Buddhists Beliefs

Question 1

What is a Buddha ?

Answer 1

someone who has been awakened or enlightened and truly understands the nature of reality.

Question 2

Who is the Buddha that founded Buddhism ?

Answer 2

Siddhartha Gautama.

Question 3

Where was Siddhartha Gautama born ?

Answer 3

Nepal in a palace called lumbini.

Question 4

What are the 5 stages that of the Buddhas life ?

Answer 4

1. Birth
2. Four Sights
3. Life of Luxury
4. Ascetic life
5. Enlightenment

Question 5

what does the Buddhacarita teach about Siddhartha Gautama’s birth ?

Answer 5

He was born without causing any pain to his mother who was the Queen.
Siddhartha was born for a purpose - the welfare of the world.

Question 6

What does the Buddhacarita teach about Siddhartha Gautama’s life of luxury ?

Answer 6

Siddhartha was showered with gifts throughout his life in the palace.
(he was kept in the palace and was sheltered from the reality outside the palace)

Question 7

what are the 4 sights ?

Answer 7

1. Old man
2. Sick man
3. Dead man
4. Holy man

Question 8

What did the sight of the sick man show the Buddha ?

Answer 8

when he met a sick man he became aware that everyone suffers due to illness

Question 9

what did the sight of the Old man show the Buddha ?

Answer 9

when he met the old man he realised that youth does not last forever and that everyone becomes old

Question 10

what did the Ascetic life teach the Buddha ?

Answer 10

he found that neither extreme luxury nor extreme poverty can help you achieve spiritual goals therefore he discovered the middle way.

Question 11

who was Siddhartha Gautama’s Mother ?

Answer 11

Queen Maya

Question 12

What does the Pali Cannon teach about the Buddhas enlightenment?

Answer 12

Siddhartha undertook meditation to overcome temptation and desires (symbolised by the demon Mara)

Question 13

What are the 3 marks of existence ?

Answer 13

Dukkha
Annica
Anatta

Question 14

What is the meaning of dukkha ?

Answer 14

Suffering or dissatisfaction with life

Question 15

What are the 3 different types of dukkha ?

Answer 15

Dukkha-Dukkhata
Viparinama-Dukkha
Samkhara-Dukkha

Question 16

What is Dukkha-Dukkhata ?

Answer 16

Ordinary Suffering
Arising from physical or mental pain

Question 17

What is Viparinama-Dukkha ?

Answer 17

Suffering caused by change
Arising from nothing being permanent

Question 18

What is Samkhara-Dukkha ?

Answer 18

Suffering cause by attachment and dissatisfaction
Arising from a subtle dissatisfaction with life

Question 19

How does Dukkha affect Buddhists today ?

Answer 19

Teaches them to develop resilience, compassion and wisdom

Question 20

What is annica ?

Answer 20

Impermanence (everything is continually changing)

Question 21

What are the 3 ways in which annica affects the world ?

Answer 21

All living things
All non living things
Our minds

Question 22

What is the name of the practice a Buddhists uses to remind them of impermanence?

Answer 22

Puja practices (using a flower)

Question 23

What is anatta ?

Answer 23

No fixed self or soul

Question 24

What is the chariot analogy used to describe anatta ?

Answer 24

The monk nagasena teaches that the chariot is merely a collection of parts there is no one independent thing known as a chariot
The same applies to people

Question 25

What are the 3 sources that Buddhists can learn the Buddhas teachings from ?

Answer 25

Buddhacarita, Jataka 075 and the Pali Canon

Question 26

What did the sight of the dead man teach the Buddha ?

Answer 26

He encountered a funeral and realised that physical life on earth in its current form is not everlasting.

Question 27

What did the sight of the holy man teach the Buddha ?

Answer 27

He was encouraged by a holy man to leaves his life of luxury and search for enlightenment.

Question 28

what did the Enlightenment teach the Buddha ?

Answer 28

Siddhartha gained wisdom which allowed in to find clarity in the nature of reality.

Question 29

How does the Buddhas birth influence Buddhists today ?

Answer 29

They celebrate festival a such as Wesak to celebrate the Buddhas birth. They also go on pilgrimage to lumbini which is the site of the Buddhas birth.

Question 30

How does the Buddhas encounter of the 4 sights influence Buddhists today ?

Answer 30

Is actively encourages Buddhists to reduce suffering in the modern world e.g by volunteering. Teaches them to engage in Buddhist practices such as meditation.

Question 31

How does the Buddhas life of luxury influence Buddhists today ?

Answer 31

It encourages Buddhists not to strive to be come extremely wealthy. Teaches them to live a life guided by the middle way.

Question 32

How does the Buddhas ascetic life influence Buddhists today ?

Answer 32

Encourages a lifestyle that cultivates the middle way and reflects the four noble truths.

Question 33

How does the Buddhas Enlightenment influence Buddhists today ?

Answer 33

Buddhists celebrate wesak day also known as Buddha day as this is the day of the Buddhas birth but he was also enlightened on his birth day.

Question 34

What is the middle way?

Answer 34

a practical path to achieving enlightenment by avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence. It's a way of living that emphasizes moderation, balance, and mindfulness, guiding individuals towards a state of liberation from suffering.

Question 35

Where do Buddhist visit to remember the Buddhas enlightenment?

Answer 35

Bodh gaya

Question 36

What are the 3 marks of existence also known as ?

Answer 36

University truths

Question 37

What does Dukkha encourage Buddhists to do?

Answer 37

Develop the key qualities of compassion and wisdom. Develop resilience. Respond to suffering.

Question 38

How might a Buddhist respond to suffering?

Answer 38

Buddhists may support a charity.

Question 39

What is an example of Dukkha-dukkhata?

Answer 39

Injury

Question 40

What is an example of viparinama-Dukkha?

Answer 40

Growing old

Question 41

What is an example of samkhara-Dukkha?

Answer 41

Unhappiness due to change or craving the impossible