4. Etymology Mahayana- Skt. “great vehicle” mahājāna– Prakrit “great knowing” synonym for Bodhisattvayānain texts following path and teachings of bodhisattvas References to term first appeared in The Lotus Sutra(Skt. SaddharmaPuṇḍarīkaSūtra) 1st century BCE - CE Theravada- Pali“teachings from the elders”
5. Goal of Training Mahayana- liberation for all beings from suffering Theravada- personal liberation from suffering
7. How Pure Land came to China originated in India- became popular in Kashmir and Central Asia The Pure Land Sutras were brought from Gandhara region 147CE Kushan monk Lokakṣema translated into Chinese The Pure Land School founded in China at Donglin Temple HuiYan of monastery in 402CE
8. The Pure Land Practices Not centered on nirvana (impossible)- faith to Amitabha Meditation- chanting Amitabha’sname: "NamuAmidaButsu”came from Pratyutpanna SamādhiSūtra Visualization of the Buddha- become one with Amitabha devotion to Amitabha= karmic merit Sukhavati- not eternal destination (Realm of Bliss) born into The Pure Land- never reborn again karma diasppears- reach Nirvana through Amitabha and bodhisattvas AvataṃsakaSūtra- most difficult Mahayana text
9. Controversy psuedo-Buddhism not The Holy Way- eliminate ignorance and self-attatchment “The Easy Path” – Mahayana vs. Theravatafaith + recitation = enlightenment Amida provides salvation for the unliberated
11. How Zen Came to China “The Flower Sermon” – Guatama Buddha & disciple Mahākāśyapa I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvelous mind of Nirvāṇa, the true form of the formless, the subtle Dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahākāśyapa. Concentrated on direct experiences Bodhidharma came from India to Luoyang, China (Longmen Grottos) - Taught outside of scripture what words could not explain
12. The Bloodstream Sermon Buddhasdon't save buddhas. If you use your mind to look for a buddha, you won't see the Buddha. As long as you look for a buddha somewhere else, you'll never see that your own mind is the Buddha. Don't use a buddha to worship a buddha. And don't use the mind to invoke a buddha. Buddhas don't recite sutras. Buddhas don't keep precepts. And buddhas don't break precepts. Buddhas don't keep or break anything. Buddhas don't do good or evil. To find a buddha, you have to see your nature
13. Buddha Nature Natural in all beings- universal wisdom Essential nature of the mind itself Goal of Zen is to discover this in all beings through meditation and Buddha’s teachings Sumi E is a form of mediation- seeing things as they truly are sitting meditation- schools practice intensivelyLotus Flower position
