Buddhism: Beliefs and teachings Flashcards
How many years ago was Buddhism founded?
2500 years ago
What was the Buddhas real name?
Siddhartha Guatama
When was he born?
500 BCE
Who were his parents?
King Suddhodana and Queen Maya
What does Buddha mean?
Awakened or enlightened one
What did Queen Maya dream of before she had the Buddha?
A white elephant came down and told her she was going to have a holy child
Where did she give birth in legend?
In Lumbini gardens
What could the Buddha do when he was born?
Walk, talk, walked seven steps where lotus appeared under his feet and said he would not be reborn.
What happened shortly after his birth?
A prophecy was declared that said he was to be either a holy man or King.
What happened seven days after the Buddha was born?
Queen Maya died
What did King Suddhodana want for the Buddha?
He wanted to protect him so surrounded him with a life of luxury.
What is the anguttara nikaya?
it is a buddhist scripture and the 4th of 5 books.
What does the Anguttara Nikaya say about his early life?
He was delicated nurtered, had female dancers, lotus ponds of many colors, sunshade and three mansions for the winter, summer and rainy seasons.
What came before the four sights?
Buddha became curious about the world around him
What are the four sights?
Old age, Illness, Death and a Holy Man
What did he realise about his life in the palace?
That he could not find answers to these problems living in the palace; he would grow old, ill and die.
What did he do about it?
He cut his hair, gave away his jewels and clothes, left his wife and child to pursue enlightenment.
What do the first four sight represent and what are they called?
They represent the suffering of life and are called Dukkha.
What did he do after being inspired by a holy man who was an ascetic?
He practised ascetism for six years
Which part of the Jakarta refers to this period?
Jakarta vol 1. p. 67
Can you quote the Jakarta here?
When the great being was practising great austerities for six years it was to him like a time of intertwining the sky with knots.
What else did he learn during this time?
To meditate
What is the practise of meditation
To calm and focus the mind so you can reflect on specific texts to discover their true meaning
what happened to Siddhartha during this period?
He became thin and weak and could not meditate
What had he learnt from this period?
self discipline and willpower
What had not been solved?
The problem of suffering
What did he do when he realised this?
He took some milk and rice from a cow girl.
Which part of the Jakata speaks of this?
Vol. 1 p67
Can you quote the Jakata?
“Realising the practice of such austerities was not the path to Enlightenment he went about gathering alms in villages and townships”
What did Siddhartha say in the Jakata about meditation?
“…not until I attain the supreme enlightenment will i give up this seat of meditation”
What did the demon Mara send to distract Siddhartha?
His daughters, armies, power and questions
What he do in response to the daughters?
He rejected them
what happened to the arrows from the armies?
They turned to lotus flowers
What did he do about the questioning?
He touched and called upon the earth to witness his right to sit at the seat of enlightenment, the earth shook his acknowledgement
what do these temptations represent?
Negative emotions such as fear, lust and doubt,. He remained focused on his mediation
When did Siddhartha’s enlightenment occur?
During the three parts of the night
What are the three parts of the night?
These are also known as watches and are first, second and third.
what happened in the first part
Siddhartha became aware of his previous lives
what happened in the second part
he understood the repetitive cycle of life and death, that things are reborn according to their kamma and that nothing has an unchanging essence.
What happened in the third part
That beings suffer because of their desire and attachment and that suffering can be overcome by enlightenment.
What happened when he became enlightened?
He was called buddha
Who were his first followers
The five ascetics
What did he teach
a balance between asceticism and luxury
