The Sangha

1. The Sangha • The sangha came into existence when the Buddha moved to Benares , where he preached his first sermon to five ascetic friends, who then requested his permission to go forth and be ordained • The monastic order was born and this monastic community continuously expanded

2. Chinese translation of Sangha is seng僧or sengqie僧伽,whichrepresentssangha in the time of the Buddha • Bhiksu-sangha(communityofmonks) • Bhiksuni-sangha(communityofnuns) • Theyareknownasthe“twofoldcommunity” • Therefore,“Sangha”isdefinedasthecommunity of ordained monks and nuns • where the Buddha’s teachings were taught and spread • where Buddhist scriptures were compiled • where theclergy and laypersons congregated

3. Tobeordainedintomonkhood,onehadtoundergoa“ThreefoldRecitation”ofthisformula:Tobeordainedintomonkhood,onehadtoundergoa“ThreefoldRecitation”ofthisformula: • IgototheBuddhaforrefuge, • IgototheDharmaforrefuge • IgototheSanghaforrefuge • Intime,Sanghadevelopedintomonasteriesthatservedasfestivalandpilgrimagesites

4. SanghaandLaity • LaypersonsacceptedbySanghaasupāsakas(maledisciples)andupāsikās(femaledisciples) • Sanghaandlaityformedasymbioticmonastic-layrelationship • laity provided material support for monks and nunstoestablish“fieldofmerit” • monks and nunsprovided a locus for laypersons’ worship,wisecounsel,andDharmainstruction

5. What were the sources of “dharmainstruction”,or“teachings” ? • Buddhistscriptures • The Buddha’s words • disciples’ oral transmission-->oral literature • oral literature-->1st representation of the dharma

6. Five Precepts (Five “not to” vows) • Five precepts (vows) governed laypersons’ ethical conduct • Not to kill (or to abstain from taking life,killing) • Not to steal (or to abstain from that which is not given/stealing) • Not to commit sexual misconduct (to abstain from sexual misconduct) • Not to lie and deceive (to abstain from false speech) • Not to use intoxicants (abstain from intoxicating substances)

7. Buddhism after the Death the Buddha • No Successor, authority, or absence of central authority led to-- • Formation of variant traditions, which differed in • interpretations of the teachings in general • interpretations of specific ideas • interpretations of monastic rules • Elder monks led monastic life • Textual • concerned with the study of the theory as preserved in Buddhist writing • Practice • concerned with putting the system of training into practice

8. The Schism • Tensions rose • among “textual studies” people, • “textual studies” and “practice” groups • Elders and Universal (or Great) Assembly • both fragmented into sub-schools • most of these groups died out • Theravada among Nikaya survived • What disputes? • Doctrinal dispute: to be Arhat or Buddha? • New monastic rules needed?

9. Questions regarding teaching: • authority • authenticity • reliability • credibility • Questions regarding learning • method of teaching • method of memorizing • Questions regarding curriculum: • nirvana or vinaya? • Five “not to” vows

10. Mahayana Buddhism • Greater Vehicle, Bodhisattva-yana (the vehicle of Bodhisattvas • The concept of saviors and compassion • Multiple Buddhas and Bodhisattvas • elevation of the Buddha and creation of new Buddhology • The “three bodies” theory • Dhamakaya: symbol of ultimate truth, transcendent • Sambhogakaya: heavenly body, rewarded body, Buddha land • Nirmanakaya: earthly body, physical body, historical Buddha

11. Practice of Mahayana Buddhism • follow Bodhisattva path, beginning with “bodhicitta” (thought of enlightenment) • Six paramitas (Six Perfections) • generosity (giving), • morality, • patience, • courage (vigor) • meditation, • wisdom

12. Mahayana Universal salvation Bodhisattva ideal Universal Buddhahood Hinayana Individual salvation Arhat Buddhahood found in chosen few Mahayana vs. Hinayana

13. The Clergy’s Live • Uphold Vinaya: • The foremost of them: five precepts • Lay people have to take vow to uphold them • Additional five precepts for monks and nuns: • Not to eat after the noon meal • Not to handle gold and silver • Not to adorn their bodies • Not to sleep in high beds • Not to attend musical performances • Ordained monks (bhiksu) and nuns (bhiksuni) took many more vows • Seniority was given to monks. Senior nuns have to pay respect to junior monks

14. Mahayana Sutras • Major Mahayana Sutras • The Lotus Sutra (Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma) • One vehicle • Skillful means • the parable of the Burning House • The Vimalakirti Sutra (Teachings of Vimalakirti) • Layman Vimalakirti • outwitted all Bodhisattvas • revealed the true meaning of the Mahayana • The ThreePure Land Sutras • Buddha Amitabha and His Pure Land • [Re]birth into the Pure Land

15. The Bodhisattva Ideal • Six perfections • Generosity, morality, patience, courage, meditation, wisdom • Ten stages (bhumi) leading to nirvana • Three most important bodhisattvas • Maitreya, “Kindly One,”—epitomizes power & Skillful means • Avalokitesvara, “The Lord who looks down (in compassion)”-->epitomizes compassion • Manjusri, “Gentle Glory”--epitomizes wisdom

16. Central Philosophy • Middle Way (Madhyamaka) • Nagarjuna • the doctrine of emptiness (sunyata) • associated with the concepts of impermanence and no-self • meditation helps see true reality • dependent-origination (dependent arising) • the principle of causality ( the twelve-linked chain of causation)

17. Dependent Origination: Twelve-Linked Chain of Causation • The Three Poisons: • Desire (pig) • Hatred (snake) • Ignorance (rooster)

18. 1. Blind man 2. stumbles 3. falls 4. a swelling develops 5. an abscess forms and weeps 6. abscess gets knocked and bruised 7. terrible pains 8. long to remove the pains 9. seizes on something that cures 10. applies medicine to cure 11. condition getting worse 12. the swelling bursts 1. Ignorance 2.disposition 3.consciousness 4.mind and body 5.six senses 6.contact 7.feeling 8.craving 9.grasping 10.becoming 11. birth 12. old age and death Dependent Origination: The Twelve-linked Chain of Causation