Refuge, Meditation, Giving And Merit

Question 1

Giving and merit - what earns merit?

Answer 1

Dana - generous giving
Sila - right action, right speech and right livelihood
Bhavana - mental discipline (meditation)

Question 2

Giving and merit - what are some examples of Dana?

Answer 2

Giving money, giving food, giving robes, giving your time and skills

Question 3

Giving and merit - why is Dana important to Buddhism?

Answer 3

1) it directly stems from a lack of selfishness and therefore transcends a sense of ego and self
2) it is a rejection of greed (tanha)
3) it is an act of compassion (metta)

Question 4

Giving and merit - what is a quotation to describe Dana and where is it from?

Answer 4

“Conquer stinginess with a gift” - Sutta Pitaka

Question 5

Giving and merit - what is Punya?

Answer 5

Merit

Question 6

Giving and merit - what is merit?

Answer 6

Merriss is the good affects experienced by someone as a result of good karma, and therefore their good actions.
Merit is a beneficial and protective force which extends over a long period of time.
Merit affects individuals internally, making them happy and virtuous, bringing good circumstances such as long life, health and wealth

Question 7

Giving and merit - what does it say in the Tipitaka about merit and demerit?

Answer 7

It says that your merit and demerit earned in your past life will carry on and affect your future

Question 8

Giving and merit - how much merit is earned per act?

Answer 8

The amount of merit earned by an act of generosity depends on several factors:

1) the intention behind it
2) The wisdom behind the act e.g. if a girl is told to put a flower on a shrine, she does not receive as much merit compared to someone who understands the generosity of the act and does it themselves
3) The act of generosity towards a human earns more than towards an animal

Question 9

Giving and merit - what do Mahayana Buddhists believe about merit and bodhisattvas?

Answer 9

They believe that bodhisattvas can build up so much merit that they can transfer this to those who pray to them.
For example, Ksitigarbha grants merit to those in Hell so that when they are reborn, they are no longer in Hell

Question 10

Meditation - what does meditation mean?

CED

Answer 10

Meditation means developing one’s mind so that it is less confusing, distracted and emotional

Question 11

Meditation - what is mental discipline?

Answer 11

One of the threefold trainings of Buddhism and this means meditation

Question 12

Meditation - What are the main aims of meditation?

Answer 12

1) To help one reach a state of peace in which they are calm and relaxed
2) To help one reach the state of clarity, awareness and understanding of reality

Question 13

Meditation - Why do Buddhists meditate?

Answer 13

1) to be mentally disciplined in order to be a better person all the time
2) to understand existence as it really is important to avoid ignorance, greed and hatred
3) to cultivate qualities of compassion, awareness, willpower and peace
4) to see the ultimate truth of the universe and to reach enlightenment

Question 14

Meditation - what is Samatha meditation and what does it involve?

Answer 14

• This meditation focuses completely on the present moment –> ourselves, body, mindset and our sensations
• what is often focus on breathing when doing this meditation but they also focus on other things e.g. candle flames, statues or images of the Buddha or a bodhisattva or the sound of a gong or a bell

Question 15

Meditation - what is Vipassana meditation and what does it involve?

Answer 15

This meditation is insight meditation.
The aims are to develop insight into the true nature of reality.
This means meditating on the Dhamma so that one comes to understand it is true for oneself.
It opens the mind rather than remaining focused on a single point
Most popular position is walking for this meditation. While Buddhists walk, they repeat the Dhamma and think about their footing, one step in front of the other very slowly

Question 16

Meditation - what is Metta Bhavana and what does it involve?

Answer 16

• This meditation focuses on feeling loved, friendliness and kindness in order to develop the capacity to love others.
• The most popular form of the practice is to cultivate metta in various stages
  1) genuine wish that everyone should be happy, even our enemies (metta)
  2) compassion for the suffering of all other sentient beings (Kuruna)
  3) sincere joys for the happiness of others (mudita)
  4) loving all beings equally (vipekka)

Question 17

Meditation - what is an example of what the Buddha did to help him reach enlightenment?

Answer 17

The Buddha gave up all of his religious practices and chose to meditate beneath the Bodhi tree as the path to enlightenment

Question 18

Meditation - what is an example of what the Buddha said about Samatha and mindfulness and where did he say this?

Answer 18

“whether standing, walking, sitting or lying… One should develop mindfulness” - Sutta Pitaka

Question 19

Refuge - How do Buddhists take refuge?

Answer 19

• They participate in the refugee ceremony.
• In Buddhist countries, this happens at about seven years old, in the local monastery in the presence of several monks who witness the Buddhist reciting the “refuge formula” 3 times. The ceremony shows that they commit to following Buddhism until enlightenment is attained
• Buddhists also take refuge as an act of worship throughout their lives. Buddhists chant the refuge formula every day throughout their lives. This is a constant reminder of their original commitment

Question 20

Refuge - what does taking refuge in the Buddha mean for Theravada Buddhists?

Answer 20

Acknowledging the Buddha Shakyamuni’s historical role in discovering the path to enlightenment and teaching the Dhamma. They show respect by lighting candles, bowing to statues etc

Question 21

Refuge - what does taking refuge mean for Mahayana Buddhists?

Answer 21

Refuge for them means just taking refuge in one bodhisattva such as the Buddha Amida for pureland Buddhists. This involves devotion, praying and giving offerings

Question 22

Refuge - When Buddhists take refuge, what are they identifying as the ultimate aim?

Answer 22

Enlightenment

Question 23

Refuge - What is the refuge formula?

Answer 23

“I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dhamma
I take refuge in the Sangha”