Buddhism Flashcards
Asoka: Writing on Dharma
(development)
- built rock edits all around kingdom containing teachings of Dharma
a. For Asoka, the Dharma meant morality, social concern, religious tolerance, ecological awareness and renunciation of war → Bhabra rock edicts emphasis on this
b. Edict III: self-control; purification; tolerance and missionary activity
c. “Everywhere in my empire shall go on tour… to instruct people in the Dharma” (3rd rock edict)
Asoka: Writing on Dharma (expression)
- Showed support and belief in 3 jewels
a. Rock edicts explain the meaning and application of the Dharma
b. Promoted oral and written transmission of beliefs and teachings; disseminated Buddhism within and outside his kingdom
c. Used icons so illiterate people could understand the Dharma → aided Buddhim’s expansion (also diff languages)
Asoka: Writing on Dharma
(impact)
- Strengthened and maintained Buddhism in India
a. Edicts and Dharma officials taught about the practical applications of Buddhism
b. “This is the highest work, to instruct the Dhama” (4th edict)
c. Developed theravada Buddhism
d. Number of Buddhists increased on India
Thefirstemperoredicts.com
Blog recording practical applications of Asoka’s edicts
Asoka: Expansion of Buddhism
(development)
- Asoka encourage missonary activity to spread Buddhism through financial stimulus/support
The number of Buddhists increased in India and missionaries went to more remote parts of India such as the Himalayas, Kashmir and into lower Burma
Asoka: Expansion of Buddhism (expression)
Supported and engaged in Pilgrimage
a. Creating new pilgrimage sites + making pilgrimage easier for people
b. Going on pilgrimage himself → Bodh Gaya (site of enlightement) (2 million go each year)
c. Building monasteries and stupas at pilgrimage sites to encourage worship/dedication to Buddhism
d. Donated money to the Sangha so they could continue to promote Buddhist practices
Asoka: expansion of Buddhism (impact)
- Until Asoka’s time, Buddhism was a fringe movement in India. → Asoka helped spread Buddhism within his empire + beyond
a. Expansion to Nepal contributed to the development of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism
b. With the spread of Buddhism from India, Buddhism became a central part of Asian culture
c. Asoka’s work ensured Buddhism’s ongoing existence and contribution to Asian culture and thought.
Asoka: Governance (development)
- Buddhism as the base of governance and foreign policy
a. Karuna - medicinal gardens, hospitals for humans and animals
b. Ahimsa (no harm) – removal of the death penalty; diplomacy (not war) for foreign affairs
c. Dana (generosity) – giving money to communities to develop local area and pilgrimage sites
d. Asoka is an example of renouncing violence and promoting peace → through his administration + initiatives
Asoka Governance (Expression)
Governed according to Buddhist ethical principles
a. Asoka used Buddhist principles to underpin his government by accepting the Sangha as an important guiding influence on organisation and administration
b. He supported them and maintained their importance by:
c. Intervening to keep Sangha faithful to the Dharma and avoid a schism (division)
d. Showing his support by contributing financially to the Sangha
E.g. Today, Buddhist monks and lay organizations remain involved in Burmese politics
Asoka: Governance (Impact)
- Endorsed Buddhism as the state’s offical religion → showed Buddhism’s capacity to be the basis of governance
Overall impact: Buddhism remains an influence in Asian leadership and public policy
Asoka example of buddhist leadership and practice: kings in Burma and Thailand copied his example
Abortion
Buddhism rejects abortion as it involves the deliberate destroying of life
Buddhists belief life starts at conception
Since buddhists believe in rebirth, the new being is entitled to the same respect as an adult human being and a chance to gain good karma and attain enlightenment
Buddhists are supposed to take full responsibility for everything they do and consequences that follow
Ethical issues involved with abortion depend on the motive, intention and level of mindfulness with which it was taken
Karma: Abortion generates bad karma for the mother and abortionist who make an intention, effort and acrtion to kill
The fetus suffers bad karma because it is deprived of the opportunities to exist and earn good karma → abortion hinders it’s spiritual progress
Special circumstances: If the decision is taken compassionately (karuna) and with good intentions (e.g. to save the mother), this action may still be wrong but the moral harm done will be reduced by the good intentions (e.g. lesser evil) → “Should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance” (Dalai Lama)
Abortion (quote)
“individual human life begins at conception [and] bears karmic identity” … “entitled to the same moral respect as an adult human” (Damien Keown)
Abortion Variant/Contemp
Mixuko Kuyo → Japanese Buddhism
Abortions is bevoming a common practice in Japan as a social necessity to protect family values
Mizuko Kyo prevents people from feeling abortion is becoming trivialised
Honouring Jizo ensures aborted foetus makes it clear to other world, reborn in the future
Euthanasia
In Buddhism, euthanasia brings about bad karma because it is the intentional killing of a sentient being (violation of the first precept)
In the dying process, there is an opportunity to gain insight and enlightenment
Therefore Euthanasia denies the opportunity of gainging good karma and enlightenment that can be gained even in suffering
Follows example of Vinya Pitaka → sick monk who was pitied by a group of monks who suggested it were better for him to die. Buddha decided that the monks had violated the first precept → even if they were motivated by pituy, their second intention was to kill
Euthanasia (Variant/Contemp)
Mahayana: “…prolonging his existence is only going to cause difficulties and suffering for others, the termination of his life may be permitted according to Mahayana Buddhist ethics” (The Dalai Lama)
“…the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth…” (The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche 1998)
Cloning
Creating an idetitical genetic copy of a person using cells, DNA and cloned embryos
for buddhists, the opportunity to become human is highly significant. as a human being is able to take up three essential processes on the path towards nirvana (prajna, sila, samadhi).
a human person may accept the Dharma given by the Buddha and undertake the disciplined life of the Sangha. –> enlightenment may only happen as a human being
since buddhists believe that there is no permanent soul (anatta), there is no problem about the changed identity of the cloned individual
cloning is accepted since it allows greater opportunity for karma to take human form.
intention is highly important.
cloning for organ donation is seen as an act of dana and therefore is good.
