Path of Gods and Men

Post Reply
dakini_boi
Posts: 683
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:02 am

Path of Gods and Men

Post by dakini_boi »

Does the 1st yana, the path of gods and men, refer mainly to nondharmic religions, or can it also refer to nonspiritual paths that seek temporary benefit in the world?
philji
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 2:26 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by philji »

My understanding is that the path of gods and men is the first turning of the wheel. The Hinayana path as taught by the Buddha leading to freedom from suffering.
Matylda
Posts: 1065
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 3:32 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by Matylda »

dakini_boi wrote:Does the 1st yana, the path of gods and men, refer mainly to nondharmic religions, or can it also refer to nonspiritual paths that seek temporary benefit in the world?
Where did you find this classification? Is it in Tibetan Buddhism, or did you take it from Chinese tradition of mahayana?
krodha
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:30 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by krodha »

philji wrote:My understanding is that the path of gods and men is the first turning of the wheel. The Hinayana path as taught by the Buddha leading to freedom from suffering.
Hinayāna is the teaching of the Buddha, so it isn't part of the vehicle of gods and man. The vehicle of gods and man is a designation which is used to classify any path which isn't the buddhadharma. Traditions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc. are examples of worldly paths, they cannot lead one out of samsara, and are therefore part of the vehicle of gods and man.

As for other relative, non-religious pursuits being classified under the vehicle of gods and man, I'm not sure.
User avatar
Sönam
Posts: 1999
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:11 pm
Location: France
Contact:

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by Sönam »

asunthatneversets wrote:
As for other relative, non-religious pursuits being classified under the vehicle of gods and man, I'm not sure.
It is part of that vehicle ... that's why it is called gods and man

Sönam
By understanding everything you perceive from the perspective of the view, you are freed from the constraints of philosophical beliefs.
By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.
- Longchen Rabjam -
philji
Posts: 881
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 2:26 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by philji »

Asunthatneversets I disagree ...the Buddha taught to gods and men ( amongst others)..see quote below

on one time Gauthama Lord Buddha explained the word " Doctrine (Dhamma) to Ven Cunda.
"Cunda, my teaching is a revelation of truth discovered by myself. I proclaimed the Dhamma out of compassion for the world, for the gain, welfare and happiness of gods and men . What is this dhamma that I proclaim in many ways?"

"Cunda, it is, this four foundation of mindfulness (SATHIPATTHANA), four right exertions (SAMMAPPADHANA). four bases of sucess (IDDIPADA), five dominent factors (INDRIYA - Convition, persistence, mindfulness, concentration and Discernment), five srenths (Bala), seven factorsos Awakening (sapta bojjanga) and the eightfold path( Magga)"

PASADIKA SUTTA- Dhiga nikhaya


I am currently studying and practicing the Tara Terma know a s the three excellences of Chogyur Lingpa under the guidance of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and each session of the first excellence representing the first turning of the wheel begins with the sentence
" the first excellence begins with the quintessence of the vehicles of the gods,humans, sravakas and pratyeka Buddhas"
xabir
Posts: 207
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:14 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by xabir »

asunthatneversets wrote:
philji wrote:My understanding is that the path of gods and men is the first turning of the wheel. The Hinayana path as taught by the Buddha leading to freedom from suffering.
Hinayāna is the teaching of the Buddha, so it isn't part of the vehicle of gods and man. The vehicle of gods and man is a designation which is used to classify any path which isn't the buddhadharma. Traditions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc. are examples of worldly paths, they cannot lead one out of samsara, and are therefore part of the vehicle of gods and man.

As for other relative, non-religious pursuits being classified under the vehicle of gods and man, I'm not sure.
As I understand, the Buddha does teach the "vehicle of gods and man".

For example, in the suttas he taught people to practice the four brahma viharas (compassion, loving kindness, joy, equanimity) to those who are not interested in liberation but merely interested in gaining a higher birth in the brahma realms. This is the lower scope of Buddhism. Even though this path does not directly lead to liberation, at least it ensures the person has a higher birth which can be conducive to practicing the dharma - i.e. he has another chance to practice dharma in future lifetime rather than falling into the lower realms of existence whereby one no longer has any chance to practice dharma.

p.s. four brahma viharas are not only meant to be practiced "by those who aspire for birth in brahma realm" - these wholesome mundane mental qualities can and should be practiced by everyone including those who aspire for liberation, it is beneficial to everyone. But by practicing this, one can gain the good karma for a rebirth in Brahma realm and be reborn there if one so aspires.
The very pulsing of dependent origination
Is the primordial face of the Tathāgata.
Like blood and veins and heart
- The two truths meet everywhere.

- André A. Pais
dakini_boi
Posts: 683
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:02 am

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by dakini_boi »

philji wrote:Asunthatneversets I disagree ...the Buddha taught to gods and men ( amongst others)..see quote below

on one time Gauthama Lord Buddha explained the word " Doctrine (Dhamma) to Ven Cunda.
"Cunda, my teaching is a revelation of truth discovered by myself. I proclaimed the Dhamma out of compassion for the world, for the gain, welfare and happiness of gods and men . What is this dhamma that I proclaim in many ways?"

"Cunda, it is, this four foundation of mindfulness (SATHIPATTHANA), four right exertions (SAMMAPPADHANA). four bases of sucess (IDDIPADA), five dominent factors (INDRIYA - Convition, persistence, mindfulness, concentration and Discernment), five srenths (Bala), seven factorsos Awakening (sapta bojjanga) and the eightfold path( Magga)"

PASADIKA SUTTA- Dhiga nikhaya


I am currently studying and practicing the Tara Terma know a s the three excellences of Chogyur Lingpa under the guidance of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and each session of the first excellence representing the first turning of the wheel begins with the sentence
" the first excellence begins with the quintessence of the vehicles of the gods,humans, sravakas and pratyeka Buddhas"
Philji - To clarify, there are actually 2 different presentations of the 9 yanas - one has the Shravakayana as the first vehicle, the other has the "Vehicle of gods and men" as the first vehicle, with shravakayana/pratyekabuddhayana as the second vehicle. My question refers to the system that presents the vehicle of gods and men as the first vehicle - I believe this presentation comes from one of the Dzogchen tantras.
User avatar
heart
Posts: 6286
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:55 pm

Re: Path of Gods and Men

Post by heart »

Actually dakini_bol I think philji might be correct in the sense that the Zabtik Drolma cycle condense the nine vehicles to three vehicles. The first one condense the first three or possibly two vehicles of gods and humans, sravakas and pratyeka Buddhas. In this case the Buddha taught the vehicle of gods and humans, which then mainly is ways of creating merit and purifying bad deeds which doesn't really lead directly to liberation.

/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut

"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
Post Reply

Return to “Dzogchen”