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.
The visualisation of Budhhas and Bodhisattvas
Tibetan Buddhists visualise deities ( Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that have reached enlightenment)
- don’t focus on the physical elements of the deity but the characteristics. to make themselves better people
- Some Mahayana buddhists visualise themselves as Buddhas to stimulate their Buddha nature
How would visualising The Medicine Buddha help buddhists?
Visualising him would help buddhists heal themselves and reduce suffering and even increase their own healing powers
Avalokiteshavara
related to compassion. Helps buddhists develop compassion which is neccesary to develop enlightenment
how would visualising the Amitabha Buddha help buddhists reach enlightenment
Pure land buddhists visualise the Amitabha Buddha in the hopes they will be reborn in the pure land and enlightened quicker as they are taught directly by the ambitha buddha
Tibetan death ceremonies
- book of the dead read to the dead/dying to prepare them for bardo. Reader gains good merit for them selves and help recipient
-In bardo for 49 day beginning with the glimpse of their enlightenment, their karma will take them to it or pull them away from it during rebirth - sky burial . the body dismembered whilst scripture is recited
-parts left for vultures to eat to emphasise no-attachment.Buddha gave his body to feed starving animals in one rebirth
Therevada death cermeonies
- sutras recited to the dead/dying. To direct the thoughts of the dead and dying to Buddha .
-the coffin is surrounded by candles incense and wreaths as tribute to the dead
-Monks visit to chant from Abhidharma scripture - At cremation monks face coffin, family bring lit torches made of candles,incense and fragrant wood to put under coffin to start flames
Japanese death ceremonies
- rites last seven days. mark of respect.
- mourners give money and coffin placed in from of items to invoke paradise. Hope for rebirth in heaven
-priest kneels before coffin and recites sutras. Family pays respects - ashes are placed int a box using special chopsticks before it is put in the family grave
Retreats
- during 3-month rainy season
- the buddha encouraged monks to seclude themselves in order to meditate
- main tasks are to study the dhamma and meditate if you might not get a chance to in normal everyday life
-participants meet other people so they can form a sense of community
what is the Wesak festival?
- recalls the birth,death and enlightenment of the Buddha
- people follow the eight precepts
- attend and make offering at temple and also to thee vulnerable of society
-restate their commitment to the precepts - they also meditative,listen to sermons,chant scriptures and do good deeds
- some wear novices and spend the evening at the temple and pour water over statues of the buddha and put garlands on him
Wesak festival importance
The buddha’s teachings help every one and the Buddhists path is seen as one of peace and therefore is very important
What do buddhist follow during wesak festival
eight precepts + not dancing/singing/wearing gaarlands/perrfume/sleeping in luxorious beds or eating after midday
Who is Parinirvana day celebrated by? and what does it celebrate
-for Mahayana buddhists recalls the day the buddha died
- for most buddhists is the 15th of feb
-they will attend tample ,meditate or read/recite sutras (parinirvana especially)
- many buddhists give money to support monks
- traditional pilgrimage day in asia
significance of parinavana day
important because it reminds us of final death,ceasing to be reborn- the goal of all buddhists and buddhists should reflect on their future death and/or any recent death
Six perfections
a Mahyana buddhist tradition. the virtues are perfected by the bodhisattva on the course of their spiritual journey:
- Dana
-Sila
-Ksanti
-Virya
- Bhavana
-prajana
Dana
giving/generosity. someone who practices perfect giving sees no difference in the giver or reciever
Dana examples
giving guidance on the Dhamma,material items, accumalated merit ,their own life and material items
Sila
Morality. Keeping alll the ten precepts and understanding how a person can break a precept and still be acting in a skilful way
Sila example
killing someone to stop them killing someone else
Ksanti
Patience. Non-angr/non-agitation. gors beyond enduring suffering but rather accepting difficulties one has. accepting sunyata means that the bodhisattva sees no difference between themselves as the sufferer and the cause of the suffering
Virya
Effort/energy. Never getting bored or tired woring for ones vows . Unrelenting energy to overcome ones faults and cultivation the virtues of the bodhisattva
Bhavana
Meditation. Following all forms of meditation. about becoming able to always see things the way they are to help ppl more effectively
Prajana
Realisation of sunyata. perfect wisdom
First Moral precept
Do not harm any living being
second moral precept
Do not take what is not freely given
3rd moral precept
do not misuse the senses or commit sexual misconduct
4th moral precept
do not speak falsehoods
5th Moral precept
refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind
kamma
the idea that skillful actions result in happiness and unskillful actions result insuffering
Karuna
compassion. One of the four sublime states
four sublime states
1.metta
2.karuna
3.sympathetic joy
4.equanimity
Mahayan buddhist beliefs abt karuna
That it is needed to become a bodhisattva
Why do buddhist practice Karuna?
Buddha said so, one of the four sublime states and mahyana buddhists believe it is needed in order to become a bodhisattva
Metta
Loving kindness- the desire for others to be happy. The Buddhist aim to be kind to all
why is metta important?
- by concentrating on the good of others it removes jealousy, greed and hatred;
- people will be less likely to be angry;
- it helps lead to enlightenment.
how are metta and karuna differents
desiring a friend to be happy (metta) but being upset when the friend has an accident (karuna
samatha meditation quote
“Breath is the bridge that connects life to conciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.Whenever your mind becomes scattered,use your breath as a means to take hold of your mind again.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
meditation quote 2
” You must show energy. The Buddhas are only teachers.Those who have entered on the path , meditative, will be released from mara’s fetter.” - The Buddha in the Dhammapada
