Wesak Day, the epitome of three important events, the birth, enlightenment and the death of the Buddha, another SanHe? It is a day not for merry making but contemplation, notably the Buddha’s teachings.
Speaking about the teaching (Sasana), there are basically two main schools, the Theravada and the Mahayana. The Theravada (teaching of the elders) does not succumb to the practice of metaphysics and elaborated ceremonial with only their forte – mind cultivation for the cessation of birth (Arahanthood). This form of teachings is often misconstrued as impersonal, individualistic, cold, self-centered and anti social. Metaphysics knowledge is not encouraged but by defaults it came as a by-product of the refined mind (Citta) in subtle forms of clairvoyants and the sort. Technically, metaphysics are in placed but they do not attach to it, just another form object (Datthu) for investigative meditation (Vipassana). FengShui on the other hand is absolutely unnecessary as Theravadin are homeless ascetics with no permanent place to stay in their practices (Duthangga).
The Mahayana, discarded the Arahant ideal in favor of the Bodhisattva (Buddha to be) path of the 10 perfections (Paramis) through endless cycles of birth and death (Samsara) to attain Buddhahood. Such schism stems from a question regarding the nature of Saint (Arahant), who is free of rebirth (Nirvana), are imperfect being. Departing from the old school, they took the name of the Supreme Wheel (Mahayana) and called upon Theravadin, Inferior Wheel (Hinayana). It is a new-age Buddhism encompassing practices from Shamanism, Tantric, and Confucianism to Daoism as skills (Upaya). The molding of this new age reached pinnacle at Nalanda University (ivory tower of Buddhist Studies). The teaching (Dharma) is no longer cater for the commoner, but for the privileged few. New teachers emerged, called Pandits. It is such that metaphysics, occult and astrology find its place within and scriptures are expanded to include the pantheon of Bodhisattvas (Idols), Yoga (exercise), Mudra (hand gesture), Mandala (patterns) and Mantra (chants), collectively known as esoteric teachings, alien to the Theravada in archaic Sanskrit, remote to the common language, Pali.
Commoners are Sanskrit illiterate, only Brahmin can read sanskrit. Brahmin is a superior caste according to Hindu Purusha Sukta which prescribed, Gods divided the Primeval Purusha to form societies where, Brahmin is the holiest and Shudra (workers) are the lowest caste. Chinese version of PanGu may be coincident, it forms landscapes from its body parts and the genesis of societies is accredited to NuWa with only 2 distinctive classes called the Nobles and the Commoners.
Access into knowledge is privy to the Brahmin who is the descendents of Indo Aryans, whom regarded Manu, as the progenitor of the 5 tribes and not the 4 caste, which were believed to be fabricated for perpetual domination. Such that the Buddha teaches, Brahmin is not by birth but by conducts, are unconventional that has won supports of the Indians. Ironically, the bastardization of such noble teachings to the stage of Pompous Baroque has made the Sasana extinct from India and boom in the east. Yet, the Silk Road Mahayana scriptures from the ruined Nalanda, are basically “rubbish in – rubbish out”, as Sanskrit concept verbatim translation into Chinese make no sense. Such was the gist teachings of Bodhidharma, where the real Dharma is the Dharma with no words. Zen becomes a fashion overnight.
The commoner are pragmatic. Since in essence, Zen has no forms, it marries into the Chinese culture of Confucianism and Daoism, contemporary known as “Bud-Dao-Con”. Such tapestry is not unique to the Chinese. The Japanese has their Bushido cum Omyoji. The Tibetans with their Bon cum Tantric. The Thai with their Shamanism mixed Theravada. It is on this account; metaphysics became part and parcel of the collective whole of religious tapestry.
By token, in the contemporary sense of Chinese Metaphysics, if your 8 mansions or flying stars doesn’t work, you still can mixed and matched with whatsoever methods be it religious or not, as long as it looks mystical and fashionable liked the ability of moving clouds, calling rains, blowing winds. Called it FengShui of the 11th Dimensions? Bullshit! FengShui has nothing to do with religion.
This Wesak is extraordinary. After 10 years of reading the Biography of Acariya Mun, it never fails to amaze me. The Sasana is still very much alive and living, expounded only by the Savaka Arahant in spirits. Does it go the same with FengShui?
Happy Wesak!
