The Means (5)

1
The Means (5)

• How are the goals achieved?
• Taking refuge in the three Jewels helps human
  beings to achieve the goals.

2
Sub-topics

• The Buddha his life and example (the 4 Sights,
  Going Forth and Enlightenment).
• The Dhamma the Truth not the source of
  enlightenment but indicating the way.
• The Sangha the Aryasangha lay Buddhists monks
  and nuns Western Buddhist communities.
• (Therevada and Mahayana understandings of the
  Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha should be addressed).

3
The Three Jewels/Refuges

• Just about every Buddhist tradition includes
  taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the
  Sangha. These three provide a focus for our
  commitment and for our reflections on the
  practice.
• Ajahn Sumedho, The Mind and the Way

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The Three Jewels/Refuges

• When someone formally decides to become a
  Buddhist, he or she recites what is called the
  Three Jewels/Refuges, three times each
• I take refuge in the Buddha,
• I take refuge in the Dhamma,
• I take refuge in the Sangha.
• or as it was developed by the Buddha himself in
  Pali
• Buddham saranam gacchami
• Dhamman saranam gacchami
• Sangham saranam gacchami

5
The Three Jewels/Refuges

• Called the Jewels as they are so precious and
  valuable.
• Commitment to Buddha as teacher Dhamma as
  guidance and Sangha as companions through life.

6
The Three Jewels from a Buddhists perspective

1. Consciously identifying enlightenment as his/her
   ultimate aim (including acceptance of Buddhist
   understanding of true happiness).
2. Making a personal commitment to follow the
   Buddhas teachings and put them into practice
   (scriptures, practices, festivals etc.)

7
The Three Jewels from a Buddhists perspective

• Refuge does not mean a place to hide or to
  escape to e.g. refuge in the Buddha does not
  mean a Buddhist is pleading or praying for
  salvation.
• Rather a decision based on the conviction that we
  have the potential for enlightenment, and it is
  possible to awaken this potential.

8
The Three Jewels from a Buddhists perspective

• Refugees from samsara, the endless cycle of
  suffering.
• Refuge means an expression of reliance the
  Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha but most importantly
  your own enlightenment potential.

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Dhammapada 380

• One is ones own master, ones own refuge.
• So what does this mean for your everyday life?

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Refuge in everyday life

• A commitment to make every effort not to harm
  others or ourselves in any way.
• So how does a Buddhist take refuge?

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How does a Buddhist take refuge?

1. Refuge ceremony usually held in local monastery
   with several monks to witness the recitation. In
   Buddhist countries this takes place when children
   are about 7 (however they are free to change
   religion with no sanctions). In the Tibetan
   tradition you are given a refuge name and if a
   lay person, a small lock of hair is cut to
   symbolise the giving up of vanity in favour of
   spiritual values.
2. Reciting refuges each day as a reminder of the
   original commitment. Morning and evening prayers
   begin with recitations.

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• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vr7gOVqJwyaA

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The Buddha

• His life and example
• The 4 Sights (Old age, Sickness, Death and a Holy
  Man or Ascetic)
• Going Forth (Dissatisfaction with life, mission
  to find an answer to suffering and the cycle of
  rebirth)
• Enlightenment (Finding the middle way, realising
  reality, defeating Mara)

14
The Buddha

• Following enlightenment he taught until his
  death.
• The teaching were preserved orally for about 500
  years, then written down.
• Good extract p.107

15
The Buddha

• Therevada
• Acknowledge historical role in communicating
  Dhamma historical founder.
• Buddha (Shakyamuni) as ultimate teacher and
  guide his life sets an example.
• An extraordinary human being, the embodiment of
  enlightenment.

• Mahayana
• Trikaya doctrine of earthly, heavenly and
  transcendent. Refuge all other buddhas of the
  past and the future (not just Buddha Shakyamuni).
• Most significantly to Sambhogakaya buddhas as
  well.
• Variation within Mahayana Pure Land - Buddha
  Amitabha Zen - buddha nature within.

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The Dhamma

• Dhamma (Skt) or Dharma (P) have many different
  meanings Universal truth Teachings of the
  Buddha Path Personal realisation of truths
  Buddhism.
• Taking refuge in it means an understanding that
  the teachings of the Buddha are there to be
  heard, read, studied, understood, practised and
  realised.
• The most important? The Dhamma can be seen as
  the key that opens the meaning of all of the
  Three Refuges.

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The Dhamma

• Not a source of enlightenment in and of itself
  analogy with path to a mountain / raft to cross
  the ocean to nibbana.
• The Buddhas finger pointing to the moon.
• Good extract p.109

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The Dhamma Tripitaka (3 baskets)

• A Therevada approach in particular. Mahayana
  accept teachings from other sources too.
• Think back to one of the Buddhists first
  teachings what works for you.
• The Dhamma must be interpreted Buddhists seek
  to find lessons from wherever they can.
• The Tripitaka are
• Vinaya pitaka
• Sutta pitaka
• Abhidhamma pitaka

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Tripitaka Vinaya pitaka

• Rules and guidelines for monastics.
• Includes punishments and is mainly concerned
  with physical concerns e.g. sex, drugs, negative
  thoughts, vanity etc.
• http//www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/index.
  html

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Tripitaka Sutta pitaka

• Elaborations on teachings of the Buddha (by the
  Buddha).
• Use of analogies etc.
• http//www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sutta.html
  

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Tripitaka Abhidhamma pitaka

1. Theoretical rather than practical focus on
   philosophy of teachings.
2. http//www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/abhi/index
   .html

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The Dhamma Mahayana understanding

• The main point of difference between traditions
  is the composition of what is accepted as the
  body of scripture.
• Emphasis on taking refuge in the Dhamma as
  universal truth, not necessarily the words of
  scripture e.g Zen places more emphasis on
  meditation than scriptural study (the ultimate
  truth is beyond words, words are a hindrance).

23
The Sangha

• Brainstorm some ideas about these words
• BUDDHIST MONK
• BUDDHIST

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The Sangha

• Various misconceptions about Buddhist monks
• Meditate all day long
• Live within monastery walls
• No contact with community
• Dont have jobs, dont earn money
• Various misconceptions about Buddhists
• They are all monks!
• Give up all their possessions
• Give up sex, alcohol, chocolate etc.

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The Sangha

• The community of those who follow the Buddhist
  path.
• Monks and nuns called bhikkus and bhikkunis
  these are the ordained members of the Buddhist
  community. Aiming for enlightenment and have
  devoted their life to attaining it (Therevada
  Arhat and Mahayana Bodhisattva).
• Aryasangha a subgroup within the monastics
  enlightened beings like the Dalai Lama (the
  elite?).
• Lay people ordinary, everyday Buddhists who
  follow the teachings in a varying degree of
  strictness. Usually hoping to produce good kamma
  throughout lives.

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The Sangha the role of monastics

• First initiated by the Buddha, who set out rules
  and guidelines.
• Primary role is to maintain Buddhism as a living
  religion study scripture practise meditation
  every day teach the Dhamma to others perform
  ritual and ceremony offer advice according to
  Buddhist values.
• In their personal lives uphold ethical values as
  living examples of the Dhamma.

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The Sangha the role of monastics

• By taking refuge a lay person is acknowledging
  the vital role that monastics play.
• Members of the ordained Sangha are worthy of
  respect and gifts (positive kamma). Just as a
  seed planted in better ground yields better
  fruit
• More practically lay people honour the monastics
  with respectful behaviour, food, clothing,
  medicines etc. and rely on them for advice.

28
The Sangha Mahayana understanding

• Quite different from Therevada, and variation
  within Mahayana traditions. Main difference
  concerns the nature of monasticism
• the role of monks
• their way of life
• the discipline they follow
• their relation to the larger community

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The Sangha Mahayana understanding

• In China and Japan the Therevada Vinaya (rules
  and guidelines) evolved and changed e.g.
• True Pure Land Buddhism (Japan) no monks,
  priests instead who are allowed to marry and have
  families, take jobs and earn money. Live as
  householders and perform duties on certain
  occasions only.

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The Sangha Mahayana understanding

• Sambhogakaya buddhas and bodhisattvas are
  included within Sangha that you take refuge
  into.
• You can aspire to emulate them, develop their
  enlightened qualities and pray for help and
  protection.

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The Sangha Western Buddhist Communities

• For FWBO see pp. 113-114
• Kagyu Samye Ling Europes oldest Tibetan
  Buddhist Monastery and the first Tibetan Buddhist
  Centre to have been established in the West.
• Located on the banks of the river Esk in
  Scotland.
• Open to people of all faiths and none.
• Offers meditation retreats and courses available
  throughout the year.

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Kagyu Samye Ling

• Founded in 1967 and currently under the guidance
  of Abbot Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche (right).
• Samye Ling is part of Rokpa Trust, a registered
  charity which has three main areas of activity
  spiritual, humanitarian aid, and Tibetan medicine
  and therapy.

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Kagyu Samye Ling wee research project

• Make an information sheet on Kagyu Samye Ling- to
  be given out to all pupils on the way there (no
  more than 2 pages of A4). If you want to go to
  Samye Ling you must complete this activity.
• Make it as original, eye catching and informative
  as you can. Your peers (and maybe even a monk)
  will be reading it!
• http//www.samyeling.org/

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Sub-topics check your learning

• The Buddha his life and example (the 4 Sights,
  Going Forth and Enlightenment).
• The Dhamma the Truth not the source of
  enlightenment but indicating the way.
• The Sangha the Aryasangha lay Buddhists monks
  and nuns Western Buddhist communities.
• (Therevada and Mahayana understandings of the
  Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha should be addressed).