buddhism His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a Nobel “This book will reward those who study it carefully with a deep Peace Prize recipient, and a beacon of inspira- and wide understanding of the way these traditions have mapped !1 BUDDHISM &7 tion for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. their respective visions of the path to enlightenment.” uddhism is practiced by hundreds He has persistently reached out across religious —Bhikkhu Bodhi, translator of In the Buddha’s Words of millions of people worldwide, from and political lines and has engaged in dialogue Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to red- Bwood retreats. All these traditions trace their with scientists in his mission to advance peace and understanding in the world. In doing so, he &7 beginnings to the teachings of one man in India embodies his motto, “My religion is kindness.” 2,500 years ago. These teachings spread world- Explore the common ground wide in all directions and into numerous lan- guages, making Buddhism one of today’s most Bhiksunī Thubten Chodron has been underlying the diverse expressions ˙ ˙ influential religions. a Buddhist nun since 1977. A graduate of of the Buddha’s teaching. In , His Holiness the Dalai Lama UCLA, she has studied and practiced Bud- Buddhism and American Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron dhism in Asia and the West and is the founder map out the convergence and divergence of and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, a Buddhist mon- &7 two major Buddhist movements—the Sanskrit astery in eastern Washington State. She is a traditions of Tibet and East Asia and the Pāli popular speaker for her practical explanations “I highly recommend this volume for everyone seeking a more traditions of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily global understanding of the many traditions of Buddhism, all inspired The authors consider Buddhism’s core prac- life, and she is the author of several bestselling by the one Teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni.” tices and tenets, such as the four noble truths, books, including Buddhism for Beginners. —B. Alan Wallace, author of The Attention Revolution !1 the practice of meditation, the cultivation of The Dalai LamaThe and Thubten Chodron and Thubten love, and the meaning of nirvāṇa, and how “His Holiness and Thubten Chodron, with exceptional care and attention, the traditions sometimes agree and sometimes have created a timely offering that is at once compelling and wise.” differ in their interpretations. The authors’ —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living BUDDHISM respectful approach illuminates the many ways that all forms of Buddhism, amid their “The spirit of respect and harmony expressed One Teacher, Many Traditions rich diversity, share a common heritage and in this excellent book is inspiring.” common goals. —Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness &7 “A precious gift to all who love the Dharma.” &7 —Tulku Thondup, coauthor of Boundless Healing The Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron ISBN 978-1-61429-127-5 US $29.95 | CAN $34.99 Wisdom Publications · Boston www.wisdompubs.org Foreword by Bhante Gunaratana Produced with environmental mindfulness Z wisdom Buddhism Cover 2014.indd 1 10/16/14 7:22 PM Praise for Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions “Originating from a common source in the teachings of the historical Buddha, the southern Theravāda tradition, based on texts in Pāli, and the northern traditions of Tibet and East Asia, based largely on texts orig- inally in Sanskrit, all developed their own unique systems of doctrine and practice. These are impressive in their philosophical insights into the nature of reality and in their understanding of the deep potentials of the human mind. In this book His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Amer- ican bhikṣuṇī Thubten Chodron jointly explore the commonalities and differences among these Buddhist traditions, doing so with exceptional precision. This book will reward those who study it carefully with a deep and wide understanding of the way these traditions have mapped their respective visions of the path to enlightenment.” —Bhikkhu Bodhi, translator of In the Buddha’s Words !1 “His Holiness and Thubten Chodron have collaborated to create an invaluable modern-day resource that explores, illuminates, and clarifies the commonalities, synergies, and divergences within the major historical Dharma streams—especially regarding liberation, an analysis never before done in this way. It also shows how these profoundly ethical teachings can be skillfully applied in our present era to, in their words, serve human- ity and benefit sentient beings both within the Buddhist community and beyond. It is a timely offering, at once compelling and wise.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living Acquired at wisdompubs.org “Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions is like a well-constructed bridge over a beautiful, deep river. People from all traditions will be able to find a clear view of both the Buddha’s teachings and the vast, rich landscape those teachings have nourished. The spirit of respect and harmony expressed in this excellent book is inspiring.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness !1 “This is an invaluable survey of Buddhist civilizations—with their compre- hensive histories, philosophical tenets, ethical disciplines, meditation train- ings, and goals to be attained—all elucidated in one volume. A precious gift to all who love the Dharma.” —Tulku Thondup, coauthor ofBoundless Healing !1 “Now that people around the world have unprecedented access to all tradi- tions of Buddhism, a growing number of Buddhists find themselves drawn to theories and practices from different traditions. This makes this book especially valuable, for it presents clear and accurate comparisons between the Pāli-based and Sanskrit-based schools of Buddhism, showing the com- mon ground and significant differences in their interpretations of key themes of the Buddhist path to liberation. I highly recommend this volume for everyone seeking a more global understanding of the many traditions of Buddhism, all inspired by the one Teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni.” —B. Alan Wallace, author of The Attention Revolution Acquired at wisdompubs.org buddhism Acquired at wisdompubs.org BUDDHISM One Teacher, Many Traditions ))!1)) Bhiksu Tenzin Gyatso the fourteenth˙ dalai lama and Bhiksunı¯ Thubten Chodron ˙ ˙ Foreword by Bhante Gunaratana Wisdom Publications • Boston Acquired at wisdompubs.org Wisdom Publications 199 Elm Street Somerville, MA 02144 USA www.wisdompubs.org © 2014 Tenzin Gyatso and Thubten Chodron All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system or technol- ogies now known or later developed, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Bstan-’dzin-rgya-mtsho, Dalai Lama XIV, 1935– author. Buddhism : one teacher, many traditions / Bhikṣhu Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and Bhikṣhu Thubten Chodron. pages cmj676 Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-61429-127-6 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Buddhism—Doctrines. I. Thubten Chodron, 1950– II. Title. BQ7935.B774B85 2014 294.3’4—dc23 2014007555 ISBN 9781614291275 eISBN 9781614291510 18 17 16 15 14 5 4 3 2 1 Maps on pages xxvi–xxiii by XNR Productions, Inc. Cover photograph by Vincent Marcil. Cover and interior design by Gopa&Ted2, Inc. Acquired at wisdompubs.org Contents Foreword by Bhante Gunaratana xiii Prologue by His Holiness the Dalai xvii Lama Preface by Venerable Thubten xix Chodron Abbreviations xxiii 1. Origin and Spread of the Buddha’s Doctrine 1 Ȇ The Buddha’s Life 1 Ȇ Buddhist Canons and the Spread of the Dharma 2 Ȇ Pāli Tradition 4 Ȇ Buddhism in China 7 Ȇ Buddhism in Tibet 11 Ȇ Our Commonalities and Diversity 13 2. Refuge in the Three Jewels 17 Ȇ Existence of the Three Jewels 18 Ȇ The Tathāgata’s Qualities 19 Ȇ Three Jewels: Pāli Tradition 24 Ȇ Three Jewels: Sanskrit Tradition 28 Ȇ Buddha’s Awakening, Parinirvāṇa, and Omniscience 31 Ȇ Taking Refuge and Maintaining Proper Refuge 35 3. Sixteen Attributes of the Four Truths 39 Ȇ Sanskrit Tradition 39 Ȇ Pāli Tradition 49 Acquired at wisdompubs.org viii | buddhism: one teacher, many traditions 4. The Higher Training in Ethical Conduct 61 Ȇ The Importance of Ethical Conduct 61 Ȇ Prātimokṣa Ethical Restraints 62 Ȇ Why Celibacy? 65 Ȇ The Vinaya Schools 66 Ȇ The Value of the Monastic Community 70 Ȇ Fulfilling the Purpose of Monastic Life 72 Ȇ Monastics, Priests, and Lay Teachers 74 Ȇ Tibetan Monastics and Monastic Institutions 75 Ȇ Challenges for Western Monastics 76 Ȇ Full Ordination for Women 77 Ȇ Advice for Monastics 79 Ȇ The Joy of Monastic Discipline 80 Ȇ Bodhisattva and Tantric Ethical Restraints 81 5. The Higher Training in Concentration 83 Ȇ The Importance of Concentration 83 Ȇ Realms of Existence and Spheres of Consciousness 84 Ȇ Pāli Tradition 85 Ȇ Five Hindrances and Five Absorption Factors 88 Ȇ Four Jhānas 91 Ȇ Four Immaterial Absorptions 95 Ȇ Eight Meditative Liberations 97 Ȇ Superknowledges 97 Ȇ Sanskrit Tradition 101 Ȇ Meditation Position and Meditation Objects 103 Ȇ Five Faults and Eight Antidotes 106 Ȇ Nine Stages of Sustained Attention 108 Ȇ Serenity and Further Meditative Absorptions 110 Ȇ Chinese Buddhism 113 Acquired at wisdompubs.org contents | ix 6. The Higher Training in Wisdom: Thirty-Seven Aids to Awakening 115 Ȇ Four Establishments of Mindfulness 116 Ȇ Mindfulness of the Body 118 Ȇ Mindfulness of Feelings 121 Ȇ Mindfulness of the Mind 122 Ȇ Mindfulness of Phenomena 125 Ȇ Four Establishments of Mindfulness for Bodhisattvas 127 Ȇ Four Supreme Strivings 128 Ȇ Four Bases of Supernormal Power 128 Ȇ Five Faculties and Five Powers 129 Ȇ Seven Awakening Factors 130 Ȇ The Noble Eightfold Path 131 Ȇ Conventional and Ultimate Natures of the Thirty-Seven Aids 132 7.