Historical Buddha (563-483) vs .eternal Tathagatha Buddhas
Buddhism, North India, spread via Asoka (268-233) & adapted to cultures, retrofitting emphases all the way:
Faith – ChingT’u/Jődo-shu/JődoShin-shű (Amităbha/Amida)
Meditation/Dhyăna/Ch’an/Zen – LinCh’i/Rinzai-shű, Ts’aoTung/Soto-shű, Obaku-shű (Bodhidharma, fl. 520; Eisai, fl. 1191)
Esotericism – HuaYen/Kegon-shű, ChenYen/Shingon-shű; Tibetan Buddhism (c. 650, 1st monastery, 787)
Skillful Means – Upăya – T’ienT’ai/Tendai-shű (Lotus/Saddhărmapundarika-sűtra)
Core Buddhist Principles, Theravada & Mahayana:
1. “4 Noble Truths” – Life’s problem is suffering & suffering can be eliminated. The way to do so constitutes the “8-fold Path”
2. Impermanence (anītyavăda - ) of everything bad and good; “Shogyōmujō” – “All things pass.” – both evil and good – and ourselves as well.
3. No Individual ‘Self’ (anatmavăda) which persists except momentarily; it’s momentary.
4. Self identification – broadening the ‘Self’ concept to embrace all we’ve learned, eaten, breathed, &c
Selflessness (anătmavăda & shűńyată) is Oneness of all that is – from food, drink, air &c.
Detachment and without hindrances – slough off attachments (Buddha’s “middle path” - )
5. Interconnectedness (pratityasamutpadavăda) of everything
1. Chain of causation links blaming/crediting habit & suffering/sorrow/worry.
2. Root of Bodhisattva ideal & Amităbha Buddha’s rejection of Nirvăna
3. Root of [Story] “buddha shit,” “kill the buddha” and [Story] “must save every last blade of grass”
6. Bodhisattva ideal (Mahăyăna only)
Wisdom and Compassion working hand-in-hand toward Nirvăna
Bodhisattva Vow: 1) Shūjō muhen, seigan dō; 2) Bonno muryō, seigan dan; 3) Hōmon mujin, seigan gakku; 4) Butsudō mujō, seigan jō.
“Skillful means” (Upăya) of getting the truth across – expedients (Saddhărmapundarikasűtra)
“Future Buddha” – Maitreya Bodhisattva – from sedate intellectual, to conniving, to “laughing Buddha”
Changes effected in China: Chinese never gave in to Buddhist pessimism about life, nor its eschewing wine, women, meat, &c.; never strict vegetarians, liquor abstainees or priestly celibates. They do the funerals.
Mahayana texts:
SaddhărmaPundarika-sutra: the Story & the point:
The major point is that “the Buddha” is not a single, historical person – Sakyamuni – but an eons-long heritage, plus something within us: viz., that everyone is a potential bodhisattva & Buddha already.
From the Vulture’s Peak (i.e., between earth & spiritual realm) he proclaims the Lotus sutra’s “ekayăna.”
There is more than he has preached thus far – a vehicle & a method: i.e., ekayăna & upăya (skillful means - & learning the full truth gradually). Illustrated via parables – Story of Burning House, Story of Rich man’s prodigal son who must be wooed to riches, Story of the Magic City illusion created to encourage pilgrims toward their goal, & Story of Physician tricking his sons into taking medication.
Predicted that everyone will become bodhisattvas & Buddhas - & the last being Maitreya.
Vajrachedika Sutra – (Story: All-embracing net with jewels/dewdrops at each link)
Text from TunHuang caves differs from (later) text long in use.
Avatamsaka Sutra – (Story: Net’s droplets each reflect All….)
Basis for esoteric branches of Buddhism
Zen texts:
‘Sutra of the 6th Patriarch’ (Hui Neng) – (Story: scene from “Good Will Hunting”….)
Vajrachedika Sutra (vd. supra)
Mumonkan, ‘Gateless Gate’ – 48 ancient Zen Koan to which Mumon added a comment & a verse. (Story: [1] Joshu’s “Mu,” [6] “Buddha holds out a flower,” [28]“Ryutan blows out the candle,” [40] “Isan kicked over Hyakujo’s jug”)
HekiganRoku, Blue/green Cliff Records – 100 original Setcho (980-1052) verses plus koans & Engo (1063-1135) introductions & commentary. [Heki-gan on calligraphy in Engo’s room.]
Fundamental to Zen:
“Original Mind” is the Buddha
Dignity is the very nature of Buddhism. (“Igi soku Buppo”)
It is practice which matters, not theory or pious words.
Notes of Rev. Robert C. Swain for Reading in World Religions series, © 2004