buddhist teachings

Question 1

what is the dharma

Answer 1

the dharma refers to the buddhas teachings. However, the buddhas’ teaching are more like ‘cosmic laws’, they have been around forever but the buddha came to understand them and and put them into words in order to teach others

Question 2

what are the three jewels

Answer 2

1. the dharma - buddhas teachings
2. the buddha
3. sangha-buddhist community

Question 3

what are the three marks of existence

Answer 3

the three marks of existence consist of

1. dukka-suffering
2. annica-impermenance
3. annatta-no fixed soul/self

buddhist believe that these 3 marks are common charcaterists across everything

Question 4

explain dukka

Answer 4

dukka translates to suffering and within the buddha’s teaching he taught the suffering is an inevitable part of life that cannot be avoided.

Question 5

explain Annica

Answer 5

Annica translates to impermanence and the buddha taught that everything is impermanent as everything is constantly changing.

He taught that’s some people suffer as they resist change and have attachments to things that will soon change . however, he stated that if you understand anncia then it will help to lessen suffering

Question 6

explain anatta

Answer 6

anatta translates to no fixed self. The buddha taught that a person is made up of the five aggregates which include- body,senstation,perception,mental formation and consciousness and these aggregates are constantly changing and so therefore there is no fixed self.

Question 7

state the four Nobel truths

Answer 7

1. suffering exists
2. the cause of suffering is craving
3. to stop suffering you must stop craving
4. in order to stop craving you must follow the eight fold path

Question 8

what is the eightfold path

Answer 8

The eightfold path is a path in which the buddha set up in order to help other overcome suffering and help them to reach enlightenment

Question 9

what does the eightfold path consist of and what does each of them mean

Answer 9

the eight fold paths consists of three folds and spread across the three of the fold is eight major points.

The first fold is ethics-this consist of good morals and behaviour
within this fold their is

1. right speech-do not lie, gossip,try to speak kindly about and to to others.
2. right action-practice the five moral precepts
3. right livelihood-made sure that what you are doing in life doesn’t cause harm to others

the second fold is mediations-this focuses on concentration need to develop one’s wisdom and this consist of

1. right effort-make sure you are putting the right effort into all you practices
2. right mindefullness-develop the awareness you have for your surroundings and yourself
3. right concentration -stay concentrated within you practices

the third fold is right wisdom-this emphasises the important of overcoming ignorance

1. right understanding-develop you understand of the dharma
2. right intention-made sure you are following there path with the right intention and attitude

Question 10

what are the five moral precepts and can you name them all

Answer 10

the five moral precepts are five rules in which buddhists aim to live by and these consist of

1. abstain from taking the non given
2. abstain from taking life/harming others
3. abstain from taking intoxicants that can fog the mind
4. abstain from wrong speech
5. abstain from sexual misconduct

Question 11

what are the six perfections and can you name them all

Answer 11

the six perfections are six values that Mahayana buddhists try to perfect/follow in order to become a bodhisattva

1. generosity-give but don’t expect
2. morality-live life in a morally good way-follow the five precepts
3. patience-have patience with yourself and others
4. energy-put the right energy out into the world and your practices
5. meditation-meditate to gain awareness and concentration
6. wisdom-all the perfections make up this

Question 12

what type of buddhists aim to be an arhat and what is an arhat

Answer 12

therevada buddhists and an arhat is a perfected person who has overcome suffering and when they die they will no longer be reborn and are free from the cycle of samsara

Question 13

what types of buddhists aim to be a bodhisattva and what is a bodhisattva

Answer 13

a bodhisattva is an enlightened being who stays in the cycle of samsara in order to help other reach enlightenment too, out of compassion

Question 14

which type of buddhism is older therevada or Mahayana

Answer 14

therevada

Question 15

whats buddha nature

Answer 15

buddha nature is a Mahayana belief which states that everyone has the essence of the buddha within them however some being’s buddha nature can be blocked by their cravings and attachments but by understanding the buddhas teachings it can be revealed

Question 16

what is pure land buddhism

Answer 16

pure land buddhism is a type of Mahayana buddhism which follows the belief in the amitaha Buddhist. their main Goal is to reach the pure land

Question 17

what is the pure land and how can pure land buddhist reach it

Answer 17

the pure land is know to be ‘paradise’ and is a place where there is no suffering and can be taught by amitabah themselves. They can reach the pure land by chanting and reciting amitabahs names