History (Buddhism) Flashcards
How many kinds of beings are there in Buddhism
- Gods
- Half - gods
- Humans
- Animals
- Ghosts
- Demons
What are the first three steps of the Eightfold Noble Path
Right actions
Right speech
Right living
What do the first three steps of the Noble Path deal with
They deal with how people should behave and live peacefully with one another. It teaches that people should not lie, cheat, do evil or kill any living being. The good things in life should be shared. Kindness, compassion and love should rule everyone’s life.
What to do the last five steps of the Noble Path deal with
Five of the steps on this path are about thinking. They help people to meditate and to discover the deeper truths of Buddhism. In this way they can learn to have no desires and feelings for themselves but to love all people and all things. Only in this way can they reach Nirvana.
What is Mahayana Buddhism
There are two types of monks in Buddhism. The less strict monks were known as Mahayana Buddhist. They believed that Gautama was a god, not an ordinary man. They also believed that ordinary people could reach Nirvana as well.
What is Hinayana Buddhism
Some of the monks in Buddhism were much stricter than others. These strict kind of monks were known as Hinayana/Theravada Buddhists. They believed that Gautama was an ordinary man, not a god. They also said that only monks could ever get to Nirvana
Why did Buddhism end in India
(hint: two groups didn’t like it + monks became more interested … + fierce Xiong Nu)
Slowly, after Asoka’s death, Buddhism became less important in India. This was mainly because two very powerful groups of people did not like it. The Brahmins did not like Buddhism because it did not believe in the caste system whilst the warrior caste did not like it because it wanted peace.
Then, Buddhist monks became more interested in ceremonies than in helping people. So, many smaller monasteries closed down and monks moved to the big ones. Then in the 6th century the attacks from the fierce Xiong Nu destroyed many of the great Buddhist monasteries and treasures had been stolen as well. This made Buddhism even weaker.
What is Neo Confucianism
The teaching of some confucian scholars had been influenced by Buddhist teaching. Before this time, scholars mainly thought about the actions of people and their behaviour in their families, village and state. Now, they began to think more about knowledge and what happened inside people’s minds, which led to the development of Neo - Confucianism.
How did Buddhism spread from India to Japan
Firstly Buddhism went from India to China. Here it added many Confucian and Daoist ideas to its beliefs. From China it went to Korea, where it added some more ideas. When it reached Japan it took over some ideas from the early Japanese religion called Shinto. (In Shinto ppl worshipped nature)
What is Shinto
Shinto is an early Japanese religion where people would worship nature (the sun,, trees, stones and water) and their ancestors as well.
What was Pure Land Buddhism
This kind of Buddhism said that there was a beautiful land in the sky where everything would be perfect. People would go there when they died if they had been good. It was similar to the Christian Heaven.
What is Zen Buddhism
Zen is a Japanese word meaning meditation or thinking. Thus, Zen Buddhism is a quiet religion in which people find peace in meditation. It is still widely practised in Japan and other parts of the world. Zen Buddhism led to the Japanese customs of tea ceremonies, flower arranging and sand gardens - all of which make the mind calm.
Explain the Wheel of Life
In Buddhism, all six kinds of beings are forced to feel pain in both mind and body and all die. When they die, their spirits are reborn into other beings. For example, a human who had been bad in one life might be reborn as a demon or animal. A good animal may be reborn as a human or even a god. Buddha taught that the aim of all beings was to escape this wheel and learn to always stop wanting things (desire). This is the wheel of life.
