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.
When was the heart sutra originated?
Between the first and seventh century.
What texts is the heart sutra part of?
Prajnaparamita texts and is associated with the Madhyamaka of Buddhism and the teachings of Nagarjuna.
What is the purpose of the heart sutra?
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
Who is the dialogue of the heart sutra between?
Sariputra and the bodhisattva of compassion - Avalokitesvara.
What does Avaloketiesvara teach?
Teachers Sapriputra that ‘form is emptiness and emptiness is form’.
When is the lotus sutra dated?
Between the first and second century.
Who is the LS regarded by?
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.
What does the LS present the teaching of?
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.
What does the LS teach?
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.
What is the focus of Ekayana?
Karuna - compassion.
What is a key concept in Lotus sutra?
Upaya - not only is the way that the dhamma taught upaya but the dhamma itself is upaya.
What are the parables in the lotus sutra?
- Burning house
- prodigal son
- phantom city
- physician’s sons
- medicinal herbs.
