Comparing Theravada & Mahayana Buddhism: Origins, Morality, Purpose, Destiny & Women's Rol, Lecture notes of English

Download Comparing Theravada & Mahayana Buddhism: Origins, Morality, Purpose, Destiny & Women's Rol and more Lecture notes English in PDF only on Docsity! Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! Comparative Analysis of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism Introduction to World Religion and Belief system Module 11 Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! ORIGIN • According to Ong and Jose (2016), Buddhism traces its origins in Northern India around the sixth century B.C.E. as another interpretation of the Hindu belief. This religion is closely linked to its founder Siddhartha Gautama who is also referred to as the Buddha or the “Enlightened One.” • Buddha is a son of Kshatriya chief; the once affluent Siddhartha abandoned the comfort of his palace and family as he set to discover the remedy to universal suffering he observed in this world. After long periods of abstinence and meditation, he finally reached enlightenment (nirvana) and became known as the “Buddha” or the “enlightened one.” He preached mainly in the eastern part of the India subcontinent such as in Magadha and Kosala. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! •Buddhist moral thoughts and actions are principally guided by the “Four Noble Truths” formulated by the Buddha, along with the basic guide called the “Eightfold Paths” that are divided into three categories, namely, right view, right conduct, and right practice. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! • Unhappiness of life (dukkha) is principally caused by people’s unending desires. People are advised to scrutinize their motivations and ponder upon the outcome of their actions keeping in mind Buddha’s teachings. Anything harmful to others, in deed and in thought, must always be avoided. The two major schools of Buddhism, the Theravada and Mahayana sects, follow the “Four Nobel Truths” and the “Noble Eightfold Path.” Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! • In Theravada Buddhism, the monastic way of life ensures the path toward enlightenment. For the Buddhist laity congregation, they must be reborn as monks for them to be eligible for enlightenment. As members of the laity perform good deed, positive karma may bring forth a pleasant condition in the next line. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! DESTINY • Buddhism holds that no soul s being reborn because there is no permanence in anything. The Buddha preached to his followers to achieve their own salvation conscientiously because external forces have no control over their life and circumstances. They control their own fate as they are bound to the law of causality. Buddhist destiny, therefore, is the direct result of natural law or dharma or one’s accumulated deeds or karma. Here lies the glaring difference of Buddhism as a dharmic religion when compared to other religions that teach the concept of fate or predestiny. For Buddhist followers, the life and events are not controlled by an all powerful creator or universal force. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! • In Theravada school of Buddhism, the trainings on the development of ethical conduct, meditation, and insight assist in eradicating all forms of evil in order to acquire goodness and purity of mind. All worldly things are momentary and impermanent. By following the “Middle Path” and practicing the basic doctrines of Buddhism, there is a realization that desire can be terminated and suffering reduced. In the end, a perfected state of insight can be accomplished. A person who has attained this position is called an arhat or a “worthy person” who must be emulated by the Theravada Buddhists. Adherents can reach an enlightened status through their own ways without any assistance from any divine beings, such as gods or goddesses. With the help of Buddha’s teachings, the journey toward nirvana becomes possible. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! VIEW OF WOMEN • Women have enjoyed considerable freedom in their religious life in Buddhism. The Buddha himself allowed the full participation of women in all major Buddhist rites and practices. For so long time when women’s duties were confined to household and kitchen duties, Buddha radically changed this when he allowed women to join the monastic order and attain the enlightenment in equal footing with the men. In the past, learned women members of sangha include Dhammadinna, Khema, and Uppalavanna. Fully ordained Buddhist female monastic members are bhikkunis. Fin d m or e Po we rP oi nt te m pl at es o n pr ez en tr .c om ! • For the Buddha, men are not always wise and women can also be wise. In Buddhism, women should not be treated as inferior to men because both are equally valuable in society. Women as wives and mothers have roles to fulfill in the family and society. Husbands and wives must equally share responsibilities in the family with the same zeal. Wives must also familiarize themselves in trade and in business dealings so that they can also handle these affairs. Men and women have equal status in Buddhist societies.