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?
1) Samsara is suffering and Buddha is justified to use whatever means he can to guide us out
2) The Buddha had to use skilful means because his earliest followers were spiritually immature (like the children of the story)
3) The Mahayana vehicle is superior to all other forms of Buddhism
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)
When/where did the Buddha teach the Four Noble Truths?
His first sermon, in Deer Park (found in the Pali Canon)
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
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
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 pessimistic
They suggest that all life is suffering/everything which exists is marked by suffering
What are the Three Poisons?
Ignorance/delusion, greed, hatred/ill will
Why do Theravada Buddhists believe that Siddhartha Gautama has authority as the Enlightened One?
Because he achieved Nirvana and started the turning of the wheel of Dharma, which had been taught by no previous teachers and which he discovered on his own
Why do Theravada Buddhists view Gautama as a role model?
He shows willingness to suffer and persevere (e.g. through the ascetic life), and models qualities such as metta (loving-kindness) and karuna (compassion), e.g. through his response to Kiso Gotami and Angulimala
How could it be argued that Siddhartha Gautama lacks relevance as a role model?
1) He lived a long time ago and was born into great wealth, which is not relevant to the majority of Buddhists today.
2) He intends for Buddhists to follow the Eightfold Path, not to imitate him e.g. by living an ascetic life.
3) Some of the Buddha’s actions, such as leaving his wife and child, would be seen as questionable today.
The Pali Canon is also known as the Tipitaka; what does this mean?
Three Baskets
When the Pali Canon was finally written, what form did it take?
Palm leaf manuscripts - kept in baskets
What form were the Buddha’s teachings originally transmitted through, before being written down?
Verbal recitation
How long is the Pali Canon?
Approximately 2 million words
What is the Vinaya Pitaka?
Basket of Discipline (monastic code)
To what extent are there different views about the Vinaya?
It was composed very early (before major schisms) so most Buddhists agree it is authentic, but the historical accuracy of certain rules (e.g. Eight Garudhammas) is debated.
How is the Vinaya Pitaka used in worship and daily life?
Worship: Monks chant the Patimokkha (227 precepts) on a bi-mothly basis.
Daily life: Not used so much by laypeople but essential for the daily life of monks, as it helps them to resolve internal disputes and live a self-disciplined life.
What is the Sutta Pitaka?
Basket of Discourse (collection of stories and sayings from the Buddha, his closest companions, gods, and other important early Buddhist figures)
To what extent are there different views about the Sutta Pitaka?
It was compiled reasonably early and elements come from a first-hand source (Ananda, who was said to have perfect memory). However, all of the teachings rely on memory (the Buddha never wrote them down), and in theory anything could be added to the Sutta Pitaka which is “found to conform to the Suttas or the discipline”.
How is the Sutta Pitaka used in worship and daily life?
Worship: many of the stories involve the Buddha giving advice on how to engage in religious practices most effectively, e.g. the Monk Who Tried Too Hard (not too strained, not too slack). The Sutta itself might be studied as a form of worship.
Daily life: many Buddhists deepen their faith by learning stories from the Sutta Pitaka, at home or at school. Many bookshops (even in the UK) sell the Dhammapada.
What is the Abhidhamma Pitaka?
‘Higher Dhamma’ - detailed scholarly analysis of the teachings from the other two baskets, containing philosophy and psychology.
To what extent are there different views about the Abhidhamma Pitaka?
It was historically the last section to be added, so some Buddhists give it less emphasis as it is less directly connected to the Buddha. However, committed Theravada Buddhists view it as the ultimate truth whereas the other two suttas may only capture conventional truth.
How is the Abhidhamma Pitaka used in worship and daily life?
Worship: Buddhists will chant the Abhidhamma to deepen their understanding of reality and use it as a focus for meditation. It is also sometimes chanted at funerals.
Daily life: those wishing to foster a deeper understanding of Buddhist doctrine and achieve enlightenment will search for opportunities in their daily life to study the Abhidhamma. However, this is less relevant for lay Buddhists who are simply focused on a better rebirth or maintaining a cultural practice.
In which section of the Pali Canon would you find the Patimokkha (227 rules for monks)?
Vinaya Pitaka
In which section of the Pali Canon would you find the Milindapanha (Questions of King Milinda)?
Sutta Pitaka
What are the Mahayana views about the accuracy of the Pali Canon as a record of the Buddha’s teachings?
It is authentic but provisional (designed to be replaced/built upon) - a form of Upaya given by the Buddha but not his complete teachings. Complete teachings can be found by also reading the Mahayana Sutras, e.g. the Lotus and Heart Sutras.
In what language are the Mahayana scriptures written?
Sanskrit
Where in the Pali Canon would the Lotus Sutra be found?
Nowhere - it is not a Theravada text so is not in the Pali Canon
What are the main reasons for believing the Pali Canon to be an accurate record of the Buddha’s teaching?
1) His monks were enlightened so capable of remembering his teachings perfectly
2) The teachings were regularly recited at councils
3) Pali scriptures have been carefully preserved and regularly reviewed since the fourth council
What are the main reasons for believing the Pali Canon NOT to be an accurate record of the Buddha’s teaching?
1) Potential for false teachings to have been included due to loose criteria for inclusion
2) Roughly four centuries before any of the teachings were written down, so possibility of corruption during this period
3) The Mahayana view that the teachings were Upaya
Why would the debate about the Pali Canon’s accuracy be relevant for Buddhists?
It affects which rules and teachings they follow, impacting their worship and daily life.
Why would the debate about the Pali Canon’s accuracy not be relevant for some Buddhists?
They may feel that the usefulness of the teachings is more important than their source - e.g. Kalama Sutta; if it leads to benefit this is more important than keeping to tradition.
