Buddhism - Lesson 5
The Way of the Elders
Therevada emerged as the preserver of the Way of the Elders. The three jewels of the Therevada are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
The Way of the Elders
The Voice of Dissent
Part 5
III. The Way of the Elders
A. Introduction (Three Refuges)
B. The Three Jewels of “Therevada”
1. 1st Jewel: The Buddha
2. 2nd Jewel: The Dharma
a. The Buddha vs. the Dharma
b. The Three Baskets
c. The First Council
i. Basket of Discipline – Vinaya Pitaka (monastic order – Upali)
ii. Basket of Discourses – Sūtra Pitaka (teaching of the Buddha – Ānanda)
iii. Basket of Higher Teachings – Abhidharma Pitaka (systemization of a wide range of philosophical reflections)
3. 3rd Jewel: The Sangha
a. monastic goal
b. vinaya
c. arhat focus
i. stream winner (on eight fold path, detached from the world and “thirsts”)
ii. once returner (will return to samsara wheel perhaps only one time, but certainly less than seven)
iii. non-returner (this person is in his last life, may stay to teach)
iv. arhat (not subject to rebirth)
C. The Second and Third Councils
1. Vaiśālī conference over rules of Vinaya (400 B.C.)
2. Pātaliputra conference called by Aśoka (250 BC)
divisions within Buddhism and the emergence of Therevada as the ‘preserver of the Way of the Elders”
Terms to know from this lecture:
Three refuges / three jewels
Sangha
Vinaya Pitaka
Sūtra Pitaka
Abhidharma Pitaka
Streamwinner
Once-returner
Arhat
Aśoka
Tripitaka
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Definition of Buddhism and a description of how it began and its present status as a world religion.
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Experiences in Siddhartha Gautama's life, and how they led the teachings that resulted in the formation of Buddhism.
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The First Sermon of Buddha
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Description of the five aggregates and the foundational doctrine of Buddhism.
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Therevada emerged as the preserver of the Way of the Elders. The three jewels of the Therevada are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
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The three insights of Mahayana Buddhism are that Buddha taught secret truths, the Buddha was a divine being and a dharmic concept, not just an earthly figure, and Gautama was not the only Buddha.
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The Mahayana Sutras include the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra, Vimalakirti Sutra and the Lankavatara Sutra.
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A bodhisattva is an enlightened one who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.
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In Buddhism, actual objects of worship and adoration are ultimately illusory and superseded by true enlightenment. (This lecture begins in the outline, point IX. The Rise of Buddhist Philosophy, point D, #2. The lecture covering IX, points A, B, C and D #1 is not available, but Dr. Tennent is planning to record it.)
% Complete Two invocational Mahayana Buddhist Schools are Chinese “Pure Land” Buddhism and Japanese “Pure Land” Buddhism.
% CompleteChinese and Japanese Meditative Buddhism includes Zen Buddhism.
% CompleteBuddhist mudras are hand gestures which have physical and spiritual significance. Family ties in a shame-based culture may often place significant social pressures on a person considering converting from Buddhism to Christianity.
% CompleteThe incarnation means that Jesus is both fully God and fully man and came to earth as God in the flesh.
% CompleteThe doctrines of transmigration and reincarnation are central to Buddhism and provide no assurance for Buddhists of their ultimate spiritual destination.
% CompleteBuddhism and Christianity have fundamental theological differences.
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Guest lecturer, Todd Johnson, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, founder of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.
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This course is an overview of the religion of Buddhism. We are missing four lectures which cover the points in the outline: the rise of Buddhist philosophy, Vajranyana Buddhism, Korean Buddhism and Buddhism in America. Dr. Tennent will record these lessons the next time he lectures on Buddhism.