Study Notes on the Great Vehicle and Mahāyāna Buddhism

The Great Vehicle

Introduction to the Great Vehicle

The Great Vehicle, known as Mahāyāna, encompasses a rich collection of stories and teachings in the Sūtra Piṭaka of the Pali scriptures about twenty-four Buddhas prior to Gautama Buddha. This extensive collection, titled Buddhavamsa, begins with an inquiry from one of Gautama Buddha's chief disciples, Śāriputra, regarding the origins of Buddha's determination to attain Buddhahood, along with the various virtues he cultivated throughout his spiritual journey to achieve this noble goal.

Story of Sumedha

In an important narrative, Gautama Buddha recounts his past existence as a hermit named Sumedha. During this prior life, Sumedha was profoundly inspired upon hearing of a Buddha named Dipankara who was teaching in a nearby town. Deep respect and reverence filled Sumedha, leading him to the momentous realization that, while attaining arhatship under Dipankara would be significant, aspiring to become a Buddha would enable him to provide greater benefits to the world.

With this profound insight, he vowed to become a Buddha in a future life. To symbolize his commitment to this vow, Sumedha selflessly laid down in the mud, allowing Dipankara and his followers to walk over him—a profound act of devotion and courage.

Recognizing Sumedha's noble intentions, Dipankara read his thoughts and accurately predicted his eventual achievement of Buddhahood. After this transformative encounter, Sumedha returned to his hermitage to ponder deeply on the necessary qualities he needed to cultivate to reach his ultimate goal of becoming a Buddha.

The Ten Perfections

In his reflection, Sumedha came to understand the necessity of perfecting ten essential virtues to achieve Buddhahood. These virtues, known as the Ten Perfections, are as follows:

Generosity (dāna): The selfless giving of oneself to others.

Moral Virtue (sīla): Adhering to ethical standards and behaving morally.

Renunciation (nekkhamma): The practice of giving up worldly attachments and desires.

Wisdom (pañña): The development of insight into the nature of reality.

Energy (vīriya): Cultivating vigorous enthusiasm in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Patience (khanti): The ability to endure hardships and challenges with equanimity.

Truthfulness (sacca): Being honest and maintaining integrity in thought and speech.

Determination (adhiṭṭhāna): Staunch commitment to one's spiritual aspirations and goals.

Loving Kindness (mettā): Unconditional love and compassion for all living beings.

Equanimity (upekkhā): Maintaining inner peace in the face of life's ups and downs.

Gautama Buddha elaborated on his own journey across many lifetimes as he perfected these virtues, ultimately culminating in his full Awakening, where he attained Buddhahood. In these prior incarnations, he referred to himself as a “bodhisattva,” which translates to “a being who is to become Awakened,” emphasizing his commitment to achieving enlightenment not merely for oneself but also for assisting others.

Bodhisattva Path vs. Arhatship

The narrative of Sumedha introduces a vital alternative approach to the traditional path of Arhatship and Nirvana, known as the Bodhisattva Path to Buddhahood. Initially recognized by early Buddhist schools, the Bodhisattva Path was considered suitable only for a select few, as they primarily emphasized a shorter, more direct path to Nirvana for the majority of practitioners.

Historically, some monastics began to embrace the Bodhisattva Path, although documentation on this transitional practice is limited. By the first century B.C.E., fresh literature portraying this Bodhisattva Path began to emerge, characterizing it as superior to earlier traditions, asserting that while an arhat achieves personal liberation, the Bodhisattva endeavors to attain Buddhahood for the welfare of all sentient beings.

The term Mahāyāna, meaning “Great Vehicle,” refers to this Bodhisattva Path, indicating its expansive capacity to carry sentient beings toward liberation. Critics of this path referred to early Buddhism derisively as Hinayāna, or “Lesser Vehicle,” though this terminology carries negative connotations and is considered disrespectful. The schism between Mahāyāna and earlier Buddhist traditions became marked by 200 C.E., as the texts and doctrinal interpretations began to diverge significantly.

Mahāyāna Sūtras

The Mahāyāna sūtras serve as pivotal texts that present the teachings of Gautama Buddha and expound on the Bodhisattva Path in detail. The overarching mission of Mahāyāna is to articulate their Great Vehicle while marking their beliefs as the “second turning of the wheel of the Dharma.”

Key concepts associated with Mahāyāna teachings include:

Buddhahood as a goal: The ideal figure for liberation is identified as a Buddha rather than an arhat, emphasizing a broader vision for spiritual attainment.

Bodhicitta: Cultivating an altruistic aspiration to attain Buddhahood for the benefit and enlightenment of all sentient beings is a fundamental aspect of Mahāyāna.

Six Perfections: While initially outlined in earlier Buddhism, the Mahāyāna tradition later expanded these teachings into Ten Stages within the Bodhisattva Path by adding additional perfections to enhance spiritual practice and development.

Wisdom and Emptiness: At the core of Mahāyāna wisdom lies the understanding that all phenomena are inherently empty ('śūnyatā'), a crucial philosophical insight that informs much of Mahāyāna thought and practice.

Concept of Emptiness

Emptiness in the context of Mahāyāna signifies that all aspects of existence are devoid of intrinsic nature ('svabhāva-śūnya'), indicating that nothing exists in isolation or independently. This profound insight into emptiness serves as a pathway toward liberation and enlightenment.

Mahāyāna texts often illuminate how ordinary experiences might mislead individuals into the false belief in the independence of entities, whereas the awakened consciousness recognizes their interdependent and empty nature.

Nature of Consciousness

The Mahāyāna perspective posits that consciousness is inherently pure, clear, and luminous, though it is frequently clouded by various defilements such as ignorance, desire, and aversion. Through purification practices, pure consciousness emerges, revealing the innate potential for Buddhahood within every sentient being.

Misperceptions, often rooted in attachment and ignorance, can entrap individuals in cycles of suffering, highlighting the importance of awakening and spiritual development.

Cosmic View and Celestial Buddhas

Mahāyāna cosmology expands the Buddhist worldview considerably, incorporating numerous realms inhabited by various Buddhas and bodhisattvas, in stark contrast to the simpler conceptions of earlier Buddhist traditions. This broader cosmology provides a framework where aspirants can be reborn in these celestial realms, allowing greater opportunities for spiritual growth and insight under the tutelage of a Buddha.

In this cosmological framework, celestial Buddhas and bodhisattvas utilize skillful means to assist living beings on their respective paths toward Awakening, demonstrating the interconnectedness of all beings in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Mahāyāna Sūtras Overview

Key sūtras within the Mahāyāna tradition that delve into various teachings include:

Perfection of Wisdom Sūtras: These texts articulate profound teachings relating to wisdom, emptiness, and the journey of the bodhisattva, converging on themes of altruistic aspiration and compassion.

Heart Sūtra: This succinct sūtra encapsulates the essence of the Perfection of Wisdom, where the concept of emptiness is equated with the Five Aggregates, emphasizing the hollow nature of all forms.

Vimalakīrti-Nirdeśa-Sūtra: Notable for presenting a layperson's viewpoint, this sūtra proposes key concepts of emptiness alongside their practical implications for spiritual practice.

Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra: Focused on the role of consciousness, it elucidates how ordinary experiences stem from consciousness while outlining various paths toward enlightenment.

Sūtra on the Lotus of the True Dharma: This influential sūtra emphasizes the environmental contexts for the Buddha’s preaching and effective skillful means employed for aiding all beings in their spiritual progression.

Larger and Smaller Land of Bliss Sūtras: These sūtras narrate the creation of Amitābha Buddha’s Pure Land, where aspirants hopeful for rebirth can more easily attain awakening and spiritual enlightenment.

The Great Journey of the Bodhisattva

The journey of a bodhisattva involves diligently practicing the Six Perfections (dāna, śīla, kṣānti, vīrya, dhyāna, prajñā) with a profound focus on altruism and compassion. This process emphasizes developing the right mindset, approaching all actions with the desire to benefit others.

Over centuries, the Mahāyāna tradition introduced the Ten Stages (daśabhūmi) of the Bodhisattva Path, which refine and elaborate on the process of bodhisattva cultivation, enhancing the spiritual journey with the addition of four further perfect virtues, namely skillful means, vows, power, and omniscient knowledge.