1 / 24

The Essence of Vajrayana Buddhism: Visualization, Ritual and Dependent Origination

This presentation by Dr. Robert C.L. Law explores the core concepts of Vajrayana Buddhism, emphasizing visualization, symbols, and rituals as means to transcend ordinary perception. It examines crucial doctrines such as impermanence, no-self, and dependent origination, highlighting their significance in alleviating suffering. Delving into the complexities of faith in the Vajra master and the practice of Tantric rituals, the talk addresses misconceptions and challenges surrounding these teachings, offering insights into the transformative power of understanding the interconnectedness of all beings.

nedaa
Télécharger la présentation

The Essence of Vajrayana Buddhism: Visualization, Ritual and Dependent Origination

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introduction to Buddhism • (III) • Dr. Robert C L Law • Buddhist Lodge of Laity • January, 2008.

  2. Vajrayana 金剛乘 Vajra—the thunderbolt of Indra , transformed into a diamond scepter. Emphasis on visualization , symbols and ritual . Visualization : perceive having the body, speech , and mind of a deity Symbols and rituals ---- help to cut one loose from ordinary perception to see the true nature of things. Fully developed in Tibetan Buddhism

  3. Vajrayana ( Cont’d) • “The proper way is to develop faith” • Complete Faith ( after due investigation); Faith in the inconceivable truth : Faith in the lineage, vajrayana path, and the Vajra master. • Such complete faith in the Vajra master (Guru) –terrifying and claustrophobic ? Like Islam?

  4. Vajrayana ( Cont’d II) • Tantric Rituals--- psychological empowerment? • Initiation rituals ---- Unorthodox breaking of orthodox perception drinking impure things, sex with consort • Problem with faulty Guru

  5. Three Dharma Seals (三法印) • Dukkha苦 • Impermanence 無常 • No-self 無我

  6. Impermanence 無常 • Nothing is the same from one moment to another . • All objects of our perception • Not pessimistic --- no change would be possible without it . • Should not be a source of suffering – rather, it is wanting things to be permanent that causes suffering

  7. No-self ( Non-self)無我 • The most difficult concept in Buddhism • What is the self ? • Hindu ------ An Essence , goal --- to • be one with Brahman • Soul -----Greek Soul • Christian Soul • Chinese Soul ?

  8. Buddhist concept of a person • Five Aggregates ( skandhas)五蘊 : • form 色 --- body,sense organs • feelings 受 ---- pleasant , unpleasant , neutral • perceptions 想 – conceptualizing • mental formation 行 --- fear etc (51 categories) • consciousness 識 ---- stored consciousness , • the matrix with seeds in it. • None of the above is permanent, so where is the self ? • Craving for a permanent soul is a source of suffering

  9. No-self ( Cont’d) • Traditional thinking hard to change • Difficult to understand and accept • Apparent contradiction with other teachings. • As a strategy to alleviate suffering ? • Need intense meditation to transform one’s mind

  10. Problem with No-self . • If no-self , who attains enlightenment ? • If no-self , who goes into the next life ? • The story of Sati • The story of Vacchagota

  11. In spite of these………….. • The Alaya consciousness阿賴耶識 • Apparent “Re-incarnation” in Tibetan Buddhism .

  12. A most vexing question • How it is possible to have rebirth without a self ? • Buddhist monks have struggled with this problem for over 2000 years. • One must understand the principle of Dependent Origination 緣起法

  13. 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”

  14. Dependent Origination • All teachings are based on it . If a teaching is not in 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.

  15. The Twelve Links of D O • Ignorance 無明 • Volitional action 行 • Consciousness識 • Mind/Body名 • Six senses/objects六入 • Contact觸 • Feeling受 • Craving愛 • Grasping取 • Coming to be有 • Birth 生 • Old Age/Decay老死

  16. No linear , all inter-related

  17. The T L of D O ( Cont’d) • Not always 12 links . • Some overlap , e.g. ignorance and volition exist in consciousness ; the six senses are already in the body/mind . • Thus sometimes the Buddha teaches 9 links , sometime 10 links ( omitting ignorance and volition) • Not linear , all interrelated, all are causes and effects at the same time. • Not used to explain birth and death .

  18. Dependent • Origination • Your health and the • farmers in China

  19. Dependent Origination • Pollution • Greenhouse • Effect

  20. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d) • - More examples : • - people in this room - your children.

  21. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d) • Sariputta : It is so clear and easy to understand • Buddha : Don’t say that . It is through not being able to comprehend Dependent Origination , that people are entangled like a ball of cotton, and not being able to see the Truth ………….

  22. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d) • May not be easy to accept : Child labour in India ? A dead miner in the diamond mine in Africa? How about a mugger in Hong Kong ?

  23. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d) • A butterfly flaps its wings in Africa…… • Thich Nhat Hanh : We are all inter-beings , we are all inter-are” • One must understand this concept in order to understand the Buddhist idea of Karma and Re-birth

  24. Importance of Dependent Origination • Helps to explain all phenomena in this world. • Help one to understand Kamma and Rebirth .

More Related