Buddhism

Question 1

How many members, how old?

Answer 1

half a billion, 4th

Question 2

How is it different from Hinduism?

Answer 2

Smaller, and more global

Question 3

Different kinds of Buddhism:

Answer 3

Theravada
Mahanayana
Vajrayana

Question 4

What do Buddhists call their religion?

Answer 4

DHARMA

Question 5

Compared to Jainism?

Answer 5

6th century - a little bit after Jainism

Question 6

Different than Jainism

Answer 6

Buddhism was against the extreme “ascetic” ideal of the Jains instead presenting itself as the “middle way”

Question 7

Life of the Enlightened One

Answer 7

-Siddarta Guatama

His father kept him safe because he didn’t want him to become religious

Question 8

The 4 passing sights

Answer 8

Old Age
Sickness
Death
An ascetic monk

Question 9

From distress to crisis

Answer 9

Bodh-gaya was Siddharta’s resolve

Opposition, insight, and higher form of conciousness

Question 10

Nirvana and parinarvana

Answer 10

-

Question 11

The four noble truths

Answer 11

Life is suffering
Craving causes suffering
Suffering can cease
Through the eightfold middle path

Question 12

A physicians approach

Answer 12

problem (suffering), source (craving), fact that it can be extinguished, how to extinguish it.

Question 13

Teachings of the Buddha

Answer 13

• Salvation as self-effort and self-discipline
• Practical rather than metaphysical concern (nature & causes of suffering, rather than the gods)
• The chain of dependent operation (12-cause effect links)
• Iimmpermenance of life
• Rebirth without transmigration

Question 14

Tripitaka (The three baskets)

Answer 14

Monastic rules
The teachings of Buddha
Doctrinal Supplement

Question 15

Spread of Buddhism through?

Answer 15

Conversion of Emperor Ashoka (273-232)

Question 16

Mayhayana

Answer 16

The great vehicle

Question 17

Theological developments

Answer 17

Increased divinization of the Buddha
Multiplication of Buddha’s and Bodhisvattvas
Devotion literature based on the view that the B&B are sources of merit
The Lotus Sutra as a key Mahayana scripture

Question 18

Sunyata

Answer 18

Increased focus on emptiness of things

Question 19

With new developments what happened?

Answer 19

Buddhism reached greater missionary success

Question 20

Mahayana Beliefs

Answer 20

Buddhas: Those who have reached parivana after their human experience, like Siddharta can’t be reached through prayer, but devotion creates merit
-Those who achieved

Question 21

Mahayana Beliefs

Answer 21

Buddhas: Those who have reached parivana after their human experience, like Siddharta can’t be reached through prayer, but devotion creates merit

• Those who achieved nirvana in heaven are contemplative buddhas or tathagatas. They postpone parinarvana to minister to our needs
• At least 5 Tathagatas - one solar, and 4 cardinal directions

Question 22

Buddha of the West

Answer 22

Amida

Question 23

Amida presides over

Answer 23

Western paradise - where nirvana is guranteed

Question 24

Bodhisattvas

Answer 24

Human form - but postponed parinarvana for humanity

-Dwell in heaven, but can come to earth

Question 25

Maitreya

Answer 25

A future Buddha/Bodhisattva who will come when the Dharma will have been forgotten

Question 26

Who should take the vow to be a bodhisattva

Answer 26

Everyone

Question 27

Maitreya

Answer 27

one who is yet to come

Question 28

Budai

Answer 28

The laughing incarnated buddha

Question 29

Avalokita

Answer 29

divine compassion - mother goddess (China), Dalai Lama (Tibet)

Question 30

Jizo

Answer 30

Japan - protector of children

Question 31

Jizo

Answer 31

Japan - protector of children

Question 32

Mahayana Philosophies

Answer 32

- Everything is empty of identiy or permanance - Everything is interrelated and in constant flux - Nothing is self-sufficient or independent - What is empty is not able to cause suffering - Nirvana is not something added to free samsara, it is simply samsara rightly viewed and understood

Question 33

Pure Land (Amidism):

Answer 33

emphasis on faith

Question 34

Jodo Shinshu

Answer 34

(true pure land) - predestination, World affirming, no asceticism, celibacy

Question 35

Zen

Answer 35

Emphasis on personal effort, zazen

Question 36

Parts of zen

Answer 36

- wear down the intellect with impossible problems | - a gradual process of enlightenment

Question 37

Nichiren

Answer 37

Japanese with emphasis on sociopolitical activism and Lotis Sutra

Question 38

Soka Gakkai

Answer 38

Modern lay Buddhist Group of the nichiren school, humanistic activism, missionary oriented

Question 39

Vajrayana (Tibetan)

Answer 39

Esoteric tradition built on Trantras (magical and spell making manuals

Question 40

Belief about passing knowledge

Answer 40

Can only be transmitted directly from teacher to student

Question 41

Mantras

Answer 41

Om Mani Padme Hum

Question 42

Mandalas

Answer 42

Concentric Circles

Question 43

Mudrras

Answer 43

Hand signs

Question 44

Other Vajrayana Beliefs

Answer 44

Pujas and prayer wheels, reincarnation of head Lama

Question 45

Other Vajrayana Beliefs

Answer 45

Pujas and prayer wheels, reincarnation of head Lama

Question 46

Meditation

Answer 46

Is the Buddhist Practice