Buddhist Knowledge Grid Flashcards
Buddhism
The faith based on the teachings of the Buddha
Buddha
The founder of Buddhism and everything it teaches its followers. Also the name meaning ‘awakened one’ which was given to Siddhartha Gautama
Pali Canon
The main sacred text for many Buddhists which contains the teachings of the Buddha
Enlightenment
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
Meditation
The practice of focusing one’s mind
Samsara
The endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Parinirvana
The state of complete bliss where a person is no longer tied to the universe or its suffering in the reincarnation brought by Samsara
The Four Sights
Siddhartha Gautama saw an old man, an ill man, a dead man and a holy man (ascetic)
Ascetic
A person who sacrifices their family and luxuries to live a basic life dedicated to practising a spiritual or religious rituals
The Great Departure
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
The Middle Way
The Buddha’s principle of moderation between extreme luxury and suffering
Dharma
The truths taught by the Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
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
The Eightfold Path
Eight factors divided into wisdom, morality and meditation that help guide Buddhists to escaping Samsara through the achieving of enlightenment
The Sangha
The Buddhist community of monks and nuns
Bhikkus/ bhikkunis
Bhikkus- Buddhist monks. Bhikkunis- Buddhist nuns
Theravada Buddhism
A traditional school of Buddhism based on the Pali Canon and closely following the exact example of the Buddha
Mahayana Buddhism
A more diverse school of Buddhism popularly practised in Areas of Asia like Taiwan, China and Tibet
Laity
The group of people who are not a part of the Sangha
Jhanas
The eight stages of absorption or stages of meditation
Bodh Gaya
The most important place for Buddhists to visit as this was where the Buddha became enlightened
Bodhisattva
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
Arhat
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
