Buddhist Practices Flashcards
Temples
The heart of a buddhist community. Where buddhists can come to practice,study and meditate together.
may include a :
- main hall (where buddhists practice together)
- a stupa
- a study hall ( to recieve lectures)
- a meditation hall (to meditate)
Shrines
Where people make offerings as a sign of respect to the buddha. Can be found in the home or a temple. Focus of meditation
offerings:
- light
- flowers
- incense
Quote for shrines
’ The time and effort required to keep the shrines clean and replenished with flowers and other offerings is considered a skilful activity to focus one’s mind .’
- Lama Choedak Rinpoche
Offering of light
Symbolises wisdom.The light drives aways the ignorance of darkness
offering of flowers
which will die
Showing that everything is impermeanent
offering of incense
Symbolises purity.Reminds Buddhist of the importance of pure thoughts, speech and conduct
Viharas
Where monks or nuns live to spend the rest of their lives dedicated to their spiritual practice, where they live a simple lifestyle
Stupa
Important because it symbolises where the Buddha was cremated and his ashes were left to rest
Why buddhists worship?
- To express gratitude to the Buddha and show how important he is in their lives
- Focus on their faith by developing understanding of the Buddhas teachings
- Remind themselves of the nature of existence, leading to the wisdom and compassion of enlightenment
How do buddhists worship
-chanting
- reciting mantras
-bowing
- offerings
Chanting
- Before written texts buddhists memorised and passed on teachings through word of mouth
- Buddhists still chant the three refuges, the five moral precepts and Bodhisattva vows
- Chanting is a devotional practice that helps buddhists focus and better understand the buddhas teachings
reciting mantras
- some buddhists believe mantras have transformative powers
- focuses the mind and calls on spiritual qualities of the buddha
- counted using mala beads
om mani padme hum
the most common mantra
Mani means jewel
padme means lotus flower
hum represents the power of enlightenment
- ## helps buddhists understand compassion
Meditation quotes
’ Even the gods envy those awakened and mindful ones who are intent on meditation’
The Buddha in the dhamma phada
Meditation aims
- developing a calm and focused mind
- Develop a greater understanding of the Buddhas teachings in order to gain a better insight into the nature of reality
Type of meditation
-Samatha
- Vipassana
- Zazen
Significance of meditation
To achieve enlightenment , Buddhist must be able to meditate properly. To follow the Buddhas ways
Samatha meditation
‘calming meditation’
- involves calming the mind and developing deeper concentration
- Breathing is a very important item of focus (Kasina) in samatha meditation but there are 10 others
examples of Kasina
items of focus
- blue
-yellow
-red
-white - space
- breathing
- earth
- water
- fire
- wind
- consciousness
The purpose of samatha meditation
- having a calm and focused mind
- prepare for vipassana meditation
- to understand that distraction is a part of meditation and to not be discouraged by it
- That there is no way to fail only that more practice is needed
The purpose of Vipassana meditation
To gain insight into the true nature of reality.
Can be done by reflecting on the three marks of existence: that all experience is characterised by impermanence, attachment leads to suffering and nothing has a independent and unchanging identity.
what is Vipassana meditation
- Uses mindfulness of breathing but instead of one Kasina everything in the mediators life is viewed objectively
- Helps buddhists understand how everything is characterised by the three mark of existence and to create a greater understanding of the world.
- might reflect on the body and peoples attachment to their bodies in effort to detach themselves from their body
The difference between Vipassana and Samatha
- Vipassana meditation has more than one item of focus where samatha has one item of focus
- Vipassana’s aim is to think about the true nature of reality where Samatha is about developing power of concentration
Zazen Meditation
Zazen- Japanese word that means ‘seated meditation’
Zen leads the meditator to a deeper understanding of the nature of existence.
The meditator sits (relaxing and focuses on mindfulness of breathing before beginning) and focuses their awareness on the present moment. While thoughts and experiences come and go, the meditator returns to the present moment.