Key Terms 1 Flashcards
Buddha
One who is fully enlightened,
or the awakened one.
Siddhartha Gautama was the first person to reach enlightenment by getting rid of all craving, greed, anger, and ignorance.
Dhamma
(Dharma)
Teachings of the Buddha that should be followed to reach Nirvana (enlightenment).
These include the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Five Precepts.
Dukkha
The concept that life is suffering.
Suffering or unsatisfactoriness in life.
This suffering can take different forms, such as suffering from attachment or desire.
Four Noble Truths
The Buddha’s first teaching after he reached Nirvana (enlightenment)
These are that life is suffering, the cause of suffering, how to end suffering to follow the Eightfold Path to end suffering.
Noble Eightfold Path
Eight steps towards overcoming suffering and desires and achieving Nirvana
and freedom from Samsara. Living the Middle Way (Magga) is achieved by following this path, for example, Right Speech and Right Livelihood.
Parinirvana
Complete, final nirvana, after death.
The Buddha achieved nirvana but remained to help others, when he died, he achieved Parinirvana.
Tanha
Craving’ or ‘desire’ of possessions,
people, permanence and can be either physical or mental. These are the causes of suffering and are linked to the three poisons.
Euthanasia
The act of killing a person, because a decision has been reached that death would be the best option.
Sometimes referred to as ‘mercy killing.
Abortion
When a pregnancy is ended by the deliberate removal of the foetus from the womb so that it does not result in the birth of a child.
Most abortions in the UK are legal up until the 24th week.
Quality of life
The extent to which life is meaningful and pleasurable.
This could be based on a person’s health, wealth, relationships etc…
Sanctity of life
The belief that life is precious,
or sacred because humans are made ‘in God’s image’. For many religious believers, only human life holds this special status.
Soul
The spiritual aspect of a being; that which connects someone to God.
The soul is often regarded as non-physical and as living on after physical death, in an afterlife.
Afterlife
The belief in an existence after death.
For some this is a final place, such as heaven or hell. For others, it is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Environmental Responsibility
The duty of human beings to care for and preserve the natural environment for future generations.
This means taking an active part to protect the planet and encourage others to do the same.
Evolution
The process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms
during the history of the earth. Charles Darwin first developed this theory, known also as survival of the fittest.
