buddhist beliefs Flashcards
what is a Buddha?
a title for a person who has reached enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama was the first Buddha.
what are the 5 moral precepts of Buddha?
- do not take life
- do not take what is not given (steal)
- do not misuse the senses
- do not speak falsehoods (lie)
- do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind
what is the key flower for Buddhism, and what is its meaning?
the key flower for Buddhism is a lotus flower. to exist, it must overcome mud, darkness and freezing water - the growth of this flower represents Buddha’s life.
what is samsara?
the cycle of birth, death, rebirth. the entire aim of a Buddhist is to break out of this cycle and achieve nirvana.
define ‘enlightenment’:
when you understand everything in the world, and why they happen. this is the main aim for Buddhists.
- achieve enlightenment, become a Buddha, end the cycle of samsara, achieve nirvana
where was the Buddha born?
near the border of India and Nepal around 2500 years ago (500BCE)
describe Siddhartha Gautama’s birth:
- queen Maya (his mother) dreamt an elephant carrying a lotus flower passed through her
- a Brahman deemed it a pregnancy dream. he also said the son will either be a great leader and conqueror if never exposed to the world, or will become a holy man, and never return.
- when queen Maya was due to give birth, she wanted to travel to her home town. on the way there, they stopped in Lumbini Grove, where she had a painless birth.
- as soon as Siddhartha Gautama was born, he could walk, and lotus flowers grew in his first 7 steps. he said, ‘I alone am the world-honoured one!’. he declared he wouldn’t be reborn
describe Siddhartha Gautama’s life of luxury:
- queen maya died seven days after the Buddha was born
- his father (King Suddhodana) was worried his son would become a holy man and never returned, so he delicately nurtured siddhartha and protected him from hardship
- siddhartha was incredibly spoilt, got everything he ever wanted. never saw an old person, never saw any ill people (all his servants were young and beautiful). he’d never suffered. he had three mansions - once each for the summer, winter, and rainy seasons
what are the four sights, and what is their backstory?
- one day, siddhartha gautama was curious, and wanted to see what the outside world was like. his father arranged for a special parade, where all the people that attended were fit and healthy, so that Siddhartha thought that’s what the world is truly like.
- however, two old men managed to sneak in, and siddhartha saw them. he got curious, and snuck off to explore with his attendant Channa.
he saw:
- old men, realised everyone will age
- sick men, realised illness is the reality of life
- dead men, realised everyone will die
- and lastly, holy men (the ascetics). wanted answers to the problems. saw a holy man with a peaceful expression, inspiring Siddhartha to believe that a spiritual answer to suffering is possible. he renounced (let go of) his life of luxury, which is an importance aspect of the Buddhist life
what is the significance of the 4 sights?
- can be seen as spiritual insights into the nature of suffering and the spiritual path
- can be divided into 2 sections: the first three show a deepening awareness of the problem of suffering (communicate painful aspects of human life). the fourth shows the solution
describe siddhartha’s ascetic life:
- siddhartha joined the ascetics, and lived a life of cruel extremes. extreme weather, hunger and thirst. he meditated until he couldn’t anymore. he spend 6 years with the ascetics.
- he lived in dangerous and hostile forests that were too hot during the day and too cold at night, slept on a bed of thorns, ate so little his skeleton was visible
- he eventually realised that ascetism by itself is not the path to spiritual wisdom, so he stopped, even though he learnt discipline and willpower
- he sat on the river bank, and heard a music teacher, ‘if you tighten the string too much, it’ll snap, too loose, and it won’t play’. this is how siddhartha discovered the middle way
- a girl brings siddhartha a bowl of rice, and he accepts it, restoring his health and strength. the ascetics see this, feel betrayed, and abandon him.
what parts of his ascetic and luxurious lifestyles did siddhartha gautama keep to live by the middle way?
he kept meditation and deep thinking from his ascetic life, and food and cleanliness from his life of luxury. these form the middle way, which allow us to steer clear of the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
what is dependent arising? (paticcasamupada)
the idea the everything in existence is because other things are. everything is interconnected - nothing can live independent of other things.
- also means that everything is in a constant process of change, as everything is dependent on conditions which are themselves constantly changing
- illustrated in the Tibetan Wheel of life and other Buddhist teachings
- expresses the Buddhist view or vision of the nature of reality
how can karma be linked to dependent arising?
- karma is an example of dependent arising that shows how someone’s happiness and suffering depend on previous conditions, especially their previous actions
- the type of world a person is born into in their next life (e.g. human, animal, heavenly being) depends on their karma
why is dependent arising important to buddhists?
by realising that everything is connected and dependent on everything else, we can develop compassion and become selfless and trusting.
what is dharma?
the sanskrit word for buddhist teachings and scripture.
how do rafts and dharma link together?
a Buddhist monk, ‘Thich Nhat Hanh’ says that his teachings are useful when needed, but once used/tested, don’t hold onto it forever, as it could hold you back. don’t blindly follow teachings.
what are the 4 temptations, and what is their backstory?
- once Siddhartha rested and got himself back to a healthy state after his ascetic life, he sat under a Bodhi tree, and promised that he wouldn’t leave until he became enlightened.
- Mara, said to represent people’s inner demons/spiritual obstacles/temptation, continuously tried to prevent Siddhartha from reaching enlightenment. He:
> Sent his daughters to seduce
> Sent his armies to attack
> Offered control of his kingdom
> Tried to attack him himself - Mara claimed that only he had the right to enlightenment, and that if Siddhartha did reach enlightenment, no one would believe him. Siddhartha touched the Earth, and called upon it to witness his enlightenment
what are the three watches of the night, the three realisations Siddhartha made in order to achieve enlightenment:
- Siddhartha gained knowledge of all his previous lives
- he came to understand the cycle of samsara. he understood the importance of karma and anatta
- he came to understand why suffering happens (due to desire and attachment) and how to stop it (the path to enlightenment)
what did the Buddha say when he sat down to meditate?
‘…not until I attain the supreme Enlightenment will I give up this seat of meditation’
how did Siddhartha respond to Mara’s attempts to distract him?
Mara’s temptations show that Siddhartha used his discipline to overcome negative emotions such as fear, lust, and doubt to remain focused on his meditation
- he was not swayed by the charms of Mara’s daughters and continued meditating
- the arrows and other weapons turned into lotus flowers before reaching him
- he touched and called on the Earth to witness his right to sit at the seat of enlightenment. the Earth shook to acknowledge his right
what was the first thing that Buddha did when he became enlightened?
Buddha went to visit the ascetics. Mara attempted to stop him, to prevent him from revealing his realisations. Buddha encouraged the ascetics to live by the middle way.
- they became his first disciples
why is dharma important to Buddhists?
they believe that by following it, they’ll reduce their own suffering and the suffering of others
describe Thich Nhat Hanh’s message:
tells how the Buddha thought of his teachings as something to be practised but not to be worshipped or held onto. in this sense, his teachings are like a raft used to cross a river: it’s necessary for crossing the river itself, but a person should not become so attached to the raft that they cannot leave it behind once they reach the other shore
- the Buddha described his insights as the ‘truth’, but still encouraged his followers to test and question his teachings themselves
what was the Buddha’s first teaching? (and the most important teaching for theravada buddhists)
the 4 noble truths:
- DUKKHA: suffering is inevitable
- SAMUDHAYA: suffering is caused by ignorance, greed, and hatred (three poisons)
- NIRODHA: greed and selfishness can be ended by living by the middle way, ending craving (tanha), leading to nirvana and enlightenment
- MAGGA: to live by the middle way, follow the eight-fold path
describe the first noble truth in more detail:
- to effectively deal with suffering, you must recognise that it’s a part of life, and not run from it (e.g. by seeking happiness and pleasure which are only temporary distractions and can’t solve the problem)
- ‘The insight is simply that there is suffering without making it personal.’
what do Buddhists believe can be gained from reflecting on suffering?
- not pessimistic, just realistic
- helps people to understand what is truly important and to connect with others
what is the importance of the 4 noble truths?
- explain why people suffer and how to overcome it
- fully understanding the 4 noble truths (through study, reflection, meditation, etc.) leads to enlightenment for theravada buddhists
- for Mahayana Buddhists, other teachings such as the development of compassion are also very important in addition to understanding the 4 noble truths
explain nirodha (the third noble truth) in more detail:
you shouldn’t avoid all of your cravings when living by the middle way, as that would only make things worse. you must enjoy and take pleasure in things, but realise that not everything will last and be ready to let go of them
- to end cravings, you must have an inner satisfaction with life and appreciate what you already have.
how does nirodha allow people to overcome one of the 3 poisons?
allows them to overcome ignorance.
- ignorance makes people think that impermanent pleasures are sources of complete fulfilment
- by overcoming this ignorance, people can overcome their craving for these pleasures
- this helps them to end their suffering
what is nirvana?
literally means ‘extinction’ (of the three poisons).
- also refers to state of complete liberation, peace and happiness
what qualities must a person have in order to become a Buddha?
- completely free of the 3 poisons
- knows the truth about the nature of existence
- knows exactly what causes suffering
- naturally behaves according to the 5 moral precepts
- understands and lives in harmony with the 4 noble truths
‘But if anyone goes to the _____________________________________ as a refuge, he perceives with proper knowledge the ___________________: suffering, _____________________________, the overcoming of ____________________, and the noble __________________ leading to the ________________________________.’
‘But if anyone goes to the Buddha, the Doctrine and the Order as a refuge, he perceives with proper knowledge the four noble truths: suffering, the arising of suffering, and the overcoming of suffering, and the noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of suffering.’
- if someone follows the 3 refuges, they will come to understand the four noble truths and this will end their suffering
what are the three refuges/jewels, and what is their importance?
it’s by making these the central points of your life that you become a Buddhist.
1. turn to Buddha for help
2. turn to Dharma for help
3. turn to Sangha for help (Buddhist community)
what is the quote involving the three refuges?
the three jewels are a Buddhist’s central values of life. they trust the three jewels as sources of relief from suffering
- it’s common to recite the three refuges in buddhist rituals, or in a ceremony when a person becomes a Buddhist
- ‘To the Buddha for refuge I go, to the Dharma for refuge I go, to the Sangha for refuge I go’
what is the importance of dharma?
- reduces suffering
- gives meaning to life
- creates satisfaction and happiness
- improves a Buddhist’s relationship with others and the world
- leads Buddhists to become more aware, wiser, and more compassionate
- one of the three refuges
what are the 7 unavoidable forms of suffering?
- Birth
- Illness
- Aging
- Death
- Contact with unpleasant things
- Separation from your loved ones
- Not fulfilling your desires
what are the three types of suffering?
DUKKHA DUKKHATA: ordinary suffering (mental and physical pain), e.g. breaking a leg, missing someone, being upset at failing an exam
DUKKHA VIPARINAMA: produced by an inability to accept change. people cling to pleasurable experiences and feel sad when they pass - they can’t accept the truth of impermanence. e.g. getting older, moving to a new city, the weather turning bad
DUKKHA SAMKHARA: ‘background suffering’. the profound unsatisfaction with your existence due to craving and attachment. e.g. trying to hold onto things one is attached to, feeling unhappy for no reason
what are the three marks of existence?
- dukkha: because everything is always changing, nothing is perfect. everyone experiences suffering (pain, sadness, death) - it’s an inevitable part of life. even happiness ends in suffering. SUFFERING
- Buddhists try to reduce suffering by following dharma, as they believe that when they reach enlightenment, there’ll be no more suffering - anicca: nothing lasts forever. buddhists believe that this applies to living and non-living things. IMPERMANENCE
- anatta: buddhists believe that there is no permanent self or soul. because there is no unchanging essence to the human being that is permanent or eternal NO SUCH THING AS SELF
describe anicca in more detail:
Buddhism teaches that suffering arises when people resist change because they’re too attached to things. an awareness of anicca leads to the letting go of attachment and so lessens suffering. anicca affects:
- living things: a tree sprouts from a seed, grows, and eventually dies
- non-living things: an iron nail will rust if left out in the rain
- people’s minds: a person’s thoughts and feelings change throughout their lives
describe the story of Kisa Gotami:
- her child died at a young age, she went out of her mind with sorrow
- the Buddha told her she should visit all houses in the village and ask for a mustard seed from any house in which no one had died
- she could not find a house where no one had died
- eventually she realised that death is inescapable, and so she buried her child
when Gotami realised that death (a result of anicca) is something that everyone has to experience, her suffering became more bearable
what analogy could be used to illustrate anatta?
story of Nagesena and the chariot:
- monk called Nagasena arrived at a king’s court
- he was asked what his name was, and he answered but said that there’s no person behind that name
- the King was confused and asked who was standing before him
he was answered with an analogy of a chariot:
- a chariot is made up of a number of different parts
- the term ‘chariot’ is a name used to refer to all of these parts
- there is no chariot independent of these parts
- likewise, a person exists but only because of the parts they’re made up from (5 aggregates)
- there is no separate ‘self’ independent of these parts
what are the six realms of samsara? (three positive, three negative)
+ gods
+ humans
+ demi-gods (jealous gods)
- animals
- hungry ghosts
- hell beings
only the top three realms are eligible to achieve enlightenment. you must have had good karma in your past life to be able to live in the top three realms.
what are the three poisons in the centre of the tibetan wheel of life?
- ignorance (pig)
- greed/desire (cockerel)
- hatred/anger (snake)
- they trap people in the cycle of samsara and prevent them from reaching enlightenment
- they keep the tibetan wheel of life turning
how are the 3 poisons linked to craving?
craving leads to greed and hatred. craving is also rooted in ignorance (of the world and the nature of reality)
eewhat are the 5 aggregates (theravada buddhists believe these are what make up everything):
THERAVADA CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSONALITY.
Buddhists divide the ‘self’ into five parts to show there is no unchanging essence/core to a person. the Buddha taught that as these parts are constantly changing, the ‘self’ is also constantly changing
- form (body)
- sensation (feelings)
- perception (our ways of interpreting and understanding things, based on previous experiences)
- mental formations (thoughts and opinions)
- consciousness (general awareness)
what is tanha, and what are the three types of it?
tanha = craving, desiring or wanting something
- craving things that please the sense (e.g. craving pleasant smells or tasty foods)
- craving to become something you are not (e.g. to be smart, attractive, successful)
- craving not to be, or for non-existence (e.g. not wanting to feel pain or embarrassment)
what do Buddhists say is the main cause of suffering?
they get attached to things they like, which are impermanent, and eventually change/disappear. this leads to suffering. the temporary pleasures people crave cannot last or make them feel permanently happy
what is the threefold way (the three groups the eightfold path is split up into)?
- ethics (sila) - emphasises importance of good morals and behaviour
- meditation (samadhi) - emphasises importance of meditating effectively in order to develop wisdom
- wisdom (panna) - emphasises importance of overcoming ignorance in order to achieve enlightenment
what is the eightfold path?
ethics:
- right speech: speaking truthfully, helpfully, kindly. avoiding lying and gossiping
- right action: practising 5 moral precepts
- right livelihood: earning a living in a way that doesn’t harm others
meditation:
- right effort: putting effort into developing and sustaining skilful mental states
- right mindfulness: developing awareness of yourself and the world around you
- right concentration: developing the concentration and focus required to meditate effectively
wisdom:
- right understanding: developing clear understanding of buddha’s teachings
- right intention: following eightfold path with correct intention and sincere attitude
describe theravada buddhists:
thera = elder, vada = school
- prevalent in thailand, cambodia, laos and myanmar
- classical or orthodox buddhist tradition, emphasises 4 noble truths
describe mahayana buddhists:
- more modern, adapted version of theravada buddhism
- includes pure land, tibetan and zen buddhism
- emphasise the importance of all teachings, not just one
describe the lifestyle of a theravada monk:
- only men can be fully ordained as monks, and ordination in the monastic community is emphasised
- they aren’t allowed to own money, or possessions, they’re only allowed one donated meal a day. they may work for the community.
- they aren’t allowed to have sexual relationships, and a huge part of their life involves meditation.
- the Buddha is a focus of worship and is seen as a teacher and guide, but not a God
what is the difference in their view of Buddha between Mahayana and Theravada buddhists?
theravada: view Buddha as simply a historical figure, an ‘ordinary bloke’.
mahayana: believe that buddha remains active and can influence the world today. he can be encountered through visions and meditation.
describe sunyata:
emptiness; the concept that nothing has a separate, independent self or soul. more specific than anatta, applies to all things, not just humans
- important concept in mahayana buddhism
describe how mahayana buddhists believe they can become a bodhisvatta:
MAHAYANA CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSONALITY.
- inside of us, we all have the essence of buddha-nature, like a seed. however, it’s hidden by desires, attachments, ignorance and negative thoughts
- we can cultivate this seed by finding balance in the things in our life (e.g. living by the middle way)
- this seed blossoms into a flower, and this person joins the buddha-hood.
- mahayana buddhists can then choose to become a bodhisattva, and stay in the cycle of samsara to help others escape.
what is the additional piece of mahayana buddhist scripture?
the lotus-sutra, containing many parables, as in christianity.
what are the differences between theravada and mahayana buddhists?
theravada:
- become an arhat to escape samsara (Buddha was an arhat) by following eightfold path
- personal salvation once enlightenment is reached
- escape samsara, attain nirvana
mahayana:
- believe in additional scripture (lotus-sutra)
- become a bodhisattva to achieve enlightenment by following 6 perfections
- save all sentient beings by staying in the cycle of samsara
what is an arhat?
- ‘perfected person’ who has overcome the main sources of suffering (the three poisons) to become enlightened
- no longer reborn when they die
- achieved by following and fulfilling eightfold path
what is a bodhisattva?
- sees their own enlightenment as being bound up with the enlightenment of all beings
- out of compassion, after enlightenment, they choose to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others escape too
- they believe the original emphasis of the Buddha’s teachings was to ‘go forth for the welfare of the many’
- ‘However innumerable sentient beings are; I vow to save them’
what are the Mahayana Buddhists’ views towards arhats and bodhisattvas?
- they believe that arhats are people on their way to enlightenment, and the end goal is a bodhisattva
- by helping others to achieve enlightenment, they receive good karma. buddha told his original disciples ‘go forth and help many’.
what is the difference between earthly and transcendental bodhisattvas?
earthly: continue to be reborn into the world, to live on and help others
transcendental: purely spiritual beings beyond time and space. may appear in different forms in the world, to help others and lead beings to enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhists may pray to these bodhisattvas in times of need
what are the six perfections for Mahayana Buddhists?
become a bodhisattva by perfecting certain attributes of life.
- generosity (be charitable and generous)
- wisdom (obtain understanding)
- energy (cultivate energy and perseverance to power you through tough times)
- meditation (develop concentration and awareness)
- morality (have good morals, 5 moral precepts)
- patience (be patient)
what is pure land buddhism?
- began in china, main type of buddhism in china and japan.
- based on faith in amitabha buddha (king who gave up his throne to become a monk and became enlightened).
- amitabha buddha created a pure land paradise, called sukhavati, where there’s no suffering, and where buddhists can be reborn into to learn how to be enlightened.
how can a buddhist be reborn into sukhavati?
- recite scriptures
- meditate on amitabha and paradise
- worship amitabha, chant his name (MOST IMPORTANT)
- make praises and offerings to him
describe sukhavati:
- offers perfect conditions for enlightenment
- far to the west, beyond the boundaries of our own world
- perfect paradise
- contains no suffering or other barriers to enlightenment
- all beings born into this land are certain to reach enlightenment
- where people can be taught by Amitabha himself
why is pure land buddhism sometimes seen as ‘cheat’ buddhism?
- because faith in amitabha buddha is much more important than your actions when it comes to being reborn in sukhavati. the tradition has therefore gained a popular following, as it offers a simple practice (reciting Amitabha’s name) and the promise of receiving Amitabha’s help to achieve enlightenment
- theravada buddhism, on the other hand, teaches that enlightenment is only attainable through the person’s thoughts and actions, and they can’t rely on outside help.
therefore it’s much easier to achieve enlightenment as a pure land buddhist than as other forms.
what is the tibetan wheel of life and why is it important?
the tibetan wheel of life is the main piece of scripture for tibetan buddhists. it’s a symbolic representation of the cycle of samsara (outer ring shows 12 nidanas - 12 stages of life, illustrating how humans are subject to birth, death and rebirth).
- it illustrates 6 realms, into which beings can be born into depending on their karma. this affects how buddhists act, and influences them to do good in the world today. escaping samsara is only possible in the godly, jealous god and human realms.
- at the centre of the wheel of life, it shows the 3 poisons that continue to turn it, according to the second noble truth - greed, ignorance and hatred.
