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Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions

A Wisdom Academy Online Course with Thubten Chodron

Lesson 1: The Origin and Spread of the Buddha’s Doctrine

Welcome to preview mode! You can view the first video and, if this course offers guided meditations, the first meditation of the first lesson.

In this first lesson, Ven. Thubten Chodron guides us in understanding the roots of Buddhism: the life story of the Buddha, the spread of the teachings throughout Asia, and how the Pali and Chinese traditions formed.

Click here for guidance on how to progress through the lesson.

  • 1. Watch

    1. Watch 1.

      In this video, Ven. Thubten Chodron discusses the Buddha’s life story as well as how the Dharma, his teachings, initially spread through Asia. You can follow along as she reads from Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions starting on page 1.

      Video 1

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      Video 2

  • 2. Practice

    1. Practice 1.

      Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit and follow along as Ven. Thubten Chodron and her sangha recite opening prayers and engage in a few minutes of silent meditation.

      Download this Meditation   |  View Transcript  |  Print Transcript

      To the teacher, endowed transcendent destroyer, one thus gone, foe destroyer, completely and fully awakened one, perfect in knowledge and good conduct, one gone to bliss, knower of the world, supreme guide of beings to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, to you the Buddha, endowed transcendent destroyer, glorious conqueror Shakyamuni, I prostrate, make offerings and go for refuge.

      When, O supreme among humans, you were born on this earth,
      You paced seven strides,
      Then said, “I am supreme in this world.”
      To you, who were wise then, I bow.

      With pure bodies, form supremely fine;
      Wisdom ocean, like a golden mountain;
      Fame that blazes in the three worlds,
      Winner of the best—supreme guide, to you I bow.

      With the supreme signs, face like the spotless moon,
      Color like gold—to you I bow.
      You are immaculate, the three worlds are not.
      Incomparable wise one—to you I bow.

      Great compassionate Protector,
      All-knowing Teacher,
      Field of merit and good qualities vast as an ocean—
      To the Tathagata, I bow.

      Through purity, freeing from attachment,
      Through virtue, freeing from the lower realms,
      Unique, supreme ultimate reality—
      To the Dharma that is peace, I bow.

      Having freed themselves, showing the path to freedom too,
      Well established in the trainings,
      The holy field endowed with good qualities—
      To the Sangha, I bow.

      Do not commit any non-virtuous actions,
      Perform only perfect virtuous actions,
      Subdue your mind completely—
      This is the teaching of the Buddha.

      A star, a mirage, a flame of a lamp,
      An illusion, a drop of dew, a bubble,
      A dream, a flash of lightning, a cloud—
      See conditioned things as such!

      Through this merit may sentient beings
      Attain the state of all-seeing, subdue the foe of faults,
      And be delivered from the ocean of cyclic existence,
      Perturbed by the waves of ageing, sickness, and death.

      This ground, anointed with perfume, flowers strewn,
      Mount Meru, four lands, sun and moon,
      Imagined as a Buddha land and offered to you
      May all beings enjoy this pure land.

      Venerable holy gurus, in the space of your truth body, from billowing clouds of your wisdom and love, let fall the rain of the profound and extensive Dharma in whatever form is suitable for subduing sentient beings.

      idam guru ratna mandala kam nirya tayami

      I take refuge until I have awakened
      in the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
      By the merit I create by listening to the Dharma,
      may I attain buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings.

      I take refuge until I have awakened
      in the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
      By the merit I create by listening to the Dharma,
      may I attain buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings.

      I take refuge until I have awakened
      in the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
      By the merit I create by listening to the Dharma,
      may I attain buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings.

       

  • 4. Quiz

    1. 1

      Quiz 1

      15 minutes


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