Buddhism Flashcards
When was Buddhism founded?
In 6th Century B.C.E.
Where are most Buddhists found?
In East and Southeast Asia
Where is Java?
In Indonesia
Who is Siddhartha (Gautama)?
The founder of Buddhism; Young prince who was born in India (560-480 B.C.E)
What was Siddhartha’s son’s name?
Rahula
When does Siddhartha decide to seek enlightenment?
At 29 years old
When does Siddhartha find enlightenment?
While meditating under a fig tree
What is Siddhartha called after he is enlightened?
Buddha
What is a Sangha?
Buddhist monastic order
What is Dharma?
Teachings of Buddha; Law
What do Buddhists believe about souls?
The soul doesn’t exist. People live in a state of anatman (the absence of enduring souls)
What are the 5 mental or physical elements of a soul?
Physical bodies Feelings Understanding Will Consciousness
What are the 4 Noble Truths?
To live is to suffer
Suffering is caused by desire
Suffering can be brought to cessation
The solution to suffering is the eightfold path
What is the Eightfold Path?
Right View (Know the truth) Right Intentions (Free your mind of evil) Right Speech (Say nothing that hurts others) Right Action (Work for the good of others) Right Livelihood (Respect life) Right Effort (Resist evil) Right Concentration (Practice meditation) Right Mindfulness (Control your thoughts)
What is the Middle Path?
Fourth of Buddha’s four truths, between extreme suffering and extreme lavishness
What is Kharma?
Actions driven by intentions which leads to future consequences
Believed to bind one to the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth
What is Nirvana?
Extinguished; put out like a candle
Basic goal of Buddhism
This is the final step in the eightfold path
It means to extinguish tanha (what causes karma)
What tanha is extinguished it releases one from the cycle of life that includes birth, suffering, death, and rebirth
One who achieves this step is known as an arhat or “saint”
What is Tanha?
A thing that causes Kharma; Desire, thirst, craving
What is an Arhat?
Saint; one who has followed the Eightfold Path and has arrived at Nirvana
What does Buddha mean?
Enlightened one
What does Ascetic mean?
A person devoted to their religion much so that they become hermits in the forest and live a life of spiritual austerity and self-discipline
What does Anatman mean?
The absence of enduring souls
What are the Five Basic Rules of Moral Conduct?
Abstain from killing Abstain from stealing Abstain from lying Abstain from engaging in improper sexual conduct Abstain from partaking of intoxicants
What could a monk do?
Take what is given to him
Eat once a day
Beneficial speech
Be honest
What is type of Buddhism is Theravada Buddhism?
Conservative Buddhism
What are the major locations for Theravada Buddhism?
Sri Lanka Burma(Myanmar) Thailand Cambodia Laos
What do Theravada Buddhists believe?
One must achieve enlightenment without reliance on the gods or any force beyond themselves; also believe in multiple past Buddhas
What must a person do if they do not want to become a monk?
They must support the needs of the monks
What do Theravada monks seek?
Release from life through meditation and self-denial
When did Mahayana Buddhism begin?
In 3rd Century B.C.E or the 200’s
What do Mahayana Buddhists believe?
They believe that Buddha Gautama was more than a human; Believe that there are more Buddhas in different cosmos
What class did the Mahayana Buddhists make and what did they do?
The Bodhisattvas who provide help for humans struggling with the problems of life
Where did Mahayana Buddhism spread in the sixth century?
Japan
Where did Mahayana Buddhism spread in 3rd century?
China and India
What religion absorbed Buddhism and how did they do it?
Jainism; they stated that Gautama (Siddhartha) was the 9th avatar of Vishnu
Why did Buddhism decline in India?
People said the Gautama (Siddhartha) was the 9th avatar of Vishnu
What are other names for Tibetan Buddhism?
Bon and Tantric Buddhism
What are Tibetan Buddhists most concerned with?
Life in the world more than enlightenment
What do Tibetan Buddhists believe?
That magic can help them with problems in life; people could conquer their desire for forbidden items i.e. meat, wine, and drugs, by overindulging
What do Tebrtan Buddhists seek?
They seek mystical union with Shiva and Kali through certain actions
What is the most common phrase within Tibetan Buddhism?
“Om mani padme hum” or “Om the jewel in the lotus hum”; this is used to invoke Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
What are the two groups of the Clergy of Lamas?
Yellow Hat school and Red hat school
What is Red Hat school best known for?
Bardo Thodol (Book of the dead)
What is Yellow hat school best known for?
Dalai Lama
Mandala
A spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point
Stupa
Mound-like structure containing relics; also acts like a temple holding ashes
Pagoda
Tiered tower with multiple eaves; Sometimes used as temples/places of worship
