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Sangha (II): Mahāyāna Buddhism

Sangha (II): Mahāyāna Buddhism. Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. AST/REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2006. BUDDHISM ON THE SOUTHWEST ASIAN FRONTIER, c. 100s BCE. Theravāda goal = arhat (worthy one), who attains nirvāna at death

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Sangha (II): Mahāyāna Buddhism

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  1. Sangha (II):Mahāyāna Buddhism Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. AST/REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2006

  2. BUDDHISM ON THE SOUTHWEST ASIAN FRONTIER, c. 100s BCE

  3. Theravāda goal = arhat (worthy one), who attains nirvāna at death Mahāyāna goal = bodhisattva (those whose essence is enlightenment), who defers nirvāna in order to assist suffering beings in samsāra Unlike Theravāda laity, Mahāyāna laity meditate, study scriptures, and may even teach dharma In spite of openness to lay (even female) participation, Mahāyāna remains monastically-driven movement Mahāyāna regards the number of suffering beings as infinite, thus suggesting an infinite number of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, who function as semi-divine figures – interceding for believers, performing miracles, etc. Almost all figures in Mahāyāna pantheon legendary/nonhistorical or drawn from non-Buddhist traditions: Hindu bhakti Greco-Roman religions Local deities MAHĀYĀNA SOTERIOLOGY

  4. MAITREYA • Name means “Benevolence” • In this cosmic age, functions as bodhisattva • Currently reborn as god • Responsive to intercessory prayer • Future Buddha and successor to Şakyamuni • Often becomes focus of apocalyptic (end-time) expectation and/or messianic (future-savior) fervor

  5. MAÑJUŚRĪ • Name means “Gentle Glory” • In this cosmic age, functions as bodhisattva • Currently reborn in a Buddha-land (realm of samsāra over which a Buddha presides, in which progress toward enlightenment is faster than usual) • Appears to devotees in dreams • When chanted, his name reduces one’s rebirths until enlightenment • Associated with wisdom (prajñā) that overcomes obstacles to enlightenment

  6. AMITĀBHA • Name means “Unlimited Light” • Buddha who presides over realm in which one is guaranteed to attain enlightenment and rebirth as hell-being or animal is impossible • Vows to grant rebirth in his realm to: • All who make a sincere effort at faith in his power (according to one tradition) • All beings, regardless of their effort (according to another)

  7. AVALOKITEŚVARA • Name means “Observing Lord” • In this cosmic age, bodhisattva and attendant to Amitābha Buddha • When chanted, his name reduces one’s rebirths until enlightenment and eliminates negative karma • Associated with compassion (karuna), rescue from danger, fertility • Seen as protector of Tibet • In East Asia, transformed into female figure – Guanyin觀音(Chinese), Kannon (Japanese)

  8. MAHĀYĀNA PHILOSOPHY I:MĀDHYAMIKA • Associated with Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250 CE) • All phenomena are māyā (illusion): • Impermanent • Interdependent • tending toward suffering • śūnya (empty) of svabhāva (self-existence) • Śūnyatā (emptiness) of all things (even śūnyatā!) dissolves all distinctions and dichotomies: • relative/absolute • male/female • samsāra/ nirvāna

  9. MAHĀYĀNA PHILOSOPHY II: YOGĀÇĀRA • Associated with Vasubandhu (c. 300s CE) • All beings possess tathāgatagarbha = mental arena in which one’s consciousness gradually “ripens” until enlightenment • Three bodies (kāya) of the Buddha: • Nirmāna-kāya – apparition-body (e.g., Şakyamuni in earthly form) • Dharma-kāya – law-body (e.g., Şakyamuni having attained nirvāna) • Sambhoga-kāya – enjoyment-body (e.g., transcendent form seen by bodhisattvas)

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