Notes

Outline

An Introduction to Theravada Buddhism(s) Religion, Culture, Cosmos*

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Major Branches Today Theravada Buddhism (Pali): Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia (canon as the original word of the Buddha) * Mahayana Buddhism (Sanskrit): China, Korea, Japan (open canon) Vajrayana Buddhism: (Sanskrit,Tibetan) India, Central Asia, Tibet (secret knowledge) Buddhism in the West: Orientalism, Colonialism, Western Converts and Asian American Buddhist Communities, Buddhist ecumenism

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Confession of Faith: Triple Gem Prayer I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha historical, cultural and linguistic diversity across the tradition Theravada belief in canonical orthodoxy, textual purity, origins, and preservation of complete teachings though Buddhist Councils

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I. The Model: I Take Refuge in the Buddha Buddha: title denoting a spiritual achievement; The Theravada View of Siddhattha Gotama Sakyamuni: In his final life as a human being, he discovers, models and preaches the Middle Path. Through practice, he  transcends the world of suffering and rebirth (samsāra) and achieves Moral Perfection (nibbāna).Slide 9*

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The Buddha’s Last Words Decay is inherent in all composite things. Work out your path with diligence Don’t believe what you haven’t experienced yourself You can change the minor rules of conduct for the sangha, but not major ones Interpreting the teachings, especially the vinaya

"The Buddha’s parinibbāna," The Buddha’s parinibbāna, absence from the world of rebirth and his legacy: Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in motion: Establishing sāsana (religion, the Buddha’sdispensation in time and space); rupakāya (physical remains): The cult of relics and cosmography / axis mundi; royal patronage and lay responsibility, dhammakāya (spiritual body); Preserving the teachings:  the responsibility of the sangha

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"Other Buddhas:" Other Buddhas: preaching Buddhas, silent Buddhas, lineage of Buddhas, future Buddhas; Representations in Art: Wheel of Dharma, Bodhi Tree, Empty Throne, Buddha images stūpa;

Sacred Biography of the Founder myth and history of the Buddha’s Last Life, foundational narratives (486-360 B.C.E.) transition from charismatic cult to institutional authority in the Buddhist tradition, universalizing the his message; particularizing and localizing participation in his life; thematic and institutional development of Buddhism; world-conqueror / world renouncer linking local actors and events to an encompassing, universal system of meaning

"Major pilgrimage sites:" Major pilgrimage sites: the place of his birth, Lumbinī, the place of his Enlightenment, Bodh Gaya; the site of the First Sermon near Benares; the place of his death near Kusināra;

The Jataka Tradition Jataka narratives as a genre in religious literature, art and ritual countless rebirths in samsara, 547 Pali Jatakas, Ten Great Jatakas vernacular stories of the Buddha’s past lives localizing a religion and participating the Buddha’s biography

Temiya Jataka

II. The Teachings: I Take Refuge in the Dhamma Dharma/ dhamma: The Teachings of the Buddha, The Universal Law,  The Truth The Doctrine of the Middle Path between indulgence and asceticism The Four Noble Truths:  1. There is suffering;  2. Suffering is caused;  3. Bliss in Moral Perfection (enlightenment) exists;  4. There is a path that leads to enlightenment.

The Path The Eightfold Noble Path: Moral Perfection, Ethics and Meditation right views } leads to perfection of wisdom right intentions right speech right action } perfection of morality right livelihood right effort right mindfulness } perfection of concentration right concentration

"nibbāna/nirvāna (Moral Perfection..." nibbāna/nirvāna (Moral Perfection); vs. the world of ignorance and decay (samsāra); transcending the world of impermanence through practice of the dhamma; the Path as practice of the teachings, Universal Law (dhamma); ethical action (kamma/karma); no-soul (anattā); impermance (anicca);

"ethical action (kamma/karma..." ethical action (kamma/karma); no-soul (anatta); impermanence (anicca)  Dependent Co-origination; ethnical causality and its future effects on sentient beings

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Development of The Buddhist Canon From memorization to texts, dating, linguistic diversity The Three Baskets: Tipitaka Suttapitaka – stories and sermons Vinayapitaka - monastic discipline Abhidhammapitaka – philosophy  Theravada orthodoxy (The Word of the Buddha) vs. the open-ended Mahayana and Vajrayana canon, commentaries

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Cosmology The structure of the Buddhist cosmos:  Mt. Meru, cosmic centers (stupas) and mandalas; and realms of existence samsāra (cycle of rebirth); Traversing samsara (cycle of rebirth), rebirth, the path and transcending the realm of suffering and impermanence

III. The Community: I Take Refuge in the Sangha The Early Community : idealization and history; ordained monks, novices, nuns and lay supporters Models of Practice: the sangha as monastic world renouncers in pursuit of nibbana; arhat (an enlightened person, but not a Buddha); bodhisattva (destined to become a Buddha)

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Buddhist Councils Debates about preserving the teachings (dhammakaya), practice and lineages of ordination First Council: codification of dhamma after Buddha’s parinibbana; Third Council: Asoka’s patronage of precursors of Theravada

Aśoka (ca. 272-238B.C.E.)  Mauryan emperor who converts to Buddhism following warfare against the Kalingas; establishes and institutionalizes royal patronage over precursors of Theravada lineage at 3rd Buddhist Council at Pataliputra; establishes the cult of 84,000 stupas to consolidate his power; sends out Dharma Missionaries to preach to and convert the population; Mahinda, Aśoka’s son joins the sangha and is credited with the conversion of the Sri Lankan King Tissa, bringing Theravada Buddism to the island.

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V. The Asokan Model of Kingship Mythic dimensions of his reign are foundational to traditional conceptions of Theravada Buddhist kingship and political theory in Southeast Asia. Major elements include patronage over sangha, cult of relics, and conquest of the dhamma (missionization). the Universal Monarch (cakkavatti) conquerors by the force of the rule of Law (Dhamma), dhammarāja and galactic polities;

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Modes of Monastic Practice in Theravada Buddhism Monks practice, embody and preserve thedhammakaya through pariyatti (education), patipatti (meditation), healing, preaching; they are sources of merit for laity;  perform merit making rituals for layity; monks as fields of merit monastic authority, vinaya orientation, monks and politics meditation centers

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"The Economy of Merit:"

VII. Buddhist Communities, Practices and Icons

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"Patronage of the Rupakaya:"

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Enacting the Sacred in Ritual and Art Evocation and Efficacy in religion, culture and art: sacred images, stupas, relics and other icons representing the Buddha’s presence Visions of the Sacred embodying the sacred in religious art art as meditating religious values Traditional and modern Buddhist world views