Introduction to Buddhism Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee University of Arkansas

Introduction to Buddhism

Ven. Geshe Thupten DorjeeUniversity of Arkansas

Reading Assignment

• Maguire: Introduction• Maguire: Notes on the Text

00 - INTRODUCTION 2Introduction to Buddhism

Geshe Thupten Dorjee• 50 Years In Exile • Born in Tibet during the Chinese Communist invasion in

1959. • 1961 – escape to Bhutan. • 1973 - Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India

– Original monastery established in Lhasa, Tibet in 1416– After the 1959 invasion, the monastery was forced to

close and was almost completely destroyed• 1998 - Geshe Lharampa (equivalent to Ph.D. in

philosophy)• 2002 – Geshe Ngarampa (tantrayana)

300 - INTRODUCTIONIntroduction to Buddhism

Geshe Lharampa Degree• 25 Years of study: Major Buddhist and non-Buddhist

Indian Philosophy texts, Tibetan culture, and history1. Prajnaparamita: Perfection of Wisdom

(Tibetan, Pharchin) 2. Madhyamika: Middle way Philosophy

(Tibetan, Uma)3. Pramana Vertika Karika: Valid Cognition

(Tibetan, Namdrel)4. Abhidharma: Buddhist Metaphysics

(Tibetan, Zoe)5. Vinaya: Buddhist Ethics

(Tibetan, Dul-Wa)


Geshe Ngarampa Degree• Geshe Ngarampa = Doctor of Philosophy in Tantra • Gyuto Tantric University, North India. • Advanced studies: 4 Categories of Buddhist Tantra. • Tantra literally means “continuum”; refers to the set of

esoteric teachings and practice of Buddhism. • Four Categories of Tantra

1. Action Tantra (Kriya Tantra) 2. Performance Tantra (Carya Tantra)3. Yoga Tantra4. Highest Yoga Tantra (Anuttarayoga Tantra)


Typical Curriculum of Study• Collected Topics on Valid Cognition: Logic,

epistemology, and psychology. • Debate manual: Commentary on Dignaga’s

“Compendium on Valid Cognition” by Dharmakirti (7th century).

• Emphasis on debate• Buddhist philosophy is based on logic and reason• 9 hours per day are devoted to discussion and

intellectual understanding of Buddha’s teachings• Requires memorization of all root texts

(thousands of pages)


Debating the Tenets


Introduction to the Tenets• Perfection of Wisdom

– 7 years– 70 topics related to the spiritual path of Buddhist

practitioners at all levels, – Based on Maitreya’s (fourth century) Ornament for Clear

Realizations and various commentaries.• Middle Way

– 4 years– Madhyamika philosophy based Chandrakirti’s (7th century)

Entrance to the Middle Way. – 10 Bodhisattva perfections and grounds are covered,

although the main topic is emptiness.


Introduction to the Tenets• Abhidharma

– 4 years– Topics such as cosmology, meditative states, and

psychology– Based on Vasubandhu’s (4th century) Treasury of

Abhidharma. – Also study Non-Buddhist Systems for better understanding

of Buddhist Philosophy

“For Gelugpa, it is much more important to memorize and debate than it is to read broadly.”


Introduction to the Tenets

• Tantrayana– Gyuto Tantric University– Requires successful completion of oral

examination in front of the entire college of monks– Tests the candidate’s knowledge and

memorization of the root Guyasamucha (King of Tantrayana) texts and related topics


Textbooks

• Jack Maguire: Essential Buddhism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices

• Geshe Sonam Rinchen: Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment


Maguire’s Questions

1. How did Buddhism begin?2. How did it turn into such a dynamic force in

the world?3. What do its adherents believe?4. How do they express their faith?5. Why are so many westerners drawn to it?6. What is its relevance to our individual lives

and to society as a whole?


Three Basic Formats

• Maguire describes “three basic formats” of Buddhism:1. Theravada2. Mahayana3. Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism)

• While Maguire uses “Vajrayana” to distinguish between “Tibetan Buddhism” and other forms, Vajrayana is better viewed as a particular practice within Mahayana Buddhism


Buddhist Philosophical SchoolsTibetan Mahayana Perspective

• Hinayana– Theravada

• Vaibhasika• Sautantrika

• Mahayana– Sutra (sutrayana)

• Cittamatra• Madhayamika

– Svatantrika– Prasangika

– Tantra (Tantrayana, Vajrayana)

• Kriya Tantra• Carya Tantra• Yoga Tantra• Anuttarayoga Tantra


Theravada Buddhism

• Most common in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar)

• Emphasizes monasticism• Arhat ideal (individual liberation)• Major texts (written in Pali)

– Tipitaka (3 Baskets)• Vinaya Pitaka• Sutta Pitaka• Abhidhamma Pitaka


Mahayana Buddhism

• Developed in India around the 4th century

• Expands Buddhism to laypersons• More liberal monastic codes• Bodhisattva ideal – liberation of all

sentient beings• Major texts

– Perfection of Wisdom sutras– Diamond sutra– Lotus sutra– Tibetan commentaries


Mahayana Schools

• Zen (Ch’an) Buddhism– Common in China, Japan,

Korea, Vietnam– Blends Mahayana Buddhism

with Taoism– Aims at taking the rational

and intellectual mind out of the mental loop

– Zen is something you do – it cannot be described in words

– Two major schools• Rinzai• Soto


Mahayana Schools

• Tibetan Buddhism– Importance of the Lama or

teacher– Importance of ritual and

initiations– Preoccupation with

relationship between life and death

– Rich visual symbolism– Prominence of

supernatural beings– Elements of earlier Tibetan

religions


Mahayana Schools

• Vajrayana Buddhism– Developed in India

around the 5th century CE

– Came to Tibet in 7th – 8th centuries CE

– Often viewed as the third major school of Buddhism, after Theravada and Mahayana

– Esoteric, secret practices designed to achieve enlightenment quickly


Mahayana Schools

• 4 Major Tibetan Schools1. Nyingma2. Sakya3. Kagyu4. Gelug


Mahayana Schools

• Pure Land Buddhism (China, Japan)– Pure Land Buddhism offers path to

enlightenment for people who can’t handle the subtleties of meditation and long rituals

– Essential practice is the chanting of the name of Amitabha Buddha: Namu amida butsu

– Teaches rebirth in the “pure land”, a sort of Buddhist “heaven”


Nichiren Buddhism (Japan)The Lotus Sutra is the only path to enlightenment.Other Buddhist practices no longer provide a path to enlightenment.Focus on this world, and the importance of the individual.Main practice is chanting: Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (I devote my life to the law itself.)

Atisha’s Questions1. What is a practitioner of the Great Vehicle like?2. Can the altruistic intention arise in an ordinary person?3. Does one need to hold the individual liberation vows as a

basis for the Bodhisattva Vow?4. When someone holding the individual liberation vow

takes the tantric vow, does the individual liberation vow become the tantric vow or does that person then old two vows?

5. Do skillful means and wisdom need to be combined or not in order to complete the two great stores of merit?

6. Which is the correct view, Cittamatra or Madhyamika?7. How does one enter the door of Mahayana secret

mantra?


Reading Assignment

• Maguire: Chapter 1• Atisha: Introduction• Atisha: Prologue

00 - INTRODUCTION 23Introduction to Buddhism

Documents

Introduction to Buddhism Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee University of Arkansas