Ch. 3: Buddhism

Define tanha:

Buddhist notion of thirst, craving, desire that drives human beings back into existence (samsara); desire to hold on to pleasurable experiences, identified by Lord Buddhas as the principle cause in the arising of suffering (dukkha).

What is a stupa?

Buddhist relic house; a mound-like or semi-hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics; used as a place of meditation and pilgrimage.

What is the name of the leader of Tibetan Buddhism?

Dalai Lama

Lord Buddha regarded extreme asceticism to be necessary for liberation.

False

Nagarjuna was a Theravada philosopher.

False

The Jatakas Tales recount:

the former lives of Lord Buddha

The Buddhist doctrine of anicca is about:

the impermanence of everything.

The three marks of existence are dukkha, anatta, and:

anicca

Write the Sanskrit term for suffering that arises from the ignorance of thinking that cravings can be fully satisfied.

samkhara-dukkha (tanha)

I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the dharma, I take refuge in the:

sangha

In Buddhism what transmigrates in samsara?

skandhas

Virparinama-dukkha is:

suffering from loss of something valuable.

Define bodhisattva:

A bodhisattva is a being who has achieved enlightenment but has taken a vow to remain accessible to others until all beings are saved. They exist for the good of all and can be either earthly or transcendent.

The Tripitaka consists of Vinaya, Sutras, and:

Abhidharma.

anatta

Anatta is one of the three marks of existence that teach the universality of dukkha. Anatta means that everything lacks an abiding, enduring, persistent self. In other words, it means there is no self. Therefore, since there is no abiding self, dukkha or the nature of suffering will result whenever one tries to attach the self to something in order to happy and satisfied. Buddhism teaches that we are deceived if we think something will satisfy us permanently (this differs strongly from Brahmanical philosophy of the permanent atman or being).

Lord Buddha claimed:

I am awake.

Jataka Tales

Jatakas Tales are a set of 547 poems that provide a record of the former lives of Lord Buddha, which are considered to have been written during the time of the historical Buddha. They are important because they recount the several existences (deity, hare, snake) the historical Buddha had before being born as a human being, called Siddhartha. They also serve as a source of instruction in social and religious life because they tell of Lord's Buddha's life and his compassion for his followers.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is the same as:

Kuan-yin

sand mandalas

Sand mandalas are used by Tibetan Buddhists. They are used to show the transient nature of all things. They could take weeks to make, since they are a symbolic replica of the cosmos replete with deities using colored sand or stone. Unfortunately, part of the ritual with sand mandalas is to ceremoniously destroy them after being created to demonstrate the impermanence of everything.

sunyata

Sunyata is a doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism that claims everything is void and empty of independent substance. In other words, nothing has a permanent identity but rather all things are mutually dependent of each other. Acharya Nagarjuna developed this concept. This is important because ultimate reality is sunyata: not The Four Noble Truths, not Buddha, not Nirvana. No, sunyata is the ultimate reality because it transcends all thought, constructs, relationships, and contingencies.

dukkha-dukkha

The First Noble Truth is called dukkha. Dukkha-dukkha is obvious physical or mental pain, the kind we are all aware of. This is important because it is one of the three modes of dukkha that proves or shows our unhappiness and sorrow. However, Buddhism tries to provide an answer to why human beings are never permanently satisfied.

"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form."

The Mahayana text, the Heart Sutra. This is a quote explaining sunyata, which is the belief that all things are dependent, passing, and temporary. This quote represents the perfection of wisdom according to Mahayana Buddhism.

Tipitaka

The Tipitaka is the sacred scripture of early Buddhism. It can also be referred to as the Pali Canon because they are considered canonical texts by Theravada Buddhists. The Tipitaka contains the 547 Jatakas Tales and collectively consist of the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutra Pitaka, and the Abhidharma Pitaka (pitaka meaning "baskets"). It is important because it tells the story of the Lord Buddha and is passed on orally from generation to generation through memorization.

The major split in early Buddhism was largely due to different interpretations of:

The Vinaya

bodhisattva

The bodhisattva ideal is that the highest goal of the religious life is to become like Lord Buddha by seeking enlightenment for the sake of saving others. A bodhisattva, then, is an "awakened" person who has achieved enlightenment but has taken a vow to remain accessible to others until all beings are saved. They introduce a new element into Buddhism, which is faith in an "other". They act nothing less than saviors who give spiritual and material help to those who call on them.

What branch of Buddhism is most popular in mainland Southeast Asia?

Theravada

"making merit"

Theravada Buddhists. "Making merit" can also be referred to as punya. It is a form of self-sacrifice and charity that aims to generate good karmic consequences. The key factor in receiving strong positive karma is having a pure motive or heart behind the giving. This is significant because it plays a huge role in everyone's everyday life. Even small actions like bowing to a passing monk or thinking positively generates good karma. It is a serious ordeal that all participate in.

Mahayana Buddhists believe that they can:

be in direct contact with Lord Buddha.

Before he was Lord Buddha, Prince Siddhartha was a Hindu.

True

Mahayana Buddhists consider the Four Noble Truths to be empty of substance.

True

The Fourth Noble Truth is the Eightfold Path of Enlightenment.

True

Tripitaka is the Pali Canon.

True

Define upaya:

Upaya is a way or device (skillful means) to persuade individuals to move toward liberation.

zazen

Zazen is used by Zen Buddhists. It is the first part of Zen worship, used to directly experience Buddha nature and thus enlightenment. Zazen itself is a sitting meditation, which involves sitting in an upright position and not moving for long periods of time in order to avoid mental distractions. By taking part in this sitting meditation, one is hoping to experience the unconditioned reality of life.

The phrase, "What is the sound of one hand clapping," is a popular question in which school of Buddhism?

Zen Buddhism