ASIAN 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Lotus Sutra, Bodhicitta
Document Summary
What a bodhisattva is becomes more specifically defined. Need to have wisdom and compassion in order to achieve buddhahood. Need to save all beings and therefore need to master these. Giving, ethics, and patience = collection of merit. Can"t get upset at people/things that are just vehicles of own karma. Reality is all creation of own mind and therefore are own fault. Buddhahood comes from buddha and all sentient beings. Takes karma theory and draws out its consequences. Actors in own karma, playing out own karma. Argument for compassion based on terms of self and other. When others suffer, should feel that suffering because know how to feels. Suffering should be dispelled because it is suffering. Willing to care about suffering in future lifetimes but won"t care for other"s suffering. Not same person reborn so focus on present. Not only protecting self from criticism, protect everyone.
