Religion Buddhism

12. The Five Precepts that apply to all Buddhists are...

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

List the steps of the Eightfold path

1. Right views 2. Right intentions 3. Right speech 4. Right conduct 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right mediation

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

10. Anatta means "no self" - there is no ultimate reality within/there is no permanent self. Annata contradicts the Hindu concept of Atman, which holds that an essence underlies existence.

According to samsara, what is actually reborn? Explain the role of karma in samsara

11. According to the Buddhist doctrine of samara, a bundle of energy patterned after one's karma is reborn. The nature of one's rebirth depends on the status of one's karma.

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

16. The Buddha did not require a model to provide teachings to lead him to enlightenment, as others do.

Added precepts 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 of soft bed 10. Do not accept silver or gold

Describe the Buddha's reaction against early Hinduism.

8. Buddha reacted against institutional Hinduism and the caste system, and he made Buddhist teachings available to all.

What is an arhat?

An arhat is enlightened, free from dukkha, and thus no longer attached to affairs of the world. Arhats are especially characterized by compassion.

What were the 4 passing sights? explain their significance to the origins of Buddhism.

An old man, a diseased man, a corpse and a religious ascetic. They were origins of Buddhism because they were lessons about the reality of suffering and the impermanent nature of life's pleasures. The fourth sight filled Gautama with elation and hope and a model to pursue a homeless life. These sights led Gautama to give up his life of power and sensual enjoyment for the austere life which led to enlightenment

What features of Buddhist cosmology are shared with Hinduism?

Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that the universe is eternal, that many worlds exist, and that the ongoing cycle of rebirth can be escaped only through liberation.

What are the 3 jewels of buddhism

Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha

Describe the event of Gautama's attainment of enlightenment

Gautama's attainment of enlightenment happened when he was sitting in the lotus position beneath a fig tree, he resolved not to leave the spot until he had found complete and perfect fulfillment. Mara, the god of death, did not want Gautama to succeed and tried to frighten Gautama from his spot - but she could not. Mara sent forth his three daughters (Discontent, Delight, Desire) hoping to do the same, but Gautama still would not leave. This showed that Gautama had overcome distractions of fear and passion. Gautama was focusing inward. He became more aware of the world around him and then he was able to perceive clearly the true nature of the human condition. He discovered the Four Noble Truths, and attained spiritual perfection/won salvation.

Buddha

Guatama and all others who have obtained enlightenment

Thereavada

Prevalent form of buddhism in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sir Lanka and Thailand; focuses on the earliest texts and emphasizes monastic lifestyle

Vajrayana

Sanskrit; the Vehicle of the diamond. Named for the Vajra, the buddha's diamond scepter; prevalent form of buddhism in Tibet; emphasizes the harnessing of sensual energies to attain nirvana

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

Siddhartha Gautama

What is tanha? How does it relate to dukkha?

Tanha is desire, thirst, or craving. It is the cause of dukkha or suffering.

The Dalai Lama is? How is each Dalai Lama chosen?

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Whenever a Dalai Lama dies, his successor is sought out through various means, some supernatural and others more mundane.

What are the four noble truths

The Four Noble Truths: to live is to suffer, suffering is caused by desire, suffering can be brought to cessation, the solution is the Eightfold path.

What is the sangha? who are its members?

The Sangha is the first Buddhist monastic community, and it consisted of men and women from all walks of life.

Explain the doctrine of the Middle Way

The doctrine of the Middle Way holds that just as a life of sensual indulgence will not lead to salvation, neither will extreme asceticism. It embraces the idea that contentment is a good thing.

Literal meaning of the name Mahayana, and what are the implications of this meaning

The literal meaning of the name Mahayana is the Great Vehicle. The name indicates something of the nature of Mahayana. Whereas Theravada emphasizes the individual's path of meditation, Mahayana is Buddhism for the masses.

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

The word nirvana literally means "blowing out." This meaning implies that all selfish desire has been extinguished leading to freedom from samsara.

The three divisions of Buddhism are

Theravada (the lesser vehicle): the way of the elders; Mahayana: the great vehicle; and Vajrayana (the vehicle of the diamond): Tibetan Buddhism.

what are the primary geographical regions of the 3 divisions of buddhism?

Theravada is prevalent in the countries of Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand; Mahayana is dominant in China, Japan and Korea; and Vajrayana's homeland is in Tibet.

how does vajrayana Buddhism "fight fire with fire"

Vajrayana Buddhism "fights fire with fire" by harnessing the energy of desire and turning it against itself.

middle way

a basic buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial or asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment

Pali

an anccient language of India, similar to Sanskrit but more commonly understood, used in the writing of the earliest buddhist texts; most important for theravada buddhism

What are the three marks of existence? How are they related?

anatta (no permanent self), anicca (impermanence/things are always changing), and dukka (suffering). All three are based in the changing nature of reality and dukkha is the natural result of anatta and anicca.

Five precepts

basic moral requirements that are the binding for all buddhist

Three marks of existence

characteristics that summarize the changing nature of reality; anatta, anicca, and dukkha

mudras

choreographed hand movements used in the rituals of vajrayana buddhism

Bodhisattvas

future buddhas

anicca

impermanence/things are always changing

anatta

no permanent self one of the three marks of existence; the buddhist doctrine denying a permanent self

Mandalas

patterned icons that visually excite; used in vajrayana buddhism to enhance meditation

mantras

phrases or syllables chanted to evoke a deity or to enhance meditation

dukkha

suffering

Possible English translations for the term dukkha are

suffering, frustration, dislocation and discomfort. It implies that things are not as they should be.

The main focus of Theravada Buddhism is

teachings of Buddhism

Sangha

the buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the three jewels of buddhism

four noble truths

the central teachings of buddhism; to live is to suffer; suffering is caused by desire; the cessation of suffering can be achieved; the solution is the noble eight fold path

Noble eightfold path

the fourth of the four noble truths; defines the basic practices of buddhism that lead to nirvana

Mahayana

the largest buddhism's three divisions, prevalent in china japan and korea

karma

the moral law of cause and effect of actions

Dalai Lama

the spiritual leader of vajrayana buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of the budhisattva

nirvana

the ultimate goal of all buddhists. the extinction of desire and any sense of individual selfhood, resulting in liberation from samsara and its limiting conditions

samsara

the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation

Dharma

your duty; one of the three jewels of buddhism