Mahayana Sutras Flashcards
What is the structure of the Mahayana sutras?
The vast majority are sermons. These are often presented as if they are the words spoken by a disciple of the Buddha who is inspired by the Buddha. At the end of the sermon, the Buddha confirms what was said is correct.
There is no vinaya. Mahayana Monks and nuns follow with vinaya code based on the vinaya of the Pali canon
“ form is emptiness and emptiness is form” where is it from?
Heart sutra
Explain the prajnaparamita sutras?
Sermons on the perfection of wisdom. These explain the understanding of emptiness. This is the idea that nothing in the universe exists independently, permanently or inherently.
Explain the diamond sutra
This sutra focuses on the importance of non-attachment. It explains how this includes non-attachment to the self, and non-attachment to the idea of any independently arising phenomena
“All condition phenomena I like a dream, and illusion, a bubble, A shadow, like dew or a flash of lightning; thus we shall perceive them”
Explain the lankavatara sutra
This sets out Mahayana beliefs about Buddha nature, the idea that we all have the seed of enlightenment within ourselves, which can be nurtured and developed.
Explain the lotus sutras
- This includes the parable of the burning house.
- It sets out Mahayana beliefs about the bodhisattva. It emphasises the importance of Upaya, “skilful means”, in the role of the bodhisattva helping others reach enlightenment.
- It also explains why this should be seen as superior to Theravada Buddhism, and helping all beings reach enlightenment.
- Most branches of Mahayana Buddhism considered this to be the most important sutra of all, and the ultimate expression of the Buddhist teachings
How do Theravada Buddhists meditate and worship?
They go for refuge and repeat the refuge formula
“ I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dhamma
I take refuge in the sangha”
They also meditate and practice Dana and Punya
How do Mahayana Buddhists meditate and worship?
Samantha, Vipassana and Metta Bhavana meditation
How do new pure land Buddhists meditate and worship?
They put all of the faith into the Buddha Amida.
Shinran said humans are too corrupt and arrogant to save themselves so they have to put all of their faith into the Buddha Amida
What is the heart sutra?
- the shortest of the prajnaparamita Sutras (sermons of the perfection of wisdom)
- The heart sutra is a teaching by the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, The Buddha of compassion.
- it is chanted regularly particularly by Zen and Tibetan Buddhists as part of a meditation practice
- although the heart sutra is a very brief sutra, it contains key concepts of Buddhist philosophy. These include the four Noble truths, the cycle of interdependence, the central concept of Mahayana Buddhism, emptiness, or sunyata and the Skandas
What does Sunyata mean?
Emptiness.
Emptiness does not mean that they believe that nothing exists. Rather, it is nothing exist independently, or unconditionally, or in and of itself. All things are interrelated, you cannot take out an object and say this is here in and of itself.
It’s also called condition existence, interdependence or dependent origination.
And example of nothing existing independently, unconditionally or in and of its self is thich nhat Hahn seeing the universe in a piece of paper
For Mahayana Buddhists, There are two types of truth. What are they?
- Conventional truths. These are truth of the world of experience and are available to those with deluded understanding
- Ultimate truths. These are truths about the way things truly are. They are available to those who have an enlightened understanding
What is the heart sutra a critique of?
It is a critique of Theravadan philosophy.
- It says establishes its argument that everything if empty is a conventional truth or part of condition existence.
- Then argues that the Theravada view of Anatta doesn’t go far enough, as each Skanda is empty.
- It then goes through lots of Theravada teachings and explains why each part is empty.
- Then it offers an alternative - Mahayana Buddhism
Explain the parable of the burning house
- It emphasises the importance of upaya ‘skilful means’. The burning house represents Dukkha and samsara. We are trapped in the constant cycle.
- Each child got out the house despite being different which shows that there are many ways to reach enlightenment. Buddhists try different ways e.g. meditation or chanting
- The children playing games inside the house symbolises the destructive state of us and how we are stuck in the constant cycle
Are samsara and Dukkha representative of reality? Answer for both yes and no
(Yes)
- there is experiential evidence for Dukkha
- Unsatisfaction of materialism
(No)
- some say materialism is satisfying. We may as well buy things and have fun while we suffer due to Dukkha
- samsara implies there is an alternative – this could be all there is, so we should enjoy it
