GCSE Buddhist beliefs

Question 1

where is the story of Siddhartha’s life told and what are its main points

Answer 1

-told in the jataka tales 075
-queen maya (mum) saw white elephant enter womb and tell her buddha would be great king or holy man
-he became a prince and the prophecy was great king or holy man
-king (dad) wanted his son to rule so hid suffering from him with a life of luxury

Question 2

what did his life of luxury involve

Answer 2

kept away from suffering-ignorance (1 of 3 poisons)
kept in palace
everything he could desire
grew bored at 29 and decided to explore beyond the palace (dad didn’t like)

Question 3

what are the four sights and why are they significant

Answer 3

-old age, illness, death, holy man
first three sights were suffering which shocked and saddened him so he wanted to find a cause and cure
final sight was inspiration to become like holy man

Question 4

what were Siddhartha’s main 3 lifestyles

Answer 4

luxury having too much and being too ignorant
ascetic life of discipline where he barely ate and suffered. no answers + almost died
middle way having enough to be comfortable to allow focus but not be greedy

Question 5

what were Siddhartha’s 3 realisations upon enlightenment

Answer 5

why people suffer and how to stop it
cycle of samsara
knowledge of previous lives

Question 6

who tried to prevent Siddhartha from meditation

Answer 6

mara the evil one
sent his daughters to seduce
sent army’s to attack
offered his kingdom
symbolic of everyday distractions

Question 7

what is anatta

Answer 7

no fixed soul
new soul when reborn based on karma
we constantly change because the 5 aggregates change

Question 8

what are the 3 marks of existence

Answer 8

3 things that make us human
dukkha everyone suffers
Anicca nothing is permanent everything changes
Anatta no fixed soul always changing

Question 9

what is an arhat

Answer 9

a perfect person
the aim of Theravada Buddhism
work on own enlightenment

Question 10

what is a bodhisattva

Answer 10

a teacher of enlightenment
Mahayana tradition
work on others enlightenment
compassion for others

Question 11

what are the 5 aggregates

Answer 11

form (body)
consciousness (awareness)
Perception (understanding)
mental formations (thoughts)
sensations (feelings)
this shows anatta as they are always changing

Question 12

what is the concept of Buddhahood

Answer 12

becoming enlightened
Mahayana tradition
everyone has buddha nature (essence of buddha and the ability to reach enlightenment)
Buddhahood is reaching that potential

Question 13

what do pureland buddhist’s believe

Answer 13

-Japanese tradition and a form of Mahayana Buddhism
-Amitabha buddha created it after enlightenment out of compassion
called sukhavati
-hope to be reborn there to be taught how to reach enlightenment
-not nirvana but has minimal suffering

Question 14

four noble truths

Answer 14

-suffering exists
-causes are the 3 poisons, cravings and attachment
-suffering can end
-cure for suffering is the eightfold path

Question 15

3 main causes of suffering

Answer 15

Tanha (cravings)
Attachment
3 poisons

Question 16

what are the three poisons

Answer 16

ignorance
greed
hatred

Question 17

what types of suffering so Buddhist’s believe in

Answer 17

physical- birth, age, illness, death
emotional
change (annica)

Question 18

what is eightfold path

Answer 18

eight rules to reduce suffering
all begin with the word right
Right- action, intention, speech, livelihood, concentration, mindfulness, effort, understanding
can be categorised as 3 fold way being
ethics, meditation and wisdom

Question 19

what is nirvana/ nibbana

Answer 19

place free of suffering
where you go once enlightened after death
cycle has stopped
goal of all buddhists

Question 20

what is dependent arising

Answer 20

everything depends on something to exist eg. plant need sun
everything is connected
next life based of karma in this one

Question 21

what is the Tibetan wheel of life

Answer 21

a mandala to represent cycle of samsara
mandala is circular design to help meditate
shows the cycle we are trapped in unless enlightenment is reached

Question 22

what are the 3 refuges

Answer 22

3 things that offer safety from suffering
1 buddha teaches how to avoid suffering
2 dhamma the truth/ nature of reality
3 sangha aka the Buddhist community

Question 23

name 3 aspects of Theravada buddhism

Answer 23

become arhat and avoid sexual relationships and alcohol
transfer good karma to dying
5 aggregates

Question 24

3 aspects of Mahayana buddhism

Answer 24

believes in sunyata- emptiness or without form understand nothing is permanent
buddha nature- everyone has buddhas essence
more compassionate to become bodhisattva than arhat