Buddhism: Practices Flashcards
Samatha Meditation
- Easier starter meditation
- Calming or stilling meditation
- Develops mindfulness and mindfulness of Skandha’s
- Learn about form and breathing
Analysis of Samatha Meditation
Significance:
- Has to be learnt before Vipassana Meditation
- Helps calm down and deal with daily difficulties
Links:
- 4 Noble truths
- 8 Fold Path
Vipassana Meditation
- Insight meditation
- Focus on true reality eg. Anicca and Anatta
- Requires analytical thinking and deep reflection
Analysis of Vipassana Meditation
Significance:
- Helps gain insight which leads to enlightenment
Links:
- 4 Noble Truths
- 8 Fold Path
- Enlightenment
Importance of Meditation
- Helps develop a state of mind that helps you understand human condition
- Stops or reduces desiring thoughts caused by root poisons
- Key to enlightenment
- Helps clear and focus the mind
Analysis of the importance of meditation
Links:
- Enlightenment
- Forms of Meditation
- 8 Fold Path
- Samsara
8 Fold Path
- 3 Sections; Wisdom, Morality and Meditation
- The path to enlightenment
- Must follow all 3 to stop suffering
Analysis of 8 Fold Path
Significance:
- Leads to enlightenment
- Leads to good Kamma
- Less suffering
Links:
- Enlightenment
- Dhamma
- 4 Noble truths
3 Jewels
- I commit is said to formally commit to teachings and practices
- The Buddha; Founder & Guide and Inspiration. Teachings show the nature of human condition and how to stop suffering
- Dhamma; the teachings of the Buddha eg. 3 Marks. Shows truth of human condition and must use the teachings in practices.
- Sangha; The community of Buddhists including ordained monks etc. Must support each other.
Analysis of the 3 Jewels
Significance:
- Shows commitment to religion
- Getting support through Sangha can help enlightenment and understanding the human condition
Links:
- Buddhas teachings
- 4 Noble truths
- 8 Fold Path
Monks and Nuns
- Ordained members of Sangha
- Follow 10 precepts not 5
- Teach other Buddhists
- Dedicated their lives to the Buddha
Analysis of Monks and Nuns
Significance:
- Provides support to other Buddhists
- easier to resist desire
- Less temptations
- Sense of community makes spiritual training easier
Links:
- Sangha
- 3 Jewels
- Schools of Buddhism
Lay Buddhists
- Ordinary members of community
- Lead ordinary lives
- Only follow the 5 Precepts
- Spread Buddhist ideas and teachings
Analysis of Lay Buddhists
Links:
- Sangha
- School of Buddhism
Dhamma
- The Teachings of Buddhism
- Leading figures of Buddhism
- Pali Canon, Buddhist texts in Pali
Analysis of Dhamma
Significance:
- Following Dhamma leads to less ignorance
- Leads to Enlightenment
Links:
- 3 Jewels
- Path to Enlightenment
Theravada Buddhism
- More traditional form of Buddhism
- Many lifetimes to achieve
- Path to enlightenment is one of the Arhat
- Monks and Nuns are more likely to achieve as they are less affected by craving
Analysis of Theravada Buddhism
Significance:
- Importance of Monastic life
- Seen to be the same path as Buddha took to best path
Links:
- Arhat
- Sangha
Arhat
- Part of Theravadan route to Buddhism
- Enlightened Monk that wont be reborn
- ‘Way of the elders’ approach thought to be similar to Buddhas path to enlightenment
- Is an example to others
- Few able to achieve it
Analysis of Arhat
Significance:
- Best way to gain enlightenment for theravada Buddhists
- What Buddha did
- Lay Buddhists find it too difficult to achieve this
Links:
- Nibbana & Enlightenment
- Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
- ‘Greater school’ - more types of Buddhism spread around the world
- Path of the Bodhisattva (enlightened beings that put off Nibbana to help others gain enlightenment, thus very compassionate beings).
- Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that Nibbana is something everyone should achieve.
- Can achieve enlightenment in one rebirth
- Mahayana school of Buddhism
Analysis of Mahayana Buddhism
Significance:
- Seen by many to be an easier and less selfish way to enlightenment
- Enlightenment possible in one lifetime
Links:
- Sangha
- Bodhisattva
Bodhisattvas
- Means ‘enlightened being’
- Delay their full enlightenment to help others achieve their own
- Gain great kamma
- Dalai Lama is thought to be a Bodhisattva
Analysis of Bodhisattvas
Significance:
- Not as difficult as Arhat
- Less selfish path
Links:
- Mahayana
- Nibbana/Enlightenment
