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When a World View Gets Changed

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When a World View Gets Changed The Dhammapada Verse and Story on the Path How I shall approach this work • How ancient India mirrors ancient Greece • The Buddhist Context • When the Dhammapada was created • Its Contents • Some Examples of Verses Why am I talking about this text? • What is a “Classic”? • The Dhammapada is a greatly loved text. • It is an indispensable part of the experience of understanding Buddhism. When a world view changes The Indo-European Element in Indian and Greek Society Homer’s conception of the Gods and how we interact with them Geece, 500-400 BC: challenging the divine status quo • The Sacrificial Ritual • Anthropomorphic Gods • Traditional Paideia • How do gods and humans REALLYrelate? India, 800-500 BC: Challenging the concept of human piety • Sacrificial establishment headed by Brahmins • Hierarchical Caste System • Sacrificial Scriptures [Vedas] • Death and the Soul Vedic India’s conception of the Gods and how we interact with them. The Birth of Western Philosophy in Greece: Homeric Paideia won’t work • Where does the universe come from? • What is the relationship between God and Goodness? • How can humans understand the universe? The Birth of Eastern Philosophy in India What is the order that underlies reality? RTA = Righteousness/Goodness, on a cosmic level How can humans understand and access RTA? Infinity of the Universe Samsāra and Māyā “Flow” and “Illusion” Vedanta and Jainism: the Soul in Samsara: finding release Buddhism: the non-Soul in Samsara: finding release Cutting each point of attachment to Samsara Nirvana The Wandering Holy Man in the West: Diogenes The Wandering Holy Man/Woman in the East: Jains, Munis, Samanas Buddhism: the “Middle Way” Seeking release throughindividual effort within a structured community. “Buddhist Classics” : an immense body of authoritative texts The canon took shape 500 years after the Buddha’s time. Dhammapada belongs to the canon of Theravada Buddhism “The Doctrine of the Elders” Closest to earliest style of Buddhism There are two Buddhisms: Theravāda and Mahāyāna Theravāda’s Pali Canon: the tipiṭaka • Pali = a language related to Sanskrit • Pali is the “sacred language” of Theravada texts. • Pali can be written in any script Canon not written down for 500 years after Buddha’s death. • Sanctity of oral transmission of scripture in India, e.g. Brahminical Recitations of Mantras of Rg Veda • The TIPITAKA = Three Baskets A Tipitaka Set from Thailand Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidamma These are the three baskets Vinaya Piṭaka Laws of the Sangha Sutta Piṭaka The Words of the Buddha Narratives and Sermons Abhidamma Piṭaka : “higher” metaphysics Sutta Piṭaka: The Words of the Buddha For us, the most accessible of the texts What does “Dhammapada” mean? • Dhamma = Dharma • Pada = “foot” = verse “Dharma/Dhamma verses” recited by the Buddha….but what is Dhamma? Dhamma is Eternal Truth, taught by every Buddha throughout infinity The Essence of the Dhamma: Not to do any evil; To undertake what is good; To purify your own mind: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. --Dhammapada 14.183. The Essence of the Dhamma • “Four Noble Truths”: – Existence in Samsara leads to suffering. – Desire is the cause of this suffering. – It is possible to find an end to suffering. – Buddhism provides a means of ending suffering. The Essence of the Dhamma The Noble Eightfold Path, with three divisions The Noble Eightfold Path • Wisdom • 1. Right View • 2. Right Intention: “mindfulness” The Noble Eightfold Path • Moral Conduct • 3. Right Speech • 4. Right Action • 5. Right Livelihood: the monk’s way is best The Noble Eightfold Path • Concentration/Meditation [samādhi] • 6. Right Effort • 7. Right Mindfulness • 8. Right Concentration Dhammapada Dhamma Verses spoken by the Buddha From antiquity, several versions in several languages • I will be using the Pali version. • Valerie J. Roebuck’s translation (Penguin Classics) The Text of the Dhammapada 423 short poems in 26 Books The Names of the Books • Twins • Awareness • The Mind • Flowers • Fools • The Wise Man • The Arahat • Thousands • Etc…. How the Books got their Names • A matter of indexing…. E.g. “Flowers” – While a man gathers flowers, His mind attached to this and that, Death carries him away As a great flood takes a sleeping village. Another from “Flowers” • Like a beautiful flower, Colorful but scentless, The well-taught word is fruitless For one who does not practise. From “Fools” • If, as you travel, you meet none better than yourself, or equal, you should steadfastly travel alone. There’s no companionship with fools. From “The Rod” • All beings tremble at the rod; All are afraid of death. Seeing their likeness to yourself, You should neither kill nor cause to kill. From “Craving” • Those who are subject to craving crawl around like a trapped hare. So a monk should put away craving If he desires his own freedom from passion. The Dhammapada Commentary Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā The Commentary contains the stories behind the verses. Why did the Buddha recite them? The Story of Angulimala • Whoever has done an evil deed But covers it with a virtuous one Illuminates this world Like the moon freed from a cloud. The Story of the Pig Ghost • Guarding your speech, restrained in mind And body too, you should do no unskilful act. Purifying these three ways of action,you’ll reach the path taught by the sages. Queen Mallika and King Pasenadi • Long is the night for the wakeful; Long is a league for the weary. Long is samsara for fools Who do not know the true Dhamma. .
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