Ancient Buddha Statue of Kuanyin What is Mahayana

Ancient Buddha Statue of Kuanyin

What is Mahayana Buddhism? • “the Greater Vehicle” • the most common form of Buddhism in Asia • Varies more than Theravada

The Characteristics of Mahayana Ø Very wide spread Ø Containing many different Ø Ø Ø aspects form indigenous groups Cooperative Contains Bodhisattvas Compassion is the main objective

Noi -

The role of the Buddha in Mahayana Ø Ø Ø See Buddha as a god Have many Bodhisattvas Anyone can become a Bodhisattvas Prayed to for assistance Only through being selfless can enlightenment be attained Once you reach nirvana you reside in the heavens with the other Buddhas

The Bodhisattva Vows The Four encompassing Vows Masses of creatures, without bonds, [I/we] vow to save [them all] Anxiety and Hate, delusive-desires inexhaustible, [I/we] vow to break [them all] Dharma gates beyond-measure [I/we] vow to learn [them all] Buddha way, nothing higher, [I/we] vow to accomplish [it]

Where is Mahayana present? ?

China Japan North Korea South Korea Vietnam Mongolia Bhutan Taiwan

Diversity • Mahayana broke into many different subgroups – Zen – Chinese Chán – Pure land – Tiantai – Nichiren

Brief History Ø Separated from Theravada Ø Many monks expelled from the Sangha Ø Many moved into China Ø Many aspects of the history still unclear

Ø not a great amount of scripture was made during this time ØNot until 7 th century was there any Mahayana writing ØChinese monk visits India ØThat’s the earliest writing ØHe describes how the two school are not in competition

Haeinsa ***

Ø “Temple of Ocean Mudra” ØLocated in South Korea ØContains over 81, 000 wooden printing blocks (since 1398) ØOne of the three jewel temples ØBuilt in 802 ØTwo monks cured a queen from sickness ØKing Aejang supported the temple ØQueen became Buddhist helping the legitimacy in Korea ØBurned down in 1817 ØFound the robe of the king

Ø during the Korean war Haeinsa was almost destroyed ØNorth Korean Soldiers were posted around the temple ØUN forces were ordered to bomb the temple ØThe leader of the air force did not obey in fear of destroying the temple