Buhddism in Japan Flashcards
Stupa
Architectural Reliquary
Where was the Buddha born? Now an important pilgramage site
Nepal, Lumini
Buddha creation story
The Dream of Queen Maya
Hands clasped in prayer shows this is an auspicious moment
White elephant appears to her and touches her side as she sleeps- immaculate conception
She gives birth in a forest, Buddha shoots out of her side (avoiding all female genitalia, he is too pure and too important to be defiled by a woman.
Already he is sentient and intellectual and takes 7 steps, each step is caught by a lotus so his feet remain unsullied.
Carved in the round
Early life of the Buddha- how he becomes enlightened
Lavish palace and wealthy family
He marries, has children, but one day wonders what is beyond the palace gates despite his father wanting to shield him from the cruelty of the world.
When he decides to see the outside world:
- His first encounter out he meets a poor old man, which shocks him. He didnt know people could be so poor.
- The next he goes out he sees a sick man, this upsets him.
- The third time he sees a dead man.
He realises lives arent singular but a circle of reincarnation, the Buddha didnt arise out of nothing. He is a part of the indic beliefs of reincarnation.
- 4th trip he meets an Ascetic, they mortify the flesh to achieve SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH. They also take a vow of poverty.
Buddha tries this, starving himself in the Nepalese mountains for 7 years relying on the scraps of others.
The Buddha says both ways of living: in a palace and in poverty, are too extreme.
He says either he will die or he will be enlightened. He has a divine insight: DESIRE IS THE ROOT OF ALL SUFFERING
Where was the Buddha’s first lecture
Deer Park in Japan, one of the first firm establishments of Buddhism, he lays out the four noble truths and other principles: what keeps us bound to the wheel of suffering is desire- could even be the desire to live! But there is a path to enlightenment.
What is Jakata
Buddha’s past lives. Including animal ones, once a monkey king who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Early Buddhism
Was following rigorous precepts such as do not kill, have sex or marry.
Was a lived in religion and not a philosophy. If you wanted to follow the Buddha you had to be monastically secluded.
Was a much more rigorous practice. However, Buddhism not monolithic, many ways to practice.
BODHISATTVAS
The term “Buddha” refers to an enlightened being who has gained Nirvana and realized the truth of existence, freeing oneself from the cycle of birth and death. A bodhisattva is a being spurred on by immense compassion and spontaneously desires to become enlightened to serve all sentient beings.
What is Parinivana
In Buddhism, parinirvana is final nirvana at the physical death the end of the re-occurence of the aggregates, and therefore the end of rebirth, of someone who has attained nirvana during their lifetime.
What happened to the Buddha’s body after death
As per Indic tradition, once he died his body was burnt. His body would become special stones- corporeal relics that are manifestations of the Buddha. In India, Stupa mounds have a piece in the centre.
What is the painting depicting the Buddha achieving Parinirvana
Many Buddhas, one died in Kushinaga. An old man saw him and wanted to feed him (Karmically enriching), the food turns out to be poisonous. The Buddha says he will eat it, but no one else should (again, sacrifice- no desires not even to live). He told his followers to tell The Old Man not to suffer as the moment was pre-ordained.
What is an icon?
Why make an icon
What is the difference between iconography and style
Buddha VS Bodhisattva
