religous studies- buddhism practices Flashcards
Temples
- a main hall-where buddhsts practice together
-meditation hall- quiet space where buddhists can meditate
-study hall- meeting lectures
-shrine-dedicated to buddha
shrines
light- symbolises the buddha
flowers- wilt and decay sign of impernance
incense- symbolises purity
Stupa
- a tiered tower or mound like structure that someone contains the remains or relics
why-buddhist worship
-espress their gratitude towards buddhs
- deepen their understanding of the buddhas teaching
-move closer to the buddha and what he symbolises
types of worship
- reciting mantras
- private worship at home
- rituals and ceremonies carried out in gtoups
- meditation
- making offerings
- chanting sacred texts
chanting
-in early days- sacred texts were remebered and taught orally
-chanting helped memorise and pass on teachings and texts
-chanting is a devotional practice and calm and focus the mind
mantra
-help concentrate the mind
-some buddhists believe mantras have a magical powers
-often assosciated with the spiritual qualities of a buddha
practice of meditation
- meditation is a spiritual excercise that calms the midn and body
-range of meditation techniwues that help buddhists develop samatha(calm) and vipassana(insight)
often starts with mindfulness of the body and breath
mindfulness of breathing
-in samatha meditation the breathe is used to become more mindful
-the breath focuses the attention
-aim is to become aware of the details of breathing
-when someone finds their mind wandering they simply focus they mind back to breathe
using kasinas in samatha meditation
- instead of focusing on the breathe you focus on an object call kasinas
-there are ten kasinas
the purpose of samatha meditation
-focusing on a single object helps create a calm and tranquil mind
-helps to develop concentration and focus
-samatha meditation can help buddhists feel more alive and happy
what is vipassana meditation
- insight meditation
-penetrate and gain insight into the true nature of reality
-understand how all things are charactrised by the three marks of existance
-develop greater wisdom and awareness of the world
-ultimately achieve enlightenment
similaraties between vipassanaand samatha
-same technique of mindfulness: concentrating on specific things in a calm and detached manner
zazen
-means seated meditation
-practised in zen buddhism
-leads to deaper understanding of the nature of existance
-it generally begins with sitting and a period of mindfullness of breathing
-awareness of the present moment
walking meditation
–walkig slowly and combining movement of the feet with the in and out breath
what is visualisation
-meditator visualises an object in their mind
-may first use an image for inspiration and then visualise it
-examine it in great detail
deity visualisation
-tibetan buddhists often use visualisation
-focusing on spiritual and physical properties
-may imagine themselves as that deity
example of deity visualisation
1)the medicine buddha
-may reduce suffering and even promote healing powers
2) avolokiteshvara
-bodhisattva of compassion
-develop a sens of compassion
3)buddha amitabha
–pure land buddhists may visualise in the hope he will help them be reborn
theravada funerals
-little money is spent
-family and friends may donate by transferring their merit helping them get a favourable rebirth
-
funerals in tibet
sky burials
-the body is left at a high place as a gift for the vultures
-lack of woof
funerals in japan
- japenese pure land buddhism- coffin may be placed with th head west towards sukhavati
- commen across all japenese traditions for relativess to gether after the cremation and pick outy the bones from the ashes
- in tibet, remains may be kept for 49 days
buddhist festivals
- most major festivals celebrate events in buddhas life
- a day or period of celebration
- oppurtunity to remeber the buddhas life
- an oppurtunity to practise together
- some are concerned with other buddhist figures
- specific traditions
buddhist retreats
- one example is vassa an annual retreat where theravada monks dedicate more time to study
-a period of time away from life to focus on the buddhas teachings - aim to help people deepen their understanding of buddhists practices
- may involve meditation, talks and study groups
wesak
significance- commemorates the buddhas life: birth enlightenment and passing
celebrations- light homes with candles
make offerings to the buddha
parinirvana
significance- remember buddhas passing into parinirvana
celebrations- read and study the mahaparinirvana sutra
meditate or worship at home or with others
or go on a reyrees
kamma and rebirth
- a persons actions in this life not only affect their happiness and suffering right now but will also affect theri future live s
whats karuna-
- recognising that a person cannot be truly happy while others suffer
- feeling concern for the sufering of others almost as if it were your own
- wanting others to be free from suffering
-recognising when you are suffering and acting with compassion to yourself
metta
- aim to develop loving kindness
- reduces tendancies to act out
- makes people more caring
five moral precepts
- abstain from taking life
- abstain from taking what is not freely given
- abstain from misuse of senses or sexual misconduct
- abstain from wrong speech
- abstain from intocicants
four sublime states
- loving kindness
- compassion
- sympathetic joy
- equanimity
buddhist ethics
- karma is central to buddhist ethics
- acting skilfully reduces suffering for onself
