Buddhism and Jainism

Question 1

Theravada Buddhism

Answer 1

means “the Way of the Elders”
- most conservative, oldest form of Buddhism
-believes there was only one Buddha (Gautama) and he was just a man
- Emphasis on monkhood
- monkhood = no family or “normal life”
- called Hinayana “small vehicle” by Mahayanists

Question 2

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 2

means “Large vehicle”
- believes in more than one Buddha
- compatible with having a family and “normal life”
- more adaptable to preexisting traditions and folk religions
- prioritizes compassion for others (karuna)
- little emphasis on monkhood

Question 3

Commonalities between Buddhism and Jainism

Answer 3

• Originated in Ancient India in 6th c. BCE
• Common vocabulary
• Sprang from Kshatriya caste, - rejected the Vedas and Hindu rituals
• Challenged the priesthood and castes
• Women can be nuns

Question 4

Life and teachings of Siddartha Gautama Shakyamuni

Answer 4

Siddartha Gautama Shakyamuni came from Kshatriya clan, became the Buddha

Question 5

Kshatriya caste

Answer 5

The second highest caste level, warriors and teachers, the Buddha and the Mahavira came from kshatriya clans

Question 6

Dharma in Buddhism

Answer 6

Way of life and thought, the teachings of Gautama Buddha

Question 7

Where did Buddhism arise?

Answer 7

Ancient India, modern-day Nepal

modern-day Nepal

Question 8

What is the Bodhi tree?

Answer 8

A tree which the Buddha was meditating under and became enlightened. The place where Gautama became the Buddha.

Question 9

Four Noble Truths

Answer 9

• Life is suffering
• The cause of suffering is desire
• There is release from suffering
• The way to release is to follow the Eightfold Path

Question 10

Noble Eightfold Path

Answer 10

1. Right view
2. Right aim
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right living
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

Question 11

Lay people

Answer 11

Lay people are nonordained members of a church or religious organization, in Buddhism they build up merit helping around the stupa and community so in a later life they would have a better chance at becoming enlightened. Doing good works, spend some period of life in monsastic discipline

Question 12

What does ahimsa mean?

Answer 12

Non violence

Question 13

What is anatman?

Answer 13

No soul. No separate, permanent, or immortal self. Human being = a composite of skandhas.

Question 14

Skandhas

Answer 14

Aggregates. Changing existence. “Each skandha is in permanent flux” Body, perception, feelings, predispositions generated by past existences, reasoning.

Question 15

What is nirvana?

Answer 15

Quietude of heart; Liberation from samsara and life as a whole, not a place like heaven but rather a higher level of existence free from suffering and desire

Question 16

Ashoka’s Buddhism

Answer 16

Ashoka, 3rd ruler of Mauryan empire, converted to Theravada Buddhism and sent missionaries out as far as Greece and the Middle East

Question 17

What is Tripitaka?

Answer 17

Tripitaka = “three baskets” the first Buddhist scriptures, written down in India about 80 BCE on palm leaves and stored in baskets. In Pali language. Also known as the Pali Canon

Question 18

Pali language

Answer 18

A middle Indo-Aryan language from North India, it is the classic and liturgical language of the Theravada Buddhist canon.

Question 19

What is Bodhisattva?

Answer 19

A person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings. Refers to someone who has made a resolution to become a Buddha and has also received a confirmation or prediction from a living Buddha that this will be so. The goal in Mahayana Buddhism, to become bodhisattva + salvation for all.

Question 20

Lotus Sutra

Answer 20

100 BCE - 100 CE, Most popular Buddhist text, contains sayings of the Buddha, Buddhist philosophy and history, much like the Christian Bible

Question 21

Three major concepts of Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 21

-Trikaya = Three Aspects of the Buddha
-Karuna = compassion
-Shunyata = emptiness

Question 22

What is Trikaya?

Answer 22

three bodies or aspects of the Buddha
1. The Cosmic Body
2. The Heavenly Body
3. The Earthly Body (manifestation)

Question 23

What is karuna?

Answer 23

Compassion

Question 24

What does shunyata mean?

Answer 24

Emptiness, nothing to cling to

Question 25

What is Stupa?

Answer 25

Shrine in the shape of a dome reaching into the sky
- contains sacred relics of Buddha or remains of famous monks
- Marks sacred sites
- Built by the laity in an act of special merit

Question 26

What helped Buddhism spread to China?

Answer 26

The Silk Roads, active trade routes, 1st c. CE. Gained prominence in 7th c. under Tang dynasty.

Question 27

Why was Mahayana Buddhism successful in China?

Answer 27

Compatible with having a family (Theravada focuses on becoming a monk and renouncing “normal life”) and more flexible to fit with preexisting folk religion traditions

Question 28

Mahavira

Answer 28

Nataputta Vardhamana, known as Mahavira “Great Hero”
- died in ca. 527 BCE
- Founder of Jainism
- Prince of a kshatriya clan,

Question 29

Tirthankaras

Answer 29

Ford-makers, those who have escaped the cycle of rebirth, Mahavira was the last of twenty-four Tirthanakaras

Question 30

Jiva in Jainism

Answer 30

True Self, soul, weighed down by karma and matter (different from Hindu jiva)

Question 31

What happens to the soul in Jainism when it is liberated?

Answer 31

Becomes a Siddha. Liberated jivas don’t have physical bodies; they possess infinite knowledge, infinite vision, infinite power, and infinite bliss - in effect they have become perfect beings.

Question 32

Gods in Buddhism and Jainism

Answer 32

Gods have to be reborn human to take path of enlightenment, in Buddhism there is no personal or creator god, gods = humans, imperfect and impermanent, finite subject to death and rebirth

Question 33

What word does the name Jain (Jainism) come from?

Answer 33

Jain = one who follows a jina
jina = conqueror in Sanskrit
- a jina has been victorious over the obstacles to liberation