Buddhism and the Meaning of Life

1. Buddhism and the Meaning of Life • Life and reincarnation • Eternal life without God/heaven • Karmic repayment for behavior • Hindu and Western bias • Permanent soul • Soul = mind = real value • Body = emotions = distraction (evil) • Sex, gluttony, selfishness

2. Nirvana Samsara Distinction • Christian heaven and Nirvana • Puzzling nature of Nirvana • Samsara is this life—and next 輪 回 • Blowing out the candle 涅 盤 • No value  value in Nirvana (nothing) • Pessimistic: Life is suffering • Negative (Renunciation religion) escape

3. Buddha Story • As a foreign religion in China • Zen (Chan 禪) a Chinese version • Related to Daoism • Divine birth (no sex) and prophecy • Father’s resolve—only pleasure • Exposure and realization • Life is suffering • Meditation and enlightenment • Becomes Buddha (Nirvana?)

4. Mystery of Meaning of Life • Four Noble Truths • Life is suffering • Suffering caused by desire • Cessation of desire = cessation of suffering • Eight-fold path  cessation of desire • No value or meaning • Avoid suffering • Sickness, old age, death

5. Mahayana 大 乘 development • Individual soul paradigm (Arhat) • Hinayana 小 乘 or Theravada • Bodhisattva 菩 薩 • Waits for everyone to be enlightened at once • Comes back to teach the rest of us • Buddha as historical model • Some in this class

6. Paradox of Desire • Why give up desires • Desire for nirvana • To reach nirvana we have to stop wanting • Logic of the bodhisattva • One more step for Chan (Zen) • Why make it the last?

7. Daoist Influence • Desires come from distinctions 辯 • Optimism about life • Opposite mood • Model of total involvement • Cook Ding (庖丁) and absorption in skill • Choice of butcher!

8. Chinese Schools • All Mahayana • Universal salvation (moral equality) • Positive reading of Nirvana, Buddha Nature • Tiantai (天 台) Huayen (華 嚴) and Chan (禪) • Theory and practice!

9. Story of Hui Neng • Southern, illiterate woodcutter • Hears and “instantly” englightened • Goes to temple (why?) • Assigned ordinary labor – no study • Poem competition • Constant care to make mind clear (the mirror) • Mind is originally clear—no dust (no illusions) • Leaves temple (kicked out?) • Throws away robe, wanders and chops wood

10. Nirvana = Samsara • To give up a desire is to give up the distinction • Giving up desire for nirvana • Giving up distinction between nirvana and this life • No distinction between meditation and everyday life • Between enlightenment and ordinary consciousness • Meditation school with no meditation

11. Buddha Nature = Self-nature • Everything is Buddha nature • Paradoxes of Chan masters: burning Buddha • All are already bodhisattva • Nothing to seek • Self acceptance – stop seeking for enlightenment • Meaning of life from giving up the search • And just living

12. Meditation = Everyday Consciousness • What I’m doing now • Butcher, flower arranger, tea ceremony, actor • Samurai warrior • Painter, philosopher, Zen priest

13. Every Moment Zen • Umbrella to left or right of clogs?

14. Doctor Story • Zen is care for patients • A Koan – meaningless • Absorbed in care for patients and lost fear of death

15. The Strawberry • Values of eating, drinking, sleeping • Tiger and strawberry

16. Awake! • Beating • Spitting and abuse • Throwing out (walking zen) • Shouting • Koans

17. Five Common Doctrines • Highest truth cannot be spoken (thought) • Spiritual cultivation cannot be cultivated • In the end nothing is gained • Nothing much in Buddhist teaching • In carrying water and chopping wood, therein lies the wonderful dao