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BUDDHIST TRADITIONS

Answers to questions that plague us all. BUDDHIST TRADITIONS. OUT OF HINDUISM. WAS IT A REACTION TO HINDUISM? ITS PERVERSIONS? ITS AUTHORITY? had become hereditary, secretive, institutional ITS RITUALISM? mechanical for obtaining results

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BUDDHIST TRADITIONS

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  1. Answers to questions that plague us all BUDDHIST TRADITIONS

  2. OUT OF HINDUISM • WAS IT A REACTION TO HINDUISM? • ITS PERVERSIONS? • ITS AUTHORITY? had become hereditary, secretive, institutional • ITS RITUALISM? mechanical for obtaining results • ITS SPECULATION? caught in minutia; nature of self, world, divine • ITS TRADITION? lost its aliveness (insistence on Sanskrit) • ITS MYSTERY? magic, occult • ITS IDEA OF GRACE ? universe good to the removal or responsibility • karma or fatalism; resignation to wheel vs effort

  3. OR… • We will see…………

  4. SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA • SAKYAMUNI (“wise one of the muni tribe”) • TATHAGATA(“one who has thus come”) • The BUDDHA (“theAwakened”) • -BORN 563 BCE NEPAL • -PRINCELY EXISTENCE (KSHATRIYA) • -WELL BORN HANSOME, STATELY • - LUXURY, WEALTH, DANCING GIRLS (KAMA) • -MODEL WIFE YASHODHARA QUEEN OF HEAVEN • BEAUTIFUL SON AND DESTINED FOR FAME AND POWER (ARTHA) • -HEIR TO THRONE (DHARMA) • - but SHELTERED BY FATHER

  5. THE FOUR PASSING SIGHTS • In late 20’s A GROWING DISCONTENT (there must be something more!) • (Campbell’s HERO’S CALL) • THE LEGEND OF THE FOUR PASSING SIGHTS -he leaves the palace seeing… • 1. OLD AGE • 2. DISEASE • 3. CORPSE

  6. ANICCA • Thru MEDITATION upon these we learn: • THE REALITY OF SUFFERING! • Youth is fleeting  suffering • Health is fleeting  suffering • LIFE is fleeting!  suffering • THE WHOLE WORLD IS FLEETING PASSING,TRANSITORY, IMPERMANENT • LIFE IS A STREAM • *ALL IS ANICCA =IMPERMANENCE • TRANSITORY, PASSING, FLEETING, EPHEMERAL

  7. THE FOURTH PASSING SIGHT • Leaves the palace a final time seeing… • MENDICANT MONK – shaven head, robe, bowl, ascetic- world removed • From this LEARN HOPE , POSSIBILITY • THERE IS SOMETHING MORE! • Release from suffering • And he vows to achieve it

  8. THE GREAT GOING FORTH • INTO THE WOODS (DESERT) • THE SEARCH FOR ENLIGHTENMENT • THE TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRITUAL OVER THE WORLDLY • THE SEARCH • -SOLITUDE – lonely forest dweller “How hard the life of the forest dweller. To rejoice in solitude. Verily the silent groves bear heavily upon the monk who has not yet won fixity of mind” • -2 HINDU MASTERS – a RAJA AND A JNANA • -A BAND OF ASCETICS • Fasting 6 grains of rice/1 fruit/1 seed 1 grain • Breath training  brought only weakness, sick, near death • “If you tighten the string too much it will break; Too loose it will not play”

  9. THE MIDDLE WAY • EXTREME COMFORT NOT THE WAY • EXTREME DISCOMFORT ACETICISM NOT THE WAY • THE MIDDLE WAY • Concept of a RATIONED LIFE – body given what needed combined with vigorous deep thought and mystic concentration can lead to liberation • the vow - seated upon the IMMOVEABLE SPOT UNDER BODHI tree with vow to achieve enlightenment • -experiences MARA'S TEMPTATIONS –god of death who sends forth • -Daughters – DISCONTENT, DESIRE, DELIGHT

  10. The Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India

  11. THERE WILL BE SOME WHO UNDERSTAND • GAUTAUMA UNMOVED (having emptied himself) • Touches the earth asking the earth to bear witness to his vow • With deepening meditation perceives previous lifetimes • Previous lives of all , death and rebirth • Ultimate nature of the universe, radiance of true being • SAT ROOTED IN RAPTURE 49 DAYS • MARA TRIED ONE MORE TEMPTATION • - “WHO WOULD UNDERSTAND? • -HOW COULD THIS REVELATION BE TRANSMITTED • -HOW SHOW WHAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND • -HOW TEACH WHAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED • -WHY BOTHER? • -WHY NOT WASH ONES HANDS AND SLIP OUT INTO… NIRVANA • (the extinguishing eternal bliss liberation from samsara) • Buddha’s answer THERE WILL BE SOME WHO UNDERSTAND

  12. THE 3 JEWELS OF BUDDHISM: p.255 • 1. the BUDDHA turns back to the worlds in COMPASSION • FOUNDS an ORDER OF MONKS – • 2. the SANGA – THE COMMUNITY • -CHALLENGES THE DEADNESS OF BRAHMIN SOCIETY • -PROVIDES PREACHING AND PRIVATE COUSELLING • -PERIOD OF WITHDRAWAL AND RETURN (CREATIVITY) • -meditate 3 times a day 3 months a year • 3. THE DHARMA- the teachings, the truth • vs ethical duty and service of Hinduism • “I take refuge in the Buddha,… Dharma, ….Sangha” • After breaking from rapture walked into DEER PARK in holy city • Of Veranase Benares – • preached the FIRST SERMON (q.v.) • disclosing the Keys

  13. the FIRST SERMON THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS FROM REFLECTIONS ON FOUR PASSING SIGHTS • The First Noble Truth - there is SUFFERING • LIFE IS DUKKHA (SUFFERING) • “ Only at quite rare moments have I felt really glad to be alive; I could not but feel with a sympathy full of regret all the pain that I saw around me, not only that of men, but of the whole world of creation” Albert Schweitzer • -LIFE A STYPICALLY LIVED IS UNFULFILLING/ INSECURE • - EVEN ENJOYMENT IS SUPERFICIAL/FLEETING • “MOST MEN LIVE LIVES OF QUIET DESPIRATION” Thoreau

  14. The First Noble Truth cont. • A.) There are obvious examples • the pleasures of one are the pains of another • the pains of another disturb one’s own contentment • B.) The pleasures we do enjoy bring with them: • AN ATTACHMENT TO THE OBJECT/ ACTIVITY ENJOYED • AN ANXIETY AT THE INEVITABILITY OF SEPERATION FROM OBJ/ACT • C.) the pleasure we do enjoy does not diminish the drive for that pleasure but rather increases it • D.) grasping (clinging) at life’s pleasures increases the suffering

  15. 1 The First Noble Truth cont • SIX MOMENTS OF GLARINGLY APPARENT: • BIRTH • SICKNESS • FEAR OF AGE OR DECAY • FEAR OF DEATH • ATTACHMENT TO WHAT ONE LIKES • SEPERATION FROM WHAT ONE LOVES • THIS PAIN FELT IN THE 5 SKANDAS (LIFE COMPONENT GROUPINGS) • BODY • SENSATIONS • THOUGHTS • FEELINGS • CONSCIOUSNESS • ENERGY BUNDLES (THE SUM OF WHAT WE CONSIDER LIFE TO BE) • More below • REBIRTH AND KARMA HERE!!!!

  16. The First Noble Truth cont. • In sum The First Noble Truth then • there is SUFFERING, LIFE IS SUFFERING • DUKKHA • DUKKHA– IS THE PAIN THAT COLORS FINTE EXISTENCE • LIFE IN THE CONDITION IT HAS GOTTEN ITSELF IS “DISLOCATED” • LIFE IS OUT OF HARMONY (NEEDS REPAIR) • TO HEAL OR ALLEVIATE THIS PAIN WE NEED TO KNOW THE CAUSE

  17. The Second Noble Truth: SUFFERING IS CAUSED • SUFFERING IS CAUSED • THE CAUSE IS • 1.) TANHA (CRAVING) and… • 2.) AVIDYA ( IGNORANCE) IGNORANCE OF • ANICCA AND • ANATTA (MORE IN A MOMENT) • 1.) SUFFERING ORIGINATES IN CRAVING • A.) CRAVING WHAT ONE CANNOT HAVE or… • B.) CRAVING TO AVOID WHAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED • C.) DEEPER SENSE OF CRAVING IS TO BE OR HAVE A SELF • TWO FACTORS INVOLVED • 1.) EXISTENCE OF CERTAIN OBJECTIVE FACTORS IN WORLD • 2.) EXISTENCE OF A SELF • THERE IS NO SUFFERING UNTIL THESE OBJECTIVE FACTORS ARE RELATED TO A SELF

  18. THE SECOND NOBLE TRUTH cont. ANATTA or (ANATMAN) • IT IS THE CRAVING OF A SELF THAT GIVES RISE TO SUFFERING • WHAT IS THIS SELF THAT IS CRAVED?? • Analysis of the self gives us PROCESSES • 5 SKANDAS • BODY PROCESSES • SENSATIONS • PERCEPTIONS • IMPULSES • CONSCIOUSNESS • BEYOND THESE NOTHING MORE and so… • THERE IS NO ( enduring) THING WE CAN CALL “THE SELF” • THERE IS NO SELF or in Sanskrit ANATTA or (ANATMAN) • THAT THERE IS A SELF AS SOMETHING MORE TO WHICH THESE 5 PROCESSES BELONG IS A FICTION – A FICTION CREATED BY: • 2.) IGNORANT CRAVING (AVIDYA) • *OR ANOTHER WAY TO SAY THIS IS “NO SOUL” or no permanent, unchanging, independent self

  19. THREE MARKS OF EXISTENCE • THUSFAR WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE • THREE MARKS (CHARACTERISTICS) OF EXISTENCE: • DUKKHA - suffering • ANATTA – no self • ANICCA - impermanence • (REMEMBER - ANICCA FROM MEDITATION ON THE 4 PASSING SIGHTS) • ***********************

  20. The Third Noble Truth: SUFFERING CAN BE ELIMINATED • Because suffering is caused… • BY EXTINGUISHING THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING, SUFFERING CAN BE EXTINGUISHED (nirvana = “extinguished”p253) • As we have seen, we assume that in addition to bodily and mental activity there is an “i”, a self • It is to this ego self that the doctrine of anatta refers • so it is IN OVERCOMING ATTACHMENT TO THE “I” THAT RELEASE FROM SUFFERING IS FOUND ! • “Life being One, all that tends to separate one from another causes Suffering. Our duty is to understand our fellows as extensions of ourselves fellow facets of the same reality”

  21. I DO NOT EXIST… • … AS A SUBSTANCE INDEPENDENT OF THE PROCESSES THAT CONSTITUTE ME. • WE SAY BODY OR HABITS BELONG TO A SELF YET IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A WAY OF SPEAKING AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE EVIDENCE THAT THERE EXIST A SELF BEYOND A GROUP OF PROCESSES. • THESE PROCESSES CAUSE SUFFERING ONLY BECAUSE OF A WRONG ATTITUDE (IGNORANCE) TOWARD THEM, AN ATTITUDE THAT MISTAKES THEM FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE (PROCESSES)

  22. The Fourth Noble Truth:THE EIGHTFOLD PATH • THE WAY TO EXTINGUISH THE CAUSE OF TANHA AND AVIDYA IS • THE EIGHTFOLD PATH • The middle way • The moral, ethical standard of Buddhism • Morality- right speech, action and livelihood • Meditation-right effort, mindfulness, concentration • Wisdom (prajna)-right views, intention

  23. The Four Noble Truths summ. • 1. Life means suffering.(dukkha) • To live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in • 2. The origin of suffering is attachment. • The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof.(tanha and avidya) • 3. The cessation of suffering is attainable. • The cessation of suffering can be attained through nirodha. Nirodha means extinguishing all forms of clinging and attachment. • 4. The path to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold path. • It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth. The path to the end of suffering can extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path.

  24. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH:Wisdom • RIGHT VIEWS or Understanding – to make up your mind • to fully know the FOUR TRUTHS • to be convinced in a way out CONVICTION • RIGHT Thought or resolve • to make up your heart • To resolve to renounce the world yet do no harm • Singleness of mind – RESOLUTION

  25. Morality • RIGHT SPEECH • speak the truth only • abstain from slander and gossip • AWARENESS of what our talk reveals- motives, charity • RIGHT ACTS (CONDUCT) • tied in with KARMA • FIVE PRECEPTS –no killing, stealing, lying, no unchaste behavior, no intoxicants • monks/nuns- no eat afternoon, no watch dancing, no ornament or perfume, No hi or soft bed, no gold/silver • RIGHT LIVELIHOOD – progress impossible if work goes against

  26. Concentrationor meditation • RIGHT EFFORT • struggle, long slow steady striving • resolve • RIGHT MINDFULNESS • correct understanding, removal of ignorance • recognition of what is body, mind, feelings, sensations, consciousness • awareness of EVERY action • RIGHT CONCENTRATION • meditation, inward serenity • Usually single-point

  27. NIRVANA • BUDDHIST (ultimate) LIFE'S GOAL • NIRVANA • SIMILAR TO MOKSHA BUT LITERALLY TO EXTINGUISH, BLOW OUT • WHAT IS EXTINGUISHED? • THE BOUNDARIES OF FINITE SELF • FLAME OF PRIVATE DESIRES CONSUMED • RESULT BOUNDLESS LIFE • FOR THE BUDDHA NIRVANA IS • " INCOMPREHENSIBLE, INCONCEIVABLE, UNUTTERABLE • AFTER WE ELIMINATE EVERY ASPECT OF THE ONLY CONSCIOUSNESS WE HAVE EVER KNOWN HOW CAN WE SPEAK OF WHAT IS LEFT

  28. NIRVANA • Buddha to Disciple NAGASENA • “ IS THERE WIND?” • Nagasena, : “Of course” • Buddha, “show it to me • Nagasena, “impossible” • Buddha, “even so, sir, nirvana exists - beyond thought, beyond feeling, beyond mind, beyond all.”

  29. So since beyond all… • A more pragmatic goal.. • Well-Being – thru ritual and merit-making • Cultivation of morals- merit-making • And then Nirvana seeking – thru meditation

  30. Four Good Deeds • Make self happy along with mother, father, children, family friends…. • Make self (and those others) secure with whatever “wealth” and manner necessary • Make the five fold offerings to relatives, guests, departed hungry ghosts, king and gods (devata) • Make offering of gifts to all recluses and Brahmins to such that deserve…

  31. EXPERIMENTS • PICTURES - anicca / anatta • What remains the same? • CANDLE FLAME- anicca / anatta / nirvana • are you aware of it ? • What was it? Where did it go? • CANDLE PASS – anatta / anicca / samsara • Original? Where is it? What is it? / Where did it go? • FOOD COLOR DROP- anicca • What is happening? • STOP IT! - tanha  dukkha • but you really liked that design. How did it feel? • PICK ANOTHER you like better- tanha  dukkha • Make yours into that otherusing what you have. You must! • POUR ALL IN ONE - samsara/ karma • Retrieve your original.You really want to! Again Tanha  dukkha • Draw out a glass. What does it contain? How karma /samsara? • SHAVE HEAD - anicca/ anatta  dukkha? • Ok now put it back! I was really attached to it. No really. • No dukkha! I realize all impermanent (anicca). No ego! No self!

  32. A GOD? • if by that you mean PERSONAL … NO . personality requires definition • But a MYSTICAL godhead … • " unborn, uncreated, unformed • “Yet permanent, imperishable, ageless, deathless power, bliss, eternal, incomprehensible” • BUDDHISM IS UNIQUE IN ITS FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE HUMAN - NOT ON A DIVINITY

  33. COMPARED TO HINDUISM • ANATTA vs atman of Hinduism • NO SELF, NO SOUL • ATTA (or atman) WOULD MEAN • 1. SUBSTANCE OF CONSTANT • 2. IDENTITY • SAMSARA -REINCARNATION ACCEPTED BUT IMAGE OF A FLAME PASSED • ONLY CONNECTION CAUSAL NOT SUBSTANTIVE • DHARMA – the truth, the teaching • KARMA – over

  34. KARMA • ACCEPTANCE OF KARMA SUCH THAT TRANSMIGRATION ALONG THESE LINES • 1. CHAIN OF CAUSATION - threads each life from preceding- yet freewill • 2. LAWFULNESS- present state the product of prior acts - free to shape destiny • 3. CAUSAL CONNECTEDNESS - but not of substance rather ideas, feelings, impressions, streams of consciousness (Tibetans=mind)

  35. KARMA • ANALOGY - THE LIKES AND DISLIKES OF MY MIND NOT ACCIDENTAL • -HAVE A LINEAGE • -ADDED TO CULTURAL ATTITUDES THESE FORM MENTAL HABITS "CRAVINGS" TENDENCIES THO WHICH I CAN STILL CHANGE (thru heart/mind) • (Acquiring a concern for social justice from my parents did not mean that a substance leapt from their head to mine) • BASIC DENIAL OF EVERY SORT OF SUBSTANCE ANICCA • TRANSITORINESS OF EVERYTHING FINITE - CHANGE FLUX

  36. NIRVANA • “As a dream vanishes upon awakening, as a star defers to the morning sun, • As the dew drop slips into the shining sea or the dew drop opens to receive the sea itself • The individual awareness is eclipsed in the blazing light of total awareness"

  37. Buddhism • 1. What is the human condition? • To be caught in samsara: the endless cycle of existence, characterized by maya (delusion), tanha (craving) and • hatred/aversion, leading to dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness). • 2. Where are we going? • • To a favourable or unfavourable rebirth after death • • To Enlightenment through entering nirvana/nibbana • • To Buddhahood • • To Bodhisattvahood (Mahayana Buddhism) • 3. How do we get there? • We achieve Enlightenment by: • • acknowledging the Three Jewels: Buddha, dharma/dhamma, and sangha, by joining the sangha • • accepting the Four Noble Truths • • following the Middle Way/Eightfold Path • • following the precepts consistent with a lay or monastic way of life • • following the path of the bodhisattva • • developing wisdom and compassion

  38. need a RAFT – VEHICLE - YANA Continued HistorySamsara { ~~~~~ } nirvana

  39. QUESTIONS THAT DIVIDE • WHY DO RELIGIONS SPLIT? • 3 QUESTIONS THAT DIVIDE • 1. ARE PEOPLE INDEPENDENT OR INTERDEPENDENT? • Relationship to others? Individual or social? • 2. RELATIONSHIP TO UNIVERSE? Benevolent (grace) or indifferent (hostile)? • 3. RELATIONSHIP OF HEART TO HEAD? WISDOM TO COMPASSION?

  40. FIRST COUNCIL • to maintain the purity of the Dharma (unwritten true teachings of the Buddha) • one year after Buddha’s passing 483BCE • 500 MONKS gather • Result  TRIPITAKA • The “three baskets” (Sanskrit) or event. the • Pali canon (Pali language)

  41. SECOND COUNCIL • LIBERAL MONKS • sought relaxation of discipline • Store salt, eat later, palm wine, silver/gold • Would lead to SPLIT • Sthaviras  Theravadins • Mahasanghikas  Mahayana

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