The Spread of Buddhism

Theravada School

Mahayana School

After the Buddha – The Sangha

Sangha: 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 division

1. Sthaviradada: argued to keep the sutras unchanged2. Mahasanghika: argued for a more literature to be included

in the sutra

Resulted in 2 branches: Theravada SchoolMahayana School

Branches of Buddhism

Theravada School Little Vehicle Way of the

Elders Conservative

Mahayana School Northern School The Greater

Vehicle More liberal

TEXTBOOK MAPPING EXERCISE: Page 194

Spread of Buddhism

Comparison

Theravada Mahayana

Beliefs Humans are individualskey virtue –wisdomMonksArhatBuddha the saint

Humans are involved with otherskey virtue – compassionMonk and laypersonBodhisattvaBuddha the saviour

Practices Pray through meditation

Pray for requests (varies)

Scripture Early scriptures

Pali

Early scriptures plus others sutras

Comparison continued

Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Moved primarily South and West covering Indochina and Ceylon (Sri-Lanka).

Moved Primarily North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet

Followed as a teaching or Philosophy.

Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion.

Intense, dedicated and time-consuming effort required to attain enlightenment.

Enlightenment is achieved through a normal life with varying degrees of spiritual involvement.

Agreements

The Buddha is the only master One must take refuge in the Buddha, dharma

and Sangha This world was not created and ruled by a

god One must follow the example of the Buddha One must accept the Four Noble Truths All things are impermanent

Tibetan Tantra Buddhism or Vajrayana - Buddhism

In a nutshell!

Tibetan Buddhism History ‘Bon’ 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 - politics Tibetan 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 Beliefs

Similarities with Mahayana Buddhism

pantheon of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors 4 Noble Truths Eight-Fold Path Compassion Monastic life 3 baskets – Tripitaka rituals such as food and flower offerings Religious pilgrimages Religious festivals Mantras and Mudras Bodhisattvas

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 fire

Vajra – 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 Today Clergy: 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 People’s Republic of China