Buddhism

Question 1

saṃskāra

Answer 1

the 4th skandha, literally means mental constituents or mental formations. It denotes the volitional aspects of the individual and puts the mind in action

Question 2

stupa

Answer 2

A memorial mound constructed over the relics of the Buddha or other important person. Around the turn of the common Era, a cult grew up around the worship of stupas. To this day, Stupas remain worthy of reverence in Buddhist countries.

Question 3

Samudaya

Answer 3

The Sanskrit term for the second of the Noble Truths, that of cause. The noble truth emphasizes that there is a cause for suffering, centred around the various forms of craving

Question 4

Vijnana

Answer 4

Literally means, ‘holders of the doctrine of consciousness’ / way of knowing/ perception defined as a way of knowing /perception of observable qualities

Question 5

Nirvana

Answer 5

Literally ‘blowing out’; in Buddhism the goal of religious practice. The texts are very enigmatic - that which needs to be experienced to be understood, marks the release from rebirths in the samsara

Question 6

Asoka

Answer 6

the third emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty in India. He brought India together under his rule. Asoka became the model for many other rulers who saught to govern in accordance with the dharma.

Question 7

Preta

Answer 7

A hungry ghost; one of the 6 destinies (gatis) into which one may be reborn. Knowing no peace, one in this realm is destined to constantly wander around searching for tiny bits of food.

Question 8

karma

Answer 8

‘action’ or ‘deed’ in Sanskrit. The moral law of causality which states that what a person does in this life will have an effect in later rebirths. It is closely related to cetana

Question 9

Dharma

Answer 9

the teachings or doctrine of the Buddha. Dharma is said to include all the Buddha’s sermons and doctrinal pronouncements, it is the universal truth that is common to all individuals at all times

Question 10

dhukha

Answer 10

‘suffering’ ; the first of the 4 noble truths points out the transience of all mental and physical pleasures. thus we find a statement that all life is characterized by suffering

Question 11

anitya

Answer 11

‘Impermanence’; that Buddhist doctrine which states that all things originate, have duration and decay. This notion of constant flux or impermanence forms the second of the Buddha’s three marks of existence.

Question 12

T. W Rhys Davids

Answer 12

He was a British scholar (1843- 1922) of the Pali language and founder of the Pali text Society. Founded Pali text society. He also took an active part in founding the British Academy and london school for oriental studies. He attempted to promote Thervada Buddhism and Pali scholarship in Britain. He claimed that the british had a neutral ‘racial’ affinity with Buddhist doctrine. Common Aryan ethnicity for people of England, Sri Lanka and Buddha’s tribe.

Question 13

Samjna

Answer 13

‘Perception’; the third of the five skandhas. It determines the characteristics of an object without placing a ‘tag’ or ‘label’ on the object itself

Question 14

Trsna

Answer 14

Literally ‘craving’; noted in the Second Noble Truth the be the cause of suffering. Usually three kinds of craving are noted: sensual craving, craving for continued existence,a and craving for extinction

Question 15

prajna

Answer 15

literally ‘wisdom’; it is the 6th of the perfections (paramitas) and is applied, generally as a description of a section of the Eightfold path (right view and right resolve)

Question 16

Anatman

Answer 16

‘Not self’; that doctrine of the Buddha which contradicts the Hindu notion of a pure, eternal, subtle self (atman). The doctrine, intended to eliminate attachment, later became problematic in terms of Buddhist explanations of rebirth.

Question 17

Bhumisparsa mudra

Answer 17

it means touching the earth, and is more commonly known as the earth witness mudra. This mudra (symbolic or ritual gesture) is formed with all five fingers of the right hand extended to touch the ground. It symbolizes the Buddha’s enlightenment under the body tree, when he summoned th earth goddess, Sthavara, to bear witness to his attainment of enlightenment. The right hand is placed upon the knee in earth- pressing mudra and complemented by the left hand which is held flat in the lap in the dhyana mudra of meditation which symbolizes the union of method and wisdom of samsara and nirvana and also the realizations of the conventional and ultimate truths. In this posture, Shakyamuni overcame the obstructions of Mara while meditating.

Question 18

Buddha

Answer 18

The ‘awakened one’; title given to Siddhartha Gautama after he achieved complete, perfect enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Believed to have lived and taught mostly in the northeastern part of ancient india sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. He is believed by Buddhists to be an enlightened teacher who attained full Buddhahood and shared his insights to help sentient being end rebirth and suffering .

Question 19

Marga

Answer 19

The ‘path’ leading to the cessation of suffering. The fourth noble truth is often referred to as the manga. Those who follow the eightfold path are said to be freed from the suffering that is an essential part of human existence and are led ultimately to nirvana or enlightenment.

Question 20

Nirodha

Answer 20

Literally ‘cessation’; the third noble truth, stating that there can be a cessation to suffering. It is the end of suffering and it’s causes. Eliminate all craving, attachment and desire.

Question 21

Samsara

Answer 21

The cycle of perpetual flux, a term used to designate the entire cycle of transmigration. It is frequently contrasted to Nirvana. Rebirths occur in 6 realms of existence, 3 good and 3 evil. It is considered to be dukkha- perpetuated by desire and resulting karma.

Question 22

Vedana

Answer 22

Literally ‘feeling’; the second of the 5 skhandas. It derives from the contact of our physical and mental organs with objects in the external world

Question 23

Bhavacakra

Answer 23

A symbolic representation of samsara (cyclic existence). It is found on the outside walls of Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Indo- Tibetan region, to help ordinary people understand buddhist teachings. It is the wheel of life, wheel of existence. On it there are the three poisons of existence (pig, rooster and snake), karma, six realms of samsara, twelve links of dependent origination, impermanence, liberation, the Buddha)

Question 24

Kleshas

Answer 24

Literally public records, or authenticated cases of dialogue of Zen masters. These seemingly insoluble and confusing statements, sometimes resembling riddles were aimed at bringing the student to the full realization of enlightenment. Also mental states that cloud the mind and manifest into unwholesome actions.

Question 25

Rupa

Answer 25

One of the five skandhas, dealing with those elements in the realm of ‘form’. Since rupa deals with the physical or form realm, it was of primary importance to Abhidharmists’ analyses of existence.