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| theravada buddhism (defining features of) |
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| "the way of the elders" most conservative form: preserves original teachings (past respect for elders). pali canon or tripitaka: earliest form of buddha's teachings. theravada buddhists see pali canon as "closed" (can't be edited) |
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| differences between buddhism and hinduism |
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| buddhism rejects function of gods, a function most common in hinduism (man before god. siddartha was fully human. man is responsible for his own enlightenment in buddhism. "middle path"- buddhism rejected the sever practices common to sannyasins of hinduism |
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| differences between buddhism and earlier vedic traditions |
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Definition
vedic religions emphasized ritual and priests, relied heavily on gods rather than humans, believed in caste system
(favored warriors, politicians, and the wealthy. during religious revolutions, buddhism rejected these ideas |
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| stresses meditation (criticism of pure land). enlightenment through experience. return to core experience, return to core experience of enlightenment (satori). emphasizes zazen, or "sitting meditation" |
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| 1. to live is to suffer. 2. suffering comes from desire. 3. to end suffering, end desire. 4. release from suffering is possible and can be attained by following the eightfold path |
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| 1. right understanding. 2. right intention. 3. right speech. 4. right action. 5. right work. 6. right effort. 7. right meditation. 8. right contemplation. |
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| step 1 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 2 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 3 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 4 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 5 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 6 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 7 of noble eightfold path |
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| step 8 f noble eightfold path |
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| symbols. geometrical designs, usually painted on cloth, that present reality in symbolic form |
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| mandala, shows universe from point of view of wise, universe of oneness and perfection |
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| "thatness" "thusness" "suchness". represents view of unique experiences, reality is revealed in unique moments, as we savor patterns, relationships, and change |
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| "empty". empty of permanent essence. basic buddhist view of reality that everything is constatnly shifting, changing, taking new form. |
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| compassion as essential virtue and preeminent expression of wisdom "empathy" "sympathy" "kindness". karuna implies that we are all part of the same ever-changing universe |
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| "perfect being" "worthy". a person who has reached nirvana |
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| 1. change: look at life as it really is- realize nothing we experience in life ever remains the same. 2. no permanent identity: each person made up of parts constantly changing. "no permanent soul" "no self". 3. suffering: "dukka", "dissatisfaction" or "dis-ease"- refers to fact that life when lived conventionally can never be fully satisfying because of its constant change |
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| the tibetan book of the dead |
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| manual meant to guide a dying person's soul to the best rebirth or nirvana |
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| "lama" - tibetan term for guru. he is believed to be a reincarnation of the previous dalai lama, who is considered to be an emanation of the budhisattva |
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| vajrayana buddhism (origins and defining features of) |
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| "the diamond vehicle" (tibetan buddhism), combines mahayana buddhism and indigenous traditions of nepal. described as roman catholicism of buddhism. i.e. institutionalized, elaborate ceremonies, hierarchical, rich artistic tradition |
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| an extreme of behavior in regards to dedication to buddhism. abstinence from worldly pleasures |
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| mahayana buddhism (defining features of) |
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| "the big vehicle", represents rejection of elitism of theravada tradition. its name suggests a large ferry boat where all types of people can be carried across rivers and brought to the shore of enlightenment. also represents return of some features of buddhism |
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| practiced by monks, but easily practiced by lay people. otherworldly, paradise, similar to christian concept of heaven. the "soul's" final destination. the school teaches that actions are unimportant compared to saving power of buddha. |
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| tripitaka (the three baskets) |
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Definition
| earliest written form of buddha's teaching, divided into 3 sections. 1. rules of monastic life. 2. sayings and dialogues of buddha. 3. sayings and dialogues of advanced teachings. |
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| name given to "enlightened being" who has refused to fully enter nirvana for sake of greater good. i.e. help others attain nirvana |
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| buddha did not write autobiography, nor did his followerd write his life story. life and teachings preserved through oral traditions put into written form 400 years after his death (80 b.c.) no official version of his life, siddharth guantama (563-483 b.c.) buddha's birth name siddartha means "every wish fulfilled", born into royal family. four sights, death, sickness, old age, through meditation he attains profound state of understanding and tranquility called nirvana. |
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| helps us confront suffering and our role in giiving rise to it for ourselves and others. i.e. sleepss happily, awakes happily, does not have nightmares, is liked by humans, liked by non-humans |
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| buddha of the western paradise, bliss body buddha in mahayana. devout buddhists hope to be reborn in amitabha buddha's paradise |
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| believed that the turning of the written prayers creates as much good karma as if one were to recite them. |
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| same principle applies to the wind blowing through prayer flags |
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| 273-232 b.c.e. ashokas pan was to expand his rule over a large part of India, naturally entailed much fighting. after seeing the bloody battle, ashoka converted to the ideal of non-violence |
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| extremely short poem writen in 3 lines. should mention or suggest the season and should capture essence of moment before it passes |
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| "no permanent soul", buddha's refusal to accept the hindu notion of timeless, unchanging reality (atman) underlying everything-people, things, essences, and gods. |
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| "sitting meditation", normally done for several hours in the morning and evening. involves sitting in silence with one's back straight and centered, keeping the body still and taking deep and regular breaths |
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| suffering, third characteristic of reality |
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| reasons buddhism spread rather easily to other countries |
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| 1. monks did not force ideal onto people, so it became more accepted. skillful means- different people, different attitudes. 2. "what works for you" attitude. over centuries, tradition spreads far beyond its original homeland. buddhist monks became buddhist missionaries- spread to china, s.e. asia, japan, and tibet |
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| schools of mahayana buddhism |
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| 1. shingon: "word of truth"- employs "skillful means" to experience union with cosmic buddha nature. 2. tendai: attempted to categorize all teachings and present them in a meaningful way, as a kind of ladder of steps leading to full enlightenment. 3. pure land. 4. nichiren- simpler path that used many sutra's and practices in search for enlightenment. 5. zen |
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| "true word" or "word of truth" title refers to use of sacred chants "mantras". behind shingon ritual is a focus on experiencing union with cosmic buddha nature |
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| chants to help discipline the mind |
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| liberation from samsara and moksha. two stages: "nirvana in this life"- initial spiritual transformation. "final nirvana" after death, neither existence nor non existence. |
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| buddha rejected the severe and life threatening practices common to sannysins of hinduism |
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| ikebana and garden design |
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| emphasizes great spiritual value of natural world. ikebana: "living flower"- each arrangement is designed to suggest flowers in their natural state. garden design: designers are ranked as highly as poets and artists |
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| the enlightenment experience |
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| question meant for contemplation and inspiration. i.e. what was your original face before you were born. riddles that cannot be rational or discursive modes of thought. also referred to as "the closed opening"/"gateless barrier". goal: to move one beyond language, uses language to transcend language |
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| belief in existence of one deity or in the oneness of god |
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| recognizes the existence of other gods, but claims a special relationship or covenant with one god, who is seen as superior to the rest. |
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| contract, the contract between the hebrews and their god, yahweh |
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| First: god and noah, after destroying earth in flood, says man can eat animals, slaughtering only in sacrificial rite. second: abraham and god, circumcision to be performed by priests. third: god gives the law to moses at mount sinai |
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| challenges of going from locative to translocative tradition. israel promised to hebrews, also home of god, required pilgrimages and priesthood for sacrifices. driven out of homeland |
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| what jews do when driven out of homeland and held in captivity |
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| question what they did wrong to offend god, throws them into spiritual crisis. "how are we to worship god outside our homeland?" "how are we to make sacrifices now" "how are we to observe the 613 mitzvoth in a foreign land with foreign laws?" |
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