Introduction to Buddhism

• (III)

• Dr. Robert C L Law• Buddhist Lodge of Laity

• January, 2008.

Vajrayana 金剛乘• Vajra—the thunderbolt of Indra , transformed

into a diamond scepter. • Emphasis on visualization , symbols and

ritual .• Visualization : perceive having the body,

speech , and mind of a deity • Symbols and rituals ---- help to cut one loose

from ordinary perception to see the true nature of things.

• Fully developed in Tibetan Buddhism

Vajrayana ( Cont’d)

• “The proper way is to develop faith”

• Complete Faith ( after due investigation);

Faith in the inconceivable truth :

Faith in the lineage, vajrayana path,

and the Vajra master.

• Such complete faith in the Vajra master (Guru) –terrifying and claustrophobic ? Like Islam?

Vajrayana ( Cont’d II)

• Tantric Rituals--- psychological empowerment?

• Initiation rituals ---- Unorthodox

breaking of orthodox perception

drinking impure things, sex with consort

• Problem with faulty Guru

Three Dharma Seals ( 三法印 )

• Dukkha 苦

• Impermanence 無常

• No-self 無我

Impermanence 無常• Nothing is the same from one moment to

another .• All objects of our perception • Not pessimistic --- no change would be

possible without it . • Should not be a source of suffering – rather,

it is wanting things to be permanent that causes suffering

No-self ( Non-self) 無我• The most difficult concept in Buddhism

• What is the self ?

• Hindu ------ An Essence , goal --- to

• be one with Brahman

• Soul -----Greek Soul

• Christian Soul

• Chinese Soul ?

Buddhist concept of a person• Five Aggregates ( skandhas) 五蘊 :• form 色 --- body, sense organs• feelings 受 ---- pleasant , unpleasant , neutral• perceptions 想 – conceptualizing • mental formation 行 --- fear etc (51 categories)• consciousness 識 ---- stored consciousness , • the matrix with seeds in it. • None of the above is permanent, so where is the self ? • Craving for a permanent soul is a source of suffering

No-self ( Cont’d)• Traditional thinking hard to change

• Difficult to understand and accept

• Apparent contradiction with other teachings.

• As a strategy to alleviate suffering ?

• Need intense meditation to transform one’s mind

Problem with No-self . • If no-self , who attains enlightenment ?

• If no-self , who goes into the next life ?

• The story of Sati

• The story of Vacchagota

•

In spite of these…………..

• The Alaya consciousness 阿賴耶識

• Apparent “Re-incarnation” in Tibetan Buddhism .

A most vexing question

• How it is possible to have rebirth without a self ?

• Buddhist monks have struggled with this problem for over 2000 years.

• One must understand the principle of

Dependent Origination 緣起法

Dependent Origination 緣起法• “ This is, because that is ; This is not, because that

is not . This comes to be , because that comes to be. This ceases to be , because that ceases to be”

• “ He who sees Dependent Origination sees my teachings “

• “ My teacher (the Buddha)’s teaching is all about • Dependent Origination”

Dependent Origination• All teachings are based on it . If a teaching

is not in accord with it , then it is not the teaching of the Buddha

• Impermanence is implicit in this teaching.

• Main implication : we think we are an independent entity , but we are , in fact , not.

The Twelve Links of D O • Ignorance 無明• Volitional action 行

• Consciousness 識• Mind/Body 名• Six senses/objects 六入• Contact 觸• Feeling 受• Craving 愛• Grasping 取• Coming to be 有

• Birth 生• Old Age/Decay 老死

No linear , all inter-related

The T L of D O ( Cont’d)• Not always 12 links . • Some overlap , e.g. ignorance and volition exist in

consciousness ; the six senses are already in the body/mind .

• Thus sometimes the Buddha teaches 9 links , sometime 10 links ( omitting ignorance and volition)

• Not linear , all interrelated, all are causes and effects at the same time.

• Not used to explain birth and death .

• Dependent • Origination

• Your health and the

• farmers in China

Dependent Origination

• Pollution

• Greenhouse

• Effect

Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)

• - More examples :

• - people in this room

- your children.

Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)

• Sariputta : It is so clear and easy to understand

• Buddha : Don’t say that . It is through not being able to comprehend Dependent Origination , that people are entangled like a ball of cotton, and not being able to see the Truth ………….

Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)

• May not be easy to accept :

Child labour in India ?

A dead miner in the diamond mine in

Africa?

How about a mugger in Hong Kong ?

Dependent Origination ( Cont’d)

• A butterfly flaps its wings in Africa……

• Thich Nhat Hanh : We are all inter-beings , we are all inter-are”

• One must understand this concept in order to understand the Buddhist idea of Karma and Re-birth

Importance of Dependent Origination

• Helps to explain all phenomena in this world.

• Help one to understand Kamma and Rebirth .