buddhism : practices

Question 1

temple

Answer 1

a place where buddhists come together to practise. it has:
a main hall, containing a buddha rupa - statue
a meditation hall, a quiet space
a study hall, meetings and lectures
a shrine for the buddha
a stupa, a tower containing remains or relics

Question 2

shrine

Answer 2

found in a temple, monastery or home
focal point for meditation and expressing devotion
make offerings to show gratitude

Question 3

things offered at shrines

Answer 3

light - drives away the darkness of ignorance
flowers - wilt and decay - impermanence
incense - purity

Question 4

monasteries

Answer 4

a place where buddhists monks or nuns live a simple disciplined life of study meditation and devotion.

Question 5

types of buddist worship (puja)

Answer 5

meditation
offerings bowing
mantras
private - in the home
chanting
rituals and ceremonies carried out in groups

Question 6

chanting

Answer 6

it used to be used to memorise and pass on teachings and texts
devotional practise
helps to calm and focus the mind

Question 7

mantras

Answer 7

concentrate the mind
short sequence of sacred syllables
some believe that they have magical powers
often associated with the spiritual powers of a bodhisattva or a buddha.
may be recited using mala beads

Question 8

samatha meditation

Answer 8

calming the mind, developing a deeper concentration
can focus on breathing or a kasina - other objects including elements like fire, water, earth and colours like red and yellow.
“remain in the simplicity of the present moment” - a buddhist monk

Question 9

vipassana meditation

Answer 9

deepening understanding of the nature of reality, insight meditation
changing focus between a range of different objects, emotions, experiences
aim - to understand it’s true nature and how it is characterised by the three marks of existence

Question 10

zazen

Answer 10

seated meditation, deeper understanding of the nature of existence
-sitting, relaxing, mindfulness of breath
-awareness of the present moment

Question 11

walking meditation

Answer 11

walking slowly and combining the movement of the feet with the in and out of the breath
“your objective is to gain total alertness and a full, unblocked experience of the motion of walking”

Question 12

visualisation

Answer 12

-the meditator imagines an object
-they try to imagine the object in great detail, examining all the qualities and characteristics of it
-functions as a focus of concentration
-object may connect with spiritual qualities

Question 13

deity visualisation

Answer 13

tibetan buddhists often visualise a deity (an enlightened buddha/bodhisattva)
and it’s spiritual qualities
visualising themselves as a buddha may help buddhists to awaken their buddha-nature

Question 14

the medicine buddha

Answer 14

the buddha of healing
visualising them may reduce suffering and even promote healing powers

Question 15

avalokiteshvara

Answer 15

bodhisattva of compassion
visualising them helps buddhists develop a sense of compassion

Question 16

buddha amitabha

Answer 16

pure land buddhists may visualise him in the hope that he will help them be reborn in the pure land

Question 17

thangka

Answer 17

a detailed painting of a buddha or bodhisattva, helps buddhists to visualise and call to mind a deity

Question 18

mandala

Answer 18

an intricate colourful circle-shaped pattern representing buddhist principles of teachings, may symbolise the universe, buddha or bodhisattva, pure land or paradise

Question 19

theravada funerals

Answer 19

little money is spent
family and friends donate to a worthy cause and transfer merit to the deceased
at the funeral, a shrine may display their portrait along with the buddhas
may be cremated or buried, cremation is more common

Question 20

funerals in tibet

Answer 20

sky burial is traditional
body left in a high place as a gift to the vultures
cremation is now more common
revered teachers remains placed in a stupa
ceremonies involving offerings of yak-butter lamps may be made every 7 days for 49 days after death

Question 21

funerals in japan

Answer 21

coffin placed with the head pointing west toward sukhavati. amitabhas name is chanted
relatives may gather after cremation and pick out the bones from the ashes with chopsticks
remains kept for 49 days, prayers every 7th day

Question 22

festivals

Answer 22

allow buddhists to celebrate important events in the history of buddhism

Question 23

retreats

Answer 23

provide an opportunity for intensive practice

Question 24

wesak

Answer 24

commemorates buddhas birth enlightenment and death
light is used to symbolise hope enlightenment and overcoming ignorance

Question 25

celebrating wesak

Answer 25

light up homes with candles
make offerings to the buddha
give gifts to the monastery
attend the local temple to take part in worship
take part in ceremonies where caged animals are released as a symbol of liberation

Question 26

parinirvana day

Answer 26

celebrated during february to remember the buddhas passing into parinirvana (the final state of nibbana)
solemn occasion when buddhists reflect on their own future death and remember people who have recently passed
impermanence if focused on

Question 27

celebrating paranirvana day

Answer 27

read and study a buddhist scripture
meditate and worship at home or with others in a temple or monastery
go on retreat and reflect and meditate or go on pilgrimage to where the buddha is believed to have passed away in kushinagar, india

Question 28

kamma

Answer 28

explains how the intentions behind a persons actions lead to suffering or happiness

Question 29

skilful actions

Answer 29

motivated by generosity, compassion, understanding
result in happiness

Question 30

unskillful actions

Answer 30

motivated by craving, hatred, ignorance
results in suffering

Question 31

kamma and rebirth

Answer 31

a persons actions in this life not only affect their happiness and suffering right now but also in their future lives. depending on their kamma they may be reborn into one of 6 realms
“not in the sky… is there a place on earth that one can be freed from evil action”

Question 32

karuna

Answer 32

compassion, feeling concerned for the suffering of other people and wanting to relieve their suffering
one of the four sublime states (qualities the buddha taught all buddhists should develop)
an essential quality for becoming a bodhisattva

Question 33

ROKPA

Answer 33

a charity motivated by compassion
set up in 1980
helps to run schools and provide education to thousands each year

Question 34

the four sublime states

Answer 34

loving kindness (metta)
compassion (karuna)
sympathetic joy (being happy for others)
equanimity (calm in the face of suffering and happiness)

Question 35

loving kindness

Answer 35

metta
a desire for others to be happy
an attitude of warmth and kindness towards all people including themselves
leads to happiness and peace
“loving kindness towards all the world” a buddhist scripture

Question 36

the five moral precepts

Answer 36

1. to abstain from taking life
2. to abstain from taking what is not freely given
3. to abstain from the misuse of the senses or sexual conduct
4. to abstain from wrong speech
5. to abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

Question 37

following the 5 moral precepts

Answer 37

principles buddhists practise voluntarily
should be applied sensitively
can be practiced on ever deeper levels especially at levels of the mind
purifies the mind of greed, hatred, ignorance

Question 38

the six perfections (patient men will get more energy)

Answer 38

mahayana buddhists try to develop to become bodhisattvas
generosity
morality
patience
energy
meditation
wisdom