The SanghaThe Sangha

TThe sangha came into existence when the he sangha came into existence when the Buddha moved to Benares (aka. Varanasi Buddha moved to Benares (aka. Varanasi where Sārnāth is located), where he preached where Sārnāth is located), where he preached his first sermon to five ascetic friends, who then his first sermon to five ascetic friends, who then requested his permission to go forth and be requested his permission to go forth and be ordainedordainedThe monastic order was born and this monastic The monastic order was born and this monastic community continuously expandedcommunity continuously expanded

Chinese translation of Sangha is Chinese translation of Sangha is sengseng 僧 僧 or or sengqiesengqie 僧伽僧伽 ,, whichwhich representedrepresented SSangha in the angha in the time of the Buddhatime of the Buddha– Bhikşu-sanghaBhikşu-sangha (community(community ofof monks)monks)– BhikşuBhikşuņņī-sanghaī-sangha (community(community ofof nuns)nuns)– TheyThey areare knownknown asas thethe “twofold“twofold community”community”

Therefore,Therefore, “Sangha”“Sangha” isis defineddefined asas thethe community of ordained monks and nunscommunity of ordained monks and nuns• where the Buddha’s teachings were taught and where the Buddha’s teachings were taught and

spreadspread• where Buddhist scriptures were compiledwhere Buddhist scriptures were compiled• where thewhere the clergy and laypersons congregatedclergy and laypersons congregated• where monks and nuns practiced meditation where monks and nuns practiced meditation

• ToTo bebe ordainedordained intointo monkhood,monkhood, oneone hadhad toto undergoundergo aa “Threefold“Threefold Recitation”Recitation” ofof thisthis formula:formula:

•II gogo toto thethe BuddhaBuddha forfor refuge,refuge,•II gogo toto thethe DharmaDharma forfor refugerefuge•II gogo toto thethe SanghaSangha forfor refugerefuge

• InIn time,time, SanghaSangha developeddeveloped intointo monasteriesmonasteries thatthat servedserved asas festivalfestival andand pilgrimagepilgrimage sitessites

SanghaSangha andand LaityLaity

• LaypersonsLaypersons acceptedaccepted byby SanghaSangha asas upāsakasupāsakas (male(male disciples)disciples) andand upāsikāsupāsikās ((femalefemale disciplesdisciples))

• SanghaSangha andand laitylaity formedformed aa symbioticsymbiotic monastic-laymonastic-lay relationshiprelationship • laity provided material support for monks and laity provided material support for monks and

nunsnuns toto establishestablish “field“field ofof merit”merit”monks and nunsmonks and nuns provided a locus for provided a locus for

laypersons’ worship,laypersons’ worship, wisewise counsel,counsel, andand DharmaDharma instructioninstruction

•What were the sources of “dharma instruction”,or “teachings” ?• Buddhist scriptures

• The Buddha’s words• disciples’ oral transmission-->oral literature• oral literature-->1st representation of the dharma

Five Precepts (Five “not to” vows) Five precepts (vows) governed laypersons’

ethical conduct • Not to kill (or to abstain from taking life,killing) • Not to steal (or to abstain from that which is not

given/stealing) • Not to commit sexual misconduct (to abstain

from sexual misconduct)• Not to lie and deceive (to abstain from false

speech)• Not to use intoxicants (abstain from intoxicating

substances)

Buddhism after the Death the Buddha No Successor, authority, or absence of central

authority led to--• Formation of variant traditions, which differed in

• interpretations of the teachings in general• interpretations of specific ideas• interpretations of monastic rules

Elder monks led monastic life• Textual

• concerned with the study of the theory as preserved in Buddhist writing

• Practice• concerned with putting the system of training into

practice

The Schism Tensions rose

• among “textual studies” people, • “textual studies” and “practice” groups

Elders and Universal (or Great) Assembly• both fragmented into sub-schools• most of these groups died out• Theravada among Nikaya survived

What disputes?• Doctrinal dispute: to be Arhat or Buddha?• New monastic rules needed?

Questions regarding teaching:• authority• authenticity• reliability• credibility

Questions regarding learning• method of teaching• method of memorizing

Questions regarding curriculum:• nirvana or vinaya?• Five “not to” vows

Mahāyāna BuddhismMahāyāna Buddhism

Greater Vehicle, Bodhisattva-yāna (the vehicle of Greater Vehicle, Bodhisattva-yāna (the vehicle of BodhisattvasBodhisattvas– The concept of saviors and compassionThe concept of saviors and compassion– Multiple Buddhas and BodhisattvasMultiple Buddhas and Bodhisattvas– elevation of the Buddha and creation of new Buddhologyelevation of the Buddha and creation of new Buddhology

The “three bodies” theoryThe “three bodies” theory– DhamakāyaDhamakāya: symbol of ultimate truth, transcendent : symbol of ultimate truth, transcendent – SambhogakāyaSambhogakāya: heavenly body, rewarded body, Buddha land: heavenly body, rewarded body, Buddha land– NirmanakāyaNirmanakāya: earthly body, physical body, historical Buddha: earthly body, physical body, historical Buddha

Practice of Mahāyāna BuddhismPractice of Mahāyāna Buddhism– follow Bodhisattva path, beginning with “bodhicitta” follow Bodhisattva path, beginning with “bodhicitta”

(thought/mind of enlightenment; awakening mind; Bodhi (thought/mind of enlightenment; awakening mind; Bodhi mindmind 菩提心菩提心 ) )

– One who has spontaneous wish and compassion to One who has spontaneous wish and compassion to realize or motivate bodhicitta can become Bodhisattva.realize or motivate bodhicitta can become Bodhisattva.

– Six Six pāramitās pāramitās (Six Perfections)(Six Perfections)ggenerosity (giving), enerosity (giving),

mmorality, orality,

ppatience, atience,

ccourage (vigor)ourage (vigor)

mmeditation, editation,

WWisdomisdom

The Bodhisattva Ideal : The Bodhisattva Ideal : – Bodhicitta, Six perfectionsBodhicitta, Six perfections

Ten Bodhisattva stages (Ten Bodhisattva stages (bhūmibhūmi) leading to nirvana) leading to nirvana– The path of accumulationThe path of accumulation

aspirationaspiration

– The path of preparationThe path of preparationmeditationmeditation

– The path of visionThe path of visionEradication of old karmaEradication of old karma

– The path of developmentThe path of developmentNew wisdomNew wisdom

– The path beyond learningThe path beyond learningpurificationpurification

Three most important bodhisattvasThree most important bodhisattvas– Maitreya, “Benevolent One,”—epitomizes power Maitreya, “Benevolent One,”—epitomizes power

& Skillful means& Skillful means– Avalokiteśvara, “The Lord who looks down (in Avalokiteśvara, “The Lord who looks down (in

compassion)”-->epitomizes compassioncompassion)”-->epitomizes compassion– Maňjuśrī, “Gentle Glory”--epitomizes wisdomMaňjuśrī, “Gentle Glory”--epitomizes wisdom

Mahāyana vs. HīnayānaMahāyana vs. Hīnayāna

MahāyānaMahāyāna

– Universal salvationUniversal salvation

– Bodhisattva idealBodhisattva ideal

– Universal BuddhahoodUniversal Buddhahood

Multiple Buddha lands and Multiple Buddha lands and

multiple Buddhasmultiple Buddhas

– Existence of celestial Existence of celestial

Buddhas and Buddhas and

BodhisattvasBodhisattvas

– Bodhicitta and Bodhicitta and

Bodhisattva idealBodhisattva ideal

HīnayānaHīnayāna

– Individual salvationIndividual salvation

– ArhatArhat

– Buddhahood found in Buddhahood found in

chosen fewchosen few

Seven BuddhasSeven Buddhas

– Eightfold path focusing Eightfold path focusing

on “Three Learnings”: on “Three Learnings”:

wisdom, morality, and wisdom, morality, and

meditationmeditation

The Clergy’s LifeThe Clergy’s LifeUphold Uphold VinayaVinaya::– The foremost of them: five preceptsThe foremost of them: five precepts

Lay people have to take vow to uphold themLay people have to take vow to uphold them

– Additional five precepts for monks and nuns:Additional five precepts for monks and nuns:Not to eat after the noon mealNot to eat after the noon mealNot to handle gold and silverNot to handle gold and silverNot to adorn their bodiesNot to adorn their bodiesNot to sleep in high bedsNot to sleep in high bedsNot to attend musical performancesNot to attend musical performances

– Ordained monks (Bhikşu) and nuns (BhikşuOrdained monks (Bhikşu) and nuns (Bhikşuņņī-ī-sanghasangha ) took many more vows) took many more vows

Seniority was given to monks. Senior nuns have to Seniority was given to monks. Senior nuns have to pay respect to junior monkspay respect to junior monks

Mahāyāna Sutras Major Mahāyāna Sutras

• The Lotus Sutra (Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma)

• One vehicle• Skillful means• the parable of the Burning House

• The Vimalakīrti Sutra (Teachings of Vimalakīrti)• Layman Vimalakīrti

– outwitted all Bodhisattvas– revealed the true meaning of the Mahāyāna

• The Three Pure Land Sutras• Buddha Amitābha and His Pure Land • [Re]birth into the Pure Land

Central Philosophy

Middle Way (Madhyamaka)• Nāgārjuna (c. 150 - c. 250 CE) 龍樹

• the doctrine of emptiness (Śūnyatā)• associated with the concepts of impermanence and

no-self

• meditation helps see true reality

• dependent-origination (dependent arising)• the principle of causality ( the twelve-linked chain

of causation)

The Three Poisons:

Desire (pig)

Hatred (snake)

Ignorance (rooster)

Dependent Origination: Twelve-Linked Chain of Causation

Dependent Origination: The Twelve-linked Chain of Causation 1. Blind man 2. stumbles 3. falls 4. a swelling develops 5. an abscess forms and

weeps 6. abscess gets knocked and

bruised 7. terrible pains 8. long to remove the pains 9. seizes on something that

cures 10. applies medicine to cure 11. condition getting worse 12. the swelling bursts

1. Ignorance 2.disposition 3.consciousness 4.mind and body 5.six senses 6.contact 7.feeling 8.craving 9.grasping 10.becoming 11. birth 12. old age and death