Buddhism Flashcards
What are the three jewels?
Buddhists take refuge in these, protection and shelter from the pain and suffering of life
Buddha: Original teacher, without him nothing else would exist, reminds others that they can achieve enlightenment
Dharma: teachings of the Buddha
Sangha: worldwide community of Buddhists
What happened at the birth of the buddha?
His mother dreamt of a white elephant entering her womb, painless birth, was predicted to either be a great ruler or religious leader, born on the border of Nepal and India, he had many marks of a great person on him
What was the Buddha’s life like as a prince?
Siddhartha was married at 15, he was sheltered and had a privileged life, never witnessing suffering, sickness or death. He had a son
What was the Buddha’s first meditation?
He was at a festival, a man is plowing, and a worm is dug up and gets eaten by a worm, he realised everything is connected, had first meditation while watching the plow
What are the 4 sights?
He left the palace and saw a sick man, an old man, a dead man and a ascetic holy man, in 4 journeys. He realises this will happen to him. He seeks answers, didn’t like brahmin belief of we are reborn to suffer again
What was the Buddha’s life as an ascetic?
Cut off his long hair, exchanged robes for rags, believed the answers to life should be available to everyone, practiced meditation, ascetism where he fasted, he almost died but a girl gave him some rice. He heard a passing musician who said “if you tighten the strings too much they snap, too loose it will not play”
What is the middle way and what did the buddha do after finding this?
The buddha realised the middle way will help us achieve enlightenment. This means giving your body just enough to survive. He sat under the bodhi tree and he calmly thought and focused on his breathing determined to reach enlightenment. The demon king mara (phycological state not literal) appeared and faced him with many temptations
What happened when the buddha achieved enlightenment?
At age 45 he achieved enlightenment, he spent 7 days meditating in a state of pure bliss, he saw to remove suffering by removing desire. This is seen as the birth of buddhism, he taught until he died at age 80
What are the 4 noble truths?
1 Dukkha: Life is full of suffering
2 Samudaya: Suffering is caused by desire
3 Nirodha: To get rid of suffering (Dukkha) you have to stop desiring (Tanha)
4 Magga: To get rid of desire you must follow the 8 fold path
What are the 3 marks of existence?
Anicca
Anatta
Dukkha
What is Anicca?
Anicca: Impermanence
Everything changes, nothing stays the same. Quick changes like the burning of a match or slow changes like moving of the continental plates
Quote for Anicca?
Dhammapada 170
“When a man considers this world as bubble and froth, and as the illusion of appearance, then the king of death has no life power over him”
What is Anatta?
There is no permanent individual or self. All of us are constantly changing we are different people even tho we feel like the same person, no soul our sense of self is an illusion. (linked to 5 skandas)
Quote for Anatta?
Dhammapada 147
“Consider this body, a painted puppet with jointed limbs, sometimes suffering and covered in ulcers, full of imaginings, never permanent, forever changing”
What is Dukkha?
Suffering, this can be mental or physical. (It is the 3rd of 3 marks of existence and 1st of the 4 noble truths)
What are the 5 skandas?
Rupa: Form/physical body e.g. going bald
Vedana: sensations/feelings e.g. feeling angry then calming down
Samjna: perception e.g. perception of the world
Samskara: mental formations e.g. likes and dislikes/relationships
Vijnana: consciousness e.g. zoning out
What is samsara?
The cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Full of suffering and fueled by desire. Your thoughts and actions keep you in this cycle (kammic energy). The wheel of life helps Buddhists understand this.
What is dependent origination?
Linked to samsara, it is cause and effect meaning you are in control and your actions will affect this and future lives
What are the 6 realms of the wheel of life?
Gods: pride e.g. Kardashians
Titans: jealousy e.g. putin
Hungry ghosts: greed e.g. squid game
Hell: evil e.g. karen
Animal: ignorance e.g. children
Human: selfishness e.g. lay Buddhists
What are the 3 root poisons?
Greed (pig)
Ignorance (chicken)
Hatred (snake)
What are the 3 root goods?
Non-attachment
Kindness
Wisdom
What is kamma/karma?
It’s the belief in the natural law of cause and effect. It is the result of dependant origination. It’s the sum of all your intentions and actions, including past lives. With each action you gain negative or positive kammic energy. The more positive energy the closer you are to enlightenment. Root poisons make unskilful actions, root goods make skillful actions.
What is Nibbana/Nirvana?
Enlightenment is a state of mind that can be achieved through meditation in this life. Nibbana is when this enlightened state of mind is held at death and then your kammic energy is not reborn into samsara. It literally means “to blow out” this refers to the flames of desire and experiencing suffering these cease to exist.
What are theravada Buddhists?
It is older and more conservative, follows the teachings of the buddha exactly.
Many of them are monks and nuns
Strive to be Arhats (perfected people who gained true insight into the nature of reality)
What are mahayana Buddhists?
Believe enlightenment can be achieved through teachings of the buddha. Goal: become bodhisattvas (achieved through the six perfections: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, wisdom)
Compassion is very important to them, so they choose to stay in samsara and help them
What is the 8 fold path?
Right:
View
Intention
Action
Speech
Livelihood
Mindfulness
Effort
Concentration
Helps Buddhists overcome Tanha
What is the phrase to help you remember the 8 fold path?
Very Intelligent Lizards Always Speak Mandarin Extremely Condescendingly
What is the wisdom section of the 8 fold path?
Right view: increases wisdom, you can’t stumble into enlightenment you must accept the Dhammas as the basis of your life
Right intention: acting for the right reasons, motivation is the 3 root goods, intention to resist desire/show goodwill/act on that goodwill
What is the morality section of the 8 fold path?
Right speech: shouldn’t tell lies, speak harshly, spread gossip, use hurtful words (swearing included)
Right action: the five precepts: no harming life, taking what isn’t given, misusing senses, wrong speech or clouding mind with drugs/alcohol. Have good conduct
Right livelihood: making a living that doesn’t go against Buddhist principles, should benefit them and not harm anyone
What is the meditation section of the 8 fold path?
Right effort: conscious effort to have positive thoughts, should be aware of this slowly work towards it
Right mindfulness: aware of themselves and everything around them, they become more in control of their lives. Recognising unconscious motives, impulses and recognising needs of others.
Right concentration: Training mind through meditation, through meditation mind becomes calm, helps develop loving kindness and gain insights on the truth of life.
What are the different types of meditation?
- Samantha
- Vipassana
- Metta Bhavana
What samatha meditation?
Calming meditation, easy for beginners, requires focusing on something (e.g. breathing/beads), helps lead them into deeper concentration. Helps let go of cravings and calm your mind.
What is vipassana meditation?
Insight meditation, allows Buddhists to see things as they are. Helps gain realisation and understanding of different things (3 marks of existence, 4 noble truths, right view in 8 fold path). Allows you to get closer to enlightenment e.g. buddha
What is metta bhavana meditation?
For developing loving kindness, helps change the way you think and act by practicing being kind to others and acting out the 3 root goods. Brings harmony to your life, helps experience less conflict, deepen existing connections. Being kind towards yourself (patience, empathy, focusing on positive qualities, overcome anger and hurt)
What are the 5 precepts all Buddhists must follow?
- Refrain from doing harm
- Refrain from taking what is not given
- Refrain from intoxication that clouds the mind
- Refrain from wrong speech
- Refrain from misusing the senses
What are the 5 precepts only Buddhist monks or nuns must follow?
- Refrain from eating after midday
- Refrain from participating in wordly amusements
- Refrain from adorning the body with ornaments and perfume
- Refrain from sleeping on high or luxurious beds
- Refrain from accepting silver or gold
What are practical applications of refrain from doing harm?
They may choose to be vegetarian, try to help all living things, peaceful protests, protect the environment, not using weapons
What are practical examples of refrain from taking what is not given?
No stealing or borrowing without intent to return the item, not buying goods produced through exploitation, paying workers fairly
What are practical examples of refrain from misusing the senses?
Not overindulging in music, sex or food. This helps them focus and not have very strong emotions due to these
What are practical examples of refraining from wrong speech?
No swearing, gossiping, lie or saying one thing to one person and a different thing to another
What are practical examples of refraining from intoxicants that could the mind?
No drinking alcohol or doing drugs, or selling drugs. These affect your self control and thoughts.
What are the monks/nuns only possessions?
- robes
- belt
- food bowl
- needle and thread
- a razor
How do lay Buddhists and monks/nuns help eachother?
The lay community donate food and new robes and may help with cleaning/building work. The monks/nuns help the lay Buddhists with their spiritual understanding through meditation, chanting and worship and offering classes
What is the aryasangha?
It’s all Buddhists who have reached enlightenment, sometimes called the noble sangha, they act as inspiration to others and provide teachings to others
What places of worship are there for Buddhists?
- Temples
- Shrines
- monasteries
- halls for meditation
- halls for learning
What are Buddhist temples for?
Where the Buddhist community comes together to deepen their faith and help them feel that they belong
What are Buddhist shrines for?
Buddhists will leave flower offerings at shrines, they wilt and die as a reminder of impermanence of all things, reminds them of key teachings
What are Buddhist monasteries for?
Where monks and nuns live, helps lay Buddhists practice the principle of giving and gain good karma by helping support the monks and nuns
What are Buddhist halls for meditation for?
It’s a designated quiet space for any Buddhist to meditate in, helps lead to nibbana
What are Buddhist halls for learning for?
They receive help to understand what the Buddha achieved, important stories are told to help achieve learning of the Dhamma
What is puja?
It’s a ceremony that involves offerings or gifts and meditation and prayer. It’s a devotional practice to show their gratitude to the buddha.
What can Buddhists do as a part of puja?
Mantras - chant repetitively as meditation
Chanting - singing scriptures
Mala - string of beads to help focus
Meditation - open themselves to a higher state of awareness
Bowing - sign of respect
Offerings - leave gifts as a mark of respect to the buddha
What is devotion for theravada buddhists?
It is reciting Buddhist teachings and meditating. The laity make offerings and pray to the buddha.
What is devotion for mahayana Buddhists?
It’s elaborate, colourful and varied. Prayers are said to bodhisattvas. Chanting, special rituals, mantras and prayer flags. Many believe this is less about the Buddha’s teachings and more about folklore.
