Humanistic Buddhism: Noble Eightfold Path and Eight Pagodas

Abstract

Master Hsing Yun advocated Humanistic Buddhism in the hope that people can apply Buddhist teachings and practice methods in real life to solve various problems in real life. The concepts of Humanistic Buddhism are embodied in the Eight Paths Pagoda of the Buddha Memorial Hall in Taiwan. The eight pagodas of the Buddha Memorial Hall in Fo Guang Shan, Taiwan are named: (1) One Teaching, (2) Two Assemblies, (3) Three Goodness, (4) Four Givings, (5) Five Harmonies, (6) Six Perfections, (7) Seven Admonishment, and (8) Eightfold Path. However, the Eight Towers in Mahaparinirvana Temple, India have different meanings. Firstly, the Tower of Birth symbolizes the birth of the Buddha. Secondly, the Bodhi Tower represents the time when the Buddha became enlightened. Thirdly, the Tower of the Wheel of Dharma indicates the time when the Buddha taught the Dharma. Fourthly, the tower of Sangha Vini stands for the time when the Buddha taught the Dharma. Fifthly, the Tower of Relics signifies the Nirvana of the Buddha. Sixthly, the Tower of Turning the Wheel of Dharma symbolizes the time when the Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time. Seventhly, the tower of the second turning of the Dharma wheel denotes the time when the Buddha turned the Dharma wheel for the second time. Finally, Tower of Nirvana symbolizes the time of Buddha's Nirvana.