Buddhist Practises Mock Revision Flashcards
- Compassion
Karuna
- Religious practices at Buddhist temples:
Meditation; chanting; mantra recitation; offerings (flowers, light, food, water); prayer to Buddha’s and Bodhisattvas; bowing; bending three times in front of a shrine to recall the three refuges; visualisation of Buddha’s and Bodhisattvas; perform puja; reading sacred texts; using mandalas.
- How the dead are mourned in Japan
- In Pure Land traditions the coffin may be placed with the head pointing west.
- The chant ‘Namo Amida Bu’ or ‘butso’ may occur, during which Buddhists process around the body of the deceased.
- In the Nichiren tradition, funerals include readings from the Lotus Sutra.
- Relations could gather after the cremation to pick out the bones from the ashes using chopsticks the remains may be kept for up to forty nine days after cremation and prayers offered on the seventh day.
- How the dead are mourned in Tibet:
. The dead are given a sky burial in which a body is left high on a mountain as a gift to the vultures.
. Giving away a body is a practical and generous act.
. Sometimes the body is burnt, the remains are placed in a chorten (a memorial structure like a stupa) to become a site to worship.
. There are ceremonies that involve prayers, ceremonies that involve offering yak butter lamps and which are made every seven days for forty nine days after the death of a loved one
- The importance of meditation:
• Meditation is the central practice of the Buddhist faith.
• Through meditation, Buddhists may gain a deeper compassion for others and reduce suffering / leading eventually to enlightenment.
• Meditation develops a still, calm and focused mind (samatha).
• It controls the mind, increases concentration and develops mindfulness; this is developed primarily through the last three stages of the Noble Eightfold Path.
• Meditation can help to develop a deeper insight into the nature of reality (vipassana).
• It develops loving kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna).
• Meditation allows people to gain some awareness and knowledge of what ‘the self’ means.
• It can help to eliminate greed, hatred, delusion and desire.
• It allows the development of insight into Buddhist teachings and understanding of the Dharma:
‘Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.’ – Buddha, from the first sermon in the Deer Park at Sarnath.
- The importance of worship in the temple:
. A temple is at the heart of a Buddhist community and has the combined ‘strength’ of the monastic and lay communities together as a support mechanism.
. A designated meditation hall is vital for Buddhists to help focus on and learn techniques and the fact that the temple grounds can also be used for meditation.
. Temples are important centres for a Buddhist religious life.
It is much easier at a temple for Buddhists to study, meditate and practise together; give offerings to a monk as well as hear teachings from a monk.
. Talks given by Buddhist monks as part of puja have more outreach at a temple.
. Shrines in a temple are a major focal point for more Buddhists
Celebrate festivals together in a temple.
- The importance of worship in the home:
- The regularity of Buddhist worship can be done at home.
- Meditation practice can be done individually as it could be done as a solitary practice, and home is best to do this.
- Most Buddhists worship before a shrine in their own homes and the shrine will have a statue of the Buddha, vases of flowers, and bowls of water, incense, candles and a tray for offerings of food which are placed in front of the image so, there is everything a Buddhist needs at home to pay homage to the Buddha.
- Many countries in the West do not have a temple within easy reach.
- Time is spent kneeling before the image in silent meditation and this could only be done at home because there are less distractions at home and less travel time than to a temple.