Early Buddhism And Teachings Flashcards
What is Buddhism ?
Buddhism follows the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama who is called the Buddha. They follow Buddha’s teachings to avoid suffering/dukkha and find the truth about life which is called enlightenment.
What was Queen Mayas dream about?
Queen Maya had a dream that a white elephant, with a lotus flower in its trunk entered the womb through her side.
Who was Asita and what did he do?
Not long after the birth, a holy man named Asita visited Siddhartha. He said that Buddha had 32 special signs on his body. Asita predicted that Siddhartha would either become a great leader or a great holy man.
What is first noble truth ?
All life involves suffering
What were the four sights?
A sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a holy man.
Why was the fourth sight so significant?
The fourth sight (holy man) inspired him. Siddhartha moved out of the place and found a religious teacher who taught him about asceticism. Ascetism is the practice of giving up pleasures and living a simple life.
What did Siddhartha realise after the fourth sight?
Siddhartha was inspired by the Holy Man and realised that by becoming a holy man/Sadhu, he too could be free from suffering. He renounced his life in the palace and lived as an ascetic.
What are the five precepts ?
Do not harm or kill
Do not steal
Do not commit sexual misconduct
Do not lie
Do not take drugs or drink alcohol
What’s the second noble truth?
We cause most of our suffering through our desires. Tanha
What is the third noble truth?
The realisation that we can overcome our own suffering
What is the fourth noble truth?
The middle way/ magga. You cannot become enlightened through extreme poverty or extreme wealth. You must follow the middle way/magga. The way to do this is to follow the noble eightfold path.
How did the Buddha become enlightened?
Siddhartha sat beneath a fig tree with the goal of becoming enlightened. He struggled with temptations in the form of ‘Mara’ but continued his meditation. Eventually, after twelve hours, Siddarth reached enlightenment.
Name the three sections of the eightfold path?
ethics, meditation, and wisdom.
Eightfold path 8 sections ?
Right ethics: right livelihood, right action, right speech.
Right wisdom: right view, right intention.
Right meditation: right concentration, right mindfulness, right effort
What is a Sadhu?
Someone who devotes their life to a spiritual path as a holy person
