Buddhism

The Bodhisattva Ideal

The bodhisattva ideal is a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes the path of the bodhisattva, or “enlightened being.” A bodhisattva is someone who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the cycle of rebirth to help liberate all sentient beings from suffering. The bodhisattva ideal encompasses the following key principles:

Compassion and Altruism

The driving force behind the bodhisattva’s actions is the cultivation of immense compassion and altruistic motivation. Bodhisattvas are driven by the desire to alleviate the suffering of all beings, even at the cost of their own spiritual liberation. They vow to attain Buddhahood for the sake of others, not just for themselves.

Skillful Means

Bodhisattvas employ “skillful means” (upaya) to guide beings towards enlightenment, adapting their teachings and methods to suit the specific needs and capacities of different individuals. This flexibility and wisdom in communication are essential for effectively helping others on the path.> Nichiren Buddhism (Japanese: 日蓮仏教), also known as Hokkeshū (Japanese: 法華宗, meaning Lotus Sect), is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222–1282) and is one of the Kamakura period schools.: 239 Its teachings derive from some 300–400 extant letters and treatises either authored by or attributed to Nichiren.

Nichiren Buddhism generally sources its basic doctrine from the Lotus Sutra claiming that all sentient beings possess an internal Buddha-nature capable of attaining Buddhahood in the current life. There are three essential aspects to Nichiren Buddhism:

The faith in Nichiren’s Gohonzon

The chanting of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with varying recitations of the Lotus Sutra

The study of Nichiren’s scriptural writings, called Gosho: 225

After his death, Nichiren left to both his senior disciples and lay followers the mandate to widely propagate the Gohonzon and chanting the Daimoku in order to secure the peace and prosperity of society.: 99

Traditionalist Nichiren Buddhist temple groups are commonly associated with Nichiren Shōshū and various Nichiren-shū schools. In addition, modern lay organizations not affiliated with temples such as Soka Gakkai, Kenshokai, Shoshinkai, Risshō Kōsei Kai, and Honmon Butsuryū-shū also exist while some Japanese new religions are Nichiren-inspired lay groups.

The Soka Gakkai International is often called “the most prominent Japanese ‘export’ religion to draw significant numbers of non-Japanese converts”, by which Nichiren Buddhism has spread throughout the world.

Nichiren upheld the belief that the Lotus Sutra alone contains the highest degree of Buddhist teachings and proposed a classification system that ranks the quality of religions: 128 and various Nichiren schools can be either accommodating or vigorously opposed to any other forms of Buddhism or religious beliefs. Various followers debate Nichiren status, as a Bodhisattva, a mortal saint, or an “Original Buddha” of the third age of Buddhism. Nichiren Buddhism is practiced in many countries. The largest groups are Soka Gakkai International, Nichiren Shu, and Nichiren Shōshū.

wikipedia/en/Nichiren%20Buddhism

Six Perfections

The bodhisattva path involves the practice of six perfections (paramitas): generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. These perfections are cultivated over countless lifetimes to purify the mind and accumulate merit for the benefit of all beings.

Vows and Aspirations

Bodhisattvas take vows and make aspirations to work tirelessly for the liberation of all beings, even in the face of immense hardship and obstacles. These vows are a powerful expression of their commitment to the bodhisattva ideal.

Emptiness and Non-Duality

While actively engaged in helping others, bodhisattvas also cultivate the understanding of emptiness (shunyata) and non-duality, recognizing the interconnectedness and lack of inherent existence of all phenomena. This realization prevents them from falling into the trap of a dualistic, ego-centric perspective.

The bodhisattva ideal represents the pinnacle of Buddhist practice, embodying the perfect balance between wisdom and compassion. It inspires practitioners to work selflessly for the benefit of all beings, while also recognizing the ultimate nature of reality.

Mahamudra

Satipatthana

Satipatthana (Pali: Satipaṭṭhāna; Sanskrit: smṛtyupasthāna) is a central practice in the Buddha’s teachings, meaning “the establishment of mindfulness” or “presence of mindfulness”, or alternatively “foundations of mindfulness”, aiding the development of a wholesome state of mind. In Theravada Buddhism, applying mindful attention to four domains, the body, feelings, the mind, and key principles or categories of the Buddha’s teaching (dhammās), is thought to aid the elimination of the five hindrances and the development of the seven aspects of wakefulness.

The Satipatthana Sutta is probably the most influential meditation text in modern Theravada Buddhism, on which the teachings of the Vipassana movement are based. While these teachings are found in all Buddhist traditions, modern Theravada Buddhism and the Vipassana Movement are known especially for promoting the practice of satipaṭṭhāna as developing mindfulness to gain insight into impermanence, thereby reaching a first state of liberation. In the popular understanding, mindfulness has developed into a practice of bare awareness to calm the mind.

wikipedia/en/Satipatthana

wikipedia/en/Gautama_Buddha_in_world_religions

The Islamic prophet Dhu al-Kifl (Arabic: ذو الكفل) has been identified by some with Gautama Buddha. The meaning of Dhu al-Kifl is still debated, but, according to this theory, it means “the man from Kifl”, Kifl being the Arabic rendering of Kapilavastu, the city where the Buddha spent thirty years of his life.

Buddhist atomism

In Buddhist philosophy, the “atomic theory” refers to the concept of "kalāpa," which represents the smallest indivisible unit of matter, considered to be momentary and impermanent, unlike the solid, unchanging atoms of ancient Greek philosophy; Buddhists view these “atoms” as more like energetic forces rather than physical particles, aligning with their doctrine of emptiness and interdependence.

Key points about Buddhist atomic theory:

Not materialist:

Unlike some other atomic theories, Buddhist atoms are not seen as building blocks of physical matter but as transient units of energy or force within a constantly changing reality.
Momentary nature:

A key aspect is that these “kalāpa” are considered to exist only for the briefest moment, constantly arising and ceasing to exist.
Interdependence:

The concept of “kalāpa” is deeply connected to the Buddhist idea of interdependence, where everything is interconnected and arises in relation to other factors.
No inherent self:

The “kalāpa” is not seen as having an independent, substantial self, further reinforcing the Buddhist notion of emptiness.

Comparison with other atomic theories:

Vaiśeṣika school:

While the Indian philosophical school of Vaiśeṣika also had an atomic theory, it differed from Buddhist views by considering atoms as more substantial and permanent.
Modern physics:

Some scholars have drawn parallels between the Buddhist concept of emptiness and the quantum physics idea of particles behaving as waves, highlighting the potential for philosophical convergence.

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