World Religions: Beliefs and Values - Study Guide | PHIL 250E, Study notes of Introduction to Philosophy

Download World Religions: Beliefs and Values - Study Guide | PHIL 250E and more Study notes Introduction to Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity! PHIL 250 - WORLD RELIGIONS In-Class Assignment #8, #9, #10 & #11 - Jainism & Buddhism (Phase of the Buddha & Diaspora) JAINISM 1. Within Jainism Mahavira proposed one should follow the Five Great Vows - what are the vows? THE FIVE GREAT VOWS (vows upheld by monks & nuns within monastery and convent) (1) Ahimsa (Nonviolence) - Renounce killing and to deny the right of others to kill. (2) Satya (Truthfulness) - Renounce all vices associated with lies arising from greed, fear, laughter, or anger and to repudiate indifference to the lies of others. (3) Asteya (Honesty) - Renounce all forms of stealing, whether the object is great or small, animate or inanimate, and to refuse to accept anything that is not freely given. (4) Brahmacharya (Sexual Avoidance) - Renounce all sexual pleasures in favor of chastity and not to consent to sensuality in others (Mahavira not only renounced sexual pleasures but also women in general. He is said to have declared “women are the greatest temptation in the world.”). (5) Aparigraha (Non-possession) - Renounce all forms of attachment that cause pleasure or pain and love or hate and to forbid consent to others to do so (it was precisely because of this the Fifth Vow that Mahavira renounced his family, possessions, and refused to stay in any place more than five days). 2. According to the Mahapurana (There is no Creator God) what are the five main arguments and/or examples to support the main argument listed? Within Jainism there is an ethical atheistic view of existence where there is no creator god and the perfect man is the goal - some of the reasons are listed: (1) If he [God] is ever perfect and complete how could the will to create have arisen in him? (2) If God created the world where was he before creation? (3) If you say he [God] kills only to destroy the evil beings why did he create such beings in the first place? (4) Why did he [God] not make creation wholly blissful free from misfortune? (5) No single being had the skill to make this world - For how can an immaterial god create that which is material? (6) If you say that he [God] created for no purpose, because it was his nature to do so, then God is pointless. (7) If God created the world as an act of his own will, without any raw material, then it is just his will and nothing else - and who will believe this nonsense? 3. Within Jainism who is Mahavira and what is his importance? Mahavira - Also known as Nattaputta Vardhamana from birth, Mahavira was born to a woman named Trisala and her husband, a king named Siddhartha, both of the Kshatriya caste; According to some accounts the family was adherents to the nonviolent teachings of one of the ascetic Tirthankara named Parshva (death c. 776 B.C. - the 23rd Tirthankara); Vardhamana was married at a young age, but at age thirty after the death of his parents he renounced the princely world in search of a higher meaning; For twelve years, like other wandering philosophers (sadhus or sannyasins) of India, Vardhamana wandered through the Ganges River plain fasting, meditating, and enduring the assaults of both men and beasts; For his efforts he gained the title “Great Hero” or Mahavira - later he attained the state of perfect isolation from all harmful karma via the Five Great Vows, a state known as kevala; Entering into this state of omniscience qualified him as the 24th Tirthankara of the Jaina religion 4. Within Jainism you are attempting to liberate oneself from the bonds of the material world. What is this liberation “leading to the perfect knowledge… attained only through a gradual process of purification” known as? For the Jainas there is no God, no avatars of God, and no subservient gods. As within Hinduism the ultimate goal of the Jain is salvation (moksha or kevala) from within the cycle of birth-death-rebirth (samsara). The ideal of Brahman (found within Hinduism) is not formulated within Jainism and would therefore allow Jainism to be called an atheistic religion. There are numerous higher beings who might be called “gods” and who exist on the various levels of the celestial regions, but they are finite beings, subject like humans to rebirth. Human souls caught in the predicament of existence in the physical world need to find a way of escape from karma, through moksha, and must realize SALVATION IS SELF-ATTAINED. Praying to a god is of no avail. The Sankhya ideal of “a real matter and an infinite plurality of souls which are not emanations of a single world soul” is the Jain ideal. Jain metaphysics is a dualistic system dividing the universe into two ultimate and independent categories: (1) jivas - living beings or souls which permeate natural forces such as wind, fire, plants, animals, and human beings (2) ajivas - non-living entities which include space, time, and matter. Each life force contains energy, consciousness, bliss, and takes repeated birth within a three tiered universe. At the lowest level, jivas dwell in the hellish realms; in the intermediate level, jivas exist as elementals, plants, animals, and humans; in the upper or heavenly realm, jivas take the form of gods or saints. HOWEVER, ONLY WITHIN THE MIDDLE REALM CAN THE JIVA, VIA THE HUMAN BEING, REACH KEVALA. Within Jainism kevala is liberation “leading to the perfect knowledge… attained only through a gradual process of purification.” In the pure state, when entirely liberated from matter, all souls are perfect, possessing infinite perception, infinite knowledge, infinite power, and infinite bliss. When liberated souls rise through the universe (held to be shaped like a human body) and come to dwell in the umbrella-like place (thought to be the top of the skull) known structurally as Isatpragbhara (“slightly convex”) or spiritually as the Siddha-sila (i.e. “home of the perfect ones”). THE SIDDHAS The Siddhas (i.e. saints) that have entered this eternal home are not reduced to nothingness, for though they are described as being without qualities or relations of any sort, there is no cessation of consciousness in them. “The liberated is not long nor small… neither heavy nor light; he is without body; without resurrection, without contact with matter; he is not feminine, nor masculine, nor neuter; he perceives, he knows, but there is no analogy (whereby to know the nature of the liberated soul).” (excerpt from The Gaina Sutras) 5. Within Jainism what are the major ideas or main doctrines? 1. Harmful activities cause the human soul (jiva) to become mired in karma. 2. The goal of human existence is freedom from all karma. 3. This freedom or isolation leading to the perfect knowledge (kevala) can be attained only through a gradual process of purification. (kevala = pure omniscient consciousness) 4. This purification can be gained through the practice of nonviolence (ahimsa) and other vows. 5. Life forms pervade the elements (i.e. earth, air, fire, water), plants, and animals - we must avoid injury to any life form. 6. In particular, saving one’s soul from Evil is impossible without practicing the severest asceticism (that is to purge contaminating matter from the soul - physically as well as spiritually). 7. Liberation is attained through the “Five Great Vows.” (See Jainism #1) 6. Within Jainism the ideals of ethics are known as the “Three Jewels” or Triratna which attempts to prevent “the formation of further karma” - what comprises this doctrine? THE TRIRATNA (THE “THREE JEWELS” OR IDEALS OF ETHICS) (1) Samyag-Darsha = Right Faith (2) Samyag-Jyana = Right Knowledge (3) Samyag-Charita = Right Conduct Overall, the Jain tradition is a moral, ethical, and self-cleansing system of thought which sets aright the body and soul, in particular, to attain liberation by leading the best life possible through Right Faith, Knowledge, and Conduct. Observance of the Triratna prevents the formation of further karma. But to rid oneself of accumulated karma is to practice severe asceticism such as prolonged endurance of thirst, hunger, pain, heat, and cold. Confession, penance, study of scriptures, and meditation is also important, but severe asceticism is most effective. 7. Within Jainism [what] “is a material, sticky, colorful substance, composed of atoms, that adheres to the ‘soul’ (or life force) preventing its ascent into the Siddha Loka (world of the liberated)?” 3. We can get rid of craving. By ridding ourselves of craving or grasping, we destroy our suffering. By deleting suffering, we can attain Nirvana. The "living saint" or Arahat is accomplished by attaining Nirvana in this life by overcoming the previously mentioned suffering. 4. There is a way to get rid of this craving or grasping. In order to cease the suffering and attain salvation, we must practice the "Middle Way" of the Eight Fold Path. To attain Nirvana (salvation) the steps of this process must be accomplished simultaneously. The last step of the Four Noble Truths is our introduction to the Eight Fold Path. THE EIGHT FOLD PATH WISDOM 1. Right View or Right Understanding. Looking at things without prejudices, preconceived notions, and being literally Open Minded. The first step towards Nirvana starts at this point with the human being placing themselves in the right frame of mind. MORALITY or ETHICS 2. Right Thought or Intention. This includes thoughts of non-violence, compassion and detachment. The goal is to work towards the Good (Spiritual) and away from the Bad (Bodily) thoughts. Detaching the mind from the bodily traps of physical pleasures is the thrust of this step of the Eight Fold Path of the Middle Way. 3. Right Speech. Speaking to others in a "good" way, also about them and including ourselves. Lying is a wrongful act. Talking in any way that will bring hatred or disharmony to others or yourself is not practiced. 4. Right Action. Promoting good, moral, and honorable bodily actions which include no stealing or performing actions that cause harm to the self or others is the goal. 5. Right Living or Livelihood. Practicing in professions or games, that do not bring harm to oneself or others. Enjoyment of the actions of the Middle Way is a portion of Right Livelihood. CONCENTRATION 6. Right Effort. Focusing one's will or efforts on the Eight Fold Path is Right Effort. At this stage, cleansing the Mind of evil and attaining "the perfect mind" is the objective. Concentration on the wholesome states of the mind diminishes evil thoughts. Effort towards Enlightenment and adherence towards the practice of Buddhist ideals promotes Right Effort. 7. Right Mindfulness. Maintaining awareness and attentiveness toward the nature of the body, feelings, state of mind, ideas, thoughts and so forth promote Right Mindfulness. Without Right Mindfulness, it is close to impossible to attain Right View. This is perhaps the most important step of the Eight Fold Path because without it, the whole causal relationship of the doctrine, "Dependent Arising", would fall apart. One must be very clear headed in order to SEE and be in the right frame of mind to attain Enlightenment. 8. Right Concentration. This is a type of "Formal Meditation" that focuses the mind on one specific object of thought. This strengthens and focus' the person's mind on the rightness within the Eight Fold Path. All previous steps are tied together in the culmination of concentration. 10. Within Buddhism who is Sidartha and what is his importance? Sidartha Gautama was born of a prominent Kshatriya family in the country of Sakyans within modern day India; His father Suddhodana and mother Maya were the rulers of this small land; Finding dissatisfaction in his late twenties with human suffering (“The Four Passing Sights”: (1) the old man, (2) the sick & diseased man, (3) the dead man, and (4) the begging monk or ascetic), Sidartha set out in quest for its cure; After experimenting with all of the popular religious practices of the day (his 1st teacher Alara Kalama an ascetic who taught him “the realm of nothingness… [if he followed] the stages of meditation” with his 2nd teacher Uddaka Ramaputta teaching “the state of neither-ideation-nor-nonideation” both to no avail - with them for 1 year he then set out on a 5 year self-imposed asceticism - also to no avail) Sidartha attained Nirvana or Enlightenment through his own type of religious practice called The Middle Path where one finds release from both physical and mental trappings 11. Sidartha Gautama (a.k.a. The Buddha) did not deny the existence of many gods but did deny the existence of what traditional Hindu spiritual being? Sidartha denied the existence of the traditional Hindu spiritual being known as Brahma – not on spiritual or doctrinal grounds - BUT ON EXPERIENTIAL GROUNDS 12. According to the Buddha what is the importance of the “Morality or Ethics” category of the Eight Fold Path? Wisdom includes not only knowledge, but Right views (seeing clearly). The use of knowledge, experience, common sense, and logic to its utmost abilities are also aspects of wisdom. This is generally believed to be where the "Enlightenment" of the individual takes place. Morality includes thoughts or actions toward a happy and healthy life. Moral existence is the promotion of correct actions and thoughts that will not harm others in their pursuit of life. Eastern Morality also holds an "Ethical Rule of Thumb" like the "Golden Rule" in western thought of do to others as you would have them do to you. 13. According to the Buddha which step is perhaps the most important of the Eight Fold Path for without it, the whole causal relationship of the doctrine, "Dependent Arising", would fall apart? According to Buddha Right Mindfulness is perhaps the most important step of the Eight Fold Path 14. According to the Buddha within which of the “Five Grasping Groups or Aggregates” does the accumulation of karma take place? Sankharas - The human personality and habits are determined within this stage of development. One can also find the prejudices, conceptions, mis-conceptions, impressions, volitions and dispositions here. The accumulation of karma is determined within the sankharas. As thinking human beings, these are the constructs that we rely on every day in order to function. As a result, this is the point where "things are put together in the mind" to determine an individuals outlook on his or her surroundings. 15. According to the “Kaccayana-gotta-Sutta” - Samyutta-Nikaya 2:17 (the citation on Dependent Arising) in what order is the doctrine of Dependent Arising occurring and what does it arise to be? Dependent upon ignorance arise the (1) dispositions, arise (2) consciousness; arises (3) the psycho- physical personality, arise (4) the six senses, arises (5) contact; arises (6) feeling; arises (7) craving; arises (8) grasping; arises (9) becoming; arises (10) birth; arises (11) old age and (12) death, (13) grief, (14) lamentation, (15) suffering, (16) dejection, and (17) despair. THUS ARISES THIS ENTIRE MASS OF SUFFERING [DUKKA]. BUDDHISM - THE DIASPORA 16. Within what form of Buddhism has “devotion to Buddha and Bodhisattvas” become prevalent? Within Mahayana Buddhism devotion to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas become prevalent 17. What is the most important festival within Buddhism and for what reason is it celebrated? Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death. Buddha literally means 'one who is awake' and has become enlightened. It is a term that denotes a person who has attained the supreme wisdom and compassion of Enlightenment. To Buddhists Enlightenment is a blessed state in which the individual attains Nirvana - the transcendence of desire and suffering. Buddha's disciples - Many of Buddha's disciples have attained Enlightenment, and there have been many other Enlightened teachers. The celebration of Wesak is a chance to remember the story of how the Buddha gained Enlightenment, and to reflect on what it might mean for individual Buddhists to move towards Enlightenment themselves. 18. Within Theravada Buddhism what are the two forms of meditation? Meditation is impossible for a person who lacks wisdom; Wisdom is impossible for a person who does not meditate; A person who both meditates and possesses wisdom is close to Nibbana The Theravada tradition has two forms of meditation: [1] Samatha - Calming meditation; [2] Vipassana - Insight meditation 1. Samatha - This is the earliest form of meditation and is not unique to Buddhism; It's used to make the mind calmer and take the person to higher jhanic states (Jhanic states are hard to explain simply; ‘states of consciousness’ is probably the closest easily understandable definition); The effects of Samatha meditation are temporary. 2. Vipassana - This form of meditation is used to achieve insight into the true nature of things; This is very difficult to grasp because human beings are used to seeing things distorted by their preconceptions, opinions, and past experiences; The aim is a complete change of the way we perceive and understand the universe, and unlike the temporary changes brought about by Samatha, the aim of Vipassana is permanent change. 19. Within Tibetan Buddhism who is the Dalai Lama and what is his importance? Dalai is a Mongol word meaning “ocean,” the title Dalai Lama is commonly translated as “Sublimely Glorious Ocean of Spiritual Aspirants” and refers to the depth of the Dalai Lama's wisdom. The first Dalai Lama to bear the title was the 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (The two previous incarnations were named "Dalai Lama" after their deaths - see Buddhism handout for full listing) The 1st Dalai Lama Gendun Drup (1391-1474) is retrospectively considered to be the first in the line of Dalai Lamas of Tibet, who are believed to be reincarnations of Chenresig (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara), the “Bodhisattva of Compassion”. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in Amdo, Tibet in 1935 and is the 14th Dalai Lama. “In the Tibetan mind, there is also a close association between Chenrezig and the Dalai Lamas, which reflects a longstanding special relationship between the Tibetan people and Chanrezig. Tibetans have a special admiration and faith in Chenrezig because his unfathomable compassion naturally extends to all sentient beings without limit or partiality. He shows by example that qualities such as love, compassion, and the altruistic mind of enlightenment are like a jewel that overcomes the poverty and difficulties of cyclic existence, while at the same time fulfilling the wishes of all sentient beings. When Chenrezig is referred to as the “Holder of the White Lotus,” the lotus denotes wisdom, and while there are various kinds of wisdom, such as an appreciation of impermanence and a lack of self- sufficient existence, the main one is the wisdom realizing emptiness.” (H.H.the 14th Dalai Lama - Tenzin Gyatso - taken from Secret Lives of the Dalai Lama by Alexander Norman, Doubleday Press; New York, 2008) The best known face of Tibetan Buddhism is the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since he fled Chinese occupation of his country in 1959. Tibetan Buddhism combines the essential teachings of Mahayana Buddhism with Tantric, Shamanic, and Cultural material from an ancient Tibetan religion called Bon. Although Tibetan Buddhism is often thought to be identical with Vajrayana Buddhism, they are not identical - Vajrayana is taught in Tibetan Buddhism together with the other vehicles. At one time it was thought that 1 in 6 Tibetan men were Buddhist monks. ALSO SEE DIAGRAM GIVEN IN CLASS FOR CLARITY OF DALAI LAMA 20. Within Buddhism who presides over a “Buddha field... named Sukhavati... generally known as ‘the Pure Land’?” Within Buddhism Amitabha presides over a “Buddha field... named Sukhavati... generally known as ‘the Pure Land’” 21. Within Buddhism what is the term for the “triple body” of Buddha reality (including the Absolute Body, the Enjoyment Body, and the Condescension Body)? Within Buddhism the term trikaya denotes the “triple body” of Buddha reality - including (1) the Absolute Body, (2) the Enjoyment Body, and (3) the Condescension Body Mahayana Buddhism states there are three aspects of Buddhahood, which it describes by regarding Buddha as having three bodies (trikaya): 1. Dharmakaya: Buddha is transcendent - he is the same thing as the ultimate truth 2. Sambhogakaya: Buddha's body of bliss, or enjoyment body 3. Nirmanakaya: Buddha's earthly body - just like any other human being's body 22. Within Tibetan Buddhism who is the Saint known as “the Cotton Clad Mila?” Within Tibetan Buddhism Milarepa is the Saint known as “the Cotton Clad Mila” 23. Within Buddhism what is the Zen term for awakening or enlightenment, consciousness of the Buddha mind?