Buddhist beliefs and teachings Flashcards
The story of the Buddhas birth?
Queen Maya dreamed a white elephant came down from heaven and told her she would give birth to a holy child. She gave birth to him. He could walk, talk and even lotus flowers appeared under his feet. A prophecy was made saying that he would become a great king.
What is the story of the four sights?
What do they show (extra paragraph for grade 9)
One day he got older and left the palace with his attendant Channa. It describes the 4 sights in Jakata 075.
Sight 1: an old man; he realised that everyone will age.
Sight 2: A sick person; he realised illness is a reality.
Sight 3: Death. Everyone will die.
Sight 4: A holy man. It inspired Siddhartha to believe that a spiritual answer to suffering was possible.
The 4 sights are spiritual insights into the nature of reality. The first 3 show an awareness of suffering whilst the 4th shows a solution.
Why did he live his 6 year ascetic life and what did he learn from it?
He did it to find a solution to suffering. He slept on thorn beds, ate very little and lived in extreme environments. He also learnt to meditate during these times to calm his mind.
What did he learn from an ascetic lifestyle?
Give a quote
He became weak and could not meditate properly. He learnt discipline but did not find an answer to suffering. He stopped it when he accepted rice and milk from a cowgirl. He then learnt that they middle way was the path he should follow.
“it was to him like a time of intertwining the sky with knots”. The Jataka.
The Buddhas enlightenment.
He meditated under a peepul tree to gain enlightenment. Here he was tempted by Mara who tried to stop him. His enlightenment took place during the 3 watches of the night.
How did Mara try to stop the Buddha from attaining enlightenment?
He sent his daughters to seduce him.
He sent his armies to attack him.
He offered him control over his kingdom.
Siddhartha stayed focused on his meditation because none of these things affected him due to his discipline.
What are the 3 watches of the night?
1: he gained knowledge of all of previous lives.
2: He understood the cycle of samsara. He understood Karma and peoples actions. He understood anatta.
3: He understood that we suffer due to attachment. He learnt that suffering can be overcome by enlightenment.
What is the Dhamma?
What is a good story about the Dhamma?
It is the Buddhas teachings. The “truth” about the nature of existence.
A monk taught that the Dhamma is like a raft. It should be used to cross the river but you must not become attached to it.
The Buddha described his insights into reality as the “truth” but still encourages his followers to test and question his teachings.
What are the 3 refuges and what role does the Dhamma play in them?
There are 3 refuges in Buddhism. The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
The 3 jewels are the central values in a Buddhists life. They go to them as sources of relief from suffering.
Different importance of the Dhamma? (multiple)
5 points
Reduces suffering, gives meaning to life, creates happiness, is one of the 3 refuges and leads Buddhists to lead more compassionate lives.
What is dependant arising?
The idea that everything arises depending on certain conditions. Nothing is independent.
Karma is an example of dependent arising. Someone’s happiness and suffering depend conditions and especially their previous actions.
How does the Tibetan wheel of life show dependent arising?
Why is it important for Buddhists to understand this?
It is a wheel which shows birth, life and death (the cycle of samsara). This process continues until the cycle is broken by following the Buddhas path.
When the cycle is broken free it allows for the possibility of Nirvana.
The 4 noble truths- general
What does it mean for Theravada Buddhists?
How do Buddhists aim to understand the 4nts?
The 4 noble truths are 4 truths the Buddha taught about suffering. Fully understanding these leads to enlightenment for Theravada Buddhists.
1 Dukkha- Suffering.
2 Samudaya- Suffering has a cause.
3 Nirodha- Suffering can come to an end.
4 Magga- There is a way to end suffering.
Buddhists aim to understand the 4nts through meditation, reflection and other practices as it can help them reach Nirvana.
Medicine analogy of the 4 noble truths.
1 Dukkha is the illness that the doctor finds.
2 Samudaya is the cause of the illness.
3 Nirohda is the cure for the illness.
4 Magga is undergoing the treatment.
The first noble truth- the existence of suffering.
Dukkha
Dukkha: It teaches that suffering in universal.
Buddhists say that the Buddhas teachings are not pessimistic but realistic.
Buddhism teaches that suffering does have an end, which can be reached by following the Buddhist 8 fold path.
