buddhist key vocab 2 Flashcards
Buddharupa
Buddharupa is a statue of the Buddha or a Bodhisattva found in the main hall of the temple
Gompa
Gompa is the Tibetan word for the meditation room in a temple
Stupa
contains holy relics, represents earth, water, fire, air and wisdom
Vihara
monastery where nuns and monks live
Puja
worship
Mantra
A sequence of sacred syllables which represent a particular quality of the Buddha, or of a bodhisattva
Om mani padme hum
The mantra of compassion.
Retreat
retreat’ to a monastery, usually for a weekend or a few days, to live with other people who share the same faith, live a simple life, practise meditation and Buddhist rituals.
Vassa
communities monks observe Vassa which is an annual retreat lasting for three months. It happens during the rainy season
Wesak
Buddhists celebrate his life when the moon is full. It is a festival of light to remember his enlightenment and the way it gives Buddhists freedom from suffering.
Parinirvana Day
This is a more solemn festival as it is a chance to reflect on their own future death, and to remember loved ones who have died. Anicca is the central focus of the festival.
Mahaparinirvana Sutra
important scripture that describes Buddha’s last days read during Parinirvana
Kushinagar
Pilgrimage during Parinirvana to Kushinagar in India,
Kamma
we are not rewarded or punished for our actions, but rather that we bring the consequences upon ourselves.
Skilful actions’
rooted in generosity, compassion and understanding, and these lead to happiness
‘Unskilful actions’
rooted in the 3 poisons of ignorance, greed and hate and lead to suffering.
Six Realms
Good or bad kamma will result in re-birth: animals, the realm of the tormented beings, and the human realm. The human realm is the best to reach enlightenment.
Karuna
compassion
Buddha’s example of karuna
Buddha’s decision to share what he learnt about suffering and how to overcome it;
Four Sublime States
: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.
ROKPA
a Buddhist charity that sets up schools in LEDCs - teach about karuna, best way to bring about change for society
Metta
loving kindness to all people
‘loving kindness meditation’
Metta can be practised through ‘loving kindness meditation’ where you visualise happiness first for yourself, then a friend, neutral person, then someone you don’t like
The Five Moral Precepts
To abstain from taking life (of any living being)
To abstain from taking what is not freely given
To abstain from misuse of the senses
To abstain from wrong speech
To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind
The Six Perfections
required to be a Bodhisattva:
Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy Meditation Wisdom
Kammic energy
when they die their Kammic energy leaves their body and it is reborn in a new one.
Shrine
displaying a picture of the deceased alongside an image of the Buddha. Mourners will offer flowers, as these represent anicca.
Transferring positive energy
mourners will give the money to charity, or make a donation to the temple. This will bring them good kamma which they believe they can transfer to the deceased
Sky burial
Tibetan Buddhists favour ‘sky burials’ where the body is left in a high place as a gift for the vultures.
Yak butter lamps
Ceremonies involving the lighting of yak butter lamps are made every seven days for forty nine days.
Samatha meditation
Samatha meditation involves focusing on mindfulness of the body and breath.
Kasinas
Kasinas are used for focus during meditation. There are ten Kasinas including earth, water and fire, and colours like blue or red.
Vipassana meditation
Vipassana meditation occurs when the mind is calm, and one develops a sense of the true nature of reality. The mind is focused entirely on the present
Walking meditation
Some people walk when they meditate, focusing entirely on the physical sensation of walking. The aim is to give your full attention to whatever is going on in your mind at the time
Thanka
Paintings of the Buddha used as a visualisation during meditation
Visualisation
In visualisation you are simply imagining a kasina. You begin by looking at a picture (for example) and then put the picture away. You then revisit it in your mind visualising all the intricate details
Mandala
A circular pattern made of sand (to remind Buddhists of anicca). It can be used as a visaulisation meditation
