Expert: Justin Choo - 3/15/2006

Question
I would like to ask you a few more questions if possible.

1. How does Theravada buddhism differ from(Pure Land, Mahayana & Zen)
2. In your opinion what do most Americans misunderstand about Buddhism?
3. How does Buddhist philosophy help humans undestand and address the problem of pain and suffering?
4. How do your religious beliefs and commitments influence your behavior and ethical and moral responses to the world around you? (regarding Disasters like the Tsunami)

Thanks so much for you help.

Ali Rajput






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Followup To
Question -
What roles do the monks play in the activities at the temple?(DAY-TO-DAY)Do they offer any guidance to followers?
Answer -
Hi Ali,

Thank you for asking me.

Monks are those who have given up the household lives, or worldly lives.  They have strict rules to follow.  Their lifestyle is very different from ours.  Their routine centres around the temples.  Chanting sessions occupy a central part of their daily routine.  Those who are well versed in disseminating the Dhamma (teachings of the Buddha) will give talks as and when required.  While others will perform "blessings" for devotees; not forgetting the more important training of meditation.  Monks do give guidance when requsted.  Most important of all, they represent the holy order of the Buddha's disciples who are worthy of respect and honour.  They are the custodians and teachers of the Dhamma.

Smile from justinchoo :-)  

Answer
Hi Ali,

Welcome back.


1. How does Theravada buddhism differ from(Pure Land, Mahayana & Zen)

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 or doctrine 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, bowing, and praying paraphernalia.  The Tibetans have their unique and colourful way of practising Buddhism with their physical devotion in prostrating and Tibetan art. The Theravada tradition emphasizes 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.

"Pure Land" is one of the many traditions of Chinese Buddhism, all belongs to the Mahayana School.

Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China.  Its Chinese name is Ch'an Buddhism, a term derived from the Sanskrit word "dhyana", meaning "absorption", "trance", or simply "meditation".  Their main training is in meditation.  Traditionally, zen masters use koans (riddles and stories that have no logical answer) and mondos (questions and answers) which, as with koans, defy logic.  An example: "He is right that you are wrong; and you are right that he is wrong.  It is also right that both of you are right!" They use this technigue to train the mind into achieving a certain degree of pure insight through intuitive thinking into the true nature of the world and life.  In other words one could say that Zen Buddhism uses a lot of philosophical analyses.


2. In your opinion what do most Americans misunderstand about Buddhism?

It is a fact that most Americans are very ignorant of the world.  They think the world is America and the world belongs to them.  The greatest of all is President Bush.  Coming back to Buddhism, most Americans do not know anything about Buddhism; and they make fools of themselves when they start criticizing Buddhism.  They got it all wrong.  It's like the blind leading the blind.

3. How does Buddhist philosophy help humans understand and address the problem of pain and suffering?

The Buddha discovered the way to peace and happiness through realizing the true nature of life and this universe. It was more than 2500 years ago in northern India where the Buddha through harnessing the power of his mind realized that if man were to be free of greed, hatred and delusion, he had to look inwards into his mind, and start cleansing his inner defilements. If one reduces one's defilements, one would experience peace and happiness. He discovered that the whole world had certain characteristics and that life continued to exist because of certain causes. This world is very uncertain and unsatisfactory, because we cannot be fully satisfied in life; and that nothing is permanent. He also pointed out that because of our craving for permanent and complete satisfaction, we were always miserable.
The most salient aspect of Buddhism is FREEDOM in its practice. The Buddha encouraged his followers to use their common sense and human intelligence to analyze his teachings before accepting them. He pointed out that there was no super agent who controlled us, punished us and rewarded us. We are not puppets on the strings; and there is no puppeteer up above to manipulate us. The natural law of cause and effect rules the world. No matter what you are and where you are, or what you believe, this universal LAW rules supreme. There is no escape. It is perfectly impartial. In simple language, good begets good; evil begets evil.

This is the "religion" of Buddhism....Truth, Peace, Harmlessness, and Freedom.  A more appropriate term to describe Buddhism is "humanism". It deals with the peaceful conduct of human lives.



4. How do your religious beliefs and commitments influence your behavior and ethical and moral responses to the world around you? (regarding Disasters like the Tsunami)

Buddhism is about universal truths which transcend race, nationality, belief, culture, tradition, and even time and space.  Truth is truth.  Buddhists consider this world as a very imperfect and unpredictable entity.  It is this very nature of this world because everything is in friction and everything is in a continuous flux.  Nothing is permanent.  This world is very unsatisfactory.  Knowing the real nature of this world, Buddhists use wisdom to live with it, come what may.  There are times of happiness, of sadness, of disasters, and horrors of wars.  This is the very nature of the world.  Once we realize this fact, we can accept life and live through it.  We are actually prisoners of the world, with no escape from the horrors of existence.  Every living being is subject to old age, sickness, and death.  There is no escape, whoever you are, whatever you may think you are, how great you think you are.  We are all the same.....Prisoners of the world!  

Knowing and accepting this truth, Buddhists come to terms with life and death.  Happiness and disasters are part and parcel of life. It comes in a package.  With wisdom,  Buddhists are not overly elated when good tidings come; neither are they unpleasantly surprised when disasters struck!  They are all natural.  You know, when a fellow prisoner realizes that he is a prisoner in a prison, he accepts the conditions imposed by the prison.  He cannot complain anymore for he knows his situation.  He can serve through his prison term with less agony and misery with this realization and acceptance.

In the final analysis, a wise Buddhist will conduct his life with care and wisdom, by living a harmless and peaceful life.

Smile from justinchoo :-)