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Sangha (II):Mahāyāna Buddhism

Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.

AST/REL 260

Buddhism

Berea College

Spring 2006

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BUDDHISM ON THE SOUTHWEST ASIAN FRONTIER, c. 100s BCE

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MAHĀYĀNA SOTERIOLOGY

• Theravāda goal = arhat (worthy one), who attains nirvāna at death

• Mahāyāna goal = bodhisattva (those whose essence is enlightenment), who defers nirvāna in order to assist suffering beings in samsāra

• Unlike Theravāda laity, Mahāyāna laity meditate, study scriptures, and may even teach dharma

• In spite of openness to lay (even female) participation, Mahāyāna remains monastically-driven movement

• Mahāyāna regards the number of suffering beings as infinite, thus suggesting an infinite number of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, who function as semi-divine figures – interceding for believers, performing miracles, etc.

• Almost all figures in Mahāyāna pantheon legendary/nonhistorical or drawn from non-Buddhist traditions:

1. Hindu bhakti2. Greco-Roman religions3. Local deities

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MAITREYA

• Name means “Benevolence”

• In this cosmic age, functions as bodhisattva

• Currently reborn as god

• Responsive to intercessory prayer

• Future Buddha and successor to Şakyamuni

• Often becomes focus of apocalyptic (end-time) expectation and/or messianic (future-savior) fervor

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MAÑJUŚRĪ

• Name means “Gentle Glory”• In this cosmic age, functions as

bodhisattva• Currently reborn in a Buddha-land

(realm of samsāra over which a Buddha presides, in which progress toward enlightenment is faster than usual)

• Appears to devotees in dreams• When chanted, his name reduces

one’s rebirths until enlightenment• Associated with wisdom (prajñā)

that overcomes obstacles to enlightenment

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AMITĀBHA

• Name means “Unlimited Light”• Buddha who presides over

realm in which one is guaranteed to attain enlightenment and rebirth as hell-being or animal is impossible

• Vows to grant rebirth in his realm to:

1. All who make a sincere effort at faith in his power (according to one tradition)

2. All beings, regardless of their effort (according to another)

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AVALOKITEŚVARA

• Name means “Observing Lord”• In this cosmic age, bodhisattva

and attendant to Amitābha Buddha

• When chanted, his name reduces one’s rebirths until enlightenment and eliminates negative karma

• Associated with compassion (karuna), rescue from danger, fertility

• Seen as protector of Tibet• In East Asia, transformed into

female figure – Guanyin 觀音(Chinese), Kannon (Japanese)

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MAHĀYĀNA PHILOSOPHY I:MĀDHYAMIKA

• Associated with Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250 CE)

• All phenomena are māyā (illusion):

1. Impermanent2. Interdependent3. tending toward suffering4. śūnya (empty) of svabhāva (self-

existence)

• Śūnyatā (emptiness) of all things (even śūnyatā!) dissolves all distinctions and dichotomies:

1. relative/absolute2. male/female3. samsāra/ nirvāna

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MAHĀYĀNA PHILOSOPHY II: YOGĀÇĀRA

• Associated with Vasubandhu (c. 300s CE)

• All beings possess tathāgatagarbha = mental arena in which one’s consciousness gradually “ripens” until enlightenment

• Three bodies (kāya) of the Buddha:

1. Nirmāna-kāya – apparition-body (e.g., Şakyamuni in earthly form)

2. Dharma-kāya – law-body (e.g., Şakyamuni having attained nirvāna)

3. Sambhoga-kāya – enjoyment-body (e.g., transcendent form seen by bodhisattvas)

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