Buddhism Beliefs and Practices Quotes

Question 1

Anata

Answer 1

‘No fixed self can be found…’ The Buddha
‘All conditioned things are impermanent…’ The Buddha
‘To study the self is to forget the self’ Zen Master Dogen

Question 2

Dependent Arising

Answer 2

“When this is, that is. From the arising of this comes the arising of that. When this isn’t, that isn’t. From the cessation of this comes the cessation of that.” The Buddha

Question 3

Samsara and Nirvana

Answer 3

‘Samsara is the mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is mind turned inwardly, recognising its nature.’ Rinpoche

Question 4

Buddha’s early life

Answer 4

‘I had three mansions, one for the summer, one for the winter and one for the rainy season…’ The Buddha

Question 5

Three Jewels (refuges)

Answer 5

‘I take refuge in the Buddha,
I take refuge in the Dharma,
I take refuge in the Sangha.’
- said at Buddhist meetings

Buddha = Enlightened one, Dharma = teachings and Sangha = community

Question 6

Dukkha

Three marks of existence, nature of life, Four Noble Truths

Answer 6

‘… what I teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering.’ The Buddha

Question 7

Four Noble Truths

Answer 7

‘The truth of suffering is like a disease, the truth of the origin is like the cause of the disease, the truth of cessation is like the cure of the disease and the truth of the path, is the medicine.’ Buddha Ghosa

Question 8

Second Noble Truth

Cause of Dukkha

Answer 8

‘the origin of suffering: it is craving…’ Buddha

Question 9

Third Noble Truth

End of dukkha

Answer 9

‘the cessation of that same craving, the freedom from it…’ The Buddha

Question 10

Karma

Answer 10

‘Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.’ The Buddha

Question 11

The mind

Answer 11

‘All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by the mind.’ The Buddha

‘The mind is everything, what you think, you become.’ Guatma Buddha

Question 12

Types of suffering

Answer 12

‘There are … three forms of stressfulness…: the stressfulness of pain, the stressfulness of fabrication and the stressfulness of change.’ Dukkha Sutta

physical, dissatisfaction and change

Question 13

Three Poisons

Answer 13

1. ‘Conquer anger with non-anger’ The Buddha
2. ‘There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires.’ The Buddha

Question 14

Sunyata

Emptiness

Answer 14

’ The supreme goal of the teachings is the emptiness whose nature is compassion’ Atisha

‘Whatever is form is emptiness, whatever is emptiness is form’ The Heart Suttra

Question 15

Becoming Buddha and Buddha nature

Answer 15

‘To find a Buddha all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is Buddha.’ Bodhidharma

‘We have to understand the middle path: that a human has a positive and a negative side…. we also have a beautiful potential.’ Lama Yeshe

Question 16

Enlightenment

Answer 16

‘Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.’ The Buddha

‘Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.’ The Buddha

Question 17

Karuna and Metta

compassion and loving kindness

Answer 17

‘If a pure mind speaks or acts, happiness follows them like a never-departing shadow’ The Buddha

‘May all beings have happy minds’ The Buddha

‘I believe that at every level of society, the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion.’ The Dalai Lama

Question 18

Five Precepts

Answer 18

‘All tremble at violence; all fear death… one should not kill or cause another to kill.’ The Buddha

‘avoid sexual desires’ The Buddha

Question 19

Six prefections (paramitas)

Answer 19

‘Skilful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose.’ Kimattha Sutta

Question 20

The Middle Way

neither pessimistic or optimistic

Answer 20

‘First of all, Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic. If anything at all, it is realistic, for it takes a realistic view of the world.’ Walpola Rahula

Question 21

Meditation

Answer 21

‘Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.’ The Buddha

Question 22

The Sangha

monks and nuns

Answer 22

‘Monks and nuns are revolutionaries. They cherish a great aspiration in their hearts and that is how they have the strength to cut the net of worldly attachments.’ Thich Nhat Hanh

Question 23

Death

Answer 23

‘Some do not understand that we must die. But those who do realise this, settle their quarrels.’ The Buddha

The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve having realised the nature of the world.’ The Buddha