Buddhism Flashcards
The four sights
- Disease
- Old age
- Death
- A holy man
Four noble truths
The four central teachings of Buddhism about the causes of suffering and how to end suffering via the eighthfold path
Enlightenment
See nibbana
Eighthfold path
The path to nirvana, comprising of eight aspects the aspirant must become practised.
- Right views
- Intention
- Speech
- Action
- Livelihood
- Effort
- Mindfulness
- Concentration
Dukkha
Suffering
Dharma
The teachings of Buddha
Dependant origination
All things arise in dependence of other thing. Except nibbana
Buddha nature
The idea that everyone can become enlightened
Buddha
“Awakened one” the founder of Buddhism
Bodhisattva vow
The promise to attain enlightenment to benefit all living beings, not just to be happy with oneself but to work towards ending the suffering of others
Bodhisattva
One who wishes to attain Buddha hood for the benefit of all sentient beings. Has taken the bodhisattva vow.
Arhat/Arahant
A ‘perfect person’ who has completed Buddhist training and attained nibbana
Amithaba Buddha
The main Buddha in pure land Buddhism, is believed to have created the pure land.
Annica
Impermanence: all of conditional existence
Vesak/ wesak
The largest Buddhist festival: commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha
Three poisons
Greed, ignorance and anger
Three jewels
The Buddha, the dharma and the sangha. All Buddhists take refuge in ‘the triple gem’
Theravada Buddhism
The more conservative of the two traditions
Sutra
A Buddhist text or scripture
Sunyatta
Emptiness. All our experiences are caused by dependant origination so everything is temporary
Puja
The makings of offerings at an altar
Metta
Loving kindness
Mara
The demon that tried to tempt Buddha
Mantra
A statement or slogan repeated frequently: chanted in meditation or as an internal monologue
Mahayana Buddhism
One of two major traditions: practised especially in China, Tibet, japan, and Korea
Nibbana
The end of suffering, awakening to the truth. Liberation from samsara
Lay sangha
Members of the Buddhist community who aren’t monks
Lama Tsong Khapa day
A Tibetan Buddhist festival celebrating renowned teacher: Lama Tsong Khapa
Karuna
Compassion
