The Spread of Buddhism Theravada School Mahayana School
Dec 29, 2015
The Spread of Buddhism
Theravada School
Mahayana School
After the Buddha – The Sangha
Sangha: Small community of monks established at the first sermon in the Deer Park
Monks wandered – spreading the word of Buddhism across India
Councils met to discuss sutras. Council meeting in 383BC resulted in a division
1. Sthaviradada: argued to keep the sutras unchanged2. Mahasanghika: argued for a more literature to be included
in the sutra
Resulted in 2 branches: Theravada SchoolMahayana School
Branches of Buddhism
Theravada School Little Vehicle Way of the
Elders Conservative
Mahayana School Northern School The Greater
Vehicle More liberal
TEXTBOOK MAPPING EXERCISE: Page 194
Spread of Buddhism
Comparison
Theravada Mahayana
Beliefs Humans are individualskey virtue –wisdomMonksArhatBuddha the saint
Humans are involved with otherskey virtue – compassionMonk and laypersonBodhisattvaBuddha the saviour
Practices Pray through meditation
Pray for requests (varies)
Scripture Early scriptures
Pali
Early scriptures plus others sutras
Comparison continued
Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Moved primarily South and West covering Indochina and Ceylon (Sri-Lanka).
Moved Primarily North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet
Followed as a teaching or Philosophy.
Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion.
Intense, dedicated and time-consuming effort required to attain enlightenment.
Enlightenment is achieved through a normal life with varying degrees of spiritual involvement.
Agreements
The Buddha is the only master One must take refuge in the Buddha, dharma
and Sangha This world was not created and ruled by a
god One must follow the example of the Buddha One must accept the Four Noble Truths All things are impermanent
Tibetan Tantra Buddhism or Vajrayana - Buddhism
In a nutshell!
Tibetan Buddhism History ‘Bon’ religion indigenous religion
of Tibet, animistic (believing that
nature is pervaded by good and evil spirits)
shamanistic
Buddhism and Hinduism Initially introduced late 8th
century more steadily from the 13th
century onwards
The Great tantric mystic Guru Rinpoche blended these three religions in 774 CE resulting in Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism - politics Tibetan Buddhism
dominated Mongolia and Manchuria.
Gave rise to a Theocracy – hierarchy of monks or Lamas that govern the country
Dali Lama is both the worldly and spiritual authority
Tibetan Buddhist Sacred Texts
Buddhist text were translated into Tibetan 11th – 14th Centuries.
Many text survived in Tibetan translations only
The most famous Tibetan Buddhist text is the Bardo Thodol, popularly known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Describes the experiences of the soul during the interval between death and rebirth. It is recited by lamas over a dying or recently deceased person
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs
Similarities with Mahayana Buddhism
pantheon of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors 4 Noble Truths Eight-Fold Path Compassion Monastic life 3 baskets – Tripitaka rituals such as food and flower offerings Religious pilgrimages Religious festivals Mantras and Mudras Bodhisattvas
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.
Unique to Tibetan Buddhism
religious pilgrimages
chanting prayers
Prayer wheels
Prostrating
Mandalas
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.
Cham: a dance featuring sacred masked dances, sacred music, healing chants, and spectacular richly ornamented multi-colored costumes
Mudras - used by the monks to invite spiritual energies which generate wisdom, compassion.
monastic debate
Tibetan Beliefs - Images
Philosophy – Fight fire with fire
Vajra – diamond. Buddha elevated to a savior holding a diamond scepter – evokes the energetic rigor and clarity of the diamond
Task: to shut off the energy of desire to accomplish the cessation of suffering
How: Harness this energy (of desire) and turn it against itself to propel the individual towards enlightenment.
Method: Chanting, Mandalas, mudras, sex
Tibet Today Clergy: Lamas
(Oligarchy)
Present Dali Lama - 14th in a direct line of succession – through rebirth
won Nobel Peace Prize 1989
Currently living in exile in Northern India
Tibet – currently claimed by the People’s Republic of China