Buddhist Beliefs Mock Revision Flashcards
- The teachings of the Buddha are known as
the Dharma e.g. Dharmachakrapavartanasutra.
- Siddhartha’s life of luxury, why he gave it up:
- He saw the Four Sights.
- Siddhartha realised he wouldn’t find the answers to the problem of suffering by living his life of luxury.
- He was being prepared to be a king, which he rejected. He wanted to seek the religious or holy life.
- He fulfilled the prophecy of Asita by leaving the palace.
- He would not have been able to show his compassion for humankind by staying in the palace.
- He was discontented and not at peace.
- He was curious about the outside world.
- The importance and influence of Bodhissatvas to Buddhists (reborn enlightened beings who return to teach humans the Dharma out of compassion for the suffering we experience in Samsara):
- To become a Bodhisattva is the spiritual goal of Mahayana Buddhism so Buddhists see a Bodhisattva as a role model, to guide, help and teach others.
- Based on their example, Buddhists will want to be compassionate in order to help other beings with their problems in life.
- Bodhisattvas combine being compassionate with being wise so, Buddhists will want to be the same.
- Buddhists will want to live their lives following the six paramitas (perfections). (generosity; morality; tolerance or patience, energy; meditation and wisdom)
- Buddhists will pray to Bodhisattvas for guidance on their own paths to enlightenment.
- Buddhists will live out the Bodhisattva vow: - ‘However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them; however inexhaustible the defilements are, I vow to extinguish them.’
- Buddhists will also want to ‘go forth for the welfare of the many’.
- Images of Bodhisattvas function as more than reminders of their spiritual qualities. Some Buddhists see the images as actually possessing the spirit and power of the beings they represent.
- Bodhisattvas can be male or female encouraging Buddhists’ belief in the equality of all.
- The Nature of the Pure Land in Pure Land Buddhism:
- Pure Land is based on faith in Amitābha Buddha.
- There is the hope of being reborn in the paradise where Amitābha lives.
- Pure Land Buddhists can simply call on the name of Amitābha to gain rebirth in the sukhāvatī or Western Paradise.
- Amitābha created this paradise out of compassion and love for all beings.
- Pure Land Buddhists believe that if they are reborn in this land, they will be taught by Amitābha himself.
- nThey will therefore have a much better chance of attaining Buddhahood (becoming a Buddha).
- In the Pure Land there is no suffering. There are none of the problems that stop people in our own world from attaining enlightenment.
- From the Pure Land Sutras: ‘Bodhisattvas hear about the Buddha Amitābha and call him to mind again and again in this land. Because of this calling to mind, they see the Buddha Amitābha. Having seen him they ask him what dharmas it takes to be born in the realm of the Buddha Amitābha. Then the Buddha Amitābha says to these bodhisattvas: “If you wish to come and be born in my realm, you must always call me to mind again and again, you must always keep this thought in mind without letting up, and thus you will succeed in coming to be born in my realm.”
- The difficulty of achieving enlightenment - Why it is difficult:
. In Theravada, you have to be a monk to achieve enlightenment and those in the monastic communities are expected to lead a life based on the study of Buddhist doctrine. The discipline may prove difficult for some and some Buddhist traditions believe that only males can gain enlightenment.
. Enlightenment is a real experience and it takes time, dedication and effort to experience it (witness the Buddha’s own life). Only by becoming ordained can a person ‘go within’, an internal path into one’s own consciousness through meditation and contemplation to achieve it so, not for lay Buddhists who can only hope for a better rebirth.
. No one can fully overcome suffering and no one can fully extinguish greed, hatred and delusion which is what enlightenment is all about.
. It is too abstract a concept for people to understand & it is unrealistic to think that the goal of a religion can be achieved in this present life.
. Suffering is a fact of life, we just have to live with it. Suffering is a major part of human nature so it does not matter about a different mind-set, such as enlightenment, people will always experience hurt and pain.
- The difficulty of achieving enlightenment - But why it is worth attempting it:
. The Buddha did, so others can. The Buddha would not have identified a path to enlightenment if he didn’t think people could reach it.
. In many branches of Buddhism such as Zen, it is believed all can achieve enlightenment as they already have Buddha nature in them. Pure Land Buddhists through their chanting might suggest that enlightenment is easy to attain.
. A Bodhisattva helps in the Mahayana tradition towards enlightenment.
. This sets up the Four Noble Truths as a profound teaching and establishes the Buddha as a physician for all the ills of the world, as he identifies the problem and gives a diagnosis in the first two Noble Truths.
. Anyone can experience selflessness, followed by certain changes in outlook. As the experience usually involves intensive meditation and follows study of the Four Basic Truths of Buddhism, so enlightenment is possible for all. It is up to the individual and their commitment to the goal of Buddhism.
