Buddhist Beliefs

Question 1

What are the Three Refuges of Buddhism?

Answer 1

The Buddha
The Dhamma
The Sangha

Question 2

What is the Dhamma (Dharma)? How does it influence Buddhists?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is dependent arising?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are The Three Marks of Existence?

Answer 4

Annica
Dukkha
Anatta

Question 5

What is Annica?

Answer 5

Impermanence - nothing is permanently fixed. It is linked to the idea of dependent arising

Question 6

What is Dukkha?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is Anatta?

Answer 7

No soul - nothing has a fixed soul because everything is always changing and is never permanently fixed

Question 8

What are the three types of suffering?

Answer 8

Ordinary suffering
Suffering through change
Suffering through attachment to people or things

Question 9

What do Theravada Buddhists dedicate their life to?

Answer 9

Attaining enlightenment and nibbana

Question 10

What do Theravada Buddhists believe the human personality is made up of?

Answer 10

The Five Aggregates

Question 11

What are the Five Aggregates?

Answer 11

Form
Sensation
Perception
Mental formation
Consciousness

Question 12

How are Mahayana Buddhists different from Theravada Buddhists?

Answer 12

They strive to become enlightened, but they delay nibbana to help teach enlightenment

Question 13

What are the three concepts in Mahayana Buddhism?

Answer 13

Sunyata
Attaining Buddhahood
Buddha-nature

Question 14

What is Sunyata?

Answer 14

This means ‘emptiness’. This idea can be understood as meaning that everything depends upon something else

Question 15

What is Attaining Buddhahood?

Answer 15

This is when a person achieves enlightenment and becomes a Buddha. Mahayana Buddhists strive to achieve Buddhahood through meditation and Buddhist practice

Question 16

What is Buddha-nature?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What do Theravada Buddhists attempt to become?

Answer 17

An arhat, which is a perfected person. A person who has achieved nibbana is known as an arhat

Question 18

What do Arhats have to overcome?

Answer 18

The Three Poisons (greed, hatred and ignorance)

Question 19

What do Mahayana Buddhists attempt to become?

Answer 19

Bodhisattvas, which are enlightened beings. They choose to remain in the cycle of samsara in order to enlighten others

Question 20

What must a Mahayana Buddhist do to become a Bodhisattva?

Answer 20

They must become perfect in six areas of their lives. These are:
Generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation and wisdom

Question 21

What must Pure Land Buddhists recite the name of?

Answer 21

Amitabha Buddha in order to attain Buddhahood and thereby reach Amitabha’s pure land

Question 22

Who was Dharmakara (Amitabha Buddha)?

Answer 22

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’

Question 23

Where is Pure Land Buddhism practised? Which form of Buddhism is it part of?

Answer 23

Japan
Mahayana

Question 24

Outline the Buddhist teachings about the birth of the Buddha

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Outline the teachings about the Buddha’s life of luxury

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What are the Four Sights?

Answer 26

Old age
Sickness
Death
Holy man

Question 27

Describe the Buddha’s ascetic life

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Describe the Buddha’s enlightenment

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What are The Four Noble Truths?

Answer 29

1) Suffering
2) The origin of suffering
3) The end of suffering
4) The path to the end of suffering

Question 30

List all the aspects of the Eightfold Path

Answer 30

Right view
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right concentration
Right mindfulness