Buddhism-Beliefs and Teachings Flashcards
What is the common traditional story commonly told about Siddhartha’s birth?
Queen Maya dreamed a white elephant came down from heaven and told her she would give birth to a holy child
When he was born, he could immediately walk and talk.
He walked 7 steps and lotus flowers appeared underneath his feet and he declared that he would not be reborn
What sort of life did Siddhartha live while he lived in the palace?
He lived a life of luxury
The Anguttara Nikaya describes how he was ‘delicately nutured’
He was entertained by female dancers, there were lotus ponds of many colours, he was always protected by a sunshade and had three mansions for winter, summer and rainy seasons
What were the four sights and what was each of their effects on Siddhartha?
Siddhartha saw a frail old man and realised that everyone will age
Siddhartha saw someone lying in the road in agony and realised that illness is a reality of life
Siddhartha saw a dead man being carried through the streets in a funeral procession and realised that everyone will die (impermanence)
Siddhartha wanted answers to the problems of old age, illness and death. He saw a holy man walking through the streets with a peaceful expression. This inspired Siddhartha to believe that a spiritual answer to suffering was possible
‘Seeing the four sights was the most important event in the Buddha’s life’
Evaluate this statement using two arguments to support the statement and two arguments to support a different point of view (FOR)
For:
If he hadn’t seen the four sights, Siddhartha might have never left the palace and achieved enlightenment
The four sights made Siddhartha realise that suffering was a problem which inspired him to search for an answer
The fourth sights inspired Siddhartha to follow a spiritual life, so this could be seen as the start of Buddhism
‘Seeing the four sights was the most important event in the Buddha’s life’
Evaluate this statement using two arguments to support the statement and two arguments to support a different point of view (AGAINST)
Against:
Siddhartha’s enlightenment was more important as this is when he understood how to overcome suffering
He gained enough knowledge about the nature of reality to share it with his followers, so this could be seen as the start of Buddhism
Give ways in which Siddhartha practised asceticism
Living in dangerous and hostile forests which were too hot in the day and freezing at night
Sleeping on a bed of thorns
Eating so little that he looked like a skeleton
‘Siddhartha’s ascetism was a necessary part of his path to enlightenment’
Evaluate this statement using two arguments to support the statement and two arguments to support a different point of view (FOR)
Asceticism taught Siddhartha self-discipline (discipline helped him overcome negative emotions and focus on meditating)
He confronted his fears
Through ascetism, Siddhartha learnt a middle way
He learnt various meditation techniques
‘Siddhartha’s ascetism was a necessary part of his path to enlightenment’
Evaluate this statement using two arguments to support the statement and two arguments to support a different point of view (AGAINST)
He became too weak to meditate
Ascetism was a waste of time because it did not provide an answer to suffering
‘When the Great Being was practising severe austerities for six years it was to him like a time of intertwining the sky with knots’ - The Jataka
Give ways in which Mara tried to distract Siddhartha from englightenment
- Sending his beautiful daughters to seduce Siddhartha
- Sending his armies to throw arrows and other weapons at Siddhartha
- Offering Siddhartha control of his kingdom
- Questioning Siddhartha’s right to sit at the seat of enlightenment
How did Siddhartha respond to Mara’s distractions?
He was not swayed by the charms of Mara’s daughters
The arrows and other weapons turned to lotus flowers before reaching him
He touched and called on the earth to witness his right to sit at the seat of enlightenment. The earth shook to acknowledge his right
What were the three watches?
Siddhartha gained knowledge of all his previous lives
He understood the cycle of birth, death and rebirth and how people are reborn based on their kamma or actions
He understood that beings suffer because of desire and attachment and he understood that suffering can be overcome through the path to enlightenment
‘The Buddha’s enlightenment can be best described as a state of knowledge’
Develop one argument to support this statement and one argument against it. Then write a conclusion (FOR)
The Buddha has a series of three insights on the night of his enlightenment which gave him the knowledge as to why people suffer and how to overcome it.
Therefore, enlightenment is best thought of as having a deep understanding about suffering
‘The Buddha’s enlightenment can be best described as a state of knowledge’
Develop one argument to support this statement and one argument against it. Then write a conclusion (AGAINST)
Enlightenment also requires the development of other qualities, not just knowledge. For example, compassion is important for Mahayana Buddhists.
Other qualities such as peace, tranquillity, freedom are part of enlightenment. Enlightenment also involves living and acting ethically
Give ways in which Buddhists understand the term ‘Dhamma’
The path of training the Buddha recommended for anyone who wants to get closer to enlightenment
A universal ‘law’ that governs how reality works, i.e the ways things are
The ‘truth’ about the nature of existence, as understood by the Buddha when he became enlightened
What did the Buddha say about his teachings?
In his book Old Path White Clouds, the monk Thich Nhat Hanh tells how the Buddha thought of his teaching as something to be practised but not to be worshipped or held on to
What are the three refuges/jewels?
The Dhamma
The Buddha
The Sangha (Buddhist community)
What is a quote that shows the Dhamma is important to Buddhists?
To the Buddha for refuge I go
To the Dhamma for refuge I go
To the Sangha for refuge I go
A Buddhist might recite these three refuges, showing their importance
What is the importance of the Dhamma for Buddhists?
One of the three refuges
Reduces suffering and creates satisfaction and happiness
Gives meaning to life
Leads to awareness, wisdom and more compassion
Improves Buddhist’s relationships with others and the world
Evaluate this argument in response to the statement
‘The Dhamma is the most important of the three refuges’ (FOR)
Make sure to say what the refuges are!!
The Dhamma is the most important refuge because it is the raft to enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism
It does not depend on the Buddha but can be discovered by anyone at any time.
By practising the Dhamma, Buddhists gain meaning, purpose and happiness in their lives
Without it, Buddhists might never have been able to understand the way out of suffering
Evaluate this argument in response to the statement
‘The Dhamma is the most important of the three refuges’ (AGAINST)
It is a way of showing respect for the Buddha and his accomplishments/teachings
This is the most important because the Buddha’s life story shows that it is possible to become enlightened in this lifetime
The Buddha provides a personal example to follow or role model to emulate
Give two reasons why Buddha rejected his life of wealth
He saw the Four Sights
He wanted to find a solution to suffering
Explain two ways in which learning about the life of the Buddha influences Buddhists today
The Buddha is the blueprint for enlightenment and he proved that humans can be enlightened, giving Buddhists confidence in that they too can be enlightened
The Buddha’s experiences help people to make sense out of experiences today-old age and sickness are parts of life and wealth cannot always bring complete happiness
What is dependant arising?
Dependant arising is the idea that everything depends on supporting conditions: nothing is independent
Dependant arising also means that everything is in a constant process of change, because everything is dependent on conditions which are themselves continually changing
What are some examples of dependent arising?
A tree depends on soil, rain and sunshine to survive and these conditions change as the weather changes
Kamma is an example of dependant arising that shows someone’s happiness and suffering depend on conditions, especially their previous actions.
The type of world a person is born into in their next life depends on their kamma
What is the Tibetan Wheel of Life?
It is an image that illustrates dependent arising as applied to the birth, death and rebirth of beings (samsara)
The outer wheel shows 12 links or stages (nidanas) which illustrate how human beings are subject to birth, death and rebirth
When this cycle is broken, it allows the possibility of nibbana
Develop this argument to support the statement
‘Dependent arising is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings’
Dependant arising is very important as it is what the Buddha understood in his enlightenment and it underpins all other Buddhist teachings
For instance, the Four Noble truths apply the principle of dependent arising to the reality of human suffering. It shows that a person’s happiness of suffering depends on their actions
What is dukkha?
Suffering and the unsatisfactory nature of
life. It is dissatisfaction and suffering. It is an inevitable part of life
It is important to accept it so we can do something about it
What are the seven states of suffering?
Birth
Old age
Sickness
Death
Not being able to achieve your dreams
Separation from someone or something you love
Contacts with someone or something you dislike
What are the three types of suffering?
Ordinary-suffering (dukkha-dukkhata) is physical and mental pain (breaking a leg, missing someone)
Suffering because of change (viparinama-dukkha) is caused by losing something good (getting older, the weather turning bad)
Suffering because of attachment (samkhara-dukhha) is dissatisfaction with life as a result of craving and attachment (trying to hold onto things a person is attached to, feeling unhappy for no reason)
What is anicca?
All things are impermanent, everything changes.
All things that exist did not exist at one time and everything will eventually cease to exist.
During their existence, things are constantly changing.
This is because everything is interdependent, everything interacts with everything else and so affects change in other things.
Explain two ways in which belief in the Buddha’s enlightenment influences Buddhists today
One way is that it makes Buddhists believe they can also achieve enlightenment
So they will put more effort into Buddhists practice such as following the Eightfold path or five moral precepts
A second way is that it makes Buddhists more respectful of the Dhamma
For example, Buddhists respect the Dhamma as one of the three refuges, which are the three central values to a Buddhist’s life
What is the story is Kisa Gotami and how does it relate of anicca?
Kisa Gotami’s child died at a young age and she went out of her mind with sorrow
The Buddha told her she should visit all the houses in the village and ask for a mustard seed from any house in which no one had died
She could not find a house where no one had died
Eventually she realised that death is inescapable and buried her child
When Kisa Gotami realised death (a result of anicca) is something that everyone has to experience, her suffering became more bearable and this is an example of how an awareness of impermanence helps to reduce suffering
Explain two teachings about impermanence
Refer to scripture or sacred writings in your response
An awareness of impermanence reduces suffering as shown in the story of Kisa Gotami
Impermenence affects the world in three different ways:
Living things (A tree sprouts from a seed, grows and eventually dies)
Non-living things (An iron nail will rust if left out in the rain)
People’s minds (thoughts and feelings change throughout life)
What is anatta?
Anatta is the idea that people do not have a fixed self or soul. This means there is no unchanging essence to the human being that is permeant or eternal
What are the five aggregates and what are their meanings + examples
Form-our bodies or objects in the world (my knee)
Sensation-our feelings (my knee hurts)
Perception-our ways of interpreting and understanding things (my knee hurts because I bashed it against the door)
Mental formations- our thoughts (I want my knee to stop hurting; I don’t like it)
Consciousness- our general awareness of things (awareness of my knee)
What are the four noble truths?
Dukka - There is suffering
Samudaya - Suffering has a cause
Nirodha - Suffering can come to an end
Magga - There is a means to bring suffering to an end
How can the four noble truths be compared to the idea of a doctor treating an illness?
A doctor establishes that you have an illness
He find the cause of the illness
He tells you there is a cure for the illness
Undergoing the treatment makes you feel better
‘The four noble truths are the most important Buddhist teaching’
FOR
The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths in his first sermon
Understanding the Four Noble Truths leads to Nibanna
The second noble truth shows why we suffer
‘I teach one thing and one thing only, Dukkha and the cessation of Dukkha
‘The four noble truths are the most important Buddhist teaching’
AGAINST
Compassion is also important for enlightenment
‘I believe that at every level of society, the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion’ - Dalai Lama
The Four Noble Truths don’t include Anatta
Dependant arising is the most important teaching as it helps us truly understand the Buddha’s Dhamma
The Eightfold Path is the way to enlightenment
They seem rather pessimistic (focus on suffering)
Give two ways in which beliefs about dukkha influence Buddhists today
Beliefs about dukkha help Buddhists to empathise with and respond to the suffering to others
It can also help Buddhists to not take refuge in temporary pleasures and inspire them to follow the eight fold path
What does tanha mean?
Tanha means craving (wanting or desiring something)
What are the three types of craving?
Sensory craving
Craving for being
Craving for non-being
What is sensory craving?
Craving things that please the senses
Eg-craving pleasant smells or tasty foods
What is craving for being?
Wanting to become something you are not
Eg-craving to become smart, attractive or successful
What is craving for non-being?
Wanting to stop experiencing something
Not wanting to feel pain or embarrassment
Give two ways in which beliefs about craving influence Buddhists today
Beliefs about craving motivate Buddhists to practise non-attachment because they know that attachment will cause suffering
For example monks and nuns live a simple lifestyle with few possessions
Encourage Buddhists to understand the Buddha’s teaching more fully in order to overcome craving
For example by studying or meditating
What are the three poisons?
Greed or desire
Hatred or anger
Ignorance
How are the three poisons linked to craving?
Craving leads to greed and hatred
Craving is also rooted in ignorance
Ignorance is not simply a lack of general knowledge but a deeper ignorance about the world and the nature of reality
Because people don’t want to wake up to the truth of things (3 marks of existence), they continue spinning round the Wheel of Life and continue to suffer
What does Nibbana refer to?
Nibbana literally means ‘extinction’
It refers to a state of complete liberation, peace and happiness. This is reached when a person becomes enlightened
What is another word to refer to enlightenment?
Bodhi
It means awakening as enlightenment is like waking up from a sleep. It also refers to state of knowing
A Buddha is someone who has woken up to the truth of existence.
What characteristics does one who has been enlightened have?
- Is completely free of the three poisons
- Naturally behaves according to the five moral precepts
- Understands and lives in harmony with the four noble truths
- Knows exactly what causes suffering
- Knows the truth about the nature of existence
What does the third noble truth refer to?
It teaches that there is a way to end suffering and everyone is capable of achieving it
The third noble truth teaches that suffering can be ended by overcoming craving and ignorance
It also teaches that the end of suffering is called nibbana or enlightenment
If people suffer because of their craving and attachment and attachment to things then does that mean we should just avoid the things we enjoy?
No it does not.
We should enjoy things but recognise beforehand that they can’t last and we should be ready to let go of them at any given moment
Ignorance makes people think that impermanent pleasures are sources of complete fulfilment but by overcoming this ignorance you can overcome your craving and suffering
You can do this by realising that temporary pleasure cannot bring true happiness
What does the fourth noble truth refer to?
It refers to a series of practices that Buddhists can follow to overcome suffering
This is known as the middle path or middle way as the Buddha taught that people should lead a moderate life between the two extremes of luxury and ascetism
The path also consists of the eight fold path
What is the eight fold path?
Right concentration
Right understanding
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
What is a quote for following the eight fold path?
‘But if anyone goes to the Buddha, the Doctrine and the Order as a refuge, he perceives with proper knowledge the four noble truths: Suffering, the arising of suffering, and the noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of suffering’
Explain 2 parts of the eightfold parts
Right speech - Speaking truthfully, helpfully and kindly. Avoid lying and gossiping about others
Right understanding- Developing a clear understanding of the Buddha’s teachings about the Four Noble Truths
‘The Eightfold Path is the most important of the Four Noble Truths’
FOR
‘The Eightfold Path means the actual practice of Buddhism, which allows Buddhists to make spiritual progress towards enlightenment
Without the path, Buddhism would be just theoretical and not make a real difference to people’s lives
The Path is how Buddhists apply the Buddha’s teachings
‘The Eightfold Path is the most important of the Four Noble Truths’
AGAINST
While understanding the Path is important, it cannot be fully understood or practised without an understanding of the other three noble truths
For example, the Four Truths can be likened to treating an illness: there is the diagnosis, the cause, the cure and the treatment
Each element is important if the illness is to be cured
What are the five aggregates?
Form
Sensation
Perception
Mental formations
Consciousness
Explain form and give and example for it
A person’s body or objects in the world
You enter a room and see a slice of cake (a physical object)
Explain sensation and give and example for it
The feelings or sensations that occur when people come into contact with things
It can be physical (eg a sensation of pain after tripping over) or emotional (feeling joy after seeing a friend)
Seeing cake gives you a feeling or sense of anticipation
Explain perception and give and example for it
How things recognise (or perceive) what things are, based on their previous experiences
You recognise it’s a slice of cake from having seen other slices of cake from the past
Explain mental formation and give and example for it
Thoughts and opinions- how a person responds mentally to the things they experience
Includes likes and dislikes and a person’s attitude towards different things
You form and opinion about whether or not you want to eat the cake
Explain consciousness and give and example for it
A person’s general awareness of the world around them
Your underlying awareness of all of the above processes
‘The idea that people consist of five aggregates is the most useful Buddhist teaching to help explain the concept of anatta’
FOR
The aggregates help to show that a person has no fixed, independent essences by explaining what people are made up of instead
The aggregates show how people consist of things that are constantly changing
‘The idea that people consist of five aggregates is the most useful Buddhist teaching to help explain the concept of anatta’
AGAINST
The story of Nagasena and King Milinda is more useful because it uses a simple image (a chariot) to show how a person only exists because of the parts they are made up from
What is the story of Nagasena and the chariot?
One day a monk called Nagasena arrived at the court of Milinda
The king asked Nagasena what his name was
Nagasena answered but said there was no person behind the name
The king was confused and asked who then was standing before him
Nagasena answered using the analogy of the chariot
A chariot is made up of different parts and the word ‘chariot’ refers to all of the parts together. These parts independently aren’t called a chariot
Just like this, a person only exists because of the parts they are made from and there is no separate self that is independent to these parts
What is Mahayana Buddhism?
Mahayana Buddhism is a term used to describe a number of different Buddhist traditions that share some overlapping characteristics. It includes Pure Land Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism
What is Sunyata?
Sunyata means ‘emptiness’
It is a restatement of anatta but applies to all things rather than just human beings
It teaches that nothing has a fixed, independent, unchanging nature and that everything exists in relation to or because of other things
What is ‘Buddha-nature’
Everyone has the essence (or nature) of a Buddha already inside of them
A person’s Buddha-nature is hidden by desires, attachments, ignorance and negative thoughts
When a person truly comes to understand the Buddha’s teachings they experience their inner Buddha-nature
What is an arhat?
An Arhat is a ‘perfected person’ who has overcome the main sources of suffering-the three poisons- to become enlightened
When someone becomes an Arhat, they are no longer reborn after they die and are free from the cycle of samsara
It is achieved by following the eightfold path
What is a Bodhisattva
A Bodhisattva sees their own enlightenment as being bound up with the enlightenment of all beings
Out of compassion, after they achieve enlightenment, they choose to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others achieve enlightenment too
‘However innumerable sentient beings are; I vow to save them’
You become a Boddhisattva by practising the six perfections
What are the 6 perfections?
Generosity (To be charitable and generous in all that is done)
Morality (To live ethically by following the moral precepts)
Patience (To practise being patient in all things)
Energy (To cultivate the energy and perseverance needed to keep going)
Meditation (To develop concentration and awareness)
Wisdom (To obtain wisdom and understanding)
Explain two differences between an Arhat and a Bodhisattva
Theravada Buddhists aim to become Arhats but Mahayana Buddhists aim to become Bodhisattvas
An Arhat is no longer reborn when they die but a Bodhisattva chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara
Arhats follow the eightfold path, Bodhisattvas practise the six perfections
‘Becoming a Bodhisattva is harder than becoming an Arhat’
FOR
An Arhat only needs to develop wisdom whereas a Bodhisattva must develop compassion as well
As well as living ethically, meditating and developing wisdom, a Bodhisattva must also develop the traits of generosity and patience
‘Becoming a Bodhisattva is harder than becoming an Arhat’
AGAINST
It is not possible to have wisdom without compassion so Arhats must also develop both
There are many similarities between the Eightfold Path and the six perfections
‘It is better to be a Bodhisattva than an Arhat (a perfected person)’
FOR
A Bodhisattva is the highest goal of the Mahayana Buddhist faith
They can save others and help them achieve enlightenment
They embody both wisdom (panna) and compassion (karuna)
Some Buddhists, especially Mahayana regards the Bodhisattva ideal as superior to the Arhat one as it is totally selfless and based on compassion for all beings rather than personal liberation
‘It is better to be a Bodhisattva than an Arhat (a perfected person)’
AGAINST
The Arhat is the goal of the Theravada tradition-it is older and therefore better tradition than the Bodhisattva
It is someone who has overcome the Three poisons; greed, hatred and delusion or ignorance
The Arhat was what the Buddha intended his followers to become and that is what he became too
What is Pure Land Buddhism?
It is based on faith in Amitabha Buddha, who is believed to have created a paradise or pure land called Sukhavati
Pure Land Buddhists hope to be reborn into this world, in which it is considered to be easier to achieve enlightenement
What are some characteristics of The Pure Land
offers the perfect conditions for enlightenment
A perfect paradise
‘rich in a great variety of flowers and fruits, adorned with jewel trees’
Contains no suffering or other barriers to enlightenment
How do you reach the Pure Land?
Reciting scriptures Meditating on Amitabha and his paradise Worshipping Amitabha Chanting his name Making praises and offering to him
How might Pure Land Buddhism contrast with Theravada Buddhism?
Faith in Amitabha is the focus of practice, and more important than a person’s actions and behaviour whereas in Theravada Buddhism, a person can only gain enlightenment through their actions and behaviour
Amitabha will help people to be reborn in the Pure Land but in Theravada Buddhism, people cannot rely on any outside help to achieve enlightenment
‘Pure Land Buddhism offers an easy way to gain enlightenment’
FOR
Pure Land Buddhism offers an easier way to gain enlightenment because all you have to do is call on Amitabha and you can be reborn in his Pure Land
The Pure Land offers the perfect conditions to reach enlightenment and here Buddhists are taught by Amitabha himself, whereas the Eightfold path requires much more of Buddhists such as following the five moral precepts and meditating
