What is Buddhist Enlightenment?

Summary

This video explores the evolving concept of Buddhist Enlightenment, examining both the knowledge gained and the results experienced through Enlightenment. Starting with early suttas, the Buddha’s Enlightenment is described as the cessation of rebirth and suffering, along with an understanding of dependent origination and the Four Noble Truths. As Buddhist thought developed, later texts introduced more complex ideas like emptiness, non-duality, and Buddha-nature, highlighting a shift toward a more exalted and sometimes Godlike view of Enlightenment. The video also contrasts these developments with Zen's deflationary view of Enlightenment, where the experience doesn’t necessarily alter ordinary activities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Buddhist Enlightenment, also called Awakening, is considered the final goal of Buddhist practice, but its understanding has evolved significantly over time.
• 😀 Early descriptions of Enlightenment, such as in the Buddha's Arya-parsu, emphasize freedom from rebirth and an understanding of dependent origination, though these ideas evolved later.
• 😀 The first description of the Buddha's Enlightenment is brief, noting his freedom from rebirth and understanding of dependent origination, without further details about the concept.
• 😀 The Buddha later describes three key knowledges gained during his Enlightenment: recollection of past lives, clairvoyance regarding karma and rebirth, and understanding the Four Noble Truths.
• 😀 Enlightenment results in the complete eradication of defilements such as greed, hatred, and ignorance, leading to freedom from suffering and rebirth.
• 😀 The Buddha's second sermon introduces the concept of non-self (Anatta), where disciples are taught to view the five aggregates (body, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness) as not 'I' or 'myself'.
• 😀 Enlightenment in early texts focused on practical knowledge that leads to the cessation of suffering and rebirth, not metaphysical insights like non-duality or emptiness.
• 😀 In later Buddhist traditions, the understanding of Enlightenment expanded to include knowledge of emptiness, non-duality of samsara and nirvana, and Buddha nature, leading to a more mystical view.
• 😀 Zen Buddhism presents a deflationary view of Enlightenment, where post-Enlightenment life is seen as no different from pre-Enlightenment life, symbolized by 'chopping wood and carrying water'.
• 😀 The gradual evolution of Enlightenment concepts suggests a shift from liberation and cessation of rebirth to more exalted, sometimes godlike views of Enlightenment, with an emphasis on omniscience in later traditions.
• 😀 Later Buddhist traditions, including the Mahayana school, redefined Enlightenment to focus on the realization of emptiness, the interdependence of all things, and the non-duality of suffering and liberation.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the video on Buddhist Enlightenment?

The central theme of the video is the evolving concept of Buddhist Enlightenment, including the knowledge gained during the process and the resulting freedom from suffering and rebirth. The video explores how these ideas have changed over time in different Buddhist texts and traditions.

What are the two main aspects of Enlightenment discussed in the video?

The two main aspects of Enlightenment discussed in the video are the knowledge involved in it and the results of that knowledge. The knowledge includes insights into suffering, rebirth, and the chain of dependent origination, while the results involve liberation from defilements such as greed, hatred, and ignorance.

How does the video describe the Buddha’s initial Enlightenment experience in early texts?

In early texts, such as the *Aria Parisu*, the Buddha’s Enlightenment is described briefly, focusing on the knowledge of freedom from rebirth and an understanding of dependent origination. However, it does not provide a detailed description of the chain of dependent origination, which may have been developed in later texts.

What are the 'three knowledges' gained by the Buddha on the night of his Enlightenment?

The three knowledges gained by the Buddha on the night of his Enlightenment are: (1) recollection of past lives, (2) clairvoyance to see the karma and rebirth of beings, and (3) deep understanding of the Four Noble Truths and the nature of suffering, defilements, and the path to liberation.

What is the significance of the Buddha's third knowledge, according to the video?

The third knowledge is significant because it encompasses a comprehensive understanding of suffering, its causes, its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation. It also includes the recognition of defilements, such as greed and ignorance, and the Buddha’s liberation from them, marking the end of rebirth and the completion of his spiritual journey.

How did later Buddhist texts expand on the knowledge involved in Enlightenment?

Later Buddhist texts expanded the knowledge involved in Enlightenment to include concepts such as emptiness (shunyata), non-duality, and Buddha nature. These ideas reflect a broader understanding of non-self and emphasize the interconnectedness of samsara and nirvana, as well as the inherent Buddha nature in all beings.

What role does the concept of non-self (anatta) play in the Buddha’s teachings on Enlightenment?

Non-self (anatta) becomes a key part of the path to Enlightenment, particularly in the Buddha’s second sermon, where he instructs his disciples to contemplate the five aggregates as 'not I, not mine, not myself.' This understanding helps practitioners let go of attachment and craving, which are central to achieving Enlightenment.

How does the concept of Enlightenment differ between early and later Buddhism?

In early Buddhism, Enlightenment is focused on personal liberation from suffering and rebirth, achieved through knowledge of the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination, and non-self. In later Buddhism, Enlightenment is often seen as encompassing omniscient knowledge, the understanding of emptiness, non-duality, and Buddha nature, with a greater emphasis on the divine or almost godlike status of Buddhas.

What does the Zen perspective on Enlightenment suggest?

The Zen perspective suggests a deflationary view of Enlightenment, where the experience does not drastically change one's outward behavior. The famous saying 'before Enlightenment, chop wood and carry water; after Enlightenment, chop wood and carry water' reflects the idea that Enlightenment does not alter the simplicity of daily life, emphasizing an acceptance of the present moment.

How does the video conclude regarding the evolution of the concept of Enlightenment in Buddhism?

The video concludes that the concept of Enlightenment in Buddhism has evolved significantly over time, with changes in both the knowledge associated with Enlightenment and its results. Early texts emphasized personal liberation and freedom from defilements, while later texts introduced more complex metaphysical ideas, such as emptiness and non-duality, and a more exalted view of the Buddha’s nature.