Practicing Compassion Week One The bodhisattva tradition in Mahayana. Compassion and character. Complete freedom.

Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra Nāgārjuna and Śāntideva both taught at the great Buddhist university, Nalanda. Śāntideva saw himself as a Madhyamaka follower of Nāgārjuna. They are often regarded as the best expressions of the “Two Wings” of Buddhism: wisdom and compassion. However, Nāgārjuna’s influence extended to China and Japan more than Śāntideva’s. I think that’s a historical accident. Nāgārjuna c CE Kumārajīva (the translator) : c 344 – 413 CE Śāntideva: c 685 – 763 CE 1197: destruction of the library at Nalanda

Avalokiteśhara The one who looks down and hears the cries of suffering (Sanskrit) Chenrezig (Tibetan) Kuan-yin (Chinese) Kannon (Japanese) The 11 headed 1000 armed bodhisattva.

 Theravāda Buddhism: (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, etc.)  Arhat ideal. The laity serve the monk who can be released from suffering, never to return.  Mahāyāna Buddhism: (China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.); including Zen  Bodhisattva ideal: Includes male/female. Vows to forego personal release and return countless times, until all suffering vanishes. Higher expression of compassion. Bodhisattva vs Arhat

Avalokiteshvara’s Mantra: Om mani padme hum (Hail to the jewel in the heart of the lotus)

mani wall

 Six syllables = the Six Perfections  The bodhisattva practice  1. generosity (dāna) white  2. ethics – discipline (śīla) green  3. forbearance – patience (k ṣ ānti) yellow  4. vigor – diligence (vīrya) blue  5. meditative absorption (dhyāna) red  6. wisdom (prajñā) black Om mani padme hum ॐ मणिपद्मे हूं

 param = the other side  ita = gone  A paramita is the perfection of having gone to the other side.  Paramitas are ACTIONS arising from states of character; as perfections they need to be PERFECTED.  How? Through HABITUATION Paramitas (perfections)

 Taking Refuge in Bodhicitta:  In the Buddha, the Dharma, and the supreme Sangha  I take refuge until enlightenment.  By the merit of practicing the paramitas  May I attain buddhahood for the benefit of all beings.

 In Western philosophy this approach is called character ethics. That is, ethics is a matter of developing character through practice/habituation.  Contrast two other approaches to ethics:  1. Consequentialism: ethics is a matter of bringing about certain consequences, regardless of our motivation.  J.S. Mill – Utilitarianism (okay to break a promise if it brings about good consequences)  2. Deontology (absolute rational moral rules).  Kant – never break a promise (lying violates a person’s rational autonomy)

 Character ethics isn’t about bringing about consequences without regard to intent, because our intentions are at the core.  But, character ethics is also not about following an absolute rational rule.  Character ethics says we habituate perfections so we can act on them when needed.  Example: Plato’s example of the weapon. Do we return a weapon if we have promised to keep is safe, but in the meantime the person has lost his mind and intends to harm someone? No, we break our promise.  When we are confused we seek advice from someone who has habituated the virtues. We follow their example.

 We still have some understanding of nonmoral virtues:  Can’t be a great baseball player, or a great violinist, without practicing.  These are non-moral virtues, or strengths.  But, we have great disagreements now about the moral virtues:  Christianity: the meek shall inherit the earth; Greeks: proper pride is a virtue.  Is humility still a virtue?  Fortunately, in Buddhism we do have someone to look to: the bodhisattva.

 Nagarjuna on the Two Truths:  The Buddha’s teaching of the Dharma  Is based on two truths:  A truth of worldly convention  And an ultimate truth. (XXIV/8) Heart Sutra: Form is emptiness; emptiness is form How does a Bodhisattva view the world?

A Bodhisattva, then, constantly sees reality in three ways:  1. Emptiness  2. Dependent origination (clearly). DO isn’t necessarily delusive.  3. Dependent origination (as deluded beings see it.)  This is required by skillful means.  Vimalakirti Sutra: the bodhisattva “To live as a lotus among the flames”.