Mahayana

[Podo]

When it comes to Buddhism, I tend to prefer the hinayana paths. I'd rather focus on my own betterment before trying to help anyone else's.

[Amita]

Back to the Avatamsaka Sutra; here is a little from chapter 11 where Manjusri Bodhisattva gives practical ways to turn our minds toward the light:

Quote

Disciple of the Buddha, if Bodhisattvas skillfully apply their minds, they will attain all kinds of excellent and fine meritorious virtues. Their minds will be unimpeded with regard to all of the Buddhadharma. They will dwell in the Path of all Buddhas of the past, present, and future. They will constantly abide in accordance with sentient beings and never forsake them. They will fully understand the characteristics of all dharmas. They will sever all evil and perfect all manner of goodness. They will have an exceptional physical appearance like that of Universal Worthy [Samantabhadra Bodhisattva]. All of their practices and vows will be perfected. They will be at ease with all dharmas without exception. They will act as the second guiding teacher for sentient beings. Disciple of the Buddha, how does one use his mind to attain all of these excellent and fine meritorious virtues? 

A Bodhisattva of the lay life, 
Should vow that sentient beings 
Will realize the empty nature of the household 
And avoid oppression from it. 

When I serve my parents in filiality, 
I vow that sentient beings 
Will serve the Buddhas skillfully, 
And protect and nourish everything. 

When I am together with my family, 
I vow that sentient beings 
Will treat friend and foe alike, 
And renounce forever the attachments of greed.

Many more practical verses follow which I may add in future.

[Amita]

For those who have no translation available, here is the text being read aloud on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oRi_xAVOK8

Or here is same translation online - no audio.

http://www.cttbusa.org/avatamsaka/avatamsaka11.asp

 

Edited September 14, 2018 by Amita

[Amita]

Yogi Chen also made a translation of the verse portion of the Pure Conduct chapter.  Here is some of it:

When Bodhisattva is at home, 
He must wish all sentient beings, 
To know voidness of family, 
And be rid of all the painful things!

When he serves his parents, 
He must wish all beings, 
To serve Buddha nicely 
And offer all the best things!

When he is with wife and sons 
He must wish all sentient beings 
Be equal to kinsmen and foes, 
And rid of lustful worldly things!

When he gets desirous things, 
He must wish all sentient beings 
To dig out the arrow of lust, 
And abide in the most quiet realm.

When he joins in a music meeting, 
He must wish all those sentient beings, 
Enjoy themselves with only Dharma, 
And know all good sound is nothing!

When he goes into the palace, 
He must wish all sentient beings, 
Be enabled to go to the Pureland, 
And purify their unclean things!

When he puts on some ornaments, 
He must wish all those sentient beings, 
To take off all those false honours, 
Reach at the true palace of kings!

When one goes up to the tower, 
He must wish all sentient beings, 
Climb up to the Dharma attic, 
Have a right view to all things!

When he is giving alms, 
He must wish all beings, 
To void all those desires, 
Give up all worldly things!

[StarMountainKid]

All this is very nice, except that no one actually achieves this. We sort of take it as some beneficial advice, just practicing it partially as fits us. 

Alan Watts calls this, "the fear of enlightenment". It's too big a step to take, too much a leap of faith into the unknown. We don't want to let go of who we think we are. 

In practical terms, religion is how we relate to each other in our day to day life.

It is also how we relate to ourselves. I think this is the essence of religion, our relationship with our inner or true self. A self-honesty.

Maybe this is enough for us. Maybe becoming a monk on a mountain top is asking too much. It's enough to come to some depth of understanding of ourselves. 

[Amita]

21 minutes ago, StarMountainKid said:

All this is very nice, except that no one actually achieves this. We sort of take it as some beneficial advice, just practicing it partially as fits us. 

Alan Watts calls this, "the fear of enlightenment". It's too big a step to take, too much a leap of faith into the unknown. We don't want to let go of who we think we are. 

In practical terms, religion is how we relate to each other in our day to day life.

It is also how we relate to ourselves. I think this is the essence of religion, our relationship with our inner or true self. A self-honesty.

Maybe this is enough for us. Maybe becoming a monk on a mountain top is asking too much. It's enough to come to some depth of understanding of ourselves. 

It is not true that "no one actually achieves this", it is uncommon and takes many lifetimes, but it happens.  Also your notion of "this" or enlightenment as a single state or event resulting in a "becoming a monk on a mountain top" is a common mistake.

There are many 'bodhi' or enlightenment stages and many are extensions of knowing our self as one living in harmony with others.

 

[StarMountainKid]

5 minutes ago, Amita said:

It is not true that "no one actually achieves this", it is uncommon and takes many lifetimes, but it happens.  Also your notion of "this" or enlightenment as a single state or event resulting in a "becoming a monk on a mountain top" is a common mistake.

There are many 'bodhi' or enlightenment stages and many are extensions of knowing our self as one living in harmony with others.

 

I know I'm generalizing, but you get the idea I'm trying to make. I think there is a moment when a fundamental change occurs, however. A sort of first realization, or "oh, now I get it" moment. 

From my experience here at UM, it seems most don't "get it", if I may say so. 

It's comforting and familiar to continue as who you think you are. Any change in the status quo is out of the question, unreasonable or nonsensical. 

Of course, one must first see that there is a problem. 

[Amita]

2 hours ago, StarMountainKid said:

I know I'm generalizing, but you get the idea I'm trying to make. I think there is a moment when a fundamental change occurs, however. A sort of first realization, or "oh, now I get it" moment. 

From my experience here at UM, it seems most don't "get it", if I may say so. 

It's comforting and familiar to continue as who you think you are. Any change in the status quo is out of the question, unreasonable or nonsensical. 

Of course, one must first see that there is a problem. 

As you say, the majority just plod along trying to avoid any discomfort - intellectual, emotional or physical.

Buddha outlined the key elements: first the experience of dissatisfaction, boredom & suffering must sink in, to the point of seeking to leave it behind.  Then, what are the causes of the problems of life, what is the solution or cure and how is the solution implemented.

[+Sherapy]

On 8/20/2018 at 7:25 AM, Amita said:

Mahayana is based on a simple intention & motivation - reduce suffering & increase wisdom for beings over many lifetimes by living selflessly & encouraging others to live likewise.

One set of four vows outlines the path:

Beings are countless, I vow to liberate them.  Merit and wisdom are boundless, I vow to accumulate them.  The Dharma of the Buddha is boundless, I vow to master it.  I vow to realize the unsurpassed, right enlightenment of a Buddha.

My two cents on this post is you are dogmatizing Mahayana.

Question: How will you reduce suffering and encourage others to do otherwise?

Edited September 16, 2018 by Sherapy

[Amita]

1 minute ago, Sherapy said:

My two cents on this post is you are dogmatizing Mahayana.

Why do you say 'dogmatize' - when it is only a description?  If you know another one you prefer - say so.

[+Sherapy]

19 minutes ago, Amita said:

As you say, the majority just plod along trying to avoid any discomfort - intellectual, emotional or physical.

Buddha outlined the key elements: first the experience of dissatisfaction, boredom & suffering must sink in, to the point of seeking to leave it behind.  Then, what are the causes of the problems of life, what is the solution or cure and how is the solution implemented.

At times avoiding discomfort is appropriate. 

Who cares what the Buddha said ( incidentally we really don’t know/ it is hearsay) the better question is what wisdom have you gleaned from the experience of suffering? 

Why not share.

IMHO this is more interesting and useful. 

[+Sherapy]

6 minutes ago, Amita said:

Why do you say 'dogmatize' - when it is only a description?  If you know another one you prefer - say so.

Okay, I would like to hear from you, what wisdoms have you gleaned about suffering? 

Welcome to UM by the way.

What part of California do you hail from? 

I am in the Hermosa Beach area.

Edited September 16, 2018 by Sherapy

[Amita]

5 minutes ago, Sherapy said:

Okay, I would like to hear from you, what wisdoms have you gleaned about suffering? 

Nothing that contradicts 2500 plus years of Buddhist experience.  "Suffering" is only one form.  In modern Western life boredom & depression are the common forms.  It is unavoidable, sometimes really painful, sometimes mild, but always present.  If you do not mind it much, so be it.

Edited September 16, 2018 by Amita

[+Sherapy]

 

You are correct it is unavoidable, incredibly painful at times, etc. etc. 

How do you cope with suffering? 

I just accept it, let it run its course, it took me years to grasp this and then I did and guess what I still suffer. Lol 

Edited September 16, 2018 by Sherapy

[Piney]

34 minutes ago, Sherapy said:

I just accept it, let it run its course, it took me years to grasp this and then I did and guess what I still suffer. Lol 

But not as much and it bothers you less and less until Daremo. Then it bothers you no more.

Tendai and Shingon is rigorous. That's why not many Gaijin even bother with it. It's not meditating in your flat with a good HVAC and eating kashi.  Cold showers all year round. Exposure to extreme weather. Days without eating. Meditating on a stone floor in freezing or balmy temperatures.In the rain or snow. Exercising the whole time. 

When you return to civilization the small sufferings become impotent and you no longer care about them. 

[+Sherapy]

12 minutes ago, Piney said:

But not as much and it bothers you less and less until Daremo. Then it bothers you no more.

Tendai and Shingon is rigorous. That's why not many Gaijin even bother with it. It's not meditating in your flat with a good HVAC and eating kashi.  Cold showers all year round. Exposure to extreme weather. Days without eating. Meditating on a stone floor in freezing or balmy temperatures.In the rain or snow. Exercising the whole time. 

When you return to civilization the small sufferings become impotent and you no longer care about them. 

Thank you, Piney. 

Edited September 16, 2018 by Sherapy

[Amita]

1 hour ago, Sherapy said:

How do you cope with suffering? 

Cannot say I bother to cope, pretty content with the rise & fall.  Equanimity, along with kindness, compassion & joy for others makes it less personal.

[Piney]

Just now, Sherapy said:

Thank you, Piney. 

Your welcome. 

Keep it simple. A mandala and mantra is just a "focus" along with the statue of a bodhisattva. Nature is just as good of a "focus" and you grow more alert to your surroundings even as you learn to not let them disturb you.  Actually better.

 

[StarMountainKid]

Dukkha is mistranslated in English as suffering. Dukkha actually means "incapable of satisfying". This includes sadness and happiness as well, when they are derived from impermanent and temporary experiences. 

So, sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're unhappy, we're caught in this cycle.  This is because we desire to cling to the impermanent events of life. 

In Buddhism, when there is no longer the self to desire, we are liberated from this cycle.

In other words, when we lose who we think we are, we discover our original and true nature, free from our egocentric behavior.

It's not difficult to understand when freed from a lot of dogma and complex stuff.

 

 

 

[Amita]

1 hour ago, Sherapy said:

What part of California do you hail from? 

I am in the Hermosa Beach area.

We retired north of LA a little.

[XenoFish]

39 minutes ago, Piney said:

Tendai and Shingon is rigorous. That's why not many Gaijin even bother with it. It's not meditating in your flat with a good HVAC and eating kashi.  Cold showers all year round. Exposure to extreme weather. Days without eating. Meditating on a stone floor in freezing or balmy temperatures.In the rain or snow. Exercising the whole time. 

When you return to civilization the small sufferings become impotent and you no longer care about them. 

I need more info Piney.

[+Sherapy]

33 minutes ago, Piney said:

Your welcome. 

Keep it simple. A mandala and mantra is just a "focus" along with the statue of a bodhisattva. Nature is just as good of a "focus" and you grow more alert to your surroundings even as you learn to not let them disturb you.  Actually better.

 

Sincerely, thank you this is great advice for where I am at in my journey. 

I will use it. 

[Piney]

1 minute ago, XenoFish said:

I need more info Piney.

You pretty much know all you need to know. It's simplified asceticism without getting carried away. Your in a actual good area to practice it. You were a follow of Spare so you shouldn't even need to know Mudras or Mantras. I stopped using them when some goofy Gaijin started calling them "Ninja" and I was approached with way too many idiotic questions. They are just a focus anyway. You could use sigils. 

Start by finding a quiet spot with natural events happening. Next to a stream is my preference. Cast a sigil to empty your mind and think about nothing.

Now....how to I explain this...ok.  To teach yourself to "take in all in"  look straight ahead. Stick your arms out on either side and wiggle your middle fingers. You should see your middle fingers wiggling in the corners of your eyes.  Look at things that way using your full field of vision. But don't focus on anything. Keep your mind empty. 

Get to the part where you can maintain "empty". We'll go from there.

 

[Piney]

2 hours ago, Sherapy said:

My two cents on this post is you are dogmatizing Mahayana.

That's been done by many different sects and governments especially in Japan. Shoguns actually tried to wipe out Vajrayana ( Tendai and Shingon) because they couldn't turn it into a "state religion" and the Chinese and Russians tried to wipe out the Yellow Path. 

[XenoFish]

19 minutes ago, Piney said:

You pretty much know all you need to know. It's simplified asceticism without getting carried away. Your in a actual good area to practice it. You were a follow of Spare so you shouldn't even need to know Mudras or Mantras. I stopped using them when some goofy Gaijin started calling them "Ninja" and I was approached with way too many idiotic questions. They are just a focus anyway. You could use sigils. 

Start by finding a quiet spot with natural events happening. Next to a stream is my preference. Cast a sigil to empty your mind and think about nothing.

Now....how to I explain this...ok.  To teach yourself to "take in all in"  look straight ahead. Stick your arms out on either side and wiggle your middle fingers. You should see your middle fingers wiggling in the corners of your eyes.  Look at things that way using your full field of vision. But don't focus on anything. Keep your mind empty. 

Get to the part where you can maintain "empty". We'll go from there.

 

Sounds similar to the breathing meditation I used to do. Where the whole point wasn't just to focus on the breathing, but to really feel it. Seems like focal meditation really.