Introduction to

Buddhism
RLGN 1322: Introduction to
Eastern Traditions
Variant Views on Karma
 Moral action = good karma = enlightenment?
 Some argue against this formula and claim karmic
merit keeps one in the cycle of Samsara
 Should karma and ethical action be transcended in
order to achieve nirvana?
Problems
 Ifmoral action is a barrier to nirvana, why do
Buddhist teachings emphasis good works?
 Why do those who achieve enlightenment
continue to do moral action?
 One explanation: karmic virtue is part of the path
while wisdom is the other – ‘sila’ & ‘prajna’
What is Nirvana?
 The complete fusion of moral virtue and wisdom
 Wisdom comes from an understanding of ‘Truth’,
which is found in the 4 Noble Truths
 Medical analogy: diagnosis of disease, cause of
disease, finding a cure, and then setting out course
of treatment
Concept of Suffering
 We all experience pain (ie. physical, emotional,
psychological, etc.) but suffering here is
understood as the ‘inevitability of repeated birth,
sickness, ageing, and death’ (p. 50)
 It also connects to other types of suffering such as
frustration, disappointment, or dissatisfaction
The Truth of Suffering
 The Buddha’s revelation is linked to the 4 sights
 His assertion that suffering is inherent in human
existence is more of a ‘fact’ than a pessimistic
attitude
 This suffering (of all types) is caused by
craving/desire (ie. ‘addicted to life’)
Three Forms of Desire
 Thirst for sensual pleasure
 Thirst for existence
 Desire to destroy (ie. self-negation)
 BUT not all ‘desire’ is bad; for example, the goal
of attaining nirvana is not a negative desire or
craving
 Negative desires are linked with: greed, hatred,
and delusion
Nirvana as ‘Blowing Out’
 But if there is no self or permanent soul, what is
‘blown out’?
 The ‘evils’ of Buddhism (greed, hatred, and
delusion) are blown out and this results in the
cessation of rebirth
 One’s state of consciousness is transformed and
there is no more focus on ‘me’ or ‘I’
Death
 When a person achieves enlightenment, they are
not reborn in an embodied form
 No clear answer but the Buddha said this question
is like asking where a flame goes after being
extinguished
 The conditions of existence are no longer in place
BUT nirvana is not an annihilation
The Buddha on Nirvana
 The Buddha discouraged inquiry into the state of
nirvana and rather emphasized the pursuit of
nirvana
 The attainment of nirvana comes through the
Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path
 This path follows the Middle Way by rejecting
both extreme forms of asceticism and indulgence
 Each ‘spoke of the wheel’ must be continually
cultivated (ie. not a ‘stage’ to simply pass and
move on to the next one)
 The focus must be on morality, meditation, and
wisdom – this is a means to self-transformation or
a complete restructuring
Meditation
 Meditation is perhaps the most important practice
in cultivating concentration and awareness
 Keown notes that many schools of Buddhism
classify meditation the ‘high road to
enlightenment’
 Historically this was more common among
monastic communities but in recent times
meditative practice has been adopted among the
laity as well
Historical Roots of Meditation
 This was a common practice among ascetics or
renouncers in India
 It was also part of the Yoga tradition as a
technique for developing discipline (both mind
and body)
Nature of Meditation
 Altered state of consciousness
 Other states (ie. trance or drug-induced) are less
controllable
 Meditation fosters awareness and cultivates a state
of complete consciousness
Body and Mind
 Itis necessary to compose and control the physical
body before one can calm the mind
 Common position: Lotus posture
 Deep breathing is a key element of meditative
practice
 Sometimes a silent or spoken mantra (repetitive
phrase) might also be employed
Difficulty of Meditation
 Our mind innately wanders or can be easily
distracted so attaining focus and awareness is very
difficult
 Meditation requires practice, patience, and
determination to master
 Eventually, this can result in fewer mental
distractions, increased concentration, and greater
awareness
Eight Stages of Trance
 Page 100 lists the 8 stages of trance
 Aim is to be fully present
 Some of the higher stages include the ability to see
things in other locations, recall previous lives, or
even know the thoughts of other people
Four Measureless States
 Popular subjects of meditation include: loving-
kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and
equanimity
 For example, one might meditation on the idea of
loving oneself in order to be able to love others or
think of one’s own happiness in order to help
others be happy
Meditational Technique of the Buddha
 The Buddha practiced calming meditation
(samatha) and developed another kind called
insight meditation (vipassana)
 The aim was not to achieve a state of peace but
rather to foster critical insight
 These techniques are used in the same meditation
session: first, calm the mind, then engage in
analysis
Insight Meditation
 The purpose is to observe without becoming
involved
 The person should be aware of every twinge or
movement within the body but not react to it
 Eventually, one realizes that we have the choice to
respond (or not respond) in particular ways –
avoid impulsive reactions
Release
 The idea is that this form of meditative practice
leads to release from illusion, craving, the ego, and
dissatisfaction
 These are the barriers or attachments that keep one
in Samsara so meditation is thought to facilitate
the release from that cycle through these various
mechanisms
Interesting Applications!
 Neuroscientific investigation into Mindfulness-
Based Stress Reduction
 Meditative practice assist in dealing with chronic
pain, anxiety, depression etc. by eventually
altering patterns of neural activity
 Empirical confirmation: neuroplasticity