1.1 Four Noble Truths - concepts

Question 1

Three Marks of Existence

Answer 1

Anicca
Anatta
Dukkha

Question 2

Anicca

Answer 2

impermanence

Question 3

Anatta

Answer 3

no-self

Question 4

Dukkha

Answer 4

life is dissatisfaction / suffering

Question 5

The Three Refuges

Answer 5

The Buddha
The Dhamma
The Sangha

Question 6

Dhamma

Answer 6

teachings / way of life

Question 7

Sangha

Answer 7

the community of Buddhists, both monastic and lay

Question 8

The Three Poisons

Answer 8

the three innate afflictions which cause dissatisfaction / suffering and keep humans in the cycle of samsara

Question 9

medical analogy of the 4NT

Answer 9

Dukkha - the diagnosis
Samudaya - the cause
Nirodha - the cure
Magga - the treatment

Question 10

Dosa

Answer 10

One of the three poisons:
anger and hatred which results in unskilful actions and in turn negative outcomes for ourselves and others, and avoidance of self awareness through blaming external sources

Question 11

Moha

Answer 11

one of the three poisons:
ignorance to the true nature of things which fuels delusional understandings of nature and therefore unskilful actions and suffering

Question 12

Lobha

Answer 12

one of the three poisons:
the craving of sensual objects or sensations, existence, and non-existence, resulting in ‘unquenchable thirsts’

Question 13

Dukkha

Answer 13

The first noble truth: the diagnosis. suffering / unsatisfactoriness exists

Question 14

Samudaya

Answer 14

second noble truth: the cause. the cause of suffering / unsatisfaction is craving

Question 15

nirodha

Answer 15

third noble truth: the cure. suffering / unsatisfactoriness can be ended

Question 16

magga

Answer 16

fourth noble truth: the treatment. the way to nibbana is through following the Eightfold Path

Question 17

two types of nibbana

Answer 17

• nibbana in this life
• final nibbana

Question 18

nibbana / nirvana

Answer 18

enlightenment - the ‘blowing out’ of the three poisons

Question 19

the Buddha’s Fire Sermon

Answer 19

describes human experience as ‘ablaze’ with desire - it ‘burns with the pain of unassuaged longing’

Question 20

story of Kisagotami

Answer 20

Distraught by her son’s death and unable to accept it, Kisagotami is told to see the Buddha. Buddha tells her he has the medicine she needs and to find a few mustard seeds from a family where there has never been a death. She visits many houses and cannot find one that has not experienced death. She realises suffering is inevitable for all and is able to accept the death of her son

Question 21

qualities of an enlightened being

Answer 21

embodies supreme peace, compassion, and the acceptance of the state of non-self and detachment

Question 22

the Eightfold Path

Answer 22

eight steps set out by the Buddha as a practical guideline to living out the Buddhist life and achieving nibbana

Question 23

The Threefold Way

Answer 23

the three focuses within the Noble Eightfold Path:
- wisdom (panna)
- ethics (sila)
- meditation (samadhi)

Question 24

The Threefold Way: panna includes

Answer 24

• right view
• right intention

Question 25

The Threefold way: sila includes

Answer 25

-right speech - right action - right livelihood

Question 26

The Threefold Way: samadhi includes

Answer 26

- right effort - right concentration - right mindfulness

Question 27

aloba

Answer 27

non-attachment

Question 28

bhaveti

Answer 28

to develop and cultivate

Question 29

why karuna is central to Buddhist practice

Answer 29

believe the consciousness is not a self - it will be cultivated by another body after death. Must therefore care about what will happen to the consciousness after 'you' have it in order to be motivated to work on positively cultivating it

Question 30

khanti

Answer 30

patience, forgiveness, forbearance

Question 31

arhat

Answer 31

typically Theravadin: someone who attains nibbana for themself and will not be reborn

Question 32

bodhisattva

Answer 32

typically Mahayana: a consciousness that could attain nibbana but delays it out of compassion to aid others achieve it too

Question 33

tathagatagarbha

Answer 33

mahayana buddhism: buddha nature. the potential to be enlightened within all sentient beings

Question 34

nibbana in theravada

Answer 34

a dimension of consciousness totally independent of circumstances in the world and personal life. complete liberation, end of clinging

Question 35

Vajrayana: humans are prone to 'mistaking the finger...

Answer 35

...pointing to the moon for the moon itself'

Question 36

Vajrayana: imagining nibbana

Answer 36

only those who have experienced it know what it's like. cannot imagine it without hindering chances of attaining it. just need to understand it is present and possible

Question 37

how the Buddha described nibbana

Answer 37

- the harbour, the refuge, the ultimate - realm of inner-peace in which all gross and subtle turbulence of the mind is subsided

Question 38

Vajrayana: what is nibbana

Answer 38

an awakening where one sees all things as divine: Buddha paradise

Question 39

Vajrayana: the ultimate truth

Answer 39

dakpa rujam 'all pervading sacredness'

Question 40

Vajrayana: pseudo-nibbana

Answer 40

pain free, vegetative state. sudden feeling of bliss when nibbana is realised and the change from living in suffering occurs

Question 41

Vajrayana: who can achieve nibbana + quote

Answer 41

anyone at any time in any lifetime, even sinners 'we are destined to be enlightened'

Question 42

Tibetan Saint Milarepa

Answer 42

took the lives of many, but later embraced the ways of the Buddha and became highly revered Tibetan Buddhist (Vajrayana) master

Question 43

right view

Answer 43

to have the right concepts and ideas from contemplating the Dharma

Question 44

right intention

Answer 44

to keep thoughts in accord with the Dharma at every moment, working to eliminate the three poisons

Question 45

right mindfulness

Answer 45

true contemplation, a pure and aware mind

Question 46

right concentration

Answer 46

in meditation: focusing the mind and settling the body to better cultivate oneself in general: developing and exploring our inner capacity

Question 47

right effort

Answer 47

moving in the direction of truth with courage and discipline

Question 48

the four 'right efforts'

Answer 48

prevent unwholesome states that have not yet arisen, end unwholesome states that have arisen, develop wholesome states that have not yet arisen, strengthen wholesome states that have arisen

Question 49

right action

Answer 49

passive meaning: not committing unwholesome deeds active meaning: protect life, act with compassion

Question 50

right livelihood

Answer 50

making a living in a moral way in accordance with the Dharma

Question 51

right speech

Answer 51

wholesome verbal karma

Question 52

four kinds of right speech

Answer 52

- words of truth - words of compassion - words of praise - words of altruism

Question 53

dhamma-vinaya

Answer 53

the unity of doctrine and disciple - the four noble truths and noble eight fold path