The Main Theme and Concepts in Mahayana Texts

Question 1

AO3: What does a Buddhist view on reality include?

Answer 1

An empirical view of the ‘self’.

Question 2

AO3: How is the analysis of reality expressed in its fullest form through the Shakyamuni Buddha?

Answer 2

Through the teachings of emptiness - the sunyatavada.

Question 3

AO3: Where are the teachings of emptiness most clearly found?

Answer 3

In the Prajnaparamita in the heart sutra and the writings of Nagarjuna.

Question 4

AO3: What conventional view do some Buddhists prefer to take?

Answer 4

More concrete guidance rather than everything is empty.

Question 5

AO3: What teachings follow a more conventional view on reality?

Answer 5

Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Question 6

AO3: What did Fritjof Capra find parallels between regarding reality?

Answer 6

Science and Asian thought outlined in the ‘Tao of Physics’.

Question 7

AO3: What scientific implications did understanding the universe as ‘empty’ lead to?

Answer 7

Talk of parallel universes and multiverses.

Question 8

AO3: What Buddhist belief are multiverses similar to?

Answer 8

Avatamsaka Sutra in Chinese Hua Yen Buddhism - as the Heart Sutra states as all is empty of inherent existence, infinite possibilities emerge.

Question 9

AO3: What do Buddhists believe there are multiple of?

Answer 9

Buddha kshetras - Buddha fields or universes.

Question 10

AO3: What do Mahayana Sutras portray?

Answer 10

A universe full of demons, Kings, celestial Bodhisattvas and multiple realms.
Not representative of reality.

Question 11

AO3: How can the Mahayana Sutras be argued to represent reality?

Answer 11

The parallel words theory in quantum mechanics outline no specific nature of such worlds.

Question 12

AO3: What Buddhist argument proposes that there is no universal agreement on what ‘reality’ is?

Answer 12

Reality is unlikely to conform to the unenlightened - Nagarjuna’s notion of equality and mutuality of nirvana and samsara.

Question 13

AO3: What theory do some argue is necessary to be representative of reality?

Answer 13

A theory of the beginning of the Universe such as the Big Bang theory which lacks in the Mahayana Sutras.

Question 14

AO3: What objects the fact that the Mahayana Sutras has no origination story?

Answer 14

Due to Sunyatavada - emptiness teachings.

Question 15

AO3: What may the Buddha say about trying to decipher ‘reality’?

Answer 15

That it is futile - Parable of the Poisoned Arrow.
Called them ‘unanswerable’.

Question 16

AO3: What is a feature of Therevada Buddhism regarding the teachings of skilful means?

Answer 16

Diversifying the teachings based off of spiritual skill.

Question 17

AO3: What did the Buddha first see when he became enlightened?

Answer 17

‘Surveyed the world…he saw beings with little dust in their eyes’.

Question 18

AO3: Within which schools is there a diversity of beliefs?

Answer 18

Mahayana, Vajrayana and Therevada - a practical outworking of skilful means.

Question 19

AO3: How can historical means be evidence of Buddhisms diversity?

Answer 19

There are cultural variations within every classification within Therevada.

Question 20

AO3: How does the Parable of the Burning House outline the importance of skilful means?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

AO3: What Buddhist belief identifies there to be no diversity?

Answer 21

Ekayana - One path, all paths lead to the same enlightenment.

Question 22

AO3: What does the Shurangama Sutta say paths are like?

Answer 22

None of the diverse paths are truths but instead are all like fingers pointing to the moon.

Question 23

AO3: What is important regarding the focus on the paths?

Answer 23

That not too much of a focus is placed on them, instead focusing on your destination.

Question 24

What are the two Mahayana texts?

Answer 24

Heart and lotus sutra.

Question 25

When was the heart sutra originated?

Answer 25

Between the first and seventh century.

Question 26

What texts is the heart sutra part of?

Answer 26

Prajnaparamita texts and is associated with the Madhyamaka of Buddhism and the teachings of Nagarjuna.

Question 27

What is the purpose of the heart sutra?

Answer 27

Can be seen as containing the heart of Prajnaparamita teaching and can also be seen as being at the heart of meditation for Mahayana Buddhists

Question 28

Who is the dialogue of the heart sutra between?

Answer 28

Sariputra and the bodhisattva of compassion - Avalokitesvara.

Question 29

What does Avaloketiesvara teach?

Answer 29

Teachers Sapriputra that ‘form is emptiness and emptiness is form’.

Question 30

When is the lotus sutra dated?

Answer 30

Between the first and second century.

Question 31

Who is the LS regarded by?

Answer 31

Mahayana Buddhists - particularly in East Asia - has been influential in the development of Buddhism in China, Japan, korea, Tibet and since the 19th century the West.

Question 32

What does the LS present the teaching of?

Answer 32

The teaching of the Buddha - however it is not the historical Buddha of the Pali Canon, but the eternal Buddha who is the ultimate - beyond time, space, existence and non-existence.

Question 33

What does the LS teach?

Answer 33

Ekayana - there is one true ‘Yana’ or vehicle to achieve buddhahood - this is not through the arhat path of Theravada or through finding enlightenment for oneself but through the path of being a bodhisattva.

Question 34

What is the focus of Ekayana?

Answer 34

Karuna - compassion.

Question 35

What is a key concept in Lotus sutra?

Answer 35

Upaya - not only is the way that the dhamma taught upaya but the dhamma itself is upaya.

Question 36

What are the parables in the lotus sutra?

Answer 36

• Burning house
• prodigal son
• phantom city
• physician’s sons
• medicinal herbs.