Buddhist Key Terms

Question 1

Anatta

Answer 1

The idea that there is no fixed self - one of the three marks of exsistance

Question 2

Anicca

Answer 2

Impermanance - one of the three marks of exisistance

Question 3

Arhart

Answer 3

A from of human destiny in Theravada Buddhism - a perfected person who as attained nibbana

Question 4

Astetic

Answer 4

A life free from wordly pleasures

Question 5

Bodhisattva

Answer 5

A form of human destiny in Mahayana Budhism. a being destined for enlightenment, however delying enlightenment for helping someone else

Question 6

Buddahood

Answer 6

Enlightenment

Question 7

Buddha-nature

Answer 7

In mahayana Buddhism, it is the idea that all beings can achieve enlightenment

Question 8

Dependant Arising

Answer 8

The idea that everything is interconnected and that it effects eeveryone else

Question 9

Dhamma/Dharma

Answer 9

Universal law - ultimate law - spelt as Dharma in Sanskrit

Question 10

Dhammapada

Answer 10

A sacred text of the Pali tradition with 426 texts

Question 11

Dukka

Answer 11

Suffering

Question 12

the eightfold path

Answer 12

the fouth noble truth- magga. The middle way. The way to wisdom; morality and mental training. Eight stages to be practised simaltaniously

Question 13

Enlightenment

Answer 13

Wisdom or understanding enablig clarity of perception; this allowss a Buddhist to be freed from samsara

Question 14

Ethics

Answer 14

Sila. Moral conduct

Question 15

Jataka

Answer 15

The jataka tales are the stories about the previous lives of the Buddha

Question 16

Kamma

Answer 16

The sanksrit form of kamma, litterly “action”, deliberate the actions that affect the believer’s circumstances in this and furture lives, can cause effects

Question 17

karuna

Answer 17

Compassion

Question 18

Metta

Answer 18

Loving Kindness

Question 19

Magga

Answer 19

The eightfold path. ‘the middle way’ that leads to the end of suffering

Question 20

Mahayana

Answer 20

A form of buddhism that focuses on acheving enlightenment for the sake of all beings. it is in China, Tibet and japan

Question 21

meditation

Answer 21

A spiritual experiance that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness

Question 22

Nibbana

Answer 22

Litterly ‘blowing out’ to reach a state if perfect peace where the induvidual experiances libertation from the cycle of death and rebirth

Question 23

Pure Land

Answer 23

This is the dominant form of buddhism in Japan and focuses on chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha

Question 24

Rebirth

Answer 24

This refers to the belief that when a person dies he is reborn and that the process of death and rebirth continues until nibbana is atianed

Question 25

Tanha

Answer 25

The seccond noble truth - craving/ desire which causes suffering. the attempt to grasp things we enjoy

Question 26

Theravada

Answer 26

the kind of buddhism found in sri lanka and thiland. It came before Mahayana