BS - Forest, Tritatna and Engaged B

Question 1

Forest Buddhism

Answer 1

• amaravati
• preservationist and authentic Buddhism —> Theravadin
• strictly follow original monastic rules of discipline created by the Buddha —> live as close to the Buddha as possible and do not believe Buddhism needs to change for the west
• practicing completative Buddhist life, including renunciation and meditation to realise truth and enlightenment (truth and peace)
• can refine the the mind to explore fundamental truth
• ‘bringing the mind to a halt, bringing it to rest’ —> strengthening the mind

Question 2

FWBO - Triatna

Answer 2

• global modern Buddhist movement
• modifying Buddhism even though they believe the Buddhas teaching is timeless
• draw on all divisions of Buddhism
• see themselves as removing pure Buddhism from the ‘exotic novelty of oriental trapping’

Key practices
- Dharmaachari: dharmer farer
- ‘keeping the precepts, not slavishly, but in spirit’
- not celibate, do not follow rules in the Vinaya
- encourage sexuality —> sexual misconduct interpreted liberally

Question 3

Is triatna Buddhism authentic

Answer 3

• anglicise the b statues —> changed according to heritage of the country
• monks: families and relationships are allowed
• meshes m and t Buddhism
• main practices is meditation
• changed name due to controversy of sexual misconduct of founder lingwood

Question 4

Engaged Buddhism

Answer 4

• thich nhat hanh
• applying Buddhist teachings in a more activist and social manner than it has been traditionally
• aims to reduce social suffering and oppression through social and political reform
• Mahayanan Bodhisattvas are ideal for this, as their goal is to gain enlightenment to come back and help others suffering in samsara

Question 5

Why does engaged Buddhism apply

Answer 5

• Anatta and sunyata and inter being
• engaging with needs of modern society as we are all interconnected

Question 6

To what extent is Buddhist liberationist

Answer 6

• aim is to be liberated from the three fires and samsara
• Dalai Lama - ethical and social active; gained a Nobel peace price for political action
• Buddha: against caste system and discrimination of women as minorities
• upaya: parables used to deliver teaching to all people
• alms round: interdependence between s and l

Question 7

Ambedekar and engaged Buddhism

Answer 7

• uses Buddhism to liberate lower castes
• conversions to Buddhism, mass liberation with 300,000 at a time
• this is because people of lower castes did not have a caste when Buddhist —> ‘I shall endeavour to establish equality’
• rejected Anatta and rebirth and defined it in terms of social liberation
• made 22 vows —-> anti Hindu and mostly Buddhist compatible —> believed Hinduism perpetuated inequality

Question 8

Thich nhat hanh and engaged Buddhism

Answer 8

• ‘we must be aware of the real problems of the world’
• if you can see suffering you must use mindfulness to help
• tnh is internationally known
• only possible through mindfulness of society
• driven by Vietnam war
• 1970s: governments rejecting refugees, but he broke law to help them and formed international alliance

Question 9

Joanna Macey and engaged Buddhism

Answer 9

• third turning of the dharma wheel —-> engaged Buddhism is a new age for Buddhism
• western Buddhist taking dharma into world, developing skillful means and compassion when helping those in need
• involved in social, economic and political issues
• ‘the world is our cloister’ Buddhism cannot be isolationist as this is where you learn and practice Buddhism

Question 10

Rules from tnh order of interbeing

Answer 10

• do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry —> share resources with those in need
• do not use Buddhist community for personal gain/profit or turn it into a political party —> should take stand against oppression and injustice
• do not force others to adopt your views
• avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views

Question 11

Evidence that Buddhism is engaged

Answer 11

• sigolavada sutra —> sigala given advice from b on how to live life well as a lay person
• questions of king malinda —> engaging with a king
• bodhisattvas —> aim is to come back
• monks teach laity and have interdependence with them

Question 12

Evidence that Buddhism is not engaged

Answer 12

• T goal is enlightenment for themselves do not return to help
• women in Buddhist have a Lower status
• T: Laity cannot be enlightened
• forest Buddhism —> T renunciation of Society
• aim is intentionless action —> anti engagement in society as it can lead to misplaced attachment