Buddhism Exam

Question 1

What are the three jewels/refugees ?

Answer 1

Dharma - teaching of the Buddha
Dharma = truth

The Buddha - historical/cosmic/inner nature (dependent on tradition)

The sanga- Buddhist community

They are all lasting sources of safety from suffering.

Question 2

What are the three types of dukkha ?

Answer 2

Dukkha dukkha - physical and mental suffering

Vimparna dukkha - suffering from change

Samkhara dukkha - craving the impossible

Question 3

What are the three marks existence?

Answer 3

Dukkha
Annata
Annica

Question 4

What is the concept of the dependent arising ?

Answer 4

Everything is dependent on conditions or actions i.e karma

People cling onto pleasant feelings which causes suffering from attachment so you need to break free of this to reach nirvana.

Question 5

What are the seven states of suffering ?

Answer 5

Death 
Old age
Sickness
Sorrow and despair
Contact with unpleasantness 
Craving of what you can’t have 
Birth

Question 6

What is annica ?

Answer 6

Constant change and impermanence

Affects minds , non living things (a nail rusting) and living things (birth then death)

Question 7

What is annata ?

Answer 7

No fixed self

Buddha taught that we’re made up of :
• form (our bodies)
• sensation (our feelings) 
• perception
• mental formations 
• consciousness

Question 8

What are the four noble truths ?

Answer 8

1) truth of suffering (dukkha)
2) cause of suffering (samudaya)
3) truth of end of suffering (nirodha)
4) following the path to end suffering (Magga)

Question 9

How where the noble truths discovered ?

Answer 9

Contain the message of Buddha and we’re discovered while he was meditating.

Question 10

What are the causes of suffering ?

Answer 10

The three poisons:
Ignorance
Greed
Anger

Question 11

What are the eight things in the eightfold path ?

Answer 11

Ethics (sila)
Right speech
Action
Livelihood

Meditation (samadhi)
Effort
Mindfullness
Concentration

Wisdom(panda)
Understanding and intention

Question 12

Define the word Dhamma

Answer 12

Truth

Question 13

What is a brief outline of the story of Buddha ?

Answer 13

Lived in a palace but then saw the four sights and gave up luxury for an ascetic lifestyle. He realised that starving himself didn’t achieve anything and meditated under a Bodhi tree for fourth night and fourth days

Question 14

Define nirvana

Answer 14

Ending suffering and become selfless. A state of awakening and escaping samara (rebirth)

Question 15

What views do Theravada Buddhist have ?

Answer 15

Perfection of the noble truths
The blowing out of disturbing emotions (liberation)
The three poisons

Question 16

What do Mahayana Buddhists believe in ?

Answer 16

Perfections of wisdom
Knowledge into ones true nature and understanding the true self
You shouldn’t strive for enlightenment it’s in everyone just waiting to be discovered

Question 17

What are the three wholesome factors ?

Answer 17

Wisdom (prajna)
Generosity (dāna)
Loving-kindness (mettā)