buddhism - ultimate reality Flashcards
1
Q
what is the trikaya
A
- historical, cosmic, symbolic
- nirmanakaya, sambhogakaya (M), dharmakaya
- ultimate level of reality conventional levels
- shakyamuni Buddha
2
Q
the trikaya scholars
A
- he who sees the dhamma sees me PC
- ‘on the level of ultimate truth, only the dharmakaya is real’ Cush
- ‘the trikaya is a more refined understanding of the nature of enlightenment than the Buddha as an historical figure’ clive erricker
- edward conze: ‘the buddha’s humanity always more or less unimportant, has become a mere figment or phantom’ –> trikaya doctrine
3
Q
describe the nirmanakaya
A
- the buddha in earthly form (gautama)
- lifestory as a drama, acted out for our benefits
- conventional level of reality is historical B
- transformation bodies can have any form –> animals, other rel teachers, gods
- experienced him as a historical figure
4
Q
describe the sambhogakaya
A
- forms focus of devotion in Mahayanan tradition ONLY
- glorious + heavenly buddha
- lives long in Buddhalands
- said that mahayanan sutras were preached by shakyamuni buddha in his glorious form
- buddhas focus the form of devotion in MB and depicted in art –> worshiped and visualised
- provides experience of the enlightened, glimpse of pure awareness, manifested in these buddhas
- experienced him as a historical figure
- pure compassion and wisdom
5
Q
describe the dharmakaya
A
- unites M and T tradition
- dharmakaya is enlightened purified cosmic consciousness which sees reality for what it is –> ineffable
- understanding truth about universe emptiness of all things
- underlying truth of the universe –> only thing that is real in ultimate reality (pure buddha consciousness)
- only dharmakaya is real (ultimate level of reality), pure consciousness
- tathagatagarbha concept: present in embryonic form in all beings
6
Q
what is the difference between the three prongs of the trikaya
A
- historical teaches the truth
- symbolic represents the truth
- dharmakaya shows that the truth is formless –> other two are forms for you to understand and access the truth as humans (UR is pure conciousness)
7
Q
tathagatagharba
A
- tathagata is a title for the buddha –> one who has thus gone and will not return
- tathagartagharba –> M doctrine that Buddhist nature is within all beings, so all beings may reach enlightenment
- often described as a seed, embryo or potentiality within each individual to be developed (we are all buddha)
8
Q
the lotus sutra and the buddha revealing his nature
A
- in M, taught that everyone can become enlightened (tathagatagharba) but not in T as only monks and nuns
- buddha says he never died: ‘the lifespan i achieved…has still not expired’
- ‘although i do not actually depart from the world, I teach that I do…so that they will appreciate the mortality that comes with transmigration (rebirth) –> upaya
9
Q
the buddha as understood by early and T buddhists
A
- have both symbolic and historical B
- historical Buddha is more important in the tradition
10
Q
the buddha as understood by M buddhists
A
- all buddhists should aim to be buddhas
- represents the potential of all beings to gain enlightenment, providing the model for historical buddha
- Shakyamuni buddha is not the only buddha –> 5 symbolic buddhas of the 5 buddha mandala
- buddhavacana to a mahayanist –> whatever is helpful in leading beings towards enlightenment, and the M sutras is based upon this (UPAYA)
11
Q
ideas of Buddha having 2 bodies
A
- buddha had a form and personality limited in time and space but also he is just the ultimate truth of the potentiality for E, existing beyond time and space and having no form (anatta)
- dharmakaya is that which is ultimately real
12
Q
idea of buddha having 3 bodies
A
- nirmanakaya, dharmakaya, sambhogakaya
- truth in historical form, truth in symbolic form, truth is formless
13
Q
is the historical buddha relevant when the trikaya is introduced
A
- No: he has become more than a human, miracles at his birth, deer park sermon, 32 marks of E, mythical
- truth has no form, B is not important for the truth to be known
- parable of the raft, lotus sutra: can let go of his teaching if no longer needed when progressing through understanding
- yes: if he is not human, we cannot walk his path and E becomes inaccessible to us (Jesus)
- laity need HB to access Buddhism when they are beginners
14
Q
what is anicca
A
- one of the three marks of existence
- impermanence
- what has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing’ –> Buddha
- Buddha first encounters it during 4 sights, old age, sickness, and death –> can see evidence of anicca in our own lives
15
Q
the buddhas death demonstrating anicca
A
- last words: ‘let the dhamma and the discipline that i have taught you be your teacher. All individual things pass away, strive on untiringly’
- last thing he teaches is impermanence
- rejecting permanence alleviates suffering –> therefore dukkha can be overcome, as suffering is not permanent
- the dhamma can also perhaps be seen as permanent
- Ultimate reality does not need a teacher to be perceived –> dharmakaya
- ‘they come into being and pass away, Release from them is bliss supreme’ –> can be released from suffering through nirvana (sakka, chief of deities)
