The Religions Book

157

There are three types of
bodhisattva, who approach their
task of helping others reach
enlightenment in different ways.

of inherent existence. By this he
meant that nothing in the world,
including all living beings, has a
self or, therefore, an underlying
essence (or “inherent existence”).
He maintained that this idea was
implied by Buddha’s original
teaching about the concept of
interconnectedness (pp.130–35),

which sees earthly items and

beings as having no essence (or

“own being”) because they are all

dependent on the prior existence

of something else. Given that we

ourselves have no independent,

underlying essence, the aim of

meditation is to see beyond our

senses and the ideas we have

gained from them, to look directly

upon ultimate truth.

Given that the buddhas and

bodhisattvas may be conjured

up in meditation, this suggests

that they are neither substantial

(in other words, they do not have a

physical embodiment), nor located

somewhere else in the universe.

Each of the images conjured up

is not a representation of a person,

but part of the ultimate truth about

the person who sits in meditation.

The vast array of buddha and

bodhisattva images are merely

temporary aids to assist a

person in recognizing that every

individual is a potential Buddha. ■

BUDDHISM

If you want others to

be happy, practice

compassion. If you

want to be happy,

practice compassion.

The Dalai Lama

Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna is considered the

most important Buddhist

philosopher after Buddha

himself. He was born in the

2nd century CE to a brahmin

(priestly) family, probably

in southern India. An oracle

predicted his early death at

the age of eight, so when he

was seven, his parents sent

him to a monastery to study

under the great Buddhist

teacher Saraha. It is said that

he avoided death by reciting

a mantra without interruption

on the eve and dawn of his

eighth birthday. He then took

monastic vows.

Nagarjuna is best known

for the teaching of Buddha’s

Perfection of Wisdom sutras.

According to legend, he

rescued these from nagas

(half-worldly spirits), gaining

the name Nagarjuna (master

of the nagas). He also wrote

many sutras himself, and

founded the Madhyamika

(middle position) school

of Buddhist philosophy.

Key works

c.200 CE Fundamental Verses

of the Middle Way; The

Treatise on the Great

Perfection of Wisdom

King

“I will become

enlightened and

then lead and help

others toward

enlightenment.”

Ship’s Captain

“I will carry others

with me so that

we may become

enlightened

together.”

Shepherd

“I will guide

everyone toward

enlightenment and

only then seek it

for myself.”