Buddhism-Practices Flashcards
What is a temple?
It is a place where Buddhists come together to practise, study and meditate together. It is often the heart of a Buddhist community
What is a shrine?
It is an area with a statue or image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. It provides a focal point for mediation and devotion
Offerings can be made to act as reminders of Buddha’s teachings
What is a monastery?
It is where Buddhist monks and nuns live a simple, disciplined life of study, meditation, devotion and companionship
A stupa is often an important part of a monastery
Why might worship help Buddhists?
- Express their gratitude towards the Buddha and acceptance of his teachings
- Deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings
- Move closer to the Buddha and what he symbolises
What are different types of Buddhist worship?
- Rituals and ceremonies carried out in groups
- Meditation
- Making offerings
- Chanting sacred texts
- Reciting mantras
- Bowing
- Private worship in the home
What does an offering of light mean?
Light-Symbolises the Buddha, wisdom and enlightenment-which drive away the darkness or ignorance
What does an offering of flowers mean?
Flowers-As flowers wilt and decay, they remind Buddhists that all things are impermanent
What does an offering of incense mean?
Incense-Symbolises purity, reminding Buddhists of the importance of practising pure thoughts, speech and behaviour
What are some of the buildings of areas you could find in a Buddhist temple?
Main hall
Meditation room
Study hall
Shrine
Stupa
What is a main hall?
It is where Buddhists practise together
This usually contains a statue of the Buddha (a Buddha rupa)
Mahayana temples may also include statues of Bodhisattvas
What is a meditation hall?
It is a quiet space where Buddhists can meditate
What is a study hall?
It is used for meetings and lectures
What is a stupa?
A stupa or pagoda is a tiered tower or mound-like structure that sometimes contains the remains of relics of an important Buddhist
‘The best way for Buddhists to worship is in a monastery’
FOR
A monastery is designed for the purpose of worship
Monks and nuns live simple lives which makes it easier to focus on worship
It is easier to worship with others in a monastery that it is at home
‘The best way for Buddhists to worship is in a monastery’
AGAINST
Buddhists can worship just as well in a temple or in their homes
Many Buddhist homes have shrines where Buddhists can express devotion
What are some types of Buddhist worship?
Rituals and ceremonies carries out in groups
Meditation
Making offerings
Chanting sacred texts
Reciting mantras
Bowing
Private worship in the home
How does worship help Buddhists?
It helps express their gratitude towards the Buddha and acceptance of his teachings
Deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings
Move closer to the Buddha and what he symbolises
What is chanting and what is its purpose
Chanting is a devotional practice that is thought to increase receptivity towards the Buddha and his teachings
It also helps to calm and focus the mind to increases concentration
What are some examples of things that Buddhists might chant?
The three refuges
The five moral precepts
The Bodhisattva vows
What is Samatha meditation?
Samatha mediation is a type of meditation that involves calming the mind and developing deeper concentration.
It is important in Theravada Buddhism and preparation for vipassana meditation
What is the purpose of samatha medidtation?
Focusing on a single object helps to create a calm and tranquil mind
It also helps to develop concentration and focus
It acts as preparation for vipassana meditation
Samatha meditation can help Buddhists to feel happier and more alive
What are kasinas?
Instead of focusing on their breathing, a meditator could focus on other objects called kasinas
There are ten kasinas in total. They include elements such as earth, water and fire, and colours such as blue
Explain two ways in which Buddhists practise Samatha mediation
Mindfulness of breathing uses the breath to develop calm
Kasina meditation uses objects to focus to develop concentration
‘Meditation is the most important Buddhist practice’
FOR
Meditation is the most important Buddhist practice because it is how Buddhists gain insight into the true nature of reality and this leads to enlightenment
Through contemplating how everything is characterised by the three marks of existence, Buddhists can let go of attachment and reach nibbana
‘Meditation is the most important Buddhist practice’
AGAINST
The practice of ethics is also very important for reaching enlightenment, as it is also part of the Eightfold Path and six perfection
Through practising ethics, Buddhists transform their minds and learn to become kinder and more compassionate people.
This is particularly important for Mahayana Buddhists who want to become enlightened
Explain mindfulness of breathing and what its aims are
The breath is used as a focus for attention
The aim is to become aware of the details of breathing and all the tiny movements it creates in the body
When their focus is wavering, they simple bring their attention back to their breath
They slowly become more able to concentrate and focus on their breath
This leads them to feel more present and aware
What is vipassana meditation?
Vipassana meditation is often called ‘insight meditation’, as the aim is to penetrate and gain insight into the true nature of reality
This usually consists of reflecting on the three marks of existence`
What is a similarity between Vipassana meditation and Samatha meditation?
Both use the same technique of mindfulness: concentrating and focusing on specific things in a calm and detached manner
How is vipassana meditation and samatha meditation different in terms of their aim of focusing on the object?
The aim for samatha meditation is to develop concentration and calm however in vipassana meditation, the aim is to understand the object’s true nature and how it is characterised by the three marks of existence
How is vipassana meditation and samatha meditation different in terms of what they focus on?
In Samatha meditation, the meditator focuses on one neutral and simple object or process like for example a blue triangle or a candle flame
In vipassana meditation, the meditator may change their focus between a range of different objects, emotions or experiences
Explain ‘Zazen’
Zazen means ‘seated meditation’ and it is practised in Zen Buddhism, which originated in Japan
It leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of existence
It generally begins with sitting, relaxing and a period of mindfulness of breathing
The meditator then sits with awareness of the present moment
Thoughts and experience come and go, and the meditator returns again and again to the present moment
What is walking meditation?
Meditation is often practised sitting on the floor in a cross-legged posture
But it is also possible to meditate while walking, as part of samatha or vipassana meditation
This consists of walking slowly and combining the movement of the feet with the in and out of the breath
Two meditation practices are mindfulness of breathing and walking meditation.
Explain how these practices could be used as part of vipassana meditation
During mindfulness of breathing the meditator could focus on the impermanence of their breath, as impermanence is one of the three marks of existence
Walking meditation could be used to focus on the ever-changing sensations and movements that come from walking, in order to see that nothing has a fixed, unchanging nature (anatta)
‘The aim of meditation is to reach enlightenment’
FOR
Vipassana meditation helps Buddhists to develop and insight into the nature of reality in order to achieve enlightenment
Deity visualisation also has the aim of reaching enlightenment for vipassana meditation by absorbing the qualities of a Buddha or Bodhisattva
‘The aim of meditation is to reach enlightenment’
AGAINST
The aim of Samatha meditation is to develop calm and concentration
Loving-kindness meditation is concerned with developing the quality of metta
Meditation may also have a devotional purpose
What is visualisation?
The meditator visualised an object in their mind
The object functions as a focus of concentration and the meditator will try to hold a detailed picture of the object in their mind for as long as possible
The object may also connect with spiritual qualities
Explain deity visualisation
When they meditate, Tibetan Buddhists will often visualise a deity (an enlightened being such as a Buddha or Bodhisattva, but not a God)
The meditator focuses not just on the visual features of the deity, but also on its spiritual qualities
They may imagine themselves as that deity in order to absorb its spiritual qualities
Visualising themselves as a Buddha may help Buddhists to awaken their Buddha-nature
Who is the Medicine Buddha and what happens if you visualise them?
The Buddha of healing
Visualising this Buddha may reduce suffering and even promote healing powers
Who is Avalokiteshvara and what happens if you visualise them?
The Bodhisattva of compassion
Visualising this Bodhisattva helps Buddhists to develop a sense of compassion
Who is Buddha Amitabha and what happens if you visualise them?
Pure Land Buddhists may visualise Buddha Amitabha in the hope he will help them be reborn in the Pure Land
What is a thangka?
A thangka is a detailed painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva
What is a mandala?
A mandala is an intricate, colourful circle-shaped pattern. It is a sacred diagram that represents Buddhists principles or teachings.
It may symbolise the universe, a Buddha or Bodhisattva, or a pure land or paradise
Explain two ways in which Buddhists practise visualisation
Bu visualising a deity and focusing on its spiritual qualities
Imagining themselves as a deity
By using a thangka or mandala as inspiration and trying to visualise it in as much detail as possible
‘Mahayana Buddhists visualise Buddhas to become enlightened’
FOR
Buddhists may visualise the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and through this call to mind the qualities of compassion that they wish to embody in their own lives
Pure Land Buddhists might visualise Buddha Amitabha in the hope he will help them to be reborn in the pure land
Why do is littles money spent on Theravada funerals?
Instead, family and friends may donate to a worthy cause and transfer the merit to the deceased
The good kamma that is created by donating to a worthy cause is transferred to the dead person, to help them have a favourable rebirth
What may happen at the funeral itself in Theravada Buddhism?
A shrine may display the deceased’s portrait, along with an image of the Buddha and offerings to the Buddha
Monks often attend the funerals of lay people and perform rituals or give a sermon
The deceased may be cremated or buried (cremation is traditional and more common)
All mourners send good thoughts to the family and contemplate impermanence
What is a sky burial?
A sky burial is a traditional funeral practice in Tibet
The body is left in a high place as a gift to the vultures
This tradition arose due to a lack of wood for cremation and problems with frozen ground for burial
What happens in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism funerals?
The coffin may be placed with the head pointing west, towards the direction of Sukhavati. Those assembled chant Amitabha’s name as they process around the coffin
It is common across all Japanese traditions for relative to gather after the cremation and pick out the bones from the ashes, using chopsticks
These remains may be kept for 49 days and prayers offered every 7th day
Explain two ways that Buddhist beliefs influence funeral practices
Belief in the transference of merit might prompt mourners to donate to a worthy cause/ offer cloth to make new robes
Belief in impermanence encourages Buddhists to reflect on this idea
Belief in the Buddha means there will be aa shrine and offerings to the Buddha
Belief in Amitabha will prompt Pure Land Buddhists to chant Amitabha’s name as they process around the coffin
‘The purpose of Buddhist funerals is to prepare the deceased for their next life’
FOR
Buddhists believe that after death they will be reborn.
They also believe that funerals may contribute to the rebirth process
For example, Theravada Buddhists believe it is important to transfer merit to the deceased at the funeral to help the deceased achieve a favourable rebirth
What do Buddhist festivals usually celebrate and what are their purposes?
Most major festivals celebrate events in the Buddha’s life
They serve as an opportunity to remember and celebrate the Buddha’s life and teachings
It is also an opportunity to meet and practise together
Some are concerned with other Buddhist figures (such as Bodhisattvas)
Some are specific to certain countries or traditions
What do Buddhist retreats usually consist of and what are their purposes?
It is a period of time spent away from regular life to focus on Buddhist teachings
Held in monasteries or Buddhist centres
Aim to help people deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice
May involve meditation, talks and study groups, workshops, and rituals
One example is Vassa: an annual retreat when Theravada monks dedicate more time to meditation and study
What is Wesak’s significance and meaning?
Commemorates three major events in the Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment and passing away
An opportunity to honour and remember the Buddha and his teachings
Light is used during the festival to symbolise hope, enlightenment and overcoming ignorance
What do Wesak’s celebrations consist of?
Celebrations vary from one country to the next, but Buddhists may:
- Light up their homes with candles, lamps or lanterns
- Make offerings to the Buddha and give gifts to the local monastery
- Attend the local temple or monastery to take part in worship and meditation, or listen to sermons on the Buddha’s teachings and life
What is Parinirvana Day’s significance and meaning?
Celebrated during February to remember the Buddha’s passing into parinirvana (the final state of nibbana)
A solemn occasion when Buddhists reflect on their own future death, and remember friends or relatives who have recently passed away
The Buddhist teaching of impermanence is a focus for the day
What is Parinirvana Day’s celebrations consist of?
Buddhists may read and study the Mahaparinirvana Sutra (a Buddhist scripture that describes the Buddha’s last days)
They also meditate and worship at home or with others in a temple or monastery
They may also go on a retreat to reflect and meditate, or go on a pilgrimage: many Buddhists visit Kushinagar in India (which is where the Buddha is believed to have passed away)
‘Wesak is the celebration of the Buddhist belief in enlightenment’
AGAINST
Wesak is a Buddhist festival that celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. It commemorates these three key events in the life of the Buddha.
So it does not celebrate the Buddhist belief in enlightenment in general; it celebrates the Buddha’s enlightenment in particular, as well as other events in his life
What is kamma?
Kamma is a central ethical principle that explains how a person’s actions lead to either happiness or suffering.
It teaches that it is not just the action which is important but also the motivation behind it
What can skilful actions be motivated by and what do they result in?
They can be motivated by generosity, compassion and understanding
They result in happiness
What can unskilful actions be motivated by and what do they result in?
They can be motivated by craving, hatred and ignorance
They result in suffering
What are the six realms people could be reborn in based on their kamma?
Tormented beings
Animals
Angry gods
Gods
Humans
Hungry ghosts
What can be achieved from developing skilful mental states and actions?
Buddhists can not only live a happier life but also lay the ground for a favourable rebirth
The hope is to be reborn into the human realm, which is said to be the best realm for reaching enlightenment
‘The principle of kamma encourages ethical behaviour’
FOR
The principle of kamma says that a person’s happiness or suffering is determined by their actions.
It also says that good, ethical actions, such as those motivated by generosity or understanding, will lead to happiness.
This encourages ethical behaviour because it leads to happiness both in this life and future lives
What is karuna?
Recognising that a person cannot be truly happy while others suffer
Feeling concern for the suffering of others, almost as if it was your own
Wanting others to be free from suffering and trying to relieve it
Recognising when you are suffering and acting with compassion towards yourself
What are the four sublime states?
Loving-kindness
Compassion
Sympathetic joy (being happy for others)
Equanimity (staying stable and calm in the face of happiness and suffering)
What is an example of a charity motivated by compassion?
‘Rokpa’ is a Tibetan word meaning ‘help’ or ‘friend’. It is also the name of a charity that set up in 1980 which is motivated by acting compassionately towards others
ROKPA is involved in projects in Zimbabwe, Nepal and Tibet. The charity helps to run schools and provide education to thousands of children each year
It aims to help families out of poverty through better education and also to teach children about the value of compassion
ROKPA believes that helping others is the way to bring about real and lasting change
‘Wisdom is more important than compassion in Buddhism’
FOR
Theravada Buddhism speaks of enlightenment as a state of wisdom
On the night of his enlightenment, the Buddha came to understand the true nature or reality
Enlightenment is understanding fully the three marks of existence
‘Wisdom is more important than compassion in Buddhism’
AGAINST
Mahayana Buddhism emphasises compassion
The Buddha showed compassion by teaching others how to reach enlightenment
Amitabha created his pure land out of compassion for others
Buddhists practise the development of compassion
Buddhist ethics encourages kindness to all beings and the rejection of violenece
What is metta?
One of the four sublime states
A loving, kind, friendly attitude towards oneself and all beings
Does not depend on the goodness of others of expect anything in return
Should be cultivated even towards people who act unskilfully
Give two ways in which metta is different from karuna
Metta is a general attitude of friendliness and kindness, whereas karuna is a specific response to suffering
Karuna only arises in relation to people who are suffering whereas metta applies to all people
‘Metta should only be developed towards people we like’
AGAINST
Buddhists believe metta should be developed towards all people, including people they don’t like. For example, in loving-kindness meditation, Buddhists aim to develop metta towards ‘difficult’ people.
The Sutta Nipata says that metta should be cultivated ‘towards all the world’, which naturally includes people you don’t like
What are the 5 steps of loving-kindness meditation?
Yourself
A good friend
A ‘neutral’ person
A ‘difficult’ person (someone you dislike)
All four of these people, gradually followed by everyone else in the world
The meditator might visualise or imagine of of these people looking happy
What are the five moral precepts?
To abstain from taking life
To abstain from taking what is not freely given
To abstain from the misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct
To abstain from wrong speech
To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind
How should one follow the five precepts?
The precepts should be applies sensitively and doing so purifies the mind of greed, hatred and ignorance
The precepts can be practised on ever depending levels
The five precepts are principles that Buddhists practise voluntarily
‘It is always wrong to lie’
FOR
Truthful speech is one of the five moral precepts
Lying is not honest
A person may lie to cover up something they have done wrong, but they should accept the consequences of their actions
A person will suffer after they lie because of kamma
‘It is always wrong to lie’
AGAINST
The five moral precepts are principles that are followed voluntarily rather than rules that must be broken
The most important precept is not to cause harm, so if lying prevents harm then it may be justifiable
Buddhists believe intentions are important, so if a lie is motivated by genuine kindness then it may be justifiable
What actually are the six perfections?
The six perfections are six qualities or virtues that Mahayana Buddhists try to develop in order to become Bodhisattvas
What is the first perfection?
Generosity/giving
Buddhists should give without expecting anything in return
It is therefore important to develop awareness of the reasons of giving and to gradually purify these in order to give more freely
What are the three main types of giving talked about by Tibetan Buddhists?
Giving material goods such as food, clothes and money. These provide immediate relief for people’s suffering
Giving protection from fear. This means helping someone if they are afraid or in trouble
Giving the Dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings). This helps people to help themselves, so has a longer-lasting impact
What is the second perfection?
Morality
Buddhists try to follow the five moral precepts
Mahayana Buddhists aim to follow a further five precepts. These include not talking about other people’s faults, not being stingy and angry, and not speaking badly of the three refuges
Meditation and mindfulness help Buddhists to follow the precepts more willingly, without feeling restrained by them
What is the third perfection?
Patience
A Bodhisattva embodies patience, which is expressed through tolerance and endurance
Buddhists aim to practise compassion towards those who show them anger, and have patience with themselves and others
Understanding that suffering is an inevitable part of life (the first noble truth) helps Buddhists to develop the patience needed to endure it
What is the fourth perfection?
Energy
Buddhists should put effort and enthusiasm into their practice of the Dhamma
They should develop the courage and energy needed to strive for enlightenment
This may mean looking after their own health, developing their practice, or studying the Buddha’s teachings
What is the fifth perfection?
Meditation
Meditation helps to develop the concentration and awareness needed to achieve wisdom
What is the sixth perfection?
Wisdom
The first five perfections contribute to the development of the sixth one
By meditating and studying the Buddha’s teachings, and by living ethically and morally, Buddhists aim to develop a full understanding of the nature of reality
Explain two contrasting Buddhist rituals associated with death and mourning
In Pure Land Buddhism, the mourners chant Amitabha’s name as they process around the coffin
This is because they are hoping the deceased person will be reborn into the pure land where Amitabha lives, from where it is easier to reach enlightenment
In Tibet, sky burial is traditional, where the body is left in a high place as a gift to the vultures
The tradition started because of the lack of wood for cremation and the ground being too frozen for burial
But now it is more common to cremate the body
Explain two ways in which Buddhists can perform puja in the home
Buddhists can perform puja in the home by chanting mantras
Some Buddhists believe mantras call on the spiritual qualities of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, and can help them to develop those qualities
Buddhas can also perform puja in the home by making offerings at a shrine to the Buddha
These offerings help remind Buddhists of the Buddha’s teachings. The act of making offerings also helps to focus the mind
Lama Choedak Rinpoche (a Tibetan Buddhist monk), says that, ‘The time and effort required to keep the shrine clean and replenished with flowers and other offerings is considered a skilful activity to focus one’s mind in the spiritual process
Explain two Buddhist beliefs about metta
Metta is one of the four sublime states and is when you have a loving, kind, friendly attitude towards oneself and others. It means you have a desire for other to be happy
‘Just as compassion is the wish that all sentient beings be free of suffering, loving-kindness is the wish that all may enjoy happiness’
It can be developed through loving-kindness meditation and leads to a feeling of peace and generally reduces suffering
Explain two Buddhist beliefs about kamma
Kamma is the ethical principle that explains how a person’s actions lead to happiness or suffering. It affects a person’s happiness in this life and their future lives.
It teaches that generosity, compassion, and understanding lead to skilful actions, which results in happiness and craving, hatred and ignorance lead to unskilful actions, which results in suffering
Vipassana meditation is more important than samatha meditation
FOR
Through vipassana meditation, Buddhists gain insight into the nature of reality and come to understand all things are characterised by the three marks of existence.
It helps develop wisdom which is essential for achieving enlightenment (the Buddhist goal)
In Samatha meditation, the meditator is only supposed to focus on one simple, neutral object or process such as breathing or a candle flame
Whereas in vipassana meditation everything and can be considered and explored, which is important for understanding the true nature of everything
Samatha meditation is often seen as preparation for vipassana meditation which suggests that vipassana meditation is more important and that samatha meditation does not develop wisdom
Vipassana meditation is more important than samatha meditation
AGAINST
Samatha meditation calms the mind and leads to a more tranquil, restful mental state by for example practising mindfulness of breathing or focusing on a simple, neutral object that does not arouse any strong emotions in the meditator
Samatha meditation helps a person to develop focus and concentration by focusing on one object and bringing attention back to it whenever their mind wanders
It is not possible to objectively/mindfully contemplate the nature of reality without a calm and tranquil mind.
Concentration and focus is needed to practise vipassana meditation therefore it would not be possible to successfully practise vipassana meditation without first doing samatha meditation
