Finals

Question 1

Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana, Esoteric)

Answer 1

Form of Buddhism that absorbs influences from non-buddhist indian ritual practices
Ritual initiation becomes an important concept

emerges around 6th century in India and influences Tibetan BUddhsim

Esoteric approach to Mahayana Buddhsim

Teacher-disciple relationship is important, locus of authority resides with the guru

Esoteric rites include the construction and purification of a ritual altar

Question 2

three secrets or mysteries

Answer 2

body, speech, mind of the BUddha

through the 3 mysteries, one can practice diety yoga and become one with the diety

• First you visualise the mandala, a space where you invite the diety using a mudra (body) and you chant their mantra (speech)
• Make offerings to the diety, pray to them and eventually you can unite yourself with the diety / become the diety

The mandalas themselves is a way for the practioner to see a pureland

• Deity yoga from Hinduism is taken into Buddhism, when you worship a deity like Avalokiteshvara, you embody him realise you become him

Question 3

deity yoga
initiation (abhisheka)

Answer 3

Initiation consists of reciting mantras (speech of the Buddha) and making certain mudras or physical postures (body of the Buddha) through which the teacher transmits the power and authority to practice, and the ability to have certain spiritual attainments (siddhi).

Question 4

Han Dynasty

Answer 4

206 BC - 220 AD

Evidence of first traces of Buddhism found
The “first golden age”
Major religion at the time was Daoism
Confucisanism was state religion, viewed the Chinese buddhism as barabarians and uncvilised, did not fit with traditonal cofnuscian values, saw monks who gvae up their duties as not contributing to society

Question 5

Tang Dynasty

Answer 5

618 - 907
Considered the 2nd golden age
Start of indigenous practices that form Chan Buddhism

Question 6

ancestor worship

Question 7

oracles bones

Question 8

three realms (heaven earth humankind)

Answer 8

Had an understanding of the world being divided into 3 realms, Heaven Earth and HUmans which were interconnected. The natural world tended towards harmony and balance but humans can throw off that balance with their actions

Used to view their emperor or king as a model of the harmony of heaven and earth. If the king was suffering, so would the kingdom. Their unds of the Dao, wisdom and their benevolence was understood to be a reflection of the state of the empire

Question 9

three traditions in China

Answer 9

Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism

The early chinese “religions”

Had an understanding of the world being divided into 3 realms, Heaven Earth and HUmans which were interconnected. The natural world tended towards harmony and balance but humans can throw off that balance with their actions

Used to view their emperor or king as a model of the harmony of heaven and earth. If the king was suffering, so would the kingdom. Their unds of the Dao, wisdom and their benevolence was understood to be a reflection of the state of the empire

Question 10

Daosim (relook laozi and zhuangzi arguements)

Answer 10

Started in the Axial age, 800 - 200 BC
- Based on the teachings of Laozi (6th century BCE) who wrote Daodejing and Zhuangzi (4th century BCE) who wrote his namesake text
- based on the principles of non-action, not impressing your will on anything and letting things flow
-dao was an empirical fact for the chinese, it the way things are

Laozi argues that the dao cannot be articulated, a truth that stands outside of realm of language.

Zhuangzi argues that using language to argue to prove that language does not mean anything is not probative, it does not hold water as an argument

Many concepts in daoism such as that of wu (non being/nothingness) would influence the chinese intepretation of buddhist texts coming from India (e.g. concept of emptiness in Mahayana) hence early buddhism was understood through daosim in china

Question 11

Confucianism

Answer 11

Confucianism is a Chinese philosophy centered around achieving social harmony through ethical conduct, emphasizing proper relationships within society, respect for elders, and personal self-cultivation, with core values like benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), rites (li), all based on the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucious

core text is the Lunyu, a collection of analects by Kong Fuzi

li - refers to rites or proper ritual developement including the way of life, for example how to dress

yi - righteousness or ethical action, wanting to alleviate the pain and suffering of others

ren - benevolence, humaneness, compassion

Question 12

Laozi

Answer 12

400 BCE
Author of the text, Daodejing, that laid the foundations of Daoism. It emphaises the concept of non-action or wuwei. In essence, he advocates that one should not impress their will on anything, just to let things flow

He asserts that the dao cant be spoken. It is a truth that exists outside the real of language and articulation (much like the buddhist concept of the ultimate truth and emptiness)

Question 13

Zhuangzi

Answer 13

author of the text, zhuangzi

argues that you cannot arguem against sattements using statements

similar to the concepts of emptiness

Question 14

Mulian

Answer 14

Protagonist in the story, in popular chinese folk tale, The Great Maudgalyana rescues his mother from hell

In the story, he is ultimately only able to rescue his mother from through the help of the samgha and through the acquisition of good merit through Buddhist practice.

creates narrative that to be a good confucian, to serve your ancestors well, you should become a Buddhist

you need the buddhist monastic commnity in order to serve your ancestors well

Its a folk tale that aids in the introduction of Buddhism to the masses in China, a typically heavily philosophical traditi0on. Introduces filial piety into Buddhism, a popular preexisting value and tradition in china, a start of the sinification of buddhism as it develops in China

Establishes the Ghost festival in china as well as reflects the chinese understadning of the afterlife (in terms of the 6 destinies)

Question 15

Chan, Zen

Answer 15

Dhyana is transliterated into Channa and later into Chan and zen

Chan buddhism (later translated to Zen in Japanese buddhism)

Focus on practice

Chan buddhism developed as a solution or response to the hermenutical anxiety faced by the Chinese during the haydays of chiense buddhism

The many texts comoing from india from the various schools seemed to contradict one another, giving rise to confusion in understanding the concept of buddhism

In response, the chinese developed the Panjiao or system that ranked texts from convetional to closer to the ultimate truth

Chan buddhism would bring about the idea of 1 independent transimission that exists outside the teaching, not relying in words or letters. This concept of mind to mind transmission of dharma would lead to the establish the idea of a lineage of individuals amongst whom the dharma is transmitted, linking all the way back to Buddha shakyamuni

This central teaching is about realising one’s original nature and becoming a buddha. It conflates the understanding of the Lotus Sutra (that we will all one day become a buddha) and Yogacara (mind is like the mirror) and asserts that if the mind is Buddha nature, we are kept trapped and unable to realise our buddha nature within us. Hence meditative practice to realise one’s true buddha nature, which is why meditation is the same as wisdom, it is expression of the wisdom

Question 16

dhyana, prajna

Answer 16

2 of the most important paramitas or perfections to Chan buddhism. In coming to china, dhyana is understood to be the same as prajna, essentially establishing that meditation is the same as wisdom.

Question 17

28 indian patriarches, 6 chinese patriarchs

(not sure how much to include)

Answer 17

The lineage system established with CHan buddhism that links back to shakyamuni buddha

1st patriarch after shakyamuni is considered to be Mahakasyapa. Through the story of the Flower Sermon, in which Shakaya holds up a flower infront of a crowd of his disciplies and only kysapa unds, signals start of tradition of mind to mind transmission of dharma

Chan buddhists would include both Nagarjuna who wrote the the Madhyamaka and Vasubandu who wrote the yogacara text, an attempt to conflate both traditions into their understanding of buddhism

Bodhidharma is considered to be the first chinese patriarch who would arrive in China from india in 520. The story goes that Huike, having heard of a great monk meditating in the caves in a mountain would approach and cut off his arm in order to gain his attention

the 5th patricarch was Hong-ren, 6th was disputed between Hui-neng and Shen-Xiu, leading to the writing of the Platform Sutra allegedly by Huineng’s disciples in order to establish his legitimacy as the true patriarch

Question 18

Bodhidharma

Answer 18

28th Indian patriarch or first chinese patriarch

comes to China from india in 520. The story goes that Huike, having heard of this great monk, seeks him out as he meditates in a cave in a mountain.

(insert story of huike cutting off his arm)

Question 19

Huineng & Shenxiu

Answer 19

Even a lay person with no prior practice can realise their buddha nature

Shenxiu (600 - 706) represented gradual enligthenment while Huinen rep sudden enlgithenment

Question 20

koan, finger pointing at moon

Answer 20

literally means public case or precendets. It is an anecdote that comes from past Chan masters that is used as the basis for teaching and commentary by another master. In zen buddhism, koans help to learn how to manifest your buddha nature

Finger pointing is a koan in which a Chan Master, Juzhi would answer any question he was challenged with by raising his finger. Later an acolyte would attempt to do the same. Juzhi would cut off his finger for doing so. Juzhi would raise his finger to explain why he did so.

This refers to the finger beign simply a skillful means to point towards the ultimate truth but is not in fact the ultimate truth. Similarly, a koan does not

Question 21

Pure Land

Answer 21

the buddha land specific to Buddha Amithabha. You can attain rebirth in the Pure Land through devotion to Amithabha such as through the nenbutsu (recitation of his name)

considered to be a perfect world in which there is only 1 realm. Its the perfect place to realise one’s buddha nature

can bring in idea of Mappo

Question 22

Buddha Land

Answer 22

A later projection of undersatnding onto buddhism. As amithaba has his own pureland, and acc to lotus sutra there are many buddhas, each buddha must hence have their own buddha land where they reside as a cosmic being. Shakyamuni’s is the Saha realm in which we reside.

Question 23

Amida

Answer 23

or Amithabha, Buddha of Infinite light

he makes 84 vows, invluding that he will not become the BUddha until everyone else will be rebirthed in his pureland

Question 24

nenbutsu

Answer 24

transliteration of buddhasmirti which literally means mindfullness of the buddha to nembutsu in japanese, which literally means recollecting the buddha

chinese intepret this as reciting the name of the buddha

Question 25

mappo

Answer 25

final stage of the Dharma where buddhist teaching is so corrupted with politics within Buddhists that eventuallym Dharma will be erased from the saha realm. Maitreya, the future Buddha (like ours was Shakya) will bring it back

Question 26

self power vs other power

Answer 26

acheive enlightenment on your own efforts versus on reliance on an other power like Amithabha

In China, these are not at odds with one another, you can attain help from sangha while pursuing your own efforts

Question 27

Shinto

Answer 27

indigenous religion in japan before buddhism that has its roots in China as a form of ancestor and nature worship, or kamis.

in chinese is shendao, which literally means way of the gods. Is polytheistic

Some scholars see it as an invented religion to give japan a indigenous religion as the Buddhism became popular in japan but was recognised to be coming from external influences

meiji restoration period –> attempt to remove external infleunce and find pure shinto but essentially removes everything doctrinal about the practice, leaving behind only kami worship

there is no real line of disinction in reality since buddhism came so early, very intertwined so you cant seperate the 2

Question 28

Kamakura one-practice movements

Answer 28

founders of which all began as Tendai monks

Tendai traditions were extermely comprehensive and difficult for the layperson to follow, hence..

Nichiren movmement: recitation of name of the lotus sutra, Soto Zen practice: just sitting, Pure Land: nenbutsu

claim to have captured the essence of buddhism into a single practice, makes it easier for the illterate to partake in them, no longer only for aristocrats or scholars

Question 29

Honen

Answer 29

1100 to 1200
founder of the Jodo or pureland sect

Question 30

Jodo

Question 31

Shinran

Answer 31

(1173 - 1263)
Doesnt believe celibacy works, celibate is affirming some form of jiriki

disciple of Honen

author of Tannisho

-> tells us that we must solelt rely on faith, the least narcacistic belief possible
idea of wicked people rely solely on faith so they are favoured over virtous person who thinks that they can attain englithenment through own merit

Question 32

Jodoshin

Question 33

self power vs other power (japanese context?)

Question 34

1000 day circumabulation practice

Answer 34

first part of the practice is self-benefiting, in devloping oneself in helping them realise their buddha nature

secound part of focuses more so on other-benefiting, realising ones role as a buddha

There is the belief that merit can be transmissed to others from merit gained through one’s own acesticism, especially to the empire

combines elements from early buddhsim (strict ascetic practices) and the Mahayana idea of the Bodhisattva path

Question 35

tendai school

Answer 35

a sch of buddhism centered on Mount Heie in Kyoto. Tendai training was comprehensive, included study, medititaion, esoteric practices as well as ascetic practices

Founders of the kamakura all began as tendai monks

an ecample of which is Kaihogyo, which involves the 1000 day circumambulation

Question 36

mount hiei

Answer 36

place where Tendai buddhsim centres around

Question 37

lama

Answer 37

a spiritual teacher, teacher discple relationships very important

Question 38

tulku

Answer 38

a lama who died and has rebirthed again, their disciples seek their rebirth. Forms a lineage of lamas

translated from nirmanakaya or emanation body

Allows for the transference of power more like a family model instead of a monastic model

The importance of Avalokiteśvara and the guru, along with the tradition of writing their re-birth stories, influenced how Tibetans understood the relationship between the past and future.

Question 39

dalai lama

Answer 39

Dalai lama – a Mongolian title bestowed by a Mongolian kahn
5th dalai lama – person who gained a lot of great power over central Tibet

Political leader of Central tibet but the religious leader of only the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism

emanation body of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara

Question 40

panchen lama

Answer 40

Helps to choose the next dalai lama, 2nd spiritually in the Gelug sect only to the Dalai Lama

considered to be the emanation body of buddha amithaba

Question 41

6 syllable mantra

Answer 41

the primary mode of worship of avalokiteshvara

The main text behind this practice is the Basket’s Display Sutra

• It’s a mantra of Avalokitesvara, boddhisatva of great compassion, associated with pure land
• A boddhisattva in amithaba’s realm
• In pureland in Tibet, they chant the mantras instead of the name of the buddha
• Chaniting these mantras you can invoke blessings
• Avaloki can appear to anyone who needs it

Question 42

divisions of tibetan history

Answer 42

3 divisions

Early Spread of Buddhism (7th to 9th Century)
- begins in early 7th century in Lhasa
- tibet gets its system of writing around 630
- get its peak in power around 763
- presence of buddhist missionaries from india and china
- begging of translation of buddhsit texts from india and china sponsored by the empire

tells us that tibetan civlisation forms as buddhism develops, kind of hand in hand

Period of Fragmentation (9th to 10th century)

• empire collapses in 842, bringing the collapse of the monastic community
• turn towards vajrayana buddhism as it doesnt require monasteries and giving up lay life

Later spread of Buddhism (late 10th century)

• 4 tibetan schools emerge, 1)Nyingma, 2) Sakya, 3) Kagyu , 4) Gelug

Mythological assimilation of Buddhism

Question 43

Perennialism

Answer 43

• Idea that all religions stem from a common religious experience

Question 44

Filter Theory

Answer 44

• Our sense closes off to the greatest experiences of the world
• Need some way to remove the blocking from our senses to properly experience the full realities of the world possibly through the use of pyscodelics

Question 45

Buddhist Modernism

Answer 45

Understanding of Buddhism as it develops in the West like America

• Rational (not based on faith)
• Empirical
• Compatible with science
• Atheistic
• Not a religion
• Unconcerned with ritual, institutional authority
• Therapeutic
• Buddhism is reduced to meditation
• Meditation is reduced to mindfulness
• “Spiritual but not religious

Question 46

Lotus Sutra

Answer 46

a. It’s a Mahayana sutra, composed in india btwn 1st and 3rd century
b. Introduce the multiple buddhas and their realms, different from theravda tradition as in Theravada, there is only 1 buddha
c. Introduce the idea of Buddhahood, everyone has buddhanautre, can become buddha instead of arhat

introduces idea of skillful means

d. U can talk abt bodhisattva path but balance your time

Question 47

Heart Sutra

Answer 47

India, 1st to 3rd century AD
a. Fundamental of paramitas (the 6 perfections)
b. The 5 are practiced to hone wisdom

Question 48

Zhuangzi

Answer 48

China, 3rd century BCE

a. Composed in Chinese
b. Attributed to the philosopher, Zhuangzi
c. Not composed by him but compiled by other people
d. Regarded a key text in Daoism
e. He claims the balance btwn the 3 realms, Heaven, Human and Earth and they are all interconnected
f. Daoism has some similarity with Buddhist idea of emptiness (wu wei)
g. Daoism is different from Confucianism which is more concerned with social order

Question 49

Great Maudgalyaayana Rescues His Mother from Hell

Answer 49

China, 3rd to 4th century AD
a. Created in Chinese, chinese Buddhism philo
b. Found in Duan Huang region
c. Introduces the idea of 6 destinies to china
d. He tries to use his superpower to rescue his mother who was in the hell realm but fails
e. Asks buddha to help him who asks him to ask samgha
f. This is a buddhist sinification, combines traditional Chinese Confucian ideas of filial piety with buddhist ideas of karma and samgha
g. Transform Buddhism to be localised and more accepted
h. Introduces idea of karmic transfer

Question 50

Pure Land Scriptures

Answer 50

india?? 1st to 3rd century AD

d. Look out for the 3 stages, we are in mappo hence we need Amitabha
e. He made these vows etc

Question 51

Platform Sutra

Answer 51

China 8th Century AD

a. Composed in china
b. Not a sutra by the Buddha but from the Hui neng, attributed to him
c. Composed in 8th century
d. Gradual practice vs sudden enlightenment
e. Huinen (rep sudden), Shenxiu (rep gradual)
f. You can link mind to mind transmission of dharma

Even a lay person with no prior expereince can realise their buddha nature

an attempt to integrate empitness, yogcara and Buddha nature philosophies

Question 52

Tannisho

Answer 52

13th Century AD, True Pureland school

a. Complete reliance on Amitabha
b. Written in Japanese
c. Inspired by shendao (the Chinese monk)
d. Claim to give up on your own effort completely and rely on amithaba’s power
e. Chanting Buddha’s name is not for your self its for compastionate reasons for other people
f. A dialogue btwn a master and a disciple (different from other texts) btwn Honen and Shinran