Religion and Death (6)

Mahayana Buddhismand Death

Aj. Masayo Urasaki

Jan. 17 2012

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Mahayana Buddhism Image…

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The Emergence of Mahayana Buddhism

BC. 4 ～ AD. 1 Separate Theravada and Mahayana 　 (main reason the understanding of“Vinaya”) After Buddha died, from Theravada’s site Theravada > Mahayana (Respect “Sangha”) from Mahayana’s site Mahayana > Theravada (Respect “Stupa”) → 　 Laypersons manage the “Stupa”

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Differences main points between Mahayana and Theravada

Theravada• Pali canon• Practice Objective: Become Arahat• Most of the people would become a monk

during his life.• During become monk, everyone should

keep 227’s “Vinaya(Rules)”• Not so eagerly about Propagation to other

people

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Mahayana • Translate from Sanskrit canon to Chinese• Practice Objective: Become Boddhisatava • Save others and himself• Severe practices and worship many kind of Bo

ddhisatava and Buddha• Semi-monk semi-layperson’s lifestyle. Monk is

one of the job/occupation

The concept of “Decay of the Dharma"　　

This thoughts from China

1) Right of the Dharma (after Buddha death 1000 yrs)

○ Teaching 　○ Practice 　○ Enlightenment

2) Figures of the Dharma (next 1000 yrs)

○ Teaching ○ 　 Practice × Enlightenment

3) Decay of the Dharma

　　　　○ Teaching ×Practice × Enlightenment In Japan, people believed Decay of the Law start

since 1052 years 　

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Boddhisattva （菩薩）• sravaka (Hearer)• pratyeka-buddha (Private Buddha)• Bodhisattva (Enlightenment Being) → 　 Boddhisattva Character Stressing morality, understanding of emptiness avoidance of doctrinal disputes, and compassi

on for all beings

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Buddha Nature( 仏性）

• Buddha Nature is a Mahayana notion that all sentient beings possess and inherently pure nature identical to that of the Buddhas, worldly or cosmic. This Buddha-ness is one of the issues that clearly differentiates Mahayana and Theravada. For Teravada, there is no notion suggesting that all beings can become Buddhas.

Thingking about ETERNAL

Mahayana Buddhism ⇒ Using Imagination "Eternal" Far away from this world.

We might not reach Pure Land even if practice so hard, But we try to do it.

Thanks to Eternal Buddha(Amida), we shall go to Pure land.

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Main Teaching of Pure Land• Sutra ： The Three Pure Land Sutras （浄土三部経）• Key Concept : 　・ The Vow on which true and real Shinjin （信心） 　　　 is based is the Vow of sincere mind and trust. 　・ The teaching of rebirth in the Pure Land （浄土） 　　　 of Amithbha through reciting the Buddha‘s 　　　 name, Nenbutsu （念仏）　→　 Everybody can salvage from suffering in daily life.

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“Lotus Sutra” １ One Ultimate teaching of the Buddha

• The doctrine that the Lotus Sutra represents the embodiment of the genuine teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, the Savior of this world.

　　　　

Mandala ↑

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Lotus Sutra （法華経）２• Saddharmapundarika Sutra / Sutra on the Lotu

s of the Good Teaching• One of the most popular Mahayana Texts• One Vehicle Buddhism/ Ekayana ( 一乗）• Emphasis is also place on ①the nature of Tat

hagata/②developing Skillful means/③Building proper character in the “Boddhisattva”

Today's presetation

1) Group CC

Pattarathorn / Watinee / Hataipat

2) Group BB

Rawiwan / Suwalulk / Alisara

3) Group N

Rachaneekorn / Rujira / Nimitra

PresentationEvaluate Points of each group

• Please comment 3 points1) Contents Concerns / Collecting Data(First Data) Analyze / New point of view 2) Process Presentation Style / Voices / Voice Speed Time keeping / Confidence3) Question Question freely to the groups

January class Schedule ( Supplementary Class)

• Jan 10 Shinto and Death

• Jan 17 Mahayana Buddhism and Death

• Jan 24 Theravada Buddhism and Death (1) A. Somboon

• Jan 25 Theravada Buddhism and Death (2) A. Somboon

• Jan 31 Christianity and Death A. Richard

Mid-term Report

• How is your thinking toward death improved during preparing presentation?

• Reflect yourself (you and your group)

• Not need to submit context of presentation I want to know how and what reflect yourself .

A4 3-5 papers