Mahayana Buddhism PDF

Salford WWW.REALLYGREATSITE.COM Travel Mahayana Buddhis  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM Also called as the "Great Vehicle" One of two major Buddhist traditions Arose in India in between 150 BCE and 100 CE Believes that it is the more genuine version of Buddha’s teachings  MAHAYAN...

Salford WWW.REALLYGREATSITE.COM Travel Mahayana Buddhis  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM Also called as the "Great Vehicle" One of two major Buddhist traditions Arose in India in between 150 BCE and 100 CE Believes that it is the more genuine version of Buddha’s teachings  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM The beginnings of the Mahayana dates back into the 1st century B.C.E. to around the 1st century C.E. where a monk named Nagarjuna provided a systematic philosophical articulation of Buddhist doctrine that later became the basis of Mahayana teaching.  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM During the third century B.C.E., variations began to take place in Buddhism at a time when the Mauryan king Ashoka was propagating Buddhist gospels through missionary efforts  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM The Mahasamghika (The Great Sangha) One of the early Buddhist schools, the source of the initial growth of Mahayana Buddhism, especially during the “Second Buddhist Council” that occurred a hundred years after Buddha’s parinirvana.  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM A religious schism happened between the Mahasamghika and Sthavira nikaya (“Sect of the Elders”) transpired during the said council. New ideas eventually concretized resulting in a new form of Buddhism different from the original teachings taught by Siddhartha and those by the Theravada Buddhists. In short,  MAHAYANA BUDDHISM A religious schism happened between the Mahasamghika and Sthavira nikaya (“Sect of the Elders”) transpired during the said council. New ideas eventually concretized resulting in a new form of Buddhism different from the original teachings taught by Siddhartha and those by the Theravada Buddhists. In short,  SACRED SCRIPTURES The Mahayana branch of Buddhism accepts the canonical texts of the Theravada school, including the Tripitaka, which contains Buddha's teachings. However, Mahayana also incorporates a broader range of philosophical and devotional texts, as it became more open to changes and innovations, including influences from indigenous cultures.  SACRED SCRIPTURES LOTUS PRAJNA HEART SUKHAVA SUTRA PARAMITA PITAKA TI  SACRED SCRIPTURES LOTUS One of the mostSUTRA popular and prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts, meaning “Sutra of the Lotus of the wonderful Law” in Sanskrit Contains the most definitive teachings of the Buddha In it, Shakyamuni expounds the ultimate truth of life to which he was enlightened. The sutra’s key message is that  SACRED SCRIPTURES LOTUS SUTRA Buddhahood- the supreme state of life characterized by boundless compassion, wisdom and courage, is inherent within every person without distinction of gender, ethnicity, social standing or intellectual ability.  SACRED SCRIPTURES PRAJNA PARAMITA Known as “Perfection of Wisdom Sutra” It refers to this perfected way of seeing the nature of reality, as well as to a particular body of sutras and to the personification of the concept in the Bodhisattva known as the "Great Mother" The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the sanskrit words prajñā "wisdom" with pāramitā "perfection".  SACRED SCRIPTURES HEART The Heart Sutra SUTRA discusses the doctrine of “emptiness” (shunyata), which is the nature of reality. The process of death and rebirth (samsara), suffering from the awareness of mortality (dukkha), the binding effects of past actions (karma), the components of selfhood (skandhas), and the fleeting elements of reality (dharmas) are all impermanent and "empty." Recognizing this emptiness leads to liberation  SACRED SCRIPTURES SUKHAVATI “Pure Land of Bliss” According to followers of the Pure Land schools, which are widespread throughout East Asia, rebirth in Sukhavati is ensured by invoking the name of Amitabha, particularly at the moment of death According to the “larger” of the Pure Land sutras, only men may be reborn in Sukhavati; this teaching was repeated and adapted by some Buddhist groups as Pure Land teachings  SACRED SCRIPTURES SUKHAVA Sukhavati is expressively TI described in the Pure Land sutras as being a joyous world, soft and glowing, filled with the music of birds and the tinkling of trees adorned with precious jewels and garlands of golden bells. BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA Born in the fifth or sixth century C.E. in present-day Nepal, is considered the historical Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism. After he attained enlightenment at the age of 35, he came to be known as Gautama Buddha and spent the rest of his life preaching across India. He died at the age of 80. The concept of trikaya (“three bodies”) pertains to the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism about the nature of the  BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES TRIKAYA(THREE BODIES)  BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES Bodhisattvas Bodhisattva means “enlightened existence” which is the ultimate way for any Buddhist to live in this world. A bodhisattva has generated bodhicitta or the spontaneous desire to achieve the state of being enlightened. The concept of bodhicitta greatly differs between the two main schools of Buddhism. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have put off entering paradise in order to help others attain enlightenment.  BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES Bodhisattvas Mahayana Buddhism as a polytheistic belief continued to grow in time along with its pantheon of Bodhisattva. Nevertheless, Bodhisattva from those countries that embraced Mahayana Buddhism differ significantly from one another, such as those that were adopted in China and Japan The Maitreya (“Buddha of the Future”) is the only accepted bodhisattva in Theravada Buddhism, the oriental Mahayana Buddhism has four other principal Bodhisattvas  BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES Bodhisattvas 1.Avalokiteshvara The most revered and most popular Buddhist deity among the Bodhisattvas. It is the personification of perfect compassion, probably representing in Buddhism the sun-god Vishnu of the older Hinduism. 1.Manjushri Is the embodiment of wisdom, intelligence, and willpower.  BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES Bhumis and Based on the Mahayana tradition, a Paramitas bodhisattva must pass 10 Bhumis (“grounds” of “land”) before attaining the so-called “Buddha-hood.” These are extensions of the “Eightfold Path” as discussed in the previous lesson on Theravada Buddhism. The Bhumis are frequently associated with the paramitas (“perfections”). The *paramitas* are practices that help one cross from the "sea of suffering" to the "shore of happiness," leading to liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The first five paramitas focus on accumulating merits, WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES buddhism integrates an assortment of religious practices and devotional rituals with the objective of aiding worshippers in their journey toward enlightenment and in bringing blessings to everyone In Buddhist temples, they pray and chant to pay their respect to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, such as (1) Avalokiteshvara, (2) Manjushri, and (3) Amitabha. They also offer vegetarian food and light incense to pay homage to these important WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES Worshippers also recite chants and undertake pilgrimage to sites of Buddhist importance The lotus that symbolizes purity, the eight- spoke wheels that represent the dharma, and the different hand gestures (mudras) are the important symbols for Mahayana Buddhism. SUBDIVISIONS THE PURE LAND SECT Pure Land Buddhism began in India around the second century B.C.E., spread to China by the second century C.E., and reached Japan around sixth century C.E. When believers die, it is their objective to live in the “Pure Land of the West” or Sukhavati. By simply reciting the name of the Amitabha with utmost attentiveness many times during the day, they may be reborn in this paradise where they can work to achieve enlightenment much easier. THE PURE LAND SECT Amitabha, the god who supervises over a western paradise, is the focus of this sect. Once in Sukhavati, people can experience the delight in hearing Amitabha teach the dharma in preparation for their entry to nirvana. Aside from meditations, this Buddhist sect utilizes chants and recitations to focus on helpful thoughts THE INTUITIVE SECTS The intuitive sects emphasize that salvation is a personal matter and one cannot receive assistance from other entities, such as another person or institution, to realize the inner truths of religion. In short, most elements of religion—from scriptures, temples, statues, prayers, and rituals—are not essential to achieve enlightenment. An individual may be spiritually enlightened by a sudden spark of insight, either through meditation or even by accident, beyond words or thoughts. Modern European thinkers have been attracted to Zen Buddhism because of its concept on simplicity and intuitive inspiration THE RATIONALIST SECT A rationalist Buddhist school of thought called T’ien-t’ai emerged around the sixth century C.E. with its name originating from a mountain in southeastern China where its founder Chih-I or Zhiyi lived. Chih-I emphasized that acts of studying and contemplation were both vital for spiritual enlightenment. Apart from instructions on the scriptures and silent meditation, other means to reach this goal include mystical communion with the eternal, ascetic discipline, meritorious deeds, and simple faith in the mercy of THE SOCIO-POLITICAL SECT A Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Nichiren Daishonin who lived during the thirteenth century during the Kamakura period began to teach that the path towards attaining enlightenment rested solely on the devotion to the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren (“sun lotus”) Buddhism, which is purely a Japanese phenomenon, perceives itself as the only rightful version of Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism teaches that individuals must take responsibility to enhance themselves, or what is called “human revolution,” and, in turn, to improve the world’s lot. Enlightenment is accessible to every individual on earth simply by opening one’s inherent Buddha-nature in this TIBETAN BUDDHISM Buddhism was officially introduced into Tibet around the seventh century C.E. during the reign of Songtsan Gampo, considered the founder of the Tibetan Empire. The best known face of Tibetan Buddhism is the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since he fled Chinese occupation of his country in 1959. ISSUES TIBET INVASION For centuries, both China and India have been claiming Tibet as part of their territories. Tibet practically enjoyed some degree of independence as none of the claimants pressed their claim. In 1959, the Dalai lama failed in his bid to oust China’s puppet rule as the Tibetan uprising was defeated by the more powerful Chinese force. The Dalai lama, together with his followers escaped to India, and are TIBET INVASION From 1959 to 1977, almost all the elements of Tibetan Buddhism were obliterated. While many hundred thousand Tibetans were killed, others were drivenbto exile. ENGAGED ACTIVISM Ritual suicides led by the Buddhist monks have transpired in the twentieth century as a form of protest to governmental actions. As a result of persecutions undertaken by the government against Buddhists As a result, monks began to lambast the regime that eventually resulted in the self- immolation of Thich Quang Duc, a Vietnamese Mahayana