"HELLO." "I'M SUSAN SARANDON." "IN THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM OF "MYTHOS,"" "JOE CAMPBELL INTRODUCED US TO THE MYTHS OF INDIA" "HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM." "AS HE SPOKE, THERE SEEMED TO BE A BLURRING" "OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THESE TWO RELIGIONS." "WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?" "JOE EXPLAINS IT THIS WAY:" "HINDUISM IS RELATED TO BUDDHISM" "AS JUDAISM IS RELATED TO CHRISTIANITY." "ONE IS BORN IS A JEW WHILE ONE PROFESSES CHRISTIANITY." "ONE IS BORN A HINDU WHILE ONE PROFESSES BUDDHISM." "BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY ARE CREDO RELIGIONS" ""CREDO," WHICH MEANS "I BELIEVE."" "IN THE VOLUNTARY ACCEPTANCE OF BUDDHISM OR CHRISTIANITY," "YOU ARE RELEASED, CAMPBELL WOULD SAY," "FROM THE BIOLOGY OF YOUR BIRTH." "THE CHRISTIAN SAYS, "I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY."" "THE BUDDHIST SAYS, "I TAKE REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA," "THE LAW AND THE ORDER."" "JOE IDENTIFIES HINDUISM AS AN ETHNIC RELIGION" "AND BUDDHISM AS THE FIRST WORLD RELIGION," "WITH CHRISTIANITY SECOND." "LIKE CHRISTIANITY, BUDDHISM WAS FOUNDED BY DISCIPLES," "AND SOON THERE WERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUDDHISM." "CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA" "NOW, THE BUDDHA'S DATES ARE 563 TO 483 B.C." "THIS IS A LONG TIME BACK." "500--I WANT TO STRESS THIS DATE--500 B.C." "THAT'S A DATE, AS WE'LL SEE A LITTLE LATER ON," "OF GREAT IMPORTANCE." "IN THE FIRST CENTURIES OF BUDDHIST ART," "THE BUDDHA HIMSELF WAS NEVER REPRESENTED..." "BECAUSE HE HAD ALREADY ESCAPED FROM HIS BODY." "HIS BODY WAS THERE, BUT HIS PRESENCE" "WAS LIKE THE SUN THAT HAS ALREADY SET." "HE HAD LEFT THE BODY BEHIND LIKE A SUNSET, BUT WASN'T THERE," "AND WE'LL SEE IN A LITTLE WHILE HOW THIS WAS REPRESENTED." "HOWEVER, 500 YEARS LATER," "WE BEGIN TO HAVE IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA." "THAT MEANS ANOTHER KIND OF BUDDHISM" "HAS COME INTO EXPRESSION." "THE FIRST ORDER OF BUDDHISM WAS VERY STRONGLY MONASTIC." "AS I'VE SAID WITH RESPECT TO JAINISM," "THE COMMUNITY HOPES IN LATER INCARNATIONS" "TO BE ABLE TO RENOUNCE THE WORLD," "TO QUIT THE WORLD, AND TO GO ON THE QUEST FOR NIRVANIC RELEASE." "EARLY BUDDHISM CARRIED THIS MESSAGE ALSO." "IT WAS VERY STRONGLY MONASTIC." "BUT THEN IN THE FIRST CENTURY A.D., IN NORTHWEST INDIA," "FIRST CENTURY A.D." "IS THE FIRST CENTURY OF CHRISTIANITY AS WELL." "ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES TO THE WEST." "THE IDEA IS CHANGED." "THERE'S ANOTHER BUDDHISM." "AND THE FIRST BUDDHISM IS CALLED THERAVADA--T-H-E-R-A-V-A-D-A." ""VADA" MEANS "THE WORD." "THERA" MEANS "OF THE SAINTS."" "THE DOCTRINE OF THE OLD SAINTS." "ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS BUDDHISM IS HINAYANA." ""YANA" MEANS FERRYBOAT AND "HINA" MEANS "LITTLE."" "I'LL EXPLAIN AS WE GO ON." "THE LITTLE FERRYBOAT BUDDHISM." "IN A LITTLE FERRYBOAT, ONLY VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN RIDE," "AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE SAID "NO" TO LIFE." "WE'RE GOING TO NIRVANA." "BUT THE WHOLE SENSE OF THE NIRVANIC THING" "AND REALIZATION IS" "THAT YOU HAVE TRANSCENDED PAIRS OF OPPOSITES" "DESIRE AND FEAR." "YOU AND ME." "WE'VE GONE TO UNITY." "SO THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SAMSARA," "OR SUFFERING IN THE WORLD," "AND NIRVANA, OR RAPTURE, AND TRANSCENDENCE," "THERE'S NO DISTINCTION." "OH-HO." "SO NOW WE CAN BEGIN TO SEE" "THAT THE WORLD ITSELF IS A MANIFESTATION" "OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS," "AND WE BEGIN TO HAVE IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA." "IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA BEGIN TO APPEAR 500 OR 600 YEARS AFTER THE BUDDHA'S DEATH." "SO THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER, 500 YEARS B.C." "THIS IS IN CEYLON." "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL-- ONE OF THE EARLIEST" "IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA WE HAVE." "HE'S SEATED ON THE GROUND HERE." "THAT MEANS THIS IS A MAN WHO, THROUGH MEDITATION," "HAS IDENTIFIED HIS CONSCIOUSNESS WITH BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS," "THE TRANSCENDENT CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH LIVES IN ALL BEINGS." "THERE'S A WONDERFUL LITTLE STORY I LIKE RECENTLY TO TELL." "I READ IT ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO" "IN ONE OF THE PAPERS BY DAISETZ SUZUKI." "A YOUNG STUDENT SAID TO THE MASTER, TO HIS MASTER," ""AM I IN POSSESSION OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS?"" "AND THE MASTER SAID, "NO."" "AND THE STUDENT SAID, "WELL, I'VE BEEN TOLD" ""THAT ALL THINGS ARE IN POSSESSION" ""OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS" ""THE ROCKS, TREES, THE BUTTERFLIES," "BIRDS, THE ANIMALS, ALL BEINGS."" "THE MASTER SAID, "YOU ARE CORRECT." ""ALL THINGS ARE IN POSSESSION OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS" ""THE ROCKS, THE TREES, BUTTERFLIES, THE BEES," "THE BIRDS, ALL BEINGS, BUT NOT YOU."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" ""NOT ME?" "WHY NOT?"" ""BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING THIS QUESTION."" "LET'S SAY YOU'VE PUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION OF YOURSELF" "WITH THIS RATIONAL PROBLEM," "AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE." "SO HERE IS ONE WHO WIPED THAT OUT, GOT THAT MESSAGE," "AND NOW IS LIVING OUT OF THE MESSAGE." "THIS IS FROM ABOUT THE FIRST CENTURY A.D. IN CEYLON." "HE'S IN A SPECIAL LITTLE PARK NOW." "BEAUTIFUL." "HERE NOW FROM TIBET, WE HAVE THE BUDDHA ON A LOTUS." "THE LOTUS, LIKE THE WATER OF THE GANGES," "IS THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GRACE" "OF THE ETERNAL LIFE POURING INTO THE WORLD." "THAT'S WHAT THE ROSE REPRESENTS" "IN MEDIEVAL SYMBOLISM IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION." "THE IMAGE THE TRINITY APPEARS ON THE CELESTIAL ROSE." "THE IMAGE OF THE BUDDHA APPEARS ON A CELESTIAL LOTUS." "WHEN YOU HAVE A FIGURE SEATED ON THE LOTUS OR ON A ROSE," "IT IS A PERSONIFICATION OF THE ENERGY" "ALREADY REPRESENTED IN THAT ROSE." "SO THE BUDDHA DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK AT ALL" "TO REALIZE HIS IDENTITY." "NOW, THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT JESUS." "ONE, HE IS TRUE MAN." "THE OTHER, HE IS TRUE GOD." "IF HE WAS TRUE MAN, HE SUFFERED." "IF HE WAS TRUE GOD, HE DIDN'T." "2 WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT THE BUDDHA." "HE IS THE ONE WHO SAT DOWN AND MEDITATED" "AND FOUND HIS BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS." "2, HE IS ALSO THE INCARNATION OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS" "AND DIDN'T HAVE TO MEDITATE AT ALL." "HE KNEW IT." "AND IN THE LIFE LEGEND OF THE BUDDHA..." "HE WAS BORN, AS YOU KNOW, FROM HIS MOTHER'S SIDE." "THAT MEANS INSOFAR AS HIS HISTORICAL MESSAGE IS CONCERNED" "AND HIS HISTORICAL CHARACTER," "HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT NATURE," "HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE VIRGIN BIRTH," "THE NATURE OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE." "HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE VIRGIN BIRTH HIMSELF, YOU MIGHT SAY." "SO HE'S BORN FROM THE MOTHER'S SIDE" "AT THE LEVEL OF THE HEART," "NOT THE LEVEL OF THE PELVIC, NATURAL BIRTH." "AND NO SOONER WAS HE BORN THAN THE DEITIES CAME DOWN" "AND RECEIVED HIM ON A GOLDEN CLOTH." "NOBODY THINKS THIS HAPPENED." "THE BIOGRAPHIES OF SAVIORS" "ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE MEANING OF THE SAVIOR'S TEACHING." "IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW," "CARL SANDBURG'S LIFE OF LINCOLN," "WHERE YOU GET DOCUMENTATION" "OF THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF THE LIFE." "HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN LIFE." "IT HAS TO DO WITH THE IMPLICATION OF THE LIFE." "SO THE BUDDHA IS BORN," "THE GODS RECEIVED HIM ON A GOLDEN CLOTH," "THEY PUT HIM ON THE GROUND," "AND THIS LITTLE CHILD TAKES 7 STEPS" "AND HIS RIGHT HAND LIFTS AND HIS LEFT HAND POINTS DOWN," "AND HE SAYS, "WORLDS ABOVE, WORLDS BELOW," "THERE'S NO ONE IN THE WORLD LIKE ME."" "WELL, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK TO FIND THAT OUT." "HE KNEW IT WHEN HE WAS BORN." "I REMEMBER DAISETZ SUZUKI, THIS WONDERFUL MAN," "HE WAS GIVING A LECTURE, HIS FIRST LECTURE, ACTUALLY," "IN THE UNITED STATES, ON BUDDHISM," "AND HE MENTIONED THIS." "HE WAS A LITTLE MAN." "HE STOOD THERE LIKE A LITTLE CERAMIC FIGURINE" "AND HE SAID, "I KNOW THAT'S A VERY FUNNY THING." "BABY JUST BORN SAY A THING LIKE THAT."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "HE SAID, "YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE WAITED."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" ""WAITED UNTIL HE HAD HIS ILLUMINATION" "UNDER THE BO TREE..."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" ""AND HIS SPIRITUAL BIRTH."" "BUT HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, "WE IN THE ORIENT ALL MIXED UP." ""WE DON'T MAKE GREAT DISTINCTION" ""BETWEEN SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL LIFE." "MATERIAL MANIFESTS SPIRITUAL."" "SO THEN HE WENT ON IN A LONG TALK," "MADE BELIEVE TO LOSE HIS NOTES AND ALL THAT, BECAUSE..." "YOU KNOW HOW IT IS IN JAPANESE AND CHINESE PAINTINGS," "THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT SPACE." "VACANT PLACE." "YOU CAN READ SOMETHING INTO THAT." "AND SO HE LEFT THIS VACANT SPACE BY PRETENDING TO LOSE HIS NOTES" "SO WE COULD HELP HIM FIND THEM," "HELP OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE LECTURE." "TO DO TOO WELL IS NOT NICE." "SO FINALLY HE COMES AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS TO THIS POINT." "HE SAYS, "THEY TELL ME WHEN BABY IS BORN, BABY CRIES." ""WHAT DOES BABY SAY WHEN BABY CRIES?" ""BABY SAYS, 'WORLDS ABOVE, WORLDS BELOW," "NO ONE IN THE WORLD LIKE ME.'"" "[AUDIENCE AND CAMPBELL LAUGH]" ""ALL BABIES BUDDHA BABIES."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "THEY RECOGNIZED IN THE EAST ALSO" "THE LITTLE BABY IS THE BUDDHA BABY." "IT'S A MANIFESTATION IN INNOCENCE" "OF THESE WONDERFUL ENERGIES." "BUT THEN, SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN" "YOUR LITTLE MOUSE AND QUEEN MAYA'S?" "HERS KNEW HE WAS A BUDDHA BABY," "AND THE WHOLE THING OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS MEANS" "GETTING TO KNOW YOU'RE IT." "SO THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK," "PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE SOCIETY KEEPS TELLING YOU YOU'RE NOT IT." "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "AND NOW WE COME TO THE WONDERFUL STORY" "OF THE BUDDHA LIFE." "WHEN HE WAS BORN, HIS FATHER SENT FOR SAGES" "TO INTERPRET THE BOY'S BIRTH," "AND THEY FOUND ON HIS BODY 32 SIGNS" "INDICATING THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE EITHER A WORLD RULER" "OR A WORLD TEACHER." "WELL, THE FATHER WAS A KING," "AND SO WAS PREJUDICED IN FAVOR OF WORLD RULE," "AND HE DIDN'T WANT THE BOY TO BECOME A WORLD TEACHER." "WELL, HE KNEW IF HE BECAME AWARE OF THE SORROWS OF THE WORLD," "HE WOULD WANT TO BE A WORLD TEACHER," "SO THE FATHER FIXED IT UP SO THAT HE SHOULD KNOW" "NOTHING OF SORROW." "BEAUTIFUL PALACE, GLORIOUS HIGH WALLS AROUND," "LOTS OF DANCING GIRLS AND FLOWERS" "AND PERFUMES AND LOVELINESS..." "AND THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BOY'S YOUTH" "ARE REALLY DELICIOUS." "ONE DAY, HOWEVER, HE DOES BECOME CURIOUS ABOUT THE TOWN," "SO HE SAYS TO HIS CHARIOT DRIVER," ""YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO GO FOR A LITTLE TRIP."" "WELL, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE GODS HAD ARRANGED," "BECAUSE IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO HAVE A TRAUMATIC SHOCK." "AND THE KING, WHEN HE HEARS HIS SON WANTS TO GO OUT LIKE THAT," "HE SEES TO IT THAT THERE'S NO UNPLEASANT SIGHTS" "WITHIN RANGE OF VISION." "HE HAS NEW POTS OF PLANTS PUT ALONG THE ROAD," "AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY DOWN THE OTHER END." "WELL, THE GODS ARRANGED SO THAT HE SHOULD SEE SOMETHING ELSE," "SO HE GOES OUT, DRIVES ALONG," "AND WHAT HE SEES THEN IS AN OLD MAN." "AND HE SAYS TO HIS DRIVER, "WHO'S THAT?" "WHAT'S THAT?"" ""WELL, THAT'S AN OLD MAN."" ""WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"" ""OH, PEOPLE GET OLD."" ""AM I GOING TO GET OLD?"" ""YEAH." "OH, NO." "I DON'T WANT A PARTY." "TAKE ME HOME."" "SO HE GOES HOME." "THAT'S HIS FIRST VISION." "NEXT, HE SEES A SICK MAN." "THIRD TRIP, HE SEES A CORPSE BEING CARRIED." "NOW HE IS FED UP." "FOURTH TRIP, HE SEES A YOGI." ""WHAT'S THAT?" "THAT'S A MAN WHO HAS" "GONE TO RELEASE HIMSELF FROM THE SOUNDS OF THE WORLD."" ""OH." "I'M GOING TO BE A YOGI."" "BUT..." "SO HE THEN LEAVES THE PALACE" "AND STARTS HIS GREAT ADVENTURE." "WE SEE LATER A SCENE--THE GIRLS" "TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE HIM HAPPY." "THEY PUT ON DANCES AND SO FORTH." "BUT THE GODS THEN PLAY A DIRTY TRICK ON THEM" "AND MAKE THEM ALL FALL ASLEEP IN RATHER UNDIGNIFIED POSTURES." "AND THE YOUNG MAN LOOKING AT THE BEAUTY OF LIFE" "THESE YOUNG FLOWER GIRLS" "SEES THEM AS CORPSES." "YOU REMEMBER THOSE PICTURES THAT USED TO BE PAINTED" "IN THE 19th CENTURY" "OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN LOOKING INTO A MIRROR" "AND HER REFLECTION," "AND YOU SEE THE WHOLE THING IS A CORPSE." "THIS IS THE VISION KNOWN AS THE GRAVEYARD VISION," "AND ALL HE SAW WAS DEATH WHERE THERE WAS BEAUTY," "AND HE GOT UP AND WENT DOWN TO THE GARAGE" "AND HE SAYS, "FIX UP KANTAKA THE HORSE."" "HE GETS ON THE HORSE." "THE HORSE STARTS TROTTING OUT OF THE TOWN," "AND THE GODS, THE EARTH GODS" "CATCH THE HORSE'S HOOVES AS THEY COME DOWN" "SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY CLATTER TO WAKE THE TOWN." "THE GODDESS AT THE GATE OPENS THE GATE." "THE HORSE JUMPS ACROSS A GREAT RIVER" "AND THE BUDDHA TURNS BACK AND HE GIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME" "HIS LION ROAR." "THEN HE GOES INTO THE FOREST." "HE TAKES HIS SWORD AND CUTS OFF HIS PRINCELY TOPKNOT" "AND THROWS IT UP TO HEAVEN," "AND HE SAYS, "IF MY TOPKNOT STAYS UP THERE," "I SHALL BECOME A BUDDHA."" "AND SO IN HEAVEN, ALL THE ANGELS" "GRAB THAT TOPKNOT AND THEY INSTALL IT IN A SHRINE." "THIS IS THE SHRINE IN ONE OF THE HEAVENS" "THE SHRINE OF THE BUDDHIST TOPKNOT," "AND HERE ARE THE ANGELIC DANCERS" "DANCING IN HONOR OF THE BUDDHIST TOPKNOT." "THESE AMUSING LITTLE PIECES, THEY'RE MEDIATIONS," "NOT ON THE BUDDHA HAVING CUT OFF HIS TOPKNOT" "BUT ON THE VIRTUE OF CUTTING YOURSELF OFF" "FROM YOUR SECULAR COMMITMENTS" "IN ORDER TO ENGAGE IN MEDIATION," "AND HERE ARE THE SOULS IN HEAVENS, AND SO FORTH." "JOE SAYS THAT THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA," "THE LIVES OF ALL SAVIORS," "ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY." "THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE LIFE" "RATHER THAN THE LIFE ITSELF." "READING THE STORIES OF THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA" "AND THE LIFE OF CHRIST SYMBOLICALLY," "CAMPBELL FINDS THEM TELLING US MUCH THE SAME THING" "THE BIRTH OF BUDDHA AND CHRIST" "ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIRTH OF OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES," "WHEN WE AWAKEN TO THE IDEA THAT GOD IS" "A PROJECTION OF THE ENERGY WITHIN US," "NOT SOMETHING OUT THERE." "AS JOE POINTS OUT, ONCE AWAKENED TO OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES," "WE STILL MUST LIVE IN THIS WORLD." "NOT ALL OF US WANT TO DEVOTE OUR LIVES TO MEDITATION." "HOW DOES THE BUDDHIST ACHIEVE A BALANCE?" "CAMPBELL USES THE STORY OF BUDDHA'S LIFE," "AND A STORY FROM AN OLD FRIEND, TO EXPLAIN." "NOW, THIS IS FROM TIBET." "THE BUDDHA AS MANIFESTATION." "THIS WONDERFUL POSTURE, THIS IS KNOWN AS EARTH TOUCHING." "BHUMI-SPARSHA." "NOW, WHEN THIS QUESTOR, THIS SEEKER, THIS BUDDHA," "ONE WHO'S ABOUT TO BE THE BUDDHA," "CAME TO THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE," "THE AXIS MUNDI," "WHICH IS CALLED THE IMMOVABLE SPOT," "HE SAT THERE." "THAT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION." "YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO BODH GAYA" "TO FIND THE IMMOVABLE SPOT." "YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE..." "IF YOU HAVE IT." "AND WHAT IT IS IS THE SPOT" "THAT IS NOT MOVED BY DESIRE AND FEAR." "SO, TO TEST HIM, THERE CAME THE LORD OF THE WORLD," "AND HIS NAME WAS DESIRE AND FEAR." "AS DESIRE, HE WAS CALLED KAMA, K-A-M-A." "LONG "A," FIRST ONE." "THAT MEANS LUST." "DESIRE." "DELIGHT." "PLEASURE." "AND HE TRIED TO MOVE THE BUDDHA" "BY DISPLAYING TO HIM HIS 3 BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS." "POSTURIZING TO BEAUTIFUL GALS." "AND THEIR NAMES WERE DESIRE, FULFILLMENT, AND REGRETS." "FUTURE, PRESENT, AND PAST." "NOW, HE HAD DISENGAGED HIMSELF" "FROM THE BIOLOGY OF THIS BODY," "AND SO HE WASN'T MOVED." "WELL, KAMA WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT," "AND SO HE TURNED HIMSELF INTO MARA," "M-A-R-A, THE LORD OF DEATH," "TO INSPIRE FEAR." "AND HE THROWS BUDDHA ALL THE WEAPONRY" "OF AN ARMY OF OGRES." "NOBODY THERE." "THIS IS WHY WE DON'T PICTURE HIM IN THE EARLY WORKS." "HE WAS NOT PRESENT AS A BODY." "HE HAD DISENGAGED HIMSELF." "AND SO THE WEAPONS WERE TURNED INTO LOTUSES" "AS THEY ENTERED HIS FIELD OF NON-ENTITY," "AND HE WAS, AS IT WERE, WORSHIPPED." "AND NOW COMES THE HARD ONE" "FOR GOOD CHRISTIANS TO APPRECIATE." "KAMA--MARA--WAS NOW DESPERATE" "AND HE TURNS HIMSELF INTO DHARMA," "THE LORD OF SOCIAL DUTY." "THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CHRISTIANITY." "HOW IN HEAVEN'S NAME ARE YOU GOING TO FIND YOUR OWN TRACK" "IF YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING WHAT SOCIETY TELLS YOU" "YOUR DUTY IS, YOU SEE?" "SO IT'S AT THAT POINT THAT MARA--NOW AS DHARMA--DUTY" "SAYS TO HIM, "YOUNG PRINCE," ""YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON YOUR THRONE," ""GOVERNING A COUNTRY." ""DON'T YOU READ THE MORNING PAPERS?" ""DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON?" ""THINGS ARE FALLING APART." "THERE ARE PICKET LINES ALL OVER THE PLACE."" "WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THAT CALL COMES?" "HE JUST DROPPED HIS HAND AND TOUCHED THE EARTH." "THIS IS BHUMI-SPARSHA." "DON'T TRY TO MOVE ME WITH THIS JOURNALISTIC APPEAL." "I'M ADDRESSING ETERNITY." "AND HE CALLS THE GODDESS, MOTHER UNIVERSE, THE WITNESS" "TO HIS RIGHT TO BE THERE," "AND SHE AND HER MAJESTY, WITH A VOICE" "THAT RESOUNDED LIKE THUNDER AROUND THE HORIZON," "SAID, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON" ""WHO, THROUGH INNUMERABLE LIFETIMES," "HAS SO GIVEN OF HIMSELF THAT THERE'S NOBODY HERE."" "AND WITH THAT, THE ELEPHANT ON WHICH DHARMA WAS RIDING" "BOWED IN WORSHIP," "THE ARMY WAS DISPERSED," "AND THE BUDDHA ACHIEVED ILLUMINATION." "SO THAT SYMBOLIZES AKSHOBHYA, NOT TO BE MOVED." "THIS IS THE FIRST POSITION." "YOU HAVE FOUND IT." "YOU'RE SITTING THERE." "YOU'RE IN THE IMMOVABLE SPOT AND NO APPEAL" "OF THE JOURNALISTIC FIELD OF TIME" "IS GOING TO MOVE YOU." "THAT'S THE FIRST STEP." "THE SECOND STEP IS HAVING FOUND THE STILL POINT," "TO COME BACK IN A NEW FIELD OF TIME." "SO WE HAVE 2 BUDDHAS IN THIS" "ONE THE SMALL VEHICLE BUDDHISM" "THAT'S GOING AWAY FROM THE FIELD OF TIME," "AND THEN ANOTHER BUDDHISM THAT COMES" "IN THE FIRST CENTURY A.D." "AND IS REPRESENTED BY THIS," "THAT WE ARE MANIFESTATIONS, THAT WE CAN MOVE" "IN THIS FIELD OF TIME," "BUT WITHOUT BEING MOVED." "THIS IS KNOWN AS JOYFUL PARTICIPATION" "IN THE SORROWS OF THE WORLD..." "AND YOU CAN DO THAT." "AND THAT'S THE--WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE BODHISATTVA" "B-O-D-H-I-S-A-T-T-V-A." ""SATTVA," ONE WHO'S BEING." ""SATTVA" MEANS "BEING."" ""BODHI" IS ILLUMINATION." "AND WITH THAT STILL POINT HAVING BEEN FOUND," "YOU CAN MOVE INTO THE FIELD OF MOVEMENT AND NOT MOVE." "SEE WHAT I MEAN?" "THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING." "NOW, YEARS AGO, I HAD A WONDERFUL FRIEND" "HEINRICH ZIMMER..." "AND HE WAS A REALLY GIFTED INTERPRETER OF SYMBOLIC FORMS." "AND HE WAS LECTURING HERE IN NEW YORK ON BUDDHISM," "AND HE WANTED TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE" "BETWEEN THE LITTLE VEHICLE BUDDHISM--HINAYANA" "AND THE BIG VEHICLE BUDDHISM-- MAHAYANA." "AND HE USED A WONDERFUL IMAGE" "THAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO RENDER TO YOU." "WHEN THE BUDDHA ACHIEVED ILLUMINATION THAT NIGHT..." "HE WAS SO STUNNED THAT HE SAT" "FOR 7 DAYS IN ONE PLACE WITHOUT MOVING." "BEING." "THIS IS BEING UTTERLY REMOVED" "FROM THE FIELD OF TIME." "THEN HE GOT UP AND WALKED 7 PACES BACK" "AND STOOD FOR 7 DAYS LOOKING AT THE PLACE" "WHERE HE HAD BEEN SITTING." "THIS IS RELATING THE TEMPORAL TO THE IMMOVABLE REALIZATION." "AND THEN FOR 7 DAYS, HE WALKED BACK AND FORTH" "BETWEEN THE 2 PLACES," "RELATING, INTEGRATING," "THEN SAT DOWN UNDER ANOTHER TREE" "AND HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS, "THIS CANNOT BE TAUGHT."" "THAT'S THE FIRST FACT ABOUT BUDDHISM" "AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE." "THIS CANNOT BE TAUGHT." "YOU KNOW THE SAYING "YOU CAN LEAD A GIRL TO VASSAR" "BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HER THINK."" "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "SO, NO SOONER HAD HE HAD THAT THOUGHT" "THAN THE GODS INDRA AND BRAHMA CAME DOWN." "JUST AS IN CHRISTIANITY," "THE DEITY OF THE OLDER TRADITION IS STILL PRESENT." "SO IN BUDDHISM, THE DEITY OF THE OLDER TRADITION," "THE DEITIES ARE PRESENT." "AND INDRA AND BRAHMA SAID, "PLEASE TEACH" ""FOR THE SALVATION OF MANKIND AND THE GODS" "AND ALL THE WORLD."" "AND THE BUDDHA SAID, "I WILL TEACH," ""BUT WHAT I TEACH IS NOT BUDDHISM," "IT IS THE WAY TO BUDDHISM."" "WHAT'S CALLED BUDDHISM IS A VEHICLE TO CARRY YOU" "TO BUDDHIST REALIZATION." "AND THE WORLD FOR "VEHICLE" IS "YANA"--Y-A-N-A." "AND THE VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY THAT'S REFERRED TO" "IS A FERRYBOAT." "SO BUDDHISM IS CALLED A FERRYBOAT," "AND IT'S TAKING US TO A YONDER SHORE," "AND THE YONDER SHORE IS THE SHORE" "BEYOND PAIN AND PLEASURE," "GAIN AND LOSS--SEE?" " FEAR AND DESIRE." "YOU AND ME." "IT'S THE TRANSCENDENCE OF DUALITY" "IN THE REALIZATION OF THE COSMIC UNITY," "OR TRANS-COSMIC UNITY." "SO MY FRIEND ZIMMER THEN SAID," ""WELL, NOW, IF WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND BUDDHISM" ""AND THE 2 BUDDHISMS-- HINAYANA AND MAHAYANA" ""LITTLE FERRYBOAT AND BIG FERRYBOAT" "LET'S THINK ABOUT A FERRYBOAT."" "SO HERE WE ARE IN MANHATTAN." "AND THERE'S THE HUDSON RIVER," "AND BEYOND THE RIVER IS JERSEY, THE GARDEN STATE." "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "AND--AHEM--WE'VE NEVER BEEN TO JERSEY." "WE'VE HEARD ABOUT JERSEY." "WE'RE FED UP WITH MANHATTAN." "WE GO DOWN TO THE RIVERBANK" "AND WE STAND THERE LOOKING ACROSS AT JERSEY." "NOW, JERSEY FOR US IS SIMPLY A MIRAGE BEFORE THE EYES." "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OVER THERE." "BUT WE'RE LONGING TO BE IN JERSEY." "[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]" "WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE" "MANHATTAN'S GOTTEN TO BE JUST TOO MUCH." "BUT ONE FINE DAY, WHAT DO YOU KNOW," "WE'RE STANDING THERE LOOKING AND FROM THE YONDER SHORE..." "A FERRYBOAT COMES." "AND IT COMES ACROSS AND, YES," "IT COMES RIGHT TO OUR FEET." "AND IN THE FERRYBOAT IS A MAN," "AND THE MAN SAYS, "ANYONE FOR JERSEY, THE GARDEN STATE?"" "AND YOU SAY, "I'M FOR JERSEY."" "THEN HE SAYS, "NOW, LISTEN." ""THERE'S A POINT HERE, NAMELY, YOU CAN'T COME BACK." ""THIS IS A ONE-WAY TRIP." ""YOU'RE GIVING UP YOUR FAMILY, YOUR IDEALS," ""YOUR MONEY, YOUR FUTURE, EVERYTHING." "ARE YOU READY TO QUIT?"" "YOU SAY, "I AM FED UP." HE SAID, "GET ABOARD."" "THIS IS THE LITTLE FERRYBOAT--HINAYANA." "ONLY THOSE WHO ARE READY AND WILLING" "TO QUIT THE WHOLE SHOW" "CAN GO ACROSS." "AND WE READ IN THE TEXTS" "UNLESS YOU ARE AS EAGER FOR NIRVANIC RELEASE" "AS A MAN WITH HIS HAIR ON FIRE" "WOULD BE FOR A POND INTO WHICH TO DIVE," "DON'T START." "IT'S TOO DIFFICULT." "SO HERE WE HAVE THE IDEA OF GREAT ASCETIC DIFFICULTY" "AND RENUNCIATION AND EVERYTHING." "THIS ONE'S THE LITTLE FERRYBOAT." "SO YOU GET ABOARD." "[GRINDING] DO THINGS." "THE BOAT STARTS OUT AND YOU THINK," ""MOTHER," BUT IT'S TOO LATE." "YOU'RE IN THE BOAT, AND NOW IT'S SHIP AHOY." "YOU LEARN TO LOVE THE SPLASH OF THE WATER." "YOU LEARN TO SPEAK IN A NEW LANGUAGE" "PORT AND STARBOARD INSTEAD OF LEFT AND RIGHT," "FORE AND AFT INSTEAD OF IN FRONT AND BEHIND." "AND YOU DON'T KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT JERSEY" "THAN YOU DID BEFORE YOU LEFT," "BUT YOU'VE COME TO THINK OF THE PEOPLE IN MANHATTAN AS FOOLS," "SO THERE YOU ARE," "AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO DO REALLY." "YOU LIFT SAILS, PULL THEM DOWN AGAIN," "PADDLE A LITTLE BIT, THIS KIND OF THING." "PRAYERS, THIS KIND, YOU KNOW." "YOU'RE A MONK OR A NUN." "PUTTING FLOWERS ON ALTERS," "COUNTING BEADS NOW IN THIS HAND, NOW IN THAT," "AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "LIFE'S BEEN REDUCED TO SOMETHING PRETTY DARN SWEET AND SIMPLE." "LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO ARRIVE AT THE OTHER SHORE" "AND FIND OUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE TO DO." "HOWEVER, AFTER A COUPLE OF INCARNATIONS," "YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A SHORT TRIP?" "NOTHING OF THE KIND." "THIS IS A LONG JUMP." "THE BOAT SCRAPES THE SHORE IN JERSEY." "AH, THIS IS THE EXCITING MOMENT." "WE'RE THERE." "THIS IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS RAPTURE." "AND YOU STEP ASHORE." "IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD." "FINALLY YOU THINK..." "I WONDER WHAT MANHATTAN HAS DONE FOR ME." "NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE PASSAGE," "THE BUDDHA SAYS SUPPOSE A MAN" "WISHING TO GET TO THE YONDER SHORE" "SHOULD BUILD HIMSELF A RAFT," "AND NOW HAVING ARRIVED AT THE YONDER SHORE," "WITH RESPECT FOR THE RAFT," "TO PICK THE RAFT UP AND CARRY IT ON HIS SHOULDERS." "WOULD THAT BE AN INTELLIGENT MAN?" "OH, NO, THE MASTER SAYS TO THE MONKS." "SO IT IS WITH THE LAWS OF THE ORDER." "THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH NIRVANA." "NIRVANA TRANSCENDS ALL THIS." "THE LAWS OF THE ORDER ARE THE VEHICLE THAT GETS YOU THERE." "OK, WE'RE THERE." "SO NOW WE'RE THINKING," "I WONDER WHAT MANHATTAN LOOKS LIKE FROM HERE." "NOW THIS IS THE HINIYANA UP TO NOW." "YOU GET IT?" "WE'RE LEAVING MANHATTAN AND GOING TO JERSEY." "WE'RE LEAVING SAMSARA, THE VORTEX OF PAIN AND ALL THIS," "AND GOING TO A NIRVANIC RELEASE." "YOU'RE IN JERSEY." "YOU TURN AROUND TO SEE MANHATTAN." "YOU'RE IN THE REALM OF NON-DUALITY." "YOU'RE IN THE REALM OF TRANSCENDENCE" "OF ALL PAIRS OF OPPOSITES." "THERE'S NO MANHATTAN OVER THERE." "THERE'S NO HUDSON RIVER BETWEEN." "THERE'S NO FERRY BOAT." "THERE'S NO MAN IN THE BOAT." "THIS IS IT." "IT'S ALL THIS." "YOU HAVE GONE PAST DUALITY, AND THE REALIZATION IS," "I WAS THERE ALL THE TIME." "IT'S JUST A TRANSFORMATION OF THE EYES." "LIKE THAT SAYING IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS," ""THE KINGDOM OF THE FATHER IS SPREAD UPON THE EARTH," "AND MEN DO NOT SEE IT." SEE IT!" "THE RADIANCE IS ALL AROUND US HERE RIGHT NOW." "THIS IS IT." "AND THE MULTIPLICITY IS UNITY IN A WONDERFUL SORT OF DISPLAY." "SO THAT'S THE MAHAYANA." "WE'RE THERE." "AND YET WE'RE ON A FERRY BOAT, AND THE FERRY BOAT IS THERE," "AND WHO'S ON THE FERRY BOAT?" "THERE'S NOBODY ON THE FERRY BOAT." "BUT THIS IS THE WONDERFUL PARADOX OF BUDDHISM." "THE KEY WORD IS UNATMAN." "ALL THINGS ARE WITHOUT A SELF." "WE'RE ALL MANIFESTATIONS OF THAT TRANSCENDENCE." "THE NOTION OF SELF" "IS EXACTLY WHY THEY'RE SEPARATING US FROM OTHER PEOPLE." "DISSOLVE THAT." "DON'T BE AFRAID." "YIELD." "BECOME THE FOOD OF OTHERS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEN GOSH," "YOU'RE IN THE WHOLE THING," "AND THIS IS KNOWN, THEN, AS THE GREAT DELIGHT," "MAHASUTRA." "AND WHAT THEN IS FINALLY THE BEST AUSTERITY?" "WHAT IS THE BEST DISCIPLINE?" "THE BEST DISCIPLINE IS ENJOYING YOUR FRIENDS." "ENJOY YOUR MEAL." "REALIZE WHAT YOUR PLAY IS AND SO FORTH." "PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAY, IN THE PLAY OF LIFE." "THIS IS KNOWN AS MAHASUTRA, THE GREAT DELIGHT." "AND SO THERE COMES THIS FINAL SAYING," "MAHOGA IS YOGA." "DELIGHT AND ENJOYMENT IS A FORM OF YOGA." "AND THAT WAS THE THEME" "OF T.S. ELLIOT'S "THE COCKTAIL PARTY."" "THAT'S THE WHOLE THEME." "YOU GOT TO GIVE A PARTY." "THAT'S YOUR RITUAL TO REALIZE THE PRESENCE." "IT'S A WONDERFUL THING." "THAT'S THE GREAT BUDDHISM." "NOW, AN INTERESTING THING TO ME" "IS THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM" "TOOK PLACE IN NORTHWEST INDIA MOSTLY" "IN THE FIRST TWO CENTURIES A.D." "AND THOSE ARE PRECISELY THE CENTURIES" "OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY." "AND THE IDEA OF THE BODHISATTVA" "IS THE ONE WHO OUT OF HIS REALIZATION OF TRANSCENDENCE" "PARTICIPATES IN THE WORLD," "AND THAT'S THE IDEA OF THE CHRIST" "IN HIS LOVE FOR THE WORLD," "COMING TO BE CRUCIFIED," "PARTICIPATING IN THE CRUCIFIXION INTENTIONALLY WITH JOY." "WHAT'S THE IMITATION OF CHRIST?" "THE IMITATION OF CHRIST IS JOYFUL PARTICIPATION" "IN THE SORROWS OF THE WORLD." "IF YOU READ IT THIS WAY." "SO THERE'S A WONDERFUL DIALOGUE HERE." "WHEN YOU THINK OF THE CHRIST IN THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA," "THESE ARE TWO FOLK MANIFESTATIONS" "OF THE SAME ELEMENTARY IDEA." "THE LESSON THE BUDDHA TELLS YOU IS YOU'RE IT." "ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S THE IMITATIONOF CHRIST?" "JOYFUL PARTICIPATION." "COME INTO THIS CRUCIFIXION WITH JOY, NOT FEAR, NOT DESIRE," "AND IT'S A RAPTURE." "THAT'S THE STORY THERE." "NOW, MANY RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH WAR," "FOR INSTANCE, IN THE OLD TIMES," "HAD TO DO WITH GETTING THE WARRIORS INTO WHAT'S KNOWN" "AS A BERSERK ATTITUDE," "WHERE YOU GO INTO THE PAIN OF THE WAR WITH RAPTURE." "THEY'RE WILD, PARTICIPATING IN THIS THING." "THAT IS A RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO WAR." "AND SO WE HAVE THE TWO BUDDHISMS." "THE BUDDHISM OF THE AESTHETIC EFFORT," "AND THE BUDDHISM OF THE JOYFUL PARTICIPATION." "THE LITTLE FERRY BOAT, THE BIG FERRY BOAT." "THIS IS BIG FERRY BOAT STUFF." "WE'RE THERE." "AND THE OTHER ONE IS MORE LITTLE FERRY BOAT." "YOU'RE WORKING HARD." "YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?" "NOW, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO WORK HARD," "SO IF THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO TO THEM," "JEEZ, YOU'RE HAVING A BALL." "NO!" "I'M HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME," "AND THAT'S THE WHOLE SENSE OF MY LIFE." "ANOTHER PERSON REPRISED ANOTHER DOCTRINE." "NOW, THIS IS BODH GAYA." "THIS IS THE ACTUAL TREE UNDER WHICH THE BUDDHA SAT." "AND SO WE CAN COMFORTIZE THE WHOLE THING." "AND WE CAN GO TO BODH GAYA, YOU SEE." "AND THERE'S A BIG TEMPLE THAT'S BEEN BUILT THERE," "AND THESE ARE THE STAGES OF THE HEAVENS." "NOW, THE IDEA IS IN REINCARNATION," "REINCARNATION IS THE COUNTERPART IN THE ORIENT" "OF PURGATORY IN THE WEST." "WHEN YOU DIE AND ARE SO BOUNDED BY YOUR EGO" "AND ITS INTENTIONS AND DESIRES AND FEARS" "THAT YOU CAN'T OPEN TO THE TRANSCENDENT REVELATION" "OF THE BEATIFIC VISION, WHICH WOULD ANNIHILATE EGOISM," "THEN YOU HAVE TO BE PURGED-- PURGATORY" "OF YOUR EGO, AND THIS IS A KIND OF POST-GRADUATE COURSE" "THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU IN A GOOD CHRISTIAN TRADITION." "IN THE ORIENTAL TRADITION, YOU WOULD BE REBORN." "YOU HAVE THE SAME..." "ANOTHER CHANCE, ANOTHER CHANCE," "AND SO YOU KEEP GETTING REBORN UNTIL YOU ARE CLEANED OF EGO," "BUT IN BETWEEN INCARNATIONS," "YOU WILL GO EITHER TO A HEAVEN OR TO A HELL," "DEPENDING ON HOW YOU BEHAVE." "IF YOU RESPONDED AS WELL AS YOU COULD" "TO THE DISCIPLINES OF YOUR LIFE," "YOU'LL GO TO A HEAVEN FOR WHICH YOU ARE READY." "OR IF YOU RESISTED, YOU'LL BE SENT TO A HELL" "WHERE REAL TOUGH DEITIES WILL SMASH YOU UP" "AND MAKE YOU SORRY FOR YOURSELF." "NOW, THE HEAVEN THAT YOU GO TO" "WILL BE APPROPRIATE TO YOUR CONDITION." "NOBODY IS JUDGING YOU AND SAYING," "YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THIS HEAVEN OR TO THAT HELL." "YOUR OWN PSYCHE HAS A KIND OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY" "THAT CARRIES YOU JUST TO THE RIGHT HEAVEN." "NOW, IF YOU'RE READY FOR ROCK-N-ROLL," "IT WON'T ASSIGN YOU TO A CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT." "THE HEAVEN THAT YOU WILL ENJOY" "WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR READINESS." "AND THE HEAVENS GRADE UP." "THE LOWER HEAVENS ARE THOSE OF EROTIC DELIGHTS" "OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER." "NEXT STEP ARE SOME OF THOSE OF PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEMPLATION" "AND SO FORTH." "AND FINALLY UP ABOVE, IT'S THE TRANSCENDENCE" "AND MEDITATION ON TRANSCENDENCE AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "AND FINALLY WE DISSOLVE." "SO THAT'S THE WORLD MOUNTAIN," "AND BENEATH IT IS THE ABYSSAL HELLS." "ALSO GRADED." "DANTE'S "DIVINE COMEDY" GIVES US EXACTLY" "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANTE'S HELL" "AND THE HELL OF THOMAS AQUINAS," "AQUINAS' HELL IS JUST SHEER PUNISHMENT." "DANTE'S HELL IS APPROPRIATE" "TO THE WAY YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE" "AND HIS HEAVEN, ALSO." "SO THE FUTURE TRANSCENDENCE IS SIMPLY A REFLECTION" "OF YOUR PRESENT EARTHLY CHARACTER AND DEEDS" "AND SO FORTH." "FOR CAMPBELL," "THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY" "ARE TOO GREAT TO IGNORE." "PURGATORY IS EQUIVALENT TO REINCARNATION." "THE BUDDHA'S JOYFUL PARTICIPATION" "IN THE SORROWS OF THE WORLD" "IS REFLECTED IN CHRIST'S INTENTIONAL PARTICIPATION" "IN THE CRUCIFIXION." "IT'S OBVIOUS TO JOE" "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND BUDDHISM" "IS NOT SO MUCH IN THE STORY" "BUT IN HOW WE SEE OURSELVES IN THE STORY." "THE HIGHEST REALIZATION IN BUDDHISM" "IS ONE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THE BUDDHA." "ALL BABIES ARE BUDDHA BABIES." "THEY JUST DON'T KNOW IT." "THIS PRIME REALIZATION IN BUDDHISM" "IS THE PRIME HERESY IN CHRISTIANITY." "THE GOOD CHRISTIAN IS NOT GOD;" "HE SERVES GOD." "WE HAVE TWO CONTRARY WAYS OF READING MYTHS HERE." "ONE GIVES US THE MYTH OF IDENTIFICATION," "AND THE OTHER A MYTH OF RELATIONSHIPS." "BUT HOWEVER DISTINCT" "THE BUDDHIST AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS ARE AT THEIR CORE," "NEITHER DEVELOPED IN THE ISOLATION OF A CLOSED SOCIETY." "EACH WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE INFLUENCE OF OUTSIDE FORCES" "AND EACH INFLUENCED SURROUNDING CULTURES." "500 B.C., THE BUDDHA." "500 B.C., CONFUCIUS." "NOW, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DATE." "I WANT TO MAKE THIS LINE." "THE BUDDHA, NIRVANA, A STILL PARTICLE." "CONFUCIUS, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION." "THROUGH SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, THE DAO, THE WAY," "THE LIFE ORDER IS RECOGNIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN" "AND BROUGHT INTO MANIFESTATION." "AND HIS DATES ARE SOMETHING LIKE 511 TO 478 B.C." "IT'S RIGHT ON THE LINE OF THE BUDDHIST DATES" "OF 563-483." "THIS IS THE KEY MAN FOR THE FAR EAST." "CONFUCIANISM." "NOW, BEHIND CONFUCIUS IS ANOTHER FIGURE" "WHO'S KNOWN AS LAO TZU." "THESE AREN'T ACTUALLY PORTRAITS OF THESE MEN." "NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE." "BUT LAO TZU MEANS THE OLD BOY, THE OLD SAGE" "WHO IS IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS A KIND OF PURE ETERNIST" "WITH THE DAO." "THEY TELL ME THAT IN CHINA, THE TWO GREAT ATTITUDES" "ARE THE CONFUCIAN AND THE DAOIST." "WHEN SOCIETY IS IN FORM, THE CONFUCIAN MOOD PREVAILS." "SOCIAL PARTICIPATION," "PARTICIPATION IN THE WAY OF THE SOCIETY" "THROUGH THE RITES OF THE SOCIETY." "THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO" "WITH SACRIFICE AND RITUAL IN THE OLD SENSE." "THEY HAVE TO DO WITH PARTICIPATION" "IN THE SOCIAL ORDER." "WHEN THE SOCIETY GOES BERSERK," "THEN PEOPLE MOVE TOWARD THE DAOIST POSITION," "WHICH IS UNIFICATION WITH THE UNIVERSE," "THE DAO OF THE UNIVERSE," "THE DAOIST SAGE, YOU MIGHT SAY," "THE TYPICAL ONE IS ON THE MOUNTAINTOP." "HE'S LET THE BRIARS GROW IN THE GATE TO HIS HUT." "UNITES WITH THE UNIVERSE." "OR YOU CAN UNITE WITH SOCIETY." "IN ANY CASE, IN CHINA, AND ONE FEELS THIS VERY STRONGLY," "THERE IS A MUCH STRONGER ACCENT ON POSITIVE PARTICIPATION" "IN THE FLOW THAN IN INDIA." "EVEN IN THE MAHOGA IS YOGA OF THE MAHAYANA IN INDIA," "YOU STILL FEEL, WELL, WE WISH WE WERE OUT OF IT." "BUT IN CHINA," "THERE'S THIS MARVELOUS GROUNDING PARTICIPATION." "LAO TZU IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN THE OLDER SAGE," "AND THIS IS CONFUCIUS TALKING WITH LAO TZU." "LAU TZU REPRESENTS THE DAO IN NATURE," "CONFUCIUS ADAPTS IT TO THE DAO IN SOCIETY." "500." "THE BUDDHA IN INDIA, CONFUCIUS IN CHINA." "SO NOW WE COME TO THE NEAR EAST," "AND THIS IS THE DATE OF DARIUS I." "I THINK IT'S 523 TO 468." "AND HE WAS THE MASTER." "AND WHAT IS THE IDEA HERE?" "THE IDEA IS OF THE EMPEROR AS INCARNATION" "OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KING OF KINGS." "GOD AS KING OF KINGS, AND HUMAN BEINGS AS GOD'S SUBJECTS." "PLEASE GET THIS." "THE IDEA OF MAN AS THE SERVANT OF GOD," "MAN AS THE SUBJECT OF GOD, MAN AS THE SLAVE OF GOD." "THIS HAS COME TO US." "I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID IN SCHOOL" "WHEN WE WERE ASSIGNED THE CATECHISM," "WHY DID GOD MAKE YOU?" "GOD MADE ME TO LOVE HIM, TO SERVE HIM," "AND TO HONOR HIM IN THIS WORLD" "AND TO BE HAPPY WITH HIM FOREVER IN HEAVEN." "IT HAS TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIP TO GOD." "GOD DID NOT MAKE ME TO REALIZE MY GOD GROUP." "HE SAYS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING." "SO WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINE," "AND THIS IS THE NEAR-EASTERN SYSTEM" "OUT OF WHICH OUR BIBLICAL HERITAGE COMES." "NOW, THAT IS OUTSTANDING AND DIFFERENT." "THEN WE COME TO GREECE, THE SAME DATE." "THIS IS PYTHAGORAS," "AND YOU'D THINK YOU WERE IN INDIA AGAIN." "PLATONIC PYTHAGOREAN TRADITIONS." "ONE OF THE MOST AVAILABLE STATEMENTS" "OF THE PYTHAGOREAN POSITION IS IN "OVID,"" "IN THE "METAMORPHOSES."" "HE TELLS OF THE SAGE OF SAMOS, AND WHAT DID THIS SAGE TEACH?" "HE WAS FAR FROM THE GODS BUT IN HIS MIND AT HOME WITH THEM." "AND WHAT HIS TEACHING WAS WAS THIS:" "ALL THINGS CHANGE BUT THEY ARE ONE." "THE ONE WAX TAKES MANY MOLDS." "IT'S THE SAME OLD DOCTRINE." "SO HERE WE HAVE IT." "IN BETWEEN THE GREEK," "THE INDO-EUROPEAN CLASSICAL GREEK," "AND THE INDO-EUROPEAN INDIAN," "AND BEYOND THAT, THE CHINESE." "WE HAVE THIS AUTHORITARIAN KING OF KINGS TRADITION," "WHICH HAS COME TO US THROUGH THE BIBLE." "I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GO THERE, BUT IT'S THERE." "AND IT WOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING THING" "TO TRACE THE BACKGROUND OF THIS." "WHY IT SHOULD BE OUTSTANDING AND DIFFERENT IN THIS WAY." "NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE, TO TALK ABOUT." "THIS IS FIFTH CENTURY GREECE, THIS THING'S COMING IN." "THE RATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF GREECE." "ALSO MAN AS MAN, THE HUMANISTIC TRADITION," "WHICH IS NOT IN THE ORIENT AT ALL." "THE IDEA OF MAN AS HIMSELF THE CENTER" "WITHOUT BONDAGE TO DEITIES." "THE DEITIES ARE THERE AS ECHOES," "BUT THEMSELVES REPRESENTING POWERS OF MAN." "FIFTH CENTURY GREECE AND ARISTOTLE." "NOW, IF WE'RE TO THINK OF THE OLD PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY" "AS A MANIFESTATION TO OUR MENTAL MIND" "OF THE WISDOM OF THE BODY," "WE MAY THINK OF THE ARISTOTELIAN APPROACH" "AS ADDRESSED TO AND FROM THE MENTAL." "NOW, WHEN YOU'RE READING ARISTOTLE," "AND WHETHER IT'S HIS "AESTHETICS"" "OR HIS "THE SOUL" OR WHATNOT," "YOU REALIZE THAT WHAT HE'S DOING" "IS RENDERING THROUGH RATIONAL TERMINOLOGY" "REFERENCES TO AND SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF" "THE OLDER TRADITIONS." "HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE SOUL" "AND ABOUT TRANSCENDENCE OF RATIONALITY" "THROUGH THE RATIONAL LANGUAGE." "WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE IS" "IS THAT THE RATIONAL THING HAS TAKEN OVER" "AND THE REFERENCE TO THE TRANSCENDENCE DROPS OUT," "AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS" "OF OUR TRADITIONS." "SO IN THE WEST, WE HAVE THESE TWO HERITAGES:" "ARISTOTLE AND THE BIBLE." "ARISTOTLE, RATIONAL, BUT IN HIS RATIONALITY," "IT WAS RATIONAL IN THE WAY OF REFERENCE" "TO SOMETHING TRANSCENDENT AT THAT," "BUT IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY STIFF AND RATIONAL." "AND IN THE BIBLE, YOU HAVE THE STRESS ON THE ETHNIC" "RATHER THAN THE ELEMENTARY ASPECTS OF THE MESSAGE." "AND THESE TWO HAVE GIVEN US A COMMITMENT TO TIME AND SPACE" "IN AND FOR ITSELF," "AGAINST WHICH THE TRANSCENDENCE OF THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY" "COMES AS A THREAT." "A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THE FEELING OF BEING THREATENED BY THIS" "BECAUSE IT'S THREATENING THEIR RATIONAL ETHNIC STANCE." "OK, NOW COMES THE GREAT MOMENT." "ARISTOTLE'S STUDENT, ALEXANDER THE GREAT." "THIS IS A ROMAN MOSAIC." "THAT'S ANOTHER KIND OF MIND, AND WHAT'S HE DOING?" "332, THE BATTLE OF ARBELLA." "HE IS DEFEATING DARIUS III," "A YOUNG, BRILLIANT SOLDIER" "WHOSE FATHER WAS A GREAT MILITARY MAN." "HE DESIGNS MILITARY METHODS THAT JUST WENT WAY BEYOND" "WHAT ANYONE HAD THOUGHT OF BEFORE," "AND IN A LIGHTNING FLASH, ONLY WITHIN 15 YEARS," "THIS YOUNG MAN HAS CONQUERED ALL OF THE OLDER SYSTEMS" "IN THE NEAR EAST AROUND HIM." "FALL OF PERSIA, HE RUSHES RIGHT THROUGH AND GOES TO INDIA," "AND THEN THE PUNJAB." "HE ENTERS THE PUNJAB AROUND 327 B.C." "AND IT WAS THERE THAT THE FIRST ENCOUNTER," "WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED," "OF THE WESTERN MIND AND THE ORIENTAL GURU TAKES PLACE." "HE HAD A LOT OF YOUNG OFFICERS" "WHO WERE ALSO STUDENTS OF ARISTOTLE" "AND PHILOSOPHERS AND SO FORTH, AND THEY HAD HEARD" "THAT THERE WAS A SCHOOL OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHERS" "OUT IN THE FOREST." "SO WITH ABOUT 98 INTERPRETERS," "THEY GO OUT TO TALK TO THIS SCHOOL." "AND WHAT THEY COME TO AND FIND" "IS A GROUP OF OLD, NAKED CODGERS SITTING ON A BURNING HOT ROCK." "AND WHEN THEY PROPOSED TO TALK PHILOSOPHY," "THE OLD YOGIS SAY, WHO CAN TALK PHILOSOPHY" "WITH YOUNG MEN WEARING MILITARY BOOTS AND CAPES?" "TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF," "SIT ON A ROCK FOR ABOUT 90 YEARS," "AND WE CAN BEGIN TO TALK." "[LAUGHTER]" "BUT ONE OF THEM WAS INTERESTED." "AND HE GOT UP TO THE JEERS OF ALL THE OTHERS" "AND WENT OFF WITH THESE CHAPS" "AND BECAME QUITE A FAVORITE AT ALEXANDER'S BANQUET TABLE." "ALEXANDER MAY HAVE BEEN" "A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF ARISTOTLE BY THAT TIME." "AND HE BECAME REALLY A GREAT FAVORITE" "AND WAS GIVEN PRESENTS AND GIFTS AND SO FORTH." "BUT WHEN THE ARMY THEN TURNED BACK" "THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER EAST" "AND STARTED BACK INTO PERSIA," "WHEN HE CAME TO PERSIA, OUT OF HIS INDIA," "HE SAID, BUILD ME A GREAT PYRE." "HE CLIMBED UP, SAT IN YOGA POSTURE ON THE TOP OF THE PYRE," "AND WITH THE ELEPHANTS OF ALEXANDER'S ARMY TRUMPETING" "AND DOING SUN-WISE TURNS AROUND THE PYRE," "HE SAID, ALL RIGHT, TOUCH A MATCH TO IT." "AND THERE IN YOGA POSTURE HE WENT UP IN FLAMES." "THIS WAS EUROPE'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE EAST," "AND IT HASN'T RECOVERED SINCE." "BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN INDIA AS A RESULT OF ALEXANDER" "WAS A RIPPLE OF EFFECT" "AND THE FALL OF ONE DYNASTY AFTER ANOTHER," "AND WE FIND AS EARLY AS THE FIRST CENTURY B.C.," "IN ORISSA, AT THE OTHER END OF INDIA," "GREEK SOLDIERS GUARDING TEMPLES." "GREEK MERCENARIES." "AND FAVORITES IN THE HAREMS OF NORTH INDIA AT THAT TIME" "WERE THE GREEK WOMEN." "AND SO THERE TAKES PLACE A VERY STRONG GREEK INFLUENCE." "AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE TO DERIVE FROM THIS IN INDIA" "WAS ASHOKA." "HIS DATES ARE THE MIDDLE OF THE THIRD CENTURY B.C.," "AROUND 350 B.C." "ASHOKA WAS THE FIRST EMPEROR TO BECOME A BUDDHIST." "IT WAS THOUGHT HE MAY HAVE BEEN A JAIN BEFORE THAT," "BUT HE BECOMES A BUDDHIST." "HE HAD CONQUERED THE NORTH OF INDIA" "AND A GOOD DEAL OF THE EAST." "AND THEN HE BECAME OVERWHELMED WITH THE REALIZATION" "AND WITH SORROW" "THAT HE HAD BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH HIS CONQUEST." "AND THE BUDDHIST REALIZATION-- ALL LIFE IS SORROWFUL" "OVERWHELMED HIM AND HE BECAME A BUDDHIST." "THIS IS THE FIRST BUDDHIST MONARCH." "AND HE SENT MISSIONARIES-- NOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT" "TO CEYLON." "HE SENT HIS OWN SON AND DAUGHTER TO CEYLON" "TO FOUND A MISSION THERE." "HE SENT MISSIONARIES ALSO," "AND THESE ARE ANNOUNCED IN HIS DICTATES, HIS STATEMENTS" "THAT ARE ENGRAVED IN ROCK AND MARBLE." "MISSIONARIES TO MACEDONIA, TO CYPRUS, TO EGYPT." "300 B.C., 250 OR SO," "WE BEGIN TO HAVE BUDDHISTMISSIONARIES IN THE NEAR EAST." "AND IT'S AT THAT TIME THAT NEO-PLATONIC PHILOSOPHY" "BEGINS TO ARRIVE." "THERE HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD IMPORTANT STUDIES" "BY A MAN NAMED DARBUT IN GERMAN, FOR EXAMPLE," "OF PARALLELING NEO-PLATONIC AND SANCHIA PHILOSOPHIES." "AND THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE INFLUENCE BEGAN COMING OVER." "SO WE BEGIN THEN TO HAVE A SYNTHESIS" "OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN THINKING." "NOW, THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THE BUDDHA'S LIFE." "HE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE WORLD FOR THE LAST TIME," "HIS LAST INCARNATION." "THIS IS KNOWN AS THE PARINIRVANA OF THE BUDDHA." "HE LIES IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE LION POSTURE." "ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, HEAD ON HIS RIGHT HAND," "ONE FOOT ON THE OTHER." "GOOD BUDDHISTS ARE SUPPOSED TO ASSUME THAT POSTURE" "WHEN GOING TO SLEEP, WHEN GOING TO BED." "I CAN TELL YOU, AFTER YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS," "IF YOU ASSUME THAT POSTURE," "YOU CAN'T HELP BUT MEDITATE ON THE BUDDHA." "AT HIS HEAD HERE IS STANDING HIS FAVORITE CLOSE DISCIPLE ANANDA." "ANANDA IS THE PRECISE COUNTERPART" "IN THE BUDDHIST CONTEXT OF SAINT PETER IN THE CHRISTIAN." "ANANDA IS A VERY LOYAL BODY SERVANT, YOU MIGHT SAY," "OF THE BUDDHA," "BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT NOT BRIGHT." "AND SO IT IS WITH PETER." "NOW, THERE'S ONE PLACE WHERE JESUS SAID," ""PETER, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL THINGS." "I'LL MAKE YOU THE HEAD OF MY CHURCH."" "AND THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WE SEE WITH ANANDA HERE." "ANANDA'S ALWAYS GETTING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT WRONG," "SO HE DOES BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH," "AND WHAT THESE TWO MEN REPRESENT IS THE EXOTERIC WAY." "THEN THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE SAINT JAMES" "OR CASSIOPA IN THE BUDDHIST THEME" "WHO REPRESENTS THE ESOTERIC." "IT'S TWO IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE TRADITION." "WELL, THE BUDDHA IS HERE ABOUT TO QUIT THE WORLD," "PARANIRVANA." "AND STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM IS A GREAT BIG FAT PRIEST." "AND THE BUDDHA SPEAKS ROUGHLY TO THE PRIEST." "HE SAYS, GET OUT OF THE WAY." "ANANDA SAYS, OH, MASTER," "IS THAT THE WAY TO SPEAK TO THAT NOBLE PRIEST?" "AND THE BUDDHA SAYS," "IT IS NOT VERY OFTEN THAT A BUDDHA LEAVES THE WORLD." "AND LOOK, THE ANGELS HAVE COME, THE SERPENTS HAVE COME," "THE DEMONS--EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD HAS COME" "TO WITNESS THE PASSING OF THE BUDDHA." "AND WITH THAT BIG FAT PRIEST STANDING IN THE WAY," "NOBODY CAN SEE." "NOW, THAT'S THE BUDDHIST COMMENTARY" "ON THE FUNCTION OF THE CLERGY." "WELL, SO THAT'S THAT ONE." "THE GOAL OF BUDDHISM IS TO IDENTIFY OUR OWN CONSCIOUSNESS" "WITH THAT OF BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS," "WHICH IS THE MYSTERY THAT LIVES IN ALL THINGS." "THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ENLIGHTENMENT." "JOIN US NEXT TIME" "WHEN JOE CAMPBELL SHOWS US THE PATH THROUGH YOGA." "CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA" "CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE"