Buddhist Beliefs Flashcards
What are the Three Refuges of Buddhism?
The Buddha
The Dhamma
The Sangha
What is the Dhamma (Dharma)? How does it influence Buddhists?
Dhamma refers to Buddhist doctrine (set of beliefs) and includes teachings taught by the Buddha
Buddhists put the teachings of the Buddha into practice. The Dhamma encourages Buddhists to engage in actions including following the Eightfold Path and practising meditation
What is dependent arising?
A key aspect of dependent arising is the idea of connection
Buddha taught that all things in life happen as a result of certain causes and conditions. When these cease, the things that depend upon them also cease
Therefore, nothing is permanent (this links to the Three Marks of Existence) and nothing can exist independently because everything in existence relies on something else
What are The Three Marks of Existence?
Annica
Dukkha
Anatta
What is Annica?
Impermanence - nothing is permanently fixed. It is linked to the idea of dependent arising
What is Dukkha?
Dissatisfaction - everything leads to suffering. The Buddha taught that, because people are on a quest for permanence and certainty, they end up being dissatisfied with life
What is Anatta?
No soul - nothing has a fixed soul because everything is always changing and is never permanently fixed
What are the three types of suffering?
Ordinary suffering
Suffering through change
Suffering through attachment to people or things
What do Theravada Buddhists dedicate their life to?
Attaining enlightenment and nibbana
What do Theravada Buddhists believe the human personality is made up of?
The Five Aggregates
What are the Five Aggregates?
Form
Sensation
Perception
Mental formation
Consciousness
How are Mahayana Buddhists different from Theravada Buddhists?
They strive to become enlightened, but they delay nibbana to help teach enlightenment
What are the three concepts in Mahayana Buddhism?
Sunyata
Attaining Buddhahood
Buddha-nature
What is Sunyata?
This means ‘emptiness’. This idea can be understood as meaning that everything depends upon something else
What is Attaining Buddhahood?
This is when a person achieves enlightenment and becomes a Buddha. Mahayana Buddhists strive to achieve Buddhahood through meditation and Buddhist practice
What is Buddha-nature?
This is concerned with the idea that all beings can attain Buddhahood. Mahayana Buddhists believe that everyone has the opportunity and essence of a Buddha within them
What do Theravada Buddhists attempt to become?
An arhat, which is a perfected person. A person who has achieved nibbana is known as an arhat
What do Arhats have to overcome?
The Three Poisons (greed, hatred and ignorance)
What do Mahayana Buddhists attempt to become?
Bodhisattvas, which are enlightened beings. They choose to remain in the cycle of samsara in order to enlighten others
What must a Mahayana Buddhist do to become a Bodhisattva?
They must become perfect in six areas of their lives. These are:
Generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation and wisdom
What must Pure Land Buddhists recite the name of?
Amitabha Buddha in order to attain Buddhahood and thereby reach Amitabha’s pure land
Who was Dharmakara (Amitabha Buddha)?
A monk who made many vows, including that he could promise rebirth in the Pure Land. This place was free of dukkha and is called Sukhavati, which means ‘land of bliss’
Where is Pure Land Buddhism practised? Which form of Buddhism is it part of?
Japan
Mahayana
Outline the Buddhist teachings about the birth of the Buddha
His mother, Queen Maya, had a dream foretelling of the Buddha’s birth and during childbirth she suffered no pain
It’s said he immediately had the ability to walk and talk
Outline the teachings about the Buddha’s life of luxury
The Buddha was shielded from suffering
He was married at 16 and had a child
He turned away from his wealthy life to find enlightenment
What are the Four Sights?
Old age
Sickness
Death
Holy man
Describe the Buddha’s ascetic life
He encountered an Indian ascetic who encouraged him to deprive himself, the Buddha said that he would do so in order to attempt to achieve supreme knowledge
He sat under a Bodhi tree and he slowly starved and grew exhausted
It’s said that during this period he found the Middle Way
Describe the Buddha’s enlightenment
The Buddha refused to stop meditating until he had found supreme enlightenment
He taught that temptation can be overcome
The Buddha’s enlightenment encourages Buddhists to engage in in Buddhist practices, such as meditation
What are The Four Noble Truths?
1) Suffering
2) The origin of suffering
3) The end of suffering
4) The path to the end of suffering
List all the aspects of the Eightfold Path
Right view
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right concentration
Right mindfulness
