Mahayanism is a major branch of Buddhism, that mainly teaches the tathagatagarbha aka buddha-matrix being a vast multi-universe/dimensional world-systems. Mahayanism also presents the concept of the Bodhisattva vows to return to all creations to liberate all sentient-beings, and the concept of Buddha-nature, that enlightenment is existent in all beings.
As to the practices or the Ways-of-the-Mahayanist there are many:
- Three Jewels
- Buddhist Paths to liberation
- Five precepts
- Perfections
- Meditation
- Philosophical reasoning
- Devotional practices
- Merit making)
- Recollections
- Mindfulness)
- Wisdom)
- Sublime abidings
- Aids to Enlightenment
- Monasticism
- Lay life)
- Buddhist chant
- Pilgrimage
- Vegetarianism
Though these practices are recognizable and most Mahayanist know of them, only a few have really developed into a sub-school
The practice of Meditation as we call it in the west or better known as Dhyana (Ch’an or Zen) is what we will now discuss.
First, this sub-school focuses on Skillful means and ways, as we see in the Record of Sayings and Actions of Zen masters (the stuff being quoted all the time in this subreddit, second the sub-school focuses on mental development (bhāvanā) in which I call preliminaries and this can be anything from martial arts, still sitting, chanting, memorization, ceremony, and rituals (tea ceremony, or priestly magical incantations for blessings).
Many have asserted that this sub-school is not at all Mahayanist or even Buddhist, this is an absurd view liken to the group of blind-men who find an elephant in which they only know the part of the elephant they can touch:
A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.
It is important as students of Zen, not to forget that we just study one practice of Mahayana. For what use is this Zen practice then, if Zen is not part of the Mahayana, not to assist those upon the Great Way?
All comments are most welcome.
Submitted March 07, 2023 at 08:48PM by Otomo_Zen https://ift.tt/6TN7vlS
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