self, death and afterlife Flashcards
Buddhism and the meaning of life
- doesnt have a god centered meaning or a soul centered meaning
- this is because there is no god and no self, due to anatta
difference between laity and sangha belief on the meaning of life
L: better rebirth, good karma
S: enlightenment
difference between M and T belief on the meaning of life
M: bodhisattvas, come bakc and help others reach enlightenment
T: arhats, enlightenment for yourselves
quotes on the meaning of life
- ‘you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life’ Camus :)
- ‘who won the lottery of birth against all odds…inevitable return to that prior state from which the vast majority have never stirred’ Richard Dawkins –> gratefulness
- ‘life is trivial in comparison to time’ Carl Sagan
- ‘the existence of God is morally oppressive and leaves no room for personal choice, geniune moral freedom..’ julian baggini –> life is more meaningful without God
what is punabhava
rebirth
what is samsara and quote
cycle of death and rebirth
‘continuous circle of life..without beginning or end’ Wilson
what is paticcasamuppada
dependent origination
what is Karma
action/intention with consequence
point of life: rebirth vs nirvana
rebirth
- conventional truth
- L: more attainable
- in T: only monks can become arhats, so better rebirth allows a person to become a monk
nirvana
- ultimate truth
- M: become a bodhisattva and help, others become enlightened through their help
- T and S –> goal to be arhats
why is a better rebirth important in buddhism
- punya, karmic merit for the L, shape better society –> B teachers how to live not focus on why (p of poisoned arrow), PRACTICAL ADVICE
- zen buddhism, dogen zenji ‘things are so’, accept things as they are
- dalai lama: ahimsa, 1 precept links with karma –> cause and effect
- pure land B: rebirth in sukhavati, better way to achieve buddhahood in pure land –> only in pure land schools in M traditions
- B past lives needed to become B, necessary for Nirvana
- ‘those on the good course go to heaven, while those without effluent: totally unbound’ DHP 126
why is nirvana more important in B
- ‘one thing teach is suffering and cessation of suffering’ B, 4NT
- 4NT: cessation of dukkha, D aim into lead people to spiritual liberation and transcendence of suffering, the last NT is about Nirvana
- 8FP, extinguishes suffering as a whole –> that is its aim
- tathagatagarba: everyone has potential for buddhahood
- ‘come behold this world which is like a decorated chariot, here fools flounder but the wise have no attachment’ dhammapada
- M: bodhisattvas is goal, help others attain nirvana, goal for all sentient beings, central part of the faith
- T: monasticism, meditation to prepare mind for nature of existence and deeper knowledge of B teachings –> have concentration and insight to know nirvana,
- ‘one who has laid down the burden’ tipitaka
- only minor schools do not see nirvana as the goal, such as pure land
point of life: individual or collective
Individual
- T: enlightenment for yourself
collective
- no self: so no individual –> ANATTA, sunyata no svabhava
- karma, actions have consequences on others and yourself due to anatta
- L and S interdependence
- M: bodhisattvas, enlightenment for all
point of life: making this life better or the next
this life
- parable of the poison arrow, what we can do now, not focusing on the metaphysical
- 8FP, 4NT, –> nirvana in this life
- sunyata, time is cycle, no difference between now and later
next
- better rebirth, more likely to achieve nirvana
