Paper 1 Buddhist Beliefs Flashcards
Dhamma (Dharma)
The Buddha’s teachings
Anicca
impermanence; the idea that everything changes
Anatta
nothing is permanent; there is no self or soul
Ascetic
living a simple and strict lifestyle with few pleasures or possessions
Boddhisattva
in Mahayana Buddhism, someone who is enlightened but chooses to remain in samsara to help others
enlightenment
the gaining of true knowledge about the self and nature of reality
Meditation
the practise of calming and focusing the mind to reflect deeply
Dukkha
The first noble truth: there is suffering
Tanha
Craving or desiring something
Jataka
tales and popular stories about the lives of the Buddha
Samsara
the repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth
Arhat
In Theravada Buddhism, someone who has become enlightened
Samudaya
The second noble truth: there are causes of suffering
Magga
The fourth noble truth: to stop suffering, follow the Eightfold Path
Nirodha
The third noble truth: suffering can be stopped
Kamma (karma)
a person’s actions in any life; good actions result in happiness and bad ones in suffering
Nibbana (nirvana)
a state of complete enlightenment, happiness and peace
What is the third sight that Buddha saw?
Death
The 5 kandhas/ aggregates are …
the Therevadian idea of the parts that interact to make up a persons idea of self
What was the fourth sight that Buddha saw?
Holy man
What was the first sight that Buddha saw?
Old age
What was the second sight that Buddha saw?
Illness
Which one of these is not one of the three marks of existence?
Karuna
Buddhists believe that God made the world. Tue or false?
False
How do we stop suffering?
Remove desire and attachment
Pure lands Buddhism focuses on reaching enlightenment by…
being taught by Amitabha Buddha in the pure lands/ Sukhavati
What is ‘ahimsa’?
Non-violence
What is the ‘sangha’?
Buddhist community
What is the purpose of life for a Buddhist?
To develop compassion and wisdom
What is meant by the 5 aggregates or 5 Skandhas?
5 parts to describe what people are made up of
Middle way
The balance between self-indulgence and self-mortification (self denial or self discipline as an aspect of religious devotion).
Which two are branches of Buddhism?
Mahayana & Theravada
Bodhisattva is…
For Mahayana Buddhists, someone who has become enlightened but chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others
Who tried to stop Siddhartha reaching enlightenment?
Mara
The Three poisons are shown by…
A pig, snake and cockrel
After Death Buddhists believe in..
Rebirth
What are 2 different views on the Buddha?
- Theravada Buddhist believe the Buddha is a purely historical figure, no longer possible to interact or meet with him in the world
- Mahayana Buddhists believe Buddha remains active and can influence the world, can be encountered through visions, meditations and can manifest himself in different ways
What are the 3 watches of the night?
- Siddhartha gained knowledge of his previous lives
- Came to know repeating cycle of death (samsara) and the importance of anatta(there is no fixed self)
- Cam to understand as why suffering (dukkha) happens and how to overcome it (magga)
How does learning about the life of the Buddha influence Buddhists today?
Helping people make sense of their lives - Four sights show that wealth doesn’t bring happiness
Humans can become enlightened - Buddha was human as are his followers
What are the 3 marks of existence?
- Annica (impermanence)
- Dukkha (suffering)
- Anatta (no fixed self)
What are the 3 Jewels?
Wholesome places to escape suffering
1. The Buddha
2. The Dhamma (teachings of the Buddha and path to enlightenment)
3. Sangha (Buddhist community)
What was the story of Kisa Gautami?
Poor, isolated woman in society got married to a merchant who loved her for her beautiful heart. She wasn’t accepted by this family until she had an heir but then the boy died. She couldn’t accept this and went in search of medicine, lost in her grief. Then met Buddha and mustard seeds helped her realise that death is a part of life, so she couldn’t accept this stop grieving and bury her son’s body. She then later became one of Buddha followers
What is the Middle Way?
How to lead a balanced life.
Buddha taught that compromise was at the heart of wisdom
What are the 4 noble truths?
- The truth of suffering (dukkha)- suffering exists throughout life and is unavoidable
- The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya)- suffering is caused by our cravings and desire
- The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha)- by giving up craving and desire suffering can be destroyed
- The truth of the oath to the cessation of suffering (Magga)- escaping dukkha through 8 fold path
What are the 3 kinds of suffering?
- Painful experiences
- Suffering caused by impermanence or loss
- All pervasive suffering cause by thought and mental activity
Explain what the first noble truth is:
Suffering exists throughout life and is unavoidable. Pleasure and suffering does not last, we are always unsatisfied.
This is a realistic teaching that goes on to tell us what we can about it
What is the second noble truth?
The origin of suffering is craving (Tanha)
What are the 3 poisons?
- Ignorance, pig, moha
- Greed, cockerel, lobha
- Anger, snake, dosa
What do the 3 poisons do?
Keep us locked in the cycle of samsara
What are the 3 wholesome factors?
- Wisdom, prajna
- Generosity, Dana
- Loving kindness, metta
