EL29 Mindfulness Meditation Lecture 2.3: Mahayana Buddhism Lec. 2.2 Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Theravada evolved out of India about 200 years after the Right now.how much did you death of the Buddha and to Sri Lanka, and parts of S.E. learn from yesterday s lecture? Asia. It more or less died out in India. What! Key is the Learning key feature #2: Beliefs: about The Theravada original teachings belief system? of the Buddha without any additional interpretation.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Mindfulness meditation is the foundational practice, combined concentration and the other elements of the 8 fold path.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: No one really knows what the Buddha looked like, but early images were based on what was known at the time about people in general, plus some symbolic hand gestures, called mudras. 1
Lecture Overview Evolution, distribution and diffusion Belief system Meditation practices Icons and symbolism Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to save others. This tradition added much more philosophical interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but also tried to become more populist with laypeople.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented chanting of the Buddha s name as a path to salvation.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha s and gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana encountered. 2
Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to save others. This tradition added much more philosophical interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but also tried to become more populist with laypeople.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented chanting of the Buddha s name as a path to salvation.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha s and gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana encountered. Divisions of Buddhism! Three Rafts for Crossing the River Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Vajrayana Buddhism 3
Schools of Buddhism - Mahayana The Great Vehicle! Developed first century C.E.! Found in Northern Asia (China, Japan, etc.)! Lay Buddhism Buddhism for the masses! Devotional seek guidance from Bodhisattvas ( wise beings ) & heavenly Buddhas (kwan Yin, Amida, etc.)! Focus on compassion! Goal is to become a bodhisattva and assist others toward enlightenment (the Bodhisattva Ideal )! Diverse schools and sects including: Pureland, Nichiren, Tendai, Shingon, and others Evolution of Buddhism! Number of schools & sects tends to rise over time true of most religions.! More philosophical and scholarly ideas get added on to the original teachers ideas.! Complexity rises. 4
The Spread of Buddhism! Within two centuries after the Buddha died, Buddhism began to spread north and east into Asia! To Europe & N. America in the 19 th to 20 th centuries! By 13 th century Buddhism had disappeared from India or absorbed into Hinduism BUDDHISM COMES TO EAST ASIA! Silk Road merchants and missionaries transmit Buddhism to China by 65 CE! As Han 漢 dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE) declines, Chinese elites turn away from Confucianism to Daoism and Buddhism, often combining elements of each in syncretistic mix! By Tang 唐 dynasty (618-907 CE), Buddhism reaches zenith of its popularity in China! From China, Buddhism spreads to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan 10 5
CHALLENGES TO BUDDHISM IN CHINA! Geographic: difficulty of India-China travel! Linguistic: translation of foreign texts and concepts! Political: conflicts between rulers and sangha; separation between north and south during Period of Disunity! Religious: competition with and/or dilution by Confucianism and Daoism! Social: traditional Chinese distaste for foreign ways (e.g., celibacy, monasticism, Sanskrit terminology, karma theory) 11 Quick check: How much can you recall so far? Which of the following is NOT a Mahayana country? a) Japan b) Korea c) Sri Lanka d) China! Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 rafts? a) Theravada b) Taoism c) Mahayana d) Vajrayana 6
Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to save others. This tradition added much more philosophical interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but also tried to become more populist with laypeople.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented chanting of the Buddha s name as a path to salvation.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha s and gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana encountered. Mahayana Buddhism! Developed in India around the 4 th century! Expands Buddhism to laypersons! More liberal monas;c codes! Bodhisa<va ideal libera;on of all sen;ent beings! Major texts Perfec;on of Wisdom sutras Diamond sutra Lotus sutra Tibetan commentaries A Chinese wooden Bodhisattva from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) Introduc;on to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 14 7
Theravada vs. Mahayana! Teaching of the elders! Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)! Religion is primarily for monk! Ideal: the Arhat (lonely saint)! Nirvana for the individual! Avoids metaphysical speculation! Conservative in views! Tipitaka texts only! A bit like Catholicism! Spirit of the elders! Key virtue: compassion (karuna)! Religion is for laypersons as well! Ideal: the Bodhisattva! Nirvana delayed until all beings relieved of suffering.! Elaborates metaphysics! More liberal and inclusive! Many, many texts revered wisdom as evolving with sages.! A bit like Protestantism Scholars develop a mythology! A mythology about the Buddha developed (Buddhology)! The Trikaya (Triple Body of the Buddha) Dharmakaya (analogous to the Godhead ) Sambogakhaya (analogous to the resurrected Christ) Nirmanakaya (analogous to the historical Jesus of Nazareth) Slide Credit: www.euro-tongil.org/.../ppt/...carlson/mahayana %20Buddhism.ppt 8
THREE BODIES OF THE BUDDHAVERSE: Mahāyāna Buddhism Theravada Buddhism: the 3 marks of all existence Anatta (no self); Dukkha (suffering); Anicca (impermanence) Mahāyāna Buddism added emptiness, as the fourth mark of all existence Happiness is intrinsic to a healthy mind Don t grasp; just be Reality is not an illusion; but its real nature (its reality) is transparent to analysis The objective world exists, but its independent existence, separate from its subjective perception, cannot be found A non-verbal experience of reality is what is needed Slide Credit: www.euro-tongil.org/.../ppt/...carlson/mahayana%20buddhism.ppt 9
Buddha s begin to proliferate!! Man does not have to save himself; there is help available.! The authors of salvation are of three kinds: Manushi Buddhas (started from a human base Gotama Buddha)! They came on earth, attained enlightenment, and are now gone. They are teachers! Historical Buddha (Gotama) before his enlightenment Bodhisattvas! Beings who vowed to become Buddhas and have enormous merit; they postponed their entrance to Nirvana to help us! Maitreya, Avalokitesvara, Kwan Yin (female Buddha) Dhyani Buddhas! Meditation Buddhas, never in human form! Achieved Buddha-hood, but not in human manifestation! Vairocana, Amitabha are the most appealing of this kind. Slide Credit: www.euro-tongil.org/.../ppt/...carlson/mahayana %20Buddhism.ppt Major Schools in Mahayana! Shingon ( true word ) - this school stresses uses sacred chants called mantras and if the rituals were carefully followed it would provide security for rulers, children for married couples.! The followers attempt to unite with Buddha s cosmic nature. This school uses mandalas which are geometrical designs that present reality in symbolic form. 10
Mahayana Schools! Pure Land Buddhism (China, Japan) Pure Land Buddhism offers path to enlightenment for people who can t handle the subtle;es of medita;on and long rituals Essen;al prac;ce is the chan;ng of the name of Amitabha Buddha: Namu amida butsu Teaches rebirth in the pure land, a sort of Buddhist heaven Nichiren Buddhism (Japan) The Lotus Sutra is the only path to enlightenment. Other Buddhist practices no longer provide a path to 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.) Introduc;on to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 21 SOURCES OF JAPANESE BUDDHISM! Buddhism (Tantric, Chan, Pure Land) introduced during 500s CE by Korean immigrants, missionaries, and diplomats! Functions of Buddhism in early Japan: 1. Instrument of diplomacy 2. Vehicle of civilization 3. Symbol of political power! Shintô-Buddhist syncretism: 1. theory of honji suijaku 本地重跡 (original reality, manifest traces) 2. Buddhas and bodhisattvas are honji, kami are suijaku 22 11
23 Mahayana Schools! Zen (Ch an) Buddhism Common in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam Blends Mahayana Buddhism with Taoism Aims at taking the ra;onal and intellectual mind out of the mental loop its only about medita;on! Zen is something you do it cannot be described in words Two major schools! Rinzai! Soto Introduc;on to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 24 12
Zen Buddhism: Aims of Zen! Zen is life; it is cooking, cleaning, studying, or whatever one is doing at the time.! Zazen and koan practice are important training, but the real practice of Zen is the daily living of life.! Buying mushrooms is zazen and talking to Dogen is koan practice for the tenzo monk (Asian Philosophies, p.238). LEGACIES OF THE CHAN/ ZEN TRADITION! Cements syncretism of indigenous and imported elements (Buddhism/ Daoism, Buddhism/Shintô) in East Asian Buddhism! Hugely influential on East Asian cultures: 1. Calligraphy 2. Cuisine (e.g., tea) 3. Drama (especially in Japan) 4. Martial arts (e.g., fencing) 5. Painting 6. Philosophy 7. Poetry 8. Ritual (e.g., tea ceremony) 26 13
Theravada vs. Mahayana! Teaching Quick of discussion the elders to! consolidate Spirit of the elders your! Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)! memory! Key virtue: compassion (karuna)! Religion is primarily for monk! Religion is for laypersons as well! Ideal: the Arhat (lonely saint)! Ideal: the Bodhisattva and Mahayana Buddhism! Nirvana for the individual! Nirvana delayed until all beings relieved of suffering. Describe 3 differences between Theravada! Avoids metaphysical speculation! Conservative in views Ok to chat with your neighbours! Tipitaka texts only! A bit like Catholicism! Elaborates metaphysics! More liberal and inclusive! Many, many texts revered wisdom as evolving with sages.! A bit like Protestantism Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to save others. This tradition added much more philosophical interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but also tried to become more populist with laypeople.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented chanting of the Buddha s name as a path to salvation.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha s and gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana encountered. 14
Zen: Stress on Meditation! Is one of the schools in Mahayana.! It takes its name from the seventh step of the Eight Fold Path--Meditation dhyana.! In Chinese this word is chan in Japanese, zen! The Chan movement preferred Siddhartha s technique of attaining enlightenment through seated meditation. Zen Buddhism: Practice! 3 aims of zazen:! (i) Concentration: In practicing zazen one first needs to still or quiet the mind and learn to focus on the moment (Asian Philosophies, p.239).! (ii) Satori: Satori is the awakening of enlightenment that sees directly into one s own existence and the existence of others. This direct insight reveals the true nature of things in their dynamic interdependence (Asian Philosophies, p.239).! (iii) Living enlightenment: The third aim of zazen is to live the enlightenment experience in every moment. It [i.e. enlightenment] is to be lived; every action and every moment should be an action and a moment lived in enlightenment (Asian Philosophies, p.240). 15
Zen Buddhism: Practice! Koller breaks Zen practice into two broad categories, (1) zazen and (2) koan practice.! (1) Zazen - Zazen is sitting meditation, usually done on a cushion or bench, and facing a blank wall. In this form of mindfulness practice, the Zen practitioner must first control and regulate the body, breath and mind. Once the mind is stilled the Zen practitioner cultivates what is sometimes called a profound silence in the deepest recesses of one s being, letting go of all dualistic thought and all graspings (Asian Philosophies, p.239).! In other words, it is the cultivation of no-mind. Zazen: Friendly reminders from the Master! 32 16
Zen Buddhism: Practice! (2) Koan practice - Koans play a special role as a means to sudden enlightenment in Rinzai Zen. Koans are usually dialogues between a Zen master and a student, and involve what appear to be non-sensical responses to a question posed by a student. Koans are designed to push the student beyond dependence on dualistic thinking, or discursive consciousness (see Asian Philosophies, p.239, 241-42).! In Soto Zen koans are also used to cultivate mindfulness and achieve enlightenment, but Soto Zen practitioners place less of an emphasis on the truths contained in the koans themselves and relate them more to their own lived experience, which is itself treated as the koan (Asian Philosophies, p.241). The Zen Koan! Manual labor also helps one to focus and concentrate and so many of the Zen monastery do various tasks such as kitchen cleaning, minor repairs, etc. 17
Poetry and Zen! Zen oyen goes hand-in-hand with poetry that focuses on evoca;ve brevity and paradox because through these a glimpse of Zen s essence can be a<ained.! Ex: The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflec;ons, The water has no mind to receive their images. Zen Haikus! Short poems notable to Zen, which are 3 lines long. The first and third lines are both 5 syllables in length, while the second is 7 syllables. The structure is not absolute. Ex: All the rains of June: And one evening, secretly, Through the pines, the moon.! Translated haikus do not always follow the structure above because it is more important to capture the essence of the poem through meaning. 18
A Zen Story! Some people find Zen not only paradoxical and puzzling but annoying, even maddening. Stories, like poetry, in Zen are also short.! The following is a story about a learned man who goes to a Zen master to learn about the old philosophy. The master politely invited his visitor to share a cup of ceremonial tea while they talked together. When the master had brewed the tea by the strict procedures of the tea ceremony, he began to pour the whisked green liquid into the visitor s cup and con;nued pouring un;l the cup had overflowed. Even then he went on pouring un;l the discomforted guest, unable longer to restrain himself, cried out in agita;on, Sir, my cup is already full. No more will go in. At once the master put down the teapot and remarked, Like this cup you are full of your own opinions and specula;ons. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup? Avalokiteshvara Identification with Body/ Speech/Mind of an Enlightened being leads to one s own spiritual transformation Meditation Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum (means that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha) 19
Earliest Texts: Prajna-paramita PERFECTION OF PRAJNA / INSIGHT HEART SUTRA is ONE OF THE SHORTEST True spiritual advance is made when we stop relying on the mediation of any symbols between us and world Philosophy demonstrates the superiority of silence; mastering reality without traditional mediation Chanting is all you need! The Heart Sutra Avalokiteshvara while practicing deeply with the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore, suddenly discovered that all of the five Skandhas are equally empty, and with this realization he overcame all Ill-being. Listen Sariputra, this Body itself is Emptiness and Emptiness itself is this Body. This Body is not other than Emptiness and Emptiness is not other than this Body. The same is true of Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness..missing verses... Therefore let us proclaim a mantra to praise the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore. Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha! Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha! Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha! 20
Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to save others. This tradition added much more philosophical interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but also tried to become more populist with laypeople.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented chanting of the Buddha s name as a path to salvation.! Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha s and gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana encountered. The many Bodhisattvas & Buddha s Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni The Buddha Avalokiteśvara lord now looks down compassion of all Buddhas. holding a lotus flower. Nālandā, Bihar, India, 9th century CE. Quan Yin Mercy Goddess is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali) Maitreya Future Buddha, South Korea. Amitabha Buddha who does not take a human form 21
Buddhist art frequently makes use of a particular set of eight auspicious symbols, Ashtamangala in domestic and public art Ashtamangala: first row (left to right): parasol, pair of golden fish, conch; second row: treasure vase, lotus; Last row: infinite knot, victory banner and wheel. Color in Buddhist Art Mystic Padmasambhava! Black symbolizes killing and anger! White denotes rest and thinking! Yellow stands for restraining and nourishing! Red for subjugation and summoning and! Green means exorcism 22
Buddhist Body Art in the West Part 2: Hand s on practice The Zen Koan 23