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The things we share...

JaphyJaphy New
edited March 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Theravada or Mahayana? We see the same question played out again and again online. If not in questions, then in replies.
Beginners should know we are about more than this.
Maybe we should dedicate more space to the things we hold in common. Celebrate our similarities; the things which bind us together. For instance:
There are seven sets of thirty-seven qualities shared by Theravada and Mahayana. Can you name one of the seven sets and list its elements?

Comments

  • TreehuggerTreehugger
    edited March 2010
    The five faculties; faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited March 2010
    Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha....

    The Four Noble truths, The EightFold path, The Five precepts.

    When you consider that ALL schools of Buddhism share these premises (in more ways than one!) and everything comes back, to these teachings - but everything - then there is no more to be disputed.
    It's ridiculous to start verbally sparring about this custom, that tradition, the other teaching, when fundamentally, we all hold these same basic teachings as our tenets.
    And all teachings come back to The Four and the Eight.
    Jeesh, no big deal, really.......



    .....Is it? ;)
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited March 2010
    Japhy wrote: »
    Can you name one of the seven sets and list its elements?

    4 FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS
    • Contemplation of body
    • Contemplation of feelings
    • Contemplation of thoughts
    • Contemplation of phenomena
  • JaphyJaphy New
    edited March 2010
    As this thread has sort of petered out, I have taken the liberty of providing a listing of the things we share. Not all the labels are the same but I think that much is a "to-may-toe" vs. "to-mah-toe" thing.

    37 FACTORS OF ENLIGHTENMENT - Elements Common to Theravada and Mahayana
    4 FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS (4 Frames of Reference)
    Contemplation of body
    Contemplation of feelings
    Contemplation of thoughts
    Contemplation of phenomena

    4 SUPREME EFFORTS
    Prevent evil that has not arisen
    Discard evil that has arisen
    Cultivate good that has not arisen
    Promote good that has arisen
    4 MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
    Will
    Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    Thought
    Wisdom
    5 FORCES
    Faith/Confidence
    Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    Mindfulness
    Concentration
    Wisdom
    5 FACULTIES
    Faith/Confidence
    Effort/Energy/Perseverance
    Mindfulness
    Concentration
    Wisdom
    7 CONSTITUENTS OF ENLIGHTENMENT
    Mindfulness (4 foundations)
    Investigation of the Dhamma/Dharma
    Effort (4 Supreme Efforts)
    Joy
    Serenity
    Concentration (4 Jhanas)
    Equanimity
    8-FOLD PATH / MIDDLE WAY / NOBLE 8-FOLD PATH
    Right understanding
    Right thoughts
    Right speech
    Right action
    Right livelihood
    Right effort
    Right mindfulness
    Right concentration

    In addition to the 37 above there is also:

    3 Gems of the Triple Gem
    Buddha
    Dhamma/Dharma
    Sangha

    4 Seals
    Impermanence
    Suffering
    Not-self/Emptiness
    Nirvana/Nibbana (Not actually a seal or mark in Theravada, but hey, it's there!)

    12 Links of Dependent Origination
    Ignorance
    Mental formations
    Consciousness
    Name & Form
    Six Sense
    Contact
    Feeling
    Craving
    Clinging
    Birth/Rebirth
    Decay/Death

    The principle of Bodhisattva in Mahayana and Bodhisatta in Theravada.

    That makes 57 similarities I can find right off the top. There are more but that would only be "gilding the lotus".
  • skydancerskydancer Veteran
    edited March 2010
    I thought we'd share something a little less dogmatic and a tad bit more human. Like occasional patience, an impulse toward generosity, kindness to others, a clarity about what's really going on and a growing feeling of compassion toward all beings.
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited March 2010
    sky dancer wrote: »
    I thought we'd share something a little less dogmatic and a tad bit more human. Like occasional patience, an impulse toward generosity, kindness to others, a clarity about what's really going on and a growing feeling of compassion toward all beings.

    Can I add open mindedness and a relaxed sense of humor to your list too, please Skydancer?



    .
  • skydancerskydancer Veteran
    edited March 2010
    Dazzle wrote: »
    Can I add open mindedness and a relaxed sense of humor to your list too, please Skydancer?



    .
    Sure. Open mindedness is key. Not favoring one more than another. A sense of humor comes out of not taking ourselves so seriously. Both are important. To share these things in common is truly wonderful.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited March 2010
    The two schools also 'share' the "Five Aggregates" (khandhas / skandhas).
  • skydancerskydancer Veteran
    edited March 2010
    We could accept that the different schools and lineages emphasize certain teachings and not others.

    What I'm happy about is anyone choosing to do no non-virtue, to practice virtue throughly and to tame their own mind.
  • PietroPumokinPietroPumokin
    edited March 2010
    the two branches share needles, both getting high off of the same buddha's junk, but to be serious one of the most important things they share is the three jewels
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