Buddhist beliefs and teachings Flashcards
1
Q
What is Buddhism
A
A religion foudned around 2500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama .
-Born around 500 BCE in Lumbini in Southern pal and he ws a prince .
2
Q
Birth of Siddhartha
A
Queen Maya had a dream that wife elephant vsmfr foen from heaven and give birth to a holy child ahieve perfect widsom .
3
Q
Significance of Siddharthas berth
A
- when Siddhartha was born , he immediately walked seven steps each time lotus flower appered .
- He then stopped nd said @No further rebirthsI have to endre for this is my last ody @ his quote REAFFIRMS IN THE BELIEF IN RE-INCARNTION .
4
Q
part 2
A
-after his birth there wad a porphecy he would become a great king or holy man .
5
Q
Part 3
A
Buddha grew up in a palace surrounded by lxuury . The father wanted to make sure that siddhartha becme only a king so decded to protect Siddhartha from any suffering as he didn’t want him being a holy man .
-he thought if he got attachd to luxuryhe wouldnt elave the palace .
6
Q
How did the four sights occur ?
A
Siddharhta grew curious about res of the world so leaft the palace grounds with channa his driver .
7
Q
What are the Jakata tales ?
A
-Popular stories about the lives of the Buddha .
8
Q
What was the first sight that Siddhartha saw and hat is its significance ?
A
- He saw an old man
- he was shocken and this was his first experience of old age .
9
Q
What was the second sight that Siddhartha saw and hat is its significance ?
A
- Saw a sick man
- distrubed him as he had never seen sickness or illness before and he began to understand that illess was a reality of life .
10
Q
What was the third sight that Siddhartha saw and hat is its significance ?
A
He saw a dead man
-struck him a he realised death came to everyone even if they wre a king , everyone is born , gor , suffer and die .
11
Q
What was the foruth sight that Siddhartha saw and hat is its significance ?
A
He saw a holy man .
-The peaceful expression on he hol mans face impressed Siddhartha and he waned o become a wandeing truh seeker .
Beggining of Siddharthas request to find turth of suffering .
-A SADHU showed him you can be content and happy with life without material belongings .
12
Q
the four sights led the Buddha to leave the life of luxury in the palace .
A
. Also is evidence for the INEVITABILITY OF SUFFERING which is evidence for IMPERNANCE - three of the four sights represents impermanence and the cause of suffering .
13
Q
Leaving the palace signifiance
A
-when leaving to find the answer to the porblem of suffering ,
siddhartha gae up his possesions and he symbols of his pervious life , by doing this , it shows siddhartha was letting fo of the things he hught were keeping him ignorant and thus resulting in suffering .
14
Q
Meaning of ascetic ?
A
-Living a simple and strict lifestyle with few pleasures or possesions ; someone who follows ascetic pracicies .
15
Q
Ascetic life of the Buddha
A
sddhartha was inspired by the holy man and therefore , became an ascetic , he rejected anythign that would give him pleasure and pracicsed extreme self discipline .
- In particular he began to practise meditaition .
- It is said hat meditiation only gave siddhartha a feeling of bliss , but did not offer him a permanent solution ot hthe suffering that people had experienced .
16
Q
What is meditiation ?
A
-A practise of calming and focusing the midn , and reflecting deeply on specific teachings to penenetrate their true meaning .
17
Q
How did the buddha turn away from asceticism ?
A
- When SIddhartha finished bathing he met a girl who offerened sddharha a bowl of milk and rice shwoed karuna .
- He accepted the food because he had become , by this point , to weak o meditate .
18
Q
How did the buddha turn away from asceticism ? (2)
A
The meeting was important as the food restored his strength so he decided to stop his ascetic practices as he ws no closer to the turh about suffering .
19
Q
How did the buddha turn away from asceticism ? (3)
A
- The ascetic life is imporant as it shows that neither luxury nor an ascetic life can allow you to reach enlightenment - the MIDDLE WAY is the best .
20
Q
What happened after the ascetic life ?
A
After rejecting this lfiestyle , SIddhartha wondered if meditation might be a way of atainign the wisdom and compassion of enlightenmen t.
buddha syas
“Until I attain supreme enlightenment i will not give up this seat of meditation.”
21
Q
What happened when Siddhartha began to meiditaite .
A
-Mara the evil one appeared to try to stop him form chieving enlightenment . Mara tried many different tactics .
22
Q
What are the four tactics
A
- He sent his daughters to seduce Siddhartha .
- He sent his armies to attack Siddheha .
- He offered Siddhartha control of his kingdom .
- Mara himslef tried to attack Siddhartha .
23
Q
Who is mara ?
A
A demon that represens spirtual obstacle , especially temptation .
24
Q
Throughout it all Siddhartha stayed focusedo n his meditation and ignored the temprations of Mara’s daghter , Mar cliamed hat he needed someone sit as witness of the englightenment of Buddha so siddhartha touched round made peepul tre .
A
.
25
during the night that siddhrth became enlightened , he experienced the hree watches .
the three realisaoins hat the Buddha made in order to achieve enlightenment.
26
what was the first watch
-He gained knowledge of all his previous lives .
27
what is the second watch
-Secondly , he came to understand he repeating cycle of life , deah and rebirth . He understood that beings were born depending on their kamma (their actions ) , and he realised the importance of anatta (there is no fixed self )/
28
what is the third watch
-Thirdly , he came to undersand why suffering happens and hwo to overcome it .
after the three watches he became the enlightenedone
-then he went to hsi five ascetics and asked anyone woh would follow him and reject a life of extremism.
29
What is the Dhamma ?
The Buddha's teachings
30
What does the dhamma mean ?
-It means the 'truth' about the nature of existence , as understood by the Buddha when he became enlightened . (Hhis four noble ttruths and three marks of existence are examples of this . .
31
Key thing about the Buddha's teachings ?
-These teachings are not forced upon anyoene he said his teachis is ' a mean of practise not something to hoold onto or worship'
-You can also try different beliefs as well .
THIS IS A CONTRATS FROM CHRISTIANITY THERE IS NO RULE TO FOLLOW MOE LIKE A GUIDE TO HELP OU ACHIEVE HAPPINESS AND RELIEF FROM SUFFERING .
32
What do the Buddha's teachings actuallyd o ?
- Many Buddhists say that following the Buddh'as teachings has relived them of muchs ufferign and they have found the greater emeaning and happiness in life .
- More aware and compassionate for others
33
Disadvantages of questioninh the Budddha ?
- uddhism starts to loose its 'natre' people start to question it .
- Easier to follow if there were rules @security' people might feel overwhelemed ude to lack of guidance possibly leading them to quesiton faith ./
34
What are the three refuges ?
| They all help to relieve suffering in a way .
1. THE BUDDHA
2. All those who have become enlightened following the Buddha's techings . The DHAMMA
3. The community of all those who follow the Buddha's eachings whther ordained or lay .
35
The importance of the three refuges ?
- To go or refuge is to seek safety . For Buddhists it means looking for safety from suffering .
- When buddhsits take refuge from suffering by following hree refuges , they trust these things as LASTING SOURCES OF SAFETY from suffering . sking them to guide them in wisdom and karuna .
- MOREOVER , they are also expressing their longing for enlighenment and commitment in following the path leading to enlightenment .
36
IF 12 MARKER - why is the Buddha most imporant of the three refuges
- He provides an example for Buddhistd to follow .
- If he had not discoevred the Dhamma and taught it , buddhits imght never have been able to undertand he way out of suffering .
37
IF 12 MARKER - why is he Dhamma the most important of the three refuges
- -The Dhamma is the most important as it describes the way things are .
- This 'truth' exited long befor the buddha recognised it ( like how gravity always exited whether anyone discovered it or not ).
38
IF 12 MARKER - why is the sangha he most important of the three refuges .
- For an oridnary person o follow the Buddha's teachings it is very encourgaing to know other ordinary people have reached wisdom and compassion of enlightenmen not jus the Buddha .
- Nuns and moks are essential a guides to less pexperienced Buddhists .
- Sangha in a buddhists every day life can proivde support , encouragement and friendship .
39
What is paiccsamuppada (dependant arising )
- he idea ha all things arise in dependence upon conditons .
- BASICALLY , nothing is permanent and unchaging . everything is interdependent on everything .
40
What is the tibetan wheel of life \/
- An image that symbolises samsara .
- on outer circle has 12 niddanas
- many buddhiss believe that when they die , their consciousness transfers o a ne body . Wheel shows continual cycle of life , death and rebirth (cycle of samsara)
41
What are nidanas ?
12 factors hat illustrate the process of birth , death and rebirth .
42
what determines what a buddhist is reborn into ?
Their actions kama , good intentions good actions , bad actions conseqeunces .
-KARMA IS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF DEPENDENT ARISING SHOWING HOW A PERSONA CTIONS CREATES THE CONDITIONS OF SOMEONES FUTURE HAPPINESS OR SUFFERING .
43
Importance of tanha (craving)
- for buddhists the ulltimate aim is to break free of the cycle of samsara as this is what causes syffering .
- the cycle IS broken by following the buddhits pah , but also by breakign a habit called ANHA craing .
- so buddhist practisces msotlyf oucs on the relationship betnween feeling and craving .
- you need to understand sufferign then only cn buddhists achieve nivarna not jus try to escape it or become attached to material objects .
44
What is nirvarna
-a state of complete enlightenment , happiness and peace .
45
What are the three marks of existence .
Buddhism teachs that there are free characteristics which are fundamnetal to all things . These are
1. Suffering (dukkha)
2. Impermanence (anicca)
2. Having no permannet fixed self or soul (anata)
- for buddhists understanding these three characteristics is important to achieve enligthenment .
46
What is dukkha
- first noble turth , there is suffering .
- It is importnt as the Buddha left his life of luxury int he palace to SEARCH FOR THE ANSER OF WHY POELE SUFFER SO ARGUEABLLY IF IT DIDNT EXIST BUDDHISM WOULDNT HAVE EXISTED .
47
Waht are the seven states of suffering ?
- First four are cuased by cycle of samsar
- while other are suffering thatt people experience in their lives .
1. Birth
2. OLD AGE
3. SICKNESS
4. DEATH
5. SORROW LAMENTATION AND DESPAIR
6. CONTACT WITH UNPLESANT THINGS
7. NOT GETTING WHAT ONE WISHES FOR
48
What is the first type of dukkha ?
dukha -dukkhata
-means ordianry pain ofr sufferign , can be physical or mental (emotional pain) - breaking leg or missing someone you love .
49
What is the second type of dukkha ?
Change - viparinama -dukkha
-prdouced by change , the idea that nothing is permanent , things are aleays changging , something changing leads to loss of happiness and
someone feels unhappya nd sorrow , feeling uneasy knowing things wont last can also be a way of experiencing .
50
the third type of dukkha
Samkhara -dukkha - linked to the idea of attachment , everyone attached things .
- When peopole try to hodl onto things they are atached to they sufer ,
- quiet hard to udnersand as i maytbit aruse ye t soecific events just a genral dissatisifaciton with life that arrises coming from change but also thigns you canot have .
51
WhaT IS THE SECOND MARK OF EXISTENC ?
-ANICCA - Impermanence , the idea that everything changes .
effects living things
non living - nail rusting
our minds
52
how annica and dukkha relate to eachother ?
- Even though things in the wolrd change , people often expect them to stay the same , which is one of the reason whyp peopple suffer .
- when things do change 9(anicca) people experience suffering (dukkha).
--execpeting all things will change including themselves wil lead to less suffering . The ultimate gol is to breaktje cuc;e pf samsara and achieve nbbana .
53
How does Kisa Gotami link to suffering ?
key idea is that
-Kita Gotami learned that sorrow and death is a part of life and everyone experiences it .
-Everyoen else int he town had experienced a simialr loss .
-Kisa was no longer agonised , and it relieed a bit of her sufferign and she let go of the feeling
THE MORAL OF THE PARABLE IS THAT dukkha is a normal part of life and so they should be accepting of it as nothign is permanent (anicca ).
54
Wha is the third mark of exisence : anatta
Anatta : the idea that people do not have a permanent , fixed self or soul .
55
story of nagagsenea and chariot is trying to say what ?
that there isn't a fixed self - everythig changes but you are still you , we are all the same .
56
What are the five aggregates ?
```
Five aspects that make up a person .
Tehy are :
-Form
Sensation
Perception
Menal formation
```
ConsciounsessVuddha said these part are consntly changing but your sitll you so you karma carries onto he next being you are during rebirth .
57
What are the four novbe truths ?
The four truths hat the Buddha taught abiut sufferig .
-They were discovered by the Budddh when he was searching for enlightenment under the peepul tree .
They were also the first teachings he gve ot the five ascetics .
58
what are the four noble truths ?
1. The ruth of suffering (dukha)
2. The turth of he cause of suffering (samudya )
3. The turth of the end of suffering (nirodgha )
4. The truth of the path leading to the end of suffering (magga).
59
-You cn understand the four noble turths by study , reflection , meditiation and other activities .
.
60
What does understadning the four noble turths mean for Theravada Buddhists and for Mahayana Buddhist ?
- It is the most important goal for achieving enlightenment .
- For Mahayana Buddhists likewise beliee the four noble tritgjs are very importsnt but they slso emphasise gtht other teachings lke copassion as being central to experience enlgihtenmen .
61
-buddha taught the cure to overcoming suffering is ?
-the eightfold path .
62
First noble truth ?
- The first noble truth draws ttention to the fact that suffering is a part of life and something that everyone experiences .
- There are four unavoidable pysical sufferings , birth , old ge , sickness and death .
- bUDDHISM SAYS YOU WILL EXPEREIENCE HESE SUFFERINGS MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IS PART OF THE CYCLE OF SAMSARA .
- -Also dukkha is important as the Buddha left the palace because he came into conatct with three sighs hwhich incldue those sufferings , whihc PROMPTED HIS SEARCH TO FIND AN END TO SUFFERING .
- Three main menal suffering , wont bw ble to achieve your ful desires
63
Dukkha explained ?
- Buddha isn't sayign happiness dosen;t exist .
- He nows there are many different happpinesses but happiness is also impermnent and iwll nto ls forever so it leads to unhappiness .
FOR SOME PEOPLE - they think this is apessimsitic view of aying life ..
-In my ophion it is realistic , it saffects evryone and so is the universal truth .
Buddhiss acnowldge suffering so hey realise themselves tehey are suffeirng .
-many peopple cmbat sufferign with tempaory pleasures but thay dpsent solve the root cause of ur unhappines s.
- THE FIRSS STEP TO END SUFFERIGN IS TO ACCEPT THE FIRST NOBLE TRUTH ,S UFFERING IS AN AOVIDBALE PART OF LIFE .
- don't becom e' attached; to the sufferign that will increase suffering
64
What is the second noble turh ?
SAMUDAYA - explores the origin of sufferign WHY PEOPLE SUFFER .
Buddha taught that the main cuase of suffering is tanha - meanign craving .
THREE TYPES OF CRAVING
-Craviing hings hat please senses , cravign sometig you ar enot , craving something non-existence .
65
Tanha explained
-The reason why people find life to be unsasidactory nnd full of sufferign is because they become attached .
however concept of ANICCA teaches taht everthign changes , so if people become atatched to things when hey loose it thorugh change theys uffer ,t empoary pleasures ha people CRAVE the most cannot last or make them feel consistenly happy
66
How is sufferign and three posions linked
```
in tibetan wheel
three bits
a pig - reprrsenig ignorance
a cockrel 0 reprsenign greed and desire
a snake represneting hatred . These turn te tibetan wheel , crving is rooted in ignoarance ignorign the nature of relaity n stuff .
```
-overcome igorance to find englithement .
craving also leads to greed and hared , so these poisons trap humans IN THE CYLE OF SAMSARA AND PREVENT THEM FROM REACHING NIRVANA .
67
What is the third noble truth ?
NIRODHA - there is an end o suffeering .
Buddhism teaches it is possible to end a person's sufferign thoruhg their own acions and efforts and htis leads o englihenmen .
Imprortnat s it provides motivation for buddhists o achieve enlightenment as it shows it is possible to reach happienss and htta although sufferign is unavoidable i is possible ot overome it .
68
Nirdoha explained
- Buddha said we get unhappyw hen we don't get the thigns we desire .
- However , Buddha also said when we avoid the things we enjoy and crave , i can acutally only make htings wors ebecause you migthe nd up CRAVING THAT HING MROE IF YOU END UPP NOT BEIGN ABLE TO HAVE IT ALL .
- so buddha said youc an take pleasure in things but yOU HAVE TO RECOGNSIE THINGS CAN;T LAST , so ENJOY THIGNS WITHOUT CRAVIGN THEM OR BECOING TO ATTACED TO IT .
-TO STOP CRAVING YOU NEED A INNER SATISFACTION WITH LIFE AND A TOTAL APPRECIATION OF WHAT OEN HAS ALRADY GOT
9fourth noble urh shows seps o attain this goa ) .
69
Interpetations of nirvana and enlightenment .
Nirvana literally emans extinction - like extinciton of the three posions , After englihtenemnt you are free from the three posions .
-Bodhi is meanign knwoing . Someone who has no expe ctions of permenance and htey bheave accordign to ife moral precepts and shows compassionand wisdom of buddha .
70
The foruth noble truth .
Fourth noble turth is magga) which is the 'cure' end to suffering ,
-a series of practices buddhits follow o overocme sufferin and achieve enlightenemnt known as middle way . ( live inbetween luxury and asceicism ) , as noen of these extremes were helpful to serch for englithenment .
71
eightfold pth ?
The fourth noble turh is the eightfold path
the eightfold path - eight apsecs a buddhist practices to reach englhtenemnt
they are grouped ino three differen sections known as the three fold way ETHICS MEDITAION AND WISDOM .
72
1ST section ethics
-empahsises the improtance of skilful action based on spriual progress ,
right pseech ,a ction and lievelihood .
good morals and behaior being ethical help than harm .
73
2ND section mediation
-empahsies role of mediitation in process of spirtual development .
right effort , midnfullness and conentration .
74
3RD SECTION WISDOM
deals with buddhiss approach to udneerandign naaue of relait
right understanding , right inetion .
ephaises ocvecomign ignrornce acheivenign wisdom , udnersand buddhas teachings . ESSENTIAL FOR ACHEIEING ENGLIHTENMEN .
However they are all conectd , citng more ehtically , means you meditate more and if you do mediatw more increases ons wisdom
75
What is Theravada Buddhism ?
'The school of the elders'
practiced mostly in thailand , srilanka , cambdoia and myanmar .
- Pali main langaugaee used in therada texts and chanting .
- Ordiantion is primariy resevred for mwn , hwoever there are some women who have also been ordianed in heravad abuddhism .
-The buddha is seens as main foucs of commitment and is one of three refugees he is a guide ofr others to follow btu not god .
76
more on theravada
-Theravda monastics devoie their whole lives to following th path of enlghtenment and follow rules like
NO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS AND NOT TO BE OFFENSIE TO ANYOEN ..
-the focus on meditation
believe commtiment to budha and iethfold path will brign good arma (merit ) goal is to reach enlgightement ..
BELEIF THAT YOU CAN TRANSFER MERIT , WEN SOMEONE DIES ,W HICH CAN HELP THE POEROSN THAT HAS DIED DIENDS AND FAMMILY SO THAT TEH DEAD PERSON GETSA A FAOURABLE REBIRTH .
77
What are the five aggregates
f*** sheila pussy man come
The five aspects theravda Buddhists believe that make up a person .
78
What is the first aggregate ?
Form; refers to the material or physical objects (such as house , apple etc)
79
What is the second aggregate ?
Sensation : this refers o the feelings or sensaions htat accur when soemoen comes into conac wih things . Tehey can be physical (sense of pain when tripping over ) or emotional (feeling of joy after seeing a freind ).
80
What is the third aggregate ?
Perception ; this refers to how people recognise )or perceive ) what things are , based on thier previous experiences . (For example , you might recognise what he feeing of happines means because you have felt it before .)
81
What is the fourth aggregate ?
Mental formations : This refers to a person's thoughts and opinions , - how hey resopond emtall to things they experience , including their likes and dislikes and their attitudes towards different things .
82
What is the fifth aggregate ?
Consciousness ; this refers to a person's general awaareness of the world around them .
83
What is Mahayana Buddhism
t is an umbrella ter usd to describe later buddhists radtions like
Pure land buddhism , tibetan buddhism and \wn busshim .
84
ONE DFFERENC EBETWEEN MAHAYANA AND THERVADA BUDDHISTS ?
-theravda buddhis view uuddha as purely a hisorial figure believe no logner possibel o mee and iteract iwth him in the world .
However Mahayan buddhiss belie tht the buddha remains active and cn influence he world - he can be encountered thourgh visions , mediiaions and manifes into differnt forms .
85
What is sunyayta
an improtnt concept in ahayan buddhism - meaing emptiness , the concept htn notghi has an idnependent slef or sul . THIS IS IMPORTANT AS IT IS A RESTATEMNT oF ANATA , THAT HUMANS have a chanign nature .
REALISING EVEYHIGN DEPENDS AND LINKS ON EEYTHIGN ESE LEADS TO turst selfless and realsiing everythig is imperannet leads ro less usffering which is important o achieve engilthenment .
86
What do Mahayan buddhists beive in buddha nature
-thy belive that evryoe is already englightened but they jsut need o realise it .
everone has the potential ot become a buddha .
87
What is Buddha hood ?
-When someone achieves enlightenment and becomes a Buddha .
88
What does the parable of the burnign hosue show (Mahayan Buddhism )
CHildren toys wrre material possessions .
the children were poeple
nd the dad was the buddha trying to guide hem to safety .
Upaya Kusala <--- dad is 'yelling' for a ood cause to save his hcildren .
-act skillfully compred to theravda .
89
Wht is an Arhat for Theravda Buddhists ?
An arha is soemone who has become enlightened .
-they have overcome three posiosn main causs of sufferign to achieve enlgihtenemnt nd free form cyle of samsara following eight fold path .-Buddhas father ws also an arhat .
90
What is an arhat for Mahayna Buddhists ?
use term arhat o refer to someone far along the path of enlgihtenment but has nt yet become enlgthened , The idea for mahayana buddhist sis to become a BODHISATTVA .
91
What is a Bodhisattva ?
A Bodhisattva is someone who has become englightned but stay inte cycle of samsar ot help others achieve enlightenment a well .
92
Becoming a bodhisattv ?
-Theys ee thier own enlightenment as being bound up with enlgihtenment of others .
They remain in the cycle of samsara in order to help others .
-Bodhisatvas combune being compassionate with beign wise .
-Also he original emmohsis of the buddha's teachings was to @ go forth for the welfare of many @
BODHISATTTVAS DO JSUT THIS "How inumerable sentientbeings are ; I vow ot save them ."
93
A person becomes a Bodhisatv by perfectign six attributees in their lfie known as he siz perfections .
Gawd My Penis Energy Makes Women
94
What is the first perfection ?
Generoisity - to chartibale and generous in all tha is done .
95
What is the second perfection ?
Morality - to lvie with good morals and ethical behaviour .
96
What is the third perfection ?
Patience - to practise beign patient in all things .
97
What is the fourth perfection ?
Eneergy - to cultivate he enrgy and perseverance needed to keep going even when things get difficult .
98
What is the fifth perfection ?
Mediation to develop concenration and awareness .
99
What is the sixth perfection ?
Wisdom To obtian wisdom and understain .
100
key fact about Bodhisattvas
-There are wo types of Bodhisatvas
Earthly and Transcendent .
-The 'earthly ons; continue to be reorn into the world .
-While rascendent ones remian insome region between earth and nibbana as spritual or mythical beings ,
-So although mahayana bodhisattavas dont reach nibbana htey are somwehre near there . and mahayana buddhists pray to them in times of need ..
101
the bodhisattva maireya
-is considered to be the future buddha , who wil return to Earth at some point in the future to teach the dhamma .
102
What is Pure Land Buddhism ?
A Mahayana form of Buddhism based on belief in Amiavha Buddhism .
-spread thorugh Cihna and into Japan .
Today , mainly practised in Japan .
103
-Pure land Buddhism is baes on faith in Amitabha Buddha , in the hope of being born itno the paradise where Amitabha lives , Who was he ?
-He was a KING WHO RENOUNCED HIS THRONE TO BECOME A MONK .
104
More about Amitabha .
Mahayna scriptures tell how when he achieved enlightenment and became a Buddha he created a pire land clalled SUKHAVATI .
Sukhavati -the paradise where Amitabha Buddha lives , and where Pureland Buddhists wish to be rebrn .
-He made it ot of karuna and love for all beings .
105
Why do Buddhists want to go to Sukhavati ?
Pure Land Buddhists belieeve that if they are reborn into this land , they will be taught by mitabha himself
- and will therefore have a much better chance of becoming a buddha .
-in the pure l.and there is nos uffering and none of he probelms th our own world that stop people from beign enligthened ,
"sukhavai is rich in a variey of fowers and jewel trees ."
106
Who founded Pure Land Buddhism in China ?
T'an Luan
- He encourgaed believers to follow five types of religous practises :
- Reciting scriptures
- Meditating on Amitabha and his paradise
- Worshipping Amiabha
- Chanting his name
- Making praise and offerings to him .
Of these five he tauhg the most important is ot recite AMITABHA'S NAME , if a person follows these prctises , they will be reborn into the paradise of Sukhavati .
107
How is Pure Land Buddhism diffreent form other uddhism .
- The buddhists foucs on having faith in Amitabha and believe he will help Buddhists to be rebron into Sukhaavati .
- THEREFORE , FAITH IN AMITABHA IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A PERSON'S OWN ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOUR ,
- This is quiet different from other school of buddhism as like in theravada it is persons own thoughts and actions that help thema chieve enligthenment ..
-THE FACT IS IT IEASIER TO REACH ENLIGHTENMENT IN PURE LAND BUDDHISM as you have Amitabha's help which is why this tradition of Buddhis has gained poppularity .
