Buddhism

Right view

1. __________ - This is the first step on the 8-fold path, and refers to the ability to have the right perspective, meaning we understand reality and nature.

Right intention

2. _________ - This is the second step on the 8-fold path and means a person should have the correct intent to do morally correct actions.

Right speech

3. _________ - This refers to abstaining from lying, idle chatter, and abusive speech. A Buddhist should not harm others with his or her words. It is the third step on the 8-fold path.

Right action

4. ________ - This essentially means 'correct behavior'. The Buddhist should be morally correct in his actions. This would include not stealing, killing, or otherwise harming others with their actions. This is the fourth step on the 8-fold path.

Right livelihood

5. _________ - This means that Buddhists should not make their living in a job that would harm others. For example, a loan shark would not have the right livelihood. This is the fifth step on the 8-fold path.

Right effort

6. ________ - This is translated as the attempt to remove all wrong or harmful thoughts and deeds. It insists that practitioners provide their best effort to be moral in thought and action. This is the sixth step on the 8-fold path.

Right mindfulness

7. ___________- This concept is the idea that Buddhists should keep their minds alert and aware, and goes along with Right effort. This is the seventh step on the 8-fold path.

Right concentration

8. _____________ - The idea of right concentration refers to meditation, and the ability to concentrate until reaching a state of meditative absorption. This is the eighth step on the 8-fold path.

bodhisattva

A ______________ is an enlightened being, and one who has chosen to follow the path to Buddha-hood. In particular, they wish to follow this path compassionately, not just for themselves, but for the benefit of other sentient people as well.

Dana (These dana rituals are examples of the merit-making rituals that are central to Theravada Buddhism. Other examples include almsgiving and the Buddha Day Festival.)

A ritual common in Theravada Buddhism is the __________ ritual. This "giving" ritual is characterized by Buddhists bhiksus visiting family homes to conduct chants and culminates with a ceremony performed for the transfer of merit (good karma).

sixth (Although the exact dates of his life vary, most traditional sources have the Buddha living most of his life in the sixth century BC.)

According to most sources, the history of Buddhism begins in the ______ century BC, with the life of Gautama Buddha.

Buddha-nature

Adherents of Zen Buddhism believe that the ________ is all around, and only through meditation will humans be able to discover and understand it and, thus, reach enlightenment.

Monasticism

After Gautama Buddha experienced enlightenment, Buddhism expanded across India over the next 200 years. _____________ as a way of life developed as some disciples built monasteries and became monks and nuns devoted to prayer and meditation.

Lotus, Heart, dead

Among the major works of Mahayana Buddhism are the _______ Sutra, ______ Sutras, Tibetan Book of the ______, and Translation of the Word of the Buddha.

ahisma

Another important concept in Buddhism is compassion for all living things, which is exemplified by Gautama Buddha's life. Like Hindus, Buddhists practice ______, or nonviolence to all things

6 perfections

Bodhisattvas are primarily seen in Mayahana Buddhism, in which many followers are encouraged to follow this path and take vows. Those who make the vows promise to practice the ______ in order to help gain enlightenment for all sentient beings.

Caste (Buddha became enlightened when he was about thirty-five and spent the remaining years of his life teaching his disciples.)

Buddha taught that any person regardless of sex or __________ could reach enlightenment.

Siddhartha Gautama

Buddhism began as an offshoot of Hinduism. Like Christianity and Islam, Buddhism has a single, historical founder, ___________________.

Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path

Buddhism centers on the _______ ______ ______ and the _____-____ Path.

Theravada, Mahayana

Buddhism has evolved into several thousand sects. ______ and ______ are the principle sects; Theravada is the more conservative. Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not have multiple deities, nor is there a supreme ultimate being.

Originated (Buddhism originated in India, which explains why several of the terms and some of the beliefs have Hindu origins.)

Buddhism has mostly disappeared from India, the country in which it __________.

third (The Emperor Asoka is said to have converted to Buddhism after seeing the horrible carnage of a particularly bloody war, thus devoting himself to a dharma conquest in place of his former military role.)

Buddhism reached its height in India under the Emperor Ashoka in the ___ century BC. His promotion of dharma subsequently became a model for later Buddhist rulers.

Four Passing Sights

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama who lived in the 500s BCE. The son of a wealthy and powerful family, his life changed at the age of 29. Leaving his palace one day, he met an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a beggar. The misery, sorrow, and decay of life made a great impression on him. This event is called the ______________.

nirvana

Buddhist believe people are doomed to samsara because due to desire. If people can eliminate desire, they will achieve _______, the release from their karma and, thus, from samsara.

Pali Canon

Buddhist scriptures are traditionally divided into what are called the Three baskets of sacred texts. Because these texts were recorded for the first time in the Pali language, they are sometimes also known as the ______ __________.

dharma

By the third century BCE, the teachings (or _______) of Buddhism were spreading outside India to what are today Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Nepal; the nations of Southeast Asia, and eventually to Korea and Japan.

full, new

Days of the month when the moon is ____ or ____ are also of great importance to Buddhists.

refuge

Followers, practitioners as well as those taking steps toward ordination, are said to take _______ in the three jewels of Buddhism. Taking refuge can mean following the path to enlightenment, as well as turning to Buddha, his teachings, or the community as a way of dealing with the trials of everyday life.

Triratna

Imagery from ancient texts shows the symbol of Three Jewels, or the ________, often found in the depiction of Buddha's footprint. This symbol is a metaphor for the three most important aspects of Buddhism.

Nirvana

In Buddhism, salvation comes in the form of __________. This is to be released from this world's unending cycle of suffering and is also known as enlightenment.

mantras

In Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism, ______, or sacred sounds that help the practitioner focus and commune with deities, are frequently used.

Dalai Lama (Not only is the Dalai Lama considered to be a reincarnation of a bodhisattva, but each one is also said to be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama.)

In the 1500s, the Mongol leader Altan khan gave the visiting Tibetan missionary the title of _______ ________, meaning "Ocean of Wisdom." This title is still used to designate the recognized leader of Tibet.

colored

In the Three Jewels of Buddhism each of three aspects is represented by a different _____ jewel.

Vajrayana (As more access to Tibet and its sacred texts have been gained, the more it has been recognized that this is a wholly separate branch of Buddhism.)

In the past half century, the West has added a third branch of Buddhism to accompany the traditional two, Theravada and Mahayana. Recognition of this branch, called __________ Buddhism, has emerged largely due to the growing accessibility of Tibet, the region where it is preserved.

Great Renunciation

In what is known as the ___________, Gautama gave up his riches and left his family to search for an answer to samsara, the Hindu cycle of birth, life, and death. He studied with a variety of teachers but found their teachings unsatisfying. He tried penance and self-mortification, but they, too, seemed lacking to him.

True Pure Land, Shinran

Jodo Shinsui is the most common type of Buddhism in Japan, and is literally translated as the ______________________ School. It was founded by the Japanese Monk _________ in the 13th century. The Jodo Shinsui school is most similar to the Mayahana school of thought.

Bodhisattva (According to Mahayana Buddhist doctrine, Bodhisattvas are an innumerable company of supernatural beings who hear prayers and provide help for people struggling with the problems of life. Bodhisattvas are sometimes called future Buddhas.)

Mahayana Buddhism encouraged its followers to take the __________ vows. During this ritual, one vowed to become a buddha one day, but after enlightenment to remain dedicated to the salvation of all living beings.

Greater Vehicle (Unlike Theravada Buddhism, where a strict monastic lifestyle is necessary for enlightenment, Mahayana Buddhism teaches that all can be enlightened--even laymen. Faulting other Buddhist views of salvation as being self-centered.)

Mahayana Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism whose name is translated as "__________." This name reflects their practitioners' belief that enlightenment or salvation is universally accessible to everyone.

compassion

Mahayana Buddhism: Most Buddhists belong to this sect. Gautama Buddha's __________ is a central focus.

bodhisattvas

Mahayana Buddhists believe that Gautama Buddha was close to godlike and visited Earth to aid humans. They also believe that he was only one among many Buddhas who are on Earth to help humans. The ideal became _______________, or Buddhas-in-waiting who, though worthy of nirvana, remain on Earth to help others achieve enlightenment.

Middle path

One night while practicing yoga and meditation, enlightenment came to Siddhartha Gautama. He realized that the answer was choosing a life that took the _____________ between asceticism and indulgence, or desire.

Tripitaka

One of the major works of Theravada Buddhism is the _______ which includes: -rules and regulations for Buddhist monasteries -life and teachings of Gautama Buddha -dictionary and teachings

Dhammapada

One of the major works of Theravada Buddhism is the ___________, which is a collection of proverbs and adages (important truths).

King Ashoka

One of the people most responsible for spreading Buddhism across the early world. After invading a nearby kingdom and successfully conquering it, he saw the death and destruction he had caused and converted to Buddhism. He later made it a state religion and helped spread the religion outside of his kingdom's borders.

sick, old, corpse, ascetic

Siddartha Gautama is known as Buddha. Siddartha was born into a royal family as a prince, and had a very sheltered childhood. When he was 30, he decided that he wanted to see the world for himself, against his father's wishes, and set out on his journey as an ascetic. During Siddartha's journey, he saw ____ people, ____ people, a decaying _______, and an ______. These sights changed his beliefs and he came to think that a moderate path was the best. In his early life, his father had tried to hide him from the sick, aged, and suffering, and as such, he had not had any experience with this before.

Silk Road

Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince, but decided to become a monk and seek after Truth; his enlightenment lead to his being called Gautama Buddha. After learning the four noble truths, he wandered throughout central India teaching people the path to Nirvana. It is interesting to note that Buddha never left India. As a matter of fact, he never traveled further than 200 miles from his birthplace, but after his death, the religion spread from India to Asia through Buddhist missionaries and diplomatic missions to various countries. Another factor that helped the spread of Buddhism was the _____, which had many Buddhist temples that serviced travelers between east and west.

Suffering (The Four Noble Truths detail the origin of suffering and how one can cease this suffering by following the Eightfold Path.)

The Buddha taught his disciples the Four Noble Truths, a series of insights which shows human craving, or desire, to be the source of all __________.

dukkha, desire, Eight-fold Path

The Four Noble Truths are as follows: 1. All life is suffering, called _______. 2. The source of all suffering is _______, attachment to self. 3. The cessation of desire is the way to end suffering. 4. The path to the cessation of desire is the ______.

World (Asoka's emissaries reached Syria, Egypt, Cyrene and Greece.)

The Indian Emperor Asoka believed Buddhism to be a __________ religion and sent missionaries and ambassadors of the religion to lands far and near.

eight-spoked wheel

The Noble 8-fold path is one of the principal teachings in Buddhism, and is also the source of the Buddhist symbol, an ____________. Followers of Buddhism can follow the 8 steps along the path to gain spiritual enlightenment

buddha, dharma, sangha

The Three Jewels of Buddhism (Triratna) are: ______ himself. ______, or Buddha's teachings ______, or community of followers.

samgha

The _________ is the community of ordained Buddhist nuns and monks or Order of Disciples. It is the third gem of Buddhism.

Dhammapada (The Dhammapada collects sayings by the Buddha and is a favorite text of Buddhists.)

The __________ is a collection of poems drawn from various discourses given by the Buddha.

Middle Way

The __________ is meant to be a path 'in-between' that balances ascetism and overindulgence. Essentially, it means not overdoing any one thing, but also taking part in some of life's pleasures.

Birth (Buddha and Jesus were both born asexually, without normal human intercourse. They were both born outside of the house, with a bright light announcing their births. In both cases, sages forecasted future greatness for the children and angels appeared in the sky to announce the births.)

The __________ story of the Buddha is similar in several ways to that of Jesus, another important religious figure.

Non-violence (The ethic of non-violence is central to all Buddhist thought, particularly its political theory. In fact, non-violence rituals, such as the release of caged animals into the wild, are prevalent in Buddhist festivals even today.)

The characteristic of __________ is central to Buddhist political theory. As a result, an ideal Buddhist ruler does not punish with unnecessary harshness, does not fight wars of aggression, and maintains a police force and army only for defensive purposes.

Eightfold Path

The fourth of the Four Noble Truths is known as the truth of the __________. It describes how to alleviate human suffering by following its prescribed paths of self improvement.

Sila (If a person is following the 8-fold path, they would not be violating the concept of Sila)

The idea of '_____' is the concept of Buddhist ethics, and includes refraining from lying, taking of life, stealing, intoxicants, and sensual misconduct.

Buddha

The night of his enlightenment, Gautama became the ________, the fully enlightened one. Gautama Buddha, as he was known from then on, spent the next forty-five years of his life on Earth teaching the middle path

atman

The truth of the Eightfold Path lists eight paths of self-improvement: right view, right thought, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. Whereas ________ is an important term to Hinduism's discussion of the individual soul

ascetic

The word ________ is used to describe a person or lifestyle that is removed from worldly pleasures. In particular, it means to live an austere life, and to avoid material wealth or sensual pleasure.

Hinayana (Theravada Buddhism is noted for its conservative approach to Buddhism and for its literal rendering of the religion.)

Theravada Buddhism, also called pejoratively ___________ Buddhism, is a conservative branch of Buddhism, dedicated to preserving the religion in its original form.

Sri Lanka

Theravada Buddhism: They believe that individuals must achieve enlightenment on their own through meditation and actions, as Gautama Buddha did. Theravada is practiced today mainly in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and ________.

monks

Theravada Buddhism: This is the path of poverty and celibacy embraced by those men who choose to live as ______. However, not all Theravada Buddhists choose monasticism as a way of life. Some men make only a limited commitment to the monastic life.

arhat

Theravada Buddhism: When a man achieves enlightenment, he becomes an _____ and is released from samsara at death.

merit

Theravada Buddhism: Women may not become monks; however, they can support them with offerings. In this way, they can make ______, that is, influence their karmaic destiny.

rites of passage

There are also a number of __________ in Buddhism, including marriage, pregnancy, birth, adolescence, and, ultimately, death.

The Great Vehicle, School of the Elders

There are many different types of Buddhism, though all generally fall under two "schools". These are the Mayahana School known as "_________", and the Theravada School known as "_____________".

Equal (Traditional Buddhists believe that both women and men are equal; however, the man's job is to provide for the family while the woman's job is to care for it. So while the male monks go out to collect alms, the female monks maintain and supervise the convent (a religious residence where monks live together) and clean and cook for the men.)

Though Buddhists believe that men and women are __________, they believe that the two genders have different roles.

Je Tsongkhapa

Tibetan Buddhism consists of many sub-branches, one of which is the Gelug School which is led by the Dalai Lama. The Gelug School is also known as the Yellow Hat school. It was founded by ____________ in the earlly 1400's. He is a spiritual leader who also has significant influence on western culture.

Gelug, hat

Tibetan Buddhism consists of many sub-branches, one of which is the ______ School which is led by the Dalai Lama. This School is also known as the Yellow ___ school. It was founded by Je Tsongkhapa in the earlly 1400's. He is a spiritual leader who also has significant influence on western culture.

Teaching (Dharma, to Hindus, is a social and moral obligation. To Buddhists, it is a universal truth into the nature of humans and suffering.)

To Hindus, the concept of Dharma means social or religious duty. Buddhists, on the other hand, use the same word to connote the __________ or truth of Buddhism concerning the ultimate order of things.

nirvana

Unlike Theravada Buddhists who rely on their own efforts, Mahayana Buddhists believe that devotion to Buddhas and bodhisattvas can aid in their efforts to achieve _________. Mahayana Buddhism is practiced mainly in China, Tibet, Nepal, Korea, and Japan.

lamas

Vajrayana Buddhism has a priestly class known as _______.

Tantric (Like Hindu tantrism, tantric Buddhism developed around the third century and remains esoteric due to some of its controversial practices.)

Vajrayana Buddhism is closely associated with __________ Buddhism. This esoteric form of Buddhism practices various techniques such as sexual yoga that relate to a religious manifestation of universal power.

Avalokiteshvara

Vajrayana Buddhism recites the phrase "Om, the jewel of the lotus, hum" to address the Bodhisattva _____________, the patron of Tibet.

prayer wheel

Vajrayana Buddhism relies heavily on magic and uses a ___________ to "say" prayers.

Tibet

Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as Tibetan Buddhism or Lamaism, is a sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism was originally brought to ______ in the 600s CE, but over the centuries, it has evolved in unique ways.

Dalai Lama

Vajrayana Buddhism: The chief lama among lamas is the ________, who is not only the spiritual leader of Tibetans but also considered the temporal ruler.

Sri Lanka (Despite its proximity to India and centuries of Christian missionary efforts, Sri Lanka remains the center of Theravada Buddhism.)

While Theravada Buddhism spread and remains in other areas of Southeast Asia, it still remains strongest upon the island nation of __________.

world

While monasticism became important, Buddhism did not reject those who chose to live in the ______. It welcomed anyone who was trying to live up to the standards of Buddhist teachings and was also willing to support Buddhist monks and nuns.

introspection

Zen Buddhism is part of the Mayahana school, and focuses on enlightenment and ______ (examining oneself).

koans

Zen Buddhists use riddles called ______ to aid them in finding enlightenment.

Mara

___ is the demon of desire and lord of evil in the Buddhist religion. He tried to seduce Buddha with visions of beautiful women; supposedly his three daughters.

Sutra

______ in Buddhism means "a collection of the stories and teachings of Gautama Buddha."

Zen

_______ Buddhism is a sect of Mahayana Buddhism that became popular among some Japanese after its introduction from China around 400 CE.

Mudras

_______, or symbolic hand gestures, are less common but still used as Buddhist ritual to aid in meditation.

Vajrayana

________ Buddhism is another form of Buddhism practiced mostly in the country of Tibet. Authorities on the subject disagree whether Vajrayana is a third, distinct sect or a variation that came out of the Mahayanan tradition.

Meditation

________ is the most common form of Buddhist ritual, helping practitioners find enlightenment.

Pilgrimages

________ to Buddha's birthplace, the site of his first teaching, the place he received enlightenment, and the site where he achieved Parinirvana are the most sacred rituals in all of Buddhism.

samsara

_________ is the Hindu cycle of birth, life, and death.

Jodo Shinsui

_________ is the most common type of Buddhism in Japan, and is literally translated as the True Pure Land School. It was founded by the Japanese Monk Shinran in the 13th century. This school is most similar to the Mayahana school of thought.

Bodhi Day

_________, Dec. 8, celebrates the day Buddha sat down under the bodhi tree to achieve enlightenment.

Pure Land (Today, Pure Land Buddhism remains the most popular form of Buddhism in East Asia.)

__________ Buddhism is a sectarian movement within Buddhism that developed in first-century India and later became a leading movement in both China and Japan. This movement believes that followers can be reborn in a Western Paradise, where they can subsequently make the final strives towards nirvana.

Stupas (Over time, particularly as Buddhism moved to East Asia, these stupas were added to or developed into more elaborate forms like pagodas.)

__________ are hemispherical mounds built to contain or memorialize a Buddhist relic.

Meditation

__________ is a practice in which a person focuses on inner thoughts. This can be accompanied by hymns, chanting, or use of counting beads. Christianity does not have followers which actively practice meditation, although it is known to be practiced by some priests and saints. On the other hand, those who follow Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Taoism are actively encouraged, and often do, meditate on a daily basis.

Kumarajive

__________ was a Buddhist scholar and is best known for his translation of Buddhist texts from ancient Sanskrit into Chinese. As a result, Buddhism started to spread throughout China.

Nirvana Day

__________, February 15, observes Buddha's death.

Buddha Day

___________, April 8, honors the birth of Buddha.

anatman (Anatman is a Sanskrit term meaning "without atman." Unlike Hindus, the Buddhists deny the existence of an eternal, unchanging self. Most religions teach their beliefs on how to attain salvation, or a deliverance or freedom from the hardships and evils of this world, and Buddhism is no exception.)

______________ is the word Buddhism uses to discuss the impermanence of a being's sense of self (a characteristic also referred to as "no-self")