Buddhism and the Meaning of Life Life and
Buddhism and the Meaning of Life § Life and reincarnation § Eternal life without God/heaven § Karmic repayment for behavior § Hindu and Western bias § Permanent soul § Soul = mind = real value § Body = emotions = distraction (evil) § Sex, gluttony, selfishness
Nirvana Samsara Distinction § Christian heaven and Nirvana § Puzzling nature of Nirvana § Samsara is this life—and next 輪 回 § Blowing out the candle 涅 盤 § No value in Nirvana (nothing) § Pessimistic: Life is suffering § Negative (Renunciation religion) escape
Buddha Story § As a foreign religion in China § Zen (Chan 禪) a Chinese version § Related to Daoism § Divine birth (no sex) and prophecy § Father’s resolve—only pleasure § Exposure and realization § Life is suffering § Meditation and enlightenment § Becomes Buddha (Nirvana? )
Mystery of Meaning of Life § Four Noble Truths § Life is suffering § Suffering caused by desire § Cessation of desire = cessation of suffering § Eight-fold path cessation of desire § No value or meaning § Avoid suffering § Sickness, old age, death
Mahayana 大 乘 development § Individual soul paradigm (Arhat) § Hinayana 小 乘 or Theravada § Bodhisattva 菩 薩 § Waits for everyone to be enlightened at once § Comes back to teach the rest of us § Buddha as historical model § Some in this class
Paradox of Desire § Why give up desires § Desire for nirvana § To reach nirvana we have to stop wanting § Logic of the bodhisattva § One more step for Chan (Zen) § Why make it the last?
Daoist Influence § Desires come from distinctions 辯 § Optimism about life § Opposite mood § Model of total involvement § Cook Ding (庖丁) and absorption in skill § Choice of butcher!
Chinese Schools § All Mahayana § Universal salvation (moral equality) § Positive reading of Nirvana, Buddha Nature § Tiantai (天 台) Huayen (華 嚴) and Chan (禪) § Theory and practice!
Story of Hui Neng § Southern, illiterate woodcutter § Hears and “instantly” englightened § Goes to temple (why? ) § Assigned ordinary labor – no study § Poem competition § § Constant care to make mind clear (the mirror) Mind is originally clear—no dust (no illusions) § Leaves temple (kicked out? ) § Throws away robe, wanders and chops wood
Nirvana = Samsara § To give up a desire is to give up the distinction § Giving up desire for nirvana § Giving up distinction between nirvana and this life § No distinction between meditation and everyday life § Between enlightenment and ordinary consciousness § Meditation school with no meditation
Buddha Nature = Self-nature § Everything is Buddha nature § Paradoxes of Chan masters: burning Buddha § All are already bodhisattva § Nothing to seek § Self acceptance – stop seeking for enlightenment § Meaning of life from giving up the search § And just living
Meditation = Everyday Consciousness § What I’m doing now § Butcher, flower arranger, tea ceremony, actor § Samurai warrior § Painter, philosopher, Zen priest
Every Moment Zen § Umbrella to left or right of clogs?
Doctor Story § Zen is care for patients § A Koan – meaningless § Absorbed in care for patients and lost fear of death
The Strawberry § Values of eating, drinking, sleeping § Tiger and strawberry
Awake! § Beating § Spitting and abuse § Throwing out (walking zen) § Shouting § Koans
Five Common Doctrines § Highest truth cannot be spoken (thought) § Spiritual cultivation cannot be cultivated § In the end nothing is gained § Nothing much in Buddhist teaching § In carrying water and chopping wood, therein lies the wonderful dao
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