Buddhism Section 1
Briefly summarize the birth, Enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Guatama.
BIRTH - Born a Hindu of the warrior caste - Father was king of a small village - Mother dreamed of his birth, was told her son would either be a great king or a great holy man - He emerged from her mother right side, took seven steps, stopped and said "No more births for me ENLIGHTMENT - At age nineteen, he saw the Four Sights (old man, very sick man, a corpse, and a wandering holy man without any possessions) - Each of the Four Sights made a dramatic impression on him - For six years, he took up the life of a wandering ascetic - In his meditations about suffering and the cycle of rebirth, he finally reached the enlightenment he sought - He delivered many sermons on the Middle Way DEATH - Died of food poisoning at the age of 80
Why were the Japanese attracted to Zen Buddhism?
Because of the early Buddhists scriptures. Also, Japanese rulers readily patronized Buddhism.
List countries in Asia where Buddhism took hold, at least for some time.
Central Asia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, Pakistan and parts of Iran.
In English, what does the term Tripitaka mean?
From Sanskrit meaning, "Three baskets," which the Tripitaka refers are the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutra Pitika, and Abidharrna Pitika, and also known as the Pali canon in Theravada Buddhism, the compilation of three collections of early Buddhist texts.
What attracted King Ashoka to Buddhism?
The Buddhist ideals of moral living and pacifism. After carrying out various military campaigns, he became disenchanted with the military and the devastation war left on people, communities, and the environment.
What were the main issued addressed by each of the Buddhist councils?
The First Council - concerned with the purity of the Buddha's (Siddhartha) teachings. Tried to come to some agreement on Siddhartha's teachings. The Second Council - this council was held to address questionable practices of some "liberal" monks who sought a relaxation of monastic discipline, including permission to store salt, eat after noon, drink palm wine, and to accept silver and good. The Third Council - The Third Council came about upon the conversion of King Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty of India in the third century BCE, The Fourth Council - Buddhist tradition relates that King Ashoka called for a Fourth Council to purify the sangha of its various irregularities.
Who is Dalai Lama?
The head lama of Tibetan Buddhism who is the spiritual and political leader of Tibet until its takeover by Chinese communist leaders and a forced exile to India.
What is the most popular Mahayana sacred text? Why?
The most popular sacred text among Mahayana Buddhists is the Lotus Sutra. They believe that the Lotus Sutra contains the final teachings of Buddha, placing the Tripitaka in a secondary yet still-important status. The popularity of this text is because of its message being that with the belief that all living things possess Buddha-nature, all people can attain Enlightenment.
What is the most popular Vajrayana sacred text? Why?
The most populat scripture among the Vajrayana Buddhists is the Tibetan Book of the Dead, containing various writings on death, dying, and rebirth. It describes what life (specifically consciousness) is like between death and rebirth. Its popularity is because it is read while someone is dying, if possible, or when a person has recently died.
