Expert: Justin Choo - 2/27/2006

Question
Hello, I appologize ahead of time for the odd email. Anyway, I am interested in buddhism and my current VHS course requires I interview an expert, so I have some questions for you

What are the primary differences between the two main forms of Buddhism?

How many people have been considered a Buddha?

What role does the dalai llama (sp?) play in the Buddhist faith/belief system?

Is there any daily routine in Buddhism?

Is there a punishment/reward system in Buddhism similar to that of Christianity?

How long has Buddhism been a religious presence in Asia?

Do you have any idea as to why it has become popular in the west?


Thank you in advance.

-Becky

Answer
Hi Becky,

Thank you for asking me.

Your qn:What are the primary differences between the two main forms of Buddhism?
Answer: Theravada or the orthodox doctrine of the elders (Senior monks) emphasizes on personal training and meditation.  They follow the discourses as written in the Pali text known as the Tipitaka (3 baskets of discourses) which contains all the teachings of the Buddha.  The Mahayana tradition emphsizes on rites and rituals.

A little historical background of Buddhism will explain this. During the Buddha's time, his teachings were all memorized by the learned monks and passed down as such. After a few hundred years, differences in interpretations began to appear. A lot of Brahmins from the Brahmin religion (modern day Hinduism) became Buddhists. During that time the emperor was a Buddhist. His name was King Asoka. Naturally, all would like to become Buddhists! Because of these differences, King Asoka called for a council of monks to confirm the authenticity of the Buddha's teachings. The council of learned monks recited and confirmed the full text of the teachings which had been handed down by verbal recitation. They referred to this confirmation as the text of the elders (senior monks). In the Pali language it is called Theravada, which is the tradition that I follow. The Brahmin group decided to have their own version and called themselves the Great Vehicle (Great Wheel), in Pali, Mahayana. They then belittled the Theravada by calling them Lesser Vehicle which in Pali is Hinayana.
The Mahayana spread towards the north-west to Afghanistan, through the Silk Route to China, Korea, and Japan. While the Theravada spread to the south to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and then up north-east to Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Being very practical teachings based on universal truths, Buddhism was accepted by the different communities. They could practise Buddhism without having to change their cultures, traditions and customs. That is why we have Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism, and who knows Western Buddhism!
The beauty of Buddhism is that although there are such varieties, the basic teachings of the Buddha are the same. The difference is actually in the rites and rituals, and some other minor discourses.  Most Chinese Buddhist temples are of the Mahayana tradition, with emphasis on rites and rituals which are very Chinese and a lot of chanting.  The Tibetans have their colourful way of practising Buddhism with their physical devotion in prostrating and Tibetan art. The Theravada tradition emphasises in the practice of the Buddha's teachings and meditation, with less rites and rituals.  The Mahayana tradition features a wide pantheon of Bodhisttas and Buddhas; whereas the Theravada follows only the teachings of the historical Buddha Gotama.

Your qn:How many people have been considered a Buddha?
Answer: The Buddha revealed the names of 24 past Buddhas and the coming future Buddha before this universe comes to an end.  However, in this timeless space of existence, countless Buddhas had appeared, and countless more will appear.

Your qn:What role does the dalai llama (sp?) play in the Buddhist faith/belief system?
Answer: The Dalai Lama is a Tibetan and is a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition.  He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.  That is all.


Your qn:Is there any daily routine in Buddhism?  
Answer: Depending on the various traditions, the rites and rituals are quite different.  For lay person in the Theravada tradition, he upholds the 5 precepts of refraining from killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicating substances. The teachings of the Buddha is for practice in the daily lives and not just for performing rites and rituals. For the monks, they have to be more disciplined and keep more precepts.


Your qn:   Is there a punishment/reward system in Buddhism similar to that of Christianity?
Answer: Buddhists have complete freedom to practice the teachings of the Buddha.  Buddhists are treated as intelligent people with enough common sense and human intelligence to conduct their lives in a noble and dignified manner.  If ever they commit unwholesome actions it is them that will face the consequences sooner or later, for it is the eternal law of cause and effect.  Who are we to teach our fellow men how to behave, when we ourselves are having difficulty in conducting our lives?  There is no hypocricy in Buddhism.  No one to punish; no one to deceive.  


Your qn:
How long has Buddhism been a religious presence in Asia?
Answer: More than 2500 years.


Your qn:Do you have any idea as to why it has become popular in the west?
Answer: Education; fast and efficient communication system; willingness to learn new ideas; more freedom to think and act; realization that there is more to learn from the East; the appealing attributes of the teachings of the Buddha which leads to inner peace and happiness.

Smile from justinchoo :-)