buddhisum Flashcards
why might buddhism be classified as a philosophy not a religion?
because they don’t worship a higher being they are students learning buddhas teachings
what was predicted about siddartha when he was born
he would become a great king or a great holy leader
what was his life like in the place
living in luxury , spices , sweets and lots of young people and new things, perfect life
what was his first experience of real life ? what did it make him realise /
he was horrified to see an old women, an ill man, a funeral procession and a happy and peaceful monk , he realised there is lots of suffering in life
why did his farther want him to stay in the palace?
because ever since his mother died he was very protective of siddartha and wanted him to be a great king so that he would never leave the palace
did he leave the palace ?what was he leaving behind at the place?
yes and he was leaving behind his son rihinga and the luxury life
what did he do when he left the place?
he was fascinated how the holy man was still peaceful whilst all the suffering was going on around him and his own suffering and wanted to be like the holy man so he exchanged his clothes for rags and went into the forest
what did he do in the forest?
he sat and meditated and starved himself and drank no water and didn’t have anything
how did he reach enlightenment?
he realised there must be a middle way between the extreme of luxury and the extreme of starvation and he overcame the darkness
what is enlightenment ?
understanding the world around you and yourself and how everything works so you can finally reach inner peace , content happiness and have no more desire . you are at the centre of a spinning wheel of life around you
what tree was siddartha meditating under
the bodhi tree
what was siddarthas gautama know as after he found enlightenment ?
the buddha
what are the 3 universal truths?
dukkha anicca, anatta
what is dukkha?
life is unsatisfactory and can’t give people the permeant happiness they seek . it’s human nature to desire more and more and never be satisfied and if things are always changing then why hold on or wait for things. suffering is a normal part of life
what are the 3 poisons ?
hatred ignorance and greed
what is anatta?
there is no such thing as a separate self. nothing can exist separately as everything is connected to something else . as conditions change people change . everything relies on something else and we are all made up of the same things so we are all equal
what is anicca
everything is always changing and nothing will ever stay the same. things depend on conditions which themselves are changing. we can never rely on something to stay the same
where can all suffering be traced back to?
the 3 poisons as they stem to cause suffering such as someones selfish desires
what are the 4 nobel truths ?
dukkha , tanha, nirhoda, magga
what is dukha ?
suffering is a normal part of life that happens everyday and can not be escaped it is everywhere and to human to endure suffering
what is tanha?
all suffering can be traced back to the 3 poisons and the human nature to crave things is what causes us and others to suffer. if it seems to not be caused by the 3 fires then it’s our minds reaction to the suffering cause we are craving the suffering to stop.
what is nirhoda?
when you accept and appreciate the world and you don’t have suffering because you have controlled your minds reactions and cravings. you help people with their suffering to forget about yours and you live in the moment to avoid looking back at the past. nirvana is when you reach it.
what is magga?
when you find the middle path and find the balance between extreme luxury and extreme poverty. you finally stop your cravings for greed, hatred and ignorance and you are content with what you have.
what can you not avoid in life ?
suffering, old age, sickness, injury an death
what is the nobel 8 fold path?
8 steps which help a buddhist take the middle way and move towards enlightenment
what are the 8 steps of the 8 fold path?
right view right intensions right speech right action right livelihood right effort right concentration right mindfulness
what are the 2 steps that could be described as wisdom, mental plan or beginning?
right view and right intension
what are the 3 steps that could be described as morality, actions, knowledge or middle?
right speech, right action, right livelihood
what 3 steps could be described as meditation, mental mindset or ending?
right effort, right concentration and right mindfulness
what is right view ?
seeing the world in the right way and finally understanding ourselves, nature and how the world works
what is right intension?
stopping yourself doing and thinking things that make you act immorally. if you have the right view you will have the right intensions
what is right action
acting in ways which would not bring harm to anyone or anything
what is right speech
making sure you say the right things and don’t say things to hurt others
what is the right livelihood?
to have an occupation in which is fact and does not result in the harming of anyone or anything
what is right effort
to make a conscious attempt to rid themselves of bad thoughts and actions and speech
what is the right mindfulness/concentration ?
be aware of what is going on around you and attempting to understand and decide what is right or wrong
what is right meditation
to train your mind to completely concentrate on one thing, ignoring things that distract us in everyday lives
what is buddha?
title meaning enlightened one which was given to siddharha when he reached enlightenment
dhamma
all the buddhist teachings
what is enlightenment
the realisation of truth and all things
the four sights
four things the prince saw which changed his life
lotus
the flower which represents enlightenment
meditation
stilling and training the mind
nirodha
the stopping of suffering
nibbana
escape from the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, death and rebirth
samsara
the repeated cycle of birth, old age, sickness, death and rebirth
siddharttha gotama
a prince born in Nepal in the c 5th century who became the buddha
what is the sangha?
the buddhist community
what are the 3 jewels ?
the buddhist symbol with each jewel representing a different thing
what does the top yellow jewel represent?
represents the buddha as it is at the top and shows that it is possible to change for the better and reach enlightenment (why is yellow)
what does the red jewel represent?
represents sangha which is community of buddhists who encourage and help each other follow the buddhist path
what does the blue jewel represent?
represents dharma, buddhist teachings which helped them become happier, kinder, free from suffering and more calm and at peace with themselves which is why blue= calm
what are the 2 sections of the sangha?
bikkhu and lay
what is bikkhu?
buddhist monk, appreciate and learn buddhist teachings, simple life, no job, meditating, restricted to what possessions have, lay community bring them food, some allowed to marry and have family, keep 5 extra precepts
what is lay?
support each other with ideas and support monks, spending time with monks, respect, grow crops, sharing and helping monks reach enlightenment, helping community, discipline, no time alone with women, spend time as monk growing up learning teachings
what are the 5 precepts?
don't kill don't lie don't steal don't drink achool respect others
do you need both lay and bikkhu?
yes as bikkhus aren’t allowed to cook so lay cook for them and depend on each other anatta
what items are used in a buddhist centre?
bell,shrine,lotus flower, buddha, kindness, 7 bowls of water, offerings, 3 jewels , flowers, candles, incense, meditation , chanting, mantra-prayer, prayer beads
