Buddhist Practises

Question 1

Buddhist temple

Answer 1

• a main hall with a shrine of a Buddha where they make offerings
• a meditation room called a gompa
• a pagoda/stupa which contains holy relics
• a study hall
• a monastery (vihara)

Question 2

Buddhist Worship

Answer 2

• express gratitude to Buddha for his example and teachings (puja)
• make offerings of flowers (impermanence), incense (purity) and candles (wisdom)

Question 3

chanting

Answer 3

• educational but calms the mind
• mantras are sequence of sacred symbols which represent a quality of Buddha
• ‘om mani padme hum’ sound of compassion
• mala is a string of 108 prayer beads

Question 4

Samatha mediation

Answer 4

• focusing on mindfulness of the body and breath
• kasinas are used for focus
• there are 10 kasinas including earth, water, fire and colours
• so they might use a bowl of water or a candle flame

Question 5

Vipassana meditation

Answer 5

• the mind is focused on the present

- it puts the 3 marks of existence into context of your own thoughts

Question 6

Visualisation

Answer 6

• a picture of Buddha of Bodhisattva is used
• they imagine the qualities of it or imagine them self as one
• thankas or mandalas are used
• mandalas are wiped away to remind them of impermanence

Question 7

Wesak

Answer 7

• Buddha achieved enlightenment when there was a full moon
• they decorate their houses with candles and paper lanterns as light symbolises hope
• birds are released as a sign of freedom from past troubles

Question 8

Paranirvana day

Answer 8

• Mahayana festival celebrating Buddha passing into Paranirvana
• chance to reflect on their death and death of loved ones
• Mahaparinirvana Sutra is a scripture that describes Buddha’s last days
• pilgrimage to Kushinagar where Buddha died

Question 9

Therevada Funerals

Answer 9

• money is donated to charity to bring them good kamma which is transferred to the deceased
• a shrine is set up next to a picture of Buddha
• flowers are offered to show impermanence

Question 10

Mahayana Funerals

Answer 10

• Tibetan buddhists favour sky burials where the body is left high up for the vultures
• reminder of impermanence and that our physical bodies return to the universe
• respected teachers are cremated and a stupa is built for them

Question 11

ROKPA

Answer 11

• a charity that sets up schools in LEDC’S
• education is the best way for a child to escape the poverty cycle
• they teach Karuna in the schools, if educated people have compassion then they will use their skills to end the suffering

Question 12

the 5 moral precepts

Answer 12

1. To abstain from taking life
2. To abstain from taking what is not freely given
3. To abstain from misuse of the senses
4. To abstain from wrong speech
5. To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind