Saturday, January 17, 2009

Level 2 Zen Class 2009-01-17 Bodhisattva Ideal

Welcome to the 21 students who returned for the Level 2 class!

Level 1 was focused on one's own liberation, namely the Four Noble Truths.
Level 2 will focus on the Bodhisattva's practice, namely the Six Paramitas (or Six Perfections).

Today we talked about the "Bodhisattva Ideal" by learning from five famous bodhisattvas and what they represent:

  1. Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara): Great compassion
  2. Manjusri: Great wisdom
  3. Earth Treasure (Ksitigarbha): Great vow
  4. Universal Virtue (Samatabhadra): Great conduct
  5. Maitreya the Future Buddha: Kindness, and hope--that we can be a buddha too, if we follow the bodhisattva way.

Questions:
  1. Find some pictures of each of these bodhisattvas and post them here.
  2. What are the two possible meanings of the word "bodhisattva"?
  3. What does a bodhisattva has to do besides attain complete enlightenment?
  4. What are the two possible meanings of the name "Avalokiteshvara" ("Guanyin")?
  5. Why does Bodhisattva Manjusri carry a sword?
  6. Why is Bodhisattva Earth Treasure's work in freeing all beings in hell never done?
  7. Maitreya is slim in India, and chubby in China. Guanyin is a man in India, and a woman in China. What does that say about our physical form?
Send in your answers via the comments button below.
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    Comments by Doug, Level 2 class member

    Level 2 Zen Class 2009-01-17 Bodhisattva Ideal
    Assignment 1

    Question 1
    Find some pictures of each of these bodhisattvas and post them here.
    Answer 1
    Bodhisattva images
    Click on links or copy them into your internet browser address field:

    Guanyin image: http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2008/02/20/xtt_ent_guanyin1_0220.jpg

    Manjusri image
    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2647656842_38ab4cfae3.jpg?v=1215467169

    Earth Treasure image
    http://yogilin.net/graphics/yogichen.jpg

    Universal Virtue image
    http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/639705424_1835dc1ad7.jpg?v=0

    Maitreya image
    http://www.nowgasm.com/laughing-buddha-maitreya-alflred-tan.jpg

    Question 2
    What are the two possible meanings of the word "bodhisattva"?
    Answer 2
    The term Bodhisattva derives from bodhi, meaning "awakened," and "sattva," meaning being; thus a Bodhisattva is an awakened being.
    The Mahayana use of the term refers to one who postpones attainment of nirvana in order to alleviate the suffering of other.

    Question 3
    What does a bodhisattva have to do besides attain complete enlightenment?
    Answer 3
    Help free all sentient beings from suffering.

    Question 4
    What are the two possible meanings of the name "Avalokiteshvara" ("Guanyin")?
    Answer 4
    Observing the sounds or cries of the World.

    Question 5
    Why does Bodhisattva Manjusri carry a sword?
    Answer 5
    To cut through ignorance and wrong views.

    Question 6
    Why is Bodhisattva Earth Treasure's work in freeing all beings in hell never done?
    Answer 6
    Once temporarily freed, error-stricken beings return to hell.

    Question 7
    Maitreya is slim in India, and chubby in China. Guanyin is a man in India, and a woman in China. What does that say about our physical form?
    Answer 7
    Form is empty.

    ReplyDelete

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