I have an assignment in my philosophy class and I have to interview a Mahayana Buddhist. If anyone could provide for me their name, how long they have been practicing, why they chose to be Buddhist, their area of expertise in Buddhism, and the following questions, I would really appreciate it.
What is generally the average time it takes for a person to become a Bodhisattva when following Mahayana Buddhism?
What does Buddhist normally believe to be real or not real in the Middle Way?
I've been a Zen Buddhist (Mahayana) practitioner for two decades. If you have questions, email me through my profile page.
1. There is no average time for becoming a Bodhisattva. To become a Bodhisattva, one must become enlightened. Some people become enlightened simply by hearing a few words of Buddha's teaching. Other people take many lifetimes.
2. Your Middle Way question doesn't really make sense. Sorry.
3. Mahayana Buddhism has many texts and none is considered definitive. Perhaps the most universally studied text is the Heart Sutra (text at link below). Other important straws include: Vimalakirti, Diamond, Lotus, Prajnaparamita and Avatamsaka Sutras.
My name is Ben and I've been practicing Buddhism for fifteen years. In addition to practicing the religion, I also study its history and the evolution of its key philosophical ideas.
1. As mentioned above, there is no average time for a person to 'become' a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is a person who, out of compassion for all beings, chooses to forsake his own enlightenment in order to guide other beings to awakening. A person becomes a Bodhistattva with a simple vow, either to himself or to a Buddha. The Buddha himself was a Bodhistattva over many lifetimes. In each life he developed or mastered one of the six perfections of a Bodhisattva: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.
2. Originally, the middle way was the Buddha's response to the extremes of sensual indulgence and strict asceticism. Over time, this philosophy was applied to more epistemological and metaphysical problems. In the doctrine of Emptiness, for example, phenomena (the objects of our senses) have only a conventional existence. Ultimately, everything is empty of an essence or being. However, since neither the conventional nor the ultimate is given primacy in terms of what is real, "what is real?" becomes a sort of paradox.
3. Mahayana Buddhism shares the same core collection of scriptures as Theravada and the early schools, however, they also include extra-canonical straws composed at various dates after the early canon was formalized. These Sutras, as they're known, are the basis for most distinctively Mahayana tenets. Mahayana Buddhism also claims a number of brilliant scholar-adepts who composed numerous philosophical treatises explaining, commenting on, and extending those Sutras.
Modern Mahayana Buddhists study from more contemporary authors before, or in addition to, studying the Mahayana scriptures.
1. The term Bodhissattva is used very generally. Any one with a correct understanding of Buddhism, and who then vow to liberate all sentient beings by attaining Buddhahood is called a Bodhissattva.
The scripture says that it takes 60 aeon's for a person to achieve the 10Th level of faith, which would ensure him of continuous effort, without falling out, towards Buddhahood.
It then takes a total of one great uncountable aeon's to achieve the first level of Sainthood. At this level, till the 7Th level, he is still in rebirth within the 3 realms.
It then takes another great uncountable aeon's to achieve the 8Th level, which liberates him from rebirth. He then uses magical power to manifest himself in where he is needed to help.
It takes yet another great uncountable aeon's (total 3) to attain Buddhahood.
2. Here is a famous verse from the middle way wisdom by Nagarjuna:
"Whatever is dependently co-arisen
That is explained to be emptiness.
That, being a dependent designation,
Is itself the middle way.
Something that is not dependently arisen,
Such a thing does not exist.
Therefore a nonempty thing
Does not exist."
If nothing is real, nothing is not real.
3. Many text. Major schools of thought are the middle way school by Nagarjuna, and the consciousness-only school by Asanga. These schools are rich in philosophical theories.
Is anyone a Mahayana Buddhist that can help me?
