Buddhist Knowledge Grid

Question 1

Buddhism

Answer 1

The faith based on the teachings of the Buddha

Question 2

Buddha

Answer 2

The founder of Buddhism and everything it teaches its followers. Also the name meaning ‘awakened one’ which was given to Siddhartha Gautama

Question 3

Pali Canon

Answer 3

The main sacred text for many Buddhists which contains the teachings of the Buddha

Question 4

Enlightenment

Answer 4

The state of being awakened to the truth about life and experiencing complete bliss at the prospect of obliteration in Nirvana instead of suffering through the eternal cycle of Samsara. The goal of all Buddhists

Question 5

Meditation

Answer 5

The practice of focusing one’s mind

Question 6

Samsara

Answer 6

The endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Question 7

Parinirvana

Answer 7

The state of complete bliss where a person is no longer tied to the universe or its suffering in the reincarnation brought by Samsara

Question 8

The Four Sights

Answer 8

Siddhartha Gautama saw an old man, an ill man, a dead man and a holy man (ascetic)

Question 9

Ascetic

Answer 9

A person who sacrifices their family and luxuries to live a basic life dedicated to practising a spiritual or religious rituals

Question 10

The Great Departure

Answer 10

When Siddhartha left royal grounds to become an ascetic. He gave up his family and luxury, cut his hair, parted with his sleeping wife and left. He wanted to find an answer to the problem of suffering

Question 11

The Middle Way

Answer 11

The Buddha’s principle of moderation between extreme luxury and suffering

Question 12

Dharma

Answer 12

The truths taught by the Buddha

Question 13

The Four Noble Truths

Answer 13

1) all creatures experience suffering
2) suffering is caused by selfish desires
3) there is a way to end suffering
4) the way to end suffering is by following the Eightfold path

Question 14

The Eightfold Path

Answer 14

Eight factors divided into wisdom, morality and meditation that help guide Buddhists to escaping Samsara through the achieving of enlightenment

Question 15

The Sangha

Answer 15

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns

Question 16

Bhikkus/ bhikkunis

Answer 16

Bhikkus- Buddhist monks. Bhikkunis- Buddhist nuns

Question 17

Theravada Buddhism

Answer 17

A traditional school of Buddhism based on the Pali Canon and closely following the exact example of the Buddha

Question 18

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 18

A more diverse school of Buddhism popularly practised in Areas of Asia like Taiwan, China and Tibet

Question 19

Laity

Answer 19

The group of people who are not a part of the Sangha

Question 20

Jhanas

Answer 20

The eight stages of absorption or stages of meditation

Question 21

Bodh Gaya

Answer 21

The most important place for Buddhists to visit as this was where the Buddha became enlightened

Question 22

Bodhisattva

Answer 22

An enlightened being who had the option of Nirvana but chose to stay in Samsara to help others achieve enlightenment. The goal of Mahayana Buddhists

Question 23

Arhat

Answer 23

An enlightened being who has become awakened to the truth about life and removed the Three Poisons from their life. The goal of Theravada Buddhists