buddhist practices Flashcards
describe the concept of karma and rebirth:
- Buddhists believe that when someone dies, they’ll be reborn as someone else.
- what they’re reborn as depends on their actions in their previous life (karma).
- skilful actions lead to a good rebirth and unskilful actions lead to a bad rebirth.
- this cycle of rebirth is called samsara.
- karma motivates Buddhists to behave in a way that will increase their own and others’ happiness
- teaches that it’s not just the action but also the motivation behind it
describe skilful and unskilful actions:
skilful actions (good, ethical actions/behaviour): motivated by generosity, compassion, understanding. results in happiness
unskilful actions (bad, unethical actions/behaviour): motivated by craving, hatred, ignorance. results in suffering
what are the 6 realms a Buddhist can be reborn into?
- realm of the Gods
- realm of the angry Gods
- realm of the animals
- realm of the tormented beings (hell-beings)
- realm of the hungry ghosts
- realm of humans
Buddhists believe that the human realm is the best realm to be in if they want to reach enlightenment, as they’ll be exposed to a whole range of suffering, and will be given more opportunity to overcome it and gain enlightenment. if they gain good karma and follow the teachings of the Buddha, they will be reborn into a more preferable realm.
why do Buddhists worship?
- allows them to express gratitude and respect for teachings.
- to focus on their faith and deepen their understanding of teachings.
- to remind themselves of the wisdom and compassion needed to gain enlightenment.
- to acknowledge the Buddha’s important in their lives.
- to move closer to Buddha and what he symbolises
what are some types of Buddhist worship?
- rituals and ceremonies carried out in groups
- meditation
- making offerings
- chanting sacred texts
- reciting mantras
- bowing
- private worship in the home
what is the word for worship in sanskrit?
puja
how do Buddhists carry out Puja?
- in groups, in private or at home.
- involves:
- meditation
- making offerings
- chanting
- reciting mantras
- bowing
describe the act of chanting:
- monks used to chant texts to learn and remember them.
- today Buddhists chant from written texts (e.g. the three refuges).
- devotional practice. thought to increase receptivity to the Buddha and his teachings.
- also helps to calm and focus the mind, to increase concentration
describe mantras:
- repeated syllables, either aloud or silent.
- often call on Buddha’s/Bodhisattvas’ spiritual qualities.
- most popular mantra is ‘om mani padme hum’, which represents the sound of compassion, associated with becoming a Bodhisattva.
- often Mala beads are used, and its repeated 108 times.
- help to concentrate the mind, so is a form of meditation.
- some believe mantras have magical powers
where does chanting originate from?
in the early days of Buddhism, sacred texts were remembered and taught orally, not written down. chanting was used to memorise and pass on teachings and texts
what is a temple?
a place where Buddhists come together to practice.
what are the main features of a temple?
- main hall/building: where Buddhists practice together. often contains a statue of Buddha/a Bodhisattva.
- meditation hall/building: a quiet place where Buddhists can meditate. (called a Gompa in Tibetan Buddhism).
- study hall/building: for meetings and lectures.
- shrine (s): statue/image dedicated to Buddha/Bodhisattvas
- pagoda/stupa: a tiered tower or mount-like structure that contains Holy Relics and often symbolises different pieces of scripture.
describe stupas:
usually designed to symbolise the 5 elements (water, earth, fire, air, space) or Buddhist teachings, where different segments of the building represent different things
why are temples important to Buddhists?
- gives a place for Buddhists to study, meditate and practise in a community.
- Buddhists may listen to talks given by monks and may make offerings (Dhana) to the monks.
what is a shrine, and why is it important to Buddhists?
- an area with a statue of a Buddha/Bodhisattva, which provides Buddhists with a ‘focal point’ for meditation and devotion.
- Buddhists may also make offerings to the shrine, as a way of paying respect to Buddha and thanking him for his teachings.
- offerings can also act as reminders of the Buddha’s teachings, for example, gifting flowers that can wilt/decay reminds Buddhists that everything is impermanent
describe a monastery:
- a place where Buddhist monks and nuns live a simple, disciplined life of study, mediation, devotion and companionship
- Buddhist monks and nuns have dedicated their entire life to full-time spiritual practice.
- they’re believed to be the closest people to achieving enlightenment.
- they live a simple lifestyle, and spend their days studying, practicing and meditating on Buddha’s teachings.
describe the general practice of meditation:
- before meditation, Buddhists may recite verses and scripture.
- the meditator focuses their attention on their body and breath, developing calm and stability. whenever they notice their mind has wandered, they gently return their attention to their physical sensations.
Buddhists also focus on a variety of different objects, processes, character traits, or emotions when they meditate (kasina)
- some Buddhists focus on teachings during meditation, where they analyse a piece of scripture, and concentrate on it fully in order to understand it.
define mindfulness:
a quality of attention and awareness
why do Buddhists meditate?
to develop a still, calm, and focused mind and body to develop a greater awareness and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings in order to gain a deeper insight into the nature of reality.
describe Samatha Meditation (calming meditation):
- allows one to focus gently on one object, creating a calm and concentrated mind.
- acts as preparation for Vipassana Meditation in Theravada Buddhism, and to develop wisdom and understanding of the nature of reality.
- for calming the mind and developing deeper concentration
- can help Buddhists to feel happier and more alive
what is mindfulness of breathing?
- the breath is used as a focus for attention, as well as how the body responds to each breath
- the aim is to become aware of the details of breathing, and all the tiny movements it creates in the body
- when someone finds their mind wandering as they meditate, they simply bring their attention back to their breathing
- little by little, they become more able to concentrate and focus on their breath
- this leads them to feel more present and aware
describe the process of visualisation:
- look at an image of an object to gain inspiration. (Kasina)
- get rid of the image, and imagine/visualise the object in your mind.
- try to imagine the object in as much detail as possible, and mentally examine all of the object’s tiny intricacies.
- try to hold a detailed picture of the object in your mind for as long as possible.
- through this, Buddhists can gain depth of concentration and focus.
- visualisation of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is used in Mahayana Buddhism as part of meditation. this may be done using thangkas or mandalas, and these allow the Buddhist to connect with the spiritual qualities of a Buddha/Bodhisattva
what is a kasina?
an object for a Buddhist to focus on during meditation. for example, the act of breathing is a kasina.
describe Vipassana Meditation (insight meditation):
- the difference between Vipassana and Samatha meditation is the objects being studied. in Vipassana Meditation, everything can be explored, including things that are more personal to the meditator.
- they might reflect on the body, and why people become attached to their bodies. whilst meditating, they may feel an emotion, such as nervousness or annoyance - they can then consider this emotion with mindful kindness and explore it.
- the aim is to switch your attention from one thing to another, and to be able to give whatever you’re currently thinking about your full attention, to try to understand its true nature.
- allows Buddhists to discover that everything is characterised by the Three Marks of Existence, and to develop greater wisdom and awareness about the world and the nature of reality
what is the similarity between samatha and vipassana meditation?
both use the same technique of mindfulness: concentrating and focusing on specific things in a calm and detached manner
describe Zazen Meditation (seated meditation):
a Japanese form of meditation (practiced by Zen Buddhists). generally begins with sitting, relaxing and a period of mindful breathing. the meditator then sits with awareness of the present moment, and as thoughts and experiences come and go, the meditator makes an active effort to return to the present moment.
- leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of existence
describe walking meditation:
Buddhists often sit to meditate, but they don’t have to. some Buddhists can use walking as a kasina. Buddhists do this as it can help some people with their concentration, as they’re constantly changing positions. if they were to sit in one place, they run the risk of getting too bored and giving up with meditation.
- Buddhists walk slowly and combine the movement of the feet with the in and out of the breath
which quote backs up walking meditation?
‘Your objective is to _____________________________, heightened sensitivity and a _________________________ of the motion of walking.’
‘Your objective is to attain total alertness, heightened sensitivity and a full, unblocked experience of the motion of walking.’
describe each deity that can be used for visualisation (usually used by Tibetan Buddhists):
- MEDICINE BUDDHA: related to healing. visualising this Buddha will help the person with healing and reduce their suffering. it may even increase their healing powers.
- AVALOKITESHVARA: one of the most popular Bodhisattvas. the compassion Bodhisattva, and this is the most important quality for a Buddhist in order to reach enlightenment. said to help the person develop their sense of compassion.
- BUDDHA AMITABHA: the painting depicts Amitabha Buddha meditating in the Pure Land (paradise). worshipped by Pure Land Buddhists in the hope they’ll be reborn into Sukhavati, and will achieve enlightenment quicker.
describe the creation and destruction of mandalas:
- the patterns on a mandala can symbolise many different things (e.g. universe, Buddha, paradise, Buddhist teachings).
- in Tibetan monasteries, monks can take weeks colouring sand, and using this sand to construct massive intricate mandalas.
- however, they’re never kept as a piece of art, as it would go against the Buddha’s teaching of impermanence.
- intricate, circle shaped pattern
describe the use of visualisation:
- the meditator focuses not just on the visual features of the deity, but also on its spiritual qualities
- they may imagine themselves as the deity, in order to absorb its spiritual qualities
- visualising themselves as a Buddha may help Buddhists to awake their Buddha-nature
describe Tibetan Sky-Burials:
- from the moment someone dies, their body and consciousness separate.
- vultures represent the wisdom deities. they only eat dead things, which plays into dependant arising, as they rely on us to survive.
- sky burials are a traditional Tibetan practice that has been around for hundreds of years.
- if you have accumulated lots of negative karma, some vultures may refuse to destroy your body, as a consequence.
- seen as practical and generous in mountainous countries with little firewood for cremation, and where the ground is frozen for grave-digging. refines the 6 perfections.
- mourning can only last for 49 days, and offerings can only be made every 7 days.
- the body is left in a place as a gift to the vultures
describe Japanese pure-land burials:
- family members and spectators walk around the coffin, chanting ‘Namo Amida Bu’ 108 times. readings are included from the Lotus Sutra.
- the head of the corpse always faces west. it’s then cremated (towards sukhavati), and the person’s relatives will gather at the crematorium. the mourners will chant Amitabha’s name as they process around the coffin
- the ashes aren’t always fully cremated, so family member will often sit around, and pick the bone remnants out of the ashes using chopsticks.
- as in Tibet, mourning lasts for 49 days, and offerings are made every 7 days.
describe the general Buddhist belief surrounding death:
- when a person dies, their karma energy leaves their body and is reborn into a new one.
- death, therefore, is not seen as the end, but as the transition from one form to another.
- funerals remind Buddhists of the second mark of existence - impermanence.
describe Theravada funerals:
- very little money is spent on the funeral. instead, family and friends will donate to a worthy cause and transfer the merit to the deceased, to give them a chance of a more favourable rebirth. rituals that transfer merit to the deceased may also be performed by the family members/other mourners
at the funeral:
- a shrine may be set up to display the deceased’s portrait, along with offerings to the Buddha of candles, incense and flowers. an image of the Buddha is place near or on the shrine, and monks will attend to give a sermon or perform Buddhist rites.
- the deceased is usually cremated, and monks will perform the last rites before the coffin is sealed. family members may assist in lifting the coffin, and other guests must watch in mournful silence.
- during the funeral procession, the family must walk behind the hearse. all members of the congregation should be sending good thoughts to the family and be contemplating the impermanence of life.
describe Buddhist retreats:
- popular for Western Buddhists. usually a week or a weekend, where visitors are surrounded by like-minded people.
- can be held in a monastery or a Buddhist centre.
- includes meditation, talks and study groups, workshops and taking part in rituals. aims to deepen people’s understanding of Buddhism.
- an opportunity for Buddhists and non-Buddhists to immerse themselves in buddhist culture, and to completely separate themselves from daily life and digital devices and to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice
- provides an opportunity for intensive practice
describe monastic retreats:
- monks may go on a retreat for three months during Vassa (rainy season).
- they devote the entire time to themselves, to meditation and study. they will only leave the temple if necessary.
- the rest of the year is spent helping others.
describe Wesak:
- ‘Buddha Day’. most important Buddhist festival.
- celebrated on the full moon during May. celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing into Parinirvana.
- offerings of food, incense and light are given - from these offerings, good karma is gained, and brings the person closer to achieving enlightenment. Dhana offerings are made to monks.
- to show kindness and compassion, 108 birds are released on Animal Liberation Day (symbolises Buddha’s liberation from Samsara), and other celebrations include dancing and singing.
- light up homes with candles, lamps, lanterns
- attend local temple/monastery to take part in worship/meditation, listen to sermons on the Buddha’s teachings and life
- honours and remembers Buddha’s teachings.
- light is used to symbolise hope, enlightenment, and overcoming ignorance
describe Buddhist festivals:
- most major festivals remember and celebrate events in the Buddha’s life, and his teachings
- a day or period of celebration for religious reasons. some are specific to certain traditions/countries. some focus on other Buddhist figures such as Bodhisattvas
- an opportunity to meet and practise together
describe Parinirvana Day:
- celebration of the very end. based on the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. remembers Buddha’s passing into Parinirvanana, described as a solemn occasion.
- Mahayana festival.
- celebrated in February.
- Buddhists sit and reflect on their death or friend and family members’ deaths. they can reflect on the impermanence of life.
- passages about the last days of Buddha’s life are read from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra.
- meditation/worship at home or in temples, and some places will organise retreats or pilgrimages to Kushinagar.
how did the Buddha die?
- died of food poisoning in Kushinagar, India.
- was given pork by a blacksmith - it wasn’t cooked properly, and Buddha knew his time had come.
- his disciples begged him to stay, to keep living, but Buddha accepted that this is his time to die.
- he was cremated, his ashes were split into eight, and were placed in eight separate stupas.
what are the 4 sublime states?
- loving-kindness (metta)
- compassion (karuna)
- sympathetic joy (caring for someone’s joy, to be joyous for them)
- equanimity (stability and calm in the face of happiness and suffering)
what is the importance of the 4 sublime states?
- four qualities that all Buddhists must develop.
- explains how Buddhists must act to others and to themselves.
- for Mahayana Buddhists, it’s a crucial quality to develop in order to become a Bodhisattva.
name some ways in which Buddhists can show compassion (karuna):
- donating to monks (danha)
- helping others to become enlightened
- recognising when you’re suffering and helping yourself
- understanding that we cannot be truly happy whilst others are suffering
- wanting others to be free of suffering
why must a person develop both compassion and wisdom, not just one?
Buddhist believe that compassion and wisdom should be developed together, and that it’s not possible to have one without the other.
- a scientist might develop a new type of explosive.
- without the wisdom to understand the power and potential of his invention, and without a sense of compassion for others, he might sell the formula to someone who will use it unskilfully.
describe the charity Karuna:
- it teaches compassion, and helps women and young families in the world with life.
- any woman is has been left behind, mistreated, or is living in poverty is taught to drive, given a job, or is given help with her children.
- this means they can feel in control of their life and family.
describe the charity ROKPA:
- Tibetan word meaning ‘help’ or ‘friend’. it’s also the name of the charity set up in 1980, motivated by acting compassionately towards others
- involved in projects in Zimbabwe, Nepal, Tibet.
- helps to runs schools and provide education to thousands of children each year. aims to help families out of poverty through better education, and by teaching children the value of compassion
- believes that helping others is the way to bring about real and lasting change
what is karuna?
- recognising that a person cannot be truly happy while others suffer
- feeling concern for the suffering of others, almost as if it were your own
- wanting others to be free from suffering and trying to relieve it
- recognising when you’re suffering and acting with compassion towards yourself
what are the 5 Moral Precepts?
- abstain from harming any living thing.
- abstain from the misuses of the senses and sexual misconduct (don’t abuse/overindulge in sexual pleasures, no harmful sex)
- abstain from taking what is not freely given (includes stealing, and forbids manipulation/taking advantage of others)
- abstain from intoxicants which cloud the mind.
- abstain from harmful speech (don’t lie/gossip about other people. speak truthfully, kindly, helpfully, and at the right time)
how can the 5 moral precepts allow a Buddhist to reach enlightenment?
- wanting to follow the 5 moral precepts enables a Buddhist to practise them at a deeper, more subtle level, purifying their mind of the three poisons (e.g. not even WANTING to hurt someone), and getting them closer to achieving enlightenment.
- Buddhists practise these precepts voluntarily, as they don’t believe in a God who will punish them if they don’t
- however, the precepts should be applied with sensitivity. sometimes, Buddhists must balance one precept against another, e.g. being truthful may lead to harm
how does karma link to karuna and metta?
In order to collect good karma, a Buddhist must perform skilful actions, such as acts pf karuna or metta.
what are the 5 stages to metta (loving-kindness) meditation?
think of:
1. yourself
2. a good friend
3. a neutral person (someone you come into contact with regularly but do not have strong feelings about)
4. a ‘difficult’ person
5. these four people, then everyone else in the world
- the meditator may visualise or imagine one of these people looking happy
- they might reflect on the positive qualities of the person and any acts of kindness they’ve done
what is metta?
- one of the four sublime states
- a loving, kind, friendly attitude towards oneself and all beings
- does not depend on the goodness of others or expect anything in return
- should be cultivated even towards people who act unskillfully
why do Buddhists develop metta?
Buddhists develop metta in order to dissolve away greed, hatred, and any other negative emotions. Greed and hatred are two of the three poisons, which are said to be the main causes of suffering. Developing metta allows a Buddhists to overcome suffering and reach enlightenment.
- makes a person more caring and more likely to love unconditionally. leads to a feeling of peace, so there is no need for ill will/hostility. helps Buddhists to overcome suffering and eventually achieve enlightenment
what is the difference between metta and karuna?
metta:
- a general desire for other people to be happy
- an attitude of warmth and kindness that Buddhists try to feel towards all people
- e.g. when someone wants their friend to be happy
karuna:
- arises when metta comes into contact with a specific person who is suffering
- e.g. when someone wants to help their friend after they have an accident
what are the six perfections in Mahayana buddhism?
six qualities/virtues that Mahayana Buddhists try to develop in order to become Bodhisattvas
- generosity
- morality
- patience
- energy
- meditation
- wisdom (including how these individuals develop these perfections within themselves)
describe the perfection of generosity:
- Buddhists should give without expecting anything in return
- it is therefore important to develop awareness of the reasons for giving, and to gradually purify these in order to give more freely
what are the three main types of giving in Tibetan Buddhism?
- giving material goods such as food, clothes, money. these provide immediate relief for people’s suffering
- giving protection from fear. helping someone if they’re afraid/in trouble
- giving the dharma. this helps someone to help themselves, so has a longer-lasting impact
describe the perfection of patience:
- a Bodhisattva embodies patience, which is expressed through tolerance and endurance
- Buddhists aim to practise compassion towards those who show them anger, and have patience with themselves and others
- understanding that suffering is an inevitable part of life (1st noble truth) helps Buddhists to develop the patience needed to endure it
describe the perfection of energy:
- Buddhists should put effort and enthusiasm into their practice of the dharma
- they should develop the courage and energy needed to strive for enlightenment
- this may involve looking after their own health, developing their practice, or studying the Buddha’s teachings
