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Recommended: Women in Tibetan Buddhism

ASSIGNMENT SHEET CHAPTERS 5, 6 AND 7 (Due 3/4) 1/ Comment on the term “Ahimsa”. What did it mean to Mahavira – and what does it mean to his followers today? Ahimsa means noninjury; therefore, to practices ahimsa one must never do anything that would injure any living being. Mahavira was truly dedicated in his upholding of this practice. For example, when walking he did is utmost to look in as many direction as possible so as not to step on any living creature. Furthermore, he would let pesticides crawl and bite at his skin without ever laying a hand on them. Mahavira obviously could not eat any raw foods, but because he had to eat something he allowed himself only to eat foods that were prepared expressly for someone else. This method absolved him from the blame for the living thing that would have had to be killed. His followers in their Five Great Vows also follow the practice of ahimsa as strictly as Mahavira did. 134-138 2/ Who is the “liberator” of the human soul according to Jain philosophy – feel free to use the term “transtheistic” when you respond to this question? No one but yourself can liberate your soul from the confines of this physical world. The Jains believe that there is no Supreme Being or god that one could turn to for help in their liberation, as even the gods themselves go through the process of rebirth, and are also in need of liberation. Overall, their philosophy was transtheistic as though gods might exist there are of no help, and only you alone had the power to obtain your salvation. Since salvation is self-attained a life that followed the ascetic way of life, and acquired total control of both mind and body, would reach liberation. 137-138 3/ Explain the importance of the Four Passing Sights... ... middle of paper ... ... (female) that are treated, unlike the first Buddha, as deities worthy of devotion. Moreover, these deities would have relationships with one another and would even produce other deities as a result. Tibetan Buddhas and bodhisattvas, were constructed in such a way that they were frightening to behold. This was believed to both frighten off the evil demons while at the same time keeping the devout in check. In order for a Tibetan to enter into Nirvana they would have to fast and pray, utter magical and powerful syllables, and become one with a Buddha that they identified themselves with. 198-200 This a big block of information – but do not despair! Browse and browse again, but concentrate on these pages: Pp. 146-155, p. 157, pp. 169-170, pp.173-176, selected parts of 181-189 (depending on what Theravada and Mahayana schools you will write about), 188-191, 197-202.

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