Living the Buddhist Life Flashcards
What is meditation?
The practice of calming and focusing the mind in order to focus on specific teachings so that their true meaning can be understood.
What is mindfulness breathing (samatha)
Meditation that focuses on the experience of breathing. Calm abiding.
What is Zazen?
The practice of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, usually by meditation.
What is the visualisation of the Buddha?
The practice of visualising images of Buddha forms and reciting sacred sounds and mantras.
What is a mantra?
A sequence of sacred syllables to be recited by Buddhists.
What are sacred syllables?
Mantras which hold infinite meaning and the dhamma in a single syllable.
What are mala beads?
Prayer beads that are used to count the number of recitations of a mantra.
What is a temple?
The place where Buddhists meet to worship. Often where Monks and Nuns live also.
What is a gompa?
The place where Tibetan Buddhists meditate.
What is a vihara?
A Buddhist temple which has living accommodation for monks or nuns.
What is a shrine?
A place with a statue of a Buddha, providing a focus for believers’ meditation and devotion.
What is a Buddha rupa?
A statue of the Buddha.
What is the Bodhi tree?
The sacred fig tree under which Siddhartha Gautama gained enlightenment.
What is puja?
An act of worship.
What are mourning rituals?
Activities and ceremonies which take place after the death of someone.
What is a retreat?
A period of time spent apart from ordinary life in order to focus on meditation and religious activities. eg Vassa
What is Wesak?
The festival which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha in Theravada Buddhism.
What is Vassa/Rain retreat?
The three month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists.
What is Kathina?
The festival which occurs at the end of Vassa, and is a time of giving where the laity express their gratitude to monks and nuns.
What are Uposatha Days?
Times of renewed dedication to Dhamma practice by lay followers and monastics.
What is Hanamatsuri?
The festival of flowers in Japan, commemorating the birth of the Buddha.
What is Obon?
A Japanese Buddhist festival to honour those who have passed away.
What is Parinibbana?
A Mahayana festival to commemorate the passing away of the Buddha and his esacpe from samsara
What is Lama Tsong Khapa Day?
The celebration of the passing of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition of Buddhism.
Vipassana meditation
Meditation developing insight into Buddha’s teachings
Samatha mediation
Calm abiding meditation, often focusing on breathe
Metta bhavana meditation
Meditation to develop loving kindness
What is chanting?
Chanting can be done as part of Buddhist worship. They may chant teachings, such as 5 precepts or 3 refuges or mantras such as Namo Buddhaya or Om Mani Padme Hum
Example of Theravada mantra
Namo Buddhayo: showing reverence to the Buddha
Example of Mahayana mantra
Om Mani padme hum (Tibetan)
Nam Myo Renge Kyo ( NIcheren) think Tina Turner
Why do Buddhists chant
Meditative: calms the mind
Develops insight into dhamma
Enables them to realise their tathagatagarbha (buddha nature)
Develops compassion
Why do they meditate
to gain insight into dhamma
to develop loving kindness
to develop mindfulness
to help them achieve enlightenment
Why do they do puja?
To show reverence to the Buddha
To show gratitude to the Buddha for sharing his teachings
To gain insight into dhamma
To be joined with other Buddhists collectively encouraging sense of community.
To develop mindfulness and help them to act skilfully
What offerings do Buddhists make at the shrine to the Buddha
Flowers= impermanence
Candles= enlightenment
Incense= calm atmosphere and dhamma spreading
7 water bowls= water for bathing, drinking etc
Why do Buddhists go on retreat?
To withdraw from normal life and focus on spiritual life.
Deepen their understanding and wisdom of Buddha’s teachings
Develop their meditation skills
Develop compassion and loving kindness.
