The Main Theme and Concepts in Mahayana Texts Flashcards
AO3: What does a Buddhist view on reality include?
An empirical view of the ‘self’.
AO3: How is the analysis of reality expressed in its fullest form through the Shakyamuni Buddha?
Through the teachings of emptiness - the sunyatavada.
AO3: Where are the teachings of emptiness most clearly found?
In the Prajnaparamita in the heart sutra and the writings of Nagarjuna.
AO3: What conventional view do some Buddhists prefer to take?
More concrete guidance rather than everything is empty.
AO3: What teachings follow a more conventional view on reality?
Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
AO3: What did Fritjof Capra find parallels between regarding reality?
Science and Asian thought outlined in the ‘Tao of Physics’.
AO3: What scientific implications did understanding the universe as ‘empty’ lead to?
Talk of parallel universes and multiverses.
AO3: What Buddhist belief are multiverses similar to?
Avatamsaka Sutra in Chinese Hua Yen Buddhism - as the Heart Sutra states as all is empty of inherent existence, infinite possibilities emerge.
AO3: What do Buddhists believe there are multiple of?
Buddha kshetras - Buddha fields or universes.
AO3: What do Mahayana Sutras portray?
A universe full of demons, Kings, celestial Bodhisattvas and multiple realms.
Not representative of reality.
AO3: How can the Mahayana Sutras be argued to represent reality?
The parallel words theory in quantum mechanics outline no specific nature of such worlds.
AO3: What Buddhist argument proposes that there is no universal agreement on what ‘reality’ is?
Reality is unlikely to conform to the unenlightened - Nagarjuna’s notion of equality and mutuality of nirvana and samsara.
AO3: What theory do some argue is necessary to be representative of reality?
A theory of the beginning of the Universe such as the Big Bang theory which lacks in the Mahayana Sutras.
AO3: What objects the fact that the Mahayana Sutras has no origination story?
Due to Sunyatavada - emptiness teachings.
AO3: What may the Buddha say about trying to decipher ‘reality’?
That it is futile - Parable of the Poisoned Arrow.
Called them ‘unanswerable’.
AO3: What is a feature of Therevada Buddhism regarding the teachings of skilful means?
Diversifying the teachings based off of spiritual skill.
AO3: What did the Buddha first see when he became enlightened?
‘Surveyed the world…he saw beings with little dust in their eyes’.
AO3: Within which schools is there a diversity of beliefs?
Mahayana, Vajrayana and Therevada - a practical outworking of skilful means.
AO3: How can historical means be evidence of Buddhisms diversity?
There are cultural variations within every classification within Therevada.
AO3: How does the Parable of the Burning House outline the importance of skilful means?
The urgency of human condition and distracted state of sentient beings requires a variety of vehicles to achieve enlightenment.
Parable explains Buddha’s teachings to be provisional explaining the rifts.
AO3: What Buddhist belief identifies there to be no diversity?
Ekayana - One path, all paths lead to the same enlightenment.
AO3: What does the Shurangama Sutta say paths are like?
None of the diverse paths are truths but instead are all like fingers pointing to the moon.
AO3: What is important regarding the focus on the paths?
That not too much of a focus is placed on them, instead focusing on your destination.
What are the two Mahayana texts?
Heart and lotus sutra.