Dhamma: Human Destiny (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes

3.1.4 Dhamma: Human Destiny

Human Destiny in Buddhism

In Buddhism, human destiny revolves around the path a Buddhist will take to achieve enlightenment and comprehend the Buddha's Dhamma. This journey varies among different Buddhist traditions, each with unique practices and beliefs.

Pure Land Buddhism

Hypothetical Exam Statements

1. "Aiming for rebirth in The Pure Land is the highest goal Buddhists can aim for." Pure Land Buddhists believe that rebirth in Amitabha's Pure Land, known as Sukhavati, is a supreme aspiration. This land, free from suffering (dukkha), offers an ideal environment for attaining enlightenment.
2. "Pure Land Buddhism misses the point of Buddha's teachings." Critics argue that focusing on rebirth in the Pure Land may diverge from the Buddha's original teachings, which emphasise personal effort and direct experience in achieving enlightenment.
3. "It is possible to permanently escape The Wheel of Life (samsara)." Buddhists believe that achieving enlightenment, whether as an arhat or a bodhisattva, allows one to escape the cycle of birth and death (samsara) permanently.
4. "Religious Experiences can be trusted." The reliability of religious experiences is often debated. In Buddhism, personal spiritual experiences are valued but must be consistent with the teachings of the Buddha and the Dhamma.
5. "Buddhists should focus their mind on the reality of the present, not on an imagined future state." While some Buddhists aim for future goals like rebirth in the Pure Land, mindfulness and present-moment awareness are central to Buddhist practice.
6. "Chanting is the most important Buddhist practice." Chanting, particularly reciting Amitabha's name, is a crucial practice in Pure Land Buddhism, believed to aid in attaining rebirth in the Pure Land.

Relevant Quotations

a. "I vow that when my life approaches its end, all obstructions will be swept away; I will see Amita Buddha, and be born in His Land of Ultimate Bliss and Peace." – From Chapter 40 of 'The Flower Adornment Sutta'

b. "The King of All Dharmas is the one word "Amitabha." The Five Periods and the Eight Teachings are all contained within it. One who single-mindedly remembers and recites His Name in Samadhi will enter the Thus Come Ones' place of quiescence." – A Pure Land Buddhist Chant

c. "Those who reach the 'world where lotus blossoms are stored' (the Pure Land) are immediately enlightened to 'thusness.' Exercising their 'transcendent powers' in the 'forest of base desires,' they transform themselves into forms meaningful to those they wish to 'save' in the 'garden of life and death' (the sentient world)." – Shinran

d. "Tathagata is Nirvana; And Nirvana is referred to as the nature of Buddha. An ordinary person cannot be enlightened (in this world), but can realise it in the Land of Serene Sustenance." – Shinran

The Bodhisattva Vow

Hypothetical Exam Statements

1. "The Bodhisattva Vow is at the heart of Buddhist ethics." The Bodhisattva Vow, which involves a commitment to help all sentient beings achieve enlightenment, is central to Mahayana Buddhist ethics.
2. "It is impossible to be a true Buddhist unless one takes the Bodhisattva vow." Some argue that the Bodhisattva Vow is essential for true practice in Mahayana Buddhism, reflecting the altruistic ideal of saving all beings.
3. "The Bodhisattva Vow is contradicted by the monastic lifestyle." There is a debate whether the monastic focus on personal enlightenment conflicts with the Bodhisattva ideal of helping others.
4. "The teaching of anatta means that, in reality, there are no beings to save." The concept of anatta (non-self) suggests there is no permanent self, which raises questions about the nature of beings and the goal of saving them.
5. "Taking vows is essential to good Buddhist practice." Vows, such as the Bodhisattva Vow, are seen as crucial commitments that guide ethical and spiritual practice.
6. "Without taking vows, one can never become enlightened." Some believe that taking formal vows is necessary for the structured discipline required to achieve enlightenment.
7. "One can never attain liberation as long as one is restricted by vows." Others argue that strict adherence to vows might impede the flexibility needed for spiritual liberation.

Relevant Quotations

a. "Just as all the previous Sugatas, the Buddhas generated the mind of enlightenment and accomplished all the stages of the Bodhisattva training, so will I too, for the sake of all beings, generate the mind of enlightenment and accomplish all the stages of the Bodhisattva training." – The Avatamsaka Sutra by Samantabhadra

b. "However innumerable all beings are, I vow to save them all. However inexhaustible my delusions are, I vow to overcome them all. However immeasurable the Dharma Teachings are, I vow to fathom them all. The Buddha's Path is endless, I vow to follow it to its very end." – The Four Bodhisattva Vows

c. "May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings." – The Bodhicitta or Bodhisattva Vow

Theravada Buddhism

In Theravada Buddhism, practitioners aim to become an arhat, a perfected person who has achieved Nibbana. Arhats follow the Noble Eightfold Path and may join monastic communities to focus on enlightenment with like-minded individuals. Overcoming the Three Poisons (greed, hatred, and ignorance) is essential for achieving arhat status. Once an arhat, a person is freed from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and the suffering it entails.

"I have no teacher, and one like me exists nowhere in all the world … I am the Teacher Supreme. I alone am a Fully Enlightened One whose fires are quenched and extinguished." – The Buddha in the Majjhima Nikaya, vol. 1, p. 171

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists strive to become Bodhisattvas, enlightened beings who remain in samsara to help others achieve enlightenment. To attain this status, one must perfect six qualities: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Bodhisattvas are known for their compassion and dedication to the welfare of all sentient beings.

"However innumerable sentient beings are; I vow to save them." – The Bodhisattva Vow

Pure Land Buddhism and Buddhahood

Pure Land Buddhists believe in reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha to attain Buddhahood and rebirth in Amitabha's Pure Land, Sukhavati. This land, free from dukkha, provides the ideal conditions for enlightenment. Pure Land Buddhism, which began in China and spread to Japan, is the most widely practised form of Buddhism in Japan. Followers trust in Amitabha Buddha's vows and their own devout recitations to achieve enlightenment.

In summary, Buddhism encompasses various paths to enlightenment, each with distinct practices and beliefs. From the Theravada focus on individual effort and overcoming the Three Poisons, to the Mahayana emphasis on altruistic Bodhisattvas and the Pure Land aspiration for rebirth in Sukhavati, each tradition offers unique insights into the journey towards enlightenment.