Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions
352
Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions
352eBook
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Overview
Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the convergences and the divergences between the two major strains of Buddhism--the Sanskrit traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pali traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Especially deep consideration is given to the foundational Indian traditions and their respective treatment of such central tenets as the four noble truths the practice of meditation the meaning of nirvana enlightenment. The authors seek harmony and greater understanding among Buddhist traditions worldwide, illuminating the rich benefits of respectful dialogue and the many ways that Buddhists of all stripes share a common heritage and common goals.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781614291510 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Wisdom Publications MA |
| Publication date: | 11/18/2014 |
| Sold by: | SIMON & SCHUSTER |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 352 |
| File size: | 10 MB |
About the Author
Thubten Chodron has been a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of UCLA, she is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington State. She is a popular speaker and author of numerous books, including Buddhism for Beginners.
Bhante Gunaratana was ordained at the age of twelve as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, earned his PhD in philosophy from The American University, and has led meditation retreats, taught Buddhism, and lectured widely throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana is the president of the Bhavana Society in High View, West Virginia, where he lives.
Table of Contents
Foreword Bhante Gunaratana xiii
Prologue His Holiness the Dalai Lama xvii
Preface Venerable Thubtcn Chodron xix
Abbreviations xxiii
1 Origin and Spread of the Buddha's Doctrine 1
The Buddha's Life 1
Buddhist Canons and the Spread of the Dharma 1
Pali Tradition 4
Buddhism in China 7
Buddhism in Tibet 11
Our Commonalities and Diversity 11
2 Refuge in the Three Jewels 17
Existence of the Three Jewels 18
The Tathagata's Qualities 19
Three Jewels: Pali Tradition 24
Three Jewels: Sanskrit Tradition 28
Buddha's Awakening, Parinirvana, and Omniscience 31
Taking Rehire and Maintaining Proper Refuge 35
3 Sixths Attributes of the Foot Truths 39
Sanskrit Tradition 39
Pali Tradition 49
4 The Higher Training in Ethical Conduct 61
The Importance of Ethical Conduct 61
Pratimoksa Ethical Restraints 62
Why Celibacy? 65
The Vinaya Schools 66
The Value of the Monastic Community 70
Fulfilling the purpose of Monastic Life 72
Monastic, Priests, and Lay Teachers 74
Tibetan Monastics and Monastic Institutions 75
Challenges for Western Monastics 76
Full Ordination for Women 77
Advice for Monastics 79
The Joy of Monastic Discipline 80
Bodhisartva and Tannic Ethical Restraints 81
5 The Higher Training in Concentration 83
The Importance of Concentration 83
Realms of Existence and Spheres of Consciousness 84
Pali Tradition 85
Five Hindrances and Five Absorption Factors 88
Four Jhanas 91
Four Immaterial Absorptions 95
Eight Meditative liberations 97
Superknowledges 97
Sanskrit Tradition 101
Meditation Position and Meditation Objects 103
Five Faults and Eight Antidotes 106
Nine Stages of Sustained Attention 108
Serenity and Funnel Meditative Absorptions 110
Chinese Buddhism 113
6 The Higher Training in Wisdom: Thirty-Seven Aids to Awakening 115
Four Establishments of Mindfulness 116
Mindfulness of the Body 118
Mindfulness of Feelings 121
Mindfulness of the Mind 122
Mindfulness of Phenomena 125
Four Establishments of Mindfulness for Bodhisattvas 127
Four Supreme Strivings 128
Four Bases of Supernormal Power 128
Five Faculties and Five Powers 129
Seven Awakening Factors 130
The Noble Eightfold Path 131
Conventional and Ultimate Natures of the Thirty-Seven Aids 132
7 Selflessness and Emptiness 135
Pali Tradition: The Self and the Aggregates 136
Madhyamaka: The Object of Negation 139
Soon-Point Refutation 141
Six Elements Arc Not the Self 144
Refutation of Four BBKDMI of Arising 148
Selfless and Deceptive 156
Emptiness 158
What Carries the Karma? 160
8 Dependent Arising 161
Twelve Links of Dependent Arising 163
Flow of the Links 170
Who Circles in Samsara? 173
Benefits of Meditating on the Twelve Links of Dependent Arising 175
Sanskrit Tradition: Levels of Dependence 176
Causal Dependence 177
Mutual Dependence 177
Mere Dependent Designation 179
Emptiness and Dependent Arising Ate Compatible 180
Pali Tradition: Terms, Concepts, and Conventions 181
9 Uniting Serenity and Insight 185
Pali Tradition 185
Sanskrit Tradition 188
Chinese Buddhism 190
10 Progressing on the Path 193
Pali Tradition: Purification and Knowledge 193
Sanskrit Tradition: Five Paths and Ten Bodhisattva Grounds 198
Differences among the Three Vehicles 201
Sanskrit Tradition: Nirvana 201
Pali Tradition: Nibbana 204
11 The Four Immeasurable 207
Pali Tradition 207
Love 209
Companion 213
Joy 215
Equanimity 215
Four Immeasurables and Insight 216
Near and Far Enemies 217
Sanskrit Tradition 218
12 Bodhicitta 221
Tibetan Buddhism 221
Equanimity 222
Sevenfold Cause-and-Effect Instruction 223
Equalizing and Exchanging Self and Others 224
Self-Interest, Self-Confidence, Self-Centered Attitude, and Self-Grasping Ignorance 228
Integrating the View with Bodhicitta 229
Chinese Buddhism 230
Four Great Vows 233
Aspiring and Engaging Bodhicitta 235
Pali Tradition: Bodhicitta and Bodhisattas 237
13 Bodhisattva Training in the Perfections 243
Sanskrit Tradition 243
Pali Tradition: Ten Paramis 246
Perfection of Generosity 249
Perfection of Ethical Conduct 251
Perfection of Fortitude 253
Perfection of Joyous Effort 256
Perfections of Meditative Stability and of Renunciation 259
Perfections of Wisdom 259
Perfections of Unshakable Resolve and of Determination 262
Perfections of Skillful Means, Power, and Exalted Wisdom 263
Piramis of Truthfulness, Love, and Equanimity 264
The Four Ways of Gathering Disciples 265
14 The Possibility of Awakening and Buddha Nature 269
Is Liberation Possible? 269
Pali Tradition: Luminous Mind 271
Yogicara School: Buddha Nature 272
Madhyamaka School: Buddha Nature 275
Tantrayana: Buddha Nature 275
Chan: Buddha Nature, Bodhicitta, and True Suchness 276
Undemanding Tathagatagarbha 278
15 Tantra 281
Tantric Deities 282
Entering Vajrayana 281
Excellent Features of Highest Yoga Tantra 284
16 Conclusion 287
Notes 291
Index 293
About the Authors 321