World Religions Buddhism Test

Theravada

"Traditional" form of Buddhism, prevalent in South Asia.

Bodhisattva

(in Mahayana Buddhism) A person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

Four Noble Truths

1. Life means suffering. 2. The origin of suffering is attachment. 3. The end of suffering is attainable. 4. There is a path to the end of suffering.

Arhat

An englightened disciple (T) or an advanced disciple (M)

Stupa

Buddhist shrine

Eightfold Path

Consists of morality, and meditation, Right speech, right action, right thought, right concentration, right effort, right livlelihood

Zen

Japanese school of Buddhism focused on meditation, with paradoxical teachings

Prajna

Insight or wisdom necessary for enlightenment

Anatman

Noself. The Buddhist idea that there is no permanent immortal soul in a human being.

Buddha

Specifically Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Founder of the Buddhist school of thought. Generally one who has awakened, escaped karmic bondage and entered nirvana.

Householder

Stage of life for a Buddhist, generally when one is concerned with marriage, morality, and family

Mahayana

The "great vehicle," __________ is the predominant form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia

Sanga

The buddhist monastic community

Triratna

The three jewels of Buddhism sought during ritual: the Buddha, dharma, sanga

Samsara

This world of karma, rebirth and suffering. The world you are in now, from which we must escape to find Nirvana.

Enlightenment

Understanding of the truth of human existence, Nirvana.

Koan

Zen riddle or saying

Nirvana

a blissful state one achieves after eliminating desire, attachment and ignorance. Escape from Samsara and the cycle of suffering and death

Buddha Nature

idea that all being/things have a portion of nirvanna within them

Mantra

phrase repeated during meditation.