Buddhism Flashcards
What was the 1st Passing Sight and what does it symbolize?
an old man and it symbolizes change
What were 2 things that Siddhartha rejected from Hinduism?
the caste system and the way they treated women
What was the 2nd Passing Sight and what does it symbolize?
a sick man and it symbolizes suffering
What was the 3rd Passing Sight and what does it symbolize?
a dead man and impermanence
What was the 4th Passing Sight and what does it symbolize?
a spiritual man/sannyasin and it symbolizes hope to escape change, suffering, and impermanence
What happened after Gautama saw the 4 Passing sights?
He left the palace to seek a way out of suffering
What did Gautama become after he left the palace?
He became an ascetic
What is an ascetic?
Someone who barely eats any food in a way of punishing the body to gain spiritual knowledge
What did Gautama find after he realized that asceticism is not the best way to live?
He found “the Middle Way”
Where was Gautama enlightened?
under the Bodhi Tree
What is enlightenment/nirvana?
It is peace with the world; escape from samsara; ultimate salvation
What is Samsara?
The wheel of suffering and rebirth
What is Dharma?
Dharma is the teachings of Buddha
What is Anatta/Anatman?
“no - self”
What is Anicca?
“impermanence”
What is Dukkha?
“suffering”
What are the 3 marks of exsistence?
Anatta/Anatman
Anicca
Dukkha
What is Karma?
Karma is the moral law of cause and effect
What are the 5 Precepts of Buddhism?
- Do not take life
- Do not take what is not given
- Do not engage in sexual misconduct
- Do not use false speech
- Do not drink or use intoxicants
What are the 4 Noble Truths?
- To live is to suffer
- Suffering is caused by desire
- Suffering can be brought be cessation
- The solution to suffering is the Eightfold Path
What does living in mindfulness/awareness mean?
Living in the present moment and being aware of your surrounding; not thinking about the past or future but only the present
What are Boddhisatvas?
Buddhas in training; they had the ability to achieve nirvana, but because of compassion towards other people, they turned back to teach others
What are Arhats?
People who achieve nirvana/enlightenment
What are the 3 rafts of Buddhism?
Thervada
Mahayana
Vajrayana
Where is Thervada Buddhism mainly practiced?
Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka
What do thervada Buddhists mainly believe?
the teachings of the Buddha are the most important tool in reaching nirvana
In which raft of Buddhism are men sent to monasteries?
Thervada Buddhism
Where is Mahayana Buddhism mainly practiced?
China, Korea, and Japan
What do Mahayana Buddhists mainly believe?
The focus on Buddha himself as a figure; they also focus on the virtue of compassion
What is the ideal type of Mahayana Buddhists?
boddhisatvas
Where is Vajrayana Buddhism mainly practiced?
Tibet
What 2 factors make Vajrayana Buddhism different from the 2 other rafts of Buddhism?
They believe that nirvana is attainable in this lifetime (rather than at death); also they believe that desire is not necessarily a bad thing
What are mandalas?
patterned icons made of sand
What are mudras?
choreographed hand motions to draw and control energies from motion
What are mantras?
resonating chants
How do vajrayana Buddhists believe that they can achieve nirvana?
They believe that they can contain and control the energies of desire and turn it against itself to reach nirvana
Who is the Dalai Lama?
The leader of the vajrayana Buddhists
What is the conflict going on in Tibet and China?
China has invaded Tibet and tried to uproot the Dalai Lama
What major things has the current Dalai Lama done?
He has won a Nobel Peace Prize for pushing for peace during the China vs. Tibet conflict
What happened during the 1st Watch?
Gautama was able to perceive all of his previous lives
What happened during the 2nd watch?
Gautama received the “divine eye”
What is the “divine eye”?
The ability to see all lives, deaths, and rebirths of all people
What happened during the 3rd Watch?
Gautama discovered the 4 Noble Truths
