Buddhism Flashcards
What prompted Siddhartha to leave his life as a prince?
On a trip from his father’s palace, he saw the sights that his father had tried to protect him from:
- An elderly man (Aging)
- A man ravaged by disease (Illness)
- A rotting corpse (Death)
- A peaceful monk
These sights alerted him to the reality of suffering. He left his life as a prince in order to find the answers to these realities.
Who is Siddhartha?
Son of a king who was told that his son would grow up and become either a great king or a great holy man.
“The Buddha”
What did he experience on his journey to enlightenment?
At first, he became a sadhu, so he dedicated himself to study and became a champion aesthetic and sought out anything involving suffering in the hopes that it would give him answers. He practiced extreme deprivation because he wanted to experience the harsh realities of suffering since he had experienced extreme luxury. With his body in such poor shape, he was unable to gain the understanding he was seeking. He came to a point where he indulged in a meal under a Bodhi tree. After a period of meditation, he achieved enlightenment.
Who is Mara? Why did he care if Siddhartha reached his goal?
Mara is the ruler of the realm of desire.
Did not want Siddhartha to reach his goal out of fear of him conquering the world of desire.
What did Siddhartha realize that caused him to become enlightened?
The root of all suffering is desire.
Middle Way: neither extreme asceticism, nor extreme indulgence were the way to enlightenment. Rather, one should avoid extremes and love a balanced life.
Where did Buddhism originate?
Originated from Hinduism in the 6th venture B.C.E.
India
How was Buddhism spread?
Buddhism spread though missionaries sent out by Asoka, emperor of India at the time. Asoka was convinced that Buddhism was the religion for everyone and through this act, it saved the religion, as it died out in India a few centuries later.
Where are Buddhist practitioners to be found?
Asia- China, Japan, Korea, and SE Asia
How popular is Buddhism today?
During the 20th century, Buddhism experienced a revival
One of the major religions of the world
Devotees are found in nearly every Asian nation, as well as other parts of the world.
What is the goal of Buddhism?
Release ones attachment to desires by achieving enlightenment.
What do Buddhists believe about the gods?
Denied the relevance of the gods and the necessity for worship and sacrifice.
What is a bodhisattva?
A form if a Buddhist saint or angel.
Provide help to those who are struggling in life.
Respond to the prayers of all who need help.
Postpone their own achievement of nirvana until such time as all living beings achieve it.
What are the two main branches of Buddhism?
Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.
What is Theravada Buddhism?
More orthodox and conservative branch.
Believed to be closer to the buddha’s original teachings
Main element is a belief that individuals must achieve enlightenment on their own without reliance on the gods or on any force beyond themselves.
What is Mahayana Buddhism?
More open to innovation and change
More focused on gods and the various Buddhas
What makes Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism different from one another?
-Mahayana expands on Buddhas original teachings -Mahayana began to teach that Buddha was a compassionate, eternal diving being who incarnated as a man in order to aid humankind -Teaches that Siddhartha is not only the Buddha but rather, there are many Buddhas in all parts of the cosmos who help people on the path to righteousness.
What are some if the main Buddhist sects?
Pure land sect Intuitive sect Rationalist sect Sociopolitical sect Tibetan/Tantric sect
What do Buddhists believe about reincarnation? Liberation? The soul?
Taught there is no soul
Each individual has an anatman, comprised of:
- Body
- Feelings
- Understanding
- Will
- Consciousness
This is the individual energy bound to the cycle if birth, death, and rebirth
Liberation from the cycle is called nirvana (“put out like a candle”)
>Not bliss, but the extinguishing of all
attachment to desires
What do Hindus believe about the Buddha?
They believe that Siddhartha or the Buddha is an avatar of Vishnu.
How is Buddhism practiced? Types of meditation? Temples? Shrines?
Through the efforts of the individual via meditation, study, and personal achievements
Relic veneration: relics of the Buddha that are worshipped
Lay People often visit shrines in order to make offerings-concept of respect
Visiting temples:
- A Buddhist temple is called a war
- Most important building is called the vihana-a hall used for teaching, preaching, and meditation-Usually contains a statue of the Buddha with alters, candles, and incense
What are the goals of lay practitioners?
Attempt to earn merit by: -Sponsor the ordination of a monk -Plant Bodhi trees -Make offerings of candles and incense at shrines -Make offerings of food to monks -Construct or repair monasteries
Follow ethical rules by:
- Abstain from killing
- Abstain from stealing
- Abstain from lying
- Abstain from improper sexual conduct
- Abstain from the use of intoxicants
What are the goals of Buddhist monks?
-Cultivate mental states that lead
toward enlightenment through
meditation and study of scriptures
New year
Takes place in April
Lasts 3 days: first 2 days are for washing, cleansing, and preparing for new year; last day is a rededication for Buddhist way of life
Carnival-like atmosphere
Visit temples and make offerings
Buddhas Birthday
China and Japan: April
S.E. Asia: May
Celebrated with a flower festival and parade
Festival of Souls
Japan: July
China: August
Souls of the dead wander the world
Families leave gifts of food for the wandering souls
Robe Offering
November
Commemorates the sending forth of Buddhist missionaries
Lay Buddhists give gifts to the monks, including new robes.
What is the intuitive sect of Buddhism?
Truth doesn’t come through study, but through a sudden flash of insight
Direct insight can yield enlightenment
Reason is not to be trusted-insight is beyond rational thought
What is Zen Buddhism?
Japanese intuitive sect
Followers practice insight meditation; make use of various other tools designed to go beyond reason
What are some examples of the “tools” used in Zen Buddhism?
Koans: riddles, tales, or short statements designed to help the mind go beyond reason
The Japanese Tea Ceremony: ritual of preparing and serving matcha green tea with Japanese sweets to balance out the bitterness-aesthetics
Flower Arranging: required to be placed perfectly; real goal is to transcend the perfect to achieve the kind of insight that is beyond reason or rational thought
What is Tibetan or tantric Buddhism?
Concerned with magic as a means for coping with the problems of life
Practitioners rely on manuals called tantras, which teach magical words (mantras) to help followers deal with the unknown.
What are mantras?
Often repeated to attain meditative state
What is an example of a mantra?
Book of the dead-purpose is to help practitioners through the process of dying; often read to the dying person at their bedside.
What is the sexual element of tantric Buddhism?
Encompasses the idea that one can conquer sexual desire through excess
Practitioners seek enlightenment and transcendence of the body through the body itself
What are the four noble truths?
- The nature of suffering (birth, aging,
illness, death, sorrow, lamentation,
pain, grief, despair, separations from
what is pleasing, not getting what
one wants) - Sufferings origin (craving for sensual
pleasures, existence, and
extermination) - Sufferings cessation (the giving up,
relinquishing, freedom, and non-
reliance of the cravings) - The path leading to the cessation of
suffering (eightfold path)
Right view
Right way of looking at the nature of reality -Understanding the four noble truths -Nature of reality=suffering -Explains the reasons for human existence, suffering, sickness, aging, death, greed, hatred, delusion -Begins with knowledge, but through the practice of right concentration, it gradually becomes wisdom
Right Intention
Discerning right intentions from wrong intentions
Renouncing worldly things and a greater commitment to spiritual path, good-will, and non-violence toward living beings
Right Speech
Buddhist practitioners think about how to make the best use of their words
Right speech is abstaining from lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, idle chatter
Right Action
Morally upright in ones activities (not act in ways that would be corrupt or bring harm to oneself or others)
Right Livelihood
Should not perform trades or occupations which result in the harm of other living beings
- Business in weapons
- Business in human beings
- Business in meat
- Business in intoxicants
- Business in poison
Right Effort
Persistent efforts to abandon all wrong and harmful thoughts, words, and deeds
Practice what would be good and useful to others
Right Mindfulness
Mindful and deliberate, making sure not to act or speak due to inattention or forgetfulness
Living in the present moment
Right Concentration
Practice of meditation (samadhi)
Concentrating on an object of attention until one has reached full concentration and a state of meditative absorption
Developed through breathing, visual objects, repetition of mantras
Wisdom developed through cultivating insight, and therefore, culminating enlightenment/nirvana
