Buddhism and the Meaning of LifeBuddhism and the Meaning of Life

Life and reincarnationLife and reincarnation Eternal life without God/heavenEternal life without God/heaven Karmic repayment for behaviorKarmic repayment for behavior

Hindu and Western biasHindu and Western bias Permanent soulPermanent soul Soul = mind = real valueSoul = mind = real value Body = emotions = distraction (evil)Body = emotions = distraction (evil)

Sex, gluttony, selfishnessSex, gluttony, selfishness

Nirvana Samsara DistinctionNirvana Samsara Distinction

Christian heaven and NirvanaChristian heaven and Nirvana Puzzling nature of NirvanaPuzzling nature of Nirvana

Samsara is this life—and next Samsara is this life—and next 輪 回輪 回 Blowing out the candle Blowing out the candle 涅 盤涅 盤 No value No value value in Nirvana (nothing) value in Nirvana (nothing)

Pessimistic: Life is sufferingPessimistic: Life is suffering Negative (Renunciation religion) escapeNegative (Renunciation religion) escape

Buddha StoryBuddha Story

As a foreign religion in ChinaAs a foreign religion in China Zen (Chan Zen (Chan 禪禪 ) ) a Chinese versiona Chinese version Related to DaoismRelated to Daoism

Divine birth (no sex) and prophecyDivine birth (no sex) and prophecy Father’s resolve—only pleasureFather’s resolve—only pleasure Exposure and realizationExposure and realization

Life is sufferingLife is suffering

Meditation and enlightenmentMeditation and enlightenment Becomes Buddha (Nirvana?)Becomes Buddha (Nirvana?)

Mystery of Meaning of LifeMystery of Meaning of Life

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths Life is sufferingLife is suffering Suffering caused by desireSuffering caused by desire Cessation of desire = cessation of sufferingCessation of desire = cessation of suffering Eight-fold path Eight-fold path cessation of desire cessation of desire

No value or meaningNo value or meaning Avoid sufferingAvoid suffering Sickness, old age, death Sickness, old age, death

Mahayana Mahayana 大 乘 大 乘 developmentdevelopment

Individual soul paradigm (Arhat) Individual soul paradigm (Arhat) Hinayana Hinayana 小 乘 小 乘 or Theravadaor Theravada

Bodhisattva Bodhisattva 菩 薩菩 薩 Waits for everyone to be enlightened at Waits for everyone to be enlightened at

onceonce Comes back to teach the rest of usComes back to teach the rest of us Buddha as historical modelBuddha as historical model

Some in this classSome in this class

Paradox of DesireParadox of Desire

Why give up desiresWhy give up desires Desire for nirvanaDesire for nirvana To reach nirvana we have to stop wantingTo reach nirvana we have to stop wanting

Logic of the bodhisattvaLogic of the bodhisattva One more step for Chan (Zen)One more step for Chan (Zen)

Why make it the last?Why make it the last?

Daoist InfluenceDaoist Influence

Desires come from distinctions Desires come from distinctions 辯辯 Optimism about lifeOptimism about life

Opposite moodOpposite mood Model of total involvementModel of total involvement

Cook Ding (Cook Ding ( 庖丁庖丁 ) ) and absorption in skilland absorption in skill Choice of butcher!Choice of butcher!

Chinese SchoolsChinese Schools

All MahayanaAll Mahayana Universal salvation (moral equality)Universal salvation (moral equality) Positive reading of Nirvana, Buddha NaturePositive reading of Nirvana, Buddha Nature Tiantai (Tiantai ( 天 台天 台 ) ) Huayen (Huayen ( 華 嚴華 嚴 ) ) and Chan and Chan

(( 禪禪 )) Theory and practice!Theory and practice!

Story of Hui Neng Story of Hui Neng Southern, illiterate woodcutter Southern, illiterate woodcutter

Hears and “instantly” englightenedHears and “instantly” englightened Goes to temple (why?)Goes to temple (why?)

Assigned ordinary labor – no studyAssigned ordinary labor – no study Poem competitionPoem competition

Constant care to make mind clear (the mirror)Constant care to make mind clear (the mirror) Mind is originally clear—no dust (no illusions)Mind is originally clear—no dust (no illusions)

Leaves temple (kicked out?)Leaves temple (kicked out?) Throws away robe, wanders and chops wood Throws away robe, wanders and chops wood

Nirvana = SamsaraNirvana = Samsara To give up a desire is to give up the To give up a desire is to give up the

distinctiondistinction Giving up desire for nirvanaGiving up desire for nirvana Giving up distinction between nirvana and this Giving up distinction between nirvana and this

lifelife No distinction between meditation and everyday No distinction between meditation and everyday

lifelife Between enlightenment and ordinary Between enlightenment and ordinary

consciousnessconsciousness Meditation school with no meditationMeditation school with no meditation

Buddha Nature = Self-natureBuddha Nature = Self-nature

Everything is Buddha natureEverything is Buddha nature Paradoxes of Chan masters: burning BuddhaParadoxes of Chan masters: burning Buddha All are already bodhisattva All are already bodhisattva Nothing to seekNothing to seek

Self acceptance – stop seeking for Self acceptance – stop seeking for enlightenmentenlightenment Meaning of life from giving up the searchMeaning of life from giving up the search

And just livingAnd just living

Meditation = Everyday Meditation = Everyday ConsciousnessConsciousness

What I’m doing nowWhat I’m doing now Butcher, flower arranger, tea ceremony, Butcher, flower arranger, tea ceremony,

actoractor Samurai warrior Samurai warrior Painter, philosopher, Zen priestPainter, philosopher, Zen priest

Every Moment ZenEvery Moment Zen

Umbrella to left or right of clogs?Umbrella to left or right of clogs?

Doctor StoryDoctor Story

Zen is care for patientsZen is care for patients A Koan – meaninglessA Koan – meaningless Absorbed in care for patients and lost fear of Absorbed in care for patients and lost fear of

deathdeath

The StrawberryThe Strawberry

Values of eating, drinking, sleepingValues of eating, drinking, sleeping Tiger and strawberryTiger and strawberry

Awake!Awake!

BeatingBeating Spitting and abuseSpitting and abuse Throwing out (walking zen)Throwing out (walking zen) ShoutingShouting KoansKoans

Five Common DoctrinesFive Common Doctrines

Highest truth cannot be spoken (thought)Highest truth cannot be spoken (thought) Spiritual cultivation cannot be cultivatedSpiritual cultivation cannot be cultivated In the end nothing is gainedIn the end nothing is gained Nothing much in Buddhist teachingNothing much in Buddhist teaching In carrying water and chopping wood, therein In carrying water and chopping wood, therein

lies the wonderful lies the wonderful daodao