Part E: Expressions Of Religious Identity

Question 1

Devotion: WHAT IS IT?

Answer 1

Act of worship

Question 2

Devotion Theravada: OBJECTS OF DEVOTION

Answer 2

Three Jewels

Question 3

Devotion Theravada: WHY? (4)

Answer 3

Showing commitment
Can help learn the teachings
Help to gain Punna (merit) and therefore a fortunate re-birth.
Any merit formed can be transferred to someone else.

Question 4

Devotion Theravada: HOW (3)

Answer 4

1. Shrine: offerings, chanting, reciting, bow, listen
2. Chanting: Three Refuges, Mantras, Amitabha
3. Bowing: images of Buddha, bodhisattvas etc

Question 5

Devotion Theravada: OFERINGS

Answer 5

1. Light
2. Incense
3. Water
4. Fruit
5. Flowers
6. Lotus

Question 6

Devotion Mahayana: OBECT OF DEVOTION (2)

Answer 6

Buddha,
Heavenly bodhisattvas

Question 7

Devotion Mahayana: EXAMPLES OF BODHISATTVAS (2)

Answer 7

Avalokitsvara: compassion
Amitbha: Pure Land

Question 8

Devotion Mahayana: CHANTING (2)

Answer 8

Mantra
Dharani

Question 9

Devotion Mahayana: OFFERINGS (8)

Answer 9

1. Water for drinking
2. Water for washing
3. Flowers
4. Incense
5. Light
6. Perfume
7. Food
8. Sounds

Question 10

Rupas: WHAT IS IT?

Answer 10

Image/ statue of Buddha

Question 11

Rupas: IMPORTANCE (5)

Answer 11

Enlightenment reminder
Buddha reminder
Sign of respect
Qualities of Buddha
Focus

Question 12

Mudras: WHAT IS IT?

Answer 12

Hand gestures found in a rupa or used in meditation

Question 13

Mudras: IMPORTANCE (3)

Answer 13

Express different qualities
Worshipper mindful
Understood by everyone

Question 14

Mudra: EXAMPLES (3)

Answer 14

1. Hands on lap (Meditation)
2. Hands in prayer (Praying)
3. Hand touching Earth (Victory over Mara)

Question 15

Punna: WHAT IS IT?

Answer 15

Merit

Question 16

Punna: IMPORTANCE

Answer 16

Beneficial & protective force as result of good deeds, thoughts, acts
Determines quality of next life
Contributes person’s growth to enlightenment

Question 17

Punna: TRANSFERRING- How? (2)

Answer 17

Mental wish
Bodhisattva

Question 18

Punna: TRANSFERRING- Death Rituals (2)

Answer 18

Tibetan: ceremonies
Theravada: charity donating

Question 19

Puja: THERAVADA

Answer 19

1. Image of Buddha as focus
2. Less focus on puja, Buddha is role model
3. Shrine to Siddharta Gautama in homes
4. Worshipping Buddha gives them good Punna
5. Acts of devotion lead to good karma
6. Important to avoid attachment to Buddha
7. ‘Pirit’ ceremony

Question 20

Puja: MAHAYANA (5)

Answer 20

1. Elaborate shrines
2. More beings to worship
3. Acts of devotion lead to good Punna & karma
4. Buddha recommenced worship of bodhisattvas in Lotus Sutra
5. Emphasis on chanting

Question 21

Meditation: PURPOSE (3)

Answer 21

Leads to enlightenment
Gain insight into teachings
Part of 8 Fold Path

Question 22

Meditation: SAMATHA

Answer 22

Calming/ concentration meditation
Remove clutter in minds
Done as precursor to Vipassana

Question 23

Meditation: VIPASSANA

Answer 23

Insight meditation
True nature
Doesn’t depend in manipulating external world

Question 24

Meditation: JHANAS (3)

Answer 24

Samatha leads to achieving higher stages
Stages of development of Right Concentration
Refers to mind completely absorbed by meditation

Question 25

Meditation: THERAPY- Yes (5)

Answer 25

1. Learning more about Buddhism
2. Skilful means
3. Not harming anyone else
4. Doesn’t belong to Buddhists alone
5. Theravada: won’t be enlightened if not monk/nun so it doesn’t make any difference

Question 26

Meditation: THERAPY- No (5)

Answer 26

1. Selfish to meditate for your own benefit
2. Pointless w/out rest of Dharma
3. Buddhist ethics also needed
4. People making money out of it
5. Lead to Buddhist teachings being distorted forever

Question 27

Meditation: ZAZEN (2)

Answer 27

Zen Buddhism
Concentration/ Koan/ Shikantaza

Question 28

Meditation: METTA BHAVANA (2)

Answer 28

Form of Samatha
Focuses on ‘cultivating metta’