Buddhism Beliefs

Question 1

What did the holy man say that Siddhartha may become?

Answer 1

-a great ruler
-great spiritual leader

Question 2

What are the four sights and what do they represent?

Answer 2

Old man
-everyone ages
Ill man
-everyone gets sick
Dead man
-all things die
Holy man
-the only answer to these problems

Question 3

How might stories of the Buddha’s life influence Buddhists today?

Answer 3

-seeing the 4 sights made them realise they have to accept old age, sickness and death just like the Buddha did
-irrelevant as the Buddha lived in a different time especially his luxurious childhood
- helps them find the middle way and achieve an astethic lifestyle

Question 4

What are the 3 watches of the night?

Answer 4

Three realisations Siddhartha made in order to become enlightened

Question 5

What are the 4 noble truths?

Answer 5

The Four Noble Truths are what Buddha taught about suffering

1. There is suffering
2. Suffering has a cause
3. Suffering can come to an end
4. There is a way to end suffering

Question 6

What’s an Arhat?

Answer 6

A ‘perfected person’ who has overcome the main sources of suffering

Question 7

What’s an Acetism lifestyle ?

Answer 7

A lifestyle of strict self-denial, rejected by Siddhartha for the Middle Way

Question 8

What’s a Bodhisattva?

Answer 8

An enlightened person who chooses to remain in samsara to teach others

Question 9

What is Dependent Arising?

Answer 9

The idea that everything is dependent on everything else

Question 10

What’s Dharma?

Answer 10

The Buddha’s teachings – how to reach the state of enlightenment

Question 11

What are the 3 marks of existence?

Answer 11

1. Dukkha (suffering)
2. Anicca (impermanence)
3. Anatta (no fixed self or soul)

Question 12

Whats the Eightfold Path?

Answer 12

Eight aspects of life Buddhists live by to try and reach enlightenment
Eg : right effort , right action , right livelihood

Question 13

What’s Enlightenment?

Answer 13

A state of spiritual wisdom which arises from understanding the nature of reality

Question 14

What are the Jakata Tales?

Answer 14

A book of popular tales about the life of the Buddha

Question 15

What is Nirvana?

Answer 15

A state of complete enlightenment which lies outside the cycle of samsara

Question 16

What’s the cycle of Samsara?

Answer 16

Cycle of birth, dead and re-birth

Question 17

What’s the ultimate aim for Buddhists?

Answer 17

To break free from the cycle of Samsara

Question 18

What are the aspects of the Eightfold Path?

Answer 18

-Right Speech
-Right Action
-Right Livelihood
-Right effort
-Right mindfulness
-Right concentration
-Right understanding
-Right intention

Question 19

What are the 3 sections of the threefold way?

Answer 19

-Ethics (Sila)
-Meditation (samadhi)
-Wisdom (panna)

Question 20

What do Theravada Buddhists think the Buddha is?

Answer 20

One of the three refugees or jewels, not God but a guide

Question 21

What do Theravada Buddhists devote their lives to do?

Answer 21

Achieving Enlightenment

Question 22

What are some rules Theravada Buddhists promise to keep and why?

Answer 22

Go celibate and own no possessions
-so their only focus is meditation

Question 23

How do Theravada Buddhists become an Arhat?

Answer 23

Achieve nibbana

Question 24

What happens when an Arhat dies?

Answer 24

They escape the cycle of Samsara

Question 25

What do Mahayana Buddhists believe about the Buddha?

Answer 25

He is watching over them and might appear when somebody in need is meditating

Question 26

What are the 3 poisons?

Answer 26

Greed, hatred and ignorance

Question 27

What’s a Mahayana Buddhist ultimate aim?

Answer 27

Use their enlightenment to help others by becoming a Bodhisattva

Question 28

How does someone become a Bodhisattva?

Answer 28

Perfecting certain attributes
(6 perfections)
By becoming enlightened

Question 29

What are the 6 perfections?

Answer 29

1. Morality
2. Patience
3. Energy
4. Meditation
5. Generosity
6. Wisdom

Question 30

What is Pure Land Buddhism based on?

Answer 30

Amitabha
-a transcendent Bodhisattva

Question 31

What happened when Amitabha achieved enlightenment and nibbana?

Answer 31

He created a pure land called Sukhavati

Question 32

What is the goal for Pure Land Buddhists?

Answer 32

After-life in Sukhavati with Amitabha, where there is no suffering

Question 33

What do Theravada Buddhists think about Pure Land Buddhists?

Answer 33

They think it’s too easy and enlightenment can only be found through discipline and by following the Eighfold path
-they think even a murder can call Amitabha and go to Sukhavati and achieve enlightenment

Question 34

What’s sangha?

Answer 34

The Buddhist community