What does "Mahayana" mean to you?

[RichardH]

My understanding is this (speaking as a student)... The word MAHA can mean great, vast, or open, The word YANA means vehicle, way, or path. MAHAYANA is the great open way. This great way emerged from the heart of compassion, the realization that ending suffering means ending suffering for all beings, not just 'me'. I believe this was implicit in the earliest teachings and bound to unfold with time (according to tradition it was intended to, but that is another topic). The meaning of "saving all beings" has been finessed many ways over the centuries and can mean different things to different people.

My question is: What does Mahayana mean to you? I'm not looking for opinion on the reading of Sutra and so forth, but what it means in your own heart and mind. Thank you.

Gassho
Daizan

Sat today

[Jishin]

Hi Daizan,

I am not good with words. Having said that, it's only a word just like any other.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kokuu]

Hi Daizan

Ryōkan says it better than me:

"When I think about the sadness of the people in this world, their sadness becomes mine.
O that my priest's robe were wide enough to gather up all the suffering people in this floating world."

Historically, Mahayana obviously refers to a branch of Buddhism that arose in early first millennium India with sutras that focussed on Bodhisattva motivation, emptiness of all dharmas and a more wide-ranging Buddhist cosmology in which enlightened beings were not subject to usual physical laws. The schools that arose from these sutras were collectively known as Mahayana and the single most important theme, for me, is the Bodhisattva vow of not leaving any being behind.

However, as several teachers have said to me, this bodhisattva motivation is not dependent on the tradition you practice and you can be a Theravadin practitioner with Mahayana motivation or Mahayana practitioner only motivated to free yourself from suffering. What is important is what is in your heart rather than your sutra texts.

Gassho
Kokuu

[Kyonin]

Hi Daizan

For me, Mayahana is a great universal kesa that embraces all of that exists. Within it, everything has it's place and purpose and is interconnected.

Sure, there are sutras, rules and millennia of history. But deep inside me, that's what it means.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday

[Rich]

The great open way is very personal. As Kokuu said it's from the heart. As Kyonin said it embraces all. With awareness and being present you are actually open to everyone and everything. This openness is itself love and compassion so that's how you respond.

SAT today

[Ongen]

A wonderful question, Daizan.

The great way that leads to nowhere (or actually doesn't lead at all)... To me it's like standing small on the top of a mountain with unlimited view all around, taking deep breaths, breathe in - everything, breathe out - everything. All beings already liberated.

Gassho,


Ongen
Sat Today

[Mp]

Thank you Daizan and everyone for such great answers ... I feel the same, that Mahayana means, "everything". It means you, me, the birds, flowers, sunny days, storming winters ... including everything and lacking nothing. =)

Gassho
Shingen

#satoday

[seeker242]

Mahayana = For all beings.

[Myosha]

What does "Mahayana" mean to you?

Hello,

'An unsinkable raft.'


Gassho
Myosha sat today

[Ed]

The Mahayana.
Saving all sentient beings.
The bodhisattva path, in awareness of interdependent coarising, realizing we are not many, not two and not one. This Is Thusness, beyond happy and beyond sad.
It all comes from letting go, from zazen.
It comes from the end of my skin that can't be found.

[Getchi]

Hi Daizan,

Thought about this alot. To me Mahayana means "the whole thing is so vast, so infinitely huge, you may as well just give yourself over to the process and live in the Now. Save the others;- Why? Well, why not?".

Just a little riff.

Gassho,
Geoff.
SatToday.

[RichardH]

...Just a little riff....

I love little riffs.

Gassho
Daizan

sat today

[Risho]

Shew - crazy questions. lol

I think to me it means sacrifice, putting others before myself... remembering that we all go together, or no one goes because we are different, but we are also the same. Even people who we deem "evil" have to be included, which is really difficult. I have to do this practice, no one else can, but so does everyone else, for all of us. It means taking care of each other, and it takes practice because just last night I was calling someone a moron for driving too slow. Then I usually catch myself and laugh that I'm making value judgements about someone's character. hahaha Mahayana shines a light on my self-centered insanity.

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[Risho]

I've been thinking about this more and more. I also think that we all practice Hinayana (or what is commonly self-liberation, coming in with selfish reasons perhaps - I don't mean this as an attack on any of the Theravedan approaches at all; I simply mean this as another perspective on Buddhism) before we can even think of genuinely practicing for others. I catch myself practicing with goals -- after all self-based concerns brought me to this practice. I don't think one is superior to the other -- I think Hinayana is a gateway to Mahayana and I honestly float between both perspectives just due to my habits of having goals. But zazen allows those to be dropped and just do what you're doing, so the goal just drops and this is all there is, which is all there is anyway. So I don't think, oh those bad Hinayana, look at me the Mahayanist. lol I think these are 2 sides of an infinitely-sided coin.

It's like Christianity; unfortunately, everyone has an opinion on God, and religions spring up that I think are beside the point. For example, if a person uses religion to separate and to condemn others, or to focus on magic or the end of the world, I just think those are all so insignificant to the heart of the message (well my opinion). Don't worry about heaven or miracles. Turn the other cheek, seek peace, don't judge others but face and conquer/accept your own demons. Be an example, not a billboard or a preacher. I mean even in Judeo Christianity, there is the side of coming into it like I can't handle this, Jesus take the wheel, please don't let me burn in hell. But there's a much deeper level of helping and supporting others, learning about yourself and becoming more acceptant and less judgmental and loving towards humanity. I think there are interesting parallels here as well.

In any case, enough of my babble; thank you Daizan for this thread!

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[Sekishi]

If the cabin depressurizes and the oxygen masks drop, they tell parents to put their masks on first so they will be able to help their children.

Some days I have to work on my own sickness (fear, anger and delusion) so I'll be able to help others. But a motivation to ultimately help others seems crucial.

Gassho,
Sekishi
#sattoday - but not at 20,000 feet