Key Buddhist beliefs

Question 1

dhamma

Answer 1

the truth about the universe which was discovered by Buddha in his enlightenment. includes:
-4 noble truths
-enlightenment
-the eightfold path
-3 marks of existence
also called a refugee-place to go to escape suffering
part of 3 refugees

Question 2

what are 3 refugees

Answer 2

Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha(whole Buddhist community)

Question 3

concept of dependent arising (paticcasamupada)

Answer 3

inter-relatedness, nothing exists or happens on its own

Question 4

three marks of existence

Answer 4

anicca (impermanence)
anatta (no fixed self)
dukkha (unsatisfactoriness of life, suffering)

Question 5

discuss Buddha’s birth and life of luxury

Answer 5

siddhartha born about 2,500 years ago in Nepal.

• could walk and talk straight from birth
• father was king
• holy man prophesied that kings baby would be either great ruler or great spiritual leader
• father protected him from any disappointment or suffering, every luxury was laid on for him

Question 6

what are the 4 sights

Answer 6

siddhartha became curious and wanted to visit outside world he saw; sickness, old age, death, holy man
-he vowed he’d become like the holy man because he seemed at peace amidst all suffering

Question 7

Buddha’s ascetic life

Answer 7

• he joined group of ascetics who tortured their bodies in order ti discipline their minds
• siddhartha denied his body of food
• he realised denying his body had taught him nothing and neither had his life of luxury
• he saw there must be a ‘middle way’ between 2 extremes

Question 8

Buddha’s enlightenment

Answer 8

• made himself cushion of grass under a peepul tree where he began to meditate. found enlightenment through 3 realisations:
• knowledge of all his previous lives
• that things were re-born depending n their kamma
• he understood causes of suffering and how to overcome it

Question 9

what are 4 noble truths

Answer 9

• suffering(dukkha) exists
• cause of suffering (samudaya); 3 poisons, greed, hate, ignorance
• the end of craving (tanha), interpretations of nibbana (nirvana) and enlightenment
• cure suffering by folowing The Eightfold Path

Question 10

Theravada Buddhism; what are the Five Aggregates

Answer 10

• form(body shape)
• sensation (feelings)
• perceptions (recognition of things around us,way we see world)
• mental formations (thoughts)
• consciousness (awareness of who we are in the world)

Question 11

Mahayana Buddhism; sunyata

Answer 11

-lack of sense of self , no fixed ‘self’ everything is changing

Question 12

Mahayana Buddhism; Buddhahood and Buddha-nature

Answer 12

-important idea that everybody has a seed of Buddha inside them, only when we truly understand Buddha’s teachings do we experience Buddha nature within ourselves

Question 13

Pure Land Buddhism

Answer 13

part of Mahayana tradition , main form of Buddhism in Japan

• based on faith in Amitabha Buddha, a transcendent Bodhisattva
• when he achieved enlightenment ad Nibanna he created a pure land called Sukhavati, place free from suffering

Question 14

Theravada Buddhism; Arhat

Answer 14

Theravada monks dedicate their whole lives to achieving enlightenment, when they ordained they promise to keep certain rules. focus on meditation, follow eightfold path, in order to become an Arhat

Question 15

what is an Arhat

Answer 15

a ‘perfected person’ who has has overcome suffering by defeating 3 poisons. when Arhat dies they escape samsara - ultimate goal for Theravada Buddhists

Question 16

Mahayana Buddhism; Bodhisattva

Answer 16

Mahayana Buddhists believe aim of enlightenment is use enlightenment to help others by becoming a Bodhisattva, means that soul either returns to earth in another form, or become spiritual or mythical being existing between worlds of Earth and Nibbana, and people pray to you for help