SEVEN WONDERS OF THE BUDDHIST WORLD
Buddhism is one of the most ancient belief systems in the world and is practised by nearly 350 million people. It is a belief system that puts all the responsibility of moral behaviour on an individual, thus empowering and allowing a person to achieve enlightenment: Nirvana
The Five Great Treatises form the basis of all Buddhist philosophical studies. Here is an overview and short explanation of the texts, as taught in the Gelug Monasteries.
Prajnaparamita: A treatise composed by Lord Maitreya that clarifies the methodology of the Mahayana tradition as laid out in the Prajnaparamita literature.
Madhyamikavatara: a treatise composed by Chandrakirti* that clarifies the thought of Nagarjuna*, one of the great Nalanda masters. This text establishes the Prasangika view of emptiness. This text was recommended to Lama Tsong Khapa* by his guru, Manjushri*, to understand correctly the view of Nagarjuna.
Pramanavartika (Valid Cognition): A treatise by Dharmakirti*, commenting on the classic Pramana by his predecessor Dignagam* that provides the principle Mahayana Buddhist position on epistemology and logic in the context of explaining the path to liberation.
Abhidharmakosha: a treatise by Vasubhandu* that explains the phenomenological basis of things and events (metaphysics) external and internal, as understood by the Sautantrika school of Buddhist philosophy.
Vinaya: A treatise by Gunaprabha* that clarifies the mulasarvastivadin interpretation of the Buddha's teachings on discipline especially in the context of the rules for the monastic community.
The Five Treatises are commentaries written by various scholars over centuries to clarify points in the teachings of the Buddha. They constitute the backbone of the geshe studies. Many other texts and commentaries are studied to complement the teachings on a progressively deeper level.
In an interesting commentary by Tenpa Dolme Kundang, the five treatises are described as the parts of a well functioning body:
· The Prajnaparamita text constitutes the whole person.
· This person needs wisdom, which is also called the correct view. This is explained in the Madyamika texts.
· For the correct view to function properly, scientific reasoning or logic is needed. This is provided by the Pramanavartika texts.
· The person needs also to have a moral framework to be helpful to otherS, which is provided in the Vinaya, the set of rules on conduct.
· And lastly the Abhidharmakosha contains everything. Its chapters describe the person according to its functions, organs and composition.
Length of study
The minimum time for the study of these five texts at Kopan is 16 years, after which Kopan Monastery bestows the Rabjam geshe degree. In the three great monasteries of the Gelug tradition (Sera, Ganden and Drepung), the geshe degrees are slightly different, with more advanced degrees possible. The highest geshe degree is a Lharampa Geshe, a post graduate degree which involves more than twenty five years of study.
LAUGHING BUDDHA decided to take a study break and laughed about studying for 16 -25 years... when he was on the way to Nirvana?
Mahabodhi Temple, India
One of the earliest Buddhist temples built in brick that still survives today, the Mahabodhi Temple is home to a colossal image of a seated Buddha touching the earth with his right hand. The Temple is said to be the most sacred site in Buddhism as it is the supposed site where Buddha found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal
Built in the 14th Century, this temple is an important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis. There are four Buddhas on each corner of the temple, with one also in the centre; these Buddhas represent the five elements. There are also 13 rings from the base to the pinnacle which represent the path to enlightenment.
Temple of Tooth, Sri Lanka
Located in Kandy, this temple has long been a centre of Buddhist faith. The Temple of Tooth is said to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha. According to legend, the tooth was taken from Buddha on his death bed and smuggled to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess in 313AD. The relic of the tooth is kept in a two-story inner shrine fronted by two large elephant tusks and rests on a solid gold lotus flower.
Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Thailand
Wat Pho is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok and is home to more images of Buddha than any other Bangkok temple. Thailand's largest Buddha, the Reclining Buddha is sheltered within Wat Pho – it is 46 meters long, 15 meters high and is covered in gold plating and decorated with mother of pearl. There is also a working Buddhist monastery in the southern walled compound of the complex.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The city of Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. The monastery, Angkor Wat, was built by King Suryavarman II in dedication to Hindu gods, Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. A new king soon decided that Hinduism had failed him and the Hindu decorations and deities were replaced by Buddhist carvings, statues and art when Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine.
Tian Tan, Hong Kong
The world's largest seated Buddha, which is 34 metres tall and 250 tonnes in weight, took 12 years to create. The bronze statue sits amid lush mountain scenery on Lantau Island, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. The statue is called Tian Tan because its base is a replica of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Buddha's right hand is raised to remove affliction. His left hand rests on his knee, representing happiness.
Hsi Lai, Los Angeles
Hsi Lai, meaning 'coming to the West', is a Chinese temple and monastery in Hacienda Heights. The temple belongs to a new Buddhist order called Fo Guang Shan which emphasises Buddhist outreach and unity. Hsi Lai is a working monastery in addition to a temple.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: What are the main beliefs of Buddhism?Buddhists do not believe in a god that created everything. Buddhists believe in reincarnation, or rebirth. Reincarnation is the belief that when someone dies, they are reborn again as something else. They believe that the human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but it is possible to escape this cycle forever by reaching a state of enlightenment, or nirvana. Buddhists try to live their lives in a way that reduces suffering.
THINGS YOU WANT TO SAVE:Ancient BUDDHIST temples which can't be duplicated with modern technology.
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