Buddhism

Question 1

What is an ascetic?

Answer 1

someone who practices severe self-discipline or abstains from physical pleasures for religious purposes

Question 2

Who is the Buddha?

Answer 2

The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama; teachers who fully understand the nature of mind and reality are also called Buddhas

Question 3

What is enlightenment?

Answer 3

A state of perfect happiness and understanding; unconditional compassion for all beings

Question 4

What is karma?

Answer 4

The law of cause and effect, of one’s actions having an impact on one’s future life

Question 5

What is a mandala?

Answer 5

A visual object, usually in the form of a circle, that can be used as an aid for focusing in meditation

Question 6

What is a mantra?

Answer 6

A word or phrase that is chanted as an aid to meditation

Question 7

What is merit?

Answer 7

The idea in Buddhism that a person can be reborn in a form closer to enlightenment if he or she accumulates merit; wholesome deeds and intentions can add to a person’s merit

Question 8

What is Nirvana?

Answer 8

The end of a personal suffering and the experiences of unchanging peace

Question 9

What is samsara?

Answer 9

The law of birth, death, and rebirth. The process of reincarnation

Question 10

What is Dharma?

Answer 10

Buddha’s teachings

Question 11

What are the statistics on Buddhism in Canada?

Answer 11

~twelfth largest religion in Canada
~Four-largest religion in the world
~between 1991 and 2001 Canadian Buddhists increased by 84% to 300 000 followers
~most Buddhists in Canada live in Ontario (43%) and British Columbia (29%)
~since the 1980s Buddhism’s been increasing in Halifax, Nova Scotia
~About 1% of Canada’s population

Question 12

What was the significance of the four passing sights?

Answer 12

~even though life was comfortable, Siddhartha craved spiritual satisfaction
~ his father feared that his son would leave for a religious life, so he had the streets filled with happy and healthy people so that his son would not see unpleasantness
~within the walls of the palace, he kept only young healthy people working for his son
~When he saw the four passing sights on his trip to the village it changed his life (and the course of his life: from the life of a great political leader to a religious leader)

Question 13

What were the four passing sights?

Answer 13

First he saw an old man–he did not realize people got old
Next he saw a sick man–he didn’t know people got sick
Next he saw a corpse being carried and he did not realize people died.
He could not understand how people could live life and be happy knowing these things could happen to them.
Lastly he saw an ascetic and it inspired him to live that kind of life to find the answers to all of life’s problems

Question 14

What was the result of the four passing sights?

Answer 14

~When he went home that night he said goodbye to his son and wife and then left in the middle of the night.
~he lived like this for 6 years
~He was said to live on one grain of rice a day but still did not find the answers he was looking for
~He chose the Middle Way-path between both extremes-a life of moderation
~He decided to sit under a tree and meditate for 49 days
~He eventually reached Nirvana and then began to tell people about his realization of the Middle Way

Question 15

What did Buddha do after reaching enlightenment?

Answer 15

After his enlightenment under the bodhi tree at Bodh-gaya Buddha began teaching others. Once he understood the cause of sorrow, he could begin freeing people. He delivered his first sermon in a deer park in the city of Sarnath. He taught that all humans are caught in the Wheel of Dharma. Buddha believed the only way to free yourself was to be free of desire. Thus desire is the root of suffering. He taught his first disciples The Four Noble Truths (these form the bedrock of Buddhist belief)

Question 16

What are the Four Noble Truths?

Answer 16

1. Dukkha: The Noble Truth of Suffering
   ~Life is Full of suffering, full of sickness and unhappiness. Although there are passing pleasures, they vanish in time
2. Samudaya: The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
   ~People suffer for one simple reason: they desire things. It is freed and self-centeredness which bring about suffering. Desire is never satisfied.
3. Nirodha: The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering
   ~It is possible to end suffering if one is aware of his or her own desires and puts an end to them. This awareness will open the door to lasting peace
4. Magga: The Noble truth of the Path
   ~By changing one’s thinking and behaviour, a new awakening can be reached. this is called the Middle Way and can be followed in the Eight-fold Path

Question 17

Explain the Eightfold Path.

Answer 17

~also called the wheel of life. It contains 8 steps for eliminating dukkha (suffering)
~By following this path, one can bring an end to his or her own karma and be released from samsara.
~Buddha introduced these ideas in his first sermon
~his teaching is often symbolized by a wheel with 8 spokes

Question 18

What is the Eightfold Path?

Answer 18

1. Right Understanding: Strive to clearly understand the 4 Noble Truths. Strive to understand the workings of your own mind
2. Right Thought: Think kindly of others and avoid dwelling on the past or future
3. Right Speech: Speak kindly and truthfully
4. Right Action: Act kindly toward all living things. Do not be attached to the results of actions
5. Right Work: Have a vocation that does not harm others (i.e. not a butcher, soldier)
6. Right Effort: Be determined to cleanse the mind
7. Right Mindfulness: Be fully aware of what you are doing, always with concern for others
8. Right Concentration: Intensely concentrate during meditation to focus on being one with and situation

Question 19

What are the five precepts?

Answer 19

The rules followed by Buddist lay people to control improper, or non-beneficial, physical and verbal behavior that might cause suffering

Question 20

Explain the five precepts

Answer 20

1. Abstain from killing or harming living beings. The first precept, referred to as ahimsa, is of utmost importance in understanding the Buddhist’s non-violent behaviour
2. Abstain from stealing
3. Abstain from improper sexual conduct
4. Abstain from false speech. i.e. telling lies, setting people against each other, gossiping
5. Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs
   (Number 5 is important because if it isn’t followed, a person could lose control and break the other 4 rules)

Question 21

What are the additional 5 precepts that ordained monks and nuns, who have taken vows of poverty and chastity, observe?

Answer 21

6. Abstain from eating after noon
7. Abstain from looking at dancing, singing, or drama
8. Abstain from the use of perfumes and things that tend to beautify and adorn a person
9. Abstain from using comfortable beds
10. Abstain from accepting gold or silver

(there may be up to 200 precepts to follow in some sanghas)

Question 22

What are two festivals followed by Buddhists?

Answer 22

1. Visakha Puja Day (Buddha Day):
   ~AKA Vesak Day
2. Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day)

Question 23

What is Vesak day?

Answer 23

~on the full-moon day of May, Buddhists celebrate Vesak day
~They believe that the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha all took place on that day of the year
~People assemble on the grounds of the monastery, bringing flowers, lit candles, and incense sticks. They walk around the main hall three times while reciting the Three Refugees (or the Three Jewels)

Question 24

What is Asalha Puja Day?

Answer 24

~On the full-moon day of July, people commemorate the First Sermon in Deer Park by celebrating Asalha Puja Day
~Food is offered to monks, nun and novices. In the evening, people give food to the poor, observe the Five Precepts, and practice meditation
~The full moon figures prominently in Buddhist Festivals. While there is no single explanation for this, the full moon is associated with important events in the Buddha’s life, which were said to have occurred during full moons

Question 25

What are the Three Jewels?

Answer 25

They are also known as the Three Refugees.
It is the Buddhists Creed.
“I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.”

Question 26

What is a Mudra?

Answer 26

~The hand gestures that appear in the images of Hindu deities are important Buddhist icons
~They are often used in meditation or seen in Buddha images
~There are many Mudras and they symbolize many different states of mind. The basis of this idea is that we can often tell by looking at someone’s stance or gestures what that person’s state of mind is. So, by making a certain gesture we can create a state of mind

Question 27

What is a stupa?

Answer 27

~They are dome-shaped mounds that were built to house the relics of the Buddha or other holy figures
~Typically found in almost every Buddhist temple
~Monks and lay people walk around them three times while making their devotions
~The inside of one can be decorated with paintings or carvings representing the life of the Buddha. Some can be surrounded by beautifully carved fences that depict the life the life of the Buddha
~Some temples have smaller stupas. These are memorial crypts or prominent Buddhists who belonged to that particular temple
~A pilgrimage to a stupa and the construction of small stupas (permanent or temporary) are considered merit gaining activities by some Buddhists

Question 28

What is a Lotus Flower?

Answer 28

~Shortly after the enlightenment of Buddha, he had a vision of the human race as a bed of lotus flowers
~Some were bogged in the mud, some coming from it, and some about to bloom. This is considered a metaphor for the fact that people have the ability to develop their potential and rise from an undesirable life

Question 29

What is a Buddhapada?

Answer 29

~these are representations of Buddha’s footprints and they are revered in all Buddhist countries
~they are usually carved in stone and feature signs of the Buddha. For example: Buddha figures and sacred wheels, on the soles
~All the toes are the same length
~These footprints may include 32, 108, or 132 signs of Buddha

Question 30

What is the Aum symbol?

Answer 30

It is both a visual and an oral representation of Brahmin or God.
The symbol includes: Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Maya, Truth-Brahman and Creation

Question 31

What is the swastika?

Answer 31

It is an ancient symbol of auspiciousness, good fortune and protection. The root “swasti” means auspicious. It was a symbol for Vishnu, it also represents the eternal wheel of life which rotates upon an unchanging center, God. It could be found on buildings or even animals in India because some Hindus think that it protects them from evil spirits and natural disasters. (pre-dates the Nazi symbol, Nazi symbol is drawn in the reverse of the Hindu one)

Question 32

What is an early “humanist”?

Answer 32

Siddhartha was an early “humanist”. That is someone concerned with human action rather than religious problems. He believed that the power of the human mind would be able to achieve enlightenment.

Question 33

Did Early Buddhism have its own rituals to mark the stages of life?

Answer 33

They did not. They usually used the ones that are used in Hinduism. As Buddhism spread throughout the world, newly converted people continued to practice the life-cycle rituals of their own country

Question 34

What is the first milestone?

Answer 34

The first milestone is Early Life. Usually when a male turns one month old, the parents invite the monks to their home or take the child to the temple so that his head can be shaved. Sometimes parents take their male children to stay with the monks for an extended period of time (especially during school holidays).

Question 35

What is the second milestone?

Answer 35

The second milestone is becoming a monk. There are two stages involved in becoming a monk. Stage one is becoming a monk and stage two is when you become an ordained monk.

Question 36

What is involved in being a novice?

Answer 36

The novice participates in all the activities of becoming a monk. (In some places, a man can enter monkhood for a limited time [like a few weeks before he gets married].) When a boy is 7 or 8 he enters as a novice. He undertakes the 10 precepts and usually acts as an attendant to a senior monk; The senior monk is responsible for teaching the novice rituals, philosophy, and scripture (as well as anything else that he thinks is necessary for full ordination).

Question 37

What is involved in becoming an ordained monk?

Answer 37

this happens when the man reaches the age of 20 and can read, write and chant a few simple texts. Once he is an ordained monk he must:
~shave his head (a sign of rejecting vanity), take a religious name and wear the appropriate robes
~renounce all possessions and keep only the absolute necessities:
-these originally included: a robe, an alms bowl, a belt, a razor, a filter for drinking water, a staff, and a tooth pick
-Today monks still receive some of these items plus a warm jacket and sometimes an umbrella

Question 38

What happens in the life stage of marriage?

Answer 38

when a couple gets married, the bride and groom go to the monastery to feed the monks and receive blessings. Monks never attend weddings. Other important events are celebrated with blessings from monks but the monks are not involved in any of the actual ceremonies. Marriage is not a religious ceremony but a civil ceremony.

Question 39

What happens in the life stage of death (funeral)?

Answer 39

~Buddhist practices are based on the cremation customs of India, but the monks involvement ties the ceremony to Buddhism
~Wood is sometimes exceedingly expensive, therefore when cremation is too costly, burials are permitted
~Generally the ceremony consists of a procession, prayers, water-pouring rituals, cremation, final prayers and a shared meal
~Firstly, the route to the cemetery is cleared of potholes, weeds and over-grown grass. The body is placed into a funeral pyre and hidden from view and then the monks preform a short funeral service (chants and prayers). The Triple Refuge and the Five Precepts are recited.
~When prayer is chanted, holy water is poured on the body by friends and family.
~The pyre is lit by the oldest son of the deceased. 6 days after the death a dharma preaching service is held at home. The following day dana occurs. Similar services are performed 3 months later, and also a year later.

Question 40

What are the Three Marks of Existence or Three Universal Truth?

Answer 40

Buddha believed that all things outside of nirvana had three fundamental characteristics:
1. Anicca: or impermanence, represents the idea that the world is in constant flux and that nothing stays the same for long
2.Dukkha: or dissatisfaction, represents the idea that all humans and animals experience suffering. Physical and mental pain, are extreme examples of the characteristics.
~Buddha knew that there was no such thing as continual happiness or pleasure since feelings only last for a limited amount of time
~Dukkha touches everything that exists
3. Anatta: or no self, is the idea that we cannot point to any one thing in ourselves that we can say is self
~no single part of the body is a person. Only when all the parts of the body are put together do we call them a person
~When the body is dead they don’t call it a person anymore
~the mind is also made up of parts, including moods or states of mind
~no permanent independent self, only changing parts

Question 41

What are the Tripitakas (or Three Baskets)?

Answer 41

The Theravada Buddhists believe in these and they are often considered the first Buddhist Scriptures.
First Basket: Vinaya Pitaka
~rules of conduct for monks and nuns
Second Basket: Sutta Pitaka
~A large collection of the Buddha’s teachings
Third Basket: Abhidhamma Pitaka
~Explanations of the Buddhist View on laws of nature and the mind

Question 42

What is the konan?

Answer 42

Unanswerable questions or riddles

Question 43

What is Zen Buddhism?

Answer 43

Emphasizes enlightenment through meditation, To achieve this state, people do certain practices, such as meditating on riddles or puzzling questions (i.e. what is the sound of one hand clapping).
~Zen, which originally came from China (was called Ch’an), was founded by Bodhidharma (a legendary Indian monk) around 520 CE
~There is a story saying that Bodhidharma spent years staring at a wall in meditation until his legs dropped off. this illustrates Zen’s emphasis on meditation as the best way to achieve enlightenment
~Zen can’t be taught, it needs to be experienced

Question 44

What are the differences between the Theravada and Mahayana schools of thought in Buddhism?

Answer 44

Theravada believes humans are individuals whereas Mahayana believes that humans are involved with others. The key virtue of Theravada is wisdom and the key virtue of Mahayana is compassion. The people who follow Theravada school of thought think that religion is for the monks, and those who follow Mahayana think that it is also for the lay people. The Theravada school thinks the ideal being is the Arhat and the Mahayana school thinks the ideal being is the Bodhisattvas. Theravada thinks Buddha is a saint and Mahayana thinks Buddha is a saviour. Theravada pray through meditation and the Mahayana pray through requests. Theravada school uses the Earl scriptures in Pali (dhamma, kamma). Mahayana school uses the Early scriptures in Sanskrit (dharma, karma)

Question 45

What are the similarities between the Theravada and Mahayana schools of thought in Buddhism?

Answer 45

The both agree on the following:
~The Buddha is the only master
~One must take refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha
~This world was not created or ruled by a god
~One must follow the example of the Buddha
~One must accept the Four Noble Truths
~All things are impermanent

Question 46

What practices and rituals are involved in Buddhism?

Answer 46

~Most Buddhist devotions are not performed in a temple with a congregation except for major festivals or on “special days.”
~Lay people have a small place of worship in their homes
~Puja honours holy beings and reverence is shown by bowing, making an offering, and chanting.
~Lay people bow to monks and nuns to show respect, monks and nuns bow to lay people and other members of the sangha.
~Buddhists bow before sacred objects three times to honour the Three Refuges.
~in some cases, the hands of Buddhists are held to the head, lips, and chest to represent the respect for the mind, speech, and body.
~Offerings are performed with appropriate chanting. The most common offering is flowers, because they emphasize the notion of impermanence.
~Another common offering is the light of a candle or lampas representation of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Question 47

What happens during meditation?

Answer 47

~Monks and laypeople pray through meditation
~meditation leads to wisdom, which in turn leads to the end of suffering.
~ enables a person to be composed and calm and to follow the Buddhist precepts more closely.
~The purpose is to improve concentration, calm the mind, and clear it of bad thoughts caused by hatred, greed, or ignorance.
~believe it brings insights into truths and inner peace, which leads to compassion and humility. It can also improve confidence as well as mental and physical health.
~To get the full benefit, an individual needs the right conditions and proper practice.
~one should ideally sit in the “lotus posture.” In this position concentrate on breathing and the movement of the diaphragm.
~Meditation is an essential practice for monks, nuns, lay people, and novices
~the practice has not been stressed for lay people, but instruction is becoming available to them.

Question 48

What is involved in Chanting Mantras?

Answer 48

~Mantras are symbolic phrases that are chanted by Buddhists to help them keep in touch with their spiritual nature. They also serve to enhance meditation.
~Om Mani Padme Hum is a six-syllable mantra of Avlokiteshvara, a Bodhisattva representing compassion, who is also the “Protector from danger.” Anyone who recites this phrase will be saves from all dangers.

Question 49

What is the Mahayana School/ The Greater Vehicle?

Answer 49

~AKA Northern School-spread to China, Vietnam, Korea & Japan.
~Bodhisattvas (compassionate beings near to enlightenment that choose to be reborn in one of the heavens to help worshippers that ask for blessings/assistance in their spiritual paths). Ex. Avalokiteshvara meaning “the lord looks down”. He is the Bodhisattva of compassion.

Question 50

What is the Theravada School (The Way of the Elders)?

Answer 50

~The Theravada, or Southern school of Buddhism, is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia. This school does not recognize any scriptures written after the Tripitaka.
~ Emphasizes Buddha’s teachings, not the Buddha himself.
~ They rely on individual meditation & insight to attain nirvana & become an Arhat.

Question 51

What is the Vajrayana/the Thunderbolt Vehicle?

Answer 51

~Found mostly in Tibet, Bhutan, & Nepal & is also known as esoteric or Tantric Buddhism because of its emphasis on rituals & on visualization in creations, such as thangkas, or wall hangings, & mandalas.
~When Buddhism was joined to the Tibetan religion Bon, it became acceptable. Tibet became a country governed by monks (theocracy) led by a spiritual & worldly authority: the Dalai Lama.
~When the Dalai Lama dies, the consciousness immediately enters a new born baby & will be discovered by monks using a complicated set of procedures.
~Worship by Tibetan Buddhists includes reciting prayers, & chanting hymns to the accompaniment of shrill horns & drums. Religious rites are performed by the lamas (religious leaders) 3 times a day & include rosaries, prayer wheels, & prayer flags.

Question 52

A son was born to a king and queen in what city and country in what year?

Answer 52

In 563 B.C. in the city of Kapilavastu which is in the country of Nepal.

Question 53

What was the son named?

Answer 53

Siddhartha Gautama

Question 54

What did the astronomer say about the baby?

Answer 54

He went to the palace to read the baby’s horoscope noticed unusual marks on the baby which indicated that he would grow up to be either a great spiritual leader or a great king. The dad wanted his son to be a king so he tried to shield him from the miseries of the world by always keeping him inside the palace.

Question 55

Did Gautama have a family?

Answer 55

The young prince got married to a beautiful princess, and they had a son.

Question 56

Why did Gautama go to the village?

Answer 56

One day the wife of the young prince wanted to go outside and visit the local park and swimming pond. The young prince told his father that his wife wanted to go outside, so his father gave orders that all the streets where his son and wife would pass should be cleared of all people with any type of problem. Very gently all cripples, beggars, the aged, and the sick were driven away.

Question 57

Did Gautama have the ability to become a king like his father?

Answer 57

He showed strength and the ability to fight (when he fought for the ability [and won] to marry princess Yasodhara) and his father wanted him to take over as king. But then Siddhartha still felt like something was missing in his life and he ended up not being meant to follow in his fathers footsteps.

Question 58

Explain: Relics

Answer 58

Buddha’s remains

ex. teeth

Question 59

What is a Mendicant?

Answer 59

a beggar

Question 60

What is Metta?

Answer 60

The Buddhist view of suffering: a love without any desire to possess, but only to help others

Question 61

What are Bodhisattvas?

Answer 61

~compassionate beings near to enlightenment that choose to be reborn in one of the heavens to help worshipers that ask for blessings/assistance in their spiritual paths.
Ex. Avalokiteshvara meaning “the lord looks down”. He is the Bodhisattva of compassion.

Question 62

Who is an arhat?

Answer 62

Someone from the Theravada school who attained Nirvana.

Question 63

Explain: the Dalai Lama?

Answer 63

When Buddhism was joined to the Tibetan religion Bon, it became acceptable. Tibet became a country governed by monks (theocracy) led by a spiritual & worldly authority: the Dalai Lama.

Question 64

Define: Venerate

Answer 64

To regard with great respect, revere