PAPER 1 (PRACTICES & BELIEFS) Flashcards

1
Q

Symbolic offerings, what for?

A

Candles - WISDOM because light drives away darkness of ignorance
Flowers - IMPERMANENCE
Incense - PURITY in our thoughts and in our actions as written in the 8 fold path

To express gratitude

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2
Q

Skilful activity relating to shrines (teaching)

A

The effort required to keep the temple clean and replenished with flowers and other offerings is considered skilful action to focus one’s mind in the spiritual practices (Lama Choedak Rinpoche)

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3
Q

Gompa

A

Tibetan Buddhist name for meditation room

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4
Q

Pagoda/Stupa?

A

Contain holy relics of important Buddhists, NOT ACTUAL BUDDHA - his body is in India.
Originated in the time after buddhas death, his body was cremated and his ashes were divided up and sent to different places. Stupas built to house them. More recent stupas contain the remains of monks or nuns or items associated with significant people

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5
Q

Stupa structure

A

Built with a mound at the bottom to represent Earth and then a tower of different shapes representing Water, Fire and Air. There is also a point/spire representing wisdom

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6
Q

Study hall

A

For meetings and lectures. Might be used during a retreat.

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7
Q

Vihara

A

A monastery. A temple may be part of a vihara where nuns or monks live so there will also be a housing area, sleeping quarters, a kitchen and dining area.

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8
Q

What is a main hall?

A

A room in the temple where the shrine is located

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9
Q

Puja

A

Worship. Can take place in a temple or at home, as long as there is a shrine. Allows them to express their gratitude to Buddha for his teachings etc. 2/3 jewels.

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10
Q

What are the 3 jewels

A
  1. I go to the Buddha for refuge- people take comfort in following Buddha’s example
  2. I go to Dhamma for refuge - the ‘truth’ about the universe which Buddha found in his enlightenment
  3. I go to Sangha for refuge - the whole Buddhist community
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11
Q

Paticcasamupada

A

Dependent arising, meaning inter-relatedness. Nothing exists or happens on its own; everything is dependent on a whole network of other things.

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12
Q

Samsara

A

The cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The ultimate aim is to break this cycle, possible when cravings are destroyed

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13
Q

Nibbana

A
  1. Extinguishing the ‘self’ by practising meditation and the Eightfold Path.
  2. Extinguishing the ‘self’ by no longer requiring reincarnation into another form after death.
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14
Q

Mantra

A

Repeated either aloud or in their heads. A sequence of sacred syllables which represent a particular quality of the Buddha or Bodhisattva.

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15
Q

Mala

A

A string of prayer beads, has 108 beads.

Can compare to a Christian rosary

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16
Q

Why do Buddhists express gratitude to Buddha?

A

For his teachings, e.g. Dhamma

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17
Q

Why is chanting helpful during worship?

A

Because it helps to focus the mind and helps meditation

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18
Q

Why is mantra particularly significant to Mahayana Buddhists?

A

Because it represents the sound of the Earth

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19
Q

3 marks of existence?

A
  1. Dukkha- suffering
  2. Anicca - impermanence
  3. Anatta- no fixed ‘self’
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20
Q

Anicca?

A

Means impermanence, everything is constantly changing. E.g. all living things grow, mature and then die. Anicca and Dukkha are interconnected: We suffer because we do not want things to change, and try and hold on to the good times. Accepting change means less suffering b

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21
Q

Arhat

A

Therevada Buddhism - if you achieve enlightenment in earthly life, they will become an Arhat. AN ARHAT IS A PERFECTED PERSON WHO HAS OVERCOME SUFFERING BY DEFEATING THE 3 POISONS - WHEN THEY DIE THEY ESCAPE THE SAMSARA CYCLE

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22
Q

Bodhisattva

A

Mahayana Buddhism - believe that the aim of enlightenment is to become a Bodhisattva.

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23
Q

Earthly bodhisattva

A

(Mahayana Buddhism) AN EARTHLY BODHISATTVA MEANS TO RETURN TO EARTH IN ANOTHER FORM.

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24
Q

transcendent bodhisattva

A

(Mahayana Buddhism) TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL/MYTHICAL BEING EXISTING BETWEEN THE WORLDS OF EARTH AND NIBBANA AND PEOPLE PRAY TO YOU.

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25
Q

shrine

A

an area in the main hall with a shine centred around a buddha or bodhisattva statue

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26
Q

buddharupa

A

a statue of buddha often sitting cross legged in meditation pose 🧘‍♀️

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27
Q

how to become an arhat

A

in THEREVADA BUDDHISM: a perfected person, focus particularly on meditation, follow the 8 fold path to bring good kamma and help them reach nibbana (in earthly life)

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28
Q

what is an arhat?

A

(therevada) a ‘perfected person’ who has overcome suffering by defeating the three poisons. When they die, they escape the samsara cycle - THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

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29
Q

3 poisons

A

greed, ignorance, hate

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30
Q

eightfold path?

A

Ethics - right speech, right action, right livelihood
Meditation - right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration
Wisdom - right understanding, right intention

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31
Q

karuna

A

compassion e.g. Buddha’s decision to share his teachings so that other people could overcome suffering

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32
Q

4 sublime states

A

Metta, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity. Wisdom also a skill. Essential in Mahayana Buddhism to become a Bodhisattva.

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33
Q

ROKPA

A

Buddhist charity that sets up schools in LEDC’s to break poverty cycle as children are then educated and can educate others/get jobs

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34
Q

Metta

A

loving-kindness

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35
Q

5 moral precepts

A

I abstain from taking life
I abstain from taking what is not freely given
I abstain from misuse of the senses
I abstain from wrong speech
I abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

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36
Q

5 aggregates (Anatta)

A
From
Sensation
Perception
Mental formations
Consciousness
37
Q

anatta

A

the self is not fixed or permanent

38
Q

dhamma

A

the ‘truth’ about the universe which was discovered by Buddha in his enlightenment. It includes the 4 noble truths, the 3 marks of existence and the 8 fold path.

39
Q

4 sights?

A

What buddha saw when he left the palace old man, sick man, dead man and a holy man

40
Q

asceticism

A

giving up all luxuries and not listening to the demands of the body.

41
Q

Renunciation

A

turning your back on your old life, when buddha ;eft his wife and child

42
Q

the middle way

A

finding a compromise between extreme asceticism and luxury - Buddha plucked the strings of a lute

43
Q

3 watches of the night

A

realisations of buddha when he first achieved enlightenment: Knowledge of all previous lives, Kamma, 4 Noble Truths

44
Q

4 noble truths

A

1 - That suffering exists
2 - The cause of suffering is TANHA (desire/craving)
3 - Overcome TANHA through detachment
4 - Cure suffering by following the eightfoldpath

45
Q

3 main forms of mental suffering (dukkha)?

A

1 - separation from someone/thing that you love
2 - contact with something you dislike
3 - not being able to achieve your desires

46
Q

3 types of dukkha?

A

Dukkha-Dukkhata - physical or emotional pain
Viparinama-Dukkha - feeling during/after a life changing event
Samkhara-Dukkha - attachment, trying to hold onto things leading to dissatisfaction

47
Q

3 types of Tanha?

A

1 - craving things that please the senses
2 - craving to become something you’re not
3 - craving the non-existence of something

48
Q

what do the 3 poisons represent?

A

Ignorance (the pig) of the fact that we are driven by greed (the cockerel) and hate (the snake)

49
Q

Kisa Gotami

A

the mother of the dead baby who needed to find mustard seeds from a house where nobody had ever suffered

50
Q

Nagasena

A

The monk who used the example of the chariot to demonstrate the 5 aggregates

51
Q

meditation

A

the practice of calming and focusing the mind and reflecting deeply on teachings to penetrate their true meaning

52
Q

Samatha meditation

A

calming meditation, calming the mind and developing a deeper concentration

53
Q

Vipassana meditation

A

Insight meditation, developing an understanding of the nature of reality

54
Q

Zazen meditation

A

Zen Buddhism, requires awareness of the present moment

55
Q

thangka

A

painting of a buddha or bodhisattva

56
Q

visualisation

A

imaging/seeing an object in ones mind

57
Q

festival

A

a day/period for religious celebrations

58
Q

retreat

A

a period of time spent away from everyday life in order to focus on meditation

59
Q

wesak

A

THEREVADA: celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death

60
Q

Paranirvana day

A

MAHAYANA: commemorates Buddha’s death

61
Q

kamma

A

a persons actions; the idea that skilful actions result in happiness where as unskilful actions result in suffering

62
Q

6 perfections

A
the 6 qualities that MAHAYANA BUDDHISTS try to develop to live as bodhisattvas:
1 - Generosity 
2 - Morality
3 - Patience
4 - Meditation
5 - Energy
6 - Wisdom
63
Q

omnipotent

A

all powerful

64
Q

omnibenevolent

A

all loving

65
Q

omniscient

A

all knowing

66
Q

creator

A

God the creator

67
Q

Creation

A

The act by which God brought the universe into being (created in 6 days and rested on the 7th)

68
Q

Fundamentalists

A

Christians who take the stories in the bible literally

69
Q

Liberals

A

Christians who take the stories in the bible metaphorically

70
Q

Allegory

A

something is not intended to be taken as literally true, but hold elements of truth within it (e.g. creation story)

71
Q

transcendent

A

This means that God is apart from the rest of creation

72
Q

the problem of evil

A

if god is omniscient, onmibenevolent and omnipotent why is there still suffering in the world?
Free will
Suffering is a test
Bad balances the Good

73
Q

god the holy spirit

A

Part of the trinity - story of the pentecost and the belief that the Holy Spirit changes lives and gives courage (e.g. gives someone the strength to end their addiction)

74
Q

Pentecost

A

disciples found they could speak the different languages of the pilgrims who passed through Jerusalem through the Holy Spirits appearance throughout them ‘like wind blowing through them’

75
Q

god the son

A

jesus

76
Q

incarnation

A

when god became flesh: Jesus was fully god and fully human so able to feel all types of pain and suffering.

77
Q

Matthew & Luke’s gospels

A

Both mention Jesus’ birth, they are trying to show that the incarnation is LITERALLY true - fundamentalist Christians

78
Q

John’s gospel

A

does not include the ‘literal’ events of Jesus’ birth, it focuses more on ideas. ‘The word became flesh and dwelt amongst us’.

79
Q

why is incarnation important?

A

showed that God loved humans so much that he was willing to sacrifice everything to become a humble man. “Since God so loved us, we ought to love one another”

80
Q

crucifixion

A

Jesus condemned by Jewish priests and put to death by romans through crucifixion

81
Q

why is crucifixion important?

A

Christians believe it was part of God’s plan because human’s had lost their way (original sin etc.) and so Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice which ended all sacrifices and reconciled our relationship with God.

82
Q

Atonement

A

The reconciliation of the relationship between God and the people through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the son.

83
Q

resurrection

A

Jesus’ email followers went to his tomb to anoint the body but the tomb was empty. A man appeared and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

84
Q

why is resurrection significant?

A

because it proves life after death is possible and that Jesus must’ve been the son of God as no ordinary human could do this.

85
Q

ascension

A

40 days after Jesus’ resurrection he was taken up to heaven. New Testament accounts suggest that a cloud descended and hid him from sight and he was gone.

86
Q

what did Jesus say on the cross?

A

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they have done”

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

87
Q

what happened when Jesus died?

A

the curtains in the temple ripped and the sky went dark.
“from noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land”
“The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom”

88
Q

where was Jesus crucified?

A

on a hill in Golgotha, outside Jerusalem.

89
Q

what did the ripped curtain represent?

A

symbolised the ultimate sacrifice, no more sacrifices would be made.