Mutated...

[beautiful breath]

Hi all,

Can someone explain the major differences that I see between Tibetan (I guess Mahayana generally) and the Theravada schools. From what I can see its pretty much accepted that the Theravadin Sutras are actually the words of Buddha - straight from the horses mough as it were. wheras many of the Tibetan texts seem so very far removed from the simple teachings he originally taught - are these teachings a 'new' form of Buddhism and a mutation of the original ones? I am thinking particularly of the Mahayana emphasis on Emptiness as a philosophy almost on its own and the meditational practices - ie. the massive differences between simple Satipatana.Vipassana and the colourful and complex practices in Tibetan buddhsim that seem to put more stuff in the mnd.

Cheers,

BB

[Astus]

This book explains it neatly:


Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition by Paul Williams

[beautiful breath]

...don't have that one...what does it say

[Jikan]

This should be you: ...if you want an answer to your question.

You can find the Williams book for under $20 US online.

[Mr. G]

This book explains it neatly:


Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition by Paul Williams

2nd this

[pueraeternus]

You can also have a glimpse at it before deciding to buy:

http://books.google.com/books?id=jfcNc23bFWgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Buddhist+Thought:+A+Complete+Introduction+to+the+Indian+Tradition+by+Paul+Williams&hl=en&ei=zUvJTcLyBYSvrAeRzYGSBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

As the others, I highly recommend this book.

[Astus]

...don't have that one...what does it say

The reason why a whole book is recommended because the development of Buddhism from the earliest texts to Tibetan Buddhism covers about 1500 years, actually the time Buddhism existed in India. Just think about summing up the history of European poetry from Virgil to Shakespeare. Too many details to cover in a single post. Perhaps if you can make the question more specific...

[beautiful breath]

"...buy a book..."



Ok...

[Mr. G]

"...buy a book..."



Ok...

Or library

[Pero]

"...buy a book..."



Ok...

Or library

Now come on Gordo, I don't know how much libraries cost these days but I'm sure they aren't exactly cheap.

[Astus]

Or check the Buddha Torrents blog.

[Jikan]

"...buy a book..."



Ok...

Or borrow it. The point is to read it and turn it over in your mind.

[ground]

"...buy a book..."



Ok...

Which may also hint at one of the main differences between Tibetan and/or Mahayana on the one hand and Theravada on the other hand: the number of written pages about the subject.

Samsara may end when there is nothing left to be read (or heard).

kind regards

[beautiful breath]

...I'll buy the book - but in the interim no taker for shedding some light on this for me?

[Mr. G]

Comparison of Buddhist Traditions

[Indrajala]

...I'll buy the book - but in the interim no taker for shedding some light on this for me?

The primary difference in that in Tibetan Buddhism one seeks Buddhahood out of compassion for sentient beings. One swears to take as many lifetimes as possible to achieve it.

In Theravada the goal is Arhatship, which is cessation rebirth. One does not voluntarily take rebirth to aid other beings.

[conebeckham]

Mr. Gordo's link is good, Beautiful Breath.....Berzin, of course, comes from a Tibetan-centered viewpoint, but I think it's a fair synopsis he provides.

However, in his quick summary page: http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/study/comparison_buddhist_traditions/general/survey_basic_forms_buddhism.html

-I think you could get the wrong impression.

Those things which seem "corrupt," i.e. ritualized practices, deities, etc., need to be understood from an inner point of view. They are, in fact, nothing more than methods for the same general purpose as any meditation technique.

Any practice which takes into account the Four Nobles Truths, and the Four Seals, can be seen as Dharma. Madhyamika philosophy, emptiness, and Vajrayana practices all fall within this realm.

The four seals are--
1. All conditioned things are impermanent
2. All emotions are of the nature of suffering
3. All phenomena are empty, without inherent existence
4. Nirvana is beyond extremes

And the Four Noble Truths, perhaps more well-known, are-
1. Life is suffering/samsara
2.Attachment is the cause of suffering/samsara
3.Cessation of Samsara/suffering (Via freedom from Attachment) is possible
4. The Path to Freedom is the Noble Eightfold Path

[ground]

Comparison of Buddhist Traditions

Although still having the mark of being presented from a traditions perspective I think this one is better than Berzin's:

The Tree of Enlightenment

Kind regards