Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism

By Daniel JuarezBy Daniel Juarez

Chester ConforteChester Conforte

Francisco GuerraFrancisco Guerra

IndexIndex

• OriginOrigin

• ““The Story of Buddha” The Story of Buddha”

• BeliefsBeliefs

OriginsOrigins• A small revolution occurred in the development of intellectual A small revolution occurred in the development of intellectual

Hinduism, the revolutionist called their teachings Upanishadic Hinduism, the revolutionist called their teachings Upanishadic focused on what the rituals of Hinduism inspiredfocused on what the rituals of Hinduism inspired

• Upanishads, were secretive about their teachings and their Upanishads, were secretive about their teachings and their religious focus was on the ability of human beings to religious focus was on the ability of human beings to understand the mysteries of the universe and their own understand the mysteries of the universe and their own relationship to the divinerelationship to the divine

• The reaction of these teachings by orthodox Hindus sparked The reaction of these teachings by orthodox Hindus sparked more rebellionmore rebellion

• Buddhism did not appear overnight; there was a natural Buddhism did not appear overnight; there was a natural evolution leading up to themevolution leading up to them

• Buddhists acknowledge that there were six heretical schools Buddhists acknowledge that there were six heretical schools that preceded them. that preceded them.

• Like Buddhism these heretical schools focused entirely on the Like Buddhism these heretical schools focused entirely on the problem of transmigration problem of transmigration

• Siddhartha Guatama was the founder of Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama was the founder of Buddhism • The Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") branch of schools began The Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") branch of schools began

about the 1st century A.D.; Mahayanists are found today about the 1st century A.D.; Mahayanists are found today especially in Korea, China, Japan, and Tibet. The three most especially in Korea, China, Japan, and Tibet. The three most prominent schools are Pure Land, Chan or Zen, and Tantra prominent schools are Pure Land, Chan or Zen, and Tantra

The Story of BuddhaThe Story of Buddha• Siddhartha Gautama was the warrior son of Siddhartha Gautama was the warrior son of

a king and queen. According to legend, at a king and queen. According to legend, at his birth an oracle predicted that he might his birth an oracle predicted that he might become a renouncer (withdrawing from the become a renouncer (withdrawing from the luxurious life).luxurious life).

• To prevent this, his father provided him To prevent this, his father provided him with many luxuries and pleasures. with many luxuries and pleasures.

• But, as a young man, he once went on a But, as a young man, he once went on a series of four chariot rides where he first series of four chariot rides where he first saw the more severe forms of human saw the more severe forms of human suffering: suffering: – old age, illness, and death, as well as a renouncer old age, illness, and death, as well as a renouncer

in self denial. in self denial. • The contrast between his life and this The contrast between his life and this

human suffering made him realize that all human suffering made him realize that all the pleasures on earth where in fact the pleasures on earth where in fact transitory, and could only make people transitory, and could only make people happy for a short period.happy for a short period.

The Story of Buddha The Story of Buddha ContinuedContinued• Leaving his wife and new son he took on several teachers Leaving his wife and new son he took on several teachers

and denying himself of these luxuries in the forest until the and denying himself of these luxuries in the forest until the point of near-starvationpoint of near-starvation

• Finally, realizing that this too was only adding more Finally, realizing that this too was only adding more suffering, he ate food and sat down beneath a tree to suffering, he ate food and sat down beneath a tree to meditatemeditate

• By morning (or some say six By morning (or some say six months later) he had attained months later) he had attained Nirvana.Nirvana.

• This provided both the This provided both the true answers to the causes of true answers to the causes of suffering and permanent release suffering and permanent release from itfrom it

BeliefBeliefss

• Samsara- Cycle of birth and rebirth; that the soul Samsara- Cycle of birth and rebirth; that the soul lives on and is reborn in another beinglives on and is reborn in another being

• Nirvana- State of enlightenment achieved through Nirvana- State of enlightenment achieved through meditationmeditation

• Same beliefs as Theravda below is a list of Same beliefs as Theravda below is a list of different beliefsdifferent beliefs

• Tech from the texts called sutrasTech from the texts called sutras• They believe that the Buddha and all human They believe that the Buddha and all human

beings have their origin in what is variously called beings have their origin in what is variously called Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, or Emptiness Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, or Emptiness

• Even dumb people can reach NirvanaEven dumb people can reach Nirvana• There are Past and also future Buddhas, some of There are Past and also future Buddhas, some of

whom are "god-like" and preside over Buddha-whom are "god-like" and preside over Buddha-worlds or heavenly paradises worlds or heavenly paradises