The four noble truths, karma, The Buddhist Universe
What is the term for positive desires, such as the desire for enlightenment?
Chanda
What is someone who has reached enlightenment filled with?
Compassion for all living things
The universe is...?
Cyclic, and recreates itself
What does the Buddha teach as the root of all suffering?
Desire
What does nirvana mean?
Extinguishing
Is an enlightened one exempt from the effects of karma?
No
Why is the animal realm unreliable?
Because they are exploited by humans, and do not have the necessary self awareness to achieve liberation
Give another word for the wheel of life?
Bhavachakra
What are the animals representing the fires depicted doing?
Biting each others tails, reinforcing one another
How many realms does Buddhism have for rebirth?
6
What is the Buddha often compared to?
A physician
What is karmic conditioning?
A process by which a person's nature is shaped by their moral actions
What vehicle does the Buddha compare the eightfold path to?
A raft
What is the result of the four noble truths?
A release from suffering
What are the 3 fires represented by?
A rooster, a pig and a snake
What does the word karma mean?
Action
What type of metaphor does the Buddha use to describe karma?
An agricultural one
Give another word for the Titans?
Asuras
Why is the Buddha compared to a physician?
Because in the 4 noble truths he diagnoses the problem, identifies its source, realizes the cure, and prescribes the treatment
Why cant Pretas escape?
Because of a strong attachment to human existence
What is the law of karma understood as being similar to?
Gravity
What are the 3 forms of evil?
Greed and desire, ignorance and delusion, hatred and destructive urges
Give the two most pleasant realms?
Heaven (the home of the Gods), humanity (Because humans have the greatest chance for enlightenment)
What is the final realm?
Hell
Name the 12 stages of dependent origination?
Ignorance, willed action, conditioned consciousness, form and existence, sense organs, sense impressions, sensation, craving, attachment, becoming, birth, old age, death
Are the realms separate or interlinked?
Interlinked
What does the 3rd noble truth suggest?
Liberation from attachment
How long are people tortured for in the hell realm?
Long enough for their bad karma to wear off
Does Buddhism have a creator God?
No
Give another word for the hungry ghosts?
Pretas
What is the fourth stage of the path?
Right action (Samma Kammanta)- Behaving peacefully and harmoniously
What is the eighth stage of the path?
Right concentration (Samma samadhi)- Developing the mental focus necessary for this awareness
What is the sixth stage of the path?
Right effort (Samma vayama)- Cultivating positive states of mind
What is the second stage of the path?
Right intention (Samma sankappa)- a commitment to cultivate the right attitudes
What is the fifth stage of the path?
Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)- Avoiding making a living in ways which cause harm
What is the seventh stage of the path?
Right mindfulness (samma sati)- Developing awareness of the body
What is the third stage of the path?
Right speech (Samma vaca)- avoiding slander and gossip
What is the first stage of the path?
Right understanding (Samma ditthi)- accepting Buddhist teachings
Give another word for desire?
Tanha
What does Buddhism teach about dependence?
That everything depends on everything else
What must be extinguished?
The 3 fires of greed, delusion and hatred
What do the four noble truths teach the essence of?
The Buddha's teaching
What do the nidanas depict?
The Buddhist teaching of dependent origination- the chain of causes of suffering
What is the Eightfold path also known as?
The Middle Way
What is the 3rd realm ad what are these warlike beings at the mercy of?
The Titans, angry impulses
What is the fifth realm?
The animal realm
What is the prescription in the fourth noble truth?
The eightfold path
What does the wheel of life symbolise?
The endless nature of suffering
What is Magga?
The path to the cessation of suffering
What is the fourth realm?
The realm of the hungry ghosts
What does the wheel of life display?
The realms of the universe
What is at the middle of the wheel?
The three fires of ignorance, greed and hatred
What is Dukkha?
The truth of suffering
What is Nirodha?
The truth of the cessation of suffering
What is Samudaya?
The truth of the origin of suffering
What, according to Buddhists, is the great tragedy of existence?
Tilakhana
What is the purpose of Buddhism?
To take conscious control of our behaviour
What does the outer rig of the wheel depict?
Twelve sections called nidanas
What 3 groups can the stages of the eight fold path be grouped into?
Wisdom, ethical conduct, meditation
Who is the wheel held by?
Yama, the lord of death
Can humans attain enlightenment?
Yes
