Buddhist Practices Flashcards
What is Wesak?
The Buddhas birthday
What happens during Wesak and what is its purpose?
- Visit local temple
- Reminder of freeing mind from the three marks of conditioned existence
- Spread Dharma
- Build sangha
What does paranirvana celebrate?
- The Buddhas death
What happens on Paranirvana?
- Go to temple or monastries
- Social day with presents and such
- Reflect on their lives
What is Vassa?
- The rain festival
- THERAVADA ONLY
What happens during Vassa?
- The rain festival
- Monks stay in Vihara
- Lay people leave offerings or give something up
What is cathina?
- Last day of Vassa
Where are the places Puja takes place?
- Home
- Vihara
- Monastry
- Temple
What is the purpose of puja?
- Show respect and devotion to the Buddha teachings and the Buddha
Activities during Puja?
- Offerings
- Bowing
- Meditation
- Chanting
- Reading
- Scriptures/Sutra
What are the objects of devotion and what do they represent?
- Candles/lights- Enlightenment
- Flowers/Plants- Anicca
- Fruit- Anatta
- Incense- Spreading of the Dharma
- Water- Reverence for life
What does metta mean and how does it influence Buddhists?
- A universal loving kindness
- Buddhists will always act out of love for other living things
What does Ahimsa mean?
- Non violence
What do Buddhists believe about death?
- Death is not the end (reincarnation)
- Rebirth depends on merit
Why do Buddhists mark death?
- Recognises Anicca
- Consider the impact of our own lives
- Develop positive karma to aid rebirth
- To show respect,karma and metta
How are Theravada funerals celebrated?
- Death is a transitioning period
- The living participates in acts to transfer merits
- Verses on impermanence read
- Depends on culture
How do Tibetan Buddhists differ?
- Tibetan book of the dead gives advice for dying
- Time between life and death is called bardo
- Prayer ceremonies every ten days
What is Karma?
- The idea that skilful/unskilful actions effect everything
- Cause and effect
- A universal law in Buddhism
How does Karma effect Buddhist lives?
- Positive states of mind and actions
- Makes them happier and suffer less
- See it as empowering so use karma to have an impact on their rebirth
What is the purpose of meditation?
- Calm the mind and see more clearly
- Cultivate Karuna and Metta
- Truly see the reality of things
What is Samatha and what is its purpose?
- To control the mind and focus on breath
- Calms the mind
- Creates a mental happiness, generate love or compassion
What is Vipassana and what is its purpose?
- Mental development of looking inwards as a passive observer
- Deconstruct the ego
- Recognise sunyata and anatta
What is visualisation and what is its purpose?
- About personal guidance from the Buddha
- Helps build a connection with the Buddha
What are the five precepts?
- Don’t destroy/harm life
- Don’t steal (things or energy)
- Don’t misuse sex
- Don’t lie/misuse speech
- Don’t cloud judgement with drugs/alcohol
What is karuna and how does it influence Buddhists?
- Karuna is compassion
- The Buddha said it was something all people could do
- Therefore try to practice it as much as possible
