Secular Buddhism and Materialism

Question 1

evidence showing Buddhism as not a religion

Answer 1

• no central god figure
• no soul
• based on reason
• practice not belief
• no divine religious experience
• T do not worship
• parable of the poison arrow -> all that is important is present not metaphysical issues

Question 2

evidence showing Buddhism as a religion

Answer 2

• M worship Bodhisattvas and have religious festivals
• doctrine for living life with end goal
• metaphysical beliefs with faith –> MOS, Nirvana etc
• scripture: PC and sutras
• trikaya
• tathagartagarba –> Buddha potentiality like a soul
• ethical practice
• 4 jhanas to enlightenment
• meditation

Question 3

why might Buddhism be becoming more popular in the West

Answer 3

• western alternative to religion
• gives us a purpose, meaning and values without having to have doctrinised belief
• ‘all i teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering’

Question 4

stephen batchelor and buddhism as a rational philosophy and way of life

Answer 4

• pursue an analytical approach to buddhism in general and to the life of historical B
• secularisation is making primary concern about the world –> about experience of living on the planet and using this to bring modernity to Buddhism
• many voices in PC and sutras, and focuses only on sceptical and pragmatic voices to be the most valid towards Buddhas teaching and ignores dogmatic, mythic etc
• other voices occur due to Buddhism developed with the social norms of Brahmanism –> these mythical aspects belong in the past
• need to remove layers that cover the true dharma, and leave them in the past –> focus on the Buddhas pure teachings

Question 5

Batchelors 4 Ps for secularising B

Answer 5

1. principle of conditionality
   - best way to know your past is to examine quality of future experience and the most fruitful way to prepare for the future is to consider the quality of what you think
2. principle of the fourfold task
   - interpretation of the 4 noble truths
3. perspective of mindful awareness
   - heightened attention to everything that has been done –> meditation is key here
4. power of self reliance
   - being your own refuge
   - being independent of others in the sense of framing your own life using 4 Ps

these can establish an egalitarian society

Question 6

Brazier and Buddhism in the west

Answer 6

• making B a secular religion has distorted it so only some forms of it have been accepted
• ‘selective blindness’ to the ‘devotional, supernatural and metaphysical aspects’ which are the heart of B
• dismissing them as foreign superstitions destroys Buddhism
• holding onto secular B is like ‘never learn to swim because they will not let go of the rail on the edge of the pool’

Question 7

Brazier and the status of the Buddha

Answer 7

• Buddha should still be accepted as metaphysical being with supernatural gifts and abilities –> trikaya and all 3 bodies of buddha are metaphysical
• Brazier accepts all voices in the pali C –> parts of it assert it as a religion, like the Buddhas instruction about the importance of worship and veneration and the instruction to create a stupa after his death
• Mattakundali: experiences Sukha (Bliss) as he dies due to thinking about the Buddha –> dies with a pure heart full of faith and he finds peace in heaven (Buddha is peace)

Question 8

what is secular Buddhism

Answer 8

focus on who we are and what we do in this lifetime, not on rebirth –> non literal rebirth focused on like with karma

Question 9

how is secular Buddhism different to normal buddhism

Answer 9

• SB is human versus trikaya –> M not repped as no cosmic understanding of the Buddha (lack of hagiographical elements)
• 4NT are empirical descriptions of living
• community needed for practice
• demythologising Buddhism: myths of buddhism taken of –> ‘all i teach is S and CS’
• justified by parable of poisoned arrow

Question 10

quotes on materialism

Answer 10

• ‘it is not life and wealth and power that enslave men, its clinging to life and wealth and power’ SB
• ‘to be content with a simple life, detachment from materialistic concerns’ Cush
  ‘riches ruin the foolish, but not those in the quest of the beyond’ Dhammap
  ‘Buddhism’s emphasis is on a moral framework for economic activity, and the importance of generosity’ Harvey
• 30 rules for monks in VP is about handling money and wealth
  ‘first benefit is thta he acquires his wealth by honest means’ Sutta Pitaka

Question 11

materialism and Buddhism teachings that apply to M

Answer 11

• worldview that sees material possessions, money and personal comfort as more important than spiritual belief and practices
• right livelihood –> honest profession
• three marks –> money is impermenant
• five precepts –> do not steal

Question 12

Buddhist responses to Western materialism

Answer 12

• Materialism seen as attachment and pleasure in physical things, but Buddhism is an alternative way
• wat phra dhammakaya: westernised B using religion to profit
• right livelihood to earn money morally
• generosity and giving –> monastics and alms
• monks have 1 bowl to avoid attachment
• west has commercialised Buddha’s teachings –> yoga eg mindfulness, Buddha statues
• Thich Nhat Hanh
• engaged buddhism
• 4/14 rules about money –> do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry (mindful)

Question 13

Buddha and Sigala advice on responsibility of a household owner

Answer 13

• take care of fam –> respect parents and teach children
• successful marriage –> faithful and working hard for partnership
• choose right friends, good influences and be kind to them
• earn living in a good way –> money should be practically used
• use money sensibly and keep people happy; do not pick a career that breaks the precepts