Beliefs and teachings Flashcards
1
Q
What man is Buddhism based off of?
A
- Siddartha Gautama.
- He was a rich prince from what is now Nepal, born over 2400 years ago.
2
Q
Different types of Buddhism?
A
- Theravada Buddhism
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Zen (Mahayana branch)
- Pure Land (Mahayana branch)
3
Q
What is Dhamma?
A
- Dhamma is the pali word for truth.
- It is all the teachings the Buddha gave while he was alive.
- This includes stories he told and sermons he gave to groups of people.
- It is part of the three jewels/ three refugees.
4
Q
What are the three jewels of Buddhism?
A
- Dhamma - The Buddha’s teachings
- The Buddha
- Sangha (The Buddhist community)
5
Q
What is Dependent Arising? (Paticcasamupada)
A
- The idea that everything is connected and all existence is caused by other things existing.
- Buddhists believe that everything exists because of the existence of other things.
- Everything is caused by a combination of things and each thing will, in turn, affect more things.
6
Q
What are the three marks of existence?
A
- Anicca (impermanence)
- Anatta (no fixed self)
- Dukkha (suffering)
7
Q
What is anicca?
A
- The belief that everything is constantly changing and nothing lasts.
- Buddhists believe this is true of all things, not just humans.
8
Q
What is anatta?
A
- The belief that nothing has a single, permanent essence - everything is made up of many different parts.
- Buddhists do not believe that humans have a soul.
9
Q
What is Dukkha?
A
- Life is, by nature, unsatisfactory.
- Suffering and dissatisfaction are an unavoidable part of life.
10
Q
How can the three marks of existence influence Buddhists?
A
- Anicca: Knowing that everything changes, Buddhists avoid attachment to people or things, reducing suffering when they inevitably lose them. Anicca cultivates patience and acceptance.
- Anatta: Can influence Buddhists to become more compassionate and less self-centered. Recognising that others are also without a fixed self can encourage acceptance and compassion.
- Dukkha: Buddhist’s know that Dukkha is inevitable - this reduces shock or resitance when facing difficulties. It also encourages Buddhist’s to follow the 8-fold path.
11
Q
What are the Five Aggregates?
A
- Form. Physical things that can be touched.
- Sensation. Basic feelings toward something.
- Perception. Regognising something.
- Mental formations. Opinions about something.
- Consciousness. Awareness.
12
Q
What do Mahayana Buddhists believe about the Five Aggregates?
A
- They believe that humas are made up of them.
- They believe in the teaching of sunyata (emptiness).
- People are empty because they have no fixed-self - they are made up of the constantly changing five aggregates.
13
Q
What do Theravada Buddhists believe about the Five Aggregates?
A
- They believe that the five aggregates are constantly changing, so the human personality is constantly changing. This links with the Buddhist view of anatta.
- In the Khandha Sutta, the five aggregates are described as “clinging aggregates” because Buddhist’s believe that humans cling to these give things and this leads to suffering.
- Buddhists think we should detach ourselves from the five aggregates so that we can suffer less.
- The Buddha taught that these aggregates are temporary, and only when we realise this will we end suffering and find enlightenment.
14
Q
What do Mahayana Buddhist’s believe about the potential Buddha in us all?
A
- Buddhist’s believe all humans have the potential to become enlightened - this is Buddha nature. A human who has become enlightened and free of suffering has reached Buddhahood.
- A Bodhisattva is someone who has followed the Buddha’s teachings and reached enlightenment. They have achieved the six perfections and chosen to stay locked in the wheel of samsara to help others reach the same destiny.
15
Q
What do Pure Land Buddhist’s believe?
A
- Pure Land Buddhist’s are a group of Mahayana Buddhist’s who have faith in the Amitabha Buddha.
- They believe that Amitabha Buddha reached Buddhahood and created a paradise land known as Sukhavati where people can be reborn if they have faith in him.
- Pure Land Buddhist’s believe that reaching enlightenment is very difficult on earth, but Amitabha Buddha will guide them to the Pure Land where it is much easier.
- This makes enlightnement feel more accessible and provides reassurance that their suffering will end.
- They believe having faith in Amitabha Buddha is more important than choices or actions.
16
Q
What do Theravada Buddhists believe about enlightenment?
A
- In Theravada Buddhism, an arhat is someone who has followed the Buddha’s teachings and reached enlightenment. They no longer suffer because they have come to understand the truth about life and peace.
- An arhat will not be reborn because they are free from the cycle of rebirth. Unlike in Mahayana Buddhism, this is only possible by living a monastic life, which is free from distractions.
- Becoming an arhat is the goat for theravada Buddhists.
17
Q
Who was Siddartha Gautama?
A
- He was the founder of Buddhism.
- He was a rich prince who lived over 2,400 years ago in modern day Nepal.
- He later went on to become the Buddha, which means “enlightened one”.
18
Q
What is the story of Siddartha’s birth?
A
- His mother, Queen Maya, is said to have dreamt of a white elephant before she found out she was pregnant.
- His mother experienced a painless birth.
- After he was born, he immediately took 7 steps and lotus flowers emerged at his feet.
19
Q
What do lotus flowers symbolise?
A
1.Purity and rebirth
20
Q
What are the four sights?
A
- Old man
- Illness
- Death
- Holy man
21
Q
Why was Siddartha not familiar with suffering?
A
- Siddartha lived in a life of luxury with his wife and son. His father made sure that Siddartha didn’t have to leave the palace grounds so everything he needed was brought to the palace - he never saw the outside world.
22
Q
When did Siddartha see the four sights?
A
- When Siddartha turned 29, one of his servants took him on a trip outside the palace grounds and he saw the outside world for the first time. There were four things that shocked him and led him to change the way he lived.
23
Q
How do the four sights influence Buddhist’s today?
A
- Seeing suffering in the world inspires Buddhists to practice metta and karuna to reduce it.
- Motivate them to seek spiritual wisdom and follow the eight-fold path to reduce suffering.
- The holy man inspires Buddhists to follow the path to enlightenment
24
Q
How do the five aggregates influence Buddhists today?
A
- The five aggregates show that the “self” is just a combination of thje changing elements. This helps Buddhists detach from pride, ego and selfishness, reducing suffering.
- As the five aggregates are constantly shifting, nothing about a person stays the same. This helps Buddhists accept change and loss without clinging.
25
Q
What was the Buddha’s aesthetic life?
A
- Siddartha was inspired by the holy man, who seemed peaceful and calm.
- Siddartha decided he wanted to be like this man, so he moved away from the palace and found a religious teacher who taught him about asceticism.
- Siddartha followed aescetic practices for 6 years. He rejected anything that would give him pleasure and practiced extreme self discipline.
26
Q
How did the Buddha develop the middle way?
A
- The Buddha became too weak to meditate
- He decided to stop the aescetic practices as they had not helped him to work out how to end suffering
- This lifestyle did teach him self-control and willpower
- This lead him to to develop the middle way which is a mid point between two extremes
27
Q
What are the three watches of the night?
A
- Siddartha gained knowledge of all his previous lives
- He came to understand the repeating cycle of life, death and rebirth. He understood that beings were born depending on their kamma, and he realised the importance of anatta
- He came to understand why suffering happens and how to overcome it
28
Q
How might the three watches of the night influence Buddhists today?
A
- This shows the concept of samsara and karma in action — that actions have consequences across lifetimes. This might influence Buddhists to practice metta and karuna
- The insight that suffering can be overcome gives Buddhists hope and a path to follow
29
Q
What did the Buddha say when he sat under the Bodhi tree?
A
“Not until i attain the supreme enlightenment will i give up this seat of meditation”
30
Q
How did Mara try and distract Siddartha from becoming enlightened?
A
- He sent his daughters to seduce him
- Sent his armies to attack him
- Offered him control of his kingdom
- Finally, Mara attacked Buddha
31
Q
Why did Buddha touch the earth?
A
To show that the earth witnesses that he will achieve enlightenment
32
Q
What is in the Ethics (sila) part of the 8-fold path?
A
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
33
Q
What is in the Meditation (samadhi) part of the 8-fold path?
A
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
34
Q
What is in the Wisdom (panna) part of the 8-fold path?
A
- Right understanding
- Right intention
35
Q
What are the four noble truths?
A
- Dukkha, suffering exists
- Samudaya, we suffer because we crave
- Nirodha, suffering can end
- Magga, we can end suffering if we follow the eight-fold path
36
Q
What is Theravada Buddhism known as?
A
The school of elders
37
Q
What is Mahayana Buddhism known as?
A
The Great Vehicle
38
Q
What are the six perfections?
A
- Generosity - show metta and karuna at all times
- Morality - being moral means following the dhamma
- Patience accepting the suffering of life and being kind and tolerant
- Energy - dedication to enlightenment
- Meditation - to become enlightened, a buddhist must have mastered meditation
- Wisdom - wisdom can only be obtained be developing the 5 previous perfections
