HINAYANA ~ THE FOUNDATIONAL PATH

WESTCHESTER BUDDHIST CENTER CORE CURRICULUM COURSE ONE

FALL 2011

For internal use only ~ Exclusively for the use of the Westchester Buddhist Center First Edition - 2011 THE FOUNDATIONAL PATH

WESTCHESTER BUDDHIST CENTER CORE CURRICULUM

Ten Sundays from October 9th thru December 18th (omitting November 27th)

Course Overview

Summary:

Without a strong foundation in the fundamentals of the Buddha’s first round of teachings, one cannot effectively approach any of his other teachings. This course, the first in the two year WBC curriculum, starts with a brief overview of the life of the Buddha, the development of the presentation of his in this world and how that mirror’s the natural development of any individual on the path. The remainder of the course covers the basics of the , meditation, conduct and path of the foundational vehicle, known affectionately as the “Hinayana” by the followers of the tradition.

Sources:

Readings are primarily from the sourcebook which will be made available at the first class (cost to be determined). Additional readings may be provided at classes (at cost).

List of Classes:

1. Overview: Ontogony Recapitulates Phylogeny 2. Context: The Development of the Dharma 3. Entering the Path: , Renunciation, Loneliness and Aloneness 4. The Path of Individual Liberation 5. Right View: The Marks of Existence 6. Right View: The 7. Shila/Discipline: Not Causing Harm to Oneself and Others 8. : Shamatha– and awareness 9. Samadhi: Shamatha– obstacles, antidotes and stages 10. Prajna: Ego and the wisdom that discovers egolessness

Location and Logistics:

Classes will be held at the offices of Eileen Fisher at 2 Bridge Street in Irvington, at 10:00 am. We will sit with everyone else in the main room until 10:30 then break off and go to the room upstairs for class presentation and discussion, joining the main group again at noon for the reception.

Hinayana: The Foundational Path ­ Syllabus

Course Syllabus

1. Overview: Ontogony Recapitulates Phylogeny a. Topics i. The natural evolution of an individual on the path ii. The path: , three yana, nine yanas, Hinayana, Mahayana iii. How the path mirrors the development of the dharma in this world realm iv. Overview of the course: purpose, subject matter, context, sources b. Teacher’s Reading, pages 1‐12 i. Appendix I: Introduction to the Teachings Dealt with in the Biogaphy, Matthhieu Ricard, The Life of Shabkar, pp. 547‐556 c. Handout i. The Thirty Seven Factors of Awakening

2. The Context: The Development of the Dharma a. Topics i. The western version of the life of the Buddha, the councils, the development of schools and the appearance of new “Buddha‐word” ii. The traditional version of life of the Buddha, the three turnings of the wheel of the dharma, the teachings on and the gradual unfolding of the dharma in this world iii. The spread of buddhism in India iv. The transmission from India to Tibet b. Reading, pages 13‐23 i. Life of the Buddha, A History of , David Kalupahana, pp. 22‐29 ii. Shakyamuni Buddha, Masters of Meditation and Miracles, Thondrup, pp. 4‐12 c. Optional Reading, pages 24‐30 i. A Short , Sherab Chodzin Kohn, The Buddha and His Teachings, pp. 45‐55

3. Entering the Path: Refuge and Renunciation ‐ Loneliness and Aloneness a. Topics i. Yana and shravakayana ii. Loneliness and aloneness iii. Nontheistic commitment ‐ taking refuge b. Reading, pages 31‐48 i. Yana, 1975 H‐M ST, excerpt on pp. 20‐27 ii. Shravakayana, 1975 H‐M ST, excerpt on pp. 44‐48 iii. Taking Refuge as nontheistic Discipline, 1980 H‐M ST, pp. 52‐56

4. The Path of Individual Liberation a. Topics i. Satdharma ii. Three Wheels: shila/discipline/ethics, Samadhi/meditation and prajna/wisdom iii. Renunciation and individual liberation/soso tharpa iv. The five paths and the thirty seven wings of enlightenment

Hinayana: The Foundational Path ­ Syllabus

b. Reading, pages 49‐67 i. Summary of Hinayana, 1976 H‐M ST, pp. 73‐75 ii. Satdharma I: Sila, Samadhi and Prajna, 1978 H‐M ST, excerpt on pp. 9‐14 i. The Threefold Logic of Individual Salvation, 1981 H‐M ST, pp. 16‐18 ii. The Path, 1978 H‐M ST, pp. 75‐81

5. Right View: The Marks of Existence a. Topics i. All conditioned phenomena are impermanent ii. All confused experience is suffering iii. All phenomena are egoless/without essence iv. is peace b. Reading, pages 68‐84 i. Transcending the Lower Realms, 1975 H‐M ST, pp. 32‐38 ii. Prajna and Dharma, 1976 H‐M ST, pp. 10‐12 iii. Satdharma II: Theism and Nontheism, 1978 H‐M ST, excerpt on pp. 19‐22 iv. The Four Marks of Existence, 1985 H‐M ST, pp. 46‐48

6. Right View: The Four Noble Truths a. Topics i. Suffering  Acknowledging and accepting suffering, or anxiety  Types and characteristics of suffering, or frustration  The bright side of suffering, or dissatisfaction ii. Origin of suffering  Klesha/emotional complexities  Karma/ motivation and motivatedness iii. Cessation of suffering  Glimpses of release  Final release iv. Path  The  The three wheels, three yanas, etc. b. Reading, pages 85‐107 i. Suffering, 1978 H‐M ST, pp. 40‐46 ii. The Origin of Suffering, 1974 H‐M ST, pp. 79‐80 iii. The Origins of Suffering, 1975 H‐M ST, pp. 56‐59 iv. The Cessation of Suffering, 1974 H‐M ST, pp. 86‐88 v. The Path, 1975 H‐M ST, pp. 74‐80

7. Shila: Not Causing Harm to Oneself and Others a. Topics i. Aggression and non aggression; not causing harm ii. Seven characteristics of dharmic person iii. Humbleness and discipline b. Reading, pages 108‐126 i. Taming the Mind, 1974 H‐M ST, pp. 24-26 ii. Becoming a Dharmic Person, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 10‐16

Hinayana: The Foundational Path ­ Syllabus

iii. Three Gates of Discipline, 1980 H‐M ST, pp. 25‐28 iv. Humbleness is the Dwelling Place of the Forefathers, 1981 H‐M ST, pp. 39‐41 v. The Binding Factor of Discipline, 1985 H‐M ST, pp. 9‐10

8. Samadhi: Shamatha– mindfulness and awareness a. Topics i. Samadhi and shamatha ii. Shamatha and vipashyana iii. Qualities that support shamatha iv. Working with the technique b. Reading, pages 127‐143 i. Introduction, 1975 H‐M ST, pp. 1‐5 ii. Loneliness, 1974 H‐M ST, pp. 30‐32 iii. Freedom from Ill Birth, 1974 H‐M ST, pp. 45‐7 iv. Samadhi, 1980 H‐M ST, pp. 33‐37

9. Samadhi: Shamatha– obstacles, antidotes and stages a. Topics i. Qualities of shamatha ii. Obstacles and antidotes iii. The stages of progression b. Reading, pages 144‐160 i. Six Obstacles to Shamatha Practice, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 22‐25 ii. Eight Types of Antidotes, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 28‐31 iii. Nine Techniques for Resting the Mind in Shamatha, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 37‐ 41 iv. Mindfulness and Awareness: Pakyo and Trenshe, excerpt from Individual Liberation and the , 1980 H‐M ST, pp. 64‐65

10. Prajna: Ego and the wisdom that discovers egolessness a. Topics i. Prajna ii. The three wisdoms or prajnas iii. Ego and egolessness iv. The three qualities of the supposed self  Unitary, singular  Persistent, not momentary  Autonomous, independent, controller, in charge v. Two parts of ego and egolessness b. Reading, pages 161‐182 i. The Three Prajna Principles, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 60‐68 ii. Egolessness, 1978, pp. 29‐33 iii. Twofold Egolessness, 1976 H‐M ST, pp. 16‐19 iv. Twofold Egolessness, 1979 H‐M ST, pp. 72‐75

Hinayana: The Foundational Path ­ Syllabus

The Thirty-Seven Factors of Awakening

I. Four foundations of mindfulness A. Mindfulness of body B. Mindfulness of feelings C. Mindfulness of mind D. Mindfulness of II. Four Right Efforts A. Prevent unhealthy states that have not arisen B. Eliminate unhealthy states that have arisen C. Nurture healthy states D. Maintain healthy states III. Four Factors of Success A. Striving B. Thought C. Courage D. Investigation IV. Five Faculties A. Faith B. Courage C. Mindfulness D. Concentration E. Wisdom V. Five strengths A. Faith B. Courage C. Mindfulness D. Concentration E. Wisdom VI. Seven Limbs of Awakening A. Mindfulness B. Investigation of dharmas C. Courage D. Inner joy E. Flexibility F. Concentration G. Impartiality VII. Eight-fold Right Path Constituents A. Right view B. Right resolve C. Right speech D. Right action E. Right livelihood F. Right effort G. Right mindfulness H. Right concentration

Page 1 Chronology of Buddhism

563-483 BC The Life of the Buddha 563 Birth at 534 Renunciation 528 Enlightenment at Bodhgaya 1st Turning at Deer Park at Varanasi – 4 Truths 2nd Turning at Rajagriha -- Shunyata 3rd Turning at and elsewhere -- Tathatagatagarbha 483 Death at Kushinagara

4th Century BC ff. Pre-Mahayana 18 Schools forming ca. 380-280 splits into Sthaviras and Mahasanghikas 250 and Vaibhasika 130 Sautrantika splits from Sarvastivada 100 BC-100 AD Rise of the Mahayana 100 BC-100 AD – The Literature ca. 150 AD founds the Madhaymaka School 3rd-4th Cent. founds Yogacara School 4th Cent. , Nagarjuna’s foremost disciple 4th-5th Cent. 5-6th Cent. The appearance of the various Madhyamika schools: Prasangika, Svatantrika, and Yogacara- Madhyamika

Appearance of the Vajrayana pre-7th Cent. Vajrayana in formation in the forests end 7th Cent. Vajrayana appears as nonmonastic tradition 9th Cent. ff. Vajrayana appears in the monasteries 8th-12th Cent. 84 Siddhas of Vajrayana tradition 8th Cent. 988-1069 1016-1100 Mahasiddha

1200 Institutionalized Buddhism largely disappears from India ca. Time of Christ Buddhism arrives in China from India 550-600 AD Buddhism arrives Japan from Korea and China 626 AD Buddhism brought to Tibet by King 8th Cent. AD , Shantarakshita, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra 836-1000 AD Suppression of Buddhism in Tibet 11th Cent. AD New Translation Schools (Later Spreading) – , , 14th Century Geluk School 18th Cent. Ri-me (Non-Sectarian) Movement Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182