GAQ BP 102 - 27th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Choo Beng, Andrew Long, Jebsons presented the Purana Kassapa
• Mee Leng, Robert presented the Makkhali Gosala

GAQ P 102 - 27th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Continued the Bhikkhuni Khandaka and stopped after saying what to practice briefly for Maha Pajapati Gotami and what to look out for the characteristics of the Dhamma Vinaya

GAQ BC 102 - 25th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Officially finished the topics on Samana and Brahmana
• Talk about the teachings overview of the 6 teachers - akiriyavada and kiriyavada, concept of god, past karma and non actions etc

GAQ P 101 - 25th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Narmada did Upasagga Prefix from Handout 3
• Said that Bhante Udita away for 5 weeks and will cover for him

GAQ BC 101 - 22nd March 2012 (Thursday)

• Brahmanism (900 BC - 700 BC)
• Priest becomes more powerful than Gods
• Caste System
• Brahmins
• Kattiyas
• Vaishyas
• Suddas
• Supremancy of "Sacrifice"
• Increasing Materials Expenses and doubt that it can solve human problems
• Created new deity "Prajapati"
• Is he/she all-mighty
• Aryanyakas (Vanaprastha)
• Sacrifices uses symbolism expresion instead of physical performances
• Enphasizes on Meditation
• Philosophical Ideas
• Horse Sacrifice "Asramedha"
• Sun is the horse eye
• the wind is his breath
• the sacrifice fire is his mouth
• the seasons are his limbs
• the stars are his bones
• the plants and trees are his hairs
• Brahmana <-> Aryanyakas <-> Upanishads
• Features of Aryanyakas
• Do not give rules for the performances of sacrifices ad the explanation of the ceremonies
• Meditation is teh spirit of their teaching
• Austerities are emphasized
• Hence stress the efficasy of the inner or mental sacrifice as distinguished from the outer ot formal sacrifices i.e. Brahmana sacrifice
• Aryanyaka period clearly shows the transition from the Path of Sacrifice to the Path of Knowledge which was to be attained through severe ascetic practice and deep contemplation
• Sraddha means introspection

GAQ BP 102 - 20th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Lay Hoon not here today. Supposedly sick (Physically hor... not otherwise)

GAQ P 102 - 20th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Did Bhikkhuni Khandaka, the section on the conversation between Buddha, Ananda and Mahapajapati Gotami about the respecting of seniors and rules to be followed
• Ven . Seelananda hinted that the exam gotta sign up next week or on Thursday. About US$200 fees... DOUBTS !?!?!?!

GAQ BC 102 - 18th March 2012 (Sunday)

• 6 Contenporary Teachers
• Karma
• Samsara
• Moksha
• Info on the 6 teachers are only concluded in the Upanishads period
• Refer to DN 2 Samannaphala Sutta for more info
• Makkali Ghosala, Purana Kassapa and Pakuda Kaccayana are all Ajivakas
• Makkali Ghosala
• Sudda Caste
• Teach niyati
• Determnism
• Fatalist
• Everything occurs by chance and fate
• No cause and condition
• Ahetukavada
• No Kammic result
• No human effort for spiritual practice
• No reason to do so
• Subscribes to "akiriyavada" -> non action
• Humans and beings should live out their lives for 84 Maha Kalpas like a ball of thread that unwinds to in the end gain moksha
• The Buddha criticises him as the worst of al teachers
• Makkali Ghosala claima to have psychic powers
• Was once with Nigantha Nataputta but split away because of fundamental doctrinal reasons
• Purana Kassapa
• Same as Makkali Ghosala
• Sudda Caste
• More of a ahetukavada
• Amoralist
• Nothing was said about his idea of liberation
• Pakuda Kaccayana
• Brahmin Caste
• Atomist
• In beings there are 7 elements
• Pathavi (Earth)
• Apo (Water)
• Tejo (Heat)
• Vayo (Wind)
• Sukha
• Dukkha
• Life principle a.k.a. soul
• Body is indestructable and is permanent
• It is all that is a process that every being is going through
• Nothing really happens
• No cause and conditions
• No need to do anything to gain liberation
• Ajita Kesakambali
• Buddha said that he is dirty and smelly if his hair is not washed clean
• Believe that there are the 4 Maha Bhutas in a being
• There is no existence of the after-life
• Ucchedavadin
• 10 Wrong Views
• There is no need for spiritual development
• Lead life to the fullest in sense indulgement
• Materialist
• Nigantha Nataputta
• Extrene ahimsa
• 4 fold restraint
• Strainer, broom, mouth mask
• Karma stains jiva / atta / atman
• Not to perform bad karma
• Because of bad past karma, thus perform extreme self mortification
• He is a kiriyavadin and also an akiriyavadin
• In buddhism, we stress on mental intention as Karma
• In Jainism, Nigantha Nataputta stress on all intentional and unintentional bodity action as Karma
• View the soul that reaches he heavens to enjoy the bliss as nirvana
• Sanjaya Belathaputta
• Intellectual Teacher or an Idiotic Fool
• Sariputta and Moggallana were once his students
• No commitment to any statement put to him
• Skeptic
• We may infer self-indulgence
• Al teachers are akiriyavadins except Nigantha Nataputta and Sanjaya Belathaputta

GAQ BP 101 - 18th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Yoga Philosophy
• Mainly dealing with meditation
• There are 6 kinds of Indian Thought
• There is the syatematical practice of meditation yoga in the Patanjali Sutra
• There also existed this yoga practice in the Dravidian period
• Yoga philosophy deals with discipline
• It aims to unite the ultimate truths about the nature of man and the world
• Yoga philosophy can be found in : Jainism, Buddhism
• Shankhya, Nyaya, Vaisesika and Vedanta
• Shankhya has only theory and no practice but later accepted yoga into its practice to realize truths
• Kaivalya is the liberatioin from everything and mainly depends on yoga which is related to realizing wisdom pertaining to metaphysical propositions and episemology
• In Yogic Philosophy, there must be a creator God called "Isvara" meaning chief or highest God
• Purusa is the self free from all bondages and physical miseries and pain
• Prakuti have bonds but n mental energy and no mind
• Prakuti have to contact other purusas
• Supreme Purusas cannot create prakuti and purusas and it inly acts asa support base
• Perfection is achieved through graded means
• Through meditation, it allows them to known the inperfection compared to God
• Yoga frees man from shackles of Prakuti and know the true nature of self as immortal, all prevading and independant
• Knowledge can destroy ignorance and illusion that binds self to Prakuti
• There are 4 Divisions of Yoga
• Samadhipada
• Introduction to nature, goal and method, modification of body organ, citta and yogic techniques leading to the cessation of modification
• Sadhanapada
• Analysis of suffering, cause and elimination. Suffeings of mental states, actoins and effects, attachments to effects, karma and bondages
• Vubhutipada
• Yoga Philosophy and paranomal phenomena, acquisitoin of super powers
• Kaivalya
• Liberation, reality of self as the transcendal purusa, various realms of beings
• Man has to subdue senses, passions and desires
• Patanjali (8 factors of yogic meditation)
• Elimination of mental distractions
• Yama
• Niyama
• Elimination of physical distractions
• Asana
• Pranayama
• Detachment of senses from the mind
• Pratyahara
• Achieve primodial intuition (Original Mind)
• Dharana
• Dhyana (flow of mental energy)
• Samadhi (Confine the mind to a certain area -> concentration)
• 3 Sources of Knowledges
• Direct cognition of senses
• Inference
• Teatimon ????

GAQ P 101 - 18th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Did handout 3 "Infinitive" verb section

GAQ BC 101 - 15th March 2012 (Thursday)

• Today Dolly not here so Ven . Hao Xiang took over till 9pm
• 2011 exam question to do at own time (OTOT)
• Discuss the migration of Aryans to India an factually explain how they established themselves in a short period of time
• "As a result of man's inability to understand the nature, Vedic religions emarged" Discuss.
• Did Lecture notes Lesson 4 "Brahmanism"
• Vedas means knowledge
• Rig Veda (from 1500 BC to 900 BC to compile)
• Accounts of social, religious, political and economical background
• Centred on God Theory
• Priests do rituals and sing hymns
• There are 10 Books (Mandalas) written encompased in this Veda
• There are 7 families famous for the hymns
• Different families heard and recite different parts of Indra's hymns
• Qualities of a Priest
• Mediator between People and Gods
• Able to chant
• Sounds made in rituals and rites are very important
• Do the right ritual, use the right material and for the right god
• Sage, Seer or Rishi create the hymns
• Brahmins need to pass down the chant and hymns to the sons
• Sama Veda (melody and tunes)
• Most of the hymns are borrowed from the Rig Veda and to be sung by Udgatri (Sama Priests) in sacrifices
• Yajur Veda
• Composed in prose and is meant to be used by Adhvarya priests for superfluous explanations of the rites and rituals
• Atharva Veda
• Used by Brahma, the Artharva Priests, to correct mispronunciations and wrong performances
• In Brahmanism period (900 BC - 700 BC), there is a conflict between the warroior caste and Brahmin caste
• Studentship - Householder - Varnaprastha (sit nearthe teacher in the forest) - Sannyasi (he himself)
• Vedas (Samhitas) - 4 Vedas
• Brahmanas (Rituals) - Ritualistic texts including religious duties
• Aryankas (Theologies) - Serves as an object of meditation for ascetics who live in the forest
• Upanishads (Philosophies) - Concluding parts of the Vedas therefore contain the essence of Vedic teachings
• There are 108 famous Upanishads; now only 13 have been translated into english
• General Features of Brahmnism Period
• Supremancy of Yajna (sacrifice) Dharma (i.e. how to rule the country)
• Yajna is a symbolic expression and its efficacy is due to the correct pronunciation. Only Brahma Priest has the correct pronunciation
• Visible and Invisible gods; the people make it such that the gods are visible to you (this will be touched in the next lesson)
• Rta is the cosmic principle. This became the Karma principle in later times
• Karma Marga (path of selfness action) became Jnana Marga (path of knowledge) in Aryanka and Upanishad Period
• Caste System
• New Deity - Pajapati (all mighty creator)
• Position of Indra downgraded from War God back to Thunder God
• Indra -> Brahma -> Prajapati -> Brahma
• "Law of Manu" book is a nust for everyone to remember
• Created by humans to benefit Brahmins

GAQ P 102 - 13th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Seelananda did the summary of the 8 important rules and introduced the sequence on who got higher oedination first - Mahapajapati Gotami and the 500 Sakyan Ladies
• He also agreed to send us a copy of his notes... pending

GAQ BC 101 - 8th March 2012 (Thursday)

• Gods (anthropomorphism)
• Classify into 3 Spheres
• Heavenly gods - Varuna (Guardian of Cosmic Order; Rita became Karma Theory in Brahnamism)
• Sky gods - Indra
• Earth Gods - Agni & Soma
• Create more gods as time elapses
• Increasing in rituals and sacrifices
• Priest position rises higher and higher and rituals and sacrifices became more and more elaborate and complicated
• Grhyakaman (Simple rituals performed by householders)
• Srauta Karmani (Complicated rituals and materials needed; performed by kings and rich men and increase the time spent in rituals and increase in number of priests needed)
• Sacrifice is also with music
• They believe that hymns are not human creation but by divine revelation
• 1st Priest is Manu and they tru to come out with a book called "Law of Manu"which mentions the 3 spheres of gods
• There is no mention of rebirth and karma in early vedic sources
• Brahmana period (900 BC - 700 BC)
• Rebirth and Karma is mentioned in the Upanishads
• Praurti Margi (This worldly)
• Householders, kings and nobles ask for
• offspring
• wealth
• health
• victory in war
• daily activities
• marriage ceremony
• increase in number of cattle
• It is simple and there is no thought of after-life

GAQ P 102 - 8th March 2012 (Thursday)

• Did finish the first 10 pairs of Suttas from Anguttara Nikaya Cattuka Nipata

GAQ BP 102 - 6th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Did "Eternalism v.s.Nihilism" Notes

GAQ P 102 - 6th March 2012 (Tuesday)

• Did 7th and 8th strict rules for bhikkhunis
• Conclusion and acceptance of all rules from Maha pajapati Gotami
• Go search commentaries and sub-commentaries for Cula vagga of the Vinaya Pitaka Bhikkhuni Khandaka Above sutta for the reasons why Buddha hesitated to form the Nun's order.

GAQ BC 102 - 4th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Went through notes "Differences between the Early Buddhism and the Early Brahmanism"
• Brahmanism
1. Theistic
2. Gods are powerful and are NOT subjected to Kamma
3. Concerned with after-life
4. Worldly and Heavenly gain
5. Authority of Vedas
6. Dogmatic / ekamsavadin
7. Yajna -> sacrificial rites
8. Caste system
9. Asramadhama - encourage to live householder life ; brahmacarya / studentship
10. Etermal Hell and Eternal Heaven
11. Renunciatoin after the first 2 stages of life
12. Veda trayi - Rig, Yajur, Sama
13. Seera / rsis, gods / devas, ancestor / pitr
14. atmavada
15. Upanishads - secret teachings
16. Liberation or moksha - atman together with brahman
• Buddhism
1. Non-theistic
2. God subject to kamma
3. Concerned with the present and now
4. Supramundane gain and the end of suffering
5. Deny Vedas
6. Analysis / vibhajjavadin
7. Ahimsa and observing precepts
8. Equal opportunity for all for spiritual development
9. Pabbajja - going forth full renunciation ; brahmacarya - holy conduct and freedom from samsara
10. Hell and Heaven are nor eternal and subjective
11. Whenever they are ready, they can renunounce
12. Tevijja
• Remember own past lives
• Know others' past lives and kamma
• destruction of defilements are the 10 fetters 
13. Sila Samadhi Panna and also Brahma Viharas
14. Anatta
15. Open Teachings
16. Nibbana

GAQ BP 101 - 4th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Upanishads - to sit down near (a teacher) to learn secret teachings (usually about atman and Brahman)
• Vedanta - ending books (additional books)
• Sruti - to listen / listen well
• Bahusaccan (well versed) ca sippan ca
• Vedas are by revelation
• When came to the Upanishads period, the people were hostile to the practice of rituals and rites and want to bring out new ideas about the world and soul
• Universal soul
• Mundaka Upanishads deal with the against of ritual practice
• Asuamedha
• People (upanishads) say do not need to do rituals and sacrifice, just think of it and it gets sacrificed to the gods
• They shifted to meditation practice - all in the thought
• Brahadranyaka -> offer the whole universe to the gods
• Thinking will do the job, need not doing
• Svetasvara -> accept soma and agni gods
• Brahmins have power over Vedas but when come to the Upanishads period, the kings gained power over them and have more authority
• Tapas means strict practices, also means heat
• Khanti paramam tapoti ti tikkha -> patience is the best discipline
• Sunaka Vata (dog practice) ; Go Vata (Bull practice)
• Silabbata Paramasa -> wrongful moral conduct
• Some people in the Upanishads went to the forest to comtemplate about life and what happens when we die and about communication with the divine
• Them they came out with the idea of atman (soul) A.k.a self
• Attha -> welfare
• Budi -> sleeping
• Question : was the Upanishads period people also tends to be sramanas ????
• Fire walking is a form of attakilamathanuyoga. This was first before the kamasukhalikanuyoga
• Purusa (great person) of which the whole world is of this and is not easily realized
• The poeple try to combine the internal self with the external self
• Karma + atta = moral law
• Jiva -> life
• When Jiva is free from karma, it is pure; karma stains jiva
• Prana -> life
• Samsaric life depends on prana and karma
• Pls chek Brahmajala Sutta
• 10 questoins Buddha avioded
• In the Upanishads, people placed more emphasis on meditation
• Tat tvam asi (you are you) -> the ultimate identity of the individual
• Brahman and soul is the main teachings of the Upanishads
• Upasana mediation is to identify the brahman; say to themselves "Aham Brahma Asi"
• External things identify with themselves and vice versa
• They stress that they must be morally pure are must study first from a teacher
• They must understand and realize that Karma is in the Jiva
• "Himself is the master" - they aim to realize this
• The mantras is aimed to achieve the immortality of the soul
• Rta -> the moral code is inchargeed by Varuna in the Vedic period
• Now, it is not everything god, but by oneself
• Rta is slowly replaced by Karma
• No more place for God teachings, but more for monotheism
• Salvation is their own form of nirvana which is the soul goes back to Brahma

GAQ P 101 - 4th March 2012 (Sunday)

• Did page 4 of handout 2 and focused on Past Tenses

GAQ BC 101 - 1st March 2012 (Thursday)

• 29/3/2012 and 5/4/2012 - There is NO Ven Hao Xiang's lesson and will be replaced with Dolly's Lesson
• 15/3/2012 - There will be no Dolly lesson and will be replaced with Ven Hao Xiang's lesson
• Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
• Political
• Mahajanapada (Great Kingdom which incorporated polytheism)
• There are 16 Great Kingdoms divided into - Republican & Monarcha (Many wars thus there was the establishment of so many kingdoms)
• Reasons for this political change into many kingdoms
• tribes spread quickly over Northern India based on geography
• Changes in material and social life
• Discover usage of iron
• Different skills (pottery, carpentry, metal work) emerging
• Trade both internal and external
• Because of trade, there is the class of people emerging (the Vaisyas)
• Dasa aryan became suddas (these were dark skinned people)
• Brahmin, Nobles and Ordinary people (e.g. the upper 3 castes were fair skinned people)
• Arya Varna v.s. Dasa Varna
• Religion
• Sacrifices by priests (yajna)
• Indra as war god but latter shifted to become God of plough
• In the Rig Veda, there are about 200+ stanzas attributed to the above mentioned change
• Who is the one who introduced all these gods to the people ????
• Brahmins were the authority over what to worship
• Power of Brahmin is very high in the society
• The Kattiyas, who became the rulers, also must listen to the Brahmins
• Kattiyas have conflict with the Brahmins and Vice Versa
• Because of social expansion, thus they came up with the Vaisya caste
• In the Rig Veda (oldest vedic text), in the 10 Mandalas verse 129, they say about these 4 castes
• Brahmins create the book "Law of Manu" to protect their social position and solidify their authority
• 900 BC - 700 BC Brahmana Period
• 3 Sphere of Gods
• Sky
• Heavenly
• Earth 
• 600 BC onwards, Brahmin becomes professional
• Social reasons and religion has impact on the 6 Heretical teachers
• Brahmins, Kattiyas and Vaisyas have education by the Brahmin teachers starting when they are 8, 10 and 11 years old respectively
• Suddas do not have education
• Why Brahmins teach Vedas even to Vaisyas?
• Coz there is the concept of "Twice Born"
• Only Brahmins are Twice Born and get admitted to the status automatically
• The Kattiyas and Vaisyas need exams and tests to be Twice Born
• According to the Brahmins, everyone should go through the 4 stages of life
• Studentship (up to 20 yrs old)
• Householder (up to 50 yrs old) -> the Brahmins place importance on this stage as it is important to them religiously and for their own livelihood
• Hermit (up to 70 yrs old) -> can have family contact
• Sanyasi Wanders -> retreat into deep forest and pass away from there
• These 4 stages of life is to counteract the theories of the 6 Heretical Teachers

GAQ P 102 - 1st March 2012 (Thursday)

• Did Catthkka Nipata from the Anguttara Nikaya discourses 9 and 10

GAQ BP 102 - 28th February 2012 (Tuesday)

• Did the continuation of last week's (Tuesday) lesson and finished the notes (of which I do not know which notes she is referring to as I did not turn up last Tuesday).... SORRY !!!!
• Think its the "Buddhist critique of Pre-Buddhist World Views P1" lecture notes
• Something about the materialistic doctrine and indeterminism and ajita kessakambali.
• Lots of stuffs on sutta: Tevijja Sutta DN 13 and Sundaka Sutta

GAQ P 102 - 28th February 2012 (Tuesday)

• Ven Seelananda took over permanently from Ven Acara who has gone back to Burma to take on a teaching position in a University.
• Ven Seelananda - seelanandathero@aol.com (81808639)
• Did the atta garudhamma 4 out of the 8 strict rules to be held by the Bhikkhunis

GAQ BC 102 - 26th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Went through the lecture notes on "Critique of Brahmanas"
• Sariputta and Moggallana were from the Brahmin caste
• The ppl at that time clain the origiin of the Vedas are from divine revalation
• Buddha's challenge was that from the 7th generation back, they do not have direct contact or knowledge of Brahma, thus it was "Blind leaning the Blind"
• Issara
• God concept and Kamma
• The hindus and Brahmanas think that the Brahma god has more power tan Kamma power

GAQ BP 101 - 26th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Ven Udita did not come and hence Ven Dr P Gnanarama took over the class
• Rig Veda -> Hymns sung at time of sacrifices for Gods to grant
• Victory in War
• Heroic Sons
• Long Life
• Wealth in the form of Cattle
• They believe that the earliest human to have died on earth was YAMA an he discovered the highest heaven and live there forever
• The vedic aryans made sacrifices so that they can be born in Yama heaven and live there with Yama forever
• Yama controls hell
• They believe that anger is also a god called "Manyo"
• (Kat)Henothism
• Agni is known to be an intermediate God that carries information and stuffs to other gods
• Apas is Water Deity
• In (monism / monotheism) ????, there is one supreme god that is dominant over all gods
• Sarvedevah -> invite all gods to the sacrifice
• Sukta, Tad Ekam, Ekam Sat
• Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda
• Atharva Veda (at first it was not accepted as an authentic veda, but this was later accepted)
• Black Magic
• White Magic 
• Mantras for Sickness healing and for women and men
• Brahmanas -> texts composed after vedas as commentaries to the vedic texts
• Aranyakas -> Semi-philosophical Texts; some ppl at that time wandered into the forest to speculate about Atman and the meaning fo life
• Upanishads -> Philosophical Texts which were composed before the rise of Buddhism
• Ishvara, Brahma & Visnu

GAQ P 101 - 26th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Completed or more or less almost finished Handout 2 / 3 ???

GAQ BC 101 - 23rd February 2012 (Thursday)

• Early Vedic Period
• Political
• Nomadic Life
• Family (kula) -> Village (Grama) -> Visu (higher position is Raja King)
• Partriarchal Society
• Birth of a male offspring is the desire of the common people
• Administrative Staffs
• Purahita is the advisor of the king and also act as a middle man
• Senani is the army commander and must listen to Purahita
• Society
• Equalitarian
• Marriage
• Monogamy is for most people
• Polygamy is for Kings and noble people
• Wife duties is to look after the household and to participate in major religious ceremony
• No Caste division
• Arya Varna
• Dasa Varna
• Occupation not based on Birth
• Economic
• Cattle Rearing; later try to practice agriculture but no strong knowledge
• Religion: Indra (important), Agni, Varuna
• Indra was Thunder God then became War God
• These 3 Gods are Polytheism
• Seers (god pass message through them)
• Apala
• Viswavara
• Ghosa
• Lopamadra
• Early Vedic Religion reflected the patriarchal character and that it was a type of Primitive Animism
• Most of the Gods they created are of masculine character

GAQ P 102 - 23rd February 2012 (Thursday)

• Did Anguttara Nikaya from Sutta 6 onwards to 7

GAQ BP 102 - 21st February 2012 (Tuesday)

• I did not come for this lesson and suppose Lay Hoon did the Pre Buddhist World Views II hand out.
• Assigned groups to do presentations on the 6 Heratical Teachers
• Purana Kassapa
• Makkali Gosala
• Ajita Kessakambali
• Pakuda Kaccayana
• Sanjaya Belathaputta
• Nigantha Nattaputta

GAQ P 102 - 21st February 2012 (Tuesday)

• I did not attend this lesson and thus may only conclude that Ven Acara did the continuation of Bhikkhnikkhandaka Mahapajapati Gotami vagga
• Ven Acara is leaving MV to go back to Myanmar to take up lecturing position in a University NEXT WEEK.... wish him all the best and may the triple gem be with him always !!!

GAQ BC 102 - 19th February 2012 (Sunday)

THIS POST IS CREDITED TO ONG MEE LENG's CONTRIBUTION

I did not attend the lesson and thus got the info from the above mentioned Dhamma sister

Brahmana tradition

Brahma - Prajapati

Listening remembered text

Sruti vs Surti

Sacred

Text -> Vedas

Devine revalation

Verses

Recitation

Mahabharata - Great Epic

Bhagavad Gita - Song of the Lord

Karma; Samsara; Moksha

Purushartha (goal of human life)

Kama - Sensual Pleasure

Artha - wealth

Dharma - duties

Moksha - liberation

Varnadharma - caste system

asrama dharma

Pitr-yana - Ancestor

Deva-yana - Heaven

GAQ BP 101 - 19th February 2012 (Sunday)

• THIS POST IS CREDITED TO ONG MEE LENG's CONTRIBUTION
• I did not attend the lesson and thus got the info from the above mentioned Dhamma sister
• Religion comes from fear and respect of nature
• Prajapatis - creating forces
• Rudra
• Marut
• Mitra
• Agni
• Soma - Lord of Immortality; Moon God
• Indra - War God (strength and success in war); demon of draught
• Mudra - God of Healing
• Atharvan - Charms, rhymes, prophilectic songs

GAQ P 101 - 19th February 2012 (Sunday)

• I did not come for this lesson and suppose it covers the verbs endings terminations... (pls correct if I'm wrong Thanks)

GAQ BC 101 - 16th February 2012 (Thursday)

• Vedic Period (1500 BC - 600 BC)
• Early Vedic (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
• Late Vedic (1000 BC - 600 BC)
• http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bistrream/123456789/26164/1/unit-12.pdf
• Indus Valley Civilization dclined between 1900 BC - 15000 BC
• Harappan is from 2850 BC - 1900 BC or, as some scholars might say 3500 BC - 1500 BC
• Aryan / Indo Aryan (2000 BC)
• Aryans are thought to come from Russia
• They were nomadic pastoralist - horse riding and have their main livelihood in cattle
• They need more land and thus invaded India
• There are 3 seasons in India - Spring, Summer, Winter
• Aryan easy to subdue Indus Valley Civilization
• Indo Aryan / European language in "Sanskrit"
• Dravidians call them Vedic Aryans
• Vedic language is Sanskrit
• Rig Veda say about Aryan culture in the lyric poetry
• Aryans admire Indus Valley Civilization about the following
• Village Community
• Systems of Land Tenure
• Taxation
• Old Bull, when no economic value, are made for sacrifice tpo please gods
• Elder -> war chief (Raja King)
• One family unit is called "Kula"
• Many Kulas make a village
• Many villages make a "Visu"
• Many visu make a "Jana" (Tribal); of which the leader is the war chief (Raja)
• Raja need priest (Purohita) to assist him
• This priest later became the high priest in Brahmanism
• Senani is the "Commander of the Army"
• King have 2 kinds of meetings - Sabha and Samiti
• Females are allowed to attend the meetings to contribute ideas and suggestions

GAQ P 102 - 16th February 2012 (Thursday)

• Did the Anguttara Nikaya (Cattuka Nipata) Sutta 5 and 6

GAQ BP 102 - 14th February 2012 (Tueaday)

• Went thru the handout on Pre Buddhist World View I
• Gave out new hardcopy notes to LJ for scanning to be distributed to class via email

GAQ P 102 - 14th February 2012 (Tuesday)

• Ven Acara continued the Mahapajapati Gotami Bhukkhunikkhandaka.

GAQ BC 102 - 12th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Religious Chronology (Polytheism until monism)
• Early Vedic
• Polytheism -> 33 Gods
• yajna -> sacrificial rituals of which animal sacrifice is the main type
• Mid Vedic
• Henotheism
• Brahmanas - monotheism
• Castses - 4 life stages
• Late Vedic
• Monism
• Aranyakas
• Upanishads (Atman identify with Brahman)
• Karma Marga (performing sacrifice) shift to Jnana Karma
• Brahma (generate life)
• Visnu (sustain life)
• Siva (destroy life)
• The above 3 are called the Trinity of the Vedic Culture and Thought
• Another 3 types of thought/concepts
• Karma
• Samsara
• Moksha
• Now got this term called Allah Upanishads
• Hindus clain that Buddha us a reincarnation of Visnu and He is born a Hindu and died a Hindu

GAQ BP 101 - 12th february 2012 (Sunday)

• Pali and Sinhalese alphabet are similar
• Ajahn (Thai Language) means "Acariya" a.k.a. teacher in Pali
• Fire God is very important - Aggi (pali) Agni (Sanskrit)
• The people think sun and lightning belong to the Fire God
• 4 Things to be weary/ afraid of
• Serpent
• Young Prince
• Small Fire
• Young Monk
• They believe that sun is the eye of Varuna
• Buddhism has freedom of thought and believers and devotees are allowed to read stuffs of other religions. This kind of freedom is not enjoyed by other people of other faiths and religions
• We have to have wide learning (i.e. explore and read about Vedic and Brahmanical Culture and Thought and also other religions) so that we may further appreciate & understand our religion (i.e. Buddhism)
• Fear and respect of nature creates religion, which is all man-made
• 4 Stages of Life in the Vedic and Brahmanical Culture
• Brahmacariya -> learning stage
• Grhsta -> work, marry and have children (esp a son)
• Vanaprastha -> go to forest to contemplate about metaphysical and philosophical questions (most ly about life, god and soul)
• Sanyasi -> renounce
• Non-Aryans are merchants, while Aryans are cultivators

GAQ P 101 - 12th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Did Handout 2 and revision on exercises on Handout 1

GAQ BC 101 - 9th February 2012 (Thursday)

• Culture of Harappan Civilization
• Town Planning - Pls refer to Singapore's Ang Mo Kio GRC
• Economic Life
• Agriculture - Wheat, Barley, Cotton (make dress)
• Domestication of Animals - buffaloes, goats, oxen, elephants, dogs, camels, *horse* -> Pls take note of the horse
• Crafts - Bronze Work, Pottery, Brick Making (to build city gate; what kind of house -> classify as merchants, artisans, tamer... etc)
• Trade (Internal & External)
• Arts - Sculpture (figures of men, woman and animals), fire altar (fire is very important in every culture and civilization)
• Script - until now cannot verify (Harappan write from right to left and NOT left to right)
• Religion of Harappan Civilization
• Male Deity - Pasapati (proto-siva)
• Female Deity - Mother Goddess
• Because of agricultural products, got to thank Mother Goddess for land
• Tree Worship - Pipal Tree (later known as Bodhi Tree)
• Animal Worship - unicorn, buffaloes, elephant, deers
• In Hinduism, Buffaloes are sacred animals

• Pali is Romanized
• Tibetan only have their language script in the 7th Century AD
• Harappan people do not keep record of things no matter if it is in writing or oral
• Seals are for identification of products belonging to that particular civilization at that time
• The amusement at the Harappan time are dances, music and dice games
• Next week to do Vedic Culture

GAQ P 102 - 9th February 2012 (Thursday)

• Did the Anguttara Nikaya Book of fours 3rd and 4th Suttas

GAQ BP 102 - 7th February 2012 (Tuesaday)

• Did the Brahmajala Sutta
• The Brahmajala Sutta is more for monks and nuns and less for the lay people
• Refer to the 3 notes she sent out
• The meditative speculations are based on the 4 Arupa Jhana attainments

GAQ P 102 - 7th February 2012 (Tuesday)

• Ven Acara continued the Bhikkhuni Khandaka on Mahapajapati Gotami

GAQ BP 101 - 5th February 2012 (Sunday)

• Chronology of Vedic Literature
• 10000 BC create hymns
• Seems to have an emphasis on dstes and time periods
• In Rig Veds = Hymns for Gods + Prayers to ask favours from Gods
• Vedic Language is different from Sanskrit Language
• 750 BC is Jainism. It is different from Buddhism.
• Both Buddhism and Jainism do NOT agree with Vedic culture
• Clay tablets were found in the Hittite Kingdom and this proves there are Gods Mitra, Varuna, Indra and Nasatyan
• From hymns of Rig Veda, there is Aitariya Brahmana
• Between the Samhitas of the RIg Vedas to the Brahmanas, there is a long period
• The Indo Aryan race conquered a small part of India near the Ganges
• Earliest Vedic Hymns arose not later than 1500 BC
• Rig Veda originated from Iran according to J. Hertel
• The God a.k.a. Deva concept was in the western society before being brought to India

GAQ P 101 - 5th February 2012 (Sunday)

• naRmada... NOT namaRda (Pls note !!!)
• Emphasized the importance of the TABLE of DECLENSION of NOUNS
• Next week start actual syllabus
• Today only revision
• upasagga (prefixes) - to be covered in Handout 3
• Nipatas
• Difference between SO (that) and ESO (this), SA and ESA, TAM (that) and ETAM (this)
• Idam -> this
• Yo -> who
• "Yo dhammam passati, so mam passati"
• In Pali, there are no punctuations
• "ti" is the shortened form of "iti"
• "ko ayam" -> who is this?
• "Ayam sisso" -> he is a student
• Ayam is a flexible word
• ESO and AYAM both means "this", but they denote the distance between the speakers. ESO is when they are nearby amd Ayam is when they are very nearby
• There are no articles in Pali
• EXAM =  not likely to get a "a" ending masculine declension of nouns
• 20 marks = 10 marks (declension) + 10 marks (conjugation)
• Adjectives are declinable
• SAHA and SADDHIM both means "with"
• www.metta.lk for all suttas...

GAQ BP 101 - 15th January 2012 (Sunday)

• Listening is important in studying the Vedas. Vedic language is similar to Sanskrit Language not is not same as Sanskrit Language
• Sanskrit is derived from Vedas
• Samhitas (collections)
• Rig -> Praising Songs
• Yajuh -> Sacrificial Formulas
• Sama -> Melodies / Tunes
• Atharvan -> Magical Formulas
• Brahmana hold religious performances and explain about Brahma
• Aranyaka explain about forest practices
• Upanishadas are the secret teachings and disciples must sit down near the teachers to listen to the teachings
• Each of the Veda books are divided into the above 3 divisions - Brahmana, Aranyaka & Upanishads; thus total, there are 12 divisions
• They believe that all these knowledges come from divine revalation by God
• They have strong confidence and believe totally in the Vedas
• Sruti means listening
• Indian philosophy comes from Veda Books
• Kalpa Sutras are not created by God; they are man-made based on rituals
• There are 3 kinds of Kalpa Sutras
• Gr.uhiya Sutra -> rules of ceremonies
• Dharma Sutra -> spiritual & worldly laws
• Sutras -> rules of sacrifices
• Vedanga Veda explains about soul and Brahma
• Veda books talk about God, Varuna, Indra & Agni
• Asvamedha Sacrifice (horse sacrifice) -> this is done when a priest wants to become king
• Rajasuya Sacrifice -> done during the King's coronation and its purpose is symbolic for success in battle for the King
• Sautramani Sacrifice -> Sacrifice liquour to God and the purpose is to fulfill one's wishes
• Sarvamedha Sacrifice -> this encompases giving all to the priest who dwells in the forest
• Agnicayana Sacrifice -> Kill 5 animals and put their heads & body under water; purpose is to show appreciation io Brahmin's practice
• Purushamedha Sacrifice -> Sacrifice a human for wishes to come true
• Parvargya Sacrifice -> make a fake human and cut it
• Soma Sacrifice -> contest of drinking performed by warriors and kings
• Agnihotra -> keep the fire burning from morning till evening and worship the fire
• Darsapurnamasa Sacrifice -> new moon and full moon sacrifice; meant for dead relatives

GAQ BC 102 - 15th January 2012 (Tueaday)

• Joseph Lee gave Hp no. (84698393)
• Went through sent out notes lesson 1
• "Idam eva saccam mongham annam" -> only one truth, the others are false. Buddha say that if you hold onto this view very strongly, there will be no inner peace...

GAQ P 101 - 15th January 2012 (Sunday)

• http://www.bps.lk
• Bhumi - Instrumental plural and ablative plural (long i change to short i)
• Buy New Pali Course I and II
• Avyapada (indeclinable words) divided into
• nipata
• upasagga

GAQ BC 101 - 12th January 2012 (Thursday)

• Set a Question as tutorial homework "Introduce the religious and social condition in the Indus Valley Civillization" (Past Year 2011 Qn) - refer to lesson 1 notes to do this write up
• Himalayan Mountains
• Khyber Pass
• HIndu Kush
• Indo-Gangetic Plains
• Indus River (Arabian Sea)
• Ganges River (Bay of Bengal)
• Southern Peninsula (Ocean Plateau)
• Culture papar also got philosophy and or sociology
• Evidence show by scholars now that there is no Aryan Invasion. BUT WE STILL GOT TO STUDY IT FOR THE SAKE OF EXAMS !!!!
• There are 2 main sources to quote from - Archaeology & Early Rig Veda
• Indus Valley Civilization disappeared ??? how ???? !!! ???
• There are 10 books in the Rig Veda
• Early they describe Aryans in Indus Valley (what kind if practice of the Aryans)
• Later ....
• 550 BC (importance in Buddhism) there were writte Vedas; before that there was only oral tradition
• Brahmin got to exert their authority thus got to have written form of Vedas
• India got 4 periods
• Paleolithic (Before till 10,000 BC)
• Mesolithic (10,000 BC - 6,000 BC)
• Neolithic (6,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
• Metal Age (4,000 BC - ~800 BC)
• Harrappan Civilization was between the Neolithic period and the Metal Age Period
• Harrappan Civillization got 4 periods
• Pre-Harrappan (Nomadic people)
• Early Harrappan (Villages on plains)
• Muture Harrappan (Great City urbanization)
• Late Harrappan (Decline)

GAQ P 102 (Acara) - 10th January 2012 (Tuesday)

• Continued the Bhikkhunikkhandhaka of the Mahapajapatigotami Vattu

GAQ BP 102 - 10th January 2012 (Tuesday)

• Lay Hoon contact (98585777) and email (layhoon48@gmail.com)
• Did course and lesson overview
• Society and culture of ancient India before Buddha is good to understand as it helps to understand the context of His teachings better
• Misunderstandings may occur
• Indus Valley - original inbitants were Dravidians
• Aryan invasion and its significance - may not be Aryans -> shift Blacks downwards - also maybe because of natural disasters?
• Caste system
• 2 main thoughts made the caste system
• Divine will (natural order)
• Purity (emphasize on the purity of rituals)
• Aryans form the top 3 castes
• Lowest Suddas are the Dravidians
• Brahma originated the 4 caste is a belief.
• Ancient Aryan religion is the Vedic religion
• Different stages of religious development
• Polytheism (many gods)
• Henotheism (one god is the most powerful at one time)
• Monotheism (one creator god)
• Monism (universal principle Brahman (soul); unify attman with Brahman)
• Early Vedic period (1500 BC - 1000 BC) & Late Vedic period (1000 BC - 500 BC)
• Samhitas (Vedas) -> Brahmanas (Commentaries) -> Aanyakas (Texts of Forest Truth-Seekers) -> Upanishads (Secret Teachings)
• Sramana movement. Many were ascetics and had wierd practices before the time and during the time of the Buddha (This section is important !!!!)
• Sramanas and ascetics reject the authority of the Brahmins and their cultural concepts

GAQ P 102 (Dolly) - 5th January 2012 (Thursday)

• Gave her email (dollygohhl@gmail.com) and Hp No. (93366070)
• Talked about Tipitaka and settled printing of notes to LJ and Simon Fong
• Anguttara Nikaya and Maha Vagga 

GAQ BC 101 - 3rd January 2012 (Tuesday)

• Gave Email (haoxiang004@gmail.com) and Hp No. (96660471).
• Rough outline of course
• Indra Valley Civilization (Social, Economic, Religious)
• Aryan Invasion (Social, Economic, Religious)
• Vedic Literature - Early Period & Late Period
• 6th Century BC
• Challenges to Brahmanism
• Buddhism and the 6 Hieratical Teachers
• Know some of classmates by name and liaised with LJ to send lecture notes to us most probably by herself

GAQ BC 102 - 8th January 2012 (Sunday)

• Gave Name and email (namarupa@live.com.sg).
• Brahmana Culture and Samana Culture.
• History cannot escape from origin of Buddhism – this will be done for the 1^st few weeks.
• The culture section is something like the diploma syllabus.
• Kamma topic related to Buddhism.
• University in Holland emphasizes on learning rather than passing all exams and not having the passion for learning.
• Lokiya -> mundane
• Lokuttara -> supramundane
• Early Buddhism refers to Theravada and the Pali Tipitaka justifies this.
• There are 3 schools of Buddhism.
• Explained about “Hinayana” this term which is low, base and vulgar. In 1950, there is a conference in Sri Lanka and they decided to request the Mahayana tradition to stop using Hinayana to refer to Theravada.
• Money is an issue with monastics and it is the 10^th novice precept and it was the main cause for the 2^nd Buddhist Council.
• Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Jewish Theravada monk. He came to Singapore preciously and requested the Singaporeans or people to stop the practice of giving monks $$$ as dana.

GAQ BP 101 - 8th January 2012 (Sunday)

• 5000 BC to 3000 BC Pre-Buddhist Indian Thought
• Aryans from Europe and Iran had the God and Creator God concept
• They brought religious beliefs to India
• No definite time frame
• The Latin word “Devs” means god
• “Diu” is the Sanskrit term for god; meaning of “Deva” is “to shine”
• Godhead i.e. CEO of the Gods is a concept in Europe
• Mitra is a Vedic god
• There are 4 Vedas
• People use “yaj” to respect gods.
• India use “mithra” while Europe use “mitra”
• Out of fear and insecurity and respect of natural phenomena -> this is the origin of religion
• Sky Gods – Varuna (creates everything; his eye is the sun), Mitra
• Midair Gods – Indra, Marut
• Earthly Gods – Agni (fire), Soma
• The politician at that time created so many gods i.e. 33 Gods and ascribed everything to gods.
• Indra is the War God and Varuna is for moral values and is responsible for morality. Indra however has no moral responsibility.
• Gods arise from man-made concepts and natural phenomena.
• The rituals to gods has simple beginnings but later became more complex
• Parjanya is the god of clouds
• This religion gradually developed into a philosophy.
• R.ta is the natural order of things and systematic rituals to gods are important
• Anr.ta is in Aryan language and means untruth, while r.ta means truth
• If people have righteous behavoiur, they believe that gods will be happy
• Varuna is omniscient and knows everything
• Gods wanted to relate to humans and vice versa
• Humans relate to gods and thus the soul concept came to existence. To connect humans to god, they believe that god gave them a soul for that purpose
• Faith turned into a belief
• There are 4 Vedas (book of knowledge) – Rig, Yajua, Sama, Atharvan
• The 3 Vedas are when Atharvan is omitted from the above listing 
• At first it was an individualized religion, later it became an organized religion
• Pathavi is Pali for earth, while Pratavi is Sanskrit for earth
• The Trimurti is – Brahma (Create), Vishnu (Maintain) & Esuara (Destroy) – the world
• Important to remember Indra and Varuna
• There are instances of paired up gods e.g. – Sky & Earth, Day & Night, Sun & Moon, Dawn & Dusk etc…
• Visvakarman is the God of world architect and planning.
• Pajapati is lord of creator
• Saddha is Pali for faith, while Sraddha is Sanskrit for faith
• Apsaras are nymphs
• Gandharva are forest gods
• Enemies of gods are Asuras a.k.a. demons

GAQ P 102 (Acara) - 3rd January 2012 (Tuesday)

• Started on Cula Vagga of the Vinaya Pitaka
• Bhikkhunikkhandhaka - Pathamabhanavaro - Mahapajapatigotamivatthu
• Pali and English version first 2 sentences
• Told LJ he will email her the word document of this to her for her to disseminate to class

GAQ P 101 - 8th January 2012 (Sunday)

• Get New Pali Course II
• Went through syllabus and paper and the page 1 and 2 of Handout 1