Buddhism 2

Buddhism 2

- Early Buddhism was largely monastic religions where monks who spread it as

missionaries. Composed texts and remembered what Buddha said while he was alive. O

PRacticing philosophy, actively studying/meditating/praying towards enlightenment

- Monks keep up the monastery, cooking and cleaning. Conduct funerals. People give to

monks to accumulate good Karma

- Buddhist Institutions and the monastic Sangha are a “field of merit”. Basically giving to

monks gives you really good karma. Monks actually make the effort to try to reach

enlightenment , so giving to them is better than giving to the homeless

Mahayana:

- Developed 1st C.E. , Greater Vehicle. Thought to be much better than Buddhism.

Vehicle to get from samsara to nirvana. They considered origional Buddhism “Hiyana” or

Inferior vehicle. Jainism and Buddhism = you have to do the work yourself to make

things happen. Mahayana is very altruistic, compassionate, thinking od evwryones

liberation

- Bodhisattva: Being (sattva) working towards enlightenment mand (bodhi) for the sake of

all beings. ( IF I can not bring everyone when I go, I will wait until I can bring everyone to

actually go)

- Bodhisattvas are seen as agents that can help within Mahayana. They funxtion like gods

(super powers) bur are not gods

- Avalokitesvara: Bodhisattvas of compassion. 1000 arms and lots of eyes so he can see

everything. Dailai Lama’s are form a tibetan buddhist perspective human embodiments

of Avalokitesvara. Dalai Lama is real living Bodhisattvas

- Jizo: Depicted like a month, uses staff to open the grates of hell. Protector of babies,

children, pregnant women, travelers

- Bakhti (devotion) is really popular. Early Buddhism (Hinayana), Buddha was normal.

Fully enlightened before he was born. Went through prince and struggles of life to create

model of what needed to be done

- Pure Land: Buddha Amitabha, land of bliss or sukhavati. If born in oure land you are

automatically enlightened. Chant tot the buddha’s land you would like to go to. This

method of Buddhism was good for lay people who coukd not study/meditate all day

- Pure Land practice is incredibly popular around the world. Dhyana means meditation.

Dont rely on anyone or anything

Chinese Philosophy (PHIL 434)