rmps

Question 1

what are the three jewels

Answer 1

buddha
dhamma
sangha

Question 2

what are the three root poisons

Answer 2

greed
hatred
ignorance

Question 3

what s nibanna

Answer 3

Nibbana is the ultimate goal for all Buddhists.
It is the highest state of enlightenment. Nibbana is freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth known as Samsara, this means that they are no longer reborn. It is a state of mind.

Question 4

what are the three marks of existence

Answer 4

anicca
anatta
dukkha

Question 5

anicca meaning

Answer 5

it means Impermanence (everything is constantly changing)

Question 6

anatta meaning

Answer 6

no self

Question 7

dukkha meaning

Answer 7

Suffering

life is full of frustration and dissatisfaction

Question 8

purpose of three jewels

Answer 8

1) The Three Jewels teach Buddhists that it is through seeking refuge in these three things that they are provided with an end to suffering.
2) The purpose of the three jewels is to inform and remind Buddhists of where they might look for help and guidance in their spiritual journey. It also reminds them to avoid find refuge in things that will only continue their suffering such as money, material possession of intoxicants.

Question 9

Beliefs about the Buddha or early life

Answer 9

The Buddha was a man named Siddhatta Gotama. Buddhists believe he lived around 2500 years ago in Northern India. He became known as the Buddha (‘awakened one’) after becoming enlightened. Buddhists believe the Buddha was just a man, he was not a God.

Early Life

Siddhatta Gotama was born a prince and grew up in a royal palace surrounded by luxury. Not long after his birth a prediction was made that he would either be a great King or a religious leader. His father did not want him to follow a religious life and so hid all signs of suffering from Siddhatta as he feared that if he saw suffering this would lead him towards a religious life. Siddhatta wanted for nothing. However, he was confined to a life within the palace.

At the age of twenty-nine, Siddhatta grew dissatisfied and began to think seriously about his life and what it meant.

Question 10

what are the four sights

Answer 10

old age
sickness
death
holy man

Question 11

what is the definition of dukkha

Answer 11

Life is unsatisfactory and full of suffering.

Question 12

what is the definition of samudaya

Answer 12

The cause of suffering is tanha (desire). It is our craving and attachment to things that cause our suffering.

Question 13

what is the definition of nirodha

Answer 13

It is possible to be free from suffering by achieving the highest state of enlightenment: Nibbana.

Question 14

what is the definition of magga

Answer 14

The way to achieve Nibbana is by following the Middle Way, which means practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

Question 15

The Five Khandhas and what they are

Answer 15

Form (our bodies)
Mental Formation (our thoughts)
Sensation (our feelings)
Perception (our recognition of what things are)
Consciousness (our awareness of things)

Question 16

what is Dukkha-dukkha

Answer 16

the suffering of suffering. This refers to the physical and emotional discomfort and pain all humans experience in their lives. For example, emotional suffering could be feeling lonely or grieving and physical suffering might be caused when a person breaks their leg.

Question 17

what is Viparinama-dukkha

Answer 17

the suffering of change. Suffering that arises from our attachment to impermanent things and an inability to accept change (anicca). People cling to pleasurable experiences and feel sad when they pass, and they cannot accept the truth of impermanence. For example, someone might experience frustration when their phone breaks.

Question 18

what is Sankhara-dukkha

Answer 18

the suffering of existence. This is the profound unsatisfactoriness of existence, suffering caused simply by existence.

Question 19

what is tanha

Answer 19

Tanha literally means ‘thirst’, but is commonly described as craving and desire and attachment. Tanha describes the nature of humans as being in a mindset of constantly craving and desiring things.

Question 20

what are the three types of craving and what are they

Answer 20

Kama-tanha (sense craving) is craving the pleasures of the senses. For example, eating cake not because you are hungry but because you like the taste of it.

Bhava-tanha (craving to be) is craving for a fixed identity or existence and not accepting that life is impermanent. For example, craving to be rich, powerful or famous

Vibhava-tanha (craving to not be) is craving to avoid pain and suffering, or to avoid the reality of rebirth. For example, craving for your exams to end as they feel difficult

Question 21

what s kamma

Answer 21

Kamma is the law of cause and effect. This means that Buddhists believe that everything we think, say or do will have an effect on our future. These actions might cause happiness or suffering in this life, but will also have an effect on their future rebirths in the Cycle of Samsara. Kamma is energy that is passed on from one lifetime to the next. This means that Buddhist can change their future through their actions. Buddhists describe actions as being skilful or unskilful.

Question 22

what are the three intentions and actions that are considered ethical and good.

Answer 22

generosity, understanding and compassion

Question 23

what is samsara

Answer 23

Samsara is the name Buddhists give to the continual cycle of birth, death and rebirth that they believe all beings are stuck in. The Tibetan Wheel of Life is used to illustrate Samsara. The realm that Buddhists are reborn into (for example, human, animal or heavenly being) is believed to depend upon the quality of their actions (kamma) in their previous lives, this is also called dependant origination. The goal of Buddhists is to break free from the Cycle of Samsara, because this is what causes suffering. In the centre of the wheel of life are the Three Root Poisons, Samsara is fuelled by these three things as they motivate our craving and attachment.The cycle is broken by following the Buddhists path but, more specifically, through breaking the habit of craving (tanha). The escape from this cycle is through achieving Nibbana.