Buddhism arose in Northern India (but was driven out until xx c).
Historical Buddha (563-483) vs eternal Tathagatha Buddhas
Buddhism, from Northern India, spread under King Ašoka (268-233 bce) & adapted to cultures, retro-fitting Buddhist ideas onto native ones all the way:
Faith – ChingT’u/Jodo/JodoShin (Amitabha/Amida), T’ienT’ai/Tendai (Lotus/Saddhārmapundarīka sūtra)
Meditation/Ch’an/Zen – LinCh’i/Rinzai, Ts’aoTung/Soto, Obaku (Bodhidharma, fl. 520; Eisai, fl. 1191)
Esotericism – HuaYen/Kegon, ChenYen/Shingon; Tibetan Buddhism (to Tibet ca. 650, 1st monastery, 787)
Original suttas unorganized; Abhidhammas picked central teachings, analyzed & classified them.
Core Buddhist Principles – Theravada & Mahayana [Vd., e.g., Anguttara-Nikaya, iii.134]
Life’s problem is Suffering & suffering can be eliminated – i.e., “4 Noble Truths”). [Story of Buddha’s enlightenment & Story of Gotami & her baby boy….]
1. Suffering/sorrow/worry – dukkha – vs. pain, misfortune, &c. – is Life’s only real problem.
2. Suffering is caused by craving, thirst – samudaya – i.e., ignorance - avidya or unawareness of Impermanence & Interconnectedness. (One may be educated out of ignorance.)
3. Suffering can be sloughed off – nirodha – by awareness – i.e., Nirvana can be attained by all.
4. Suffering can be eliminated by how we live – magga – i.e., understanding & practice of the “8-fold Path” – 8 ways of practicing the 4 Truths:
1) seeing beings, things, events as impermanent, interconnected & suffering from ignorance;
2) thinking – avoiding anger, attachments, & being generous, compassionate;
3) speaking so as to avoid lying, duplicity, slander & irresponsibility;
4) acting so as not to hurt anything, steal, cheat, lust after anyone or anything, &c.;
5) living so as to avoid wicked professions & develop good habits;
6) putting forth the proper effort – doing it all with zeal & enthusiasm;
7) being aware of one’s true ‘self’ & avoiding attachments, habits leading to ignorance, &c.;
8) focusing on seeing, thinking & doing as you should – fully aware – through meditation.
Impermanence (anīccavāda) of everything bad & good –– “All things pass.” (Shogyōmujō) –both evil & good. –& ourselves as well.
There is no individual ‘Self’ which persists even moment to moment; it’s momentary. [Story: Nagasena’s self & King Menander’s chariot – Milindapanha]
Insubstantiality of dhamma, made up of moments/elements (ksana) – just a “causal connection”
Interconnectedness (patīccasamuppādavāda) of everything – beings, things & events
Everything is causally produced (ksana by ksana).
12-fold Chain of Causation links blaming/crediting habit & suffering/sorrow/worry.
“Middle Doctrine” of dependent origination [Vd. Warren, 165f; Samyutta-Nikaya xxii.90]
Ignorance < karma < consciousness < name & form < sense organs < contact < sensation < desire < attachment < existence < birth < aging, sorrow & death < ignorance….
Self Identification – broadening the ‘Self’ concept
Selflessness (anātmavāda & śūñyatā) is Oneness of all that is – from food, drink, air &c.
Detached & without hindrances – slough off attachments (Buddha’s “middle path”)
Skeptical nature of early Buddhism: The Buddha took a matter-of-fact approach to experiential reality, eschewing metaphysical speculations & accepting the general reliability of individual judgment – however, with the caveat that certain subjective attitudes – e.g., fears, confusion, inclinations, aversions & obsessions – can blind one.
§ Faith required is merely a useful trust or confidence [ibid, 384]
§ Buddha never claimed omniscience; only a “three-fold knowledge” [Jayataleke 380]
§ Buddhism not a “revealed faith,” but each person is the judge of right/wrong. [Kalama sutta]
§ Questions not tending to Edification – “eternity,” “infinity,” &c. [Vd. Warren 117; Majjhima-Nikaya, sutta 63]
§ Nirvana is extinction(of suffering, ignorance) – “arriving at other shore” – attainable by the living.
Dhammapadda text – (one of 15 Khuddaka-nikaya of the Sutta-pitaka, in the Tripitaka)
423 proverbs in verse form, arranged into 26 chapters – committed to memory by young SE Asians
Notes by Rev. Robert C. Swain© 2004