Sources of Wisdom and Authority Flashcards
What was the birth name of the Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama
What did the Buddha declare after his birth?
“I am the Chief of the World”
What prophecy was made about the Buddha?
He would become a great king or a great religious leader
What were the four sights?
Old man, sick man, dead man, ascetic
What was the Renunciation?
The Buddha’s decision to leave the palace and become an ascetic
What is an ascetic?
A religious person who practices strict physical discipline (e.g. starvation) to achieve spiritual insight
What were the three ways Mara tried to prevent the Buddha reaching enlightenment?
- Sent his daughters to tempt him
- Offered him his kingdom
- Sent his armies to attack him
What is the message of the Parable of the Burning House?
The Buddha’s early followers were like children, who needed to be guided out of suffering by a loving and skilful parent (the Buddha) who presented teachings they could understand
Where is the Parable of the Burning House found?
The Lotus Sutra
What happens in the Parable of the Raft?
A man crosses a river with a raft and abandons it when he reaches the other side, symbolising how the Dhamma is a tool for reaching enlightenment
What is upaya?
Skilful means; the idea that Buddhists should use the approach that best reduces suffering and helps people reach enlightenment
In what way do Mahayana Buddhists believe that the life of Siddhartha Gautama was skilful means?
They believe he was enlightened before his birth and chose to present himself as the role model for how an ordinary human can achieve enlightenment
What are the Four Noble Truths?
1) The existence of suffering (Dukkha)
2) The cause of suffering, tanha (craving) (Samudaya)
3) The end of suffering, Nirvana (Nirodha)
4) The way to the end of suffering, the Eightfold Path (Magga)
What are the Three Poisons?
Ignorance/delusion, greed, hatred/ill will
When/where did the Buddha teach the Four Noble Truths?
His first sermon, in Deer Park (found in the Pali Canon)
Explain how it could be argued that Buddhist teachings about Dukkha are pessimistic
They suggest that all life is suffering/everything which exists is marked by suffering
Who does the Buddha send in search of a mustard seed?
Kiso Gotami
Explain how it could be argued that Buddhist teachings about Dukkha are NOT pessimistic
They are realistic/pragmatic and lead people to accept suffering and move on; they teach there is an end to suffering
What are the Three Jewels/Three Refuges?
Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
What are the Three Marks of Existence?
Dukkha, anicca, anatta
What is the Pali Canon?
The accepted scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, written in Pali
What do Theravada Buddhists believe about the authority of the Pali Canon?
It has the highest authority because it is the accurately transmitted word of the Buddha
Name the three sections of the Pali Canon
Vinaya Pitaka (rules); Sutta Pitaka (stories and discourses); Abidhamma Pitaka (philosophy and commentary)
Give an example of a rule found in the Pali Canon
Any of the Patimokkha (rules of monastic discipline) - e.g. no luxurious beds, no frivolous entertainment
Give an example of a story that would be found in the Sutta Pitaka
Any of the Buddha’s adult life, e.g. Kiso Gotami, Angulimala, Kalama Sutra, etc.
How might the Vinaya Pitaka be used in worship and daily life?
Generally just by monastics, who learn and follow the rules to maintain discipline and harmony
How would the Sutta Pitaka be used in worship and daily life?
Buddhists may read the discourses to get closer to the person/ideal of the Buddha
Appropriate for laypeople and children as the stories are memorable with clear moral lessons
How would the Abdhidhamma Pitaka be used in worship and daily life?
Useful as a meditation aid as it gives very specific guidance on philosophy and psychology
Useful for those with an academic interest in philosophy though less popular with ordinary lay people
What was the last section to be added to the Pali Canon?
Adhidhamma Pitaka
What does ‘Sutta’ or ‘Sutra’ mean?
Thread; each Sutta is a particular thread forming part of the larger story of the Buddha’s life and teachings
What does ‘Pitaka’ mean?
‘Basket’; the Pali Canon was known as the Tripitaka, the ‘Three Baskets’ in which the teachings were originally kept
What is the authority of the Pali Canon for Mahayana Buddhists?
It has some authority but is seen as a form of Upaya; it is inferior to the Lotus Sutra and other Mahayana scriptures which are seen as the Higher Dharma
