Buddhism Final Exam Flashcards
Sunyata
Emptiness: lack of intrinsic nature and quality of dependence
Centerpiece of the two major Mahayana schools; Middle Way says everything is dependent on one another, Yogacara says emptiness is mind only
Upaya
Strategy: skillful means
Chapter 3, the man and the burning house; Buddha used Upaya to teach the three vehicles
Bodhicitta
Aspirations to Buddhahood: intention to reach Buddhahood to liberate all beings from suffering
Most crucial term in the Mahayana; liberating beings should be at the forefront of your mind
Dharmakaya
Truth body: one of the essential bodies of Buddha
Represents the true nature of Buddha; Collection of qualities including wisdom, powers, and compassion
Ekayana
Single vehicle: vehicles that carries beings from samsara to enlightenment
In Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva is the only vehicle; All teachings lead to the same goal to reach enlightenment
Yogacara
Practice of yoga: one of the two major Mahayana schools
Mind only doctrine; external world does not exist, only you (VR)
Sumedha
Bodhisattva that would become the Buddha: declined to be an arhat so that he could become a bodhisattva
Previous Buddha said he would be an Buddha; Followed all the traditional steps to be a Buddha
Hinaya
Lesser vehicle: the three vehicles that Buddha used before to teach the dharma
Used as an derogatory term; looked down on if not following single vehicle
Sariputra
The wisest monk: main character in the Lotus Sutra
Used to show that he didn’t even understand Ekayana
Tathagatagarbha
The womb of tathagata: buddha nature
The Rotten Lotus story; Everyone can be enlightened inside of themselves
Prajnaparamita
Perfection of wisdom: knowledge of emptiness
This is one of the six perfections, practice on the bodhisattva path, arguably the most difficult
Madhyamaka
Middle way: one of the two major mahayana schools
Nagarjuna is the founder that really expanded the idea of emptiness, they believe in absence of intrinsic nature, all things are dependent on one another
Three Bodies of a Buddha
Truth body
Enjoyment body
Emanation body
Two Collections
Collection of merit
Collection of wisdom
Three Models of the Bodhisattva
King
Shepherd
Boatman
