buddhism

Question 1

Anatta

Answer 1

Belief that there is no fixed self/no soul; one of the Three Marks of Existence

Question 2

Anicca

Answer 2

Impermanence. Belief that nothing is permanent; one of the Three Marks of Existence

Question 3

Ascetic

Answer 3

A life free from worldly pleasures, and involves giving up of material possessions. An ascetic life often has the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

Question 4

Bodhisattva

Answer 4

In Mahayana Buddhism this is a being destined for enlightenment, who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings.

Question 5

Buddha

Answer 5

‘Enlightened one’. A title given to a person who has reached enlightenment. Siddhartha Guatama became known as ‘the Buddha’.

Question 6

Buddhahood

Answer 6

Reaching enlightenment.

Question 7

Dukkha

Answer 7

Suffering. Belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness; one of the Three Marks of Existence.

Question 8

Dhamma (Dharma)

Answer 8

The teachings of the Buddha; these are the ultimate truth. Can also refer to following the Buddhist path (following the dharma).

Question 9

Dependent arising

Answer 9

The belief that everything exists because other things do; everything is interconnected and everyone affects everyone else.

Question 10

The Eightfold Path (magga)

Answer 10

The fourth Noble Truth. Known as ‘The Middle Way,’ it includes the way to wisdom; mental training and the way of morality. Eight stages to be practised simultaneously.

Question 11

Enlightenment

Answer 11

A state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence; achieving Enlightenment (Buddhahood) allows a being to be freed from the cycle of rebirth.

Question 12

Ethics (Sila)

Answer 12

Moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes; part of the Eightfold Path.

Question 13

The Five Aggregates (skandhas)

Answer 13

The belief that human beings are composed of five factors - form, sensation, perception, mental formation, consciousness.

Question 14

The five moral precepts

Answer 14

An important part of Buddhist ethics; part of the Eightfold Path (right action). These include: not taking life, not taking things which aren’t freely given, not misusing the sense, not speaking falsehoods, not clouding the mind with intoxicants.

Question 15

Form

Answer 15

The first of the Five Aggregates; matter, physical experiences through the sense organs.

Question 16

The Four Noble Truths

Answer 16

An important part of the Buddha’s teachings found in the Pali Canon, explaining the truth about existence. These include: suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, the path to the end of suffering.

Question 17

The Four Sights

Answer 17

Teaching from the Jataka Tales about Siddhartha Gautama’s experience of illness, old age, death and a holy man. These sights led him to give up his life of luxury, to follow an ascetic lifestyle, in search of the truth about suffering.

Question 18

Meditation

Answer 18

A practice of calming and focusing the mind. Reflecting deeply on specific teachings to find their true meaning.

Question 19

Samsara

Answer 19

The cycle of life, death, rebirth and Buddhism.

Question 20

Nirvana

Answer 20

Freedom from the cycle of Samsara.

Question 21

Tanha

Answer 21

Craving, desiring or wanting something.

Question 22

The threefold way

Answer 22

The three groups that the 8 guidelines are divided into; ethics, wisdom and meditation.

Question 23

Theravada Buddhism

Answer 23

The school of the elders’. An ancient Buddhist tradition found in southern Asia.

Question 24

Rebirth

Answer 24

This refers to the belief that when a being dies they are reborn. This process depends on kamma, and will continue until nibbana is attained.