Key Buddhist Practices

Question 1

Dana - selfless giving

Answer 1

Starting point for lay Buddhists, taught by the Buddha when he first gained enlightenment
Way to combat the three poisons, particularly greed
Links to anatta (no-self) and the idea of letting go of self and selfishness

Question 2

Giving to the monastic sangha

Answer 2

By giving to monks and nuns, Buddhists gain more than they give because they support the maintenance of the dhamma
Monks and nuns set an example of how to live, giving back to the lay community
Giving alms is believed to lead to a better rebirth

Question 3

Giving to the wider community

Answer 3

Contributing towards printing books for free distribution or supporting Buddhist websites
Volunteering for the local sangha
Manchester Buddhist Centre

Question 4

Punya - merit

Answer 4

Performing good actions with the right intentions
Most Buddhists want to direct the merit or good consequences from their worship out to others in the world to avoid selfishness

Question 5

Gaining and transferring merit

Answer 5

In Theravada tradition, this can involve transferring the merit to those who are reborn in less fortunate realms such as the pretas (hungry ghosts) to help them to a better rebirth
A boy who becomes a novice or monk will share the merit with his mother, who will also gain merit from giving up her son and from her joy in his becoming part of the monastic sangha.

Question 6

The three jewels - refuges

Answer 6

The Buddha
The Dhamma
The Sangha

Question 7

Taking refuge in the Buddha

Answer 7

Trusting the historical person and to be grateful for his explanation of the dhamma
It also involves recognising the possibility of your own enlightenment and seeing in him an example of how human beings can escape suffering

Question 8

Taking refuge in the Dhamma

Answer 8

Exploring the teachings of the Buddha, not just blindly following them. Only through proper understanding will Buddhists move towards enlightenment
The Buddha and the Dhamma are intimately linked. The Buddha said, ‘He who sees me sees the dhamma, he who sees the dhamma sees me.’

Question 9

Taking refuge in the sangha

Answer 9

Sharing your spiritual journey with the Buddhist community
When the Buddha died, the Sangha were the guardians of the dhamma as the Buddha made clear that he would have no successor.
The Buddha said ‘be a lamp unto yourselves’ showing that the Sangha had to guide each other to enlightenment

Question 10

Going for refuge in Theravada Buddhism

Answer 10

Forms part of the regular practice of chanting and helps Buddhists to reflect on the qualities of each ‘jewel’.

Question 11

Going for refuge in Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 11

Different branches emphasise different Buddhas, for example in Pure Land Buddhism, the Buddha refuge focuses on Amitabha (Amida), in Zen Buddhism, the focus is on the Buddha-nature within all people.

Question 12

Heritage Buddhists

Answer 12

Not really how the Buddha seemed to want people to practice. In Buddhism people are supposed to reflect carefully on the symbolism of the teachings and how they can be applied to everyday life, not just follow blindly

Question 13

Convert Buddhists

Answer 13

Going for refuge is the first step to conversion
Signifies a change from a more mundane life to one which has spirituality at its heart. It is a commitment to look beyond the small boundaries of human life to a path based on unchanging spiritual principles and truths.

Question 14

4 types of meditation

Answer 14

Samatha - calmness meditation
Metta Bhavana - lovingkindness meditation
Vipassina - insight meditation
Zazen - sitting meditation

Question 15

Benefits of samatha meditation

Answer 15

Heightened powers of concentration
Mind is no longer taken over by doubts, fears and worries

Question 16

Benefits of Vipassina meditation

Answer 16

Makes a Buddhist aware of the noble truths and marks of existence
Develops compassion

Question 17

Samatha

Answer 17

Selecting an object to meditate on – usually the breath but sometimes a mantra (chant) or everyday object. The aim is to become engrossed in the object of meditation until you can no longer be distracted by either the outside world or thoughts that arise in your own mind.

Question 18

Metta Bhavana

Answer 18

Develops 4 bramhaviharas

Question 19

Vipassina

Answer 19

Separate out their experiences into categories of body, feelings, moods and thoughts. Beginning with the body, they may concentrate on breathing and focus on every minor bodily sensation without responding to it, thereby breaking the habit of stimulus and response.

Question 20

Zazen

Answer 20

Sitting in a focused and mindful way and using intuition to understand that nibbana is here and now. The meditator is not trying to think.