Buddhism - Teachings and Practices

Question 1

Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha when he…

Answer 1

was awakened to the Four Noble Truths while meditating under the Bodhi tree. He called this view the Middle Way.

Question 2

What is the middle way?

Answer 2

Do not hurt your physical self (self -mortification); and do not live a life only concerned with pleasure (self-indulgence).

The Middle Way is a life of self-discipline toward denying the self in order to break away from pleasure and end suffering.

Question 3

The goal of Buddhism is to…

Answer 3

end samsara and gain nirvana (ultimately parinirivana).

Question 4

What is the first noble truth?

Answer 4

suffering is inherent in life. All is dukkha, which is a word that generally translates to “suffering” but can also mean disappointment.

Buddha’s first three sights (old man, sick man, and dead man) showed him the suffering inherent in life.

Question 5

What is the second noble truth?

Answer 5

The cause of suffering is desire. Suffering (dukkha) occurs because we desire things we cannot have or obtain. However, it also occurs when we get what we want because the search is over and that thing did not bring us enlightenment.

Question 6

What is the third noble truth?

Answer 6

There is a way to put an end to desire and suffering: Nirvana. It is not really heaven but a cessation of all suffering. This can only occur if one has progressed to the point of understanding that they have no self (anatman) and know their past lives. Also, realizing because of this they have no need to return again.

A person who has gained nirvana in this life will gain parinirvana at the end of physical life (they will cease
to exist). Instead of rejoining ultimate reality like in Hinduism, Buddhists believe that they will no longer exist (anatman).

Question 7

What is the fourth noble truth?

Answer 7

The way to end desire is follow the Eightfold Path

Question 8

The Noble Eightfold Path is sometimes referred to as…

Answer 8

the triple practice because it can be divided into three areas of practice: Study, Conduct, and Concentration

Question 9

What is the eightfold path? (all parts)

Answer 9

Right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.

Until I Stop Acting Like Excited Monkeys… Confusion!

• Right Understanding = understand the four noble truths.
• Right Intention = not the same as karma. More about ethical conduct.
• Right Speech = refrain from gossiping, lying, slander, instead you should speak kindly to others.
• Right Action = Five Precepts: refrain from murder, lying, stealing, sexual abuse, and the use of alcohol.
• Right Livelihood = foster the well-being of others and in yourself.
• Right Effort = giving attention to positive thoughts while actively removing negative ones.
• Right Mindfulness = taking meditative awareness into daily life. Attentiveness and non-attachment.
• Right Concentration = regular meditation

Question 10

What is Nirvana?

Answer 10

The “extinguishing” of desire and suffering. Buddhist believe that the state of nirvana is beyond description. It is a pure bliss. Nirvana is the only goal of Buddhism.

Question 11

What is Parinirvana?

Answer 11

If you gain nirvana in this life, then when you die you will have parinirvana. Parinirvana is the end of the samsaric cycle. You will have extinguished your existence in this realm

Question 12

What is Dharma?

Answer 12

Buddha claimed that following The Middle Way is the proper Dharma. Broadly it means: All of nature and nature’s laws.

More narrowly it means: The body of the Buddha’s teaching.

Question 13

When asked about deep metaphysical truths, Buddha would often reply with…

Answer 13

“I am awake.”

Question 14

Buddha argued that one should not worry about specific metaphysical truths about how the universe works. Why?

Answer 14

If you spend too much time on these matters, then you might lose sight of the only goal: nirvana.

Question 15

Buddha’s views are a clear response to…

Answer 15

the Vedas. However, the Buddha rejects much of the teachings of the Vedas, but he does accept some
teachings from the Upanishads

Question 16

Buddha accepts the idea that…

Answer 16

samsara is real. We are all going through a process of
being born, living, growing old, dying, and being reborn again. Buddha also accepts that samsara is a bad thing that must be overcome. He calls it nirvana instead of moksha because the process is different

Question 17

Did Buddha accept karma?

Answer 17

Buddha also seems to accept some form of karma, but he rigidly rejected the caste system. This is what made Buddhism so popular with regular people

Question 18

What is interdependent origination?

Answer 18

The coming-into-existence of all things depends upon other things. No thing has an identity or existence independent of other things.

Question 19

What are the three marks of existence?

Answer 19

Suffering (dukkha)
Impermanence
No-Self (anatman)

Question 20

What is dukkha?

Answer 20

One of the three marks of existence – suffering

Question 21

What is anatman?

Answer 21

One of the three marks of existence – there is no self.

Question 22

What are karma and rebirth?

Answer 22

The Buddha’s teaching on rebirth is uncertain. Somehow, one’s karma brings about a new life, a new combination of skandhas.

Question 23

What are skandhas?

Answer 23

The five elements that sum up the whole of an individual’s mental and physical existence

Question 24

Are there Gods in Buddhism?

Answer 24

The Buddha said little about the gods, who know nothing about the end of suffering.

Question 25

With the Middle Way, Buddha promoted the idea that we shouldn’t…

Answer 25

rely on authority of any kind. Buddha said that you should not rely on teachers, methods, texts, sayings, or even logic when seeking the truth

Question 26

To become Buddhist, you must…

Answer 26

Recite the three refuges and follow the five precepts.

Question 27

What are the three refuges?

Answer 27

• The Buddha, the fully enlightened one.
• The Dharma, the teachings expounded by the Buddha.
• The Sangha, the monastic order of Buddhism that practices Dharmas

Question 28

What are the five precepts?

Answer 28

Refrain from murder, lying, stealing, sex, and alcohol. Part of the Eight-fold path: right action.

• Refrain from murder and bodily assault on other breathing beings
• Refrain from lying and gossiping about others
• Refrain from stealing and taking what does not belong to you
• Refrain from sexual abuse and sexual misconduct
• Refrain from the use of alcohol.

Question 29

To be a monk or nun, you must…

Answer 29

be a member of the Sangha, meaning you must recite the three refuges and five precepts.

Question 30

What are the three divisions of the Buddhist community?

Answer 30

1) Monks (which are men only),
2) Nuns (which are women only), and
3) Lay-persons (which can be either men or women and make up the majority).

Question 31

What are the three “vehicles”?

Answer 31

Theravada (the “Lower Vehicle”)
Mahayana (the “Higher Vehicle”)
Vajrayana (the “Diamond Vehicle”)

Question 32

What is Theravada?

Answer 32

The “lesser vehicle” or the “way of the elders”

It is the oldest of the Buddhist factions (one of the original 18 schools). Emphasizes the individual’s effort in seeking an end to suffering. Emphasizes monasticism. (It wants you to become a monk or nun). There is a strict adherence to the Eightfold Path

Question 33

What is the main Theravada text?

Answer 33

The Tripitaka, or Pali canon.

Question 34

What is Mahayana?

Answer 34

The “Greater Vehicle”

The Buddha is thought of as an expression of ultimate reality. This faction has a complex cosmology (understanding of nature) that is not discussed in
Theravada. This faction of Buddhism introduces a new notion: Bodhisattvas.

Question 35

What are the Bodhisattvas?

Answer 35

bodhisattva = “enlightenment being”

Originally, bodhisattva was a term used to refer to the Buddha in the lives he lived prior to his enlightenment.

Later, bodhisattvas were those who took the “bodhisattva vow” to assist others in
attaining enlightenment.

Question 36

Mahayana Buddhism might have included Bodhisattvas to…

Answer 36

compete with Hinduism. The Bodhisattvas gave lay persons beings they could look up to for guidance and help, like Hindus looked to the gods

Question 37

What are the two important Mahayana schools?

Answer 37

Pure Land and Chan (Zen). Both are Chinese.

Question 38

What is Vajrayana Buddhism?

Answer 38

“Diamond Vehicle”

Tibetan Buddhism is the most common form of this faction. Influenced by Mahayana and Tantric Texts. They are deeply metaphysical, emotional, and sexual (tantric sex comes from these texts).

This faction is often thought of as the mystical component of Buddhism.
▪ It has a large esoteric (hidden wisdom) component

Question 39

What are the sacred places in Buddhism?

Answer 39

• Site of Buddha’s Birth
• Site of Buddha’s Enlightenment
• Site of Buddha’s First Sermon
• Site of Buddha’s Death

Question 40

What factions of Buddhism use relics?

Answer 40

Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism are the ones who make use of the relics. The relics are usually contained within Stupas

Question 41

What is Vesak?

Answer 41

Buddha Day: the most important holiday in Buddhism. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Buddhahood), and death
(Parinirvana) of Siddhartha Gautama. Typically, it is celebrated during Spring.

Question 42

What is Asala?

Answer 42

It is a Theravada Buddhist festival that typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the month of Asadha. It celebrates the first sermon that Buddha gave in the Deer Park. In other words, it celebrates the forming of the Sangha.