Buddhism Flashcards
When did Buddhism begin?
2500 years ago/6th-century B.C.E.
Approximately how many people follow Buddhism
535,000,000
Three branches of Buddhism
Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana
Key features of Buddhism
- It is more of a religious philosophy than a traditional religion.
- There is no God in Buddhism
- Spiritual concepts of reincarnation and Nirvana exist.
How did Buddhism evolve
When it left India
Key features of Hinduism
- Classified as a polytheistic religion due to the many gods that are worshipped
- Hindus believe in reincarnation, karma, moksha (heaven), the practices of yoga and meditation
- Worship the Gods through prayer and offerings.
Caste System
If you generate good Karma you will move up the social ladder in your next life. Consequently, if you generate bad Karma you will move down the ladder. Banned in 1950
How does the caste system divide its people
Brahmins- priests and teachers Kshatriyas- warriors and rulers Vaishyas- farmers, traders Shudras- labourers Dalits- untouchables
Similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism beliefs
Karma Reincarnation Human desire --> Suffering Multiple versions of heaven and hell Meditation and Yoga
When was Siddartha Gautama born
563 BC
What led him to become the Buddha
His prophecy was to be a great ruler or a very holy man
His father locked him up in the palace so he could become the emperor of India and not see the outside world
When he left the palace he saw things that changed his view of the world
What did he see when he left the palace
Sick man
Old man
Dying man
Holy man
What did he try to do in order to get rid of all his pleasures in life
He almost starved himself to death to get rid of all pleasures in life.
Siddartha achieved Nirvana
True
Beings are unified by _____
To cease suffering you must _________________
suffering
keep things in moderation
Attachment is the __________
root of suffering
‘Wisdom is a habit, __________
not merely an intellectual realisation’
Sutras/Mantras
written quotes by the Buddha made by the Buddha’s followers
Where did Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism spread to
Theravada Buddhism spread to South-east Asia
Mahayana Buddhism spread to China and North-east Asia
Buddhist miracles are:
Not physical, but spiritual and psychological
The 3 Jewels
Buddha - The teacher
Dharma - The teachings and the sacred texts (Tripitaka)
Sangha - The community and monks and nuns
The 4 Noble Truths
Dukkha: suffering is inescapable
Samudaya: suffering caused from the greed, ignorance and hatred
Nirodha: suffering can be ended if we stop craving
Magga: The recipe for achieving happiness, virtue and eventually Nirvana
Noble Eightfold Path
the guidelines to the end to all suffering
Middle Path
Nirvana
Difference between Hinduism and Buddhism (Nirvana)
A person can achieve enlightenment in one lifetime and that your social status doesn’t determine if you can be enlightened
You can’t achieve nirvana in one lifetime and it depends on social status
Wisdom
Right View
Right Thought
Morality
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Concentration
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Dharma Wheel
Right View Right Thought Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration
Karma
A doctrine followed in Buddhism and Hinduism
It is the law of nature and it has an actions and reaction effect
Good and Bad Karma may manifest within each other
Annica
The doctrine of impermanence (Everything changes but nothing lasts forever)
Nirvana
The removal of our wrong perceptions which comes from suffering
Tripitaka/Pali Canon
the teachings of the Buddha and the physical texts that were recorded
Tri/Three Baskets
the 3 sacred parts of the text Vinaya Pitaka (collection of monastic codes and rituals) Sutta Pitaka (Buddha’s discourses) Abhidhamma Pitaka (collection of teachings)
Swastika
Represents the footprints of the Buddha that has been taken out of context in history. Also represents the Dharma wheel.
Lotus
Symbol of purity within the Buddhist faith
Bodhi Tree
Symbol of enlightenment for Buddhist followers
Stupa
A symbol of Buddha himself, and his enlightenment.
Mandala
Symbolises workings of the universe
Prayer wheels
Used as an aid to meditation
Buddhist flag
Symbolises the six colours that surrounded Buddha’s aura
Tiratna
Represents the three jewels of Buddhism
Deer
Symbolises Buddha’s compassion for all animals
Alms Bowl
symbolises middle ground between giver and receiver
Buddha’s Dumbo Ears
Symbolises his rejection of the material world
Buddha Maitreya
Will arrive in the future when original teachings have fully decayed and taught the pure Dharma
Buddha Shakyamuni
The OG Buddha, first to achieve enlightenment
Meditation
practising the teachings of the Buddha and to become awakened to Dukkha
Mindfulness is crucial in meditation because
It creates a connection between self-awareness and awareness of others
How do Buddhists meditate?
Walking meditation
Chanting
Sitting
Why do Buddhists meditate?
Liberate the heart from anxiety
Focus on the present
They want to clear the mind from impurity
Develop attention and concentration
Mala Beads
Counts the mantra repetitions Helps to sustain mantras Most have 108 beads Only 100 beads are credited Once a cycle is completed, go around the other way Help keep focus
Wesak Day
Celebrates the three major events of the Buddha’s life
Birth, Enlightenment, Achievement of Nirvana
Begins at Buddhist temples at dawn → Meditate on the precepts
The offering of prayers, incense, giving food to the poor + Donations made
Wearing White
reflects purity
Five precepts
Abstain from: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants in that order
Light oil lamps/candles
symbolise lighting up someone’s life
Bathing of the Buddha Ceremony
Commemorates his birth
Symbolises cleansing of the body
Significance of the Buddha Ceremony
Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden
He immediately walked with 7 steps looking in different directions
Every lotus grew out from the ground where he stepped
The rains came to bathe him
Sangha
monastic communities of monks and nuns
Theravada tradition
young boys spend a period of time as a monk.
Vinaya
rules and the laws of the Sangha
Bhikkhu
monks and nuns
Why does a male join a monastery
To earn religious merit
To earn social merit
Blessings for their family in this lifetime and the next
The daily life of a monk
Receive alms (food) to sustain their needs Meditation and Study Keep their monastery clean Own very little possessions Robes and belt Food bowl Needle and thread to mend their robes Razor to shave their hair.
Hair Removal
symbol of letting go of the material world
3 Saffron Robes
symbol for the quest for light
Symbol of the Son
are a symbol of blessing and growth
Renouncing
is a symbol to forbid the pursuit of sensual pleasure.
Dalai Lama
religious leader of Tibeten Buddhists
Tulku
A person who decides to be continually reborn
First reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
Gebun Drub
Current Dalai Lama
Tenzin Gyatso
Choosing the Dalai Lama
Tibetan government finds the reincarnation of the next Dalia Lama
Through the previous Dalai Lama’s dreams and where the smoke blows
Once the candidate is found they present him with a number of artifacts. The boy is asked to identify those that belonged to the DalaiLama
Kundun
means ‘the presence’
Lhasa
is the capital of Tibet
in Kundun, the Dalai Lama meets with
Chairman Mao Zedong
What is under threat due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet
Vajrayana tradition because as another Dalai Lama may not be able to be appointed
Vesak
Commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
Upali
a monk, one of the ten chief disciples of the Buddha in charge of writing the monastic discipline
Anatta
refers to the doctrine of “non-self”
Samsara
the cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.
Annada
means bliss or happiness
Buddha is another word for
enlightened
