Buddhist Teachings + vocab Flashcards
1
Q
Give some facts about the Buddha’s early life
A
- Stories can be found in the Jataka
- Lived in Nepal Born in Lumbini
- he was born Hindu
- He was born in 563 BC
- Siddhartha’s mother dreamed of a white elephant (symbol of wisdom) entering her womb just before the Buddha was born
- Siddhartha took 7 steps after he was born, a lotus flower blossoming at each and he said that he would have no more rebirths
- His mother died when he was a baby
- His father was told by a fortune that he would either become a great ruler or a great wise man. His father did not want him becoming a holy man and so sheilded him from all suffering to stop him questioning life
- He lived in luxury until the age of 29
2
Q
What are the four sights
A
- Old age
- Sickness
- Death
- Holy man
3
Q
Describe the Renunciation
A
- After seeing the four sights, Siddartha was no longer happy with his life of luxury, so he left the palace and only took his robes
- He joined two Hindu teachers who taught him meditation
- He was not satisfied with the Hindu teachers so he joint fice Hindu ascetics (holy men). He lived in a forest and tried to achieve spiritual perfection by living simply and not giving into bodily desires
- He lived on a grain of rice a day and was so thin that you could see his back bone through his stomach
- After 6 years, a milk maid offered Siddartha some milk and rice when coming out of the river from bathing. He was so weak he couldn’t meditate so he broke his fast
- The 5 holy men where dissapointed in him and left him
4
Q
Where did the Buddha get enlightened
A
under a Bo tree
5
Q
What three things happened to the Buddha when he was enlightened
A
- Intimidation
- Temptation
- Doubt
6
Q
What was Intimidation like during the Buddha’s enlightenment
A
He was attacked by Mara with wind, rain, rocks, weapons, hot coal, burning ashes, sand, mud and darkness
7
Q
What was Temptation like during the Buddha’s enlightenment
A
Mara tempted Siddhartha with women, sexual thoughts and frightening images. Mara’s daughters appeared to him.
8
Q
What was Doubt like during the Buddha’s enlightenment
A
Mara fought for the spot under the Bo tree, saying it was his
9
Q
What is the Devil in Buddhism
A
Mara
10
Q
What do Mara’s three daughters reresent
A
The three posions
* Greed
* Hatred
* Delusion / Ignorance
11
Q
What happened to the Buddha as he was being enlightened
A
- He saw the world as how it really is
- He saw all of his past lifes
- the universe is a string of cause and effect
12
Q
What happened to the Buddha after his enlightenment
A
- He was liberated
- He became known as the Buddha (the enlightened one)
- He realises the peace of Nirvana
13
Q
What did the Buddha realise after he was enlightened
A
- He had previous lives
- the chain of cause and effect
- The world is impermanent
- There is no fixed self
- Everyone suffers
- We can overcome suffering
14
Q
What is the Dharma
A
Buddhist book containing the teachings of the Buddha
15
Q
What is Pratitya Samudpada
A
the law of cause and effect
16
Q
What are the Three Marks of Existance / Three Universal Truths / Lakshanas
A
- Annica
- Anatta
- Dukkha
17
Q
What is Annica
A
- everything is changing
- Everything depends on something else for existance relating to the law of cause and effect
18
Q
What is Anatta
A
- There is no permanent self
- Because we are dependant on other things that are also constantly changing due to Annica
19
Q
What is Dukkha
A
- Everything is always suffering
20
Q
What are the 3 types of Dukkha
A
- Emotional and Physical
- Due to change
- Due to attachment
21
Q
3 reasons why the Annica, Anatta and Dukkha are important to Buddhists
A
- Annica → It teaches nothing is permenant so Buddhists should not become attached
- Anatta → It teaches that there is no fixed self so Buddhists don’t need to be set in their bad habbits
- Dukkha → It teaches that that all life is always suffering showing them they are not alone
22
Q
What analogie is used when the Buddha talks about the Four Nobel Truths
A
doctor and medicine
23
Q
What are the Four Nobel Truths
A
- Dukkha → the fact all life involves suffering
- The cause of the suffering
- If craving stops suffering will stop
- The way to overcome suffering
24
Q
Why are the Four Nobel Truths important to Buddhists
A
- Teaches them they are not alone in their suffering
- The Buddha said ‘‘those who have fathomed the four nobel truths, walk the right path’’
- It teaches them the cause of suffering
- It teaches them that there is hope and that suffering can be overcome
- It is important because it teaches them how to overcone the causes of suffering
25
What is **Magga**
The 8 Fold path / The 3 Fold way
26
Describe the 8 fold path
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Ethics
4. Right Speach
5. Right Action
6. Right Livelihood
7. Right Meditation
8. Right concentration
27
Why is the **8 Fold path** important to Buddhists
1. It teaches them how to end suffering
2. It teaches them right morality through right action, speach and livelihood, so they know how to behave
3. It teaches them right meditation which is key to ending suffering
4. It helps them achieve enlightenment / nirvana
28
What is **Samsara**
Samsara is the world we live in and in which we are reborn into as a result of our Karma
29
What is **Nirvana**
It is a place which is reached after enlightenment
30
How do some Buddhists interpret **Nirvana**
They believe it is a state of mind which we can experience many times in our life. You can go in and out of Nirvana
31
How do **Theravadan** Buddihsts interpret **Nirvana**
They believe humans are finally enlightened at the end of many rebirths. They believe Nirvana is a state where all desires are overcome and there is no more rebirths into Samsara
32
How do **Mahayana** Buddhists interpret **Nirvana**
They believe that some people are enlightened in this life, and once they die they come back as **bodhisattvas** to help others
33
Which Buddhists follow the **The Five Skhandas / Aggregates**
Theravadan Buddhists
34
What are **The Five Skhandas / Aggregates**
F S P M C
It is the always changing state in which humans are ''self''
* Form → physical part of us
* Sensation → our feelings
* Perception → our recognition of what things are
* Mental Formation → our thoughts and opinions
* Consciousness → our awareness of the things in the world around us
35
Why are **The Five Skhandas** important to Buddhists
* They explain what makes up a person
* They reinforce anatta
* They explain our actions
* It helps understand personal suffering
36
Which Buddhists believe in **Sunyata**
Mahayana Buddhists
37
What is **Sunyata**
Mahayana Buddhist belief → It is very similar to anatta. It shows that nothing is fixed
38
Which Buddhists believe in Buddha-nature
Mahayana Buddhists
39
What is Buddha Nature
A teaching which says that everyone is born with Buddha Nature and that deep inside everyone they are already enlightened, however it is hidden by things such as attachment
40
Which Buddhists believe in **Arhats**
Theravadan Buddhists
41
What is an **Arhat**
Someone who has completed the 8 fold path and has destroyed attachment and the 3 poissions to overcome Dukkha
42
How can a Buddhist make it easier for themselves to become a **Arhat**
They can become a monk, or atleast live in a monastery for a part of their life → children and teenagers and encouraged to spend a year or two in a monastery
43
Which Buddhists believe in **Bodhisattvas**
Mahayana Buddhists
44
Which Buddhists believe in **Buddha hood**
Mahayana Buddhists
45
What is **Buddha hood**
it is the highest form of enlightenment
46
What is a **Bodhisattva**
A person who delays their enlightenment in order to help others
47
What are some differences between an **Arhat** and a **Bodhisattva**
* Theravadan's believe you can only become an **Arhat** if you are a monk, Mahayana Buddhists believe anyone can become a **Bodhisattva**
* **Arhat's** seek their own enlightenment whilst **Bodhisattva's** will return to **samsara** to help others
48
What is a similarity between an **Arhat** and a **Bodhisattva**
* Both follow the 8 fold path in attempt to end the 3 poissions
49
Which Buddhists believe in the **pure land**
Mahayana Buddhists
50
What do **Pure Land Buddhists** promise
1. That anyone who has vowed to be reborn into Pure Land will be
2. That Amitabha will apear at anyones death who has lead a good life and wishes to go to the pure land
3. That if Amitabha appeared to you at your death you would go to the pure land
4. That if someone goes to the Pure Land they will be allowed to chose weather they will become a Buddha or go back to samsara and become a Bodhisattva
51
What is the law of **Karma**
the law that skillful actions come with good consiquences and that unskillful actions will have negative consiquences
52
What do Buddhists believe about rebirth
* When humans die we will be reborn back into **samsara** unless we have been enlightened
* Rebirths depend on Karma
* There is no soul which is reborn
* Habits and tendencies are passed onto your next life
* You can be reborn into different reals (Animal realm, Heavenly realm)
*
53
How can **possitive Karma** be accumilated
By following **Metta** and **Karuna**
54
What is **Karuna**
compassion
55
What is **Metta**
loving kindness
56
What are the **Five Precepts**
Laws which Buddhits have to follow
1. Avoid harming all living beings
2. Do not take what is not freely given
3. Do not have wrong relationships
4. Do not speak falsely
5. Do not drink alcohol or take drugs
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