Buddhist Beliefs and Teachings

Question 1

Key events of the Birth of the Buddha

Answer 1

• The White Elephant
• The Sala Tree
• The 7 Steps
• The Prophecy
• The Lotus Flower

Question 2

The White Elephant

Answer 2

Greeted Queen Mya (Buddha’s mother) in her dream.
A symbol of greatness and rarity.

Question 3

The Sala Tree

Answer 3

Bent down for Queen Mya. Symbolises hope, patience and being “fully awakened”

Question 4

The 7 Steps

Answer 4

Buddha took 7 steps in 4 directions when he was born.
Symbolises 6 levels of suffering and the 7th shows we can overcome it.

Question 5

The Prophecy

Answer 5

A prophecy was made the he would either be a great king or a great leader.

Question 6

The Lotus Flower

Answer 6

Pink Lotus is reserved for the highest being - Buddha.

Question 7

The 4 Sights

Answer 7

• Death
• Old age
• Sickness
• Holy man

Question 8

Buddha’s Ascetic Life

Answer 8

To avoid any forms of luxury or indulgence.

Question 9

Advantages of Buddha’s Ascetic Life

Answer 9

• He learnt self control and discipline.
• Conquered fear, desire and disgust.
• Stress free
• He was able to reach advanced levels of meditation.

Question 10

Disadvantages of Buddha’s Ascetic Life

Answer 10

• Hallucinations due to deprivation
• Poor physical health
• Didn’t help him find truth

Question 11

Buddha’s Enlightenment

Answer 11

Buddha sat near a tree and meditated for 46 days. Then, he was visited by Mara who tried to distract him in 4 ways:
- Got his daughters to try seduce him
- Tried to attack Buddha with his army
- Offered Buddha control of his kingdom
- Tried to make Buddha doubtful of his worthiness of enlightenment.

Question 12

Buddha’s Enlightenment Quote

Answer 12

“I have conquered all; I know all and my life is pure.”

Question 13

The 3 Jewels

Answer 13

• Buddha
• Dhamma
• Sangha

Question 14

The Buddha

Answer 14

The founder. “Doctor”

Question 15

The Dhamma

Answer 15

The Buddha’s teachings.
“Medicine”

Question 16

The Sangha

Answer 16

The community
“People who help you take the medicine”

Question 17

Dependant Arising

Answer 17

• Nothing is eternal
• All things depend on certain conditions to survive.

Question 18

Dependant Arising Quote

Answer 18

“When this is, that is… From the arising of this comes the arising of that”

Question 19

Three Marks of Existence

Answer 19

• Dukkha
• Annica
• Anatta

Question 20

Dukkha

Answer 20

Suffering

Question 21

Anicca

Answer 21

Impermanence

Question 22

Anatta

Answer 22

No fixed self/soul

Question 23

The 4 Noble Truths

Answer 23

• Dukkha
• Tanha
• Nirodha
• Magga

Question 24

Dukkha

Answer 24

Suffering

Question 25

Tanha

Answer 25

Craving - the cause of suffering

Question 26

Nirodha

Answer 26

The end of suffering

Question 27

Magga

Answer 27

The cure to suffering

Question 28

Arhat

Answer 28

• Theravada
• Goal is to reach enlightenment and leave Samsara.
• Do this by overcoming following the Noble Eightfold Path

Question 29

Arhat Quote

Answer 29

“I have no teacher, no one like me exists in the world. I am the Teacher Supreme, I alone am the Fully Enlightened One.”

Question 30

Bodhisattva

Answer 30

• Mahayana
• Stay in samsara to help others reach enlightenment
• Follow 6 Perfections

Question 31

Bodhisattva Quote

Answer 31

“However innumerable sentient beings are; I vow to save them”

Question 32

Sukhavati

Answer 32

The perfect paradise in Pure Land Buddhism

Question 33

Pure Land Buddhism

Answer 33

• Buddha (Amitabha) created a perfect paradise when he reached enlightenment.
• In Sukhavati, they are taught be Amitabha and there is no dukkha.
• They worship by reading scriptures, making offerings to Amitabha and chanting his name.