Buddhism unit Flashcards
What is a Koan?
paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment.
What are the four noble truths?
~Suffering
~There is a cause [to suffering] (12 links of dependant origin)
~There is an end [to suffering]
~There is a path to that end (Truth of the Eightfold Path)
What is a Bodhisattva in Theravada Buddhism?
one who seeks awakening // an individual on the path to becoming a buddha
Mahayana Buddhism themes/ main facets
~Altruistic motivation
~mastery of wisdom and compassion
~ new aspects of theism/worship
~importance of meditation
3 marks of conditioned experience
- suffering
- Impermanence
- No self
Types of suffering:
~pain
~impermanence
~conditions
Arhat
one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved nirvana
Buddha’s life story (VERY Abridged)
Buddha, born in an aristocratic family with all the luxuries, decided to leave everything he possessed to find answers to the problem of human suffering. He attained enlightenment after meditating under the Bodhi tree, and eventually spread his teachings
What is Zen Buddhism?
Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on meditation as a way to attain enlightenment
What is the Eighthfold Path?
teaching that outlines the steps to attain Nirvana
Where did Buddha go after leaving the palace?
Joined a sramana group and an Ascetic group before abandoning them to live a “middle way”
“middle way”
the eightfold path: balance of pain and pleasure // between a life of luxury and an ascetic life to achieve nirvana
Sutras
~Buddhist scripture//lectures
~Begins with “ thus have I heard…”
Tantra/Vajrayana Buddhism
Subset of Mahayana: teaching different techniques to achieve the same goals of enlightenment but faster
Bodhisattva in mahayana buddhism
someone who has achieved nirvana but stays to help the rest of sentient reality
