Buddhism - Teachings and Practices Flashcards
Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha when he…
was awakened to the Four Noble Truths while meditating under the Bodhi tree. He called this view the Middle Way.
What is the middle way?
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.
The goal of Buddhism is to…
end samsara and gain nirvana (ultimately parinirivana).
What is the first noble truth?
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.
What is the second noble truth?
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.
What is the third noble truth?
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).
What is the fourth noble truth?
The way to end desire is follow the Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is sometimes referred to as…
the triple practice because it can be divided into three areas of practice: Study, Conduct, and Concentration
What is the eightfold path? (all parts)
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
What is Nirvana?
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.
What is Parinirvana?
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
What is Dharma?
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.
When asked about deep metaphysical truths, Buddha would often reply with…
“I am awake.”
Buddha argued that one should not worry about specific metaphysical truths about how the universe works. Why?
If you spend too much time on these matters, then you might lose sight of the only goal: nirvana.
Buddha’s views are a clear response to…
the Vedas. However, the Buddha rejects much of the teachings of the Vedas, but he does accept some
teachings from the Upanishads
Buddha accepts the idea that…
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
Did Buddha accept karma?
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
What is interdependent origination?
The coming-into-existence of all things depends upon other things. No thing has an identity or existence independent of other things.
What are the three marks of existence?
Suffering (dukkha)
Impermanence
No-Self (anatman)
What is dukkha?
One of the three marks of existence – suffering
What is anatman?
One of the three marks of existence – there is no self.
What are karma and rebirth?
The Buddha’s teaching on rebirth is uncertain. Somehow, one’s karma brings about a new life, a new combination of skandhas.
What are skandhas?
The five elements that sum up the whole of an individual’s mental and physical existence
Are there Gods in Buddhism?
The Buddha said little about the gods, who know nothing about the end of suffering.
With the Middle Way, Buddha promoted the idea that we shouldn’t…
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
To become Buddhist, you must…
Recite the three refuges and follow the five precepts.
What are the three refuges?
- The Buddha, the fully enlightened one.
- The Dharma, the teachings expounded by the Buddha.
- The Sangha, the monastic order of Buddhism that practices Dharmas
What are the five precepts?
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.
To be a monk or nun, you must…
be a member of the Sangha, meaning you must recite the three refuges and five precepts.
What are the three divisions of the Buddhist community?
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).
What are the three “vehicles”?
Theravada (the “Lower Vehicle”)
Mahayana (the “Higher Vehicle”)
Vajrayana (the “Diamond Vehicle”)
What is Theravada?
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
What is the main Theravada text?
The Tripitaka, or Pali canon.
What is Mahayana?
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.
What are the Bodhisattvas?
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.
Mahayana Buddhism might have included Bodhisattvas to…
compete with Hinduism. The Bodhisattvas gave lay persons beings they could look up to for guidance and help, like Hindus looked to the gods
What are the two important Mahayana schools?
Pure Land and Chan (Zen). Both are Chinese.
What is Vajrayana Buddhism?
“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
What are the sacred places in Buddhism?
- Site of Buddha’s Birth
- Site of Buddha’s Enlightenment
- Site of Buddha’s First Sermon
- Site of Buddha’s Death
What factions of Buddhism use relics?
Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism are the ones who make use of the relics. The relics are usually contained within Stupas
What is Vesak?
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.
What is Asala?
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.
