Buddhism Flashcards
How many followers does Buddhism have, and where are they situated?
488 million followers called Buddhists who mainly live in north eastern
India as well as China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia and Southeast
Asia.
What are the main denominational sects?
Its most traditional form can be found in countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand. Tibetan Buddhism is widely known in the West through the work of one of its best known leaders, the Dalai Lama. More elaborate and complex forms of Buddhism developed in China where it combined with Taoism and Confucianism whilst in
Japan, Zen Buddhism developed.
What are the origins and key beliefs?
cycle of rebirth-life- death-rebirth-life-death
no belief in a Supreme Being or Creator God
follow teachings of Siddartha Gautama, known as Buddha, in 500 BCE
he was priveleged, he took a chariot ride then saw the four sights, sickness, age, death, and asceticism
he rejected hedonism and meditated under Bodha tree and became enlightened
he said middle way would help people escape rebirth life cycle
What is the Middle Way?
a key religious practice through developing ability to meditate
What is symbolism in Buddhism?
symbol is wheel, represents 2 things
reincarnation cycle, continuous wheel,
represents middle way, (eightfold path) 8 spokes represent 8 ways of living, used to develop wisdom, morality and concentration
What are the Four Sights?
the things that Siddartha Gautama saw outside the palace: old age sickness death asceticism
What is Dukkha?
suffering in the broadest sense of the
word. means eternal suffering of living. Once this truth of reality was recognised then dukkha could be brought to an end by following the Middle Way outlined by Buddhist teaching.
What is samsara?
The cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.
What does the The Buddha embody?
The word ‘Buddha’ is a title, which means ‘one who is awake’ — in the sense of having
‘woken up to reality’.
What is the middle way?
Describes the character of the eight fold path; complement of general and specific
ethical practices and philosophical views that are said to facilitate enlightenment.
