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Another great video! I started watching your videos earlier this year and have found them to be very informative. There was one thing at the end of this video that I’d like to share my perspective on. I just did Jukai (taking the 16 bodhisattva precepts) this past Sunday with my teacher. I spent the last year reading, studying, and participating in discussions about the meaning of the precepts and their application in daily life. The quote that you used from the Four Bodhisattva Vows, “The Buddha’s Way is unattainable; I vow to attain it” is more about the commitment towards continuing the practice of being a bodhisattva, forever. The goal of becoming a buddha is much less important than practicing as one right now. I know that other Mahayana traditions have different ideas of the bodhisattva ideal, but as far as I know Zen doesn’t say that if you follow the bodhisattva path you will become divine. I think that treating the Buddha as an ordinary person, just like any one of us, is much more instructive and inspiring. It means that we all have the potential to living kinder, more compassionate lives. Thank you so much for creating videos on early Buddhism that deepen my understanding on the roots of the tradition that I follow. 🙂🙏🏻
Just watched removing negative thoughts from acouple of years ago and came to this recent episode to thank you im a subscriber now and look and hope to grow spiritually i believe you are a great teacher , watching you from central KY , gosh thanks a bunch !
Wow, another splendid presentation of a complex topic. As the Bodhisattva of Unsurpassable Good Taste (😎🤪🤣), I can assure you that this is the best Dharma channel I've ever come across! Seriously! 😁🙏🏻
Brilliant analysis Doug. Thank you. While skeptical of the Bodhisattva story I find the consideration of the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows to be a beneficial element in my Western/Early practice. The question of whether the Buddha was a Bodhisattva or not seems to me to be another example of a mental rumination that can only lead to views.
Much of what you describe here in terms of the evolution of Buddhism and similarities with Christianity are something that I think goes beyond relgion and is more of human nature. We tend to add complexity over time. We also tend to exalt or vilify individuals over time. You see this in terms of the founding fathers of the country, as well as participants in wars. I think it is a part of human nature. What is unique in my mind about Buddhism is that Buddhism is all about seeing things how they actual are, which is basically going against this tendency of human nature.
At around 1:24 is just got a notification from Quora with a question from someone asking how the Buddha’s teachings compare to Jesus Christ and the prophet Muhammad. Great content as always! Thanks for posting your videos.
In a NSA Buddhist group i used to attend occasionally back in the 70s to mid 80s, one of the things that really bothered me was how some of the members -- many of whom were either former Christians or were still attending Christian churches -- started to seemingly "worship" Daisaku ("President") Ikeda as a sort of demigod, speaking of him in awestruck tones, imagining how thrilled they would be if they ever got the great privilege of getting to meet him! I began to feel like it was not so much a "sokka- gakai" ("academy") but almost some sort of quasi-Christian cult that had exalted its leader into its object of worship!
So the conclusion for me is that the teaching of the Buddha was a very down-to-earth source of wisdom which was gradually corrupted by esoteric influence & supernatural elements and today we have to work really hard to identify what he really taught if we are personally interested in that and not later additions. Thanks for the video!
@LEEK I dont't consider rebirth any more "esoteric" than an eternal afterlife, or even a nihilistic view of "death is the end". I simply dont know, rebirth is a viable option and I am certainly not trying to throw it out the window. The upside to it I think is that if you follow the buddhist path, and rebirth is indeed true, you may be able to see it for yourself one day.
@ if I remember correctly even in the early suttas the Buddha and the Arhat were different
8 месяцев назад
@@diansc7322 They are as different as comparing the first professor of the field of study and subsequent graduated students... Not all students will become professor.
I think the "Backward Movement of Buddhology" is just the forward movement of Sanghology or maybe Caitrology -- the reification of a church. When temporal power is accrued to the church, be it buddhist or christian or any other, there needs to be an explanation as to why the ordinary person can no longer attain what the founder said was theirs for the having. So in Theravada the ideal becomes arhant, in Mahayana the ideal becomes bodhisattva, and even tantra, once reified into a church of Vajrayana, claims that we are in the kaliyuge and people can be tulkus but not bodhisattvas or buddhas.
Thanks Doug. The information on what were later developments is helpful, though I find them disheartening at times. It is sad that a great man is never good enough. Once again the dharma that was likened to a raft and could be taught and mastered in a sitting must be turned into an enormous and unattainable goal. I find myself reading a lot about efforts to identify what the historical real life Buddha taught. I know many find the later contributions and traditions inspirational, but I think they are misleading and counterproductive. The Eightfold Path really isn’t that big. It really is about doing and not believing.
I think it comes down to our own personal preferences. Some of us find the smaller and more down-to-earth goals of the early tradition most congenial, others find the grander and more cosmological goals most congenial.
"The Pilgrim's Progress" has a passage that reminds me of one in the Lotus Sutra. A man is seen raking up muck with a rake. His head is bowed down so low, intent on cleaning the filthy ground, that he does not see a heavenly crown being offered to him from above him. The Lotus Sutra has a "parable" with some similarities to the gospel one of the "prodigal son". In the Lotus Sutra, the son, after many years away, returns to his homeland destitute. His now very wealthy father, whom he no longer recognizes, offers him work, but the only work the "prodigal son" feels comfortable taking is to clean up animal manure. His attitude is similar to the muck raker. Only on the father's deathbed does the son learn of his identity and his inheritance of great wealth.
All human collective consciousness are part of the Buddha consciousness, So historically of good beings in their good practices are the history of past experiences of the Buddha too
The Arhat ideal seems to be easier to attain than the Bodhisattva ideal and it is recommended by the Buddha himself yet the Mahayanists that came later look down upon Arhatship
Actually it's reverse. It takes many lifetimes to become and arhat. In many tantric vajrayana practices to become a Bodhisattva it's said that it's possible to reach buddhahood in one life time.
@@Kaisforeignadventures That only happens if you have a highly realized guru. For e.g. Jetsun Milarepa did attain Buddhahood through his own efforts, but the teachings and guidance of his guru Marpa the translator did play a significant role in Milarepa's quest towards enlightenment
@@sonamtshering194 it can happen to anyone who follows the instructions, has attained a certain amount of merit and has learned from an authentic guru. That's the entire purpose of Vajrayana.
I think the practice can be easy or difficult depending on one's interests and inclinations. For some, the early practice seems easier, for others, the Vajrayana practice does. Pick whichever one fits with your heart.
A very nice and articulate explanation, thanks so much 🙂. It will be interesting if you can do a video on the historical emergence of the character of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Mahayana Buddhism? Especially in Eastern Asian Mahayana traditions, example the Pure Land tradition, Avalokiteshvara seemed to transform from the original India's "male-body" Bodhisattva to a more popular East Asian "female-body" Bodhisattva. And is the Eastern Asian concept of the "female" Avalokiteshvara and with her having the power of multiple manifestations, somewhat originated or influenced by the later India's Brahmanical concept of the female Devi Shakti and her multiple manifestations? Thanks.
Missed this video.The 'glorification 'of historical people is such a fascinating proces . We see the same thing happening allover the world .The only (or one of the few ) exceptions are the /Greek philosophers. Plato and say Pythagoras had some 'glorification potential ;)
Yes, Socrates is probably the best example of a glorified Greek philosopher. One can look at Plato's output as trying to glorify Socrates as the very embodiment of wisdom, which is how the Stoics for example understand him.
@@DougsDharma Maybe 'deified ' is a better English term for what I'm aiming for. I was at the airport changing flights a few years ago and got stuck for a few hours in Thailand ( South east Asia anyway) So I watched this Buddhist cartoon series on a TV. screen at the airport. This Manga -Buddha (or Bodhisattva) was portrait as this glowing demi-god twice the size of a human being with rainbow lasers shooting out of him , fighting demons & villains in a historical setting , while telling kids to behave ethically in a booming voice at the end of the episode. . Anyway, It's an subjective & a bit silly example ,but it was so fascinating to see this modern glorification (.sensualisation .
11:55 I would imagine, if anything, he might have done or said something as a young child close to what is described as "taking 10 steps and declaring 'this is my last life' or (and more likely) 'I am lord of all things' " tho tbf if true there's no way to know for sure and it would be purely coincidental haha kids say some wild stuff
I don’t think there would have to be a contradiction between Buddha’s self-taught enlightenment and the Kasyapa story. If you met Jimi Hendrix in your previous life and became enthusiastic about guitars, it wouldn’t mean that you couldn’t be a self-taught guitar player in this life. The case could still be made that Jimi’s effect on you had set the ball in motion.
Well if he taught you how to play guitar, and your ability in this life to play guitar was partly due to that teaching, then you aren’t entirely self-taught.
3 года назад
There's a big difference between "being taught by" and "being inspired by". You might come to know about an abandoned village somewhere in the jungle. However, it's a completely different story regarding discovering the abandoned path to that village yourselves. You can get the idea from the professor in class but finding the solution yourselves is a different story. If you still delude yourselves that the professor taught you in university then you have achieved nothing.
@@DougsDharma Well, you wouldn't retain any actual teaching from the previous life. You'd only retain an inclination, together with any other effects it had on your temperament. Certainly, Buddhist-like meditative teachings and practices will an effect on self-development and character, which (if rebirth is true) *would* carry over into your personality in the next life. Not everyone is born with such extreme sensitivity and need to know the truth as Gautama was, and the idea of rebirth does imply that our personality is a continuation from earlier work.
Hello Doug ! Your channel is a pleasure to watch and a educational gem ! I found the comparison between Christ and the Buddha very interesting. I remember reading Barth Erhman and what was fascinating to me was that early Christians deified Jesus within (at least) 20 years after his death (with Apostle Paul as the earliest writer of any Christian text yet to date : he is famous for quoting a "hymn" about Christ as (pre-existent) God in the Epistle to the Philippians ), My only question would be, how long did it take Buddhists to deify Buddha? Was he proclaimed a god as quickly as Jesus was, or was it a longer process?
Thanks, Dante! As to your question, it's impossible to say for sure how long it took for Buddhists to deify the Buddha. It might even have happened during his lifetime. One key difference between Jesus and the Buddha is that the Buddha had a forty-plus-year teaching career: plenty of time for such stories and legends to arise while he was still around. Certainly it became more elaborated in the centuries following his death.
16:00 I think you miss the point when comparing with Buddha Nature, because Buddha Nature is the potential of every being to become enlightened. You should point out the case of Lotus Sutra, where it is said that the Buddha has attain enlightenment eons ago and only projecting appearance here. Or the concept of Dharmakaya. Interestingly, two of the big tradition in Mahayana Buddhism, Zen and Tantra, advocate "enlightenment in one lifetime". So becoming full Buddha in this very life, bypassing the 3-4 eons needed. Whether that was returning to the original intention of early teaching, or something novel, let those who want to, prove it themselves.
Sure, Buddha nature has been described in many ways through the centuries, and one of them as you note is that it’s the potential of every one of us to become enlightened - or even to become Buddhas ourselves.
I do think that this video, while well intentioned, does miss the point of Mahayana teachings. Personally, as a Vajrayanist, the nature of historical Buddha means quite little for my practice. Vajrayana has always been a later innovation/development of Buddhism, and therefore different.
The early teachings do not touch on vegetarianism directly though they counsel not getting involved in the meat trade. They discuss the avoidance of alcohol though the fifth precept can be read either as counseling complete abstinence or at least the avoidance of drunkenness.
I definitely like the idea of the Bodhisattva Ideal, but the actual reality of it seems rather torturous. It isn't like they are born with a clear, self-consciously aware knowledge of reality... each life is still that struggle to overcome the hindrances, the conceits, you have to "learn the Dharma" all over again and make choices that go against the common psycho-social cultural context. Sure, you might be inclined towards it and "hear the call" because of "karma" but would it ever get easier? Though, to be sure, I think these are metaphors for us to understand our own "where we are" in terms of total and authentic-- maybe even ontological-- levels of existential success... I sure do like these topics and your videos on them! I also like all the "How Jesus Became Christ" types of historical development things... which is also why I so appreciate your ability to even say things like "in the earliest texts..." I've said it a few times before, but I really just think it is so terrific you know the literature that well and with that kind of contemporary approach to it all. Thanks!
Bodhisattva vows and reverence for bodhisattvas is very powerful and very effective but what is always kind of perplexed me is the nature of their manifestation were they solitary Anonymous practitioners who became enlightened and then came to other people and manifested themselves or are they purely ideals?
@@DougsDharma Yes, I get that... You explain how the Jataka tales began exploring Buddha's previous lives drawn from folk tales around India at the time.... my question is in regards to how the Bhodisattva element of Mahayana developed around the Nalanda setting. As I understand it, Vajrapani was one of the first, and the prajnaparamita describes how Bodhisattvas were in attendance at Vulture peak... so what I would like to know is, what if possible or maybe, how did Bodhisattvas become indoctrinated into the emerging pantheon of Mahayana deities? Specifically, Manjursri, Vajrapani, Avolakitisvara & Maitreya. I have been conducting a thought experiment as follows: 4 postulates - 1. Bodhisattvas are real beings that transcend time and space and manifest in our minds, or maybe for this purpose, the minds of those monks who lived at Nalanda in which they were inspired to found the tradition within the Buddhism of this period. 2. Bodhisattvas are imaginary beings, ideals, that the aforementioned monks agreed upon, "How did they do this?". 3. In regards to emptiness, Bodhisattvas were conditioned by what happened before and took form thusly, reinforcing D.O. and taking on a consciousness of their own. 4. They don't exist, all phenomena are empty and they manifest only as conventions to dharma practice. This is kind of my attempt at forming a tetralema to work out the answer in my own meditations. Previously I assumed that Bodhisattvas, the ones who are the most important to Mahayana, were somehow anonymous enlightened beings who were revealed to those who had already been part of the Nalanda lineage. Perhaps their existence was something like the Vajrayana traditions of tertons, revealed sutras/tantras that are to be discovered at some point in the future. I reached the conclusion so far that it must be a combination of all the postulates. I read an article about active imagination in the Jungian method that claimed that Bodhisattvas are nothing more than the product of imagination. I have been practicing deity yoga for many years now and I have always felt a real presence when doing mantras and various pujas to Manjursri in particular. I have many friends who were Lamas and it seems like they all recognize a literal spiritual presence. This is a complicated question and I think answers will vary depending on the practitioner. Part of me recognizes that it doesn't really matter when looking at it through a school like Chitra Matra, what I want to know is, if I achieve a state of Dhyana or Samadhi working with a Bodhisattva, is it just the power of suggestion and an ideal implanted into the Mahayana traditions by the paramita concept? or do some schools consider Bodhisattvas to be a real tangible spiritual being "Darshan" as in the practice of Tantric Sadhana? I know that is a lot, sorry in advance... I am really enjoying your work, thank you... So, what do you think?
Some conjectures about prophecy: You can know a prophecy, but that doesn't necessarily make anything easier. I'd argue that knowing a prophecy is usually paired with great tribulation. You are so lost that you are given a helping notion of ultimate success. What you will be going through will make you lose complete faith in your ability to succeed that, without this prophecy, you'd give up very quickly. This can also be complicated by the idea that those who may be leading such a person, Gods, Gurus, etc, can lie. Unless you have a means of directly perceiving the truth of the prophecy, how can you know it to be true? Lastly, even seeing it to be true does not mean you know how it could possibly be true. You see a plane flying in the sky, but do you really understand how a hundred tons of metal manage flight? You know it to be true, but understanding it is a completely different task.
I can only confirm Xiao Mao’s comments. I also subscribe via Patreon. Concerning the Jatakas I would like to know your thoughts concerning Stephen Collins observation that one of the functions of the Jataka tales traditionally was to serve as a guide to practise for the lay community and that the contemporary cosmopolitan followers of the Buddha dharma who are not grounded in a culture that is framed by Buddhism ignore the of the Jataka in preference to scripture. Professor Collins uses the analogy of a friend who is thinking of an abortion and comes to talk to you about this decision and you respond with a lecture about current case law and possible jurisdiction issues etc. when your friend is probably wanting to hear about your possible experience of abortion or similarly significant life choices e.g. your experience of regret or despair etc. The Jataka tales can serve this more affective role in guiding the lay practitioner. Of course I cannot go past recommending your new book as a good source for the lay practitioner. All the best & thank you for your work.
Yes sure, it doesn’t need to be a question of either/or though, since different people come to the dharma for different reasons. Certainly for some the Jātakas will be very meaningful.
I thought there can only be one Buddha at a time. At least in my country's tradition (Theravada). In jataka tales, the Buddha as a Bodhisattva went through tremendous hardships and sacrifices in his past lives. To fulfill his paramitas, it took many eons. From what ive heard, Shakyamuni Buddha apparently already attained enlightenment as a Samyaksambuddha many eons ago. And that the body of the historical Siddhartha Gautama we know today is just an earthly projection. How would that be in agreement with the Buddha's past lives where he was still a Bodhisattva. If he was already enlightened as a Samyaksambuddha, why go through all this reincarnating as Bodhisattva to fill his paramitas again? It doesnt make sense to me. Please do correct my understanding if im wrong, I'd appreciate an explanation of this. Thank you.
Heavenly Bodhisattvas are actually heavenly deities of others religions, they start to practice Buddhism after listening the preaching of the Buddha . This heavenly beings vows to become Buddhism protecters for the earthly beings , they changed their name to Buddhist name, and known as Buddhism heavenly Bodhisattvas
The best way to start is: "I take refuge in Buddha. I take refuge in Dhamma. I take refuge in Sangha". 3 times But as for me, I'd say " I want to get the wisdom of knowing Nirvana" many times in my mind started at 14 and at 24, I got the level I want. Believe it or not within 4 days. I don't want comments. Jotipala make a mistake he said " I can practice 6 years" for Nirvana. Buddha says " come and see".
Since Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE decreed (on still-existing stone inscriptions in India and Bactria (Afghanistan)) that Buddhist missionaries be sent west by the Silk Road, and they reportedly did arrive in Alexandria, Egypt, had Buddhist scriptures translated into Greek and made converts, since the eightfold path symbol was found by archeologists on some wealthy Alexandrians' tombs of that same era, since "Jesus Christ" had the initials of Julius Caesar, while his chief disciple, "Simon Peter", allegedly the first Roman pope, had the same initials as Buddha's chief disciple, "Sari Putra", since the Lotus Sutra and other Buddhist literature contains similarities to gospel parables and biographies of "Buddha" give many striking similarities to the gospel "Jesus Christ"'s nativity and life story, it is my opinion that these facts might not be coincidences.
Could you do a video on guanyin by Su Xuejin/ Bo hi Yu Ren. I’m having trouble figuring out if this guanyin was a princess before Buddhism came to China or developed after in the jataka tales. Who was this artist too? I can’t find anything on him.
“In that past time, the Tathagata, the Brahmin Jotipāla, offended the Buddha Kassapa by saying: "It's not easy for that bald-headed samana to attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment. It is very difficult to attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment.” Because of the result of that bad speech, the Tathāgata had to practice asceticism in the mountains near the village of Uruvela for 6 years straight. Because of his old bad karma, he practiced austerity wrongly. The Tathagata could not attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment by that ascetic practice. After giving up the ascetic practice, the Tathagata followed the Middle Way practice, leading to the realization of the Four Noble Truths, the attainment of the Four Noble Truths - the Four Noble Fruits and Nirvana, and the becoming Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment. Now, the Tathagata no longer creates bad karma and good karma anymore, has destroyed all afflictions, all cravings, all evil dharmas; no longer hot-tempered, no longer sorrowful, no longer suffering. The Tathagata will pass away Nirvana.”
I translated it by Google from one web page about 14 bad karma of Gautama Buddha.(The link prevented me from posting this comment, so I moved the page link out) I am not sure about where origin text is from but the page is also a good Buddhism source to read. Thanks for all your hard work and sharing knowledge!
yes,it is. Jotipala who was Gautama Bodhisattva said " I going to practice Dukkarasarira for 6 years to attain Buddha", while Kassapa Buddha attain Buddha title.
In Buddhism god is equal to devas. The devas can die. Buddha is different from devas. Buddha and arahanta are the enlightened one. Not be born in any realms after they attained parinibbana. Every beings rebirth over n over again cause KAMMA (in this case KAMMA based on tanha). As long as we create KAMMA, we'll reborn again n again.
@@DougsDharma i think Buddha is just who realise the dharma alone without a master and Then propaghetes the dharma. Thats why pratyekaBuddhas are "alone buddhas". They dont leaves us with a Sangha.
7:33 funny, after coming out of the nothingness, i sat on the toilet for like 20 minutes, repeating constantly "people will not understand, people will not understand..." ^^ And they sure don't xD Edit : by the way, thanks for your videos. I like the way you explain, the tone of your voice is relaxing and "kind". ^^ It's a pleasure. Thanks.
🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
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Another great video! I started watching your videos earlier this year and have found them to be very informative. There was one thing at the end of this video that I’d like to share my perspective on. I just did Jukai (taking the 16 bodhisattva precepts) this past Sunday with my teacher. I spent the last year reading, studying, and participating in discussions about the meaning of the precepts and their application in daily life. The quote that you used from the Four Bodhisattva Vows, “The Buddha’s Way is unattainable; I vow to attain it” is more about the commitment towards continuing the practice of being a bodhisattva, forever. The goal of becoming a buddha is much less important than practicing as one right now. I know that other Mahayana traditions have different ideas of the bodhisattva ideal, but as far as I know Zen doesn’t say that if you follow the bodhisattva path you will become divine. I think that treating the Buddha as an ordinary person, just like any one of us, is much more instructive and inspiring. It means that we all have the potential to living kinder, more compassionate lives. Thank you so much for creating videos on early Buddhism that deepen my understanding on the roots of the tradition that I follow. 🙂🙏🏻
Thanks Eli, yes that makes a lot of sense and sounds like what I’ve heard in zendos too. 🙏
Just watched removing negative thoughts from acouple of years ago and came to this recent episode to thank you im a subscriber now and look and hope to grow spiritually i believe you are a great teacher , watching you from central KY , gosh thanks a bunch !
Awesome, thank you Tim and welcome aboard! 🙏
Wow, another splendid presentation of a complex topic. As the Bodhisattva of Unsurpassable Good Taste (😎🤪🤣), I can assure you that this is the best Dharma channel I've ever come across! Seriously! 😁🙏🏻
Thank you kindly! But seriously, whatever worthwhile is in these videos comes from the suttas, translators, and scholars listed in the notes ... 🙏😊
@@DougsDharma
Your humility makes you even more likeable... 😋
But serioulsy, thanks to everyone involved! 😊🙏
Thanks for the discussion. I really like your thumbnails.
You're very welcome, stan! As for the thumbnails, they are a constant work-in-progress ... 😄
May the Buddha bless you.
Sri vishnu God protect you
🙏😊
Brilliant analysis Doug. Thank you. While skeptical of the Bodhisattva story I find the consideration of the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows to be a beneficial element in my Western/Early practice. The question of whether the Buddha was a Bodhisattva or not seems to me to be another example of a mental rumination that can only lead to views.
Good point, that is one of the pitfalls of scholarship ... it all leads to views. 😄
Much of what you describe here in terms of the evolution of Buddhism and similarities with Christianity are something that I think goes beyond relgion and is more of human nature. We tend to add complexity over time. We also tend to exalt or vilify individuals over time. You see this in terms of the founding fathers of the country, as well as participants in wars. I think it is a part of human nature. What is unique in my mind about Buddhism is that Buddhism is all about seeing things how they actual are, which is basically going against this tendency of human nature.
Yes, Buddhism gives us the tools to see through such strategies.
At around 1:24 is just got a notification from Quora with a question from someone asking how the Buddha’s teachings compare to Jesus Christ and the prophet Muhammad. Great content as always! Thanks for posting your videos.
Interesting! You're very welcome, Charlie. 🙏
In a NSA Buddhist group i used to attend occasionally back in the 70s to mid 80s, one of the things that really bothered me was how some of the members -- many of whom were either former Christians or were still attending Christian churches -- started to seemingly "worship" Daisaku ("President") Ikeda as a sort of demigod, speaking of him in awestruck tones, imagining how thrilled they would be if they ever got the great privilege of getting to meet him! I began to feel like it was not so much a "sokka- gakai" ("academy") but almost some sort of quasi-Christian cult that had exalted its leader into its object of worship!
So the conclusion for me is that the teaching of the Buddha was a very down-to-earth source of wisdom which was gradually corrupted by esoteric influence & supernatural elements and today we have to work really hard to identify what he really taught if we are personally interested in that and not later additions. Thanks for the video!
Same with most religions really
@LEEK I dont't consider rebirth any more "esoteric" than an eternal afterlife, or even a nihilistic view of "death is the end". I simply dont know, rebirth is a viable option and I am certainly not trying to throw it out the window. The upside to it I think is that if you follow the buddhist path, and rebirth is indeed true, you may be able to see it for yourself one day.
The only way is to become Arhat.
@ if I remember correctly even in the early suttas the Buddha and the Arhat were different
@@diansc7322 They are as different as comparing the first professor of the field of study and subsequent graduated students... Not all students will become professor.
I think the "Backward Movement of Buddhology" is just the forward movement of Sanghology or maybe Caitrology -- the reification of a church. When temporal power is accrued to the church, be it buddhist or christian or any other, there needs to be an explanation as to why the ordinary person can no longer attain what the founder said was theirs for the having. So in Theravada the ideal becomes arhant, in Mahayana the ideal becomes bodhisattva, and even tantra, once reified into a church of Vajrayana, claims that we are in the kaliyuge and people can be tulkus but not bodhisattvas or buddhas.
Thanks Doug. The information on what were later developments is helpful, though I find them disheartening at times. It is sad that a great man is never good enough. Once again the dharma that was likened to a raft and could be taught and mastered in a sitting must be turned into an enormous and unattainable goal. I find myself reading a lot about efforts to identify what the historical real life Buddha taught. I know many find the later contributions and traditions inspirational, but I think they are misleading and counterproductive. The Eightfold Path really isn’t that big. It really is about doing and not believing.
I think it comes down to our own personal preferences. Some of us find the smaller and more down-to-earth goals of the early tradition most congenial, others find the grander and more cosmological goals most congenial.
This is Amazing, it cleared up a lot for me
My pleasure, Fitz, glad to hear it!
I wish I could meet next the Buddha in the future.
"The Pilgrim's Progress" has a passage that reminds me of one in the Lotus Sutra. A man is seen raking up muck with a rake. His head is bowed down so low, intent on cleaning the filthy ground, that he does not see a heavenly crown being offered to him from above him. The Lotus Sutra has a "parable" with some similarities to the gospel one of the "prodigal son". In the Lotus Sutra, the son, after many years away, returns to his homeland destitute. His now very wealthy father, whom he no longer recognizes, offers him work, but the only work the "prodigal son" feels comfortable taking is to clean up animal manure. His attitude is similar to the muck raker. Only on the father's deathbed does the son learn of his identity and his inheritance of great wealth.
Thanks 🙏🏼
My pleasure! 🙏
You have beautiful content on your channel.
🙏❤️
Thanks! It’s all because of soooo many people whose work I rely on.
Thank you. A very interesting talk. Cheers
My pleasure, Babek!
All human collective consciousness are part of the Buddha consciousness,
So historically of good beings in their good practices are the history of past experiences of the Buddha too
The Arhat ideal seems to be easier to attain than the Bodhisattva ideal and it is recommended by the Buddha himself yet the Mahayanists that came later look down upon Arhatship
Actually it's reverse. It takes many lifetimes to become and arhat. In many tantric vajrayana practices to become a Bodhisattva it's said that it's possible to reach buddhahood in one life time.
@@Kaisforeignadventures That only happens if you have a highly realized guru. For e.g. Jetsun Milarepa did attain Buddhahood through his own efforts, but the teachings and guidance of his guru Marpa the translator did play a significant role in Milarepa's quest towards enlightenment
@@sonamtshering194 it can happen to anyone who follows the instructions, has attained a certain amount of merit and has learned from an authentic guru. That's the entire purpose of Vajrayana.
I think the practice can be easy or difficult depending on one's interests and inclinations. For some, the early practice seems easier, for others, the Vajrayana practice does. Pick whichever one fits with your heart.
@@DougsDharma well said ❤️
A very nice and articulate explanation, thanks so much 🙂.
It will be interesting if you can do a video on the historical emergence of the character of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Mahayana Buddhism? Especially in Eastern Asian Mahayana traditions, example the Pure Land tradition, Avalokiteshvara seemed to transform from the original India's "male-body" Bodhisattva to a more popular East Asian "female-body" Bodhisattva.
And is the Eastern Asian concept of the "female" Avalokiteshvara and with her having the power of multiple manifestations, somewhat originated or influenced by the later India's Brahmanical concept of the female Devi Shakti and her multiple manifestations?
Thanks.
Yes these are also interesting questions! If I can find good scholarly information on them I might do such a video in the future.
Missed this video.The 'glorification 'of historical people is such a fascinating proces . We see the same thing happening allover the world .The only (or one of the few ) exceptions are the /Greek philosophers. Plato and say Pythagoras had some 'glorification potential ;)
Yes, Socrates is probably the best example of a glorified Greek philosopher. One can look at Plato's output as trying to glorify Socrates as the very embodiment of wisdom, which is how the Stoics for example understand him.
@@DougsDharma Maybe 'deified ' is a better English term for what I'm aiming for.
I was at the airport changing flights a few years ago and got stuck for a few hours in Thailand ( South east Asia anyway)
So I watched this Buddhist cartoon series on a TV. screen at the airport. This Manga -Buddha (or Bodhisattva) was portrait as this glowing demi-god twice the size of a human being with rainbow lasers shooting out of him , fighting demons & villains in a historical setting , while telling kids to behave ethically in a booming voice at the end of the episode. .
Anyway, It's an subjective & a bit silly example ,but it was so fascinating to see this modern glorification (.sensualisation .
You need some bookcases Doug!
😄😄 True!
11:55 I would imagine, if anything, he might have done or said something as a young child close to what is described as "taking 10 steps and declaring 'this is my last life' or (and more likely) 'I am lord of all things' " tho tbf if true there's no way to know for sure and it would be purely coincidental haha kids say some wild stuff
😄😄True!
I don’t think there would have to be a contradiction between Buddha’s self-taught enlightenment and the Kasyapa story.
If you met Jimi Hendrix in your previous life and became enthusiastic about guitars, it wouldn’t mean that you couldn’t be a self-taught guitar player in this life. The case could still be made that Jimi’s effect on you had set the ball in motion.
Well if he taught you how to play guitar, and your ability in this life to play guitar was partly due to that teaching, then you aren’t entirely self-taught.
There's a big difference between "being taught by" and "being inspired by".
You might come to know about an abandoned village somewhere in the jungle. However, it's a completely different story regarding discovering the abandoned path to that village yourselves.
You can get the idea from the professor in class but finding the solution yourselves is a different story. If you still delude yourselves that the professor taught you in university then you have achieved nothing.
@@DougsDharma
Well, you wouldn't retain any actual teaching from the previous life. You'd only retain an inclination, together with any other effects it had on your temperament.
Certainly, Buddhist-like meditative teachings and practices will an effect on self-development and character, which (if rebirth is true) *would* carry over into your personality in the next life.
Not everyone is born with such extreme sensitivity and need to know the truth as Gautama was, and the idea of rebirth does imply that our personality is a continuation from earlier work.
Hi Doug! I have a question: what does a Mahasattva mean?
Literally it means a "great being". I think it connotes a bodhisattva who has done great things or attained a particularly high level of realization.
@@DougsDharma Thank you so much! Now I have understood, have a great day and week, love your content!
Hello Doug ! Your channel is a pleasure to watch and a educational gem !
I found the comparison between Christ and the Buddha very interesting. I remember reading Barth Erhman and what was fascinating to me was that early Christians deified Jesus within (at least) 20 years after his death (with Apostle Paul as the earliest writer of any Christian text yet to date : he is famous for quoting a "hymn" about Christ as (pre-existent) God in the Epistle to the Philippians ), My only question would be, how long did it take Buddhists to deify Buddha? Was he proclaimed a god as quickly as Jesus was, or was it a longer process?
Thanks, Dante! As to your question, it's impossible to say for sure how long it took for Buddhists to deify the Buddha. It might even have happened during his lifetime. One key difference between Jesus and the Buddha is that the Buddha had a forty-plus-year teaching career: plenty of time for such stories and legends to arise while he was still around. Certainly it became more elaborated in the centuries following his death.
The Buddha has practiced all this Bodhisattvas perfection in his past lifetime.
the self isn't supposed to persist through lifetimes in any strong sense though
16:00 I think you miss the point when comparing with Buddha Nature, because Buddha Nature is the potential of every being to become enlightened.
You should point out the case of Lotus Sutra, where it is said that the Buddha has attain enlightenment eons ago and only projecting appearance here. Or the concept of Dharmakaya.
Interestingly, two of the big tradition in Mahayana Buddhism, Zen and Tantra, advocate "enlightenment in one lifetime".
So becoming full Buddha in this very life, bypassing the 3-4 eons needed. Whether that was returning to the original intention of early teaching, or something novel, let those who want to, prove it themselves.
Sure, Buddha nature has been described in many ways through the centuries, and one of them as you note is that it’s the potential of every one of us to become enlightened - or even to become Buddhas ourselves.
I do think that this video, while well intentioned, does miss the point of Mahayana teachings. Personally, as a Vajrayanist, the nature of historical Buddha means quite little for my practice. Vajrayana has always been a later innovation/development of Buddhism, and therefore different.
Hi Doug, do the early teachings require one to be a vegetarian and refrain from alcohol? Thank you.
The early teachings do not touch on vegetarianism directly though they counsel not getting involved in the meat trade. They discuss the avoidance of alcohol though the fifth precept can be read either as counseling complete abstinence or at least the avoidance of drunkenness.
I definitely like the idea of the Bodhisattva Ideal, but the actual reality of it seems rather torturous. It isn't like they are born with a clear, self-consciously aware knowledge of reality... each life is still that struggle to overcome the hindrances, the conceits, you have to "learn the Dharma" all over again and make choices that go against the common psycho-social cultural context. Sure, you might be inclined towards it and "hear the call" because of "karma" but would it ever get easier? Though, to be sure, I think these are metaphors for us to understand our own "where we are" in terms of total and authentic-- maybe even ontological-- levels of existential success... I sure do like these topics and your videos on them! I also like all the "How Jesus Became Christ" types of historical development things... which is also why I so appreciate your ability to even say things like "in the earliest texts..." I've said it a few times before, but I really just think it is so terrific you know the literature that well and with that kind of contemporary approach to it all. Thanks!
You're very welcome! Yes I wish there were more scholars doing this kind of work on the early material.
Bodhisattva vows and reverence for bodhisattvas is very powerful and very effective but what is always kind of perplexed me is the nature of their manifestation were they solitary Anonymous practitioners who became enlightened and then came to other people and manifested themselves or are they purely ideals?
Well in the Mahāyāna tradition, anyone who takes Bodhisattva vows and has bodhicitta is a Bodhisattva.
@@DougsDharma Yes, I get that... You explain how the Jataka tales began exploring Buddha's previous lives drawn from folk tales around India at the time.... my question is in regards to how the Bhodisattva element of Mahayana developed around the Nalanda setting. As I understand it, Vajrapani was one of the first, and the prajnaparamita describes how Bodhisattvas were in attendance at Vulture peak... so what I would like to know is, what if possible or maybe, how did Bodhisattvas become indoctrinated into the emerging pantheon of Mahayana deities? Specifically, Manjursri, Vajrapani, Avolakitisvara & Maitreya. I have been conducting a thought experiment as follows: 4 postulates - 1. Bodhisattvas are real beings that transcend time and space and manifest in our minds, or maybe for this purpose, the minds of those monks who lived at Nalanda in which they were inspired to found the tradition within the Buddhism of this period. 2. Bodhisattvas are imaginary beings, ideals, that the aforementioned monks agreed upon, "How did they do this?". 3. In regards to emptiness, Bodhisattvas were conditioned by what happened before and took form thusly, reinforcing D.O. and taking on a consciousness of their own. 4. They don't exist, all phenomena are empty and they manifest only as conventions to dharma practice. This is kind of my attempt at forming a tetralema to work out the answer in my own meditations. Previously I assumed that Bodhisattvas, the ones who are the most important to Mahayana, were somehow anonymous enlightened beings who were revealed to those who had already been part of the Nalanda lineage. Perhaps their existence was something like the Vajrayana traditions of tertons, revealed sutras/tantras that are to be discovered at some point in the future. I reached the conclusion so far that it must be a combination of all the postulates. I read an article about active imagination in the Jungian method that claimed that Bodhisattvas are nothing more than the product of imagination. I have been practicing deity yoga for many years now and I have always felt a real presence when doing mantras and various pujas to Manjursri in particular. I have many friends who were Lamas and it seems like they all recognize a literal spiritual presence. This is a complicated question and I think answers will vary depending on the practitioner. Part of me recognizes that it doesn't really matter when looking at it through a school like Chitra Matra, what I want to know is, if I achieve a state of Dhyana or Samadhi working with a Bodhisattva, is it just the power of suggestion and an ideal implanted into the Mahayana traditions by the paramita concept? or do some schools consider Bodhisattvas to be a real tangible spiritual being "Darshan" as in the practice of Tantric Sadhana? I know that is a lot, sorry in advance... I am really enjoying your work, thank you... So, what do you think?
Some conjectures about prophecy:
You can know a prophecy, but that doesn't necessarily make anything easier. I'd argue that knowing a prophecy is usually paired with great tribulation. You are so lost that you are given a helping notion of ultimate success. What you will be going through will make you lose complete faith in your ability to succeed that, without this prophecy, you'd give up very quickly.
This can also be complicated by the idea that those who may be leading such a person, Gods, Gurus, etc, can lie. Unless you have a means of directly perceiving the truth of the prophecy, how can you know it to be true?
Lastly, even seeing it to be true does not mean you know how it could possibly be true. You see a plane flying in the sky, but do you really understand how a hundred tons of metal manage flight? You know it to be true, but understanding it is a completely different task.
I can only confirm Xiao Mao’s comments. I also subscribe via Patreon. Concerning the Jatakas I would like to know your thoughts concerning Stephen Collins observation that one of the functions of the Jataka tales traditionally was to serve as a guide to practise for the lay community and that the contemporary cosmopolitan followers of the Buddha dharma who are not grounded in a culture that is framed by Buddhism ignore the of the Jataka in preference to scripture. Professor Collins uses the analogy of a friend who is thinking of an abortion and comes to talk to you about this decision and you respond with a lecture about current case law and possible jurisdiction issues etc. when your friend is probably wanting to hear about your possible experience of abortion or similarly significant life choices e.g. your experience of regret or despair etc. The Jataka tales can serve this more affective role in guiding the lay practitioner. Of course I cannot go past recommending your new book as a good source for the lay practitioner. All the best & thank you for your work.
Yes sure, it doesn’t need to be a question of either/or though, since different people come to the dharma for different reasons. Certainly for some the Jātakas will be very meaningful.
Hello. Is their something you believe and practice.?
Sure, I did a video on it: ruclips.net/video/yTxKgz8MeWg/видео.html
I thought there can only be one Buddha at a time. At least in my country's tradition (Theravada). In jataka tales, the Buddha as a Bodhisattva went through tremendous hardships and sacrifices in his past lives. To fulfill his paramitas, it took many eons.
From what ive heard, Shakyamuni Buddha apparently already attained enlightenment as a Samyaksambuddha many eons ago. And that the body of the historical Siddhartha Gautama we know today is just an earthly projection. How would that be in agreement with the Buddha's past lives where he was still a Bodhisattva. If he was already enlightened as a Samyaksambuddha, why go through all this reincarnating as Bodhisattva to fill his paramitas again? It doesnt make sense to me. Please do correct my understanding if im wrong, I'd appreciate an explanation of this. Thank you.
Do you have a vid DISCUSSING the major difference between Chanting and Meditation. I already know my ideals. I'd appreciate your view. Thanks.
I have a few videos where I’ve discussed the difference, though not in detail. In my experience chanting can function as a form of samādhi.
Heavenly Bodhisattvas are actually heavenly deities of others religions, they start to practice Buddhism after listening the preaching of the Buddha . This heavenly beings vows to become Buddhism protecters for the earthly beings , they changed their name to Buddhist name, and known as Buddhism heavenly Bodhisattvas
Sir I want join Buddhism.
How I join in Right way and location.
Check out some of my playlists, they can give some ideas on how to start.
@@DougsDharma sir any suggestions of Your Speak or video Mention me?
The best way to start is:
"I take refuge in Buddha.
I take refuge in Dhamma.
I take refuge in Sangha". 3 times
But as for me, I'd say " I want to get the wisdom of knowing Nirvana" many times in my mind started at 14 and at 24, I got the level I want. Believe it or not within 4 days. I don't want comments. Jotipala make a mistake he said " I can practice 6 years" for Nirvana.
Buddha says " come and see".
Maithriya is now living in sri Lanka
❤️🙏
🙏😊
Since Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE decreed (on still-existing stone inscriptions in India and Bactria (Afghanistan)) that Buddhist missionaries be sent west by the Silk Road, and they reportedly did arrive in Alexandria, Egypt, had Buddhist scriptures translated into Greek and made converts, since the eightfold path symbol was found by archeologists on some wealthy Alexandrians' tombs of that same era, since "Jesus Christ" had the initials of Julius Caesar, while his chief disciple, "Simon Peter", allegedly the first Roman pope, had the same initials as Buddha's chief disciple, "Sari Putra", since the Lotus Sutra and other Buddhist literature contains similarities to gospel parables and biographies of "Buddha" give many striking similarities to the gospel "Jesus Christ"'s nativity and life story, it is my opinion that these facts might not be coincidences.
🙏
🙏🙂
Will your book ever be physical?
Good question! I don’t know the answer since it depends on the distributor. If and when it becomes physical I’ll let everyone know.
Could you do a video on guanyin by Su Xuejin/ Bo hi Yu Ren. I’m having trouble figuring out if this guanyin was a princess before Buddhism came to China or developed after in the jataka tales. Who was this artist too? I can’t find anything on him.
I'm not sure about that but if I get some time to research it I might.
Who is mitreya??
Maitreya or Metteya is the supposed "future Buddha". I did a video on past and future Buddhas awhile back: ruclips.net/video/8CP-ScOCHJ0/видео.html
“In that past time, the Tathagata, the Brahmin Jotipāla, offended the Buddha Kassapa by saying: "It's not easy for that bald-headed samana to attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment. It is very difficult to attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment.” Because of the result of that bad speech, the Tathāgata had to practice asceticism in the mountains near the village of Uruvela for 6 years straight. Because of his old bad karma, he practiced austerity wrongly. The Tathagata could not attain the Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment by that ascetic practice. After giving up the ascetic practice, the Tathagata followed the Middle Way practice, leading to the realization of the Four Noble Truths, the attainment of the Four Noble Truths - the Four Noble Fruits and Nirvana, and the becoming Buddha of Perfect Enlightenment. Now, the Tathagata no longer creates bad karma and good karma anymore, has destroyed all afflictions, all cravings, all evil dharmas; no longer hot-tempered, no longer sorrowful, no longer suffering. The Tathagata will pass away Nirvana.”
Thanks Hoa Luu, where is this a quote from?
@@DougsDharma I also included a comment , somehow it did not save properly. Sorry for just leaving the quote
I translated it by Google from one web page
about 14 bad karma of Gautama Buddha.(The link prevented me from posting this comment, so I moved the page link out)
I am not sure about where origin text is from but the page is also a good Buddhism source to read.
Thanks for all your hard work and sharing knowledge!
yes,it is. Jotipala who was Gautama Bodhisattva said " I going to practice Dukkarasarira for 6 years to attain Buddha", while Kassapa Buddha attain Buddha title.
Teach me dharma, Dougie
Teach me teach me dharma, Dougie
Sir it would better to have caption on screen because your pronounceaction is sometimes quite unaprehensile
RUclips produces captions automatically.
It would make sense buddha was enlightened at birth
Well maybe so, but then why spend years searching in the wilderness?
In Buddhism god is equal to devas. The devas can die. Buddha is different from devas. Buddha and arahanta are the enlightened one. Not be born in any realms after they attained parinibbana.
Every beings rebirth over n over again cause KAMMA (in this case KAMMA based on tanha). As long as we create KAMMA, we'll reborn again n again.
👍
So...Bodhisattva is just the way between normal being and an arhat
Well ... sort of. They aren't really trying to be arahants, but Buddhas, so they have a different trajectory.
@@DougsDharma i think Buddha is just who realise the dharma alone without a master and Then propaghetes the dharma.
Thats why pratyekaBuddhas are "alone buddhas". They dont leaves us with a Sangha.
7:33 funny, after coming out of the nothingness, i sat on the toilet for like 20 minutes, repeating constantly "people will not understand, people will not understand..." ^^
And they sure don't xD
Edit : by the way, thanks for your videos. I like the way you explain, the tone of your voice is relaxing and "kind". ^^
It's a pleasure. Thanks.
You're very welcome! 🙏