Transcript The Goals (4)

The Goals (4)
What is the final aim of existence?
The final aim of existence is to
attain Enlightenment.
Sub-topics
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The Third Noble Truth — Nibbana as
awakening to the true nature of Reality
and becoming one with Reality; as ‘blowing
out of the fires’ which lead to rebirth.
Theravada and Mahayana beliefs about
Enlightenment should be addressed.
Therevada Buddhism
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‘The way of the elders’
Historical Buddha, now dead and beyond our
contact. He is ‘Tathagata’ – thus gone.
Nibbana achieved through life as a monk or nun.
Ideal is to be an ‘Arhat’ (worthy one), a living
Buddha who has attained Buddhahood entirely
by his own efforts.
Theravada Buddhism
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Nothing can help
you through prayer.
Sees its task as
transferring the
purity of the
Buddha’s Dharma
from generation to
generation.
Theravada
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Historical Buddha’s
teachings only.
Siddhartha achieved
enlightenment after
many lifetimes.
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By his own efforts alone.
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Buddha is ‘Tathagata’.
Beyond our contact.
Therevada: who are they?
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Strongest in Sri
Lanka, Thailand
and Cambodia.
Remain close to
original teachings
of Buddha.
Therevada Understanding
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Only achievable by
following Noble
Eightfold Path.
Lay people can only
hope to be reborn as a
male monk.
Lay support monks,
monks give good Karma
to Lay.
Check Your Learning
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Therevada Buddhism
Mahayana
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Ultimate goal is not to
be an Arhat but a
Bodhisattva (a being
who is free from
Samsara but who
returns to save
others still locked in
the cycle).
Mahayana
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The heavenly Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas can help
those who call upon them
in devotion.
More ritual in Mahayana
as a means of focus and
fulfillment of emotional
needs of a broad variety
of Buddhists.
Mahayana
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Most important virtue in Mahayana is
compassion for others.
Along with compassion there is wisdom.
The word Mahayana means ‘great vehicle’.
It is called this because it has so many
different forms that one is bound to suit
everyone.
Great variety WITHIN Mahayana.
Mahayana
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Three bodies of the
Buddha:
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Earthly Buddhas like
Siddhartha Gautama
Heavenly Buddhas who
have their paradises
‘Buddha’ as representing
ultimate reality without
body
Mahayana Buddhism
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Believe that Therevada Buddhism is too
narrow and individualistic.
Bodhisattva’s are dedicated to helping
others attain enlightenment.
Many varieties…
Pure Land
(China/Korea/Japan)
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Began because
Amitabha (left)
believed that people
are too attached to
world and cannot
leave Samsara
without assistance.
If you call upon his
name he will help.
Seen as a saviour.
Pure Land cont.
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Pure Land Buddhists believe that through
chanting Amitabha’s name they may be reborn
into a better world- the Pure Land.
The Pure Land is a place where it is easier to
achieve Nibbana.
Tibetan Buddhism
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Tibetan Buddhists
believe that everyone
has a Buddha nature.
Each Buddhist has
gained a perfect
rebirth and so should
devote their life to
spiritual progress and
attaining Nibbana.
Tibetan cont.
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Being reborn as a human
(particularly as a
Buddhist) is as rare as a
blind turtle swimming in
a vast ocean, only
surfacing once a century
and putting it’s head
through a small ring
floating at the surface.
The opportunity
shouldn’t be wasted!
Zen Buddhism
Japan in particular
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Zen Buddhism finds enlightenment out
with scriptures and even words an
letters.
The essence of Zen is to understand
the meaning of life directly without
being misled by logical thought or
language
“All beings by nature are Buddhas, as
ice by nature is water. Apart from
water there is no ice; apart from
beings, no Buddhas.”
Zen cont.
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Zen looks inward for enlightenment.
There is no need to search outside
ourselves for the answers; we can
find the answers in the same place
that we found the questions.
Human beings can't learn this truth
by philosophising or rational thought,
nor by studying scriptures, taking
part in worship rites and rituals.
Zen cont.
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The first step is to control
our minds through
meditation and other
techniques that involve
mind and body; to give up
logical thinking and avoid
getting trapped in a
spider's web of words.
Can you experience a
satori?
Zen koans
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A Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (18681912), received a university professor who came to
inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and
then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer
could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own
opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen
unless you first empty your cup?"
Zen koans
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Obedience
The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen
students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted
sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words
were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because
the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered
Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate
with Bankei.
"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever
respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does
not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"
"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.
Zen koans
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Obedience
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to
the teacher.
Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."
The priest obeyed.
"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the
right side. Step over here."
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I
think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and
listen."
Zen koans
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Announcement
Tanzan wrote sixty postal cards on the last day of
his life, and asked an attendant to mail them.
Then he passed away.
The cards read:
I am departing from this world.
This is my last announcement.
Tanzan
July 27, 1892
Zen koans
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The Most Valuable Thing in the World
Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a
student: "What is the most valuable thing in
the world?"
The master replied: "The head of a dead cat."
"Why is the head of a dead cat the most
valuable thing in the world?" inquired the
student.
Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its
price."
Zen koans
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The Stone Mind
Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small
temple in the country. One day four travelling monks
appeared and asked if they might make a fire in his yard
to warm themselves.
While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them
arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. He joined them
and said: "There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be
inside or outside your mind?"
One of the monks replied: "From the Buddhist viewpoint
everything is an objectification of mind, so I would say
that the stone is inside my mind."
"Your head must feel very heavy," observed Hogen, "if
you are carrying around a stone like that in your mind."
Zen koans
If you see
Buddha, kill
him.
Therevada and Mahayana
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Way of the elders.
Accept only the
teachings of the
historical Buddha
(Siddhartha
Gautama).
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Greater vehicle.
Interpret and adapt
teachings to suit.
Furthermore, there
have been and are
many Buddha’s who
can help you attain
Nibbana.
Therevada and Mahayana
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The highest aim is to
become an Arhat, or
‘worthy one’. To
escape from the
cycle of suffering,
Samsara. To attain
liberation from
Dukkha.
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The highest aim is to
become a Bodhisattva, or
‘enlightened being’ and
help others reach
Nibbana, to become an
Arhat could be seen as
selfish. The key concept
to emphasise here is
compassion. The
Bodhisattva deliberately
chooses to stay in the
Samsaric cycle to help
the unenlightened reach
Nibbana.
Therevada and Mahayana
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3 Areas for
personal
development:
Morality (Sila),
Concentration
(Samadhi) and
Wisdom (Panna).
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Bodhicitta:
motivation of
compassion and
the liberation of
all beings from
suffering.
Therevada and Mahayana
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To become an Arhat
there are 4 stages of
progression p.83
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Develop the 6
perfections:
generosity, morality,
patience, effort,
concentration and
wisdom. The
Bodhisattva is the
perfect combination
of wisdom and
compassion.
Therevada and Mahayana
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To attain
Enlightenment you
must be a male
monk (no need to
worry about daily
responsibilities and
obligations of lay
person).
Reaching Nibbana is
down to ones selfeffort alone.
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Anybody can attain
Nibbana (some
believe you are
enlightened
already).
There are Buddha’s
and Bodhisattva’s
that can help you on
your quest.
Therevada and Mahayana
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To attain
Enlightenment you
must follow the
Noble Eightfold
Path.
Methods follow the
teachings of the
historical Buddha,
emphasis on causing
no harm and
meditation.
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There are many
means to reach
Nibbana e.g. Zen
Koans.
Generally more
ritual as a means of
focus.
Therevada and Mahayana
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Takes many
lifetimes and
involves following
the eightfold
path rigorously.
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Satori, for example,
can happen
instantly.
Mahayana Role Models
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The Dalai Lama: so spiritually
developed almost godlike. Often
people pray and bow to them.
A criticism: is this what the Buddha
taught?
Other Mahayana Differences
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Skillful Means or ‘upaya’: a
Bodhisattva will know what to do in
any situation.
Ultimate emptiness or ‘shunyata’. All
things are ultimately empty
Other Mahayana Differences
“There is no distinction between nirvana and
samsara”
Nagarjuna
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Ultimate emptiness or ‘shunyata’. All things
are ultimately empty. Nirvana and Samsara
are to be understood within the framework of
the Two Truths, Ultimate and Relative.
Although relatively speaking Nirvana and
Samsara are opposed, they are both ultimately
empty (due to Anicca) and are therefore the
same.
Other Mahayana Differences
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The Ultimate Goal. Mahayana
distinguishes nirvana (freedom from
suffering) from complete
buddhahood.
The final aim is to liberate all beings
from rebirth.
Other Mahayana Differences
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Tathagatagarbha: nirvana is not
something we lack and are trying to
attain, it is there all the time.
We must only rid our ignorance to it
rather than acquire new wisdom that
we lack.