Chùa Hải-Đức in Jacksonville
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POPULAR BUDDHISM (Phật Học Phổ Thông) Ven Thích Thiện Hoa
Fifth Course(Khóa Thứ Năm)
The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo)
History of Buddhism (Lịch Sử Phật Giáo)
Summary
A- Introduction: History learning helps bringing out mistakes for correction. Disdain of history prevents further progress. We’ll learn Buddhist history from India to China then Vietnam. B- Main Subject: 1- Apparition of Founder Sakyamuni: India had worse cast system 2,500 years ago. 1- Bad social system & complex thoughts in India: 4 main casts: Brahman (Bà La Môn), Kastrya (Sát Đệ Lỵ), Vaisya (Phệ Xá), Sudra (Thủ Đà La). Outcast is Pariah. Large difference in benefits. Hundreds of philosophical & religious schools add to confusion. 2- Sakyamuni Buddha, Master of Wisdom & Compassion: born 624 BC from king Sudhodana (Tịnh Phạn) & queen Maha Maya (Ma Gia) in Kapilavastu (Ca Tỳ La Vệ) at Lumbini (Lâm Tỳ Ni). Prince Siddharta has 32 good marks & 80 good signs, predicted to become Buddha, had good education, married to Yasodhara (Da Du Đà La), had son Rahula (La Hầu La). At 29 y.o., ran away with different masters, lastly sat alone under the pippala tree for 7 weeks, got enlightenment. Taught & practiced for 45 yrs, entered Nirvana 554 BC at Kusinagara (Câu Thi Na). 5- History of Buddhist Propagation in India: 1- Four Councils: 1- Rajagrika (Vương Xá) 4 mos after Nirvana, under Mahakasyapa. 2- Vaisaly (Tỳ Xá Ly) 100 yrs after Nirvana under Revala (à Sthaviravada), and Vajji under Vajjiputra (à Mahasanghika) changing 10 precepts. 3- Pataliputra (Hoa Thị) 2 centuries after Nirvana, under Mogaliputra Tissa (Mục Kiền Liên Tu Đế), by order of Asoka (A Dục). Recorded in writing. 4- Kashmir (Ca Thấp Di La) 600 yrs after Nirvana, under Parsva (Hiếp tôn giả) & Vasumitra (Thế Hữu), by order of Kaniska. Recorded in writing. 2- Northern & Southern Buddhism: Sanskrit/Mahayana (N), Pali/Hinayana (S). 3- Development of Mahayana & Hinayana: originally, all Hinayanists; Mahayana was later development. 1- Transformation of Hinayanist sects: from 2nd council, difference in rules divided Hinayana in: 1- Mahāsanghika (Đại chúng bộ大眾部), around 380 BC, which divided further in 8 more sects: 2- Ekavyahārika (Nhất thuyết bộ一說部), under Asoka. 3- Lokottaravāda (Thuyết xuất thế bộ說出世部). 4- Kaukkutika (Kê dẫn bộ雞胤部). These 3 were first division. 5- Bahussrutiya (Đa văn bộ多聞部) which came on at 2nd division. 6- Prajñaptivāda (Thuyết giả bộ 說假部), late 3rd century BC. 7- Caitika (Chế đa sơn bộ制多山部), mid 1st century BC. 8- Aparasaila (Tây sơn trú bộ西山住部). 9- Uttarasaila (Bắc sơn trú bộ北山住部). Sthaviravāda (Thượng tọa bộ上座部) split into 11 sects: 10- Sarvastivāda (Thuyết nhất thiết hữu bộ說一切有部). 11- Haimavata (Tuyết sơn bộ雪山部). 12- Vatsiputriya (Độc tử bộ犢子部). 13- Dharmottara (Pháp thượng bộ法上部). 14- Bhadrayaniya (Hiền trụ bộ賢冑部). 15- Sammitiya (Chánh lượng bộ正量部). 16- Channagirika (Mật lâm sơn bộ密林山部). 17- Mahisasaka (Hóa địa bộ化地部), 3rd century BC. 18- Dharmaguptaka (Pháp tạng bộ法藏部). 19- Kasyapiya (Ẩm quang bộ飲光部). 20- Sautrantika (Kinh lượng bộ經量部), first century AD. 2- Development of Mahayana: although first teachings had Mahayanist elements, Mahayanist thoughts started sprouting from 1st century BC with Asvaghosa (Mă Minh) converted by 10th patriarch Pārsva (Hiếp tôn giả) & helped by Kaniska. 1 century later, Nāgārjuna, 13th patriarch, developed further with disciples Nāgabodhi (Long Trí) & Deva (Đề Bà) 14th pattriarch Mādhyamaka school. In 4th century AD, Asanga (Vô Trước) & Vasubandhu (Thiên Thân) developed Yogacara school. 4- The Fall of Buddhism in India: 20 centuries after Buddha, his teachings almost disappeared from India, mainly from 3 reasons: 1- Brahmanism, which adapted & assimilated Buddhism. 2- Islam, which destroyed monasteries & killed monks. 3- Intrinsic reasons: decadence of the Sangha, lack of education & practice. C- Conclusion: Buddha taught: “whatever was born will die, whatever was built up will decay”. Indian Buddhism, after 15 centuries of success, fell gradually into decay, like anything in this world controlled by the law of Impermanence. Also with the law of Impermanence, the Buddhism which died out in India has migrated to other places, first to East Asia, China, then to the whole world. Fifth Course (Khóa Thứ Năm) The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo) Lesson 2 History of Buddhism in China (Lịch Sử Phật Giáo Trung Hoa) Lesson 1: History of Buddhism in China, explained by Minh-Quang Nguyễn Lê Đức on Sunday April 27, 2008, at 10am, at Chùa Hải-Đức, Jacksonville, Florida. mp3 stereo, 23MB, 50 min.
Summary
A- Introduction: After division of Indian Buddhism into Northern/Mahayana and Southern/Hinayana, the biggest & most important country nurturing & spreading Mahayana is China. B- Main Subject: 1- Beginning Period: Chinese in the West have practiced Buddhism before long; historically though, Han Ming-ti (漢明帝 Hán Minh Đế) in 67 BC sent emissaries to Yuezhi (月氏 Nguyệt Chi = Tocharians) bringing back Dharmaraksa (Trúc Pháp Lan) & Kasyapa Matanga (Ca Diếp Ma Đằng) along with 16 sutras & Sutra of 42 sections, lodged in White Horse temple (白馬寺 Bạch Mă Tự) at Luoyang (Lạc Dương) capital. In 148 BC, An Shih Kao (安世高 An Thế Cao) from Parthia (Iran) established in Luoyang a translation bureau translating 35 texts from different Buddhist schools. 2- The Expanding Periods: 4 1- First period, from the 3 Kingdoms to Western Jin: 3rd – 4th centuries AD, K’ang-Seng-Hui (康僧會 Khương Tăng Hội) in Wu (吳 Ngô), Dharmakala in Wei (魏 Ngụy), Chu Shih Hsing (朱士行 Chu Sĩ Hàng) in Shu (蜀 Thục). Later, Kumarajiva in Jin (晉 Tấn). 2- Second Period, Southern & Northern Dynasties: (南北朝Nam Bắc Triều) 5th & 6th centuries. Bodhidharma, Liang Wu Ti… 3- Third Period, Tang dynasty: (唐Đường) 7th to 9th centuries. Xuan Zang (玄奘 Huyền Trang) translated 1500 books, I Ching (義淨 Nghĩa Tịnh) brought 400 translated texts, empress Wu… 4- Fourth Period, Ming dynasty: (明 Minh) 14th to 17th centuries. Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋 Chu Nguyên Chương) founder was Buddhist novice, promoted & regulated Buddhist organization.. Later, Qing (清 Thanh) also Buddhist but more superstitious & lamaist. 3- The Periods of Persecution: also 4 (“three Wu, one Chu” tam Vơ nhất Chu) 1- First period, Wu Ti of Wei: 446, exterminated monks, destroyed temples. 2- Second Period, Wu Ti of Zhou: 574, monks disrobed, temples transformed into offices. 3- Third Period, Wu Zong (武宗 Vơ Tôn) of Tang: 845, followed Taoism, disrobed > 265,000 monks, melted copper bell to make money. 4- Fourth Period, Shi Zong (世宗 Thế Tông) of Later Zhou (Hậu Chu): 954-959, destryed 30,000 temples, burned sutras, melted bells/statues. 4- Six Chinese Patriarchs of Zen: Bodhidharma (菩提達磨 Bồ Đề Đạt Ma 470-543), Húkě (慧可Huệ Khả 487-593), Sēngcàn (僧璨 Tăng Xán ?-606), Dàox́n (道信Đạo Tín 580-651), Húnéng (慧能 Huệ Năng 638-713) promoted Zen Buddhism. C- Conclusion: foreign to China, Buddhism spread due to adaptation; rised & fallen with impermanence, although intrinsic reasons were important.
Fifth Course (Khóa Thứ Năm) The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo) Lesson 3 History of Buddhism in Vietnam, part 1 (Lịch Sử Phật Giáo Việt Nam, phần 1) Lesson 3: History of Buddhism in Viet Nam, until Lư dynasty, explained by Minh-Quang Nguyễn Lê Đức on Sunday May 4, 2008, at 10am, at Chùa Hải-Đức, Jacksonville, Florida. mp3 stereo, 25MB, 55 min.
Summary
Fifth Course (Khóa Thứ Năm) The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo) Lesson 4 History of Buddhism in Vietnam, part 2 (Lịch Sử Phật Giáo Việt Nam, phần 2) Lesson 4: History of Buddhism in Viet Nam, from Trần to Nguyễn dynasty, explained by Minh-Quang Nguyễn Lê Đức on Sunday May 18, 2008, at 10am, at Chùa Hải-Đức, Jacksonville, Florida. mp3 stereo, 23MB, 50 min.
Summary
3- Pháp Loa master: 2nd patriarch, from Hải Dương. At 21, met Nhân Tôn, became disciple. At 25, gave talk at Siêu Loại temple, then was bestowed Yên Tử temple & its sangha. Built 1,300 statues, 5 stupas, 200 monasteries, certified 15,000 monks, wrote 2 books. 4- Huyền Quang master: 3rd patriarch, born in Bắc Giang, ugly, but smart, became official through exam; retired, became disciple of Pháp Loa; gave talks, built temples. 6- Buddhism under Hồ (1400-1407) & Later Lê (1428-1527) dynasties: darkest period of VN Buddhism due to progressive decline from last Trần kings throught later Lê. After short reign of Hồ, the Chinese Minh invaded, destroyed books & temples, promoted Taoism, esoteric Buddhism & Confucianism, which were picked up during later Lê. 7- Buddhism during the North & South division (1528-1802): later Lê queen Chiêu Hoàng was usurped by Mạc family. The Lê ran South for protection of Trịnh overlords who chased Nguyễn overlords further South. When relatively settled, these overlords both took Buddhism as official religion & competed for monks & building new temples. In the meantime, China was also in turmoil, many monks left & came settle in VN. 1- Buddhism under Trịnh overlords: Under Lê Thế tôn (1573-1599), Chinese monk Thông Giác Thuỷ Nguyệt (1636-1704) learned from Nhất Cú Tri Giáo transmitted Tào Động (cáo-ḍng 曹洞) school to Ḥe Nhai temple. Under Lê Hy Tôn (1676-1705), Chinese monks Lâm Giác & Nguyệt Quang transmitted the Lâm Tế (ínj́ 臨濟) to Liên Phái & Kiến An.Trịnh overlords also requested Chinese Tripitaka, built temples, also welcomed Hương Hải master who was big master in Southern Nguyễn overlord country but left for North due to Nguyễn suspicion. 2- Buddhism under Nguyễn overlords: Fervent Buddhists, Nguyễn overlords favored Buddhist monks, built temples, statues. Many monks were welcomed, especially Chinese. Nguyên Thiều master, born in Quảng Đông (Canton), took vows at 19 yo, practiced at Bảo Tự temple. In 1665, arrived in B́nh Định, built Thập Tháp Di Đà temple, taught disciples, then went to Thuận Hóa building Hà Trung temple, and Huế building Quốc Ân temple. By order of Nguyễn Phúc Tráng (1687-1691), he returned to Canton, brought back Thạch Liêm masters & other monks, many sutras, statues, instruments… Liễu Quán master, named Lê, from Phú Yên, was orphan of mother at 6 yo, given as disciple of Chinese monk Tế Viên. 7 yrs later, his master died, he went to Bảo Quốc temple in Huế, learned with Chinese Giác Phong master, then Thạch Liêm master. He participated in many precepts platforms, laterly came to Thiên Thai, built Thiền Tôn temple to practice. He died in 1742. 7- Buddhism during the first Nguyễn kings. During the Tây Sơn, although the kings had reunited the country, they have destroyed many temples, burned sutras, melted statues & bells making weapons. The first Nguyễn kings tried to revive some temples, but Buddhist influence in the mass has eroded under the invasion of occidental civilization and decadence of monkhood by materialism. Master Thích Mật Thể wrote: “The Sangha in the North still kept relatively the order & precepts; while in the Center many monks got married openly; and the South was worse… most monks only longed for fame, asking for certifications, knowing only to pray, to write amulets, to be servants to officials, wealthy families. Another type was the ones who got detached from society, enjoyed pastime calling it deliverance… So, the temples in the country became individual families, holding nothing of religious communion…” C- Conclusion: Buddhism has been present in Viet Nam nearly twenty centuries. During this time, it had rises and falls, mostly parallel to the country. It also stimulated the growth of intelligent & virtuous rulers, and inevitably sank the ruthless & inhuman ones. Thus, virtuous & tolerant rulers are a blessing for the country.
Fifth Course (Khóa Thứ Năm) The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo) History of Buddhism (Lịch Sử Phật Giáo)Lesson 5 Buddhist Revival Movement Lesson 5: Buddhist Revival Movement, explained by Minh-Quang Nguyễn Lê Đức on Sunday June 1, 2008, at 10am, at Chùa Hải-Đức, Jacksonville, Florida. mp3 stereo, 29MB, 1hr 3 min.
Summary In 18th & 19th cent., Buddhist practice, esp in Asia, fell in decadence, withering out in contact with Occidental civilizations. Asian countries neglected spiritual heritage for the benefit of material wealth. After a while, Asians found flaws in Occidental civilizations, returned to study their own heritage, starting an universal revival movement B- Main Subject: 1- Revival Movement in India & Surrounding Countries:
2- Revival Movement in China & Surrounding Countries:
3- Diffusion of Buddhism in the World: after research/study of Buddhism for political & religious reasons, many scholars started to ponder on that ancient religion of Buddhism, then embraced at last (Olcott, Blavatsky, Rhys-Davis…). Many Europeans became ordained (Nanamoli, Bodhi Bikkhu, Kornfield, Robert Aitken, Tenzin Palmo, John Loori…) spreading Buddhism back in their countries. Presence of Occidental Buddhists in every international Buddhist convention. Adaptation into vegetarianism, veganism, New Age, holistic view… 4- International Buddhist Conventions: tentation of unification. After 1950 Colombo Convention, many follow through conventions have been organized: 1952 in Tokyo (unification), 1954 in Rangoon (Council on Pali canon), 1956 in Kathmandu (Buddhist civilization), 1958 in Bangkok (review of Organization by-laws), 1961 in Phnom Penh (establish an Asian Buddhist Institute)… Tentation of unification stumbled due to nature of Buddhism which was individual enlightenment, favoring multiplicity of practice and utmost freedom. Conventions became more regional while multiplying to great extense. 5- Revival Movement in Viet Nam: although rooted long before independence, Buddhism in Viet Nam has also suffered discrimination & proselytization after French occupation. Revival started in 1920 with support from nationalistic officials to organize Buddhist Institutes; then the Buddhist organizations were allowed to form in all 3 regions, which published different magazines. It was cut short by the wars. On May 6, 1951, 51 delegates from 6 main organizations met at Từ Đàm temple (Huế) to form The General Association of Vietnamese Buddhism (Tổng Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam). In 1954, communist North closed down most temples, drafted monks; Buddhism in the South was more developed, built temples, printed sutras, even got involved in political turmoil. C- Conclusion: after 25 centuries, Buddha’s teachings still shine everywhere in the world, without coercion, with full respect for individual intelligence & freedom, not found in any other organized religion. No wonder it will keep on shining, further & further, as a source for consolation & compassion indispensable to this world.
Fifth Course (Khóa Thứ Năm) The History of Buddhism & The Buddhist Schools (Lịch Sử và Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo) Schools of Buddhism (Các Tông Phái Phật Giáo)Lesson 6 Vinaya School, Pure Land, Zen (Luật tông, Tịnh Độ tông, Thiền tông)
Summary
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