EALC 275: Masterpieces of East Asian Literature Lecture #8: Buddhism Sept. 23, 2013Origins of Buddhism • The Buddha: Siddhartha Gautauma; Shakyamuni • 563-483 B.C. (compare the dates with Confucius or Socrates)What Is Buddhism? Buddhism refers to the religion and philosophy which the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 566-486 BCE) had produced. Siddhartha was a contemporary to Confucius (551-479 BCE) in China, and Socrates (469-399 BCE) in Greece. Siddhartha Gautama’s clan name is Shakyamuni. He is revered in the Buddhist tradition as the Buddha which means “the Awakened One.” According to legends, Siddhartha Gautama was born in a princely family in northern India, left it behind to become a wandering monk, and, after attaining enlightenment through meditation, established a tradition of monastic practice that became the basis of one of the great religions in the world. The Buddha’s passing away is known as parinirvana, the complete cessation of the process of rebirth.Huge Buddha at Yungang (c.490), about 45 feet tall. Some 51,000 Buddhist images are carved into the surface of a cliff, which extends over half a mile.The walls of cave 9 at Yungang, decorated with Buddha images surrounded bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, musicians, and flying asparas.The walls of cave 428 at Dunhuang, depicting the grief of the Buddha’s disciples at his death (6th century).Buddha’s Death amidst His Pupils.The life of the historical Buddha, 1 A prince from northern India Spiritual environment: asceticismThe life of the historical Buddha, 2 • Encounter the reality of life • Four sights: a corpse, a sick man, an old man, a wandering asceticThe life of the historical Buddha His spiritual quest: 1) indulgence in pleasures 2) ascetic practices 3) the middle path: avoiding self-indulgence and self-denialThe life of the historical Buddha, 3 • His enlightenment under the Bodhi tree • Buddha: “the enlightened one”The Four Noble Truths, 1 1. Life is Dukkha -- Ordinary sufferings; produced by change; conditioned states -- Impermanence: sorrows and joys are subject to change “A happy feeling, a happy condition in life, is not permanent.”• A combination of five aggregates makes up “being”: -- Matter: Physical body -- Sensation: Contact with external objects -- Perception: Recognition of objects -- Volition: Mental activity -- Consciousness of the selfThe Four Noble Truths, 2 2. The origin or arising of Dukkha: Samudaya -- thirst: not only desire for, and attachment to, sense-pleasures, wealth and power, but also desire for, and attachment to, ideas and ideals, views, opinions, theories, conceptions and beliefs. -- volition (karma) or will -- In Buddhist terminology karma never means its effect; its effect is known as the fruit or the result of karma --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7BuQFUhsRMLife, Death, Rebirth? Death is the total non-functioning of the physical body, but will, volition, desire, thirst continue to exist, to become more and more. Is will and etc. a form of soul? Five Aggregates: “When the aggregates arise, decay and die, every moment you are born, decay, and die.” So those forces can continue without a Self or a Soul behind them.The Four Noble Truths, 3 3. The cessation of Dukkha: Nirvana -- Nirvana is the Ultimate Truth, unconditioned Cessation of attachment -- Nirvana is NOT the result of anything, one realizes Nirvana. -- Nothing is after Nirvana -- Can we fully address Nirvana? limits of human language problem of labelingThe Four Noble Truths, 4 4. The Path to Nirvana: follow the middle path/the Noble Eightfold PathThe Noble Eightfold Path Compassion -- Right Speech; Right Action; Right livelihood Wisdom -- Right thought; Right Understanding Meditative practice -- Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; Right ConcentrationTwo major schools of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism(little vehicle) Mahayana Buddhism (great vehicle) -- Bodhisattva: a being who turned back from his/her own enlightenment in order to rescue others -- Dominant school of Buddhism in East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam)Lotus Sutra One of the most popular and influential Mahayana sutras in East Asia The Chinese translation on which this English translation is based is from 403 A.D.(Period of disunion)Parable of the Burning House Who is the father? Who are the sons? What does “burning house” represent? What is the idea of “expedient means,” why such means? What does “the large carriage adorned with rare jewels” signify? What messages does this parable convey?Key Concepts in the Lotus Sutra 1. The importance given to the bodhisatva– one who postpones their own enlightenment to help others reach it. 2. Concept of “upaya” or “expedient means”: the use of parables and other literary devices to convey a Buddhist message.Next Assignments for Wednesday and Friday • Wednesday (Sept.25): • Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon: • Musings of a court lady in Heian Japan 1. Read: Coursepacket, pp.133-154 • Friday (Sept.27): • Tale of Genji of Lady Murasaki 1. Textbook, Genji and Heike, pp.1-83 2. Quiz #4: Buddhism and Pillow