Buddhism Flashcards
Dharma
Teachings of the Buddha that should be followed to reach nirvana. These include the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and The Five Precpets.
Dukkha
Suffering or unsatisfactoriness in life. The concept that life is suffering. This suffering can take different forms, such as suffering from attachment and desire.
Noble Eightfold Path
Eight steps towards overcoming suffering and desires and achieving Nirvana and freedom from Samsara. Living the Middle Way (Magga) is achieved by following this path, for example, Right Speech and Right Livelihood.
Parinirvana
The Buddha achieved nirvana but remained to help others, when he died, he achieved parinirvana.
Tanha
Craving or desire of possessions, people, permanence and can be either physical or mental. These are the cause of suffering and are linked to the three poisons.
What are the Four Sights?
- Old Age
- Sickness
- Death
- Holy Man
What are the Four Noble Truths?
Dukkha - To accept that all life is suffering, this includes pain,getting old,disease and ultimately death.
Tanha - The cause of suffering? Suffering is caused by attachment/greed (not just for things but for our lives to perfect) to our cravings and selfish desires.
Nirodha - How can we end suffering? - We need overcome and break free from our attachments and selfish desires.
Magga - How do we overcome our desires? - We should follow the Middle Way. This path leads to enlightenment and finally Nirvana (being totally unattached from the things we desire and finding peace)
What is and are the Five Precepts
Buddhists should follow the Five Precepts to ensure they are living a morally good life. This helps them to get rid of suffering and achieve nirvana.
All Buddhists undertake to live by the Five Precepts which means they try to avoid:
- Harming living things (Ahimsa)
- Taking what is not given
- Harmful sexual activity
- Lies or gossip
- Taking intoxicating substances (e.g. drugs or alcohol)
