the spread of buddhism theravada school mahayana school

The Spread of BuddhismTheravada SchoolMahayana School

After the Buddha The SanghaSangha: Small community of monks established at the first sermon in the Deer Park

Monks wandered spreading the word of Buddhism across India

Councils met to discuss sutras. Council meeting in 383BC resulted in a divisionSthaviradada: argued to keep the sutras unchangedMahasanghika: argued for a more literature to be included in the sutra

Resulted in 2 branches: Theravada SchoolMahayana School

Branches of BuddhismTheravada SchoolLittle VehicleWay of the EldersConservative

Mahayana SchoolNorthern SchoolThe Greater VehicleMore liberal

TEXTBOOK MAPPING EXERCISE: Page 194

Spread of Buddhism

Comparison

Comparison continued

AgreementsThe Buddha is the only masterOne must take refuge in the Buddha, dharma and SanghaThis world was not created and ruled by a godOne must follow the example of the BuddhaOne must accept the Four Noble TruthsAll things are impermanent

Tibetan Tantra Buddhism or Vajrayana - BuddhismIn a nutshell!

Tibetan Buddhism HistoryBon religion indigenous religion of Tibet, animistic (believing that nature is pervaded by good and evil spirits) shamanistic

Buddhism and Hinduism Initially introduced late 8th century more steadily from the 13th century onwards

The Great tantric mystic Guru Rinpoche blended these three religions in 774 CE resulting in Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism - politicsTibetan Buddhism dominated Mongolia and Manchuria.

Gave rise to a Theocracy hierarchy of monks or Lamas that govern the country

Dali Lama is both the worldly and spiritual authority

Tibetan Buddhist Sacred Texts

Buddhist text were translated into Tibetan 11th 14th Centuries.

Many text survived in Tibetan translations only

The most famous Tibetan Buddhist text is the Bardo Thodol, popularly known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Describes the experiences of the soul during the interval between death and rebirth. It is recited by lamas over a dying or recently deceased person

Tibetan Buddhism BeliefsSimilarities with Mahayana Buddhism

pantheon of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors4 Noble TruthsEight-Fold PathCompassionMonastic life3 baskets Tripitaka rituals such as food and flower offeringsReligious pilgrimagesReligious festivalsMantras and MudrasBodhisattvas

Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.Unique to Tibetan Buddhism

religious pilgrimages

chanting prayers

Prayer wheels

Prostrating

Mandalas

Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.Cham: a dance featuring sacred masked dances, sacred music, healing chants, and spectacular richly ornamented multi-colored costumes

Mudras - used by the monks to invite spiritual energies which generate wisdom, compassion.

monastic debate

Tibetan Beliefs - Images

Philosophy Fight fire with fireVajra diamond. Buddha elevated to a savior holding a diamond scepter evokes the energetic rigor and clarity of the diamond

Task: to shut off the energy of desire to accomplish the cessation of suffering

How: Harness this energy (of desire) and turn it against itself to propel the individual towards enlightenment.

Method: Chanting, Mandalas, mudras, sex

Tibet TodayClergy: Lamas (Oligarchy)

Present Dali Lama - 14th in a direct line of succession through rebirth

won Nobel Peace Prize 1989

Currently living in exile in Northern India

Tibet currently claimed by the Peoples Republic of China