EL29 Mindfulness Meditation. Theravada vs. Mahayana

Transcription

1 EL29 Mindfulness Meditation Lecture 2.4: The Tantrayana or Vajrayana Tradition Theravada vs. Mahayana! Teaching Quick of discussion the elders to! consolidate Spirit of the elders your! Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)! memory! Key virtue: compassion (karuna)! Religion is primarily for monk! Religion is for laypersons as well! Ideal: the Arhat (lonely saint)! Ideal: the Bodhisattva and Mahayana Buddhism! Nirvana for the individual! Nirvana delayed until all beings relieved of suffering. Describe 3 differences between Theravada! Avoids metaphysical speculation! Conservative in views Ok to chat with your neighbours! Tipitaka texts only! A bit like Catholicism! Elaborates metaphysics! More liberal and inclusive! Many, many texts revered wisdom as evolving with sages.! A bit like Protestantism 1

2 Lecture Overview Evolution, distribution and diffusion Belief system Meditation practices Icons and symbolism Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Tantrayana evolved out of India in the 5-8 th century and spread primarily to Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. Popular in North America now.! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: rapid, but risky, enlightenment through secret and esoteric meditative practices. An evolutionary offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism, mixed with local religious beliefs.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Master to student transmission in secret is key to meditation approaches. Tantrayana explored a number of technical meditation approaches, but also adopted local esoteric belief systems (rituals, magic, demons, etc). Chanting quite common.! Key learning #4: Symbols & art: Artistic and symbolic expression reached a zenith in Tantrayana Buddhism, by the adoption of Tibetan cultural gods, demons and beliefs that were already in existence. 2

3 Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Tantrayana evolved out of India in the 5-8 th century and spread primarily to Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. Popular in North America now.! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: rapid, but risky, enlightenment through secret and esoteric meditative practices. An evolutionary offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism, mixed with local religious beliefs.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Master to student transmission in secret is key to meditation approaches. Tantrayana explored a number of technical meditation approaches, but also adopted local esoteric belief systems (rituals, magic, demons, etc). Chanting quite common.! Key learning #4: Symbols & art: Artistic and symbolic expression reached a zenith in Tantrayana Buddhism, by the adoption of Tibetan cultural gods, demons and beliefs that were already in existence. Divisions of Buddhism! Three Rafts for Crossing the River Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Tantrayana or Vajrayana or Esoteric Buddhism 3

4 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

5 Vajrayana Buddhism Developed in India around the 5 th century CE Came to Tibet in 7 th 8 th centuries CE OBen viewed as the third major school of Buddhism, aber Theravada and Mahayana Esoteric, secret pracgces designed to achieve enlightenment quickly IntroducGon to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 9 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 19 th to 20 th centuries! By 8 th century, Buddhism migrated to Tibet and Tantra was born. 5

6 Distribution of Vajrayana Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism The goal of spiritual practice is to become a Bodhisattva (i.e. attainment of a state in which one will subsequently become a Buddha after some further reincarnation), Faster, but riskier path to enlightenment Importance of the Lama or teacher Importance of ritual and inigagons PreoccupaGon with relagonship between life and death Rich visual symbolism Prominence of supernatural beings Incorporated elements of earlier Tibetan religions IntroducGon to Buddhism 00 - INTRODUCTION 12 6

7 One Perspective: Three Historical Phases of Buddhism! 1. Early Conservative Theravada Buddhism---focusing on the: Developmental Dimension! 2. The Mahayana Revitalization--- focusing on the: Relational Dimension! 3. Phase Three Diversity (Pure Land, Zen & Vajrayana)--- focusing on the Technical Dimension Quick check: How much can you recall so far? Which of the following countries is NOT a Tantra country? a) India b) Tibet c) Mongolia d) Nepal! Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Trantra? Faster, but riskier path to enlightenment Importance of the Lama or teacher Importance of mindful breathing Importance of ritual and inigagons 7

8 Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Tantrayana evolved out of India in the 5-8 th century and spread primarily to Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. Popular in North America now.! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: rapid, but risky, enlightenment through secret and esoteric meditative practices. An evolutionary offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism, mixed with local religious beliefs.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Master to student transmission in secret is key to meditation approaches. Tantrayana explored a number of technical meditation approaches, but also adopted local esoteric belief systems (rituals, magic, demons, etc). Chanting quite common! Key learning #4: Symbols & art: Artistic and symbolic expression reached a zenith in Tantrayana Buddhism, by the adoption of Tibetan cultural gods, demons and beliefs that were already in existence. Principle Schools of Third- Phase Buddhism All grow out of the Mahayana movement:! Vajrayana Buddhism, the Tantric Buddhist tradition of India & Tibet! Ch an or Zen Buddhism, the East Asian school centered on meditative practice! Pure Land Buddhism, the East Asian school centered on devotional practice directed towards rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha (Amida) Buddha 8

9 Characteristics of 3rd-Phase Buddhism! emphasis on the technical aspect of the path, on radical & powerful techniques;! liberation here and now: union of wisdom and method! focus on immediate worldly context & concerns as the context for enlightenment! rejection of scholasticism Tantra in Vajrayana Buddhism Sutra: thread vs. Tantra: something woven Origins of Tantra lie outside of both Buddhism and Hinduism Some would argue that Tantra has deviated too far to still be called Buddhism. 9

10 The Vajrayana Buddhism of Tibet The Three Vehicles! Hinayana Tantra! Mahayana! Vajrayana Sutra-yana & Mantra-yana (Tantra-yana) 4 Major Tibetan Schools 1. Nyingma 2. Sakya 3. Kagyu 4. Gelug 20 10

11 Vajrayana Buddhism 1. Tantra is Concerned with Direct Experience 2. Tantra Works with symbols and magic & rituals. 3. Tantra Addresses the Whole Person 4. Tantra Sees the World in Terms of Energy 5. Tantra Makes Use of the Strongest Experiences of Life 6. Tantra Sees Samsara and Nirvana as Interrelated 7. Tantra Begins at the Highest Point: enact enlightenment Vajrayana Buddhism & Death Reflections on Death I. Death is certain (i.e., inevitable). II. The time of death is uncertain (i.e., unpredictable). III. Only spiritual practice is of help at the time of death. 11

12 Vajrayana Buddhism & Death Reflections on Death I. Death is certain (i.e., inevitable). A. Death will come and we will not be able to escape it. B. Life diminishes uninterruptedly; we cannot augment it. C. A normal life leaves little time for spiritual practice; one is either too young, too busy with family, or too old. Vajrayana Buddhism & Death Reflections on Death II. The time of death is uncertain (i.e., unpredictable). A. Life in general is short; moreover, the young and healthy may die before the old and infirm. B. There are few causes of life, many of death, and the former can easily turn into the latter. C. The body is weak and susceptible. 12

13 Vajrayana Buddhism & Death Reflections on Death III. Only spiritual practice is of help at the time of death A. Wealth is of no help. B. Friends and relatives cannot help. C. Even one s own body cannot help. Bardo Thodol: Tibetan Book of the Dead! Composed in the 8th century by Padmasambhava! The text describes, and is intended to guide one through, the experiences that the consciousness has after death, in the bardo, the interval between death and the next rebirth.! The text also includes chapters on the signs of death and rituals to undertake when death is closing in or has taken place. 13

14 Quick check: How much can you recall so far?! Which of the following is NOT one of the 4 Tibetan traditions? a) Red hat - Nyingama b) Yellow hat - Gelug c) Green hat - Dhramka d) White hat - Kegyu e) Flower - Sakya Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Tantrayana evolved out of India in the 5-8 th century and spread primarily to Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. Popular in North America now.! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: rapid, but risky, enlightenment through secret and esoteric meditative practices. An evolutionary offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism, mixed with local religious beliefs.! Key Learning #3:. Meditation: Master to student transmission in secret is key to meditation approaches. Tantrayana explored a number of technical meditation approaches, but also adopted local esoteric belief systems (rituals, magic, demons, etc). Chanting quite common.! Key learning #4: Symbols & art: Artistic and symbolic expression reached a zenith in Tantrayana Buddhism, by the adoption of Tibetan cultural gods, demons and beliefs that were already in existence. 14

15 Tantra in Vajrayana Buddhism Jambhala (Lord of Wealth) in ritual sexual union with consort, Sino-Tibetan, 18th-19th century! Key Elements of Tantric Buddhism mantra mandala magic ( mysticism ): magical world view: homologies between microcosm and macrocosm demonic dimension of human experience: sex & death esotericism: importance of relying on a guru or lama Tantra in Vajrayana Buddhism! Some definitions of mantra: the sound expressing some fundamental structure of existence ; a seed-syllable or power syllable mind protector "word(s) believed to be of 'superhuman origin,' received, fashioned, and spoken by the 'inspired' seers, poets, and reciters in order to evoke divine power(s) and especially as means of creating, conveying, concentrating, and realizing intentional and efficient thought, and of coming into touch or identifying oneself with the essence of the divinity which is present in the mantra. Jan Gonda 15

16 The Vajrayana Buddhism of Tibet Vajrayana Forms of Practice! Purely Mahayana Forms example: Healing Anger meditations! Mahayana Forms with Tantric elements example: Visualization Practices! Focused on the Archetypal buddhas.! Use of mantras & mandalas! Tantric Forms (with Buddhist content) example: Tibetan Book of the Dead practices Mandala s as the universe, nirvana, and an aide to meditation. Mantra and Mandala in Vajrayana Practice Visualization Practice (Deity-yoga) in the Mahayana Establish a relationship of veneration & aspiration Awareness of the difference & distance to be traversed Visualization Practice in the Tantric Vajrayana Establish a relationship of aspiration & identification Awareness of the immediacy & proximity of the goal 16

17 Quick check: How much can you recall so far?! After making a beautiful mandala, why do monks destroy it? a) They didn t like it and wanted to start again b) Symbolized impermanence and non-attachment c) The master ordered it so d) Part of a magic ritual to achieve Nirvana Key Learnings:! Key Learning #1:. Evolution, diffusion & distribution: Tantrayana evolved out of India in the 5-8 th century and spread primarily to Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. Popular in North America now.! Key Learning #2: Beliefs: rapid, but risky, enlightenment through secret and esoteric meditative practices. An evolutionary offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism, mixed with local religious beliefs.! Learning #3:. Meditation: Master to student transmission in secret is key to meditation approaches. Tantrayana explored a number of technical meditation approaches, but also adopted local esoteric belief systems (rituals, magic, demons, etc). Chanting quite common.! Key learning #4: Symbols & art: Artistic and symbolic expression reached a zenith in Tantrayana Buddhism, by the adoption of Tibetan cultural gods, demons and beliefs that were already in existence. 17

18 Vajrayana Buddhism! Vajra: symbolizes the impenetrable, immovable, immutable, indivisible, and indestructible state of enlightenment or Buddhahood.! Bell: hand bell sends the message to evil spirits that they must stay away from the consecrated area where the ritual is being performed.! Phurpa, sometimes called a "magic dagger", is a tantric ritual object used to conquer evil spirits and to destroy obstacles.! Chopper: is one of the most prominent weapons used by Buddhism's angry deities, both male and female. Continuously brandished by them or simply carried in their hands, its purpose is to chop up disbelievers. Ritual Objects 18

19 Vajrayana Art Golden skinned Buddha Tibet Nagarjuna. Tibet, Gelug lineage 18th-century Eastern Tibetan thanka, with the Green Tara (Samaya Tara Yogini) in the center and the Blue, Red, White and Yellow taras in the corners Final Quiz: what does this object represent? Bell: hand bell sends the message to evil spirits that they must stay away from the consecrated area where the ritual is being performed. 19

20 Part 2: Hand s on practice - chanting meditation 20