Buddhism Overview

Buddhism Classification

  • Theravada and Mahayana
    • Theravada Buddhism
    • Region: Southeast Asia
    • Soteriology: Long process to become a Sravaka or Arhat
    • Cosmology: Singular
    • Buddhology: Singular
      • Key Terms:
      • Rupa-kaya: Form body
      • Dhamma-kaya: Law body
    • Mahayana Buddhism
    • Region: East and Central Asia
    • Soteriology: All beings are Bodhisattvas
    • Cosmology: Infinite
    • Buddhology: Infinite
      • Key Terms:
      • Nirmana-kaya: Transformation body
      • Sambhoga-kaya: Enjoyment body
      • Dharma-kaya: Truth body

Shared Traditions

  • Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels

    • Buddha:
    • Pledge: I go for refuge to the Buddha – Buddham saranam gacchami
    • Dharma:
    • Pledge: I go for refuge to the Dharma – Dhammam saranam gacchami
    • Sangha:
    • Pledge: I go for refuge to the Sangha – Sangham saranam gacchami

  • Five Precepts: Ethical guidelines

    • Do not kill
    • Do not steal
    • Do not engage in sexual misconduct
    • Do not lie
    • Do not imbibe intoxicants

  • Drawing on the Power of Buddha

    • For Monks and Nuns:
    • Vinaya: Monastic Rules
    • Meditation
    • Dharma Study
    • Counseling
    • Acts as a “Field of Merit”
    • Involvement in funerals and other rituals
    • Acts as a pillar of the community
    • For Lay Buddhists:
    • Dana: Generosity
    • Vows
    • Chanting:
      • Includes sutras, mantras, Buddha-names, etc.
    • Engagement in Dharma Study
    • Possible involvement in Meditation
    • Consideration of Vegetarianism

  • Worship of Buddha Images:

    • Idolatry: Engaging with images as a support for practice
    • Enlivening the Image: The idea of spiritual presence in an image
    • Offerings:
    • Common offerings include water, rice, fruit, incense, candles
    • Other Practices:
    • Activities like bathing, dressing, walking, entertaining images

  • Relics and Talismans:

    • Pari-nirvana and the splitting of relics
    • Asokan Stupas:
    • Relationship between relics and political power
    • Fields of Merit:
    • The presence of a Buddha is said to purify the environment
    • Examples in Tattoos: Seen in Japan and Thailand

Mahayana Buddhism

  • Maha-yana = “Great Vehicle”
  • Geographical Dominance:
    • Major form in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam
  • Nirvana and Samsara Relationship:
    • Concept that Nirvana equals Samsara and vice versa
    • Two Truths: Absolute Reality and Provisional Reality
  • Understanding of Reality:
    • Buddha as Reality, and vice versa
    • Ultimate Reality manifests as buddhas, bodhisattvas, and gods to guide beings towards awakening
    • Infinite beings and paths exist to achieve awakening

Buddhas and Their Definitions

  • General Concept of Buddhas

    • Buddha: Literal meaning is “Awake”
    • Tathāgata: Translation means “Thus Come/Thus Gone”
    • Responsibilities of a Buddha:
    • Revealing the Dharma: Truth, Law, Teachings
    • Understanding the true nature of reality
    • Teaching about suffering and its cessation
    • Utilizing Upaya: “skillful means” for teaching
    • Guiding beings to overcome negative karma and exit Samsara
    • Emphasizing the connection between Buddhas and ordinary beings; the Buddha resides within everyone
    • Affirmation that each being is inherently a Buddha

  • Historical Buddha: Śākyamuni Tathāgata

    • Historical figure: Siddhartha Gotama, an Indian prince circa 500 BCE
    • Fundamental Teachings:
    • Four Noble Truths: Suffering, Clinging, Nirvana, and The Path
    • Concept of Buddha Nature: The belief that all beings can achieve enlightenment
    • The Eternal Śākyamuni: Representations in texts like the Lotus Sutra, Avataṃsaka-sūtra, and Mahāvairocana-sutra indicate Siddhartha's emanation from an eternal guiding force for awakening

  • Amitābha Tathāgata:

    • Name translates to “Lord of Sukhāvatī”, “Pure Land of Bliss”
    • Known as the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life
    • Amitābha: “Infinite Light” relates to wisdom
    • Amitāyus: “Infinite Life” relates to compassion
    • Practice of Bud-dhanusmrti: Mindfulness of Buddha
    • Takes the mantra Namu Amituo Fo as an invocation

  • Medicine Buddha:

    • Holds a medicine jar and symbolizes healing
    • Ability to cure both physical ailments in this world and spiritual ones in the next
    • Associated with Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli in the East
    • Notable popularity in Tibet and East Asia

  • Mahāvairocana Tathāgata:

    • Known as the “Great Sun Buddha”
    • Encompasses Dharmakāya: The Buddha as Reality
    • Represents body, speech, and mind for all Buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods, beings, and material and spiritual realities

Tri-Kaya: Three Bodies of the Buddha

  • Three Bodies:
    • Dharma-kaya: Aspect of Buddha as Reality
    • Sambhoga-kaya: Visionary or mystical forms of Buddha
    • Nirmana-kaya: The corporeal forms of the Buddha
  • Key Representatives of Each Body:
    • Mahāvairocana: Representative of Dharma-kaya
    • Amitābha: Representative of Sambhoga-kaya
    • Śākyamuni: Representative of Nirmana-kaya

Bodhisattvas

  • Definition: “Enlightened Beings”

  • Six Perfections (Paramitas):

    • Generosity
    • Morality
    • Forbearance
    • Vigor
    • Contemplation
    • Wisdom

  • Core Vows:

    • Vowing to become a Buddha
    • Vowing to liberate all sentient beings from samsara
    • Vowing to help others attain Buddhahood

  • Adaptable Forms: Bodhisattvas may take various forms

  • Employ Upaya: “Skillful means” in their teachings and actions

  • Key Bodhisattvas:

    • Maitreya Bodhisattva:
    • Resides in Tuṣita heaven, identified as the next Buddha
    • Revered across Mahayana and Theravada cultures
    • Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva:
    • Associated with Wisdom, depicted holding a sword and sutra atop a lotus
    • Gaining significant reverence in Tibetan Buddhism
    • Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva:
    • Also known as “The Lord Who Looks Down Upon the World and Hears the Cries of Beings”
    • A symbol of Compassion and attendant to Amitābha Buddha
    • Exhibits multiple forms, including a thousand hands
    • Representations in various scriptures such as the Lotus Sutra and Pure Land Sutras
    • Often depicted as female in East Asia, male in Tibet
    • Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva:
    • Also known as “Earth Store” or “Jizō bosatsu”
    • Recognized as the protector of children and travelers
    • Associated with memorial services for children and aborted fetuses in Japan
    • Unadorned appearance symbolizes his vow to traverse all six realms

Devas

  • Definition: “Gods”
  • Differentiation of Devas:
    • Deva: Refers specifically to gods in India
    • Shen/kami: The term for gods in China and Japan
  • Cultural Fusion in Japan:
    • Shinbutsu shugo: The concept of the unity of Buddhas and Gods
    • Buddhist priests assist gods, and gods provide help to people
    • Notably, sometimes gods are considered Buddhas or Bodhisattvas in disguise!