Basic Teaching of Zen Buddhism

Introduction

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emerged around 6^th century into China by Indian Monk Bodhidhamma and that introduced into Japan around 12 Century. Zen Buddhism is emphasis on sitting meditation for the realizing of truths, no-self, emptiness and mind. The differences between Zen and other Buddhist sects is that Zen Buddhism exists as illogical and anti-intellectual which made students confused about how can Zen Buddhism be illogical and anti-intellectual? Today Zen Buddhist teaching becomes one of the most popular in the west and westerners are more likely to follow Zen teaching.

Prince Shotoku and His contribution towards the spread of Buddhim in Japan

Introduction

It is clear that indigenous religion called Shinto has already existed in Japan before Buddhism. But According to a historical chronicle, Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan by a king of Paekche in 552 A.D during the time of emperor Kinmei. After Buddhism was introduced and sent Buddhist icons and ritual objects to Japanese court by Korean king Paekche, there were some conflict between those acceptors and rejecters of Buddhism in Japan. On other hand, there is some Buddhist believers had already existed before Buddhism was officially introduced; they were Korean and Chinese immigrants, they practiced Buddhism despite they did not claim themselves as Buddhists. The country was not politically stable which divided into many provinces and ruled by different clans. Around third century A.D, Yamato clan emerged as a powerful clan among them and Japan was gradually united but still not fully unified yet. There were three clans (Soga, Mononobe, and Nakatomi) who became powerful but lower rank to Yamato imperial family.

A Study of Dhammakaya in Mahayana Buddhism

    

 According Mahayana Buddhist tradition, the Buddha has three bodies or three aspects of personality, they are; Dhammakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. If we study Early Buddhism, we cannot find the theory of three bodies or trikaya but we can find Dhammakaya and Rupakaya concept in the early Buddhism, we cannot find sambhogakaya or the body of reward or enjoyment. The three body doctrine indicates that all Buddha were described and combined in three ways. The Buddha appeared in human world in order to give Dhamma which is for the benefit all suffering beings and the teaching guided human beings how to eradicate suffering. By trying to understand the three body of the Buddha, one can realize and perceive the true nature of all Buddha. And in the early Buddhist teaching that we can notice about only two Kaya that the Buddha possessed: 1. Dhammakaya which can be explained as the Buddha had human identity with all types of human weakness such as physical sickness and face with all kinds of challenges. 2 the second one is considered as rupakaya superhuman which possessed of thirty-two marks of a great man and six kinds of supernormal knowledge. In this essay paper, I am going to discuss only one body which is Dhammakaya out of three and I will also describe the characteristic of Dhammakaya according to Mahayana Buddhism.

The Historicity of the First Buddhist Council

One of the most important events in the Buddhist history after the Buddha passed away was the first Buddhist Council or Pathama Sangayana. We can note that today there are different concepts and views on Buddhist Councils between Theravada and Mahayana traditions but both sects had accepted the first Buddhist council without any huge controversial issue concerning this event. 

The Contributions of King Asoka in the 3rd Century B.C. towards the spread of Buddhism

The king Asoka was the third ruler of Maurya Empire who ruled almost entire of Indian continent and it was one of the greatest empires in India of all time. He supported Buddhism in order to spread every part of India and outside of India. He was not a Buddhist but followers of Jainism as following of his family religious belief. According to Buddhist literary sources, he became a Buddhist and follow Buddhism zealously after the end of war. The kind Asoka was main supporter to spread Buddhism throughout of Indian and outside of India in the 3^rd century. It is a clear that Buddhism was the most influential and dominates religion during Asoka ruling. Although he was a pious king of Buddhism and support much amount of money to build monasteries, pagodas, monument and other social activities, he had the power to control to all Sangha community and we can know clearly about that he could managed the Sangha community with his power. So the time of Asoka reign was one of the most glorious times in India histories despite Buddhism was fading and eventually died out from India after he passed away. Although Buddhism disappeared in India, Buddhism was flourished in other parts, particularly in Southeast Asia. 

The importace of giving Dana in Buddhist Practice

Dana or giving is one of the most important parts in Buddha’s teaching and people are practicing this Dana commonly in all Buddhist countries whether they are understanding of the law of karma or not. And Dana has wider definition. There are various kinds of things that a person can give such as material things, food, shelter, clothing, medicine so on. The person can give not only material things but also can offer the knowledge, skill, and effort that can benefit others. One can give sympathetic ear to troubled person, listen to him with compassion and gives comfort to him.  People can also donate something from their physical body such as blood, even kidney.

Buddhist Concept on Anger in Buddhism

Introduction

   There are three poisons in Buddha’s teaching and Dosa or Anger is one of the dangerous poisons out of three which leads to evil and suffering. Dosa also let everyone to be trapped in the wheel of life again and again. As everybody understands the behavior of anger, and what anger looks like. At first we have to observe our own experience of anger ourselves then we can understand more clearly what anger is looks like. When we are angry, our minds, thoughts, and behaviors immediately changed into violent mind or impure mind then leads to violent action.