Critical Consideration:
• In the earlier teachings of Shakyamuni an expedient means is comprised of the notion of leading one to attain emptiness (sunyata).
• Since all human has their different forms of craving and attachments, the only way to enlightenment is to either, ‘get rid’ of them or to suppress them. Very often this is seen as a virtue.
• These traits still persist nowadays as the Theravadians (elders) remind us to strip off (or to leak out) all desires
• Death is the only (sic) way to extinguish all desires
• Fundamentally, a living person has still got cravings e.g. food, oxygen, water etc…
• That’s why death is a celebratory occasion (Nirvana) or in Chinese “The great happiness”.
• The new wisdom school articulates that all
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He is also portrayed as surrounded by flames, flames which consume the evil and the defilements of this world. He sits on a flat rock which symbolizes the unshakeable peace and bliss which he bestows to the minds and the bodies of his devotees.
Fudo Myo’o also represents his aspect of service by having his hair knotted in the style of a servant: his hair is tied into seven knots and falls down from his head on the left side. He has two teeth protruding from out of his mouth, an upper tooth and a lower tooth. The upper tooth is pointed downward and this represents his bestowing unlimited compassion to those suffering in body and spirit.
His lower tooth is pointed upward and this represents the strength of his desire to progress upward in his service for the Truth. In his upward search for Bodhi and in his downward concern for suffering beings, he represents the beginning of the religious quest, the awakening of the Bodhicitta and the beginning of his compassionate concern for
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“The Ten Kings of Hell will then pass judgement on the deceased and the heavenly messengers who have been with him since his birth will berate him for his evil deed…” (MW-1, 23).
He goes on to say “….Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life. Only then will you realise that earthly desires are enlightenment, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana….”
The Ten Kings are said to judge the good and evil deeds of the deceased from the seventh day following his death until the second anniversary. Although they undergo judgement at the Court of this King, the relative weight of his good and evil deeds is not yet determined. That is, into which of the six paths he will be reborn is not decided. He is sent on to the second of the Ten Kings (King Shoko – Shakyamuni Buddha and others).
In conjunction with other Kings, they perform the role of deciding the circumstances of one’s rebirth, in accordance with his/her past good and evil
This carved schist shows Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of mercy and compassion. The divine statue is standing in front of a nimbus while clutching some sort of garment in his left hand. Most of his right arm seem to have fallen off. Only his lower body is is cover in clothes. He is also wearing several neck less that are attached to his ears as well. On the base of the statue four other Bodhisattva’s are carved surrounding someone who appears to be Buddha.
The Art Institute of Chicago houses a sculpture that epitomizes Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Born from an influence of Chinese esoteric Buddhism and the Indian God Shiva, the deity Fudo Myo-o, or “The Immovable One”, is one of the most important figures in Japanese Buddhism. The deity first appears in the Heian Period during the ninth century and is made to help followers of Buddhism with any adversity faced. During the Kamakura Period from the 12th-14th centuries the figure of this guardian king developed into a more realistic sculptural form. Fudo Myo-o is unique to the Shingon Buddhism of Japan with qualities that distinguish him from most any other deity, qualities that embody his vicious compassion, wisdom, and wrath.
As human beings, we sometimes can not synchronize our minds and souls. When we are at our success of knowledge or intellect, we blind our mind with our ambition which comes along in reaching the knowledge or intellect. As a young brahmin, Siddhartha, has been taught that Brahmin is the soul of "Atman" or the 'Only One' (Chapter 1, page 5). It means that Brahmin is the highest position beside the Creator. This intellect alienates Siddhartha's 'Self'. He does not think that his superior's 'Self' will give him salvation. Siddhartha thinks his 'Self' conquers himself. He wants his 'Self" to die to find wisdom and spiritual knowledge.
...cape her judgment nor argument with her edicts will sway her. Hell is an absolute, and all the more forbidding because of it. Though the violence depicted in these myths varies, the overall story remains unchanged. Disobeying the laws and strictures set forth by the government and religious doctrines will exact a hefty price, perhaps eternally.
...with similar characteristics to the bearded man in the other images. This distinct bearding is seen on two sculptures (61, 63) one of which was scaled up to be bigger than real men, this also indicates that the man held some special status, either king or priest.
In The Heart of Understanding, Thich Nhat Hanh’s uses simple but powerful words and real world examples to illustrate the profound Buddhist philosophy from the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, an important representative of Mahayana Buddhist literature. The Mahayana school of Buddhist teachings emphasizes the doctrine of Sunyata- emptiness. The doctrine of emptiness, one of the most important Mahayana innovations, focuses on the relational aspect of existence. Thich Nhat Hanh coins and introduces a new word- interbeing to explain the state of emptiness. This idea of interbeing not only illustrates emptiness well but also provides understanding of other fundamental Buddhist ideas such as No-Self, impermanence and non-duality.
Although we are given free will and choice it is the choice to relinquish ourselves to God and His grace. May (1988) argues that addiction attempts to gain control over the behaviors that lead to shame and guilt. This book may be implemented into counseling to help those struggling between release of addiction and increasing spiritual growth. Ultimately, May (1988) argues that there are three simple ways in stopping addictive behavior results in “don’t do it, refuse to do it, and keep refusing to do it” (p. 178). When clients are able to face the truth of addiction, in their abilities, and longing for God they can begin to fall in love with themselves and the desire to love
This is then followed by insightfully examining the treatment process, specifically through grace as a key focus of overcoming addiction. May focus heavily on desire as the main cause of addiction. He sees addiction as a way to fulfill a universal need that all people have. The text focuses on how we all have this need we want met and that we desire to have more in life. The author looks at how through our desire we all fall victims to addiction because of the fall.
recognizes the truth of dukkha, he lives in a space of ignorance and with ignorance he seeks the
pits, different cells in hell and there is a heart of hell. As Mary and JESUS went through hell their were people there who are begging god to let them in heaven and god says no because judgement has been set. He said there has been many people their way to introduce them to god and they refused. Souls are in hell begging for repentance and the answer is no because they had their chance and they turned their backs on god. Some souls even were at one time of another saved and they were going through something to make them stronger in the word and they though god was being unfair to them and blamed god for the mistake; therefore turning their backs on god. There are many false prophets in hell. As god walks through and stop to talk to these prophets they beg and pled for forgiveness and when god says judgement has been set they began to curse god and talk to him in the manner where they are really disrespecting god.
Thích Nh’at Hanh is a world renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, religious figure and accomplished writer. Living Buddha, Living Christ is only one of his many famous publications. Thích Nh’at Hanh, is famous for his insights into spiritual heritage and mindfulness in the present moment. Many Americans are seeking religious understanding and personal spirituality, even if they do not practice in the traditional manner. Throughout this book Nh’at Hang encourages readers to find meaning, understanding, mindfulness, and peace in the teachings of Buddha and Christ. His main focus is to open meaningful dialogue between different traditions, cultures, and religious groups around the world, for the betterment
One of the biggest and most common fears of human beings, since the beginning of time, is what will happen to them after they die. Many religions lecture the concept that people who are “bad” (need a better word for bad) during their lifetime will be sent to a place, called hell, after they die. Within the mainstream of Christian beliefs, there are many different ideas and ways of comprehending what hell is. Some think of hell as a place of fire, brimstone and torture in addition to separation of God, forever, in ways that represent ultimate justice for their sins. But what bears/conducts you to this place? That’s something Tim and his family are going to find out. Their own personal hell, “war is hell” William T. Sherman
Immortality, redemption, emancipation and deliverance have always been the highest spiritual aims of mankind as well as his innermost aspirations. Throughout the ages his spirit has relentlessly soared towards these eternal peaks that lie beyond the comprehension of ordinary human understanding. He has always tried to decipher the larger meaning and purpose of human existence and of its link with the entire creation. Man’s quest has been to identify the powers governing life and how his life fits into the greater scheme of things whereby this universe exists. Where science and rationality failed to find any Cosmic significance in human existence, the spiritual approach not only found a meaning but also connected it
go against God, and that meant death. The king was supposed to be chosen by
This sculpture seems to epitomize the ideal male human form. All of the body parts seem perfectly proportioned and the muscles are beautifully defined as if the image were of an athlete. The image is youthful with a calm demeanor. The right missing forearm looks as if it used to be resting at his side, while the left elbow was probably at a 90 degree angle, with the hand holding something. The slight bend in the left leg gives the impression of movement, as if the image was frozen while walking. The counterpoised stance adds an air of nobility to the "man".