Buddhism: Key Terms

Question 1

The Five Aggregates

Answer 1

Five Skandhas which make up a human - Form, Sensations, Perceptions, Impulses and Consciousness

Question 2

Anatta

Answer 2

No self - There is no permanent self or soul to a person

Question 3

Anicca

Answer 3

Impermanence - All things are in a constant state of change

Question 4

Arhat

Answer 4

An enlightened Person (Therevadan Buddhism)

Question 5

Bodhisattva

Answer 5

An enlightened person who delays enlightenment for millions of years to help others achieve it (Mahayana Buddhism)

Question 6

Buddha

Answer 6

The enlightened One

Question 7

Dukkha

Answer 7

Suffering - The dissatisfactory state of all things

Question 8

Eightfold Path

Answer 8

Middle way - A way of life made of 8 elements to help Buddhists overcome craving and ignorance

Question 9

karma

Answer 9

Cause and Effect - All actions have consequences that will effect future rebirth.

Question 10

Kusala

Answer 10

Actions which attract good/skillful karma

Question 11

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 11

The Great Vehicle - Branch of Buddhism practiced in China, Tibet, Vietnam and Korea.

Question 12

Meditation

Answer 12

Deliberate training of the mind to purify it and work towards enlightenment

Question 13

Nirvana

Answer 13

Extinguishment - A state where all greed, hate, craving and delusion are ended. An escape from samsara.

Question 14

Pali Canon

Answer 14

The three baskets - Ancient scriptures covering the life and teachings of the buddha and Buddhist philosophy

Question 15

The five precepts

Answer 15

Five training rules followed to cultivate the middle way (Therevada Buddhism)

Question 16

The six perfections

Answer 16

Six guiding rules followed to cultivate the virtues needed to achieve enlightenment (Mahayana Buddhism)

Question 17

The wheel of samsara

Answer 17

Cycle of rebirth - Unenlightened cycle of life

Question 18

Sangha

Answer 18

Community of Buddhist believers. Often referring to monastic community

Question 19

Therevada Buddhism

Answer 19

The way of the elders - Branch of Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Maintains tradition of earliest Buddhists

Question 20

The four noble truths

Answer 20

• Truth of suffering
  -truth of cause of suffering
  -Truth of
  end of suffering
  -Truth of path that leads to end of suffering

Question 21

Three marks of Existance

Answer 21

• Anicca (impermanence)
• Dukkha (suffering)
• Anatta (no soul)

Question 22

The three jewels

Answer 22

Three refuges in which Buddhists can rely and take refuge
- Buddha (the Exemplar)
- Dharma (the teachings)
- Sangha (the Community)

Question 23

The dharma

Answer 23

Teachings of the buddha - They uphold the religion of Buddhism

Question 24

Six realms of Existence

Answer 24

Six realms in which you can be reborn
- Gods (deva)
- Demi-Gods (asura)
- Humans (manusa)
- Animals (tiryak)
- Hungry Ghosts (preta)
- Hell denizens (naraka)