1.3 The Three Refuges - concepts

Question 1

the historical Buddha

Answer 1

physical individual who lived in certain time and space

Question 2

the symbolic Buddha

Answer 2

timeless figure that represents the potentiality in us all to achieve enlightenment

Question 3

the Yogacara School

Answer 3

Buddhist philosophical school which took an idealist view that reality was mind-only

Question 4

Dhammapada: difference between ‘a refuge’ and ‘the refuge’

Answer 4

‘a refuge’ may be a place, eg mountains, a shrine, people go when threatened, but the ‘secure refuge, the highest refuge … having gone to which, you gain release from all suffering and stress’ is the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha

Question 5

the trikaya

Answer 5

a Mahayana doctrine describing the Buddha as having three bodies, or levels of manifestation

Question 6

why Buddhist wisdom holds the concept of divinity is not viable

Answer 6

there is no empirical evidence for the existence of a god in either the world or through meditation

Question 7

what do the Jataka Tales tell us about the Buddha / history of the Buddha

Answer 7

Buddhas take rebirth repeatedly just as we do, experiencing many life forms

Question 8

what enlightenment is ultimately dependent on

Answer 8

our own efforts, not any external force or circumstances beyond our control

Question 9

technicality vs reality of whether enlightenment is possible for everyone

Answer 9

technically yes, but realistically not currently thought many can due to negative emotions being so wild

Question 10

how Buddhists may explain miraculous events associated with the Buddha: enlightenment

Answer 10

enlightenment is a transcendental state beyond natural limitations of humanity and the physical world, so enlightened being is not subject to physical laws of nature

Question 11

how Buddhists may explain miraculous events associated with the Buddha: non-literal interpretation

Answer 11

acknowledge certain events may have been added or exaggerated as literary vehicles to highlight important teachings and episodes

Question 12

Theravadin belief on when each new Buddha arises

Answer 12

once the Dhamma has died out and is no longer known by humans

Question 13

what grants Gautama Buddha his authority, and why

Answer 13

the fact he attained enlightenment - bestows him supreme wisdom, compassion, love, and the power to free beings from suffering

Question 14

the two main ways in which the life of Gautama Buddha is still imapactful

Answer 14

• story of his life offers model for Buddhists to follow, making the Buddhist path accessible and relatable to humans
• without him, there would be no knowledge of the existence of the Dhamma at all

Question 15

possible evidence of truth to the Buddha’s ‘supernatural’ abilities

Answer 15

scientific observation has found the minds of highly practiced meditators can work in surprising ways eg highly experienced practisers of Tibetan Buddhist ‘tummo’ can increase their own body temperatures

Question 16

reasons certain stories of the Buddha may be exaggerated

Answer 16

to stress importance of teachings and events, to represent spiritual or psychological experiences

Question 17

benefits of reflecting on ‘legendary’ stories of the Buddha

Answer 17

allow us to engage in openness and acceptance of wider possibilities of the world and our inner experiences, and engage with the teachings beyond the limits of our rational minds

Question 18

Mahayana view - analogy explaining the problem of understanding the Buddha only from a factual historical context

Answer 18

like looking at the surface of the ocean and entirely missing its depth

Question 19

overview of how Theravada and Mahayana emerged

Answer 19

after his parinibbana, the Buddha’s teachings were preserved orally which over time led to disagreements between monks over accuracy and validity of certain teachings

Question 20

why the dhamma is not itself the ‘truth’

Answer 20

a way of life, not the source of enlightenment, but indicator the way - not something to achieve or aspire to as a destination, but the path there

Question 21

Theravadin understanding of what constitutes the dhamma

Answer 21

the teachings of the historical Buddha only

Question 22

Theravada: the significance of the Tipitaka (aka three baskets, or Pali Canon)

Answer 22

believe it to be the accurate record of the Buddha’s teachings as passed on by him

Question 23

the three baskets of the Tipitaka

Answer 23

• Vinaya Pitaka - ‘rules’, how the Sangha should live
• Sutta Pitaka - explanations of teachings
• Abhidamma Pitaka - systematic philosophical breakdown of the Buddha’s teachings

Question 24

what the dhamma is / is not in Mahayana

Answer 24

not a sacred scripture to be worshipped or slavishly followed - is anything skilful which indicates the way

Question 25

what does it mean that the dhamma is a universal truth

Answer 25

it is the inherent law of nature and existence, the singular permanent thing

Question 26

difference in the sangha in theravada v mahayana

Answer 26

predominantly refers to monastic community in Theravadin, but can include Lay. More commonly includes monastic and lay in Mahayana communities

Question 27

where the main principles of how the sangha should live and practice are found

Answer 27

Patimokkha rules, from the Vinaya Pitaka (three baskets)

Question 28

purpose of the sangha

Answer 28

spread the message of the Buddha, and enable others to gain enlightenment

Question 29

the Patimokkha (within Theravadin tradition)

Answer 29

the basic code / rules of the monastic discipline, consisting of 227 rules for fully ordained monks, and 311 for nuns

Question 30

reasons for the Patimokkha rules

Answer 30

- ensure peace and well-being in the community - support and protect faith of lay Buddhists via setting an example of calm and self control - help monks avoid creating negative mental states through self-awareness and discipline

Question 31

levels of seriousness of the Patimokkha rules

Answer 31

7 levels: first and most serious are the Four Defeats, resulting in expulsion from the order - as levels decrease, penalties decrease down to acknowledgement of error with no penalty attached

Question 32

events of uposatha (observance) days

Answer 32

occur on new and full moons, with all monastics in local area required to attend to show purity of the local sangha. monks declare digressions privately to one another before a ceremony where a leading monk or elder chants the Patimokkha - the others remain silent to show their conduct is pure and digressions already acknowledged

Question 33

interconnection of the Patimokkha and dasa sila (moral precepts)

Answer 33

rules can be seen as precise applications of the more general universal precepts - the Buddha named the religion Dhamma-Vinaya (teachings and rules) showing they complement each other and should work together

Question 34

what it is / is not to 'take refuge'

Answer 34

not necessarily a declaration, but a commitment of complete trust and dedication