karma and Rebirth Flashcards
karma
the law of cause and effect
pratityasamutpada
the theory of causation, the explanation for existence known as dependant origination
nirvana
literally means extinguishing. Means extinguishing the 3 fires of desire (Tanha). A transcendental state beyond conditioned existence
Tanha
craving which is the cause of suffering
pari-nirvana
on death we reach full nirvana called pari -nirvana
what do therevada believe about nirvana
that once someone has reached enlightenment and have ceased all craving they will no longer experience dukkha.
there will still feel physical pain but not affect the mental state- this is arhat
what do Mahayana believe about nirvana
nirvana is just one stage (6 out of 11) to path to buddhahood, on reaching samsara they are free from the cycle of samsara and are able to choose rebirth to help others
samsara
life as a continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth
The bhavackra
the diagram of the 6 realms of existence with Mara the demon, the buddha who has escaped samsara pointing at the moon. and the 12 niddanas
the three poisons
ignorance, craving, hate
the six realms of existence
the gods (pride), humans (desire, suffering) , hungry ghosts (greed, craving), asuras(jealously, envy), animals (ignorance), hells (anger, hatred)
dependant origination
every thought or feeling only happens because the right causes or conditions happened. there are 12 causes (niddanas)
the 12 niddanas
ignorance, mental formations, consciousness, mind and matter, six senses, contact, feeling, craving, clinging, becoming, birth and death
what is the evidence for rebirth
the buddha saw his past lives when he reached enlightenment, the Dalai Lama also claims to remwmwber his past 13 lives
we don’t always feel the full effects of rebirth in thisnlife and so must carry on in future lives