Buddhism Flashcards
When did Buddhism start?
2500 years ago
How popular is Buddhism (e.g. 1st, 2nd)?
4th largest
How many followers does Buddhism have?
520 million (7% of the world’s population)
When was Siddhartha Gautama born?
480 BCE
What present day country was Siddhartha Gautama born in?
Nepal
Why did the king protect his son from the world?
He wanted to hide the prince from all suffering so that he would want to be the king one day
How old was Siddhartha Gautama when he first went outside the palace?
29
What was the first human suffering Siddhartha saw?
An old man
What was the second human suffering Siddhartha saw?
A sick man
What was the third and final human suffering Siddhartha saw?
A dead man
What happened after Siddhartha first encountered suffering?
He spiraled into an existential crisis
Who did Siddhartha see that made him want to change his entire life?
A homeless, content monk
How long did Siddhartha fast once he became a monk?
6 years
What did Siddhartha Gautama discover after fasting in the wilderness with the monks?
Enlightenment is between luxury and starvation
What did Siddhartha do after discovering the truth about where Enlightenment lies?
He ate
What tree did Siddhartha meditate under?
The Bodhi Tree
What happened after Siddhartha meditated under the tree?
He became the Buddha
What is the Buddhist term for “Enlightenment”?
Nirvana
What is Dukkha?
Suffering
What are the 4 Noble Truths?
Life is Dukkha, Dukkha is caused by Desire, Dukkha ends, and the Eightfold Path ends Dukkha
What is included in the first Noble Truth?
Life is Dukkha - dissatisfaction. Dukkha can be sickness, death, unwanted change, and not getting what you want
What is included in the second Noble Truth?
Dukkha is caused by Desire. People cling to impermanent parts of life, leading to everyone wanting more. The Buddha taught people to enjoy what you have.
What is included in the third Noble Truth?
Dukkha ends - Since we cause Dukkha, we can end it, too
What is included in the fourth Noble Truth?
The Eightfold Path ends Suffering. Pretty self explanatory :)
What are the parts of the Eightfold Path?
Having the Right View, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration.
What is Right View?
Accepting the 4 Noble Truths
What is Right Thought?
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones
What is Right Speech?
Focus on and use positive words instead of negative, which cause Dukkha to YOU and OTHERS.
What is Right Action?
Practice Ahimsa. Don’t hurt yourself, others, and animals.
What is Right Livelihood?
Primarily focused on having a JOB that doesn’t hurt animals or others, but can apply to being an honest/kind friend, partner, and family member
What is Right Effort?
Put effort into having good thoughts (Right Thought)
What is Right Mindfulness?
Pay attention/Be in the moment. Don’t judge or label your experiences, as they may bring you out of the moment
What is Right Concentration?
Focusing on a single thing during meditation. Gives insight
Which 3 of the Eightfold Path applies to meditation?
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration
What is Ahimsa?
Nonviolence
What is the Sanskrit translation for “Karma”?
Actions with consequences
What is Samsara?
The cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth in Buddhism
What is Nirvana?
A state of mind where you escape Samsara, is the ultimate goal
How long did the Buddha live after reaching Nirvana?
45 years, where he spread the word of Nirvana
Who were the Sangha?
Siddhartha’s community of monks or loyal followers
What did the Sangha do after Siddhartha died?
They spread his teachings as far as they could reach
What happens if you have good enough Karma when you die?
You can be reborn as a god
What are the two types of Buddhism?
Theraveda and Mahayana
Which of the two types of Buddhism is the oldest?
Theraveda
What does Theraveda translate to?
“School of the Elders”
What type of Buddhism uses texts called Suttas?
Theraveda
What are the Suttas?
Ancient oral teachings of the Buddha
What language are the Suttas written in?
Pali
What is the term for the Suttas when they are all grouped together?
Pali canon. They have less rituals, see Buddha as a human
What countries is Theraveda Buddhism located in?
Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
What does Mahayana translate to?
“Great Vehicle”
Which of the two types of Buddhism has more texts and teachings?
Mahayana
What is the main belief of Mahyana Buddhism?
Bodhisattva
What are the Bodhisattva?
Enlightened beings that remain on Earth to help others reach Nirvana
Where is Mahayana Buddhism practiced?
Nepal, Mongolia, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Tibet
What is the sub - branch of Mahayana Buddhism?
Vajrayana
What does Vajrayana translate to?
“Diamond Vehicle”
What is another name for Vajrayana Buddhism?
Tibetan Buddhism
What practices does Vajrayana Buddhism have to speed up the journey to Nirvana?
Mantras, Mandalas, Secret Rituals, Incantations and Deep Mediation
What are the teachers of Vajrayana, and who is the leader?
Lamas, leader is the Dalai Lama
What area of the world is Buddhism most prevalent?
East Asia and China
