Expressions of Religious Identity Flashcards
What is the monastic Sangha?
The community of ordained monks and nuns
What is the traditional lifestyle of the Sangha in Thailand?
Monks own basic prerequisites (e.g. alms bowl, razor, water strainer, robes) and follow the Patimokkha (227 rules). Female monks not recognised. Lots of time spent in worship and devotion with some interaction with lay community.
What is the traditional role of the Sangha in Thailand?
- Preserve the Sangha and Dhamma
- Ordain new monks/run retreats for novices
- Share merit with the lay community by begging alms
- Officiate and provide blessings e.g. at funerals and festivals
- Help lay followers, including the monarchy
How has the role of the Sangha changed in Thailand?
Education used to be provided through temples but is now state run (due to urbanisation/westernisation) - Sangha less involved.
Sangha Act (1902) centralised the Sangha so all monasteries are overseen by the Supreme Patriarch.
How has the Sangha changed in the 21st century?
Banned from taking part in protests in 2020 during a time of political tension. Some monks (e.g. engaged Buddhists) nevertheless continue to do this.
Some nuns now practicing in Thailand due to Dhammananda restarting the Thai lineage.
Traditional Sangha now has to compete with the Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
What is the Wat Phra Dhammakaya?
A modern Theravada movement based in a temple outside Bangkok, Thailand
What are the main features of the Wat Phra Dhammakaya movement?
- Emphasis on merit-making through meditation, giving & volunteering (e.g. promising rebirth as a millionaire for making regular donations)
- Use of modern methods (e.g. social media and online university) to reach a global audience
- Emphasis on personal transformation: “World Peace Through Inner Peace”
- Mixing between Sangha and laypeople - community of ‘good friends’
What is meant by ‘devotion’?
Religious worship or observance
Give two examples of acts of devotion in Theravada Buddhism
Chanting the Three Refuges / puja at a personal shrine (e.g. use of light/incense) / visits to temple and making offerings / use of Buddha images / circumambulation around stupas / pilgrimage / retreat
Give two examples of acts of devotion in Mahayana Buddhism
Chanting ‘Om mani padme hum’ or, in Pure Land, the Nembutsu (the name of Amitabha) / deity visualisation (imagining yourself as a Buddha or deity to awaken your Buddhanature) / use of prayer wheels and prayer flags in Tibet / use of meditation as a way of communicating with Buddhas in their Sambhogakaya
What is a Buddha-rupa? Where do these come from?
A ‘Buddha-form’; a Buddha image or statue. These started being made for personal use in the 2nd century - a later development, not an instruction from the Buddha but now a common feature across all Buddhist traditions.
How would Buddha images be used in devotion?
Generally as a way of showing respect and devotion to a great teacher and as a personal dedication to his way, or as a focus for meditation. May depend on the type (e.g. Nirvana Buddha would help us reflect on death). However, for Mahayana Buddhists they may also be used in direct worship and visualisation. Mahayana would also use a wider range (e.g. bodhisattvas/other Buddhas).
What is making merit and why is this important?
Performing good deeds with the intention of generating good karma, e.g. giving alms or donating to temples. Important because it allows laypeople to live a holy life and maintains the relationship between the Sangha and laypeople.
What is sharing merit and why is this important?
Dedicating a portion of your own good karma to specific individuals, often deceased loved ones, by symbolically transferring this merit through rituals and prayers at the temple.
What do Theravada Buddhists believe about the purpose of worship?
The Buddha cannot be communicated with because he has achieved Parinirvana, so worship is mostly a way of showing respect, making merit, and training oneself in self-discipline.
What do Theravada Buddhists believe about the significance of worship?
Buddha says that “prayers or wishes” cannot be used to secure long life, beauty, happiness etc. (Ittha Sutta) and that it is more effective to focus on observing the Five Precepts. However, in many Theravada countries worship is still the most significant part of a Buddhist’s life (e.g. Thailand).
What do Mahayana Buddhists believe about the purpose of worship?
Since Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are active in the world (and beyond the world in Pure Lands), worship can do more than just train the mind, it is also a way of communicating with them. In the case of Pure Land Buddhism, it is also a way of achieving salvation and a better rebirth. Worship may also help to access one’s own Buddhanature.
What do Mahayana Buddhists believe about the significance of worship?
Worship is a significant part of life as it allows Mahayana Buddhists to obtain the Bodhisattva ideal and reach Buddhahood. However, worship should be understood as benefiting all sentient beings and not just be used for personal gain.
Where is meditation found on the Eightfold Path?
Last three stages of Eightfold Path (samadhi): Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.
What is the purpose of meditation on the Eightfold Path?
To cultivate right mindfulness, removing the defilements of the mind so that it is possible to achieve enlightenment. Meditation would be practiced not as the final step but alongside the other two sections (wisdom and morality).
Why is meditation used as a form of therapy in the modern world?
Mindfulness, a form of calming meditation (samatha), is now used by the NHS as a treatment of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as being recommended by self-help gurus as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Why have some Buddhists encouraged the use of meditation as a form of therapy?
Samatha meditation is designed for calming the mind and therefore can be used in a secular context. It has obvious benefits proven through neuroscientific research so helps to end dukkha.
Could be recognised as Upaya - a way of making Buddhist teachings useful and appealing to a modern audience.
Why have some Buddhists discouraged the use of meditation as a form of therapy?
Meditation is not designed to make us happy but to destroy our sense of individual sense by making us understand anatta (vipassana = insight). It may therefore be dangerous to those unaware of its deeper purpose.
Buddhists may find that some of its uses go against Buddhist ethical principles, e.g. the US military using mindfulness to improve combatants’ “operational effectiveness”. Brazier discourages its use as a way of winning the “corporate rat-race”.
