1. Buddhism in its initial phases an introduction

2. Buddhism spread in all directions from India but nearly disappeared in India itself by the 13th century ce.

7. Basic overview Founded sometime around the 5 th century BCE in India – Shakyamuni either lived circa 560s-480s BCE or 480s to 400s BCE (tradition says he died around 80 years old) Founded by Shakyamuni Buddha around 450ish BCE (he achieved Enlightenment and began teaching at 35 years old) – He founded Theravada Buddhism (T); other enlightened beings expanded to create Mahayana (M) (and its offshoots—Zen, Nichiren, Tendai, Pure Land, etc.) and Vajrayana (V) Buddhism later 5 th largest religion in the world: – Most T Buddhists live in SE Asia; M in East Asia and V in Tibet & Nepal; all have small but active minorities in the West Nontheistic (with poly/henotheistic tendencies in M & V) Belief in reincarnation (until achieving buddhahood*) and the rejection of the oneness of the soul and permanent self Sacred texts: Pali Canon, Lotus Sutra, Blue Cliff Record, Tibetan Book of the Dead Holy sites: Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Borobudur, Angkor Wat, Kyoto (lots), Nara, City of 10,000 Buddhas Holy days: Vesak/Hanamatsuri, Asalha Puja/Asarnha Bucha, Bodhi Day/Rohatsu, Spring Festival/New Year/Shogatsu, Vassa (T only), Thadingyut/Kathina, Obon Matsuri (M only)

9. Why are we here? Meh?... (Shakyamuni refused to answer this question)

10. But seriously, why are we here? Nyeh?!... (Again, Shakyamuni refused to answer this question—one of 14 he would not answer)

11. Ok, fine: why are we here? Buddhist don’t really have many individual stories nor care a lot about creation and cosmology – Closest thing of importance to this is the life of Shakyamuni—lots more on that later Each nation also has their own myth about how Buddhism came to it (as you “read” last night) Buddhists also do have some unique creation stories—many of them just variances of local indigenous and/or Hindu creation myths – All see time as cyclical; M & V see it quite often as occurring on top of itself (which makes “creation” intrinsically difficult) This does mean that all of us have, are, and will do everything we are doing right now—including become Enlightened; it does not mean there is no free will This renders time inconsequential and leave enlightenment as existing as a a mental more than physical state – All have six forms one can be born into (god, demigod, human, animal, ghost (usually hungry) or citizen of hell – All have Lokas (different worlds and planes within them) numbering in the 30s – All see this within the spectrum of the cosmos (other worlds, state of existences, universes, etc.) and (according to M & V) buddhas in those places, who can also commune through dharma Shakyamuni famously refused to answer anything about creation or eschatology (or the soul, or death, while we’re at it)

12. Topics from Intro part I (pp. 727-733) for discussion Examine and analyze the following quote: Among all the world religions, Buddhism enjoys a particularly positive reputation, widely respected for its teachings or love and compassion, its promotion of nonviolence and commitment to a vegetarian diet, and its renunciation of war. – To what extent is this true and an accurate reflection of your understanding of the religion? Define what makes someone a Buddhist. Explain the importance of the various stories about how Buddhism made its way to various Asian countries & the west. Deduce what this say about he cultural significance of Buddhism. Identify, investigate and evaluate the issues with writing, sourcing, and early Buddhist scripture. Discuss the sangha (the community of monks and nuns) and its social, historical, and cultural importance to Buddhism. Compare and contrast this in T & M Buddhism.

13. Topics from Intro part II (pp. 735-743) for discussion Explain Mahayana Buddhism and its relationship to Theravada (not Hinayana!!!—that’d be offensive) Buddhism. Outline what we can and cannot say are definitive words/teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Describe the Buddhist ideas of creation and the cosmos. Sketch it out (not by copying the drawing on p. 739, but using the text and your own English words) Outline and compare and contrast the six major realms by drawing them, their inhabitants, way of life, relationship to Buddhism, etc. Evaluate and examine their importance and relationship to Buddhist ideas and beliefs. Explain the ten negative actions and their relationship & reconciliation within the Four Noble Truths.

14. What is the human condition? We are stuck in a continuing cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth, etc. called samsara (this better sound familiar!!!) This is due to three main things. Known as the three poisons: – 1.) maya: illusion/ignorance the illusion of truth and happiness being possible within the material world – 2.) tanha: craving or desire as a result of maya and the material world – 3.) dvesha: hatred/anger/aversion, usually to do wanting/lack thereof satisfaction within the material world These are represented in the wheel of life as a pig, a bird, and a snake. The pig is ignorance because ancient Indians thought it was dumb for sleeping and rolling in dirty places; the bird because they are attached to their mate/flock; the snake because they will attack at the slightest touch – M Buddhism adds pride and envy to this list All three of these lead to dukkha (suffering) within humanity The job of Buddhism is to help break out of this cycle by ending suffering, not through asceticism but through the middle path. – Do this via the Three Jewels, Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path, etc.

15. Where are we going? Central to Buddhism is the notion of anatta or the lack of a permanent self – Buddha would not answer this question too, instead saying the better question is “How does the perception of self originate?” – This does NOT mean you break up and are not one thing at death, but really it asks you to ask, “What are you? And because of impermanence aren’t you too every changing?” For most of us, to reincarnation into one of six worlds: Gods, demigods, humans, animals, ghosts, or hell – This is based entirely on accumulation of aggregate karma – It is preferable to be in the human world as humans are in the best position to follow the key tenets of Buddhism—being a God makes for a nice life, but its much longer and much, much, much harder to release suffering via nonattachment – M adds later “worlds” but they are cosmological/theoretical worlds mostly for humans (like The Western Pure Land), but some for gods too (especially when mixed with Daoism or Shinto) For those who have achieved enlightenment you’re going through various stages to buddhahood and nirvana, unless your of the M school and you’re coming back as a bodhisattva

16. How do we get there? Central to Buddhism is anicca (impermanence) – Recognizing this is the first step to “turning the wheel of dharma” Next, the Three Jewels: I take refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha – Buddha is Shakyamuni, the dharma are his teachings and the sangha is the community of bhikku (monks/nuns) M & V expand this to include all buddhas and all teachings – Shakyamuni used the metaphor of healthcare: the Buddha is the doctor, the Dharma is the medicine, the Sangha is the hospital Next, accept the Four Noble Truths: 1.Suffering exists 2.The origin of suffering is attachment 3.It is possible to end suffering 4.To end suffering follow the Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is: Right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, awareness, and concentration – If all this is done right, it leads to increased understanding through action, thought, and meditation and eventually Samadhi But the best way to do this is join the Sangha and take the Ten Precepts: – Five are also laid out for laity that can be followed to some degrees, some or all of the time, within reasons: Not to kill, not to steal, not to engage in sexual misconduct, not to lie, and not to take intoxicants

18. Topics from Intro part III (pp. 743-754) for discussion Explain Buddhism's and Shakyamuni’s relationship to Hinduism, ancient India and the world of the Vedas. Evaluate the impact this had on the new religion. Outline the doctrine and appearances of buddhas within the world(s). Compare and contrast this with the idea of the Four Yugas. Explain how the little historians know about Shakyamuni’s life manifests itself within Buddhism. (This is not super direct—think!) Investigate the bodhisattva (bosatsu) ideal. Explain how this changes the thinking of Buddhism both as a religion and abstract concept. Discuss the impact of the Buddhist Canon (or lack thereof) in both idea and style. Explain how the integration of the Mahayana Canon impacted the ideas of Buddhism.

19. Topics from Intro (all parts) (pp. 727-754) for discussion Define what makes someone a Buddhist. Explain the importance of the various stories about how Buddhism made its way to various Asian countries & the west. Deduce what this says about the cultural significance of Buddhism. Discuss the sangha (the community of monks and nuns) and its social, historical, and cultural importance to Buddhism. Compare and contrast this in T & M Buddhism. Outline and compare and contrast the six major realms by drawing them, their inhabitants, way of life, relationship to Buddhism, etc. Evaluate and examine their importance and relationship to Buddhist ideas and beliefs. Explain the ten negative actions and their relationship & reconciliation within the Four Noble Truths. Explain Mahayana Buddhism and its relationship to Theravada (not Hinayana!!!—that’d be offensive) Buddhism. Explain how the little historians know about Shakyamuni’s life manifests itself within Buddhism. (This is not super direct—think!) Investigate the bodhisattva (bosatsu) ideal. Explain how this changes the thinking of Buddhism both as a religion and abstract concept.

20. Why are we here? Jataka Tales (pp. 793-801) According to all major Buddhist traditions, when one achieves Enlightenment they cease to exist within the body and enter a state of serenity, knowledge and perfection They also see and understand all their past, present, and future lives (remember that whole cyclical time thing) – Theravada claims that those who will soon achieve Enlightenment enter into a state of being where, regardless of which of the form they are born into they are exceedingly compassionate – Mahayana claims that those who have come to mentally understand their role and Enlightenment do the same (based on the view of time it is worded differently, but it’s the same idea) This idea is manifest in some of the earliest Buddhist text, a series of parables called the Jataka Tales Outline the main story behind the Vessantra Jataka and its morals. Explain how these are a reflection of the key ideas of Buddhism. (Think about a few part of the Eightfold Path.) To what extent does the idealism of Buddhism and its stories make the religion more or less tangible, communicable, and real? To what extent is this something you expected from a Buddhist text and how does it color the idea that, “Among all the world religions, Buddhism enjoys a particularly positive reputation…”?

21. Why are we here? Hagiography: life story of the Buddha part I Siddhartha Gautama was born to Suddhodana, an “elected” chief of the Shakya clan and Maya, a princess from a neighboring clan – According to tradition on the night of conception, Maya had a dream that a white elephant with six tusks entered her womb from the right side Local Brahmins claimed this, along with his birthmarks, meant he would be either a great king or a great holy man – Local tradition dictated Maya give birth at the clan of her parents, which, Amulya, was in India; however, tradition holds she did not make it all the way there without giving birth and he was born in Lumbini (modern day Nepal) He could walk when born, and when taking his first seven steps, each step caused a lotus to spring from the ground – His mother died seven days after his birth, but occasionally came down from the heavens to commune with him; he was raised by his mother’s sister, Maha Pajapati, who was also the first bhikkhuni His father had been a great warrior (Kshatriya) and knew of the death, suffering, war, and poverty of others, so her determined to keep his son away from that; he lived inside (one of three) palace walls for the first 25 years, his every need being immediately attended to and no sort of religion being taught His father found him a beautiful princess, Yasodhara, with whom he had a lot of sex and one son Rahula – She later became a bhikkhuni and both became arhats

23. Why are we here? Hagiography: life story of the Buddha part II When he was no longer subject to his father’s rules, he left the palace to see his kingdom and his future subjects – He saw an old man, a diseased man, a decaying corpse and an ascetic; asking about each of these he guide explained old age, disease and death and how they could be avoided by asceticism Seven nights later he snuck out of the palace, leaving his wife and son, found a guru and became a wandering ascetic. – He followed the path of extreme asceticism—even hanging upside for from a tree for seven months, eating a nut per day, etc.—in order to try and understand the nature of the world and the gods; this lasted for 10 years Realizing he was no closer to understanding the world than ten years ago, he left his guru and wandered to Bodh Gaya where he found a tree—tradition says it was a fig tree, however a Banyan tree is now “the tree”—he sat under the tree, vowing to achieve understanding of the world or die At age 35, he sat under the tree for 49 days straight in meditation – During this time he was tempted, often, by evil spirits; most famously Mara the god of temptation, tried to attack him with a demon army and seduce him with women Finally he realized the truth of the world—dukkha, anicca, tanha—and how to overcome it (The Noble Eightfold Path) Preaching his first sermon at Sarnath he gained a small but loyal group of followers—10 of whom became the first arhats – He did this for another 45 years, during which he codified to ideas of the Sangha and other key part/lists in Buddhism (lots more on this stuff later ) Old and worn out, he realized his time was coming to an end. He was offered a meal by woman; unbeknownst to her, the fish had been spoiled. Not wanting to offend, and realizing he needed to cleanse himself karmic dirt, he ate the fish, laid down and died

25. He was born somewhere between modern day India & Nepal in the Shakya “republic” of which his dad was a leader. – He was born in either the 6 th or 5 th centuries BCE. He was of the Kshatriya caste and had at least one child He left his privileged life and had some sort of unsatisfactory religious/spiritual experience This caused him found the religion of Buddhism. He spread this, beginning at Sarnath, through teaching, gaining a few followers, for a number of years. He died at an older age, somewhere in India and was cremated in accordance with the funeral rite of Indus Valley culture at the time. Why are we here? What we know about the historical Buddha, for sure

26. Using only the text from the first sermon, define Buddhism and what makes one a Buddhist. To what extent does a divergence from the “original” teachings of the key individual in a religion weaken it? To what extent can we trust these to be the actual words of the first sermon of Shakyamuni Buddha? Why are we here? The Buddha’s First Sermon (pp. 859-863)

27. Why are we here? Cosmology & metaphysics Theravada: – Time in cyclical but in a linear fashion – Nirvana is an individual achievement and one leaves the cycle (physically) upon breaking out of samsara and achieving nirvana – “I ran through samsara, with its many births,/ Searching for, but not finding the house builder./ Misery is birth again and again.” (Dhammapada) – “I see living things in this world quivering, overcome by their thirst for existence. These abject humans cry out from within the jaws of death, unable to go beyond this thirst for coming to be this and stopping to be that.” (Atthakavagga) – “With death will fade away whatever this human person has regarded with thought of ‘this is mine.’ The wise person who has seen this is not one obsessed with himself, who would be inclined to imagine anything is mine.” (Atthakavagga)

28. Why are we here? Cosmology & metaphysics Mahayana: – Time is also cyclical, but in a cyclical fashion. It is occurring on top of each other in every moment at the same time. On top of all that it, and the various universes are infinite, thus rendering it more or less inconsequential—especially when considering that the human mind cannot think that way. Most ideas chose to ignore this cause of human limitations and focus on present mindfulness – Nirvana is a group achievement; when achieving a state of Enlightenment, a being will generally “choose” to be reborn as a bodhisattva rather the move to nirvana of tushita. This cycle will continue until everyone helps everyone reach the state of nirvana. Miroku will then take us into tushita. Some bodhisattvas chose not to be reborn immediately, but they can come back later – “[Shakyamuni only] seems to be born, awaken, and pass away…. He declares that he has been awaken and practicing through an inconceivably long life span, and for many ages past and future is present to awakened beings…. [H]e appears to have a limited life and pass away into nirvana as a skillful means for the sake of all those beings…” (Visions of Awakening Space and Time: Dogen and The Lotus Sutra) – “The Buddha constantly led and inspired them, saying: ‘My teaching overcomes birth, old age, illness and death and it lead to nirvana.’ Both those who were still in training and those who were not thought that they were free from false views about the self, existence and non existence, and declared that they had attained nirvana.” (Lotus Sutra) – “Although sentient beings are immersed in such sorrows, they rejoice and play. They are not aware, shocked, startled, or disgusted nor do they seek release. Running around in the burning house of the triple world, they experience great suffering and yet they do not realize it.” (Lotus Sutra)

29. Define mindfulness and outline the four foundations of it. Explain its importance to Buddhism. Examine the importance of breathing to meditation and meditations impact on the body. Compare and contrast awareness with mindfulness. Explain the role of feeling within mindfulness and meditation. To what extent does mindfulness and meditation fit with the ideas of Theravada compared to Mahayana Buddhism? What is the human condition? Meditation (pp. 875-883)

31. What is the human condition? Anicca, Dukkha, and Anatta (pp. 885-889 & 895-898) Investigate Buddhist understanding of human nature based on The Dhammapada (the first pages of text ). Compare and contrast the ideas of awareness, mindfulness, and the mind according to The Dhammapada and your recent foray into meditation. Examine the three poisons and their philosophical understanding and remedies (Eightfold Path, Precepts, etc.) in The Atthakavagga. Back your ideas up with specific definitions, examples, and quotes. Compare and contrast the “Eight Stanzas of the Cave” (in The Atthakavagga—the second text) with Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.” Explain, further, the connection between Buddhism and western philosophy. To what extent do later ideas of Mahayana manifest themselves in either/both of these texts?

33. Where are we going? Bhavacakra and samsara Central to Buddhism is the idea that we are trapped in a cycle of birth and death and rebirth (samsara) – The big difference is that Buddhism prescribes a different formula to break free from it than Hinduism  the whole middle path thing – The actual symbolism behind the cycle of life differs between T and M (i.e. who is in what heaven and where the good go), though the concept is the same The wheel on the previous page is called a bhavacakra; it is used as a representative symbol of the Buddhist idea of the universe and samsara, most commonly in V Buddhism, then T and almost never in M Directions: Using your brain and reasonable sources on the internet, annotate the Bhavacakra with as many elements of the cosmological understanding of the universe as possible.

34. Buddhism Socratic Seminar Texts: The Shibi Jataka (pp. 782-791); The Rhinoceros Horn Sutra (pp. 910-913); Discourse on the Land of Bliss (pp. 998- 1007: some of this gets real unnecessary and repetitive, so skim if you want, but know the importance of the Western Pure Land by the end); The Heart Sutra (pp. 1044-1047); Lives of the Eight-Four Siddhas (pp. 1160-1168) — you will have to research Tantric Buddhism for a bit to fully understand this; The Record of Linji (pp. 1223-1227 — this is a Zen text, beware ); Buddha or Karl Marx (pp. 1438-1443); Smokey the Bear Sutra (1459-1462) Discussion on the ideas and beliefs of Buddhism, understanding and critiquing the religious texts of Buddhism, interactions between different sects and society, and Buddhism’s understanding of life, time, and human nature. You will receive talking points for HW the night before. This is a (50 point) culminating grade.

36. Where are we going? Three vehicles & Four current stages of the path According to all types of Buddhism (the ultimate goal is to achieve nirvana) – Nirvana is generally described as an indescribable state of peace and bliss that is formless (arguable soulless, thanks to anatta) and without a body – Most forms of Buddhism (not Pure Land, Zen, or Nichiren), claim this is a multi-lifetime achievement (more on this later)—T originally claimed it could take 1,000 life times Buddhist dogma about 100-200 years after the Shakyamuni’s death claimed that only people of direct teaching lineage to Shakyamuni, or those who could achieve individual enlightenment through meditation (like Buddha) or those rare individuals who achieved bodhisattvahood in another realm/galaxy/universe; the rest of us were damned to hell. – With the development of the Lotus Sutra and M Buddhism, the only way T could survive was to be all inclusive  to the development of Four stages of the path to nirvana in T Buddhism 1.Sotapanna: “stream enterer” is free from identity view; attachment to ritual, and doubt about dharma—a person in spending their 1 st life in the sangha 2.Sakadagami: “once returner” is almost free from sensual desire and ill will; they will reborn once more into this world at most 3.Anagami: “non returner” is completely free from the above and exists it its own special heaven called the “Pure Abodes”—this is the place the good Buddhist Gods like Maya went to; here they will achieve nirvana but add nothing to dharma 4.Arhat: the “perfected person”—more on this later

37. Map showing the approximate distribution of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism in the world today. About 60% of the world’s Buddhist are Mahayana.

38. Where are we going? Paths of Arhathood vs. Bodhisattva Ideal Arhat Occurs in Theravada Last stage before Buddhahood (essentially like a Buddha on earth) – Free from craving of “fine” material existence, want of nirvana, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance Appears with Shakyamuni Buddha who’s original 10 followers and some of their disciples were arhats – Most famous are Shariputra, Rahula, and Anadda Arhats chose to skip Anagami and instead return to the world where their path to nirvana will be longer but they will also be able to help others, to a certain extent. Upon death an arhat becomes a Buddha and achieves nirvana There is some cross over with M & bosatsus Bodhisattva (pp. 1079-1081 & 1083-1086) Occurs in Mahayana Some cross over with T (T has some bosatsus) and many arhats who “find M” become bosatsus Have achieved nirvana but chose not to leave the consciousness of human beings in order to help others on their paths – Can decide how and where to do this – Three types of bosatsus: king-like (Amida), boatman-like (Jizo), shepard- like (Miroku) Examine the requirements for the path of bosatsuhood Explain the changes in teaching from T to M. To what extent does this radical change lead to a fundamental change in Buddhism?

40. Examine the Three Jewels and Four Noble Truths and their relationship and practice within Buddhism. Distinguish between T, M & V if and when possible. Get out a sheet of paper and fold it into eight parts. Draw your group’s understanding of the first part of the Noble Eightfold Path, then pass it to the next table group. Do this until all squares are filled out. We will compare “paths” Explain the relationship between the Noble Eightfold Path and the goals/steps toward them in meditation. Compare their relationship between the four stages of Buddhist Meditation. Buddhists also have list of ten virtuous and negative actions. Explain their relationship to the Noble Eightfold Path. – Positive: charity, morality, mental cultivation, respect, service to others, sharing merits with others, preaching and teaching the dharma, reading or listening to the dharma, straightening ones views – Negative: 3 bodily actions: Killing, stealing, sexual immortality; 4 verbal actions: lying, slander, harsh speech, gossip; 3 mental actions: jealousy/covetousness, ill will, wrong thought Create a list of the total number of Buddhists lists we’ve discussed this far. High number wins a metaphorical gold star. How do we get there? Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path, and Ten Positive & Negative Actions

41. Noble Eightfold Path (in order, if there is one) 1.Right understanding 2.Right thought 3.Right speech 4.Right action 5.Right livelihood 6.Right effort 7.Right awareness 8.Right concentration

43. Examine how the Ten Precepts are necessary for the goals of a Buddhist monk. Tie in all the lists, including the stages of the path. Outline the process of ordination and the subsequent jobs of a monk. Explain some of the rules, aside from the Ten Precepts of monastic life. How has the Sangha varies from placed to place. Also do some quick research on the difference between the Theravada and Mahayana Sangha. Explain the role and importance of Buddhist nuns. How do we get there? The Sangha