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Higher RMPS > Buddhism > Flashcards

Buddhism Flashcards

1
Q

What was the first thing the Buddha realised whilst meditating under the Bodhi tree?

A

The nature of human existence

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2
Q

The Buddha realised that existence has three characteristics that must be understood before we can overcome suffering, what are these characteristics?

A
  • annica
  • anatta
  • dukkha
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3
Q

What can be said about the three marks of existence (anicca, anatta and dukkha)?

A

They are universal, meaning they are applied to everyone and everything. The three are heavily linked to each other and cannot be separated

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4
Q

What does anicca literally translate as?

A

Impermanence

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5
Q

What is anicca?

A

The observation that nothing in life stays the same, everything is constantly changing

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6
Q

Despite the fact that everything is impermanent (anicca), humans often act and behave as if things were permanent. What can this lead to?

A

We crave things (tanha) and this causes suffering (dukkha)

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7
Q

What are some impacts of anicca on Buddhists?

A
  • they will be able to accept loss more easily as they realise everything is
    impermanent (loved ones, possessions etc.)
  • gives them hope during difficult times as they know it won’t last forever
  • they are less materialistic
  • limits the amount they crave, which will reduce their suffering
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8
Q

What are some strengths of anicca?

A
  • impermanence cannot be denied, everything must come to an end, the Buddha
    didn’t make it up
  • there is a strong link between our cravings and our suffering, when we want
    something we can’t have we get upset
  • modern advertisements strive on the fact that we always want new things
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9
Q

What are some weaknesses of anicca?

A
  • the fact things don’t last forever makes them more pleasurable and meaningful
    when we have them, change makes life interesting
  • pain coming from impermanence can lead to good things e.g. cures to diseases,
    setting up charities
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10
Q

What is an example of anicca in practice?

A

Creation of sand mandalas

  • sand mandalas take a long time to create
  • they are then destroyed in a ceremony
  • this teaches Buddhists that nothing lasts forever and they shouldn’t get attached to things that will cease to exist
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11
Q

What is a story that Buddhists use to demonstrate anicca?

A

The story of Kisa and the Mustard Seed

  • Kisa is very attached to her son, and when he dies suddenly she cannot cope
  • she asks the Buddha for help
  • the Buddha tells her to visit every house and bring back a Mustard Seed from any house that has not experienced death/suffering/loss
  • she brought back no Mustard Seeds as everyone experiences loss
  • this taught Kisa not to become attached because things will not last forever
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12
Q

What is anatta?

A

Anatta means that the soul does not exist, it is anicca applied to humans

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13
Q

Instead of a soul, what do Buddhists belief the human body can be broken down into?

A

Five fundamental parts called the Five Skandhas, these can all adapt and change over time

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14
Q

What are the five skandhas?

A
  • form (physical body)
  • sensations (5 senses, pleasure, pain)
  • perception (how we understand things)
  • consciousness (awareness)
  • mental formations (how we react to our perceptions)
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15
Q

What are some impacts of anatta on Buddhists?

A
  • Buddhists wont be bothered about their appearance as they understand that their looks wont last forever
  • they will be able to let go of their ego
  • as Buddhists don’t belief in a self they will put others before themselves and act
    compassionately towards others
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16
Q

What is a story Buddhists use to demonstrate anatta?

A

The Analogy of the Chariot
- there is no one thing that makes a chariot, a chariot
- instead it is made up of multiple different parts
- for humans, this is the same there is no one part that makes humans, humans
(no soul)
- instead we are made up of five constantly changing parts (Skandhas)

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17
Q

What is the literal translation of Dukkha?

A

Suffering

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18
Q

What is dukkha?

A

It is more than just straightforward pain, it also refers to the suffering we feel as a result of the frustration and general dissatisfaction because life in general is not very satisfying

19
Q

What is dukkha caused by?

A

The three root poisons (greed, ignorance and hatred)

20
Q

What happens as a result of suffering?

A

We become trapped in samsara and it is only through ending their suffering that Buddhists can break the cycle

21
Q

What is the end of suffering?

A

Nibbana

22
Q

What are some impacts of dukkha on Buddhists?

A
  • able to accept life comes with suffering and bad times and teaches us to deal with that in a positive way
  • encourages us to have a realistic expectation of life
  • Buddhists would spend time meditating on the three marks of existence in order to fully understand and accept them
  • they will follow the eightfold path
23
Q

What are some examples of dukkha?

A
  • breaking a bone (physical pain)
  • holidays ending (frustration from good things ending)
  • buying things online which aren’t what you expected (unhappiness from being let down)
24
Q

What is kamma?

A

The principle that beings are reborn according to the nature and quality of there past actions. Skillful actions bring good effects and unskillful actions bring bad effects. As there is no soul (anatta), it is your kammic energy that is passed from life to life

25
Q

What are unskillful actions (bad kamma) generated by?

A

The three root poisons (greed, ignorance and hatred)

26
Q

What are skillful actions (good kamma) generated by?

A

The three good roots (non-attachment, understanding and kindness)

27
Q

What are the three good roots?

A

Understanding, non-attachment and kindness

28
Q

What is the most important thing about an act which generates kamma?

A

The intention of the act, if the intention is good, even a typically “bad act” can be considered good

29
Q

What is a story used to tell the importance of the intention of an act when generating kamma?

A

The Parable of the Burning House

  • the Buddha tells a story where a father lies because it is the only way to get his children out of a burning house
  • despite lying being banned in the eightfold path in this situation it was a skillful thing to do
30
Q

What are some positive impacts of kamma as a belief?

A
  • encourages Buddhists to think carefully before they act
  • helps to discourage selfishness
  • helps to accept suffering as it is a consequence of our past actions
  • contributes to the achievement of nibbana
  • teaches Buddhists that they are in control of their life
31
Q

What are some negative impacts of kamma as a belief?

A
  • can lead to beliefs that peoples misfortune is their own fault and that they deserve it
  • can lead to a lack of empathy towards those less fortunate as we believe they have done something to deserve it
  • people are under a lot of pressure to live a perfect life
32
Q

Ignorance is one of the three root poisons, what can be said about it?

A
  • represented by a pig

- means having misconceptions about reality

33
Q

Greed is one of the three root poisons, what can be said about it?

A
  • represented by a rooster
  • causes us to want to “get hold of things” and people and to have more and more
    of them
34
Q

Hatred is one of the three root poisons, what can be said about it?

A
  • represented by a snake
  • arises from ignorance because we don’t see the interconnectedness of
    everything and instead see ourselves as standing apart
  • we also feel hatred towards those who get between us and something we want
    (greed)
35
Q

Why are the three root poisons called so?

A

They pollute peoples lives and prevent them from escaping from samsara

36
Q

What are some impacts of the three root poisons on Buddhists?

A
  • highlights to Buddhists what fuels our negative actions
  • by knowing and understanding this Buddhists can make changes to their
    behaviours to try and eliminate the poisons from their lives
  • understanding the three root poisons will encourage Buddhists to follow the
    practices set out by the Buddha
37
Q

What is tanha?

A

Tanha means craving. The Buddha taught that the cause of our suffering is our craving for impermanent things

38
Q

What are some impacts of tanha on Buddhists?

A
  • tanha explains why we suffer (because we crave things which don’t last), this
    explains clearly to Buddhists what they need to do to stop suffering
  • encourages Buddhists to participate in certain teachings, such as creating sand
    mandalas and meditating
39
Q

What are some impacts of the three root poisons on Buddhists?

A
  • the belief highlights what fuels our negative thoughts and actions
  • by knowing this we can make changes to our behaviour to try and eliminate
    these things from our lives
  • it is only by eliminating these things that we can reach enlightenment
40
Q

What is the dhamma?

A

The teachings of the Buddha

41
Q

What was the Buddha’s real name?

A

Siddhartha Gautama

42
Q

What is the story of the life of Siddhartha Gautama?

A
  • born a prince, and in his childhood saw no suffering
  • his dad kept him away from the realities of life (suffering, disease, old age, death)
  • at age 29, he became dissatisfied and began to question what life meant
  • he left the palace and saw the four sights; an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a holy man
  • this compelled Siddhartha to find a cure for the worlds suffering
  • he left his home, rid himself of all luxuries and joined the ascetics
  • after 6 years, he had experienced both extreme wealth and extreme poverty but neither had given him real satisfaction
  • he realised the middle way between the two extremes would lead him to enlightenment
  • he sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree and gained full enlightenment
43
Q

Why is the story of the Buddha’s life important to Buddhists?

A
  • it teaches Buddhists about ignorance and how we often ignore the suffering in the
    world
  • it explains different types of suffering and how it affects everyone
  • it shows that it is possible for a human to reach enlightenment
  • gives examples of how to reach enlightenment (leave behind material attachment, follow the middle way)
44
Q

What are the two main divisions of Buddhism?

A

Theravada and Mahayana

Higher RMPS (1 decks)

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