AMDG
RS 447 – World Wisdom Traditions
Buddhist Final Synthesis
Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence. – Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1931-1987)
For your Buddhist Final Synthesis, you are to reflect on this theme of “Awakening”. This truth is found in all traditions and most certainly in the Buddhist tradition in their emphasis on awakening to what is considered our true nature. The Jesuit Anthony de Mello also states this in the above quote.
Given this theme of Awakening, you are to write a 2-3 pg (700-1000 word) essay discussing this theme in terms of your own life experience thus far. You need to include the following:
Enjoy this assignment, allowing yourself to spontaneously express your insight into one of the Buddha's concepts and one aspect of the 8-Fold Path. In the end, keep in mind it is not about conceptual understanding, but about the experience in the present moment according to the Buddha. The conceptual understanding is only helpful if it opens you to that experience of mindfulness, wakefulness, presence.
Rubric
Creative (time, energy and creative insight are all present)- 10 pts
Content (specific references to Hindu & Buddhist tradition, scripture, concept(s) are clearly defined & explained) - 10 pts
Depth (reveals depth of understanding and empathy, would a Buddhist & Hindu respond to your creation, affirming your understanding) - 10 pts
Organization & Format (Easy to follow, organized thoughts, typed summary, it is clear student thought about how to present his/her ideas) - 10 pts
X Factor (you get it, you seemed to have grasped some dimension of the truth the Buddhists/Hindus are pointing to) - 10 pts
TOTAL: 50 points
"Is salvation obtained through action or through meditation?""Through neither. Salvation comes from seeing." "Seeing what?"
"That the gold necklace you wish to acquire is hanging round your neck. That the snake you are so frightened of is only a rope on the ground." – Anthony de Mello
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Below is for your review, to help you get started synthesizing Ajahn Sumedho.
A Buddhist Introduction
“For me this is a very tempting idea, just to go off and live alone and not have to deal with the problems of society. However, while the Buddha was thinking this way, Brahma Sahampati, the creator deity in Hinduism, came to the Buddha and convinced him that he should go and teach. Brahma Sahampati persuaded the Buddha that there were beings who would understand, beings who had only a little dust in their eyes. So the Buddha’s teaching was aimed toward those with only a little dust in their eyes - I’m sure he did not think it would become a mass, popular movement.” – Ajahn Sumedho
“I teach suffering and the end of suffering” – the historical Buddha
4 Noble Truths
Noble Eight-Fold Path
These two represent Wisdom (panna). Also referred to as the head/intellect center.
These three represent Morality (sila) and these flow out of panna – Wisdom…seeing and understanding correctly and clear/pure intention. These are also referred to as the body center, we talk, act and work with our entire bodily presence, hands, feet, head, heart, etc…
These three represent Concentration (samadhi) and this helps purify our hearts and leads us back to where we began, Wise Understanding/View, Wise Intention, and we continue to awaken more fully to the truth of who we are. These are referred to as the heart center, thus we integrate all three, head, body and heart.