Buddhism

Where did Vajrayana Buddhism develop? Who is its spiritual leader?

Vajrayana developed in Tibet, it's spiritual leader is the Dalai Lama.

Why doesn't Buddhism focus on rites of passage as other religions do?

Buddhism doesn't focus on rites of passage as much as other religions because they believe that attachment to self locks a person into a cycle of rebirth.

What kind of calendar do Buddhists use? When do many festivals take place?

Buddhists use the Lunar calendar and many festivals take place throughout the year.

What does a Buddhist do during a pilgrimage?

During a pilgrimage, a Buddhist try extra hard to live according to the five precepts.They try to avoid behaving in a light-hearted way, and to keep their whole minds focused on their quest for enlightenment.

At the time Buddhism was founded, what question or problem were many Hindu's facing?

Hindu's were looking for answers for questions about suffering and wanted to know why people needed to suffer and how it could be avoided.

Viakhya

In Thailand, people walk in a lamp-lit procession to their local monastery to celebrate his birth.

Summarize the Eightfold Path.

Known as the he Middle Way: 1. Right viewpoint 2. Right intention 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right work 6. Right effect 7. Right mindfulness 8. right meditation

What is a koan and what are koans supposed to do for the followers of Zen?

Koans are puzzles that challenge people's usual patterns of logical thought so that they see beyond the way they are used to thinking and so come to enlightenment.

Where did the Buddha's first sermon take place?

The Buddha's first sermon took place in a deer park at Sarnath in India.

What does Theravada Buddhism believe?

Theravada Buddhists believe that they follow the Buddha's original teachings more closely than other groups do.

How does one distinguish Mahayana Buddhism from Theravada Buddhism? Describe the teachings of the former in detail. What are its sacred texts? What is a bodhisattva?

Theravada means "way" or 'teachings of the elders." Theravada Buddhists believe that they follow the Buddhas original teachings more closely than other groups do. Theravada Buddhists do not pray to the Buddha. They believe that individuals must make their own way by following the teachings that were written down in the Tipitaka. Mahayana Buddhists means "Buddha-to-be." It describes people who are on the path to enlightenment and have dedicated their whole spiritual career over many lifetimes to helping others toward the same state... The Mahayana Buddhists use sacred texts Tipitaka and the Sutras.

Asala Day

Commemorates the Buddha's first teaching.

Where did Siddhartha become enlightened?

Siddhattha became enlightened after meditating all night at a temple of Vishnu at a placed called Bodh Gaya. Then once dawn broke, the Buddha became enlightened.

What impact did the Muslim invasion of the 1200's CE have on Buddhism?

The Muslim invasion of the 1200's destroyed many Buddhist temples, shrines, and monasteries. Making Buddhism no longer an active religion in India.

Summarize the Four Noble Truths.

1. All life involved suffering, 2. The cause of suffering is desire and attachment, 3. Desire and attachment can be overcome, 4. The way to overcome them is to follow the Eightfold Path.

Obon

A Japanese festival held in July, a three day celebration where people pay their respects to family ancestors.

Losar

A major Tibetan festival which celebrates the Buddha's early life and teaching, and marks the beginning of the new year.

Who founded Buddhism? When was it founded? Where was it founded?

A man named Siddhartha Gotama developed Buddhism in India 2500 years ago.

Vassa

A meditation retreat that takes place in the rainy season. All Buddhists try to put aside time for study and meditation. At the end of the retreat, they give new robes to the monks.

What is a prayer wheel? What is their purpose?

A prayer wheel is something that holds hundreds of mantras. By spinning the wheel, the mantras are repeated and thought to become more powerful.

What does tathagata mean?

Another name for the Buddha, and means Thus-gone as someone who has achieved Nirvana.

What did Siddhartha do at age 29? Why?

At the age of 29, Siddhattha cut off his hair, put on beggar's robes and became a wandering holy man.

Why didn't Buddha waste time with questions about whether God exists or where the universe came from?

Because the Buddha believed that speculating like that was like a man wounded by an arrow and refused to relieve his pain until he knew how many feathers the arrow had.

What eight items might a Buddhist monk or nun carry?

Eight items include three robes, a razor, and a begging bowl. Local people often give food to the monks in return for a blessing

What role did Emperor Asoka play in spreading Buddhism? What method of media did he use to spread the Buddha's teachings?

Emperor Asoka who ruled Northern and Central India from 269 - 231 BCE helped the religion to spread across India by setting up stone pillars carved with Buddhist teachings throughout his empire.

List five of the ten precepts a Buddhist monk must obey.

Five of the ten precepts a Buddhist monk must obey include avoiding eating too much, avoid dancing and frivolous singing, avoid wearing adornments and perfumes, to avoid sleeping too much, or in a soft bed, and to avoid handling gold and silver (money).

What did fortune tellers predict about Siddhartha's life? What could prevent or change his future?

Fortune tellers predicted that Siddhartha would be a great emperor if he didn't see the four sights.

In what way did Siddhartha start his search for answers to the question of "liberation" from Samsara? Why didn't this method work?

He started the search for answers once he saw the fourth sight, a monk. He then followed a strict fast for six years, which showed that neither indulging in luxury or causing needless hardships to the body was the answer.

Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha Days

In Western countries, Buddhists hold 3 separate festivals which celebrate the three jewels

Where did prince Mahinda spread Buddhism?

Mahinda spread Buddhism to Southern India and Sri Lanka, which it was then carried East along trade routes into China.

What is a mantra?

Mantras are short prayer phrases.

What are many Buddhist places of pilgrimage associated with? Provide a few examples.

Many Buddhist places of pilgrimage are associated with important events in the Buddha's life: for example, the place of his birth, his enlightenment, his first teaching, and his death.

Define Nirvana.

Nirvana is the freedom from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.

Uposatha Days

Occurs 4 times per lunar month, where Buddhists perform their religious duties such as fasting, visiting their local temple or monasteries, taking gifts and food for the monks. Buddhists believe that good deeds like this will make their lives happier.

Where did Pure Land Buddhism develop? Who founded it? Explain what "Pure Land" is.

Pure Land Buddhism developed in China, and was founded by Amida Buddha. Pure Land is a place in which it would be easy for everyone to follow the Buddha's teaching and reach Nirvana.

Why did Siddhartha's father keep his son within the palace walls? What four experiences did Siddhartha

Siddhartha's father kept his son within palace walls to keep him from seeing the four sights. The four experiences were seeing an old man, sick man, dead man, and monk.

Sutras

Stories and parables which explain some parts of the Buddha's teaching that are difficult to understand. The most well-known are the Diamond Sutra and the Lotus Sutra

What are stupas? How has the use of stupas changed through time?

Stupas are the oldest style of Buddhist shrines. The very earliest stupas were sealed mounds containing the Buddha's ashes. Later Stupas were built to house copies of the Buddha's teachings and relics of later Buddhist teachers and Bodhisattvas.

List the five precepts. What did Buddha teach about one's actions?

TO avoid harming living things, to avoid taking things that have not been freely given, to live a decent lifestyle, to avoid speaking unkindly or lying, to avoid alcohol and drugs.

Describe the Pravrajya ceremony.

The Pravrajya is when a boy becomes a novice monk. His head is shaved, he puts on plain robes, and promises to obey the ten precepts.

Explain the basis for meditation. What is vipassana?

The basis of meditation is samatha. This is a peacefulness in which the mind is empty of all thoughts. A person may focus on the idea of impermanence and change. Achieving this stage is known as vipassana.

What are the three jewels?

The belief in the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha.

Hana Matsuri

The celebration of the Buddha's birth in Japan and is a Spring flower festival.

Wesak

The celebration of the Buddha's birth. In Theravada countries, of his enlightenment and death too. It takes place at the full moon in late May or early June. Statues are decorated and lampss are lighted

What role did the first sangha play in spreading Buddhism?

The first sangha spread the Buddha's teachings throughout northern India

What is the sangha?

The monks who heard the Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath were converted and formed the first sangha. Sangha is the name given to any community of Buddhist monks or nuns.

What is the purpose of Buddhist art? List a few examples.

The purpose of Buddhist art is used to remind people of their beliefs. Some provide scenes and events from the Buddha's life, eight spoked wheel, a banyan tree, a stupa, and footprints.

What is the purpose of prayer in Buddhism?

The purpose of prayer in Buddhism helps to join a person's inner thoughts with the forces of good.

Explain the "refuge" ceremony.

The refuge ceremony is when a person becomes a Buddhist, and the person recites the three jewels and the five precepts.

How long did it take to write down the teachings of Buddha? Where were they written down?

The teachings of the Buddha were completely written down three centuries after his death in the Tipitaka.

What does Buddhism mean?

The term Buddha means enlightened one.

Summarize the Three Universal Truths.

The three Universal Truths summarized that the Buddha believed that everything in life is impermanent and is constantly changing. He believed impermanence leads to suffering. And there is no unchanging personal self.

Describe what two styles of stupa exist.

The two styles are early stupas and pagodas. Stupa are bell-shaped dwellings made of stone. Pagadas are made of wood, brick or stone in the shape of tiered tower. The number of tiers range from 3 -13 stories.

How many Buddhist are there in the world? Where are most of them located?

There are now over 500 million Buddhists which are mostly located in countries to the East of India.

What is included in the dharma?

Three Universal Truths, Four Noble Truths, and Eghtfold Path

List three offerings in Buddhist rituals and what each means.

Three offerings in Buddhist rituals included offerings of flowers, candles and incense, The flowers meant that life on Earth is short, candles symbolize enlightenment, and the scent of the incense represents the spread of dharma throughout the world.

What gave Tipitaka its name?

Tipitaka got its name from being first written on palm leaves which were collected together in baskets.

What does it mean to do things in a mindful way?

To concentrate only on the present moment so they are not distracted by conflicting thoughts.

Why did Vajrayana, Pure Land and Zen Buddhism develop?

Vajrayana, Pure Land, and Zen Buddhism developed because as Buddhism spread across Asia, Mahayana Buddhists adapted to the cultures they met. This led to the formation of distinctive branches of this type of Buddhism.

Where did Zen Buddhism develop?

Zen Buddhism developed in China and spread to Japan in 13th century.

What practice does Zen Buddhism focus on?

Zen Buddhism focuses on meditation. Zen Buddhists try to spend as much time as possible on being mindful or meditating on reality.