Buddhist Ethical Teachings

Question 1

Approximately how old is the Buddhist religion?

Answer 1

2,500 years old

Question 2

How many Buddhists are there estimated to be in the world?

Answer 2

535 million

Question 3

Why is the Buddha so central to Buddhist Ethics?

Answer 3

Because he is believed to have become an enlightened being through his own efforts and so understands intimately how to be the best human we can be

Question 4

What is the ‘Middle Path’?

Answer 4

A way of life that takes the balanced path between extremes of behaviour

Question 5

Which is the largest Buddhist group?

Answer 5

Mahayana Buddhism (split into smaller groups i.e Zen and Thia)

Question 6

Who leads Tibetan Buddhism?

Answer 6

The Dalai Lama

Question 7

What is a Sangha?

Answer 7

The Worldwide or individual Buddhist communities Buddhist belong to that are led by a monk or centred around a whole group of monks or nuns

Question 8

What is the Buddhist view of the universe, time and the purpose of humanity?

Answer 8

They do not believe any God created the universe, it has no ultimate purpose and will go on ceaselessly in some form or another for eternity

Question 9

What does Buddhism teach is the best use of our lives?

Answer 9

The best use of life is to escape the continuous suffering and actively help others to seek Enlightenment if they choose to.

Question 10

Roughly how many Theravada Buddhists are there in the world?

Answer 10

150 million (this is the oldest tradition)

Question 11

What is Karuna?

Answer 11

Compassion, a desire to free others from suffering and also recognising your own suffering and seeking to free yourself from it.

Question 12

What is Metta?

Answer 12

Loving Kindness, desiring not just the absence of suffering but the actual attainment of happiness for all beings

Question 13

What are the Five Moral Precepts?

Answer 13

To refrain from taking life
To refrain from sexual misconduct
To refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind
To refrain from wrong speech
To refrain from taking what is not freely given

Question 14

What are the three sections of the Eightfold Path?

Answer 14

Sila, Samadhi and Pranna

Question 15

What is in the Ethics section of the Eightfold Path?

Answer 15

(Sila)
Right Livelihood
Right Speech
Right Action

Question 16

In which Buddhist tradition are the Six Perfections found?

Answer 16

Mahayana Buddhism

Question 17

What are the Six Perfections?

Answer 17

Generosity
Morality
Patience 
Energy 
Meditation
Wisdom

Question 18

What is the meaning of the story ‘Siddhartha and the Swan’?

Answer 18

It symbolises Siddhartha’s deeply compassionate nature for all living beings and his rejection of the idea that humans can have ownership of the natural world.

Question 19

What is the meaning of the story ‘Kisa Gotami’?

Answer 19

The story demonstrates that although difficult, helping someone understand the truth in a compassionate way is the best method to help them deal with their suffering.