Introduction to Buddhism

1. Introduction to Buddhism (IV) Dr. Robert LAW Buddhist Lodge of Laity, Jan. 2008

2. Dependent Origination 緣起法 • “ This is,because that is ; This is not, because that is not . This comes to be , because that comes to be. This ceases to be , because that ceases to be” • “ He who sees Dependent Origination sees my teachings “ • “ My teacher (the Buddha)’s teaching is all about • Dependent Origination”

3. Dependent Origination • All teachings are based on it . If a teaching does not accord with it , then it is not the teaching of the Buddha • Impermanence is implicit in this teaching. • Main implication : we think we are an independent entity , but we are , in fact , not.

4. Emptiness ( Sunyata 空 ) • All phenomena arises as a result of various factors which are constantly changing . As such , all phenomena are also constantly changing and thus empty of an inherent self (essence)

5. What is Emptiness ? • It is Dependent Origination that I call Emptiness ----------------- • Nagarjuna • 龍樹菩薩 • (circa 150 CE,S India ) • Emptiness, thus no-self • Not Nihilistic

6. Eternalism and Nihilism • The world believes in these two extremes • Buddha--- the Middle Path • Swing between the two extremes from day to day .

7. Karma ( Kamma) 業 • Literally means “ action” • In Hinduism--- ritual action • In Buddhist --- any action by body/mind, • i.e. thoughts also count

8. …..anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment……..anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell Gospel according to Matthew 5- 21 • Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart Ibid 5-28

9. The Law of Karma • A law of cause/effect --- one thing leads to another . • Examples of good karmic acts ( physical action and thoughts)--- generosity , kindness etc. • Evil karmic acts ---- stealing , killing.

10. Karma • Helps to explain the present situation, human suffering , “fate”, inequality in mankind . • Predict possible outcome • Not absolute determinism. If everything is pre-determined , there is no point for moral life • No everything is due to karma. Buddhism accepts hereditary and environmental factors and nature.

11. Questions about Karma • Where is Karma ? • Just like fire and wind , and Internet • Banking ! • What really is Karma? An energy force ? • You carry nothing but your karma when you leave this world. 萬般帶不走 ,只有業隨身-- a misleading way of talking about Karma ? • More like a credit card account for everyone on earth .

12. Karma • Two Levels : • This life ------- experience retribution • of bad deeds sooner or later. • Next Life ……………?

13. What is Rebirth ? • Greek ---- Man can be reborn up to 10 times…. Can be reborn as animal or insects • Many primitive tribes believe in people returning to a new body after death . • The ethicization of karma and rebirth in more advanced cultures • The Chinese idea of rebirth comes from Buddhism

14. Sri Lanka---- Most people, monks included, devote themselves to acts of merit , the aim of which is a good rebirth in heaven or on earth • Gombrich R ( 1971) Precept and Practice-Traditional Buddhism in • the Rural Highlands of Ceylon , page 322 • Burma---- 2 most common reasons given for keeping precepts : fear of hell and the precepts were ordained by the Buddha • Spiro, Melford ( 1971) Buddhism and Society : A Great Tradiiton and • its Burmese Vicissitudes , page 449

15. “Unfortunately”, the Ultimate Truth is : • Nothing is really what it appears to be • Heaven and Hell do not exist in the way that ordinary people perceive them • Rebirth does not happen in the way most people think it happens • If you grasp onto your ordinary perception of things , you will continue perpetually in a state of dukkha • Robert Law’s Sayings ,cira 2007

16. Rebirth in Buddhism • NOT an uninterrupted continuity of the entire personality • Kalupahana (1995), Ethics in Early Buddhism , page 105 • NOT a transmigration of a person’s consciousness— the story of a monk called SatiMahatanhasankhaya Sutta ( Majjhima Nikaya ,Sutta 38) • But why do people have these misconceptions? ---craving for an eternal self

17. What the early scriptures tell us • Every presently existing being is but one link in a chain of continuing existences in various forms from a beginningless eternity in the past on into an endless future eternity • Winston King ( 1994), A Buddhist Ethic without Karmic Rebirth ? J of Buddhist ethics Vo1. , 1994. • Caution: are we trying to limit the scope of the ultimate inconceivable truth with our limited vocabulary , knowledge and experience of the universe ?

18. The Mud-Pool of Dharma

19. Neither the same nor different Ven Nagasena( in The Milindapanha) • consciousness ?

20. A most mundane question So if that crab is not really me , what is the purpose of a religious life ? What is there in it for ME ? ------ why should I sacrifice my present comfort and “happiness” for the common good ?

21. Love your enemies , do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you , pray for those who abuse you • Gospel according to Luke 6. 27 • Do to others as you would have them do to you • Gospel according to Luke 6. 31

22. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Gospel according to Mathew5-21

23. “Unfortunately”, the Ultimate Truth is : • Nothing is really what it appears to be • Heaven and Hell do not exist in the way that ordinary people perceive them • Rebirth does not happen in the way most people think it happens • If you grasp onto your ordinary perception of things , you will continue perpetually in a state of dukkha • Robert Law’s Sayings ,cira 2007

24. Yes , for contemporary Buddhists. • Emphasis on Karmic rebirth is unnecessary • Both Buddhism and Buddhist ethics may be better off without Karmic-rebirth.

25. No logical way to prove the validity of Karmic-rebirth • But it makes the Universe ethically meaningful and Man master of his destiny

26. The Buddha is aware that it is not easy to convince ordinary people of : the validity of the doctrine of karma and rebirth and thus the need to lead a moral life.

27. A weak argument A weak argument needs a good wager • === ? • The Buddha’s wager ( apart from karmic rebirth) to persuade his followers to lead a moral life. • But, first, what is a wager ?

28. Blaise Pascal ( 1623-1662) famous wager to the atheist: • If there is no God anyway, There is nothing to lose . • If there is a God , The benefit is infinite ! • But if there is a God and if you do not believe in Him , then………….

29. The Buddha’s wager( apart from an afterlife) for one to lead a moral life • Human birth is rare , no time must be wasted – the sea turtle parableMijjhima-Nikaya 3 ,1 • A noble disciple….endowed with blameless conduct of body, speech and mind….experiences happiness and joy. • Anguttara-Nikaya 4, 62 • “This person [who does evil] will earn the contempt of the intelligent ones in this life Mijjhiam-Nikaya 1 , 403 And , above all , just in case there is some sort of after -life…………..……………..

30. Concluding remarks (I) on the justification for a moral life . • Parable of Poisonous Gases in this room : • 3 choices : • 1. Leave the room ASAP( blind faith) • 2. Leave after a brief consideration of the • reliability of the information ( faith • after short investigation) • 3. Conduct your own test of the gases in this room, • and end up……………… • Robert Law ( 1950----- ) talking to fellow • Buddhism students , 30 Nov . 2007.

31. Happiness in Buddhism • Every man wants to be happy , but in order to be so, he needs first to understand what happiness is ----------------JJ Rousseau • (18th century French philosopher) • So what is happiness ?

32. What is happiness ? • Confusion with sensual pleasure • Confusion with success, achievement , possession which are all transient and sources of dukkha • .

33. What is Happiness ( Cont’d) • 15% of western population show personality trait of “true altruism”. • Psychological studies : Altruistic individuals tend to be happy individuals • The evolutionary basis of Altruism • ----- of Man and Ant

34. What causes unhappiness ? • By the age of 35 , 15 % of North American have experienced a major depression • Suicide accounts for 2% of all deaths world-wide ranking above war and murder. • Ignorance --- unable to see the real nature of things • Craving --- desire that can never be satisfied

35. Matthieu Ricard---------Officially the Happiest Man on earth

36. What is happiness ? • An optimal state of being with an exceptionally clarity of mind , loving kindness, absence of negative emotions, and disappearance of selfish whims • ------Matthieu Ricard • Ph D in Molecular Biology, Institut Pasteur • Tibetan Monk in Nepal • French Interpreter for the Dalai Lama

37. Treatment of unhappiness –Learn to be happy • Suffering is intimately linked to misapprehending the nature of reality • The strategy of no-self ---- selfishness( “self-centeredness”) is a source of disruptive thoughts– obsessive desire , hatred, jealousy. “ To attain Buddhahood for the welfare of all sentient beings. • Happiness is a skill in life which must be learned and cultivated.

38. How to cultivate happiness • Step 1--- understand the Dharma , Right view – human nature has potential to perfection . Yes , our mind can be transformed. • Step 2--- Meditation ----- to develop a clear mind with full mindfulness and altruistic outlook • Step 3 ---- Practice the Dharma and maintain a mind with clarity and awareness 24 hours of the day .

39. Learning to be Happy • We can’t all become Olympic javelin athletes, but we can all learn to throw the javelin and we can develop some ability to do so ---------------Mathieu Ricard • So, how about settling for being happy most of the time ?

40. Problems in cultivation • Apparent “failures in life” – job, wealth , position in society . • A detached zombie with no feelings ? • Altruism and generosity being exploited ? • --------- beware of “idiotic” compassion • and kindness without wisdom.

41. Conclusion (I) • The goal of exploration in spiritual life is to gain complete control of the mind • With the elimination of hatred , greed and ignorance , one becomes incapable of harming others. • Along the way , one becomes a happy person while contributing to the happiness of others.

42. Conclusions ( II ) How to do it ? • Be generous – not only with money, but • kindness, forgiveness. • Your loss is someone else’s gain. • Story of the Great Wall book vendor. • Your employees . • .

43. How to do it ( Cond’d) • Accumulation of just enough wealth: • ---- have a reasonably comfortable life • --- beyond a certain degree of wealth , the • degree of happiness stop increasing

44. How to do it ( Cont’d) • Right Livelihood • Choose an occupation that does not • involve cheating or “justified cheating” (as • far as you are concerned anyway) • Difficult in the modern world ? • Spend time in Meditation( introspection) • Caution about retreats ,do not get dependent • on them .

45. How to do it ( Cont’d) • Try to maintain a positive outlook in life 24 hours of the day by cultivating positive emotions • -------- on waking up each morning, spend • a few minutes cultivating a • positive frame of mind. • -------- spend a few minutes each night • cultivating a mood of loving- • kindness before you sleep .

46. Namo Amitabha ! • Wishing you all a happy life for the rest of your years • -And Many Happy Returns ! (?)