Buddhism Through Its Scriptures

[Roland]

There's a Harvard course going on about Buddhism Through Its Scriptures. It's online and free (unless you want to earn a certificate), and it just started. The professor is Charles Hallisey. The whole course is a module in a wider teaching project about world religions.

Gassho
Roland
#SatToday

[Jishin]

Sounds interesting. Thank you for the link Roland.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Shugen]

I'm finding it interesting so far.

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday


Shugen
明道 修眼
As a priest in training, please take everything I say with a "pinch of salt"

[Toun]

Thank you Roland.

Gassho
Mike

Sat2day

[Bodhi]

This looks wonderful. Thank you Roland

Gassho,
Jason

SatThisDay


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jakuden]

Oh wow this is really tempting... unfortunately I probably can't commit to the 6-10 hours a week it estimates though, darn. Wonder if there would be a way to just sort of follow along without doing the assignments :-p Thanks for the link!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jakuden]

Just saw also that Pema Chodron is giving an online course through Shambala Publications... this is not free, however. Interactive discourse and education is becoming more available online, but thanks to Jundo and Treeleaf for being way ahead of the game!! I really don't need to sign up for anything, there is always plenty of stuff to learn right here

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Roland]

Oh wow this is really tempting... unfortunately I probably can't commit to the 6-10 hours a week it estimates though, darn. Wonder if there would be a way to just sort of follow along without doing the assignments :-p Thanks for the link!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

Jakuden, there is no obligation at all to do the assignments. You can read and watch as much or as little as you want.

Gassho
Roland
#SatToday

[Jundo]

It looks interesting. Of course, remember that Buddhism and approaches to the scriptures come in many flavors. I am not sure if it is weighed more to the South Asian traditions or covers the Mahayana well too (the professor seems a Sanskrit specialist), but looks good.

Gassho, Jundo

[Washin]

Thank you for sharing, Roland. Looks interesting..

Gassho
Washin
st

[Myosha]

Hello,

Thanks for the link.


Gassho
Myosha sat today

[Kyonin]

Hello all,

I enrolled in the course and Jundo is right. So far it seems inclined to the Theravada school, but will touch Mahayana at some point.

So far it's been really interesting.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Shugen]

Oh wow this is really tempting... unfortunately I probably can't commit to the 6-10 hours a week it estimates though, darn. Wonder if there would be a way to just sort of follow along without doing the assignments :-p Thanks for the link!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

That is what I am doing.

Gassho,

Shugen

#sattoday

[Anshu Bryson]

Seems there's a few of us doing it... ;-)

Gassho,
Anshu

-st-

[Jundo]

It looks interesting. Of course, remember that Buddhism and approaches to the scriptures come in many flavors. I am not sure if it is weighed more to the South Asian traditions or covers the Mahayana well too (the professor seems a Sanskrit specialist), but looks good.

Gassho, Jundo

Just a "don't judge a book by its cover" correction. It appears from the syllabus and introduction that the course covers Mahayana Sutras as well.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Anshu Bryson]

Just a "don't judge a book by its cover" correction. It appears from the syllabus and introduction that the course covers Mahayana Sutras as well.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

Day 2 and, straight after an overview of the Pali Canon, it is straight into Zen texts, including Mumonkan and Dogen's Sansuikyo...

Gassho,
Anshu

-sat today-

[Nindo]

I'm enrolled but haven't looked at it yet due to travel.
Gassho
Nindo

[Jakugan]

I've enrolled also. Looks interesting.

Gashho,

Jakugan

Sat today

[Jakuden]

OK I joined! Would it be OK to post questions and/or discussion about the material here?

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[John Mac]

Hello All,

I joined too, last night, and watched the first two videos.
What an excellent resource, great that it's free.
Gratitude to all those who have made it possible.

Gassho,
John

[Jundo]

OK I joined! Would it be OK to post questions and/or discussion about the material here?

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

Of course.

Gassho, Jundo

SatToday

[Kaishin]

Thank you, I am joining in (just reading/watching along).

[Toun]

Enrolled today...

Gassho
Mike

Sat today

[Jishin]

Participation in the course is possible with "edX" iphone/android app.

Gassho, Jishin, ST

[Risho]

Thanks Roland! Thanks for pointing out that app Jishin

Gassho

Risho
-sattoday

[Mp]

Participation in the course is possible with "edX" iphone/android app.

Gassho, Jishin, ST

Very cool, thanks Jishin. =)

Gassho
Shingen

s@today

[Jishin]

You are welcome Shingen.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jakuden]

From the reading: "Refuge: An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha"by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

This seems to really get to the heart of things, but I am struggling a bit with some of the concepts...

"But because good and bad kamma, consisting of good and bad intentions, simply perpetuate the ups and downs of experience in the cosmos, a way must be found out of the mechanism of kamma by mastering it in a way that allows it to disband in an attentive state of non-intention. And, because there is no telling what sudden surprises the results of one's past kamma may still hold in store, one should try to develop that mastery as quickly as possible."

Is this describing shikantaza, "an attentive state of non-intention?" Some of my confusion arises I think because on one hand it sounds like you must choose Right Action and Right Intention to break out of the Karma cycle, yet on the other hand it sounds like you must have "non-intention."

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Kaishin]

One thing to bear in mind is that this course brings in readings from many different traditions. A lot of Theravadan writing seems like Greek (as I'm sure Zen writings do to those practitioners). He wouldn't be talking specifically about shikantaza given his tradition. I would imagine he's referring to the samadhi of one of the jhana states. Although there's perhaps similarities.

Also, I find it helpful to refer to something Jundo wrote awhile back (this is just in general, not in response to your post, Jakuden) about the Theravadan tradition and what is or isn't "original" or "true" Buddhism: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...l=1#post153794

And also something Brad Warner said in "Don't Be a Jerk," which is that he sees no indication that the Buddha suggested that his thoughts and practices were intended to be the "end all, be all," fixed in time at his death, or that later interpretations couldn't improve on them or modify them in ways that help people in different times and traditions.

I guess I went off on a tangent there :P But sometimes you will see comments in the discussions about Theravadan being the "true Buddhism" which, as Jundo points out, is specious.

-satToday

[Jakuden]

Ah see, that is why I asked to post here, I knew I would need help figuring out what was what. Thanks, I think this link to Jundo's post will help a lot!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jakuden]

OK here's a question for regarding "open canon" vs. "closed canon." It seems that we are learning that Mahayana Buddhism has an open canon, the final word has not been said, the final interpretation has not been given. How does that apply to what we learn here at Treeleaf about the way of Soto Zen? Obviously there must be some flexibility in how it is taught, as we here know as fans of Jundo's teaching style. However, Jundo is also clear about what is and what isn't called Soto Zen. How far does the flexibility go?

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jundo]

OK here's a question for regarding "open canon" vs. "closed canon." It seems that we are learning that Mahayana Buddhism has an open canon, the final word has not been said, the final interpretation has not been given. How does that apply to what we learn here at Treeleaf about the way of Soto Zen? Obviously there must be some flexibility in how it is taught, as we here know as fans of Jundo's teaching style. However, Jundo is also clear about what is and what isn't called Soto Zen. How far does the flexibility go?

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

How many ways to cook noodles?

There is an "open canon", yet as in any religion, so many people (most?) who say "but my Sutra/Teacher/Practice is the best and ultimate and most authentic". Buddhism, Zen and even Soto Zen/Shikantaza teachers and groups come in a variety of flavors with different emphasis and spicing. I am just one cook, and what comes out of this kitchen may not suit the tastes and nutritional needs of all folks (Gee, I would probably get a lot more "followers" if I threatened folks with eternal damnation unless they followed the ultimate and most authentic words out of my mouth, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I just happen to believe that what we undertake here has to be beneficial and helpful to most folks who do not know how to find by sitting still).

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kaishin]

I just finished the Day 4 lesson. I must say, the presentation is very strange. The professor has an interesting, albeit oblique way of approaching the material. I think I would be totally lost if I were coming in with no prior exposure to Buddhism (and from the comments, it seems like a lot of people are lost).

Interesting, too, in the last section about bringing scriptures into the world, the examples are mostly of--for lack of a better term--evangelical branches of Buddhism, focusing on Nichiren or other devotional approaches. Being so embedded here for so long, it is striking to hear practitioners talk about how they gained material goods, or cured cancer, from devotion to a certain sutra or chant. Almost seems antithetical to our practice here. I must be honest that it is hard for me not to judge these practices as misguided. But I must remember that the way we practice here is seen by many in the same way, as a twisting of Buddhism, heretical even (the old mahayana/hinayana conflict).

-satToday

[Nindo]

That's too bad that people are lost. I haven't come far in this course yet, but I'm really put off by how the professor just stares into the camera and reads a prepared text. I took "Buddhism and Modern Psychology" on coursera, and found it much more engaging.

Gassho
Nindo

[Kaishin]

p.s. I've since done some searching on other Buddhist-based practices. There are some interesting things out there, to say the least

http://www.buddhamaitreya.org/Buddha...ya-The-Christ/

[Jundo]

p.s. I've since done some searching on other Buddhist-based practices. There are some interesting things out there, to say the least

http://www.buddhamaitreya.org/Buddha...ya-The-Christ/

I thought about taking our Sangha in that direction, revealing my true identity and some prophesies. I have decided to stay boring instead.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kaishin]

Ha! Thank you for being boring

[Byrne]

It's cool to stay boring. It's cool to be fantastical. Buddhism is cool. I didn't come to Buddhism to win the "I'm right" award. I came to it because my life was tough. Some things aren't cool. Abuse ain't cool. I worry most about the stuff that isn't cool.

Gassho

Sat Today


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[Jakuden]

I just finished the Day 4 lesson. I must say, the presentation is very strange. The professor has an interesting, albeit oblique way of approaching the material. I think I would be totally lost if I were coming in with no prior exposure to Buddhism (and from the comments, it seems like a lot of people are lost).

Interesting, too, in the last section about bringing scriptures into the world, the examples are mostly of--for lack of a better term--evangelical branches of Buddhism, focusing on Nichiren or other devotional approaches. Being so embedded here for so long, it is striking to hear practitioners talk about how they gained material goods, or cured cancer, from devotion to a certain sutra or chant. Almost seems antithetical to our practice here. I must be honest that it is hard for me not to judge these practices as misguided. But I must remember that the way we practice here is seen by many in the same way, as a twisting of Buddhism, heretical even (the old mahayana/hinayana conflict).

-satToday

Ok I thought it was just me. Admittedly, my education was 8 years of pretty much nothing but hardcore Science, so I figured I just had no clue how a subject like this would be taught. The way you put it as a very "oblique" way of approaching the material is exactly it. They made a big deal about "learning via inferring" vs. learning via observation, so I assumed that was what we were supposed to be doing, but I don't think I am very good at inferring...

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Nindo]

I just got through Day 4. This course has material from very different scriptures all in a wild mix, from the pali canon to more esoteric Mahayana sutras. I have encountered sutras I've never heard of before. For me it is interesting and there are some thought provoking questions, although I am not participating in the forum. I am wondering though whether somebody without any knowledge of Buddhism, or non-theist religion, would get any understanding about the core teachings of Buddhism. If I was a theist and read the texts about Buddha living for millions of years and being worshipped by thousands of spirits, and then saw the videos of people fervently chanting sutras with hands in gassho, I would get the impression that Buddha is a god-figure in Buddhism that people pray to.

There hasn't been anything about morality and ethics yet. Given that many theists in our societies believe that ethical behaviour will only come from fear of god, I think it is very important to introduce the ethical foundations of a non-theist religion. I hope this course will still get there.

Gassho
Nindo
sattoday

[Kyonin]

Hi Nindo,

I just finished Day 4 as well. I am doing the discussions but not going deep into them. I was wondering about ethics as well, especially after watching the Soka Gakkai video where we can see how they vigorously chant.

So far the course has been an eagle's eye view about scriptures without going too deep into philosophy. For me that's fine, but I wonder if a person new to Buddhism would be confused.

Let's wait and see the rest of the material.

I am enjoying it, though.

Gassho,

Kyonin

[Jakuden]

I have encountered sutras I've never heard of before. For me it is interesting and there are some thought provoking questions, although I am not participating in the forum.

I had never heard of the Sutra of Golden Light:

"There are two things that you want to note in particular.
First is that this scripture enters into the world in a dream heard by someone who then recites it in front of the Buddha. That is to say, the Sutra of Golden Light is taught by the Buddha after he heard it from someone else, who in turn had heard it in a dream.
Second is that the Sutra emerges from a drum heard within the dream. In ancient India, drums were often beaten in a city to announce that an amnesty had been declared, freeing those who had already been conficted for wrong doing. With this in mind, we can say that Sutra of Golden Light enters into the world like a drum declaring an amnesty for all who hear it"

Interesting stuff! And yes some of the questions are thought provoking, they help to look at things from a different angle that probably wouldn't have occurred to me. My answers are totally lame, but I am using the discussion forum as more or less a placeholder so I know what I have done... I find reading other people's answers more interesting than answering myself as there are so many perspectives.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday