Karesansui "dry landscape gardens" TNH said to do tasks in a relaxed way with your full attention, a mini stylized landscape created thru carefully arranged rocks water features moss pruned trees and bushes, uses gravel sand raked to rep ripples of water. usually small and surrounded by a wall, don't walk thru them, build porches called hojos, built by temples and monasteries, creased at ZB temples in Kyoto 14-1573 ad, during Muromachi period, to imitate the intimate essence of nature not its actual appearance, need to be prepped, earthly, everything placed has a meaning, rocks- one of most impo parts, sym diff things depending on shape etc (vertical-sky, horizontal-earth, can rep animal or shrub), sand- gravel sand or small pebbles to create atmosphere for meditation, raked to imitate rippling water and the swirls provide energy to garden; plants- pine trees are highly respected for jagged bark like scales of dragon, bring emotion to garden and used carefully to bring subtle and expressive beauty to the garden; pathways and bridges- emph on correct posture allows visitors to follow path of Buddha, rep philosophical doctrines of Buddha, zigzagged symb Noble Eightfold path for ex don't actually walk on them tho; odd numbers- to recreate nature itself and contemplate emptiness of world around them, number 3 reps the Buddhist trinity of sky earth and humanity (Buddha Mind, Rainbow, Body)

from India to China, very popular esp with the poor bc unable to spend the time in meditation or working for good karma, many Mahayana trads say there is more than one buddha, one being Amitabha who was a great bodhisattva for many lifetimes, was able to make a series of vows to bring all sentient beings to Nirvana, so went to a celestial realm and created this Pure Land where no evil pain or suffering and ideal environment with trees with jewels on them and ppl had anything they wanted; to be born into Pure Land to the "short version" one need only to recite the name of "Amitabha" with great faith and devotion throughout life even if have moral lacking; some versions say only humans could make it there; after China, it moved to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan

was a buddha; who was a great bodhisattva for many lifetimes, was able to make a series of vows to bring all sentient beings to Nirvana, so went to a celestial realm and created this Pure Land where no evil pain or suffering and ideal environment with trees with jewels on them and ppl had anything they wanted

to be born into Pure Land to the "short version" one need only to recite the name of "Amitabha" with great faith and devotion throughout life even if have moral lacking; some versions say only humans could make it there

peace and compassion, monasticism, practice of meditation; in areas of compassion and peace, non-violent means; similar monasticism- B Built monasteries to shelter from monsoon weather and for Christians it was the hermits that Built them in the East/West Roman Empires meditation- diff btwn Catholics and Bs, some Experiences are similar; has been interreligious dialogue- Trappist monk Thomas Merton attended an international meeting of B and C monks in Bangkok, Thailand

similarities:miracles associated with births, tempted before public life, followers, walked on water, fed tons of people, shared a message and way for spiritual freedom, founded a religion, spread far and wide; B went E and C went W, but now flowing both ways, both places of origin have few adherents there anymore differences: Sidd never claimed to be divine, Jesus was born humble and Sidd was born into royalty and a palace, Siddhartha was married and had a son, Jesus' message about the Kingdom of God and Sidd's was about ending suffering

For B- if not reached enlightenment/Nirvana, you're prone to suffering, bad past lives lead to more lives of suffering, to get off samsara need to stop desires and cravings of heart and practice Noble Eightfold Path; three categories of suffering: physical or emotional, change or transition in life, pain in the midst of pleasure (ex: being team captain is good but impermanent- the suffering that causes illusion and disconnect from reality), their perception of suffering is life giving, turning away from illusionary will bring peace and true happiness For C- bc finite human condition, not one's fault except for Original Sin, God doesn't want people to suffer, it's a mystery, trust God bc he is in control, like Jesus, all suffering ends with one's resurrection when they experience eternal life in Heaven but we should help alleviate the suffering of those around us