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Buddhist case study Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the dominant religion in India during the time when Buddha was alive?

A

Hinduism - Belief in samsara and karma

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2
Q

What is Buddha’s real name?

A

Siddharta Gautama

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3
Q

When as Buddha born?

A

Around 600 BCE

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4
Q

What does the legend say about the birth of the Buddha?

A

Legend says that is mother, Mahamaya conceived him when a white elephant passed through her side

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5
Q

What did Buddha’s father (Suddhodana) learn from the scholars and priests who predicted the future of Siddharta?

A

Predicted that he would either become a powerful ruler of men, or a great religious leader

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6
Q

What did Buddha’s father decide after listening to the prophecy made about Siddharta?

A

The father wanted Siddharta to become a ruler instead of a great religious leader, and thus he chose to give the Buddha all the comforts possible and removed situations of suffering that would cause the child to think about the meaning of life

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7
Q

What is the story/myth that shows the Buddha’s growing awareness of human suffering and the need to find a solution for it?

A

Stories say that when the Buddha went on a journey from the comforts of the palace, he encountered three different people; a sick person, an old person, a dead person and finally a wandering ascetic

(Known as the four sights)

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8
Q

What is the significance of the Four Sights on the belief system of Buddhism?

A

It made Buddha want to search for the reason behind all suffering and to provide a solution to suffering

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9
Q

Where did the Buddha become Enlightened?

A

Under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya

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10
Q

What did the Buddha discover under the Bodhi Tree when he became enlightened?

A

He discovered the four noble truths. That is that suffering exists, there is an origin to suffering, there is a way out of suffering and that the path to escape suffering is through the use of the ‘Eightfold Path’.

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11
Q

What are the four noble truths?

A

First Truth: There exists suffering (dukkha)
Second Truth: There is an origin to all dukkha (suffering)
Third Truth: There is a way out of dukkha
Fourth Truth: The path out of dukkha is known as the Eightfold Path

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12
Q

What does Sangha mean?

A

Traditionally meant the monks and nuns who live in monasteries, however it can also be interpreted as the entire Buddhist community including laypeople

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13
Q

What does Dharma mean?

A

The Buddha’s insights and teachings

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14
Q

Describe the life of Siddharta Gautama as a child.

A

As a child, Siddharta (Buddha) had all the pleasures that he could possibly want, due to his father being a king. His father spoilt the Buddha with all the comforts that his palace could offer. Siddharta was also very sheltered from the outside world, not being permitted to go out by his dad.

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15
Q

What happened after the Buddha discovered Enlightenment at the Bodhi tree? What did the Buddha become?

A

Buddha begun attracting others towards him. A lot of people were attracted to his teachings. These people then became the earliest form of the Sangha. From here the Buddha became a guide for all those seeking spiritual enlightenment and was a role model to all Buddhists

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16
Q

What is the Middle Path?

A

The Middle Path is a concept by the Buddha which can be used to achieve Enlightenment. It is basically all about avoiding the extremities of life and just focussing on the middle ‘path’ which is essentially steering clear of the extremities of ascetism and sensual indulgence.

This could be achieved through the usage of the Eightfold Path

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17
Q

What is asceticism?

A

severe self-discipline and avoiding of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

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18
Q

What is part of the Eightfold Path

A

The Eightfold Path involves having:

Right aspirations
Right view
Right speech
Right conduct
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

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19
Q

What does the concept of ‘The Three Jewels’ mean?

A

They refer to the three elements of Buddhism which are central to Buddhism.

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20
Q

What are the three Jewels (as in what are the actual ‘jewels’)

A

The Three Jewels are:

The Buddha
The Dhamma (Teachings)
The Sangha (Community)

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21
Q

What is the Dhamma (also written as the Dharma) and what does it consist of?

A

It consists of the words that the Buddha actually spoke. These are recited in a ritual and are used as a code of living. They include; the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path as well as other teachings of the Buddha that were passed onto his disciples

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22
Q

What is the concept of karma?

A

Refers to one’s actions in life, both good and bad, and are the natural consequences of actions

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23
Q

What is the concept of Nirvana?

A

a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.

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24
Q

What is the basis of Buddhist ethics?

A

Respect for life and making sure not to harm living beings and ensure that everyone has a good welfare

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25
Q

Is commitment to the three jewels necessary to become a Buddhist?

A

Yes. It is an extremely important part of being able to devote yourself to avoid suffering.

26
Q

Where can the Buddhist values which are related to ethical and moral teachings be found?

A

Found through the ‘Five Precepts’

27
Q

What are the Five precepts?

A

The Five Precepts require you to abstain from:
1. killing living things (Thus practising vegetarianism)
2. Taking what is not given
3. engaging in sexual misconduct (Includes actions regarding sexual responsibility)
4. Speaking falsely
5. Taking drugs or drink that affects the mind (can also include foods which are toxic to consume i.e. fast foods)

28
Q

What is the Vinaya?

A

The Vinaya is a guide for monks and nuns. It is a guide to monastic life and directs monastic behaviours. In Theravada Buddhism, the Vinaya includes 227 vows. Breaching some of these rules will have different penalties depending on their severity

29
Q

What is the Tripitaka?

A

Tripitaka also known as the Pali Canon is a collection of Buddhist teachings that are the foundation of Theravada Buddhism. This is written in the language ‘Pali’. And is a collection of scriptures.

30
Q

What is Anicca?

A

It is the absence of permanence (permanence meaning the state of remaining unchanged)

31
Q

What is a mark of existence?

A

These are characteristics of all living beings

32
Q

What is Dukkha?

A

Translated as ‘suffering’, dukkha is linked closely to the needs of personality. None of the needs of the personality are completely satisfactory

33
Q

What is Anatta?

A

Anatta refers to the idea of non-self or the absence of an individual self. Because all life is impermanent in Buddhism, so too is the idea of self. Because people always try to construct a concept of ‘self’, thus the mind is a constant flow of unstable mental states.

34
Q

What are the three aspects/Baskets of Tripitaka/ Pali canon?

A

Vinaya Basket (Vinaya Pitaka)
Sutta Basket (Sutta Pitaka)
Abhidhamma Basket (Abhidhamma Pitaka)

35
Q

What does the Vinaya Basket refer to?

A

Known as the discipline basket. Contains the rules of conduct for the community of monks and nuns

36
Q

What does the Sutta Basket refer to?

A

Known as the ‘sayings’ basket, it is a collection of the discourses of the Buddha. A lot of the Theravada Buddhism’s main teachings are from here. Buddha’s teachings here are divided into five collections

37
Q

What does the Abhidhamma Basket refer to?

A

Also known as the higher knowledge or teachings basket

It is a collection of writings, songs, stories and poetry that focuses on philosophy and psychology and explains the Buddhist doctrine

38
Q

How was the Sangha when the Buddha died formed?

A

By the end of his life, the Buddha has already gathered many disciples around him. These people formed the sangha or the original community of monks and nuns.

39
Q

What was the first Sangha’s important job?

A

To recite the words of the Buddha and agree on what the members of the sangha remembered he said

40
Q

How was the idea of monastic life developed?

A

It was developed through the first sangha wandering around India telling people about Buddhism and during the rainy season, would return to communal areas to rest, and this is the start of the idea of monastic lifestyles

41
Q

What story explains the origins of nuns in the sangha?

A

The story of Mahapajapati who was Buddha’s aunt and stepmother explains this story

42
Q

How did the myth of Mahapajapati explain the establishment of the female sangha?

A

After the Buddha discovered the secret to Enlightenment, Mahapajapati was eager to join the sangha, along with other women. She asked the Buddha three times, and the buddha refused three times. Finally when Mahapajapati approached him again along with other women, Buddha finally agreed to the establishment of a female sangha

43
Q

When was the first council?

A

The first council occurred immediately after the death of the Buddha..

44
Q

What was discussed at the first council?

A

Those present at the meeting settles the contents of the dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings) and codified most of the rules for how a monk or nun should live in the Vinaya. There was also the formation of the pali canon (tripitaka)

45
Q

What was discussed at the second council? When was it held?

A

It was held 70 years later. Here, there was a great recitation of texts. Here some monks were attacked for receiving money and caused massive debates. It caused ‘schisms’ and eventually led to the formation of Mahayana Buddhism

46
Q

Who promoted Buddhism from around 200 BCE to 100 BCE?

A

Emperor Asoka

47
Q

How did Emperor Asoka allow for the growth of Buddhism?

A

Asoka sent missionaries to both the East and the west. He was also a ruler of most of northern India, and thus exerted his influence over the regions in which he controlled. He also established the third council

48
Q

What did the third council discuss?

A

Approved the teachings of the elders and the addition of the third part of the Pali Canon(The abhidhamma)

49
Q

How many rules for nuns and monks are there in the Vinaya Pitaka?

A

Monks - 227
Nuns - 311

50
Q

What are the three big schools of Buddhism?

A

Theravada
Mahayana
Vajrayana

51
Q

What is Theravada Buddhism?

A

Theravada Buddhism consists of people who claim to be the original Buddhists. These Buddhists hold fast to the essentials of Buddhism and is known as a very rigorous form of Buddhism. This is largely practised by monks and nuns. Here, it only offers a path to Nirvana for only a few (which are basically just the monks and nuns). Here, the role of the lay person is minor and is just there to just support the monks and nuns and build good karma

Largely found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia

52
Q

What is Mahayana Buddhism?

A

Mahayana Buddhism offers a path to Nirvana for a greater number of people. Here, lay people can achieve peace for themselves largely through self-effort that they engage in. Here, the goal is for individuals to forgo their own striving for Nirvana to assist others to get on the right path to achieve Nirvana

This is commonly found in Japan, Korea and Vietnam

53
Q

What is a Bodhisattva?

A

a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so through compassion for suffering beings. These are typically found in Mahayana Buddhism

54
Q

What is Vajrayana Buddhism?

A

Has a stronger influence of Hindu traditions and beliefs on Buddhism. In this form of Buddhism, there are many gods and divine personifications of the Buddha. The goal for individuals here is to pass beyond appearance to a void where you are caught up with absolute being. This is achieved through reciting the
‘mantra’ (a magic word) which can be heard at the edges of the universe. It also utilises meditation a lot.

In other words, Vajrayana Buddhism has a more supernatural element to it and has an emphasis on rites such as repetitions of mantras and meditation

55
Q

What are the top three countries with the most Buddhists?

A

China, Thailand, Japan

56
Q

What are the main schools of Buddhism in China?

A

Pure Land Buddhism
Chan School of Buddhism

57
Q

What are the main schools of Buddhism in Thailand?

A

Theravada Buddhism

58
Q

What are the main schools of Buddhism in Japan?

A

Soku Gakki

59
Q

How many adherents of Buddhism are there in the world to date?

A

Around 506 million and growing (2022)

60
Q

Explain the nature (where, how many, key features) of adherents of Buddhism

A

Buddhism has been slightly growing over the years and hit 506 million adherents in 2022, however, the Buddhist population is expected to stagnate or decline due to the lack of ‘advertising’ for their religion. In 2020, the majority of Buddhists live in China, with around 254 million Buddhists, many belonging to the schools of Pure Land Buddhism and Chan school of Buddhism. This is also followed by Thailand with 66 mill and the major school being Theravada. Followed by Japan with Soku Gakki being their main school and having around 41 mill

61
Q

How many Buddhists in China, Thailand and Japan? (2020)

A

China - 244mill
Thailand - 64 mill
Japan- 46 mill

62
Q

What is the eightfold path?

A

The path to nirvana/Enlightenment , comprising eight aspects in which an aspirant must become practised to achieve

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