Buddhism Practices Flashcards
What does puja mean
worship
What are three different places of Buddhist worship
-temples
-shrines
-monasteries
What are features of a temple
-may be one building of several
-at the heart of the sangha
-where buddhists meet to worship
-vary slightly between country and group
What is a gompa (found in temple)
meditation hall in Tibetan Buddhism
What is a bot (found in temple)
ordination hall in thai buddhism
What is a stupa or pagoda (found in temple)
small building that may hold holy relics
-tiered towers which has relics of Buddhists
-built to symbolise the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and wisdom
What else do you find in temple
-study hall or lecture theatre
-library
-shrines
-statues of the buddha, or bodhisattvas a buddha rupa
What practices happen in a temple
-study
-meditation
-puja (worship)
-offerings are taken to the monastic sangha (therevada’s aren’t supposed to ask for stuff and mahayana’s are doing a good act of giving)
Vihara
-buddhist monks and nuns live in a vihara
-in countries where buddhism is not the primary religion, often the vihara and the temple are combined
shrines
-buddhists worship and meditate at shrines
-shrines can be in temples, viharas, and homes
-shrines also have scriptures, pictures of Buddhist teachers and rupas (statues of the Buddha)
What do items at a shrine symbolise
-candle: enlightenment
-flowers or fruit: impermanace -incense: purity -water: source of life
Thangka
picture of the Buddha or a Boddhisatva
What are some methods of worship
-meditation
-chanting -reciting mantras -bowing -making offerings
What are the features of chanting
-chanting is used by Buddhists to learn and memorise key beliefs:
-the 3 refuges -the moral 5 precepts -Bodhisattvas vows
-it can be used to calm the mind
What are some features of a mantra
-they don’t need to include specific teachings or words
-but may include syllables that symbolise something
-don’t have to be spoken out loud and can just be recited in the mind
-helps Buddhists focus on something such as compassion (Karuna)
Mantra for compassion:
-’Oh mani padme hum’
-represents the sound of compassion
-they might use mala beads and move a bead each time they recite the mantra
-there are 108 beads
What are two main aims of meditation
-To develop a still, calm and focused mind
-to develop greater awareness and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings in order to gain a deeper understanding into the nature of reality.
What are some types of meditation
-samatha
-Vipassana
-Walking meditation
-Loving-kindness meditation
-Zazen
-Visualisation
features of samatha meditation
-designed to calm your breathing to allow your mind to be more receptive for new ideas
-focuses on breathing and ‘kasinas’
-often used to focus mind before starting Vipassana meditation
a quote for samatha meditation
-’Breath is the bridge which connects life to conciseness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again’ -Thich Nhat Hahh a vietnasmese monk
what is a retreat
-a period of time spent away from everyday life in order to focus on meditation practice
Wesak
-a Theravadan festival that celebrates the Buddhas birth, enlightenment and passing away.
-celebrated on the full moon during the month of Vesak (usually May)
-celebrated at this time because the buddhas birth death and passing into Parinivana all occured on a full moon
-to celebrate Buddhists may light candles, lamps, paper laterns or put up decorations
Parinirvana day
-A mahayanan festival that commemorates the Buddhas passing away
-celebrated in February
-used as a chance to reflect on their future death and to remeber their friends or relatives who recently died
-it’s a reminder of anicca and anatta
5 moral precepts
-refraining from killing any living beings
-refraining from taking what the owner does not give
-refraining from committing sexual misconduct
-refrain from telling lies (+gossip)
-refrain from taking intoxicants or drugs
-leads to positive kamma
-connects to the dharma
quote for 5 moral precepts
‘He who destroys life, tells lies, takes what is not given to him, commits adultry and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots in this very life’
one of the sublime states Compassion (Karuna)
-compassion, feeling concerned for te suffering of other people and wanting to relive their suffering
one of the sublime states Loving kindness (Metta)
-developed through having a positive outlook on life and being aware and having sympathy for other people’s suffering
-they can consciously work on this attitude through ‘loving kindness meditation’
