Buddhism Flashcards
Who is the Buddha
Siddattha gotama
Where was he born
Lumbini, in what today is called Nepal, in the 5th century BCE
What was the story that his father did when siddattha was born
He asked eight wise men what siddattha would become and all of them agreed he would be a great man, but they said that if he ever saw suffering he would become a great religious leader rather than a great ruler
After this what did siddatthas father order
That no one who was sick or old should be allowed near the prince
What did siddatha grow up as
Be handsome and clever
What age did he marry
16
What gender was his and his wife’s child
Male
What was siddatha rich and….
Powerful
When siddatha went riding outside the palace grounds what 4 things did he see
An old man- old age
A sick man - illness
A funeral - sorrow and death
Poor
What was siddatha feeling about these 4 things
Deeply disturbed
What did siddatha decide he had to do after he saw these things
That he must try to find an answer to this problem
How did siddatha start to find a solution to the problem
That same night he left the palace, changed his his Royal robes to simple clothes worn by holy men and shaved his head
Siddathas search for enlightment:
For he next how many years did siddatha travel around India
6
Siddathas search for enlightment:
Who did he spend some time with
With 2 great teachers then with a group of monks
Siddathas search for enlightment:
He spent how long with how many holy men
Several years with 5 Holy men
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What type of lives did these 5 men live
A very hard life
Siddathas search for enlightment:
How were these 5 men’s lives very difficult
Because they ate and drank almost nothing
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What was the idea of these 5 men
Was that if u force your body to suffer it becomes less important to u.
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What did siddatha find about the five men’s theory
That it did not find him any answers so he began eating and drinking again
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What did the holy men do when siddatha began eating and drinking
They left him in disgust as they thought he had given up
Siddathas search for enlightment:
Siddatha travelled on until he came to what
A great tree
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What is this tree called today and what does it mean
Bodhi tree, which means tree of wisdom
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What did siddatha do at this tree and what did he gain
Sat under it and meditated, and then he gained enlightment
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What is enlightment
He achieved understanding of the meaning of life
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What is enlightment the feeling of according to Buddhists
This is a feeling of total peace when u can stop thinking about yourself and become totally free
Siddathas search for enlightment:
From this time on what was siddatha called
The Buddha
According to Buddhist teachings having achieved enlightment siddatha could have what
He could have left earth by the chose not to
Siddathas search for enlightment:
What did siddatha believe should happen to his knowledge
It should be passed onto others and he entered paranirvana
What did siddatha do for the rest of his life
He taught people about the write way to live
When did siddatha pass away
At 80 years old
What happened to his body
It was cremated
Where was his ashes spread
They were placed in special burial mounds called stupas
Buddhists say when the Buddhas passing away was when what
when he entered parinirvana
What is the name given the complete nirvana at the end of the Buddhas life
Parinirvana
Who was an Indian prince
Siddattha gotama
What else does enlightenment mean
Realising the truth
What do Buddhist believe can happen when they gain enlightenment
They can break free of the endless round of birth illness death rebirth, they can enter nirvana
What is a monk
A man who dedicates his life to his religion
2 words to describe siddatha
Rich and powerful
What age did he marry
16
Where did siddatha gain enlightment
Under the bodhi tree
What is dukkha
Things being imperfect
How can dukkha be overcome
By realising the 4 noble truths
How does selfishness lead to suffering
You shall suffer in your next life
If you hurt someone’s feeling that will bring suffering to them but also you in the form of karma
Can lead to poverty,
What is parinirvana
Complete nirvana
Meditation or mindfulness:
What stops people from being able to enjoy or think about the current moment
You may be in grief Thinking about the future Anxiousness or worry Distraction Thinking about the past Thinking in general Being unwell
Meditation or mindfulness:
Two benefits of living in the moment
Less stress
Appreciating the moment
Meditation or mindfulness:
Why it would be difficult to practice
Distractions
Meditation or mindfulness:
Why do humans sometimes need to think about things other than the current moment
Because they would be very disorganised as they would be always thinking about the present moment
Need to plan ahead
Want to be prepared for the future
3 facts about the encounter with the holy man
Contented and happy and he gave up his home
What do Buddhists say the feeling of enlightenment is
The feeling of total peace when you can stop thinking about yourself and become totally free
What stops people being ‘free’ today
School The law Teachers Homework Certain family members
How could meditation help siddattha to find the answer of the meaning of life
Siddattha a mind is clear
You are fully relaxed and therefore your mind is not worrying or focusing on other things
Less stress so he can think about the meaning of life
Living in the moment therefore siddattha is free
Maybe meditation didn’t help
What is the first noble truth
All life is suffering
What is the second noble truth
Suffering is caused by greed and desire
What is the third noble truth
Suffering can be stopped by overcoming selfishness
What is the fourth noble truth
The way to overcome this is by following the eightfold path
Who taught the noble truths
The Buddha
What is dukkha and how can it be overcome
Dukkha is things being imperfect it can be overcome by realising the 4 noble truths
How does selfishness lead to suffering
You shall suffer in your next life
If you hurt someone’s feelings that will bring suffering to them but also to you in the form of karma
Can lead to poverty, the greediness of the rich is hurting the poor
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The first point
Right vision - or understanding, understanding that life always involves change and suffering, realising that following the noble eightfold path is the way to overcome suffering and be really happy
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The second point
Right emotion - committing oneself to wholeheartedly following the path
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The third point
Right speech - speaking in a positive and helpful way, speaking the truth
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The fourth point
Right action - living an ethical life according to the precepts (instructions)
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The fifth point
Right livelihood - doing work that doesn’t harm others and is helpful to them
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The sixth point
Right effort - thinking in a kindly and positive way
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The seventh point
Right mindfulness- being fully aware of oneself,mother people and the world around you
The noble eightfold path - the fourth (of the four noble truths)
The eighth point
Right meditation, or concentration: training the mind to be calm and positive in order to develop wisdom
Most difficult out of the eight points and why
Right effort because it means you have to be positive in hard situations
Most easy out of the eight points
Right mindfulness because it is easy to be aware
Words Buddhists repeat everyday:
I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the dhamma (teaching)
I take refuge in the Sangha (Buddhist community)
These are called the three jewels because they sum up the most precious part of Buddhist belief
What is nirvana
A state of peace that can be experienced in life or entered into at death
Is nirvana possible to describe
No
What does nirvana really mean
‘Going out’
It means being free of greed and anger and the end of everything that is imperfect
For a Buddhist it is he only way to be really free
Buddhism in Britain:
Why have western people become interested in Buddhism
As they say it does not ask them to believe anything they have not thought out for themselves
Buddhism in Britain:
Why do many Buddhists believe that going to monasteries on retreat is useful
Because it gives them a chance to be with other Buddhists and to live like a monk for a short time, they believe this makes them better Buddhists in everyday life
Where is the Buddhist society situated
London
When was the Buddhist society founded and by who
Founded in 1924 by Christmas Humphrey’s
What does the Buddhist society provide
A range of classes and courses and Buddhist teaching
Where is the Buddhist society represented
On the religious education council of England and Wales
What was siddatha
A prince
The Dalai Lama
His early life
His name is lhamo thondup
Found out he was going to be Dalai Lama at the age of 3
The Dalai Lama
Becoming the Dalai Lama…
He studied in a monastery
He was officially stored as spiritual leader of Tibet in 1940
The Dalai Lama
His relationship with Chinese forces…
Was not good, Chinese forces were trying to take over Tibet and remove him from leadership
The Dalai Lama
Why he won a noble peace prize
Because his commitment to the creed of non violence
The Dalai Lama
His influence today
He is still campaigning for Tibet to protect them from Chinese forces
The Dalai Lama
What is his job
Head monk of Tibetan Buddhism
The Dalai Lama
What did China do to Tibet in 1959
The Chinese government took control
The Dalai Lama
What is reincarnation
The rebirth of a soul in another body
The Dalai Lama
Why do Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama is the same soul reborn
Because he decided to continue his important work
The Dalai Lama
In which time period did the first Dalai Lama live
1391-1474
What do the worlds Dalai and lama mean and why do you think this is a good name for a spiritual leader
It means ocean of wisdom and I think this is a good name beacause it shows he has a huge amount of wisdom and knowledge
The Dalai Lama
What is the name of the current (14th) Dalai Lama
Tenzin gyatso
The Dalai Lama
How do the high lamas begin their search for the next Dalai Lama
By dreaming of a mark or location that will identify the boy
The Dalai Lama
What other strategies do high lamas use to search for the next Dalai Lama
Smoke
If the previous Dalai Lama is cremated high lamas will watch the direction of smoke and search accordingly
The Dalai Lama
Do you think the Dalai Lama would a pacifist (a person who believes in non violence/that all violence is wrong) and why
Yes because he is supposed right have piece, non violence is key
Is following the eightfold path practical or not in Northern Ireland
No because it is impractical to have to meditate everyday, it’s hard to speak nicely all the time in NI, it’s impractical to be nice to revert one all the time and here’s many distractions, the influence of others etc
