Religion
The systems of Buddhism and the Vows of Jainism.
Please respond to the following:
Having grown up in wealth and then living a life of extreme asceticism, The Buddha found no peace. He arrived at a Middle Way and for his Dharma he proposed the 4 Noble Truths and the 8-Fold Path. (pp. 142-148). This would break the samsara cycle and produce nirvana. The challenge is putting The Buddha’s Dharma into action.
1. Main discussion questions for the week:
Theravada Buddhism is about mindfulness and meditation. Mahayana Buddhism is about compassion guided by wisdom.
· Discuss how either Theravada or Mahayana Buddhism can apply the principles of the 8-Fold Path to daily living.
· Which system would you choose to live by? Why?
2. Monday Question:
Easy Monday Question!
Ok, kind of easy: look up a Buddhist koan in one of these two sites. I don’t want repeats! Choose your favorite, post it in your post so we can read it, and then tell us why you like it!
http://ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html Lots but a bit difficult
Here is my favorite. It is me to a tee!
One day as Manjusri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, “Manjusri, Manjusri, why do you not enter?” Manjusri replied, “I do not see myself as outside. Why enter?”
Here’s a fun one!
Muddy Road
Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
“Come on, girl” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females,” he told Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”
“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”
Bottom of Form
3. Be sure to respond to at least one (1) other student.
I believe both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism can utilize the principles of the 8-Fold Path to daily living. In Theravada Buddhism it discusses the aspect of mindfulness and mediation then step 1 and 8 of the 8-Fold Path refers to mediation in a sense to of making sure our mind is purified, trained and disciplined. This allows someone to have a clear mind to focus and in step 8’s case focus on one thing. Mahayana Buddhism talks about guided wisdom then I feel that the 8-Fold path probably can be applied more since many of the steps talks about how to manage our intentions, speech, livelihood and purifying your self of impurities. The aspects as discussed in the 8-Fold path help guide them into a way of living to do what is believed to be ethically correct.
If I had to choose which system to live by, I would probably live by the Mahayana system. I would say this because it helps establish a baseline of living what is moral and ethically correct utilizing the 8-fold Path. I think the 8-Fold Path in combination with the Mahayana system would help establish rules and guidelines for a society to live by.
Thanks,
Jamie Evans
Bottom of Form
Bottom of Form
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