BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES

The Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama-born in the fifth or sixth century C.E. in the present day, Nepal is considered
the Historical Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism. After he attained enlightenment at the age of 35,
he came to be known as Gautama Buddha and spent the rest of his life preaching across India.
He died at the age of 80. The Thevada Buddhism only the historical buddha is accepted. The
Mahayana Buddhism there are other contemporary and popular Buddhas apart from the
historical Buddha
The concept of trikaya ( three bodies) pertains to the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism about the
nature of the buddha and reality while Thevada Buddhism which states that each buddha has
three bodies.
THE THREE BODIES OF BUDDHA
The Body Nature or Aspect of Manifestation
“Buddha -hood”
1. Dharmakaya Body of absolute truth; Buddha is transcendent
absolute nature of all beings
2. Sambhogakaya The body that experiences the Buddha’s body of bliss, or
bliss of enlightenment enjoyment body
3. Nirmanakaya A body that manifests the Buddha’s earthy body, is just
world; the embodiment of like any other human being’s
dharmakaya in human form body.

Bodhisattvas
This is one of the features of Mahayana Buddhism that concerns Its teaching and enlightened
being or Bodhisattva( enlightened existence) which is the ultimate way for any Buddhist to live in
this world.
The concept of bodhisattva help in explaining the life of Siddhartha Gautama before he died, as
depicted in the stories of the historical Buddha.
The path of bodhisattva can also be taken by any ordinary person, which h is a way of
selflessness so that one can also be liberated from all forms of suffering in the cycle of rebirth.
Frequently, depicted as celestial beings who answer the prayers of those who need help,
bodhisattvas are the embodiment of great compassion.

Bhumis and Paramitas

Based on Mahayana tradition, a bodhisattva must have 10 bhumis(“grounds” of “land”) before
attaining the so-called “Buddha-hood”.These are extensions of the “ Eightfold Path”.
The bhumis are frequently associated with the paramitas “ perfections”. Translated as “to cross
over the other shore”
Paramitas imply crossing from the “ sea of suffering” to the “ shore of happiness”.
Several Mahayana texts identify 10 bhumis but many schools list their own path to development.
A bodhisattva vow is stated, “ May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings”. The
ten bhumis as lifted from Avatamsaka Sutra or “ Flower Garland Sutra” one of the most influential
sutras of Mahayana Buddhism in east Asia are listed below:
 BHUMI DESCRIPTION PARAMITA NATURE
Pramudita- Bhumi The bodhisattva starts Dana Paramita Perfection of giving or
( joyful land) the journey joyful with ( generosity) generosity
the inspiration of
enlightenment
Vimala- Bhumi The bodhisattva is Sila Paramita
(Land of Purity) purified of immoral
conduct and
dispositions
Achala- Bhumi The boddhisatva can
( The Immovable no longer be disturbed
Land) because “
Buddhahood is within
sight
Sadhumati- Bhumi The bodhisattva
( The land of good understands all
thoughts) dharmas and is able
to teach others
Dhammamegha- The bodhisattva is
bhumi confirmed of the
( The land of Dharma “Budha-hood” and
Clouds) enters” “Tushita
heaven” or the
heaven of contented
gods.

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Buddhism integrates an assortment of religious practices and devotional rituals with the objective
of aiding worshippers in their journey towards enlightenment and in bringing blessings to each and
every one. They also offer vegetarian foods and light incense to pay homage to these important
divine beings. Mahayana temples are sacred spaces. Mahayana rituals can be quite elaborate
with the addition of other disciples of Siddhartha Gautama and important bodhisattvas.
Worshippers also recite chants and undertake pilgrimages to sites of Buddhist importance.
Meditational activities are fundamental in almost all popular forms of Buddhism. For Thevara
Buddhism and Zen Buddhism, the practice of meditation is the only means to attain liberation. The
lotus that symbolizes purity, the eight-spoke wheels that represent the dharma, and the different
hand gestures (mudras) are important symbols for Mahayana Buddhism.

SUBDIVISIONS
Mahayana Buddhism consists of a variety of schools and family religions. When the teaching of
Mahayana Buddhism spread in many Asian nations, it acquired new concepts from these localities
that found articulation in many ritualistic practices and divine figures.
The more philosophical side of Indian Mahayana Buddhism was developed within the context of
the two major schools namely, the Madhyamika and the Yogacharya( Adams 1965)
The first school to emerge is the Madhyamika(intermediate) which adheres stress to the
transformation of human perception to handle the truth of that which is ultimately real beyond any
duality. On the other hand, Yogacharya(Practice of Yoga) Thinkers emphasize that the truth a
human being perceives does not exist.
The Pure Land Sect
Pure Land Buddhism began in India around the second century B.C.E and spread to China by the
second century C.E.
When believers die, it is their objective to live in the “ Pure Land of West” or Sukhavati.
Once in Sukhavati, people can experience the delight of hearing Amitabha teach the dharma in
preparation for their entry to nirvana. Aside from meditations, this abaudhissm sect utilizes chants
and recitations to focus on helpful thoughts. (Losh 2001).
In Japan, by simplifying sect practices, such as those done by the monk Homen in the twelfth
century, attracted many followers to the sect Jodo Buddhism or Jodo-shu ( The Pure Land of
School)founded in 1175.
An offshoot of Pure Land Buddhism is the Shin Buddhism of Jodo Shin- shu(“ True Pure Land
School)founded by another Japanese monk Shinran during the thirteenth century.

The Intuitive Sect

The establishment of intuitive sects of Buddhism can be traced around the sixth-centuryC.E to the
work of an Indian monk named Bodhidharma whose life stories are shrouded with mysteries and
numerous legends(Murphy 1949). This concept entered China from India and then carried onward
to Korea and Japan. This concept entered China from India and then carried onward to India and
Japan.
The word for “meditation” in India is Dhyana, Ch’an in China, and Zen in Japan.
The intuitive sects emphasize that salvation is a personal matter and that one cannot receive
assistance from other entities such as persons or institutions to realize the inner truths of religion.
In short, most elements of religion from scriptures, temples, statues, prayers, and rituals -are not
essential to achieve enlightenment.
The Rationalist Sect
A Rationalist Buddhist school of thought called “ T’ein-t’ai” emerge around the sixth century C.E.
with its name originating from a mountain in South Eastern China where its founder Chih-I or Zhiyi
lived.
Chich -I emphasized that acts of studying and contemplation were both spiritual enlightenment.
Chich -I was introduced in Japan by the monk Saicho that came to be known as Tendai. During
the eleventh century, the Buddhist monk Uicheon establish the Cheontae Buddhist School in
Korea.
The Socio-political Sect
A Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Nichiren Daishonin who lived during the thirteenth
cencenturyring the Kamakura period began to teach that the path towards attaining enlightenment
rested solely on the devotion to the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren (“sun lotus”) Buddhism which, which is
purely a Japanese phenomenon, perceives itself as the only rightful version of Buddhism.
Nichiren Buddhism teaches that individuals must take responsibility to enhance themselves or
what is called the “ human revolution” and in turn improve the world’s lot. Enlightenment is
accessible to every individual on earth simply by opening one inherent Budha nature in this world.
Nichiren itself is considered a Buddha.
Nichiren taught that he alone understood Buddhist truths. He believes that other Buddhist sects in
Japan were corrupting the people towards hell. Nichiren also reproaches Japanese authority
because of its failure to promote the “Lotus Sutra” and for allowing fraudulent Buddhist sects to
flourish n the country.

Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism was officially introduced into Tibet around the seventh century C.E. during the reign of
Songshan Gampo, considered the founder of the Tibetan Empire. He was influenced by his
Chinese and Indian wives who were both Buddhist followers. Buddhism became the dominant
force in the region toward the end of the eighth century C.E. when ting Treson Detseng decreed it
as the official state religion.
While the theological foundation of Tibetan Buddhism is similar to that of Mahayana Buddhism the
isolation of the religion allowed for the development of many features that were incorporated into
the growing Buddhist school in Tibetan Land.
Tibetan Buddhism borrowed tantric and shamanic attributes as well as elements from Tibet-related
religion called bon.
A pre- Buddhistic religion Bon was a kind of shamanism where spirits and deities were
revered(Parrinder 1971).
One of the major distinguishing features of Tibetan Buddhism is the use of magic as a coping
mechanism in the Tibetan way of life (Holfe 1983). The use of chants and yoga is also part of
Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhas and bodhisattvas are also present in the teaching of Tibetan
Buddhism. Other special features of Tibetan Buddhism include the preoccupation with the
relationship between life and death, the important role of rituals and initiations, the use of rich
visual symbolisms and the use of meditation practices.
The four major schoos of Tibetan Buddhism include Nyingma,_______,______,_______.

SELECTED ISSUES
Tibet Invasion
For centuries, both China and India have been claiming Tibet as a part of their territories. Tibet
practically enjoyed some degree of independence as none of the claimants pressed their claims.
In 1950, however China annexed Tibet and negotiated the so-called “ Seventeeth Point
Agreement “ with the government of the fourteenth Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama failed in his bid to oust China puppet rule as the Tibetan uprising as defeated
by the more powerful Chinese force. The Dalai Lama together with his followers escape to India
and are now living there as refugees.Presently, the Dalai Lama has been continuously visiting
other countries to praching amessage of peace and hope. He has been given numerous citations
for various international advocacies and teaching activities such as the Ramon Magsaysay
Award for Community Leadership(1959), Nobel Peace Prize(1989), U.S Congressional Gold
Medal (2007) and Templation Prize(2012).
Engaged Activism
Ritual suicides led by Buddhist monks have transpired in the twentieth century as a form of protest
to the governments actions.
For example :
A crisis occurred between Buddhists and the South Vietnamese government led by Ngo Dinh
Diem in the 1960s that has a tremendous effect on politics militancy, and religious tolerance.
As a result of persecutions undertaken by the government against Buddhists, monks began to
lambast the regimes that eventually resulted in the self-immolation of the Thich Quang Duc, a
Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk. He voluntarily burned himself to deth in a busy Saigon
road intersection in 1963.