Mahayana Buddhism

1. Mahayana Buddhism At about the time of Christ, Buddhism became divided Theravada (Hinayana) – small raft (vehicle) Mahayana – large raft (vehicle) One striking feature of the Mahayana is its literature (Prajnaparamita Sutras) Written in Sanskrit Proliferated about 100 BC – 400 AD Too voluminous for any single person to read in a single lifetime “The wisdom gone to the other shore” Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra, etc. Theravada Buddhism: the 3 marks of all existence Anatta (no self); Dukkha (painfulness); Anicca (impermanence) Mahayana Buddjsm 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

2. Different philosophies in the Mahayana school of Buddhism • Sthaviravadins • Pudgalavadins • Yogacarins • Madhyamika • Etc. • Subtle philosophical differences re: nature of ultimate reality and how we apprehend it • Varieties of Buddhism (diagram)

3. Comparison between the two schools (chart) Theravada (Hinayana) Mahayana • Teaching of the elders Spirit of the elders • Small vehicle Large (great) vehicle • Man as an individual Man involved with others • Man on his own in the universe Man is not alone (grace is real) • Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi) Key virtue: compassion (karuna) • Religion is primarily for monks Religion is for laypersons as well • Ideal: the Arhat (lonely saint) Ideal: the Bodhisattva • Nirvana Nirvana + heavens, hells • Buddha is a saint or sage Buddha is a savior • Avoids metaphysics (speculation) Elaborates metaphysics • Avoids ritual Includes ritual • Conservative Liberal • Pali texts Many later texts (Sanskrit) • Old wisdom school New wisdom school • Escape Samsara, and reach Nirvana Samsara is Nirvana (identity) • Ceylon, Burma, etc. (Southern Bism) China, Korea, Japan (N Bism)

4. Most Mahayanists hold that Buddha privately taught that man does not have to save himself; there is help available. The number of Buddhas proliferated. 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 • 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, Amitabha • Dhyani Buddhas (meditation Buddhas, never in human form) • They achieved Buddha-hood, but not in human manifestation • Vairocana, Amitabha are the most appealing of the D. Buddhas • Also, 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)

5. The Bodhisattva became popular • A being whose essence is enlightenment • The bodhisattva vow (to save all sentient beings) [Vision p 41] • Daily schedule of the schools of Buddhism (Theravada, Zen, Tibetan) • Rise at 4 am • Lunch is the main meal • To bed by 10 pm • A lot of time given to study/work • Re: the conduct of the various schools • Symbiotic relationship • Conduct (gives merit, or punya) includes • Rules of restraint (5 and 5) • The perfections towards which we should strive • Taking responsibility for one’s actions

6. The main objective in Buddhism is to attain liberation • Buddhism has fragmented: there are many different schools • In Japan alone, there are over 180 differentiated schools of Buddhism • Several important schools, all of which have the same ultimate objective • Pure Land Buddhism (getting to heaven, or the “pure land”) • Ch’an, Zen, Son (meditative Buddhism) • Tendai (Rationalist School) • Nichiren (Sociological and political) • Tibetan (esoteric) • Let us look at each of these in turn…..

7. Pure Land Buddhism • Faith in Amidha Buddha and recitation and meditation on his name • Religious goal of being reborn in his Pure Land and meditation on his name • This present age is an age of decay • (pure dharma, compromised dharma; Mappo: latter day dharma) • In Japan often called Amidhism • In 12 century the monk Honen became persuaded that in our corrupt age the only successful road to enlightenment is through a complete dependence on Amidha • The mythological side of the movement centered on the Buddha of boundless light, Amitabha, although Kuan Yin over overshadowed Amida • The Pure Land of the West exists infinitely far away as the Western edge of the universe (or it can be realized here and now in one’s present life) • Jodoshu (Pure Land Buddhism) was founded by Honen (1133-1212) • He did 60,000 bows in one day (?) • Reciting the nembutsu (namu amida butsu) is the only way to “endure” or “make it” in the last days • Repeating the formula can bring salvation • Salvation is impossible by meditation or asceticism

8. Jodoshinshu (True PLBuddism) was founded by Shinran (1173-1263) • Salvation by grace alone • “If salvation is by faith, the monastic rule avails a man nothing” • Parallel with Martin Luther in the course of faith re: monasticism • The Pure Land Sutra • Culmination of Pure Land Buddhism • Nembutsu, but with faith (tariki: other power school) • He shifted the attention from practice, to attitude • He made the act of faith itself the essential basis of salvation • The act of faith was made not by the person, but by the Buddha acting in that person (similar to Karl Barth-W. theologian)

9. Ch’an (China), Zen (Japan), Son (Korea) • Zen Buddhism is very popular in the West • Buddha’s “flower sermon” (the disciple Ananda) • 28 patriarchs • 1. Sakyamuni…..28. Boddhidharma • 1) “A special oral transmission from master to disciple outside of scripture • 2) No dependence upon the authority of words and letters (anti-intellectual) • 3) Direct pointing to the soul of man • 4) Seeing into one’s own nature and attaining Buddha-hood • The 10 Ox-Herding pictures • Rinzai school (Eisai): sudden enlightenment with a “Koan” (ie Wonhyo in Korea) • Short pithy utterance (sound of one hand clapping?) • Designed to disrupt the normal, everyday mental machinery • “Great death” leads to satori (enlightenment)** (see notes) • Soto school (Dogen): gradual enlightenment (without a koan) • Very popular in the Western world • The western scholar and the Zen master with a filled cup of tea • Zen and the Art of Archery

10. Rationalist school of Tendai (Tien Tai) • An eclectic school • One of China’s great schools of Buddhism • Tries to reconcile Theravada and Mahayana (inclusive point of view) • Meditation should be balanced by a prolonged and serious study of texts • Has a place for all the Buddhist scriptures • Most popular and important text is the Lotus Sutra • Locus classicus is the “burning home” passage (Vision p 218) • Also contains a “parable of the prodigal son,” rather similar to the Bible

11. Lotus Sutra (Saddharma) • Contains the essence of all the teachings of the Buddha • Doctrine that the Buddha taught differently at the different stages of his life • He taught according to the understanding of his hearers (like Jesus) • Upaya (skillful means) • Originally the doctrines of the Theravada sutras • Later, in progressively profounder versions, the Mahayana doctrines • The fullest revelation of eternal truth is in the Lotus Sutra • All men can become the Buddha, because all possess the Ba nature • Various teachings are necessary to meet various needs • Tendai scholars made use of the doctrine of the 3 bodies of the Ba • The Ba as absolute truth manifests in the realm of phenomena both as historical teacher and as celestial object of worship and adoration • Scholars arranged various writings in a hierarchy • At the summit was the Lotus Sutra

12. Nichiren (a socio-political school of Mahayana Buddhism) • Soka Gakkai; Risho Kosekai • Has become very political • Seemingly has lost the spirit of Buddhism • Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan School • The reasoned knowledge of the schools, distilled into books, is not as effective in awakening one to enlightenment as live experience under a guru able to conduct magically potent secret exercises which can bring one into direct contact with ultimate reality • Tantrayana • Mandalas • Bardo Thodol • (Bardo: intermediate state; Thodol: great liberation by “hearing”) • The “Tibetan Book of the Dead” • Deals with transition states • Between death and passing; between jobs; between moments of security (ie at moments of insecurity and uncertainty) • We are confronted by our demons; how we handle them determines our destiny

13. New Religious Movements (especially in Japan) • Tenchi Seikyo • Maitreya Buddha • Beautiful white marble statue • Doctrines similar to UM • Won Buddhism • Indigenous to Korea • One circle (see chart) • Buddhist art • Very significant and beautiful • Not just for decoration, but are visual images of the Buddha at various points along his life path • Buddhist influence on the early desert fathers of Christianity • “Two Messages, One Doctrine”