Theology Chapter 4 Review

What is the literal meaning of the word nirvana? How does this help explain the concept of nirvana?

"blowing out" like a candle the life energy of the arhat is snuffed out, it helps because it is the total cessation of suffering thus absolute peace

What is the doctrine of anatta? How does it relate to the Hindu concept Atman?

"no-self" means there is no ultimate reality within, no essence underlying existence, no eternal substratum that is truly real, enduring beyond the present moment. relates to Atman by no eternal self like Atman says

Define and briefly describe the character of an arhat.

"worthy one" enlightened, fully aware of the truth of the Buddha'a teachings, now free from tanha thus free from dukkha, fully realized truth of doctrine of anatta, spiritual perfection achieved, perfectly compassionate toward all living things.

What were the Four Passing Sights? Explain significance

1. decrepit old man= never seen old age (fate for all) 2. diseased man= never seen suffering 3. corpse= learned of death first 3 lessons about suffering 4. ascetic=filled with elation and hope

What are the Three Jewels of Buddhism?

the Buddha (the Awakened One), the Dharma (Buddha's teachings arrived at through meditation), and the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic community) Buddhism wisdom over faith

What is the literal meaning of the name Mahayana, and what are the implications of this meaning?

the Great Vehicle which means inserting their superiority over Theravada Buddhism, which they named Hinayana=the lesser vehicle

Who is the Dalai Lama? How is each Dalai Lama chosen?

the spiritual leader of Vajrayana (tibetan) Buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Each Dalai Lama is determined through rebirth, the line continues through reincarnation of one Dalai Lama into the next.

What is the main focus of Theravada Buddhism?

the teachings of Buddhism

List the steps of the Eightfold Path.

1. right views= learn content of teachings especially four noble truths 2. right intentions= abandon the evil attitudes of greed, hatred, and delusion. nurture the good of generosity, friendship, and insight 3. right speech= avoid vocal wrong deeds like gossip, lying, abusive talk, and idle talk. 4. right conduct= live morally by obeying five precepts for all or ten 5. right livelihood= abstain from jobs that harm living beings, such as selling weapons, liquor, butchering, hunting, or being a soldier 6. right effort= maintain mental alertness so as to control the effect of the senses and to discriminate between wise and unwise mental activity. 7. right mindfulness= through careful attention to helpful topics, develop mental focus needed for meditation 8. right meditation= ascend through four levels of trance, ultimately reaching a point of perfect tranquility, in which the sense of individual existence has passed away (nirvana) wisdom 1-2 morality 3-5 concentration 6-8

Identify the Three Marks of Existence. How are they interrelated?

Anatta=no-self, there is no essence I change Anicca=impermanence, existence is constantly changing, ongoing flow of constant change Dukkha=suffering is a result of constant change. disjointedness, wheel not on center interrelated by everything is changing constantly

What is the difference between the Buddha and other humans who attain enlightenment?

Buddhas are distinct from their followers in that they do not need a model to provide teachings to their awakening, accomplish liberation on their own???

What is the Sangha? Who are its members?

Sangha= the first Buddhist monastic community members are men and women from all walks of life

What was the name of the man who later became the Buddha and founded the religion of Buddhism?

Siddhartha Gautama

What are the three divisions of Buddhism?

Theravada= the way of the elders (lesser vehicle) original based on teachings of Buddha, traditional way, emphasize 4, 8, and meditation Mahayana= the great vehicle (superior), largest over half, Buddha divine savior open door to religious devotion/prayer, salvation through grace of Buddha Vajrayana= tibetan Buddhism (vehicle of the diamond), based on vajra (diamond scepter), can attain nirvana in this lifetime, fight fire with fire, Mandalas, Dalai Lama

What are the primary geographical regions of the three divisions of Buddhism?

Theravada=Cambodia, Burma (the Union of Myanmar), Sri Lanka, and Thailand Mahayana=China, Japan, and Korea Vajrayana= Tibet part of People's Republic of China

What features of Buddhist cosmology are shared with Hinduism?

both regard time as cyclical no end until nirvana, universe is eternal, samsara or wheel of rebirth can escape cycle through liberation or (moksha=hindu) nirvana (buddhism), for both liberation is the final goal or the end result of spiritual perfection

What is tanha? How does it relate to dukkha?

desire, thirst, or craving (selfish) tanha is the cause of dukkha and it is unavoidable too

Describe the Buddha's reaction against early Hinduism.

discontented, dismissed speculation regarding the nature of the world, the human self, and the divine as useless for the task of winning salvation. insisted on direct inward observation of the human condition. thought sacrificial rituals of devotion to gods were useless. also rejected the institutional structure of Hinduism in which only males of the brahmin class controlled rituals and sacred texts. rejected the Hindu caste system

List the Five Precepts, which apply to all Buddhists. Then list the five additional precepts that apply to monks and nuns.

for all: 1. do not take life 2. do not take what is not given 3. do not engage in sensuous misconduct. 4. do not use false speech 5. do not drink intoxicants for monks and nuns: 6. do not eat after noon 7. do not watch dancing or shows 8. do not use garlands, perfumes, or ornaments 9. do not use a high or soft bed 10. do not accept gold or silver

How does Vajrayana Buddism "fight fire with fire?"

in general buddhist teachings prescribe shutting off the energy of desire to stop suffering, Vajrayana harnesses this energy and turns it against itself. the end goal nirvana remains the same but the means of reaching it are remarkably different//// harness sensual energies of life use to propel to enlightenment

Describe the event of Gautama's attainment of enlightenment?

sat under fig tree won't leave until found complete and perfect fulfillment. Mara tried to scare him away. He sent his 3 daughters to tempt him and he stayed. meditated. First Watch (evening) perceived his previous lifetimes from rebirth to death to other rebirth. Second Watch (middle of night) divine eye= perceive deaths and rebirths of all living beings. Third Watch (late night) discovered Four Noble Truths (1. to live is to suffer 2. suffering is caused by desire 3. suffering can be brought to cessation 4. the solution to suffering is the noble Eightfold path) , the perfect summation of the human condition and the means for transcending it.

Explain the doctrine of the Middle Way?

starvation does not lead to salvation healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life/ that just as life of sensual indulgence will not lead to salvation neither will extreme asceticism

What are some possible English translations of the term dukkha? Explain its meaning in your own words.

suffering, frustration, dislocation, or discomfort, disjointedness things are not quite as they should be, unavoidable

According to the Buddhist doctrine of samsara, what is actually reborn? Explain the role of karma in Buddhist understanding of samsara.

transference of a bundle of energy which is patterned according to one's karma. the nature of one's rebirth depends on the status of one's karma. when an individual dies, his or her karma continues on its particular trajectory as it were eventually bringing rebirth. at conception the new person is possessed of this particular status brought on by the karma of the previous life.