Buddhism Flashcards
- In the first century, Buddhist sutras were first written in the language.
Pali
The current Dalai Lama is believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be the reincarnation of Avalokitesvara, also known as the Bodhisattva of
Compassion
The “large vehicle” branch of Buddhism most commonly associate with China, Japan, and Tibet is called
Mahayana
One of the most prominent symbols of Buddhism is the wheel, known as the
Dharmachakra
A person who attains enlightenment, but through compassion, remains in this world to help others achieve enlightenment is called a(n)
Bodhisattva
A burial mound or monument often containing the relics of the Buddha or prominent Buddhists is called a(n)
Stupa
According to Buddhism, the way to end suffering is to
end desire
The Buddhist view of karma is
a. divine punishment
b. rewards for kindness
c. both divine punishment and rewards for kindness
d. the law of cause and effect
d. the law of cause and effect
The word Mahayana means
a. Small Vehicle
b. Enlightenment
c. Large Vehicle
d. The Passage of Time
c. Large Vehicle
The wheel that is symbolic of Buddhism represents
a. Reincarnation
b. The Wheel of the Teaching
c. Suffering
d. The Middle Path
b. The Wheel of the Teaching
In Buddhism, the concept Anatta refers to
a. the lack of a permanent self
b. one's karmic dept
c. the meditative state
d. the individual soul
a. the lack of a permanent self
Impermanence is illustrated in the construction and immediate destruction of
a. Sangha
b. Stelas
c. Mandalas
d. Bhodi
c. Mandalas
Which one of these is NOT one of the “Four Passing Sights?”
a. An old person
b. A robbery
c. A dead body
d. A gravely ill person
b. A robbery
Siddhartha Gautama was born to a
a. to a poor family.
b. in a monastery.
c. in China.
d. into a royal lineage.
d. into a royal lineage.
The second of the Four Noble Truths states that suffering is caused by
a. religious oppression
b. a guilty conscience
c. desire
d. lack of material goods
c. desire
Anicca refers to the characteristic of existence known as
a. Suffering
b. Nobility
c. Suffering
d. Impermanence
d. Impermanence
Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the role of the
a. immortal soul
b. bodhisattva
c. secular leadership
d. Dalai Lama
b. bodhisattva
The statues of the Buddha in temples and homes
a. are viewed as alive and imbued with the spirit of the Buddha.
b. considered unnecessary distractions by monks.
c. are often depicted in the lotus meditative position.
d. conceal the altars only available to monastic leaders.
c. are often depicted in the lotus meditative position.
The word “Buddha” literally means
a. Enlightened One
b. Savior
c. The Path
d. Liberation
a. Enlightened One
The “three refuges” refers to these statements
a.
“
I take refuge in the Buddha.
”
b. "I take refuge in the atman."
c. "I take refuge in the dharma."
d. "I take refuge in the sangha."
a. “I take refuge in the Buddha.”
c. “I take refuge in the dharma.”
d. “I take refuge in the sangha.”
The Four Noble Truths include which of the following:
a. All life is suffering
b. Suffering is caused by desire
c. To end suffering, one must end desire.
d. Desire only ends with the death of the physical body.
a. All life is suffering
b. Suffering is caused by desire
c. To end suffering, one must end desire.
The Buddha died
a. as a young man due to malnutrition.
b. having achieved full nirvana.
c. without appointing a successor.
d. at around eighty years of age.
b. having achieved full nirvana.
c. without appointing a successor.
d. at around eighty years of age.
Among the Five Precepts of Buddhism are
a. to kill only animals used for food
b. to refrain from sexual immorality
c. to refrain from intoxicants
d. to submit to secular authority (the political state)
b. to refrain from sexual immorality
c. to refrain from intoxicants
The main split in Buddhist teachings after the Second Council produced the following two main factions:
a. Mahayana
b. Theravada
c. Parinirvana
d. Kusinara
a. Mahayana
b. Theravada
Some of the ways Buddhism responded to the challenges of modernity in Asia were
a. Adoption of some of the practices of Christianity
b. The development of social and political activism by monks
c. Retreating to remote areas of Asia such as Tibet
d. Engaging in armed violent resistance to Christian missionaries.
a. Adoption of some of the practices of Christianity
b. The development of social and political activism by monks
Among the things a visitor to a Theravada temple might see are
a. a prominent statue of the Buddha
b. an altar for offerings of flowers or oil
c. images of prominent Buddhist monks
d. a place for burning incense
a. a prominent statue of the Buddha
b. an altar for offerings of flowers or oil
d. a place for burning incense
What is the main purpose of the Zen koan?
These riddles are meant to facilitate normality and enlightenment.
What are the Three Characteristics of Existence?
Impermanence, suffering, and anatta (or that there is no permanent soul)
What does the author mean by Buddhists in the West “Protestantizing” their tradition?
This refers to some Buddhist communities that arrange their worship spaces like churches, with pews; hymnals; and organs, and using the term “church” in their name.
Describe in your own words the the first Noble Truth in Buddhist teachings.
The first Nobel Truth is that all of life is suffering, meaning that just living is suffering due to our inherent desire for things to be different than they are. We want to live longer, not be sick, not grow old, not experience anything negative, but we do in fact experience negativity.
What even led to the renunciation of his wealth by Siddhartha Gautama?
Siddartha realized that he had been shielded from seeing any ugliness or suffering when he understood that old age, sickness, and death existed during the 4 Passing Sights.
What is the role of the bodhisattva?
The bodhisattva is one that has obtained enlightenment but remains in the world in order to aid in the enlightenment of all other sentient beings.
Briefly define mudra.
A variety of formal hand positions preformed during meditation .
What is the purpose of the Eight-Fold Path?
These are eight principles, the cultivation of which will guide one’s way to enlightenment.
What does the Buddhist concept samsara refer to?
The endless wandering through incarnations that is the chief cause of suffering.
Describe what is meant by the “Middle Path.”
It is a way of life between the extreme suffering of the Hindu ascetic and the ordinary life of a Hindu householder.
Briefly describe the “middle path.”
The middle path refers to the life lead between the two extremes of complete denial and opulence.
What does Vajarayana refers to?
Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the “Diamond Vehicle.”
Describe what is meant by nirvana.
It is the end of desire and attachment, and thus the end of suffering.
The main scriptures of Buddhism were written by the sage known as Siddhartha Gautama.
a. True
b. False
b. False
A “koan” is a syllable chanted by practitioners in meditation
a. True
b. False
b. False
In Buddhism, it is believed that only a select few are able to reach enlightenment.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Buddhism teaches that all things are impermanent.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The word Theravada is translated as “original/abiding teaching.”
a. True
b. False
a. True
There is one worldwide Buddhist system strictly followed by all practitioners.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Buddhism teaches that the Buddha is the supreme creator of the universe.
a. True
b. False
b. False
The Zen Buddhist riddles meant to facilitate nonrational enlightenment are called koans.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The path to enlightenment is called Shakyamuni.
a. True
b. False
b. False
The “middle path” refers to the mythological trail Siddartha walked to the Bodhi Tree where he achieved enightenment.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Many Buddhists believe that it is possible to practice both Buddhism and other religions simultaneously.
a. True
b. False
a. True
In many Buddhist circles it is now thought that one cannot reach enlightenment in this life.
True
Monks are forbidden from attending funerals for fear of uncleanliness.
False
Nirvana is enlightenment.
True
Theravada Buddhism is characterized by the idea of self-redemption.
True
The Mahayana canon is often called the Chinese canon.
True
The refusal to eat meat is a sign of a layman’s Buddhist piety.
True
The Three Jewels are also called the Three Refuges.
True
Ananda was a disciple of the original Buddha.
True
Varanasi is located on the banks of the Seine.
False
Varanasi is an unholy city.
False
Milarepa devoted himself to meditation.
True
Buddhism came to Tibet in the fourteenth century.
False
Tibetan monks are thought to levitate as a manifestation of enlightenment.
True
There are ten harmful deeds for a Buddhist.
True
There are six deadly sins for a Buddhist.
False
The term buddha applies to
a. Only the Buddha
c. Anyone who overcomes the misery of
the world
b. Any ordained Buddhist monk
d. All practicing Buddhists
c. Anyone who overcomes the misery of the
world
Siddhartha Gotama was from
a. India
b. Iraq
c. Pakistan
d. Iran
a. India
How many main forms does the Buddhist canon have?
a. Two c. Four
b. Three d. Five
b. Three
The scriptures of South Asian Buddhism are known as the Three
a. Baths c. Breadloaves
b. Baskets d. Buddhisms
b. Baskets
For whom are special regulations outlined in the Sutta-vibhanga?
a. Monks c. Tibetans
b. Nuns d. Non-buddhists
b. Nuns
In addition to the Pali version of the two baskets, there is also
a. A Sanskrit version
b. An Aramaic version
c. An Urdu version
d. A Kentish version
a. A Sanskrit version
Mahayana Buddhism is located mainly in
a. China and Japan
b. China and Thailand
c. Japan and Tibet
d. Tibet and Thailand
a. China and Japan
The Buddha’s own teachings are contained in the
a. Kangol
b. Kanja
c. Kanjur
d. Kali
c. Kanjur
Buddhism has distinguished between study monks and
a. Meditation monks c. Live monks
b. Active monks d. Evangelical monks
a. Meditation monks
All Buddhist monks are first
a. Novices unders an abbot
b. Study monks
c. Meditation monks
d. Active monks
b. Study monks
The “Pure Land” tradition holds that who rules over the Pure Land?
a. Gotama
b. Amida
c. Sariputa
d. Utsuki
b. Amida
What is the name for a period of 430 million years?
a. An eon
b. A flux
c. A kalpa
d. A travesty
c. A kalpa
Where does the mandarava flower exist?
a. Hell c. India
b. Heaven d. Tibet
b. Heaven
What is the third Refuge of Buddhism?
a. Buddha c. Sangha
b. Dharma d. Sangenta
c. Sangha
Who was a leader in bringing Buddhism to Tibet?
a. Gopal c. Gotama
b. Milarepa d. Shiva
b. Milarepa
______ wrote the Acts of the Buddha.
Ashvaghosha
An Arhat is a ______ One.
Worthy One
According to Mahayana teaching, enlightenment ends the cycle of ______.
reincarnation
______ spent time with cow-herding girls.
Krishna
The Hindu god Shiva is thought to live on Mount ______.
Kailasa
The components that constitute the human person are known as the ______.
skamdhas
Gotama achieved enlightenment under a ______ tree.
bo
Buddhists believe in the Noble ______ Path.
Eightfold
For Buddhists, there are ______ Noble Truths.
Four
Buddhist monks should shed passion and ______.
hatred
______ is the quiet place.
Nirvana
Some Buddhists believe that their scriptures are the words of the _____________.
Buddha
The Vinaya Pitaka contains regulations for the communal life of _________ and nuns.
monks
After his enlightenment, the Buddha converted five Hindu ______.
ascetics
