MAYAHANA BUDDHISM 2

• The precise origins of Mahayana Buddhism are something of a mystery. The histori- cal record shows it emerging as a distinctive school during the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.
• The Great Schism:

  • Sangha split into two factions around a century after Buddha's life: • Mahasanghika ("of the great sangha") • Sthavira ("the elders") • Initially thought to come from Mahasanghika but has roots in various early schools. • Contains elements from both Mahasanghika and ancient Sthavira sects.
• Impact on Monastic Orders:

  • Mahayana monastic orders don't follow Mahasanghika's Vinaya. • Tibetan Buddhism follows Vinaya from Mulasarvastivada (Sthavira).

  • Monastic orders elsewhere follow Vinaya from Dharmaguptaka (related to

  Theravada).
• Great Schism's historical impact differs from Theravada vs. Mahayana division. Core Teachings:

  1. Mahayana (Great Way) Teachings • Aimed at people who want to help others (Bodhisattva Attitude). • Focus on increasing compassion and wisdom gradually. • View the world as changeable, like a dream, influenced by thoughts and actions. • Spread mainly in northern Asia - Japan, Vietnam, China, Tibet, Korea. • Also known as Northern Buddhist schools. • Goal: not just liberation but full enlightenment for everyone's benefit. • Includes teachings from Theravada.
• 2. Compassion and Wisdom

  • In Buddhism, compassion and wisdom are linked. • Regular meditation creates mental space, reducing difficult thoughts and emotions. • Recognizing shared human problems strengthens compassion towards others. • Acting selflessly leads to positive feedback and loosens negative emotions like anger and jealousy. • With less self-centeredness, wisdom naturally emerges and grows alongside compassion on the spiritual journey.
• Enlightenment


  The ultimate goal where positive qualities like joy, fearlessness, and compassion are fully developed
• Buddha was the first recorded person to achieve full enlightenment
• No inherent difference between Buddha and us; anyone can attain liberation and enlightenment through mental training
• Buddhism views

  • Body, thoughts, and feelings as "empty," lacking a lasting essence or separate self
• Liberation


  Comes from deeply experiencing the understanding that body, thoughts, and feelings are "empty," leading to freedom from taking things personally
• Enlightenment


  • Awareness becomes all-encompassing without confusion or disturbance, benefiting others effortlessly
• The Six Perfections • "Paramita" means perfection or completeness. • Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes six perfections for achieving Buddhahood: 1. Generosity 2. Morality 3. Patience 4. Energy 5. Meditation 6. Wisdom
• 1. Generosity (Dana paramita) - Willingness to give to others what they need, whether that be time, possessions or skills. Willingness to give without regret and with joy, and to give without expectation of reward
• 2. Morality (Sila paramita)- Following the Dhamma (or Dharma)in all

  aspects, but not without thinking.

  Working the Dhamma into one’s daily life

  with intelligence and understanding.
• 3. Patience (Ksanti paramita) -Also translated as ‘tolerance’ or

  ‘endurance’. Being patient with others, enduring hardship and accepting the

  truth of life’s unsatisfactoriness (or duk-kha).
• 4. Energy (Virya paramita)- Dedication to attaining Buddhahood.

  term commonly translated as "energy",

  "diligence", "enthusiasm", or "effort". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it

  functions to cause one to accomplish

  wholesome or virtuous actions.
• 5. Meditation (Dhyana paramita) - Meditation is the foundation of wisdom. Inner focus and calm are essential for the

  deep understanding required for

  Buddhahood.
• 6. Wisdom (Prajna paramita) ----Wisdom consists of understanding that all of existence is emptiness (sunyata). This idea is the foundation of all of the paramitas. Wisdom, which means awareness of sunyata, is achieved through the previous five paramitas.