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Buddhism Flashcards

1
Q

What happened in Queen Maya’s dream before the Buddha was born?

A

Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant holding a white lotus flower in its trunk. The elephant went round the queen 3 times and entered her womb through the right side.

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2
Q

How was Queen Maya’s dream interpreted?

A

If her child never witnessed suffering, he would become a great king, if he did witness suffering he would become a great religious leader

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3
Q

What happened when the Buddha was born?

A

He took 7 steps, and with each one, a lotus flower bloomed in its place, the the Buddha said “I am chief of the world, eldest am I in the world, foremost am I in the world. This is the last birth. There is now no more rebirth”

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4
Q

What is annica?

A

Sanskrit word meaning ‘impermenance’, part of the dharma

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5
Q

What is dukkha?

A

Sanskrit word meaning ‘suffering’ part of the dharma

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6
Q

What were the 4 sights the Buddha saw?

A

Old age
Sickness
Death
Ascetic

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7
Q

Why are the 4 sights important?

A
  • Siddhartha had never seen these things before , and they made him realise that he and everyone else would experience old age, sickness and death
  • After seeing them, Siddhartha realised life in the palace was little more than an illusion
  • Seeing them led to his renunciation of his life in the palace and his search for the solution to suffering
  • They powerfully illustrate the Buddhist teachings on annica and dukkha and show that they are an unavoidable part of life in samsara
  • The first three sights demonstrate the most painful aspects of human life which everyone must face up to
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8
Q

What did Siddhartha do after seeing the 4 sights?

A

He left the palace, leaving his wife and young son behind. He cut off his hair and swapped his clothes for a beggar. He followed one guru who taught him various meditation and yoga like techniques, but he realised they wouldn’t bring him the answers he was seeking. He followed a second guru who taught him the best way to overcome suffering was to become an ascetic, but he realised this would not bring him the answers he was looking for either.

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9
Q

What happened when the Buddha started meditating?

A

A demon named Mara tried to distract his meditation. He sent an army of demons to instil fear in Siddhartha but his powerful meditation turned the arrows to flowers. Next, he sent his daughters to provoke Siddhartha’s craving, but he paid them no attention and continued he mediation

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10
Q

Where did the Buddha reach enlightenment?

A

Under the Bodhi tree at Both Gaya

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11
Q

What knowledge did Siddhartha gain in the first watch?

A

He recalled all of his past lives and understood the way these lives were interconnected

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12
Q

What knowledge did Siddhartha gain in the second watch?

A

He understood the cycle of death and rebirth and the way that good and bad karma conditioned different forms of rebirth

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13
Q

What knowledge did Siddhartha gain in the third watch?

A

He understood that those who rid themselves of craving will be freed from samsara and will no longer suffer. He finally discovered the cure and cause of suffering

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14
Q

Why is the Buddha’s enlightenment important?

A
  • The insight he gained is the source of the dharma ; all his teachings can be traced back to his meditation under the Bodhi tree
    -It gives the Buddha’s teachings authority, because he had perfect insight into reality
  • Its a reminder that the path to enlightenment is difficult and that Buddhists will face many struggles and temptations along the way
  • It encourages Buddhists to meditate, which is the most important spiritual practice for many Buddhists
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15
Q

What are the three poisons?

A

Ignorance, greed and hatred

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16
Q

What is nirvana?

A

Sanskrit word meaning ‘blowing out’, but a better English translation may be ‘liberation’

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17
Q

What stages does Theravada Buddhism split nirvana into?

A
  • Nirvana in this life: consists of a psychological transformation. Their mind is liberated from the three poisons and their personality becomes characterised by wisdom, selfishness and compassion. They no longer crave anything and their mind is at peace
  • Parinirvana: When a person reaches nirvana they can still experience physical suffering but they no longer create any karma so they are not reborn in samsara
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18
Q

What are Mahayana perspectives on nirvana?

A

Mahayana Buddhists aim to become a bodhisattva, they think it best to delay entry to parinirvana to help others

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19
Q

Why is nirvana important for Buddhists?

A
  • Said to be the goal of Buddhism, so the most important Buddhist teaching
  • Other teachings could be seen as pointing the way to nirvana
  • It shapes Buddhists religious life, as practices aim at attaining it
  • Buddha’s nirvana shows that liberation from suffering and samsara is possible
  • Theravada Buddhists believe it is almost impossible unless you become a monk or nun, many just aim to create good karma for a good rebirth
  • Mahayana buddhists may feel it is selfish to attain parinirvana
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20
Q

What are the three jewels?

A

The guiding principles of Buddhism; the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha

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21
Q

What is the dharma?

A

The truths about existence that the Buddha taught

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22
Q

What is the sangha?

A

The community of monks and nuns who give spiritual support and guidance to the lay community

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23
Q

Why are the three jewels important to Buddhists?

A
  • They give buddhists guidance and comfort in their lives
  • The Buddha left the three jewels rather than a holy book or leader
  • ‘taking refuge in the three jewels’ is the way a person becomes a buddhist
  • The lines recited when becoming buddhist are also chanted as an important part of regular religious worship, a way of reaffirming to the Buddhist path
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24
Q

What is Wesak?

A

Theravada festival that celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death

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25
Q

What do Theravada Buddhists do to celebrate Wesak?

A
  • Light is an important feature of celebrations, symbolising enlightenment and the Buddha’s teachings
  • In Sri Lanka lanterns and lights are lit and hung outside buildings
  • There are large processions featuring brightly lit floats
  • There are street pantomimes and light shows which retell stories from the Buddha’s life
  • Monks lead lay people on a 3 circuit walk around a stupa
  • At dawn a statue of the Buddha is bathed by having water poured over it, symbolising the washing away of bad karma, and reminding Buddhists of the need to cleanse themselves of the 3 poisons
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26
Q

Why is Wesak important for Buddhists?

A
  • The Buddha’s enlightenment serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal for all Buddhists
  • It is a time to reflect on their own search for nirvana and recommit to the Buddha’s teachings
  • Time to create good karma (give offerings and alms)
  • Opportunity to strengthen knowledge of the Buddha and his teachings
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27
Q

What are the 5 addiditonal precepts that some Buddhists commit to during Wesak?

A
  • Not to eat after midday
  • Not to sleep in a luxurious bed
  • Not to wear jewellery, make-up or perfume
  • Not to dance or go to musical events
  • Not to handle money
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28
Q

What is parinirvana day?

A

Mahayana festival that commemorates the Buddha’s death

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29
Q

What were the Buddha’s last words?

A

“All beings are impermanent. Strive hard for your own liberation”

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30
Q

What do Buddhists do on Parinirvana Day?

A
  • Temples and monasteries are opened to lay people
  • People give gifts of money, clothing and household items
  • Food is prepared and shared
  • Many Buddhists spend much of the day meditating or reading from the Parinirvana Sutra
  • Some visit a temple to hear portions of the Parinirvana Sutra being recited, when these happen the rooms are kept very dim, once finished the room is brightly lit symbolising enlightenment and the Buddha’s teachings illuminating the world
  • time to think of friends and relatives who have died and say prayers on their behalf, hoping they help them in their rebirth
  • time to visit holy places
  • some make pilgrimage to Kushingar (where the Buddha died)
  • silently walk around statue of Buddha on death bed as way of reflecting on anicca and cultivating a sense of gratitude
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31
Q

What is Kathina?

A

A Theravada festival which comes at the end of Vassa

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32
Q

What is Vassa?

A

A three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists during the rainy season

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33
Q

What do Buddhists do during Vassa?

A
  • monks observe a retreat
  • lay buddhists may meditate or attend temple more regularly
  • Lay buddhists may stop participating in non-religious celebrations and give up bad habits
  • some Buddhists undergo a temporary ordination
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34
Q

What do Buddhists do at Kathina?

A
  • Lay people give gifts to monks
  • Monks and lay people come together again
  • Monks are presented with a meal prepared by the community
  • Monks are presented with cloth to make robes
  • In Myanmar, colourful donation trees of money and other gifts are displayed
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35
Q

Why are Vassa and Kathina important to Buddhists?

A
  • Vassa: The Buddha recommended that monks avoid travelling during the monsoons.
  • Vassa: Temporary ordination is a rite of passage for young men in some countries
  • Kathina: Recalls the Buddha’s generosity in giving new robes to a group of monks who had travelled to see him.
  • Kathina: Allows lay Buddhists to earn merit by giving offerings to monks.
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36
Q

What is the dharma?

A

The spiritual laws of the universe; the Buddha’s teachings

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37
Q

What are the three marks of existence?

A

The three characteristics of existence: anicca, dukkha and anatta

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38
Q

What are the three refuges?

A

The three guiding ideals of Buddhist life; the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha

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39
Q

What is the dharma? (DHARMA)

A

D: discovered by the Buddha - it is the universal laws of existence, which the Buddha understood at he moment of his enlightenment
H: Human life - can only be properly understood in the light of the dharma
A: Accept these truths - a necessary step to attaining nirvana
R: Refuges - one of the three refuges that Buddhists commit to help them on the path to Nirvana
M: marks of existence and dependent origination - dharma consists of teachings on these
A: analogy of the raft - Buddha compared the Dharma to a raft, suggesting it is simply a useful vehicle for accomplishing a journey

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40
Q

What is annica? (ANNICA)

A

A: all things are impermanent
N: nothing remains the same
I: Illustrated by human body - our bodies are constantly changing
C: cling to things as if they were permanent - because humans struggle to accept change
C: contradiction causes suffering - suffering arises when our clinging is contradicted by the reality of change
A: accept to reach nirvana - necessary to remove suffering and help buddhists reach nirvana

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41
Q

What is dukkha? (SUFFER)

A

S: ‘suffering’
U: unavoidable - it is an unavoidable ‘fact’ of life in samsara
F: Four sights illustrate dukkha
F: First Noble Truth - could be said to be the starting point of Buddhism
E: escaping suffering is the purpose of Buddhism
R: related to annica and annata - if we don’t understand anicca and anatta this will lead to suffering

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42
Q

What is anatta? (NOSELF)

A

N: no self - there is no unchanging soul or self
O: only a bundle of parts: we are a bundle of ever-changing skandhas
S: school analogy
E: ego is an illusion - we have an idea of an ego but if we examine this we realise it is just an illusion, this leads to craving and suffering
L: Links to the idea of anicca - anicca applied to human nature
F: freedom - we need to free ourselves from the illusion of the self. If we do we will no longer crave, so will no longer suffer

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43
Q

What is pratityasamutpada? (CHAINS)

A

C: chain of cause and effect - all things that exist were caused by other things
H: human life - our actions create karma, which conditions a new life after our death
A: attain nirvana - need to break the ‘links’ to attain nirvana
I: interconnected - highlights the interconnectedness of things
N: nidanas - Tibetan Wheel of Life depicts it as 12 nidanas
S: samsara - keeps beings trapped in samsara

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44
Q

What are the Four Noble Truths?

A
  1. Suffering: all life involves suffering
  2. The Origin of Suffering: suffering is caused by craving
  3. The Cessation of Suffering: If craving is eliminated we will no longer suffer
  4. The Path to the Cessation of Suffering: To end suffering and attain nirvana, follow the Eightfold Path
45
Q

What are the 3 types of suffering?

A

Ordinary suffering - physical and mental pain
The suffering of change - caused by attachment to impermanent things
The suffering of existence - general background anxieties we all have

46
Q

Why are the Four Noble Truths important?

A
  • First thing the Buddha taught, so the start of Buddhism as a religion
  • Could be described as the essence of the religion; Buddha once said ‘I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering’
  • 4th Noble Truth sets out the path to nirvana
  • 4th Noble Truth guides Buddhists on how to live
47
Q

What are the 3 poisons?

A

ignorance, greed and hatred

48
Q

What are buddhist teachings on the 3 poisons? (THREE)

A

T: Tanya - they cause Tanya
H: human beings - all are born with them
R: roots - also called unwholesome roots as they are the root cause of wrongful actions and suffering
E: eliminate - practice meditation to eliminate and replace with three wholesome roots (generosity, compassion, wisdom)
E: escaped samsara: in Theravada, someone who has eliminated them has escaped samsara and are an arhat

49
Q

What is nirvana? (BLOWING)

A

B: Buddha - reached nirvana under Bodhi Tree, and his experience shaped beliefs about nirvana
L: liberation - translated as ‘liberation’ from 3 poisons suffering and samsara
O: other perspectives - some Mahayana Buddhists believe we already live in nirvana and experience it in moments of insight
W: work - takes lifetimes or hard work and spiritual progress
I: in this life - Buddhists believe that the first stage of nirvana is a psychological transformation, but the enlightened person is still bound to their body and can experience physical pain
N: next life - the second stage is parinirvana, where a person is not reborn
G: goal - could be seen as ultimate goal of buddhism

50
Q

What are the parts of the Eightfold Path?

A

Way of Wisdom
- Right View: seeing the world correctly
- Right Intention: making a sincere commitment to follow the eightfold path

Way of Morality
- Right Speech: speaking carefully, avoiding lies and harmful comments
- Right Action: living an ethical life by following the 5 moral precepts
- Right Livelihood: earning money in ways that do not harm other beings

The Way of Meditation
- Right Effort: working hard to become a better person
- Right Mindfulness: being aware of oneself and the world around us
- Right Concentration: training the mind to be calm and develop compassion and wisdom

51
Q

Why is the Eightfold Path important?

A
  • How Buddhists reach nirvana
  • Way of Wisdom helps buddhists see the world the right way
  • Way of Morality influences attitudes to moral issues
  • Way of Morality helps in earning good karma
  • Way of Meditation helps buddhists train their mind to avoid negative thoughts
52
Q

What are the 5 Moral Precepts?

A

1st: abstain from harming living beings
2nd: abstain from taking what is not freely given
3rd: abstain from sexual misconduct
4th: abstain from false speech
5th: abstain from taking intoxicants which cloud the mind

53
Q

Why are the 5 Moral Precepts important?

A
  • Part of the Eightfold Path, so part of the Buddha’s teaching
  • Guide Buddhists on how to live and treat other people
  • Shape Buddhist responses to ethical issues
  • Show Buddhists how to create good karma, so earn a better rebirth
  • Chanting the 5 precepts is an important practice which helps buddhists recommit to them
54
Q

What is a skandha?

A

Sanskrit word meaning ‘part’ or ‘aggregate’

55
Q

Story of Nagasena and the Chariot

A

A famous buddhist story which illustrates the concepts of anatta and the Five Skandhas. A monk, Nagasensa, asks a king to show him what a chariot is. When the king points to the chariot, Nagasena explains that a chariot is simply a collection of parts, nothing more. In the same way, humans are also a collection of parts, and there is no soul or self which exists separate from these parts

56
Q

What are the 5 skandhas?

A

Form, sensation, perception, mental formation, consciousness

57
Q

What do the 5 skandhas teach? (HEAPS)

A

H: helps us understand anatta - they are a teaching that develops the concept of anatta, helping us understand why we think there is a self when there isn’t
E: ever changing heaps - every being is made up of ever changing heaps of form, sensation, perception, mental formation and consciousness
A: attachment - attachment to the skandhas causes suffering
P: perceiving the reality - perceiving the reality of the skandhas helps us reduce attachment and suffering, and move closer to nirvana
S: self - the skandhas song combine to make a permanent self, because they are always changing, instead they combine to create the illusion of the self

58
Q

What does sunyata mean?

A

“emptiness”. The Buddha’s teaching that all things are empty of independent existence

59
Q

What is sunyata? (EMPTY)

A

E: ‘empty’ - teaches all things are empty of independent existence
M: Mahayana - come from the Mahayana teaching, and tie together teachings on anatta, anicca and dependent origination
P: process - teaches that all things are in a process of arising and passing away, nothing simply is
T: tied together - teaches all beings are tied together as we are dependent on other beings for our existence
Y: you can’t see the whole picture - reminds buddhists that it is impossible to see the whole picture, so judgement of events are always relative

60
Q

What is tathagatagarba? (HONEY)

A

H: “have buddha nature” - Mahayana teaching that all beings have buddha-nature or the potential to become a buddha
O: obscured by stains - our Buddha nature is “obscured by incidental stains. When those have been removed, there is buddhahood”
N: negative mental states - kleshas prevent us from realising out buddha nature
E: explained by the analogy of the bees - it is like honey and bees. If we want to obtain the honey (nirvana) we must use the right techniques to get rid of the bees (kleshas)
Y: you are already Buddha - in some schools, interpreted to mean all beings are already Buddha, they just don’t know it yet

61
Q

What does ‘arhat’ mean?

A

A “perfected person” who has eliminated the three poisons and attained nirvana

62
Q

What is an arhat? (ARHATS)

A

A: aim - ultimate goal for Theravada Buddhists
R: reached enlightenment - they have reached enlightenment and achieved a perfect insight into the dharma
H: helped along the way - they reach nirvana through following instruction
A: achieved by following eightfold path
T: three poisons - arhat has overcome the three poisons and become a ‘perfected person’
S: samsara - an arhat has broken free of samsara, once they die they aren’t reborn

63
Q

Bodhisattva definition

A

A being who is on the path to enlightenment but delays nirvana to help other beings

64
Q

What is a bodhisattva? (BODHIS)

A

B: ‘buddha in training’
O: objective - objective of Mahayana Buddhism
D: Dalai Lama - Tibetan Buddhists believe he is the incarnation of a bodhisattva
H: help other beings
I: inspiration - they inspire other buddhists and often act as a focus for worship
S: six paramitas - they are believed to have perfected the 6 paramitas

65
Q

What is a paramita?

A

A ‘perfection’. A perfect virtue that must be developed by those on the Bodhisattva path

66
Q

What are the 6 paramitas?

A

Generosity: a bodhisattva is selfless in giving up their own interests for the sake of other beings
Morality: thinking and acting in ways which show respect to all forms of life
Patience: understanding your own limitations and the limitations of others. Persevering through the many lives it takes to become a buddha
Energy: channelling your energy towards doing good actions rather than just thinking good thoughts
Meditation: developing a clear mind to be able to see life calmly and perceive reality correctly
Wisdom: understanding and insight into the buddhas teachings

67
Q

What is nembutsu?

A

An important Pure Land practice. It involves chanting “I dedicate my life to the Buddha of infinite light”

68
Q

Who is the Amitabha Buddha?

A

The “Buddha of infinite light”. The being worshipped by Pure Land Buddhists

69
Q

What is Pure Land Buddhism? (REALM)

A

R: reaching the pure land in their next rebirth is the goal
E: enlightenment will follow - because the pure land is a realm where there are no distractions or obstacles to reaching nirvana
A: Amitabha - created the Pure Land, reciting his name is a key practice
L: less emphasis - on Gautama Buddha, meditation and intellectual understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. Focus is on devotion to Amitabha
M: more practical - as its practices are very simple

70
Q

What is karma?

A

Sanksrit word meaning ‘action’ or ‘actions and their consequences’

71
Q

What is karuna?

A

compassion, for others and yourself

72
Q

What are the key concepts of buddhist ethics?

A
  1. Our life is now shaped by the karma we have accumulated in this and previous lives. The karma we create now will affect us later in this and future lives
  2. Creating merit can lead to a favourable rebirth. However, Buddhists ultimately seek an end to karma and rebirth
  3. The Buddha taught that reaching enlightenment required the development of 2 qualitites; wisdom and compassion
  4. Compassion is at the heart of Buddhist ethics - the 5 Moral Precepts and Bodhisattva Vow reflect this attitude of compassion
  5. Metta is linked to the 5 Precepts, which are seen as behaviours that promote metta and create well-being for ourselves and for others
  6. Metta bhavana is a Buddhist practice that aims to cultivate an attitude of metta
73
Q

What is puja?

A

The Buddhist word for “worship” or “devotional ritual”
Can be performed anywhere a shrine has been set up and may include actions such as making offerings to the Buddha, bowing to show respect, chanting, meditating, praying and performing other rituals

74
Q

Why are home shrines useful?

A
  • They are the most common place of worship
  • They are useful reminders of key Buddhist ideas, as well as providing a quiet place to meditate or chant
75
Q

How are home shrines usually set up?

A
  • May have dedicated room, but often found in a part of another room
  • Kept in a quiet place so it can be used as a focus for meditation and other Buddhist practices
  • Not seen as important to spend lots of money on it
  • Some recommend setting it up using things already owned
  • Usually on a table to show respect
  • Most important object usually a rupa
  • Mahayana Buddhists may include statues or pictures of bodhisattvas or Buddhist teachers
  • In Tibetan Buddhism, a rupa represents the Buddha’s body, a Buddhist scripture is place on the shrine to represent the Buddha’s speech and a model stupa represents his mind
76
Q

What are the most common offerings placed on shrines?

A
  • Flowers: symbol of arnica or impermenance
  • Candles: symbol of enlightenment
  • Water: symbol of purity or calm
  • Fruit: symbol of karma
  • Incense: symbol of the laws of the dharma pervading the universe
77
Q

Why do some Buddhists place offerings on shrines

A
  • Reminder of key Buddhist ideas such as karma
  • Reflective of sacrifices that must be made in the search for nirvana
78
Q

Key features of Theravada temples

A
  • Shrine room/hall: main place for meditation and puja, most important area in the temple
  • Accommodation for monks and nuns
  • Stupa: worshippers may walk around it, reflecting the desire to keep the Buddha at the centre of their life
  • Bodhi Tree: may have grown from cuttings taken from original Bodhi tree, reminder to worshippers of potential enlightenment
  • Ordination Hall: where monks and nuns take vows when they are ordained
79
Q

Importance of Theravada temples (Thailand)

A
  • Attending temple isn’t a religious duty for all Buddhists
  • Almost every town or village has its own temple in Thailand
  • Thai Buddhists visit their local temple to worship with the monks and to bring offerings to the shrine. Lay Buddhists can acquire merit by giving offering to support the monks or by improving the temple
  • Temples act as a focus of celebration for Buddhist festivals, or for marking rites of passage, such as weddings or funerals
  • Monks may provide pastoral care
  • Place where children can learn about Buddhism
  • In non-buddhist countries, may serve as a way or promoting and preserving religious or cultural identity
80
Q

Features of Mahayana temples

A
  • Main Hall (hondo): houses scared objects, most important part of the temple, used for religious ceremonies
  • Lecture hall (kodo): uses for meetings and lectures
  • Pagoda: evolution of the stupa, used to house relics
  • Temple gates: mark boundary between sacred space of temple grounds and secular world beyond
  • Bell (bonsho): used to summons the priests to prayer, also used during Buddhist festivals
  • Accommodation for priests
81
Q

Importance of Mahayana temples

A

 Most Buddhist cemeteries in Japan are located in the grounds of a temple. This makes them important places, as visiting the graves of ancestors is an important religious duty people for many Japanese lay Buddhists, particularly during the Obon festival.
 Monks provide services to the local community, such as conducting funerals, educating children, and providing food and shelter to the poor.
 Temples can help people during times of trouble: lay Buddhists may visit a temple to ask a priest to pray for them.
 Some temples are popular places of pilgrimage, and Japanese Buddhists may undertake a pilgrimage in the hope of having a wish fulfilled.
 The most important function of Japanese Buddhist temples is to house sacred objects. They are not primarily places of worship. For most Japanese Buddhists, the most importance place of worship is the home shrine.

82
Q

What additional precepts do the sangha follow?

A
  1. To avoid eating after noon.
  2. To avoid dancing, singing, music, or watching entertainment.
  3. To avoid jewelry, cosmetics, or perfumes.
  4. To avoid sleeping in a luxurious bed.
  5. To avoid accepting money.
83
Q

What happens at ordination?

A

At ordination, the monk or nun’s head is shaved, as a symbol that they are giving up the world. They are presented with an alms bowl to receive offerings of food, and they are allowed to wear the distinctive robes of a monk, which may be orange, yellow, red, or black, depending on the region and tradition

84
Q

Why is the sangha important?

A

In Theravada Buddhism, it is seen as more or less impossible for lay person to become enlightened. The sangha allows lay people to accumulate merit (and therefore hopefully a better rebirth) by supporting monks and nuns through donations of food and clothing. In turn, monks played traditionally played an important part in community life. They would teach lay people, not just about Buddhism, but also practical skills such as farming, and the vihara would act as the village school. It also fulfilled other functions, such as a community centre, a “bank” where valuables could be safely stored, and even a hotel where lay believers attending religious festivals could stay.
Mahayana Buddhists believe that lay people, not just monks, are capable of attaining enlightenment. However, monks still have an important role as the guardians of Buddhist teachings, and the protectors of sacred objects. As in Theravada Buddhism, lay people support the monks, while the monastery serves as a community hub.

85
Q

What is Triratna?

A

When Buddhists chant the three refuges as a way of recommitting to the Buddhist path.
The triratna is a traditional Buddhist chant:

I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
I go to the Dharma as my Refuge.
I go to the Sangha as my Refuge.

This is repeated for a second and third time
It is often chanted in Pali

86
Q

What is chanting?

A

Common in all forms of Buddhism
Repeating words or phrases in a rhythmic way.
Can be done individually or in a group
Often chanting is done in ancient Buddhist languages.
Buddhists may chant texts, teachings, or expressions of respect (e.g. for the Buddha)

87
Q

Why is chanting important? (CHANT)

A

Calm awareness – helps prepare for mediation (Right concentration).
H: Helps remember texts – Important as early Buddhists non-literate
A: Awareness – Recalling five precepts helps develop right action
N: Not prayer – internal transformation links to right effort
T: Three refuges (Triratna) Develops Right intention

88
Q

Why is the triratna important?

A
  • Fits with what the teaching in the Dhammapada that “He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching and his Order, penetrates with transcendental wisdom the Four Noble Truths”
  • Emphasises the importance of the Three Refuges
  • Reminds Buddhists that the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha each offer wisdom, guidance, and knowledge.
  • When a person becomes a Buddhist, they show their commitment by “taking the three refuges”. Chanting these as part of their practice is a simply way of recommitting to the Buddhist path.
89
Q

What is nembutsu?

A

An important Pure Land practice. It involves chanting “I dedicate my life to the Buddha of infinite light.”

90
Q

What are mantras?

A
  • A sacred sound or phrase which is repeated over and over again as a form of meditation
  • Believed to have the power to purify and transform a person’s mind, to call upon the protection of a bodhisattva, and even to unlock the dharma and enlightenment.
  • In Mahayana Buddhism, it is believed that focusing on a mantra can transform a person’s mind, by excluding or breaking patterns of negative thought and giving the mind a positive quality to focus on
  • Many Mahayana mantras are closely associated with a particular bodhisattva, and so chanting a mantra is believed to be a way of gaining the help of that bodhisattva or developing the qualities associated with them.
91
Q

Avalokiteshvara mantra

A
  • Consists of the Sanskrit words om mani padme hum, (“behold the jewel in the lotus”) and is associated with Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion
  • Some Tibetan Buddhists believe that it is the most powerful mantra because it contains the essence of whole of the dharma.
  • Frequent chanting of the mantra is believed to bring perfect insight into the dharma, and thereby to unlock enlightenment.
92
Q

Mantra SA

A

“Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.” (Dharmapada 1:2)

93
Q

Why are mantras important?

A
  • Mantras are recommended by some contemporary Buddhist teachers as they are a very simple, but powerful form of religious practice, which fits with the busy lifestyles of many Buddhists today.
  • Chanting a mantra is a way of calling upon the aid of a bodhisattva, as well as cultivating that Buddha’s qualities.
  • Some Buddhists believe that chanting mantras can create merit, and even remove bad karma.
  • The mantra om mani padme hum contains six syllables. According to the Dalai Lama, these reflect the six paramitas. Chanting the mantra is a way of cultivating the six paramitas and removing mental impurities.
  • Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Avalokiteshvara mantra contains the essence of the whole dharma, and that frequently reciting it can bring perfect insight into the dharma and thereby enlightenment.
94
Q

Malas

A
  • Mala typically contain 108 beads, which represent the 108 worldly desires which must be overcome to reach nirvana
  • Commonly used by both monks and lay Buddhists during puja: a chant or mantra is recited while the first bead of the mala is held between the fingers, then the fingers move to second bead and the chant or mantra is recited again. This continues until the end of the mala is reached and the cycle of recitations is complete.
  • Mala beads are therefore an aid to concentration as they help avoid becoming distracted by trying to keep a mental score of how many recitations have been completed. Keeping the body occupied during puja, as the fingers move along the mala, may also help stop the body from fidgeting
  • May be made of very cheap materials such as wood or plastic (you can buy them online for as little as one pound), but they can also be made of more valuable materials such as jade or coral
  • Can even be made of the bones of a dead lama, which serves as a reminder of anicca.
  • Mala beads are often worn when not in use, around the neck or wrist, making them a symbol of Buddhist identity
95
Q

Mudras

A
  • A symbolic hand gesture.
  • They are commonly found on rupas and other forms of Buddhist art.
  • Gestures may serve as an external indication of our internal state of mind
96
Q

How may mudras serve as an aid to devotion

A
  1. By focusing on a rupa during meditation or puja. As the rupa shows the Buddha or bodhisattva assuming a particular mudra, a Buddhist can cultivate the mental state associated with this mudra.
  2. By adopting a particular mudra pose during their own worship or meditation. This helps the Buddhist “connect” to a particular mental state. Physically adopting a mudra also serves a practical purpose as it gives the Buddhist some “feedback” during meditation: if they notice that they are no longer performing the mudra correctly, this is a warning that their attention during their meditation has started to wander and that they need to refocus.
97
Q

Common mudras

A
  • Bumispara (earth-touching). Fingertips of the right hand touching the earth. This represents the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment and symbolises the ultimate goal of Buddhism
  • Dhyana (meditation). Both hands in the lap, fingers straight, right hand on top of the left. This is a natural position for meditation, and represents the Buddha’s mastery of meditative practices.
  • Abhaya (fearlessness). Right arm raised to chest height, palm facing outward. Left arm hanging down. The Buddha used this gesture to calm a charging elephant. It represents calm determination and the use of metta and karuna as a response to fear.
  • Vitarka (teaching). Right arm raised to chest height, palm facing outward, thumb touching forefinger. Left hand in lap, palm up. This represents the Buddha’s teachings. This gesture was used by the Buddha when he taught and discussed the dharma. It therefore represents the Buddha’s teachings.
98
Q

Why is meditation important?

A
  • It stills our wandering “monkey mind”, developing calmness and concentration.
  • A way of removing kleshas including tanha (craving) and the three poisons.
  • A way of developing qualities needed for enlightenment, e.g. metta, wisdom.
  • It follows the example of the Buddha, who reached enlightenment by meditating.
99
Q

How is samatha meditation practiced?

A
  • The meditator focuses on one thing – often the breath.
  • Meditator focuses on the breath as it goes in and out of their body.
  • Aim is to not to control the breath, but simply be aware of its natural processes.
  • At first, the attention wanders, but in time concentration can be sustained for longer periods.
  • Often used to prepare for other forms of meditation.
100
Q

Why is samatha meditation important?

A
  • It is simple, so a good way for Buddhists to learn meditation.
  • Focusing on one thing keeps out harmful mental states e.g. craving.
  • Practicing samatha makes it easier to be calm and focused even when not meditating.
  • It is believed that advanced practitioners of samatha can reach higher states of consciousness (jhanas)
  • Buddha described samatha as one of the two messengers who deliver the message of nirvana.
101
Q

What is samatha meditation?

A

A form of meditation that aims to develop calmness.

102
Q

What is meta bhavana?

A

Meditation focused on developing loving kindness.

103
Q

How is metta bhavana practiced?

A
  • Involves directing feelings of metta towards a number of people.
  • May be supported by silently repeating phrases e.g. “may you be free from suffering”.
  • Often done in five stages, i.e. towards:
    1. Ourselves.
    2. A good friend.
    3. Someone we feel ‘neutral’ about.
    4. A “difficult” person.
    5. All of the above equally, then finally all beings.
104
Q

Why is metta bhavana important?

A
  • It helps Buddhists overcome hatred and replace it with loving kindness.
  • Leads to an attitude of metta directing the Buddhist’s actions, creating good karma.
  • Supports healthy relationships with other people, increasing their happiness.
  • A mind characterised by metta reduces our suffering, as we do not cling on to grudges or arguments.
105
Q

What is vipassana?

A

Insight meditation.

106
Q

How is vipassana practiced?

A
  • Meditator sits and observes their breath.
  • They label all the activities they notice, e.g. silently saying “in” and “out” as they breathe.
  • When distracting thoughts or feelings arise, they are labelled (e.g. “anger”) and observed, until they cease.
  • Attention is returned to the breath.
  • Believed to lead to great insights into reality, and ultimately to nirvana.
107
Q

Why is vipassana important?

A
  • Helps overcome ignorance and cultivate wisdom.
  • Gives deep insights into the dharma.
  • Helps overcome attachment and suffering: negative emotions are allowed to pass, not clung to.
  • Part of “Right Concentration”. Leads, in time, to nirvana.
  • Buddha described vipassana as one of the two messengers who deliver the message of nirvana.
108
Q

How do Buddhists use the Buddha and Bodhisattvas in meditation?

A
  • The Buddha (Theravada) or a bodhisattva (Mahayana) may be used as a focus for meditation.
  • May be helped by use of a rupa (statue).
  • This may just give a focus for the meditation (like focusing on the breath).
  • Also allows the meditator to focus on the Buddha’s qualities, e.g. wisdom.
109
Q

How do Tantric Buddhists use visualisation?

A
  • Tantric Buddhists may visualise the Buddha or a Bodhisattva.
  • This includes visualising the positive qualities associated with the Buddha / bodhisattva.
  • They believe that this helps the meditator develop these qualities.
  • E.g. visualising Avalokiteshavara (bodhisattva of compassion) can develop compassion.
  • Sometimes, the meditator imagines themselves being the Buddha or a bodhisattva. This is a way of awakening our buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha).

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