Buddhist Beliefs Flashcards
Who is Siddhartha Gautama?
The Buddha, founder of Buddhism.
What significant event accompanied the birth of Siddhartha Gautama?
His birth was accompanied by various signs and predictions of greatness.
What was Siddhartha’s life like before he became the Buddha?
He lived a princely life with wealth and pleasures, shielded from suffering.
What are the Four Sights that Siddhartha encountered?
- Illness
- Old Age
- Death
- Holy Man
What did Siddhartha do after encountering the Four Sights?
He renounced his wealth and lived as an ascetic.
What realization did Siddhartha have while living as an ascetic?
Deprivation and hardship did not lead to enlightenment.
How did Siddhartha achieve enlightenment?
Through meditation under the Bodhi Tree for 49 days.
What did Siddhartha become known as after his enlightenment?
The Buddha, meaning ‘the enlightened one.’
What does the term ‘Dhamma’ refer to?
The teachings of the Buddha, including the 4 Noble Truths.
What is the significance of the Sangha?
It is the community of monks who follow the Buddha’s teachings.
What is Paticca-samuppada?
Dependent origination; all things in the universe depend on others for existence.
What are the Three Marks of Existence?
- Anicca - Impermanence
- Anatta - No permanent self
- Dukkha - Suffering
Define Anicca.
Everything changes; all things exist temporarily.
Define Anatta.
There is no permanent self; the concept of ‘self’ is just a label.
Define Dukkha.
Life involves suffering or dissatisfaction.
What are the 5 khandas?
- Matter
- Sensations
- Perceptions
- Mental formations
- Consciousness
What does the Khandas Sutta illustrate?
The ever-changing nature of our existence.
What is the relevance of the 5 khandas for Buddhists today?
Acceptance of impermanence and non-attachment to anything.
What story does the Milinda Panha recount?
The story of Nagasena and the Chariot.
What does the chariot analogy explain?
It illustrates anicca and anatta; a chariot is just a name for its parts.
Fill in the blank: The essence of a person is made up of _______.
5 ever-changing parts called khandas.
