Chappell, David W. See all items with this value

2004

5

100-117

1530-4108 See all items with this value

Mahayana Buddhism has changed in many ways, but an enduring core is the ideal of the bodhisattva, and the bodhisattva spirit is what inspires Mahayana work for social well-being. Following the model of Ananda Guruge in his book Humanistic Buddhism for Social Well-being, I shall review several scriptural sources along with a case study. By the sixth century in China, the guidelines for bodhisattva practices were outlined in three bodhisattva precept texts – the Universal Bodhisattva Precepts in the Da fangdeng tuoloni jing, the Lay Precepts in the Youposai jie jing, and the Brahma-net Precepts in the Fan-wang jing – but also were expressed in popular social movements such as the Three Levels Sect (sanjiejiao) led by the Buddhist master Master Xinxing (540-597) based on an apocryphal text, the Xiangfa jueyi jing. After reviewing the major Mahayana sources concerned about social well-being in sixth century China, I conclude by proposing that bodhisattva practice in our contemporary world needs new guidelines for community development, such as the principles outlined in the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement and the Earth Charter.