Buddhism Key Words

Question 1

Four sights

Answer 1

Old man, sick man, dead man and holy man

Question 2

Asceticism

Answer 2

Giving up luxuries and not listening to bodies demands

Question 3

Renunciation

Answer 3

Turning back on old life eg Buddha left everything when he went to find enlightenment

Question 4

The middle way

Answer 4

Finding compromise between extreme asceticism and luxury. Buddha plucked strings of a lute

Question 5

The three watches of the night

Answer 5

Realisations Buddha experienced when he achieved enlightenment through meditation: knowledge of all previous lives, Kama, the four noble truths

Question 6

The four noble truths

Answer 6

Suffering exists
Cause of suffering is desire
Overcome desire through detachment
Cure suffering by following the eightfold path

Question 7

3 main forms of mental suffering

Answer 7

• separation from someone or something you love
• contact with something you dislike
• not being able to achieve desires

Question 8

Tanha

Answer 8

Thirst or craving

Question 9

3 types of craving

Answer 9

Craving things to please senses

Craving to become something you’re not

Craving the non-existence or something

Question 10

3 poisons

Answer 10

Pig- ignorance
Cockerel- greed
Snake- hate

Question 11

Nibbana

Answer 11

Extinguish craving, and all thoughts which controlled by desires

Question 12

Eightfold path

Answer 12

Ethics- right speech, action, livelihood

Meditation- right effort, mindfulness, concentration

Wisdom- right understanding, intention

Question 13

3 marks of existence

Answer 13

Dukkha (suffering)
Anicca (impermanence)
Anatta (the ‘self’ is not fixed or permanent)

Question 14

Vassa

Answer 14

Annual retreat lasting for 3 months that occurs in rainy season

Question 15

Dukkha-dukkhata

Answer 15

Physical or emotional pain

Question 16

Viparinama-dukkha

Answer 16

Change. Feeling after life changing event, miss old times or during good times when worry soon be over

Question 17

Samkhara-dukkha

Answer 17

Attachment. Trying to hold on to things leading to subtle dissatisfaction with life

Question 18

Anicca

Answer 18

Impermanence , everything changes

Living things
Non living things
Our minds

Question 19

5 aggregates of a human

Answer 19

Form
Sensation
Perception 
Mental formations 
Consciousness

Question 20

Nagasena

Answer 20

Monk who used analogy of a chariot to demonstrate 5 aggregated

Question 21

Temple

Answer 21

Place where Buddhists come together to practice

Question 22

Gompa

Answer 22

Hall or building where Tibetan Buddhists meditate

Question 23

Stupa

Answer 23

Small building in monetary that sometimes contains holy relics

Question 24

Shrine

Answer 24

Area with statue of Buddha or bodhisattva

Question 25

Wesak

Answer 25

Theravada festival celebrating buddhas birth, enlightenment and death

Question 26

3 refuges/jewels

Answer 26

Buddha
Dhamma
Sangha

Question 27

Samsara

Answer 27

Cycle of birth death and rebirth