Roots & Lineages

Question 1

Why should we study the different lineages of Buddhism?

Answer 1

Each lineage exists because oral teachings were passed down in different ways
Studying their differences is important in figuring out what the Buddha really wanted to teach

Question 2

What is the history of Buddhist councils?

Answer 2

1) 1st Buddhist council created
2) 2nd Buddhist council
- Sthavira (Elders) vs Mahasamghika (Majority)
- Also was Precept Split (Conservative vs Progressive)
3) 3rd Buddhist Council
- Vibhajyavada vs Sarvastivada
- Geographical split (Which was precursor to northern and southern traditions)

Question 3

What are the Northern schools?

Answer 3

Mahasmghika: Majority

Sarvastivada: Proclaims all doctrines

Dharmaguptaka: Dharma preservers

Question 4

What are the Southern schools?

Answer 4

Vibhajyavada: Discriminates the doctrines

Question 5

What are the Three Baskets (Tripitaka)?

Answer 5

Vinaya: Monastic code

Sutras: Discourses (Also known as Suttas)

Shastras: Commentaries

Question 6

What are the Three Major Traditions?

Answer 6

Theravada - Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand

Mahayana (Dharmaguptaka) - China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan

Vajrayana (Mulasarvastivada) - Tibet, Mongolia

Question 7

What is the Madhyamaka school also known as?

Answer 7

Middle way school, doctrine of emptiness

Question 8

Who founded the Madhyamaka school?

Answer 8

Nagarjuna (Indian Patriarch)

Question 9

What does the Madhyamaka school teach?

Answer 9

Emptiness (Shunyata)

Two Truths
- Ultimate truth: Birth/Death
- Conventional truth: Birthlessness/Deathlessness

Middle Way
- Repression/Indulgence: We’re not repressing/indulging in our emotions
- Nihilism/Eternalism: Everything can change

Insight Sutras (Diamond Sutra)
- There are many conditions that make up something

Question 10

What is the Yogacara school also known as?

Answer 10

Yoga practice school

Question 11

Who founded the Yogacara school?

Answer 11

Vasubandhu (Indian Patriarch)

Question 12

What did the Yogacara school teach?

Answer 12

Suchness (Tathata)
- Reality of things

Store Consciousness

Right efforts
- The water of the seeds (experiences)
- We can tend to the seeds (emotions)
- We can savour joyful experiences
- We can nourish the seeds

Question 13

What is Chan / Zen Buddhism not reliant on? What does it teach?
Who founded it?

Answer 13

Not reliant on written word

• Direct pointing at one’s mind
• Seeing one’s nature, becoming a Buddha

Bodhidharma

Question 14

What did Huineng teach?

Answer 14

Nothing exists as a separate self-entity

Question 15

What is a zen koan?

Answer 15

Being aware of present daily tasks without thinking about other distractions
(Master Yuan and Dazhu)

Question 16

What did Linji/Rinzai Zen teach?

Answer 16

Even though the five skandhas are imperfect, we can still touch the miracle of walking on the earth

Question 17

What are the views of Pure Land Buddhism?

Answer 17

1) Like Heaven - There is no suffering, everyone is practicing together

2) The here and now