Buddhism

Buddhism (rough draft)

Sakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (563 BCE to 483 BCE)

Origins

Indian Prince protected within palace walls. Saw an old man, and it was explained to him, by Channa, that people get old. This made Sakyamuni wonder what else was beyond the walls and set off on his own to find out. He then encountered a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. He became depressed by these things and initially strove to overcome ageing, sickness, and death by living the life of an acetic.

First, he went to the streets and became a beggar. When his father, Bimisara, found out what he was doing he offered him his throne, but his offer was rejected. Next, he moved on to study under two hermit teachers, Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta. Under their guidance, Sakyamuni learned high levels of meditation. He was asked to succeed his teacher, but not being satisfied, moved on. Next, he and his now five companions took their austerities even further. In order to find enlightenment, the group deprived themselves of all worldly goods, including food, and practiced self-mortification. It is said that at this point, they were surviving off of a leaf and nut per day. Then one day Siddhartha collapsed while bathing in a river and nearly drowned. This caused him to reconsider this path. He remembered a time during his childhood when his father was about to start the season’s plowing. He entered a new meditative state that was blissful and refreshing, called jhana.

After realizing that this meditative jhana state was the right path, and that extreme asceticism didn’t work, Siddhartha concluded that the correct path was one of moderation. In order to achieve this blissful-state one must avoid the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, and live on the Middle Way. A girl named Sujata then fed Siddhartha milk and rice pudding and helped him regain his strength. It was after this that Siddhartha went and sat under a pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi tree, and vowed to never rise again until he found the truth. His companions left him, thinking he’d strayed away from his search. After meditating for 49 days he finally achieved Enlightenment and became the Buddha.

It was after he became the Buddha that he realized what caused suffering and the steps to eliminating it. People suffer because of their desires and attachments, which inevitably fill people’s lives with disappointments and anxieties. To stop this process, one must live and ethical life and engage in spiritual practices that enhance concentration and insight. If one progresses along this path, they can eventually escape the infinite cycle of rebirth and enter nirvana. He called the steps to escape the infinite cycle the Four Noble Truths.

Doctrines

The Four Noble Truths:

*1- Life is difficult. Not only is life difficult but everyone in this life will suffer, it is inherent.

*2- Life is difficult because of attachments. Our suffering is caused by our wants, needs, and desires.

*3- There is a possibility of liberation. Our suffering can be overcome.

*4- The way to liberation and attaining enlightenment is achieved through the Eight-fold path.

Eight-Fold Path:

• Right View. This is an acceptance of the Four Noble Truths

• Right Intension. Renunciation: Giving up ties with the world, Benevolence: Compassion for self and others, and Non-violence

• Right Speech. Speaking kindly and speaking TRUTH

• Right Action.

• Right Livelihood. Choosing an occupation that will not cause us to forfeit any of the folds

• Right Effort. Passion for enlightenment. Cultivate good thoughts and push the bad ones out. Ignorance of truth.

• Right Mindfulness. Be aware of environment. Be aware of other’s needs.

• Right Concentration. Meditation, bliss, and the ability to attain “one-pointedness”

After his death, Shakyamuni’s followers passed down his teachings orally. A few centuries after being passed down orally, his sermons were written down into a huge body of scripture called sutras. Although China and India are relatively close, they are separated by the Himalayas. Buddhism may have entered China as early as the first century CE. It wasn’t until the second, third, and fourth centuries, however, with the arrival of commercial goods along trade routes, that Buddhism really began to spread widely. The religion followed the trade routes from Northern India through the Central Asian kingdoms Khotan and Kucha.

There are two main bodies of Buddhism. First, the Theravada, Hinayana, or ‘Way of the Elders’, was one of the original schools that has survived. This body has more austere practices for the few. This body is broken into two sub-schools: Hinayana, also called the ‘new train’ and Nikaya, which is based on a group of texts.

The second body, Mahayana, or the ‘Great Vehicle’, would have closely followed Theravada into China. This is the body of Buddhist that has spread most widely, not just in China, but throughout Japan and Korea as well. The change resulted from King Asoka (@250 BCE) is Northern India feeling deep remorse for killing many enemies. He became interested in Buddhism and made it the state religion. Mahayana has more far-reaching and profound doctrines, which were established not just for priests and monks, but for the people as well. Mahayana gave people a new hope of intervention through supernatural saviors, called Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas are enlightened ones that stay behind to help others. According to Mahayana, anyone can achieve Buddhahood.

Han Dynasty (206 BCE- 220 CE)

-Legend Concerning Introduction

Emperor Ming Ti, who ruled in Loyang from 58-75 CE, had a dream in 64 CE. In his dream he saw a flying golden diety. One of his ministers said the deity was Buddha. Ming Ti then sent someone to India to learn of Buddha, and they returned with 42 sections of the Sutra. This is the “first” Sutra in China. Although Ming Ti probably did send for Sutras, chances are that he would have known of Buddhism before this time.

Kumarajiva (344-413) was a Central Asian monk and a child prodigy. He was summoned by the Emperor to Chang’an to teach him about Buddhism. Along the way, however, he was taken captive and held for 17 years. While captive he learns Chinese and several other dialects. He then set up a translation bureau, which had hundreds maybe thousands of workers, including editors, sub-editors, proofreaders, and scribes. Most of the translations were from Sanskrit to Chinese.

Faxian was the first Chinese Buddhist pilgrom to leave China for India. He left for India in 399 via Kucha and Khotan and returned in 414, by sea via Sri Lanka and Sumatra.

Huiyuan (334-417) was a great Chinese Buddhist teacher. He had a basic education of Confusious and Daoist texts. Upon hearing a sermon by a Kuchan missionary he decided to convert and founded a monastery on Mount Lu in the Jiangxi province. He corresponded with Kumarajiva. Huiyuan founded Pure Land. In 404 he wrote On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings, and claimed political independence of the Buddhist church. He also tried to assure the rulers that Buddhists, “make good subjects because their belief in the retribution of karma and desire to be reborn in paradise make them act circumspectly.” He said, “Those who rejoice in the Way of the Buddha invariably first serve their parents and obey their lords.”

Xuanzang (602-664) was also a great translator and pilgrim. He left China in 629 for India and returned in 645. He carried back 657 items in 520 cases. He is credited for translating 73 items in 1,347 chuan, or scroles. He kept a detailed journal.

Tang dynasty (618-907CE) is when Buddhism really took off. Up until this point, Buddhism had been surpressed. Eventually it flourished and various schools were developed. Conclusions:

-Successful because:

- it addresses the questions of suffering and death.

-offers bases for mixing an ethically mixed population