Buddhism  Buddhists call themselves followers of the dharma  Began in India in the sixth century B.C.E.  Started to fade as individual religion (although revived in recent decades) and survived principally because it spread across South East Asia  Buddhism is now a global religion  As it evolved, it divided into three branches, often called “vehicles”:

Branches

Siddartha (cont.) Bodhi TreeMara

Buddha Buddha, awakened one Taught the “Middle Way” between self-denial and self-indulgence (hence Therevada’s title)

 Enlightenment is attainable for everyone  Stress on Bodhisattva  Stress on compassion for everyone thus the stress on Bodhisattva  Attempts to meet almost every religious and philosophical need

Karuna  A main emphasis in Mahayana is “karuna ” which means compassion, empathy, kindness, sympathy. The idea is that all of us are part of the same ever changing universe and deep down we are really not different  The idea of compassion in Buddhism is taken to another level in regard to enlightenment. A person becomes enlightened not simply for his or her sake but for the sake of others. A person who becomes enlightened and returns to show others is a “ bodhisattva” which means “ enlightenment being ”

Mahayana: The Liberal Branch  Mahayana Buddhism is open to a number of religious paths. A person may not find a devotion to a deity particularly suited for them or that person may just appreciate meditation.  Mahayana is open to anything that will help a person spiritually; this is known as upaya or “ skillful means”

Enlightenment

Enlightenment

Transformation

“Great Vehicle”  Mahayana uses river analogy  River = cycle of rebirth, time  -Yana = “means”, however in context of river analogy it would be considered the raft, or vehicle, one uses while on the flow of river

Theravada vs. Mahayana  According to Mahayana, Therevada is more accurately labeled as Hinayana (translates to “small raft”)  In contrast to Mahayana which carries many towards liberation (Nirvana), Therevada suggests all must have a personal journey across the “river”  Siddartha was an example of this because he single- handedly achieved Nirvana

 Means “vehicle of the diamond” or “vehicle of the lightning bolt”  Some see this as a third branch of Buddhism; others consider it a part of Mahayana  This Buddhism is a blend of shamanism, Trantic Buddhism and traditional Buddhist elements

Tantric Buddhism  Tantric derives its names from the Tantras scriptures which means to “spread out”  Tantric Buddhism opposed the idea of detachment from worldly things and the negative ideas associated with bodily pleasure  The Tantras taught that all of these things could be used to reach enlightenment  Enlightenment happens when one can unite all opposites (om)

The Vajrayana Import  In Vajrayana the practitioners believe that the Buddha nature expresses itself in a multitude of male and female deities.  Among the traditional Buddhist beliefs are the ideal of non-violence, chanting of sutras, meditation, and the search for enlightenment

Roles of Monks  Monks had a variety of roles as doctors, shamans, and teachers.  A Tibetan teacher is called a “ lama. ”

Vajrayana  Some of the practices of Tibetan Buddhism declined  Celibacy declined  Meat was eaten  Alcohol was consumed  This led to a reform movement to reinstate the original teachings

Other Shared Concepts  Sunyata: emptiness or zeroness. Because everything is in constant change, each apparent person and thing is actually “empty” of permanent individual identity  Tathata: thatness, thusness, suchness. Reality is revealed in each moment, as we savor patterns, relationships, and change; because no two moments are exactly the same, each one can be observed and appreciated as it passes

More Concepts  Ritual play a prominent role in Vajrayana Buddhism.  It is through ritual that one attains internal and external power.  The “ vajra ” is a significant object in rituals. It is a metal object somewhat like a divining rod or scepter that represents a stylized bolt of lightening and is associated with diamond-hardness, power and insight.

Vajra & Ghanta  Vajra = male symbol; Ghanta = female symbol  Moreover, vajra = upaya (skillful means); ghanta = pranja (wisdom)  Some deities are depicted holding both tools, symbolizing the union of the forces of compassion and wisdom, respectively

Mandala  Is a ritual and spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe  Basic form is a square with four gates with a center point. Each gate is the general shape of a T.

Mandala Use  In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.  In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe