Lec. 2.3 Mahayana Buddhism

EL29 Mindfulness Meditation
Lecture 2.3: Mahayana Buddhism
Lec. 2.2 Key Learnings:
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution:
Theravada evolved out of India about 200 years after the
Right now…….how much did you
death of the Buddha and to Sri Lanka, and parts of S.E.
learn from yesterday’s lecture?
Asia. It more or less died out in India.
!  Key
Learning
#2: Beliefs:
“The
original teachings
of the
What
is the
key feature
about
Theravada
belief system?
Buddha” without any additional interpretation.
!  Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Mindfulness meditation is
the foundational practice, combined concentration and the
other elements of the 8 fold path.
!  Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: No one really knows
what the Buddha looked like, but early images were based
on what was known at the time about people in general,
plus some symbolic hand gestures, called mudras.
! 
1
Lecture Overview
• Evolution, distribution
and diffusion
• Belief system
• Meditation practices
• Icons and symbolism
Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana
evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha
and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the
compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to
save others. This tradition added much more philosophical
interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but
also tried to become more populist with laypeople.
Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation
practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented
chanting of the Buddha’s name as a path to salvation.
Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha’s and
gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded
significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana
encountered.
2
Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana
evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha
and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the
compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to
save others. This tradition added much more philosophical
interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but
also tried to become more populist with laypeople.
Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation
practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented
chanting of the Buddha’s name as a path to salvation.
Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha’s and
gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded
significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana
encountered.
Divisions of Buddhism
! 
Three Rafts for Crossing the River
•  Theravada Buddhism
•  Mahayana Buddhism
•  Vajrayana Buddhism
3
Schools of Buddhism Mahayana
The “Great Vehicle”
! 
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Developed first century C.E.
Found in Northern Asia (China, Japan, etc.)
Lay Buddhism – Buddhism “for the masses”
Devotional – seek guidance from Bodhisattvas (“wise
beings”) & heavenly Buddhas (kwan Yin, Amida, etc.)
Focus on compassion
Goal is to become a bodhisattva and assist others
toward enlightenment (the “Bodhisattva Ideal”)
Diverse schools and sects including:
•  Pureland, Nichiren, Tendai, Shingon, and others
Evolution of Buddhism
! 
! 
! 
Number of
schools & sects
tends to rise over
time – true of
most religions.
More
philosophical and
scholarly ideas
get added on to
the original
teachers ideas.
Complexity rises.
4
The Spread of Buddhism
! 
! 
! 
Within two centuries
after the Buddha
died, Buddhism
began to spread
north and east into
Asia
To Europe & N.
America in the 19th
to 20th centuries
By 13th century
Buddhism had
disappeared from
India or absorbed
into Hinduism
BUDDHISM
COMES TO EAST ASIA
! 
! 
! 
! 
“Silk Road” merchants and
missionaries transmit
Buddhism to China by 65 CE
As Han 漢 dynasty (202
BCE-220 CE) declines,
Chinese elites turn away from
Confucianism to Daoism and
Buddhism, often combining
elements of each in
syncretistic mix
By Tang 唐 dynasty (618-907
CE), Buddhism reaches zenith
of its popularity in China
From China, Buddhism
spreads to Vietnam, Korea,
and Japan
10
5
CHALLENGES TO BUDDHISM
IN CHINA
! 
! 
! 
! 
! 
Geographic: difficulty of
India-China travel
Linguistic: translation of
foreign texts and concepts
Political: conflicts between
rulers and sangha; separation
between north and south
during “Period of Disunity”
Religious: competition with
and/or dilution by
Confucianism and Daoism
Social: traditional Chinese
distaste for foreign ways
(e.g., celibacy, monasticism,
Sanskrit terminology, karma
theory)
11
Quick check:
How much can you recall so far?
Which of the
following is NOT a
Mahayana country?
a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
Japan
Korea
Sri Lanka
China
! 
Which of the
following is NOT one
of the 3 rafts?
a)  Theravada
b)  Taoism
c)  Mahayana
d)  Vajrayana
6
Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana
evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha
and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the
compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to
save others. This tradition added much more philosophical
interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but
also tried to become more populist with laypeople.
Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation
practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented
chanting of the Buddha’s name as a path to salvation.
Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha’s and
gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded
significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana
encountered.
Mahayana
Buddhism
! 
! 
! 
! 
! 
DevelopedinIndiaaroundthe4th
century
ExpandsBuddhismtolaypersons
Moreliberalmonas;ccodes
Bodhisa<vaideal–libera;onofall
sen;entbeings
Majortexts
•  Perfec;onofWisdomsutras
•  Diamondsutra
•  Lotussutra
•  Tibetancommentaries
A Chinese wooden Bodhisattva from the
Song
Dynasty (960-1279 CE)
Introduc;ontoBuddhism
00 - INTRODUCTION
14
7
Theravada vs. Mahayana
Teaching of the elders
Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)
Religion is primarily for
monk
Ideal: the Arhat (lonely
saint)
Nirvana for the individual
Avoids metaphysical
speculation
Conservative in views
Tipitaka texts only
A bit like Catholicism
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“”Spirit” of the elders
Key virtue: compassion
(karuna)
Religion is for laypersons as
well
Ideal: the Bodhisattva
Nirvana delayed until all
beings relieved of suffering.
Elaborates metaphysics
More liberal and inclusive
Many, many texts revered –
wisdom as evolving with
sages.
A bit like Protestantism
Scholars develop a mythology
! 
! 
A mythology about the Buddha
developed (Buddhology)
The Trikaya (Triple Body of the
Buddha)
•  Dharmakaya (analogous to the
“Godhead”)
•  Sambogakhaya (analogous to the
“resurrected” Christ)
•  Nirmanakaya (analogous to the
historical Jesus of Nazareth)
Slide Credit:
www.euro-tongil.org/.../PPT/...Carlson/Mahayana
%20Buddhism.ppt
8
THREE “BODIES” OF THE BUDDHAVERSE:
Mahāyāna Buddhism
• 
Theravada Buddhism: the 3 marks of all existence
–  Anatta (no self); Dukkha (suffering); Anicca (impermanence)
• 
Mahāyāna Buddism added “emptiness,” as the fourth mark
of all existence
–  Happiness is intrinsic to a healthy mind
–  Don’t grasp; just “be”
–  Reality is not an illusion; but its real nature (its reality) is
transparent to analysis
–  The objective world exists, but its independent existence,
separate from its subjective perception, cannot be found
–  A “non-verbal” experience of reality is what is needed
Slide Credit:
www.euro-tongil.org/.../PPT/...Carlson/Mahayana%20Buddhism.ppt
9
Buddha’s begin to proliferate!
! 
! 
Man does not have to save himself; there is help available.
The authors of salvation are of three kinds:
•  Manushi Buddhas (started from a human base – Gotama
Buddha)
!  They came on earth, attained enlightenment, and are now
gone. They are teachers
!  Historical Buddha (Gotama) before his enlightenment
•  Bodhisattvas
!  Beings who vowed to become Buddhas and have enormous
merit; they postponed their entrance to Nirvana to help us
!  Maitreya, Avalokitesvara, Kwan Yin (female Buddha)
•  Dhyani Buddhas
!  Meditation Buddhas, never in human form
!  Achieved Buddha-hood, but not in human manifestation
!  Vairocana, Amitabha are the most appealing of this kind.
Slide Credit:
www.euro-tongil.org/.../PPT/...Carlson/Mahayana
%20Buddhism.ppt
Major Schools in Mahayana
! 
! 
Shingon (“true word”) - this school
stresses uses sacred chants called
mantras and if the rituals were
carefully followed it would provide
security for rulers, children for married
couples.
The followers attempt to unite with
Buddha’s cosmic nature. This school
uses “mandalas” which are geometrical
designs that present reality in symbolic
form.
10
Mahayana
Schools
! 
PureLandBuddhism(China,
Japan)
•  PureLandBuddhismofferspathto
enlightenmentforpeoplewho
can’thandlethesubtle;esof
medita;onandlongrituals
Buddhism (Japan)
•  Essen;alprac;ceisthechan;ngof Nichiren
The Lotus Sutra is the only
thenameofAmitabhaBuddha:
path to enlightenment.
Other Buddhist practices no
Namuamidabutsu
longer provide a path to
•  Teachesrebirthinthe“pureland”,
enlightenment.
asortofBuddhist“heaven”
Focus on this world, and the
importance of the individual.
Main practice is chanting:
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (I
devote my life to the law
itself.)
Introduc;ontoBuddhism
21
00 - INTRODUCTION
SOURCES OF
JAPANESE BUDDHISM
! 
! 
Buddhism (Tantric, Chan, Pure
Land) introduced during 500s
CE by Korean immigrants,
missionaries, and diplomats
Functions of Buddhism in early
Japan:
1.  Instrument of diplomacy
2.  Vehicle of civilization
3.  Symbol of political power
! 
Shintô-Buddhist syncretism:
1.  theory of honji suijaku 本地重跡
(original reality, manifest
traces)
2.  Buddhas and bodhisattvas are
honji, kami are suijaku
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23
Mahayana
Schools
! 
Zen(Ch’an)Buddhism
•  CommoninChina,Japan,
Korea,Vietnam
•  BlendsMahayanaBuddhism
withTaoism
•  Aimsattakingthera;onal
andintellectualmindoutof
thementalloop–itsonly
aboutmedita;on!
•  Zenissomethingyoudo–it
cannotbedescribedinwords
•  Twomajorschools
!  Rinzai
!  Soto
Introduc;ontoBuddhism
00 - INTRODUCTION
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12
Zen Buddhism: Aims of Zen
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Zen is life; it is cooking, cleaning,
studying, or whatever one is doing at the
time.
Zazen and koan practice are important
training, but the real practice of Zen is
the daily living of life.
Buying mushrooms is zazen and talking
to Dogen is koan practice for the tenzo
monk” (Asian Philosophies, p.238).
LEGACIES OF THE CHAN/
ZEN TRADITION
! 
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1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
Cements syncretism of
indigenous and imported
elements (Buddhism/
Daoism, Buddhism/Shintô)
in East Asian Buddhism
Hugely influential on East
Asian cultures:
Calligraphy
Cuisine (e.g., tea)
Drama (especially in Japan)
Martial arts (e.g., fencing)
Painting
Philosophy
Poetry
Ritual (e.g., tea ceremony)
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13
Theravada vs. Mahayana
! 
! 
! 
Quick discussion to consolidate
your
“”Spirit” of the elders
Key virtue: compassion
memory!
(karuna)
Teaching of the elders
Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)
Religion is primarily for
monk
Ideal: the Arhat (lonely
saint)
Nirvana for the individual
Avoids metaphysical
speculation
Conservative in views
Tipitaka texts only
A bit like Catholicism
! 
! 
! 
Religion is for laypersons as
well
Ideal: the Bodhisattva
Nirvana delayed until all
beings relieved of suffering.
Elaborates metaphysics
More liberal and inclusive
Many, many texts revered –
wisdom as evolving with
sages.
A bit like Protestantism
Describe 3 differences between Theravada
and Mahayana Buddhism
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Ok to chat with your neighbours
! 
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Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana
evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha
and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the
compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to
save others. This tradition added much more philosophical
interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but
also tried to become more populist with laypeople.
Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation
practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented
chanting of the Buddha’s name as a path to salvation.
Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha’s and
gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded
significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana
encountered.
14
Zen: Stress on Meditation
! 
! 
! 
! 
Is one of the schools in Mahayana.
It takes its name from the seventh step of the
Eight Fold Path--Meditation dhyana.
In Chinese this word is “chan” in Japanese,
“zen”
The Chan movement preferred Siddhartha’s
technique of attaining enlightenment through
seated meditation.
Zen Buddhism: Practice
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3 aims of zazen:
(i) Concentration: In practicing zazen one first needs to
still or quiet the mind and learn to focus on the
moment (Asian Philosophies, p.239).
(ii) Satori: Satori is “the awakening of enlightenment
that sees directly into one’s own existence and the
existence of others. This direct insight reveals the true
nature of things in their dynamic
interdependence” (Asian Philosophies, p.239).
(iii) Living enlightenment: The third aim of zazen is to
live the enlightenment experience in every moment. “It
[i.e. enlightenment] is to be lived; every action and
every moment should be an action and a moment lived
in enlightenment” (Asian Philosophies, p.240).
15
Zen Buddhism: Practice
! 
! 
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Koller breaks Zen practice into two broad categories,
(1) zazen and (2) koan practice.
(1) Zazen - Zazen is sitting meditation, usually done
on a cushion or bench, and facing a blank wall. In this
form of mindfulness practice, the Zen practitioner must
first control and regulate the body, breath and mind.
Once the mind is ‘stilled’ the Zen practitioner
cultivates “what is sometimes called a profound silence
in the deepest recesses of one’s being, letting go of all
dualistic thought and all graspings” (Asian Philosophies,
p.239).
In other words, it is the cultivation of no-mind.
Zazen:
Friendly reminders from the Master!
32
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Zen Buddhism: Practice
! 
! 
(2) Koan practice - Koans play a special role as a
means to sudden enlightenment in Rinzai Zen. Koans
are usually dialogues between a Zen master and a
student, and involve what appear to be non-sensical
responses to a question posed by a student. Koans are
designed to push the student beyond dependence on
dualistic thinking, or discursive consciousness (see
Asian Philosophies, p.239, 241-42).
In Soto Zen koans are also used to cultivate
mindfulness and ‘achieve’ enlightenment, but Soto Zen
practitioners place less of an emphasis on the truths
contained in the koans themselves and relate them
more to their own lived experience, which is itself
treated as the koan (Asian Philosophies, p.241).
The Zen Koan
! 
Manual labor also helps one
to focus and concentrate and
so many of the Zen
monastery do various tasks
such as kitchen cleaning,
minor repairs, etc.
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PoetryandZen
! 
ZenoYengoeshand-in-handwithpoetrythat
focusesonevoca;vebrevityandparadoxbecause
throughtheseaglimpseofZen’sessencecanbe
a<ained.
Ex:
“Thewildgeesedonotintendtocasttheir
reflec;ons,Thewaterhasnomindtoreceivetheir
images.”
! 
ZenHaikus
! 
ShortpoemsnotabletoZen,whichare3lineslong.
Thefirstandthirdlinesareboth5syllablesin
length,whilethesecondis7syllables.Thestructure
isnotabsolute.
Ex:
AlltherainsofJune:
Andoneevening,secretly,
Throughthepines,themoon.
! 
Translatedhaikusdonotalwaysfollowthe
structureabovebecauseitismoreimportantto
capturetheessenceofthepoemthroughmeaning.
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AZenStory
! 
! 
SomepeoplefindZennotonlyparadoxicalandpuzzlingbut
annoying,evenmaddening.Stories,likepoetry,inZenarealsoshort.
ThefollowingisastoryaboutalearnedmanwhogoestoaZen
mastertolearnabouttheoldphilosophy.
“Themasterpolitelyinvitedhisvisitortoshareacupofceremonialteawhile
theytalkedtogether.Whenthemasterhadbrewedtheteabythestrict
proceduresoftheteaceremony,hebegantopourthewhiskedgreenliquid
intothevisitor’scupandcon;nuedpouringun;lthecuphadoverflowed.
Eventhenhewentonpouringun;lthediscomfortedguest,unablelongerto
restrainhimself,criedoutinagita;on,‘Sir,mycupisalreadyfull.Nomorewill
goin.’Atoncethemasterputdowntheteapotandremarked,‘Likethiscup
youarefullofyourownopinionsandspecula;ons.HowcanIshowyouZen
unlessyoufirstemptyyourcup?’”
Avalokiteshvara
Identification with Body/
Speech/Mind of an
Enlightened being leads to
one’s own spiritual
transformation
Meditation Mantra:
“Om Mani Padme
Hum” (means that in
dependence on the practice
of a path which is an
indivisible union of method
and wisdom, you can
transform your impure body,
speech, and mind into the
pure exalted body, speech,
and mind of a Buddha)
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Earliest Texts:
Prajna-paramita
PERFECTION OF PRAJNA / INSIGHT
HEART SUTRA
is
ONE OF THE SHORTEST
True spiritual advance is made when
we stop relying on the mediation of
any symbols between “us” and
“world”
Philosophy demonstrates the
superiority of silence; mastering
reality without traditional mediation
Chanting is all you need!
The Heart Sutra
Avalokiteshvara
while practicing deeply with
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore,
suddenly discovered that
all of the five Skandhas are equally empty,
and with this realization
he overcame all Ill-being.
“Listen Sariputra,
this Body itself is Emptiness
and Emptiness itself is this Body.
This Body is not other than Emptiness
and Emptiness is not other than this Body.
The same is true of Feelings,
Perceptions, Mental Formations,
and Consciousness…..missing verses.........
Therefore let us proclaim
a mantra to praise
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!”
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Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Mahayana
evolved out of India about 600 years after the death of the Buddha
and moved out to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Key Learning #2: Beliefs: Mahayana added the concept of the
compassionate Bodhisattva who defers personal enlightenment to
save others. This tradition added much more philosophical
interpretations to Buddhism based on the cultures it encountered, but
also tried to become more populist with laypeople.
Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Forms and varieties of meditation
practices expanded with Mahayana, including more lay-oriented
chanting of the Buddha’s name as a path to salvation.
Key Learning #4: Icons & symbols: A plethora of new Buddha’s and
gods appeared with Mahayana and art/symbols expanded
significantly and reflected the various cultures Mahayana
encountered.
The many Bodhisattvas &
Buddha’s
Avalokiteśvara “lord now looks down”
compassion of all Buddhas.
holding a lotus flower.
Nālandā, Bihar, India, 9th century CE.
Siddhārtha Gautama,
Shakyamuni “The Buddha”
Quan Yin – Mercy Goddess is one
of the most universally beloved of
deities in the Buddhist tradition.
Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am
(Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and
Kanin (Bali)
Maitreya Future Buddha,
South Korea.
Amitabha –Buddha who does
not take a human form
21
Buddhist art frequently makes use of a particular
set of eight auspicious symbols, Ashtamangala in
domestic and public art
Ashtamangala: first row (left to right):
parasol, pair of golden fish, conch; second
row: treasure vase, lotus; Last row: infinite
knot, victory banner and wheel.
Color in Buddhist Art
! 
! 
! 
! 
Mystic Padmasambhava
! 
Black symbolizes killing
and anger
White denotes rest and
thinking
Yellow stands for
restraining and
nourishing
Red for subjugation
and summoning and
Green means exorcism
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Buddhist Body Art in the West
Part 2: Hand’s on practice
–The Zen Koan
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