1. Introduction to Buddhism
(III)
Dr. Robert C L Law
Buddhist Lodge of Laity
January, 2008.

2. Vajrayana 金剛乘
Vajra—the thunderbolt of Indra , transformed into a diamond scepter.
Emphasis on visualization , symbols and ritual .
Visualization : perceive having the body, speech , and mind of a deity
Symbols and rituals ---- help to cut one loose from ordinary perception to see the true nature of things.
Fully developed in Tibetan Buddhism 2

3. Vajrayana ( Cont’d) “The proper way is to develop faith”
Complete Faith ( after due investigation);
Faith in the inconceivable truth :
Faith in the lineage, vajrayana path,
and the Vajra master.
Such complete faith in the Vajra master (Guru) –terrifying and claustrophobic ? Like Islam?

4. Vajrayana ( Cont’d II) Tantric Rituals--- psychological empowerment?
Initiation rituals ---- Unorthodox
breaking of orthodox perception
drinking impure things, sex with consort
Problem with faulty Guru

5. Three Dharma Seals (三法印)
Dukkha 苦
Impermanence 無常
No-self 無我

6. Impermanence 無常 Nothing is the same from one moment to another .
All objects of our perception
Not pessimistic --- no change would be possible without it .
Should not be a source of suffering – rather, it is wanting things to be permanent that causes suffering

7. No-self ( Non-self)無我 The most difficult concept in Buddhism
What is the self ?
Hindu An Essence , goal --- to
be one with Brahman
Soul -----Greek Soul
Christian Soul
Chinese Soul ?

8. Buddhist concept of a person
Five Aggregates ( skandhas)五蘊 :
form 色 --- body, sense organs
feelings 受 ---- pleasant , unpleasant , neutral
perceptions 想 – conceptualizing
mental formation 行 --- fear etc (51 categories)
consciousness 識 stored consciousness ,
the matrix with seeds in it.
None of the above is permanent, so where is the self ?
Craving for a permanent soul is a source of suffering

9. No-self ( Cont’d) Traditional thinking hard to change
Difficult to understand and accept
Apparent contradiction with other teachings.
As a strategy to alleviate suffering ?
Need intense meditation to transform one’s mind

10. Problem with No-self . If no-self , who attains enlightenment ?
If no-self , who goes into the next life ?
The story of Sati
The story of Vacchagota

11. In spite of these………….. The Alaya consciousness阿賴耶識
Apparent “Re-incarnation” in Tibetan Buddhism .

12. A most vexing question
How it is possible to have rebirth without a self ?
Buddhist monks have struggled with this problem for over 2000 years.
One must understand the principle of Dependent Origination 緣起法

13. Dependent Origination 緣起法
“ This is, because that is ; This is not, because that is not . This comes to be , because that comes to be. This ceases to be , because that ceases to be”
“ He who sees Dependent Origination sees my teachings “
“ My teacher (the Buddha)’s teaching is all about
Dependent Origination”

14. Dependent Origination
All teachings are based on it . If a teaching is not in accord with it , then it is not the teaching of the Buddha
Impermanence is implicit in this teaching.
Main implication : we think we are an independent entity , but we are , in fact , not.

15. The Twelve Links of D O Ignorance 無明 Volitional action 行
Consciousness 識
Mind/Body 名
Six senses/objects 六入
Contact 觸
Feeling 受
Craving 愛
Grasping 取
Coming to be 有
Birth 生
Old Age/Decay 老死

16. No linear , all inter-related

17. The T L of D O ( Cont’d) Not always 12 links .
Some overlap , e.g. ignorance and volition exist in consciousness ; the six senses are already in the body/mind .
Thus sometimes the Buddha teaches 9 links , sometime 10 links ( omitting ignorance and volition)
Not linear , all interrelated, all are causes and effects at the same time.
Not used to explain birth and death .

18. Dependent
Origination
Your health and the
farmers in China

19. Dependent Origination
Pollution
Greenhouse
Effect

20. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)
- More examples :
- people in this room
- your children.

21. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)
Sariputta : It is so clear and easy to understand
Buddha : Don’t say that . It is through not being able to comprehend Dependent Origination , that people are entangled like a ball of cotton, and not being able to see the Truth ………….

22. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)
May not be easy to accept :
Child labour in India ?
A dead miner in the diamond mine in
Africa?
How about a mugger in Hong Kong ?

23. Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)
A butterfly flaps its wings in Africa……
Thich Nhat Hanh : We are all inter-beings , we are all inter-are”
One must understand this concept in order to understand the Buddhist idea of Karma and Re-birth

24. Importance of Dependent Origination
Helps to explain all phenomena in this world.
Help one to understand Kamma and Rebirth .