Exam #2 Review

Question 1

What is Madhyamaka

Answer 1

The Middle Way School created by Nagarjuna

Question 2

What is Abhidharma?

Answer 2

Buddhist Literature about the nature of the consciousness and constituents of existence

Question 3

What is Prajñaparamita

Answer 3

the perfection of wisdom which comes from Mahayana Texts

Question 4

What is Svabhava?

Answer 4

The inherent or natural existence of a Dharma

Question 5

What is Pratyekabuddha?

Answer 5

The Vehicle for the solitary Buddha

Question 6

What is Tathagatagarba?

Answer 6

Buddha nature within people

Question 7

What is Dharmakaya?

Answer 7

One of the three bodies of the Buddha: the transcendental and unchanging body (cosmic)

Question 8

Who is Linji?

Answer 8

A Chinese Buddhist monk who taught his students about the bodhisattva path which can be obtained in a more rapid fashion

Question 9

What is Koan in the Chan/Zen Buddhist practice?

Answer 9

It is the Japanese word for Gong’an (Chinese) which were puzzles taught between monks and their students

Question 10

What is Zazen?

Answer 10

A seated meditation found in Zen and Chan schools

Question 11

Who is Nagarjuna?

Answer 11

An Indian Scholar Monk who created the school of the Middle Way

Question 12

What is Sunyata

Answer 12

emptiness

Question 13

What is Bhumi?

Answer 13

the stages of the bodhisattva path

Question 14

What is Bodhicitta

Answer 14

the thought of awakening

Question 15

What is upaya?

Answer 15

expedient means

Question 16

What is Buddhakéstra?

Answer 16

A domain where the Buddha previously purified his actions through his bodhisattva path (eight stages)

Question 17

Who is Amitabha?

Answer 17

He is the Buddha of the Pure Lands

Question 18

Who is Daochuo?

Answer 18

A 7th century Chinese monk

Question 19

What is Nianfo

Answer 19

reciting the name of Amitabha

Question 20

What is Panjiao?

Answer 20

The synthesis and classification of teachings

Question 21

What are the components of Mahayana Buddhism?

Answer 21

The Bodhisattva (the practitioner), Anuttara Samyksambodhi (what you “get”) Buddha (what you become)

Question 22

What are the ways in which the Mahayana Sutras are justified as Buddhavacana (the Buddhist canon)?

Answer 22

1. Bodhisattva, 2.Cosmology: expanding of realms and pantheon for cosmic beings 3. Philosophy: new perspective on the nature of existence in samara and nirvana

Question 23

What are the two truths of according to Nagarjuna vs. Abhidharma?

Answer 23

Abhidharma: Conventional Truth vs. Ultimate Truth, Nagarjuna: Analysis of Persons and Things down to the Number of Dharmas (dhammas)

Question 24

What are the bodhisattva’s wisdom and compassion according to Vimalakirti?

Answer 24

A bodhisattva’s compassion and wisdom comes form his detachment from earthly passion and setting aside his concerns for all living beings. As well as the Buddha lands in order to understand the doctrines of emptiness, formlessness, and non-action

Question 25

What is the point of the exchange between the Goddess and Sariputa in the Vimalakirti’s Sutra

Answer 25

The conversation/exchange is to help readers understand the idea of formlessness and the poison of anger, greed, and ignorance, entering the womb without rebirth, and barren of being a woman

Question 26

What is Vimalakirti’s answer to how to enter the gate of nondualism

Answer 26

Not speak!

Question 27

What are the practice of Chan/Zen Buddhism and how goes it relate to path/goal of Buddhism?

Answer 27

The goal of Chan/Zen Buddhism is to realize your inner Buddha, realizing that there is no difference between nirvana and samara, and entering the gate of non-dualism. How this practice relates to path/goal is that it quickness the process of reaching enlightenment. It also values the practice of deep meditation, puzzling stories, iconoclasm, and loud shouting and hitting.

Question 28

How does the Sukhavati (Pure Lands) relate to the goal of Mahayana Buddhism?

Answer 28

Sukhavati (the Pure Land) is a heavenly realm which is described as a paradise for those who have achieved the path of enlightenment and understanding the Dharma. This relates to the Mahayana Practice because it emphasizes the importance of establishing certainty and success in the Path as well as living being who hear his name and take vows to be reborn into the heavenly realm.

Question 29

What are the main points of the Shibi Jataka?

Answer 29

The Shibi Jakata describes a king who comes across a hungry hawk and ask for food but the king ask if he should kill the pigeon and the hawk says no. Then the King offers to give his flesh instead as a sign of devotion to living beings and takes a vow to care for all living beings. The Hawk and the Pigeon transform into the Buddhist gods shower him with spiritual good karma

Question 30

What are the main points of the Sukhavativyuha Sutra?

Answer 30

The Sutra describes the Pure Lands of Amitabha Buddha where the Buddha is describing it to Ananda who then ask how does it relates to the Path, and the Buddha says that living beings are able to call upon Amitabha and take vows which will allow them to be reborn into the heavenly realms