Foundations

Question 1

When and where did Buddhism arise?

Answer 1

arose in North Central India in the 500s BCE.

Question 2

what civilisation was found in North western India?

Answer 2

Indus Valley civilisation

Question 3

who were Brahmans

Answer 3

the members of the highest Hindu Caste

Question 4

what traditions gave rise to Yoga, and Buddhism

Answer 4

Sramana traditions

Question 5

what did Sramana originally refers to

Answer 5

any ascetic religious practitioner who renounced secular life and society in order to focus on finding religious truth

Question 6

when and where was Siddhartha Gautama born

Answer 6

in the 5th of 6th century in modern day Nepal

Question 7

what was Queen Mayas dream of

Answer 7

a white elephant came down from heaven a d said when the child was born he would achieve perfect wisdom

Question 8

according to legend what could Siddhartha do straight after birth?

Answer 8

he could walk and talk without support. he walked seven steps and every step he took a lotus flower grew

Question 9

what was the prophecy said by the holy man

Answer 9

it was foretold that the boy would be either a great ruler or a great spiritual teacher

Question 10

where did Siddhartha grow up?

Answer 10

he was raised in great luxury and shielded from the knowledge of religion and human suffering

Question 11

what were the four sights

Answer 11

Siddhartha saw an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a holy man.

Question 12

what was the significance of Siddhartha seeing the holy man

Answer 12

it inspired him to start his quest to reach for answers of why people suffer and how to stop it

Question 13

what did Siddhartha and 5 others attempt to be released from suffering

Answer 13

they tried to find a release through physical deprivation, enduring pain, holding their breath and starving themselves.

Question 14

what did his ascetic practises of deprivation and his luxury life teach him

Answer 14

he developed the middle way between the two extremes that he had experienced.

Question 15

what did Siddhartha say when he sat under the bodie tree

Answer 15

“not till I attain enlightenment will I give up this seat of meditation”

Question 16

what did traditional stories say he battled while meditating

Answer 16

he had a great battle with the demon Mara meaning destruction.

Question 17

what did the demon Mara try to do to Siddhartha

Answer 17

• Mara offered Siddhartha control of his kingdom
• Mara tried to attack him
• mara used his daughters to seduce Siddhartha

Question 18

when Siddartha became enlightened what did he gain knowledge of

Answer 18

gained knowledge of his previous lives. he understood the repeating cycles of birth, death and rebirth. he understood suffering and how to stop it

Question 19

why was the Buddha reluctant to teach

Answer 19

because what he finally understood could not be communicated in words

Question 20

what persuaded the Buddha to start teaching

Answer 20

the Deity Brahma Sahampati convinced him

Question 21

where did the Buddha wander to originally

Answer 21

he went to the deer park, where he left his 5 original companions and they became his first students.

Question 22

what happened when the Buddha became 80

Answer 22

the Buddha entered Para nirvana, leaving his physical body behind and escaped the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Question 23

what was The buddhas last words

Answer 23

” all compounded things in the world are changeable, work hard to gain your own salvation.”

Question 24

what does veda mean

Answer 24

meant knowledge and was a collection texts the Aryans composed.

Question 25

what did Veda based religion evolve into

Answer 25

Vedic Brahmanism, which emphasised the idea that there is a cosmic law governing the universe

Question 26

what did Buddha reject of Brahmanism

Answer 26

• that there is no caste system and humans are part of one species.

Question 27

what did the buddha criticise of Brahmanism and change to

Answer 27

ritualism and sacrifices were a prominent feature in Brahmanism. the Buddha introduced a new sacrifice with less blood shed.

Question 28

what were the Buddhas new sacrifices

Answer 28

taking refuge in the buddha, sangha and Dharma. this sacrifice was substituted with human moralism

Question 29

what did the Buddha reject of the Srmana Movements

Answer 29

Srmana schools rejected the continuity of human existence after death which lead to moral nihilism (nothingness)

Question 30

what are the the three jewels

Answer 30

The Buddha, the Sangha and the Dharma

Question 31

what does refuge in the buddha mean

Answer 31

Buddhist align themselves with the ability to become a Buddha. this jewel reminds Buddhists to find their Buddha nature

Question 32

what does the refuge in the Dharma mean

Answer 32

Buddhist do not cause harm and are able to find safety in the teachings

Question 33

what does the Dharma teach

Answer 33

it teaches compassion for Buddhists and through understanding the four noble truths leads to the release of fear and ignorance

Question 34

what did Buddha see in the sangha

Answer 34

the buddha saw that the interaction with others who are on the path is essential for practise.

Question 35

what is a strength of the sangha

Answer 35

when Buddhist turn towards the Sangha, they are bale to learn from others and offer help.

Question 36

why is the Buddha important?

Answer 36

he taught practises like meditation that are a continuing relevance.

Question 37

why is the Dharma important?

Answer 37

the dharma is the carrier of goodness and is a permanent universal truth

Question 38

why is the Sangha important

Answer 38

Buddhist can turn towards the community in times of needs. humans are social creatures and if we are supported by healthy people we are less likely to abuse negative behaviour