Buddhist Practises

Question 1

The Five Precepts

Answer 1

1. To abstain from killing.
2. To abstain from taking what is not given.
3. To abstain from misuse of sexual pleasures.
4. To abstain from false speech.
5. To abstain from drugs and alcohol which may cloud the mind.

Question 2

Sangha

Answer 2

• means the Buddhist community.

* 3 parts are lay Buddhists, minks & nuns and the arya sangha (enlightened beings).

Question 3

8 fold path steps

Answer 3

Right view, intention, action, livelihood, speech, effort, mindfulness and concentration.

3 categories: wisdom, morality and meditation.

Question 4

Two types of meditation

Answer 4

Samantha and Vipassana.

Question 5

Samatha

Answer 5

Calming meditation.
Calms and clears the mind and helps to overcome desire.
Eg. Focusing on breathing.

Question 6

Vipassana

Answer 6

Insight meditation.

Eg. Focusing on decaying corpse.

Question 7

The three jewels

Answer 7

• The buddha.
• The dhamma.
• The sangha.

Everyday a Buddhist makes a declaration to take refuge in the three jewels.

Question 8

Theravada meditation

Answer 8

Merit gained through worship, meditation and taking part in festivals and ceremonies.

Question 9

Mahayana meditation

Answer 9

Buddhas attributes are prayed to directly during worship.

Ritual worship, offerings to statues and prayers often more of a focus than formal mediation.

Question 10

Purpose of worship

Answer 10

Better kamma
Better rebirth
Escape samsara
Reach nibanna

Question 11

Issues surrounding 8-fold path

Answer 11

Lay community may not have time to meditate.

Lay community may not have much choice over right livelihood.

Question 12

Why is the 8-fold path important?

Answer 12

It was the buddhas first teaching

Question 12

What can the 8 fold path be described as?

Answer 12

The ‘middle way’ between over-indulgence and self-denial.

Question 13

Theravada view on 8 fold path

Answer 13

Individual effort in learning

Question 14

Mahayana view on 8-fold path

Answer 14

Bodhisattvas delay their own enlightenment to help other follow the 8-fold path to reach theirs, emphasis on compassion.

Question 15

What does the dhamaphadda state about the 8-fold path

Answer 15

It is the ‘best of states, freedom from passions’

Question 16

Theravada view on nibbana

Answer 16

Way of elders- involving strict adherence to one path.
Achieved by following 8-fold path.
Arhat achieves enlightenment then goes beyond to nibbana.
May take many lifetimes to achieve.

Question 17

Mahayana view on nibbana

Answer 17

Greater vehicle- suggesting there are several different routes to nibbana.
Transfer of merit to aid others in achieving nibbana.
Path of bodhisattva.
Enlightenment achievable in this lifetime.