Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
I'm often struck with the differences between how Buddhist traditions interpret the essentials: emptiness, self, ultimate ground, etc.
What are the commonalities among *all* Buddhist traditions?
I.e. what assertions/conclusions would virtually any Buddhist of any school/lineage/nationality agree on?
Thanks!
rachMiel
What are the commonalities among *all* Buddhist traditions?
I.e. what assertions/conclusions would virtually any Buddhist of any school/lineage/nationality agree on?
Thanks!
rachMiel
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Man that the Skandhas are not self.
Normally people would say that the four seals could be agreed upon, but it sure doesn't seem like that from the conversation on here, lol.
Normally people would say that the four seals could be agreed upon, but it sure doesn't seem like that from the conversation on here, lol.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
I would think that the Four Arya/Noble Truths are a safe bet, from what I know of the various traditions.
Also, the 4 Dharma Seals- even if the formulation is not expressed in exactly the same way, the Buddhist traditions I am familiar with uphold them in one way or another. Though I agree with what you say above- there are as many limitless loopholes as there are so many varying interpretations according to the different sects.
Also, the 4 Dharma Seals- even if the formulation is not expressed in exactly the same way, the Buddhist traditions I am familiar with uphold them in one way or another. Though I agree with what you say above- there are as many limitless loopholes as there are so many varying interpretations according to the different sects.
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
When asked the same questions by different people the Buddha would sometimes give the same answer, sometimes a different answer and sometimes no answer. The Buddha knew that everyone is different and the same answer is not always the best way to rid people of their suffering. Looking for commonality between schools would be difficult as there are different interpretations because we all understand things differently. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the differences are wrong. This is how I've been taught and how I understand it.
Gassho,
Seishin.
Gassho,
Seishin.
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Thanks for the responses. Keep 'em coming!
I'm going to compile a list of all the possible commonalities submitted to this thread. And when it's nice and full, I'll post it here for a look/discussion.
Is "liberation from samsara" (or similar terms) common to all flavors of Buddhism?
I'm going to compile a list of all the possible commonalities submitted to this thread. And when it's nice and full, I'll post it here for a look/discussion.
Is "liberation from samsara" (or similar terms) common to all flavors of Buddhism?
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
ENLIGHTENMENT
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Oh yeah, that old thing. Added to the list.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
http://buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/comparative.htm
Common Ground Between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Sakayamuni Buddha is the original and historical founder of Buddhism.
The Three Universal Seals, Four Noble Truths, Eight Fold Paths and Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are the basic foundation to all schools of Buddhism including the Tibetan schools of Vajrayana.
Threefold training of Precepts, Meditation and Wisdom is universal to all schools.
Organisation of the Buddhist teachings / Dharma into three classifications (Sutra, Vinaya and Sastra) is practised among the Buddhist Canons of various countries.
Mind over matter concept. Mind as the principal area of taming and control is fundamental to all schools.
Common Ground Between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Sakayamuni Buddha is the original and historical founder of Buddhism.
The Three Universal Seals, Four Noble Truths, Eight Fold Paths and Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are the basic foundation to all schools of Buddhism including the Tibetan schools of Vajrayana.
Threefold training of Precepts, Meditation and Wisdom is universal to all schools.
Organisation of the Buddhist teachings / Dharma into three classifications (Sutra, Vinaya and Sastra) is practised among the Buddhist Canons of various countries.
Mind over matter concept. Mind as the principal area of taming and control is fundamental to all schools.
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Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
The list is a good idea. Here's an older one, still good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Poin ... e_Mahāyāna
Kim
Kim
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
I am not sure that the three jewels are universal?
Enlightenment or some form of improvement seems universal? Again not sure, do we include the extinct schools?
Maybe the story of the Buddhas life is universal?
Enlightenment or some form of improvement seems universal? Again not sure, do we include the extinct schools?
Maybe the story of the Buddhas life is universal?
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Yes, liberation from samsara ( suffering ) seems like the common goal. But beyond that, well, things rapidly get complicated.rachmiel wrote: Is "liberation from samsara" (or similar terms) common to all flavors of Buddhism?
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
4 noble truths
Noble 8 fold path
5 precepts
3 jewels
The law of dependant origination
The law of cause & affect (karma)
Noble 8 fold path
5 precepts
3 jewels
The law of dependant origination
The law of cause & affect (karma)
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Not all traditions have those.shaunc wrote:4 noble truths
Noble 8 fold path
5 precepts
3 jewels
The law of dependant origination
The law of cause & affect (karma)
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Which Buddhist tradition does not have the Four Noble Truths???porpoise wrote:Not all traditions have those.shaunc wrote:4 noble truths
Noble 8 fold path
5 precepts
3 jewels
The law of dependant origination
The law of cause & affect (karma)
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Not all traditions use the 8-fold path, the 4th Noble Truth. Not all traditions use the 5 precepts or 3 jewels.gregkavarnos wrote:Which Buddhist tradition does not have the Four Noble Truths???porpoise wrote:Not all traditions have those.shaunc wrote:4 noble truths
Noble 8 fold path
5 precepts
3 jewels
The law of dependant origination
The law of cause & affect (karma)
- LastLegend
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Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
There is suffering and work towards liberation from suffering.
It’s eye blinking.
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Here's the compiled list so far. The goal is to find commonalities among all Buddhist traditions; I'm taking that "all" to mean early Buddhist schools, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Please feel free to add anything that's missing, argue for the removal of anything that you think doesn't belong, etc.
Dependent Origination
Eightfold Path
Five Precepts
Five Skandhas
Four Dharma Seals
Four Noble Truths
Karma
Enlightenment, liberation from samsara/dukkha/suffering
Meditation / mindfulness / practice
Mind as the principal area of taming and control is fundamental to all schools.
Shakyamuni Buddha is the founder
The Three Universal Seals
Three Jewels
Threefold training of Precepts, Meditation and Wisdom
Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
Thanks, everyone, for your help with this. Keep those cards 'n letters coming!
Dependent Origination
Eightfold Path
Five Precepts
Five Skandhas
Four Dharma Seals
Four Noble Truths
Karma
Enlightenment, liberation from samsara/dukkha/suffering
Meditation / mindfulness / practice
Mind as the principal area of taming and control is fundamental to all schools.
Shakyamuni Buddha is the founder
The Three Universal Seals
Three Jewels
Threefold training of Precepts, Meditation and Wisdom
Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
Thanks, everyone, for your help with this. Keep those cards 'n letters coming!
Last edited by Rick on Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
Porpoise,
Without the Four Noble Truths and Three Jewels, what are you left with as a backbone for the practices? If there is something that does not include those foundations, would it really be "Buddhism", as in the teachings of Lord Buddha?
Without the Four Noble Truths and Three Jewels, what are you left with as a backbone for the practices? If there is something that does not include those foundations, would it really be "Buddhism", as in the teachings of Lord Buddha?
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
The question was: which Buddhist tradition does not have the 4 Noble truths? Your statement does not answer my question. So let me ask which Buddhist traditions do not "use" the Four Noble Truths?porpoise wrote:Not all traditions use the 8-fold path, the 4th Noble Truth. Not all traditions use the 5 precepts or 3 jewels.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Re: Commonalities among all Buddhist traditions
I dunnno? I never heard of any tradition that does not have the Four Nobel Truths.
Doesn't everybody agree on the words of Lord Buddha:
as summed up in the Dhammapada,
and
The Long Discourses,
The Middle Length Discourses,
The Connected Discourses, etc.,
also,
ENLIGHTENMENT
refers to a direct non-intellectual experience. It is not an intellectual understanding, or philosophical modal, or anything that can be described in words.
Enlightenment is not ENLIGHTENMENT. It is ENLIGHTENMENT which differentiated Lord Buddha from everyone else.
Without ENLIGHTENMENT, Buddhism is not Buddhism.
So if you want to include ENLIGHTENMENT in the the list, I think it is better to be kept as ENLIGHTENMENT.
But maybe that is what differentiates two schools of thought. Maybe we should hold a council and decide which is the true, and only, Buddhist View.
Of course it is your list - so you should do what you want - just my 2 cents.
Doesn't everybody agree on the words of Lord Buddha:
as summed up in the Dhammapada,
and
The Long Discourses,
The Middle Length Discourses,
The Connected Discourses, etc.,
also,
ENLIGHTENMENT
refers to a direct non-intellectual experience. It is not an intellectual understanding, or philosophical modal, or anything that can be described in words.
Enlightenment is not ENLIGHTENMENT. It is ENLIGHTENMENT which differentiated Lord Buddha from everyone else.
Without ENLIGHTENMENT, Buddhism is not Buddhism.
So if you want to include ENLIGHTENMENT in the the list, I think it is better to be kept as ENLIGHTENMENT.
But maybe that is what differentiates two schools of thought. Maybe we should hold a council and decide which is the true, and only, Buddhist View.
Of course it is your list - so you should do what you want - just my 2 cents.