Characters/Figures

Question 1

Ajatasatru/Ajatasattu

Answer 1

Imprisoned his father to take the throne. He was involved with BuDevadatta (who was trying to kill the Buddha at the time). Learned to love his father (Bimbisara) once he had a child, but his father had died. Attempted to reconcile and change his life with assistance of the Buddha

Question 2

Angulimala (Ahimsaka)

Answer 2

Serial Killer (“Garland of Thumbs”) who comes across the Buddha and turns good, illustrates power of enlightenment and 8 fold path. There’s some commentary that state he eventually over more rebirths reached enlightenment as “Lonely Buddha”

Question 3

Asoka

Answer 3

King of the Mauryan empire - Used to be known as Asoka the Fierce, but became Asoka the Righteous when he discovered the dharma and declared all beings to not be killed (after first ordering the executions of heretics, leading to the unintentional death of his brother). He gave away all of his money for the Buddha. Built the 84,000 stupas. Never met the Buddha. Sent his kids on missions to convert other SE Asian countries.

Question 4

Bimbisara

Answer 4

A king (of Magadha) at the time of the Buddha who achieved enlightenment. Father of Ajatasatru. He donated the first monastery to the sangha

Question 5

Buddha

Answer 5

first gem. “Awakened One”, enlightened without the help with another person

Question 6

Buddhadasa

Answer 6

Modern monk. Main focuses: Pattica Samupada is the core of Buddhism and occurs in every moment. Disapproval of modern Buddhist bureaucracy and merit making. Dhamma Language v everyday language. Origin: Thailand, 20th century

Question 7

Buddhaghosa

Answer 7

5th century monk. Believed paticcasamuppada was a cycle that culminated over 3 Lifetimes. Commentaries on Tipitaka, most famous work: Visuddhimagga (path of purity) Origin: Sri Lanka

Question 8

Candragupta

Answer 8

Founder of Mauryan kingdom, unified India

Question 9

Candagirika

Answer 9

Evil dude who was in charge of Asoka’s prison - executioner

Question 10

Devadatta

Answer 10

Close cousin and right hand man of the Buddha; threat to the sangha because he kept trying to usurp leadership of the community. He has tried to murder the Buddha several times (unsuccessfully), then founded his own order. His own followers eventually left him to return to the Buddha’s sangha. Also plotted with Ajatasattu to kill his father (the king)

Question 11

Gautama

Answer 11

Family name of Siddhartha Buddha

Question 12

Jaya

Answer 12

Past life of King Asoka. Put dirt in the Buddha’s begging bowl - created great merit, which predicted his rebirth as king Asoka. But, the dirt made him have very rough skin because he gave dirt to Buddha. (Positive merit from the sincere gift; downfall was that it was dirt)

Question 13

Kisa-Gotami

Answer 13

Early Buddhist nun; Her child died and she went around the village asking people for medicine. Someone recommended that she go to the Buddha for help. He told her to find a mustard seed from a house where someone has not died. This was an impossible task, but she ended up gaining peace of mind with her loss along the way. She was ordained and admitted into the Bhikkhunis

Question 14

Maitreya/Metteya

Answer 14

Future Buddha. Currently in heaven living life as a deva (?) waiting to be reborn. Represented as royalty in jewels - not drawn as a buddha yet.

Question 15

Muchalinda

Answer 15

The naga (serpent) who protected Buddha from rain and other elements under the Bodhi tree after the Buddha’s enlightenment

Question 16

Patacara

Answer 16

Early Buddhist nun; pregnant with two children and when she gave birth, her husband died by snakebite. Then, a hawk took one child and the other child drowned in a river. She lost her parents and brother as well. She came across the Buddha and his words comforted her. She was ordained and was admitted into the Bhikkhunis. Reaches arhatship.

Question 17

Siddhartha/Siddhattha

Answer 17

Buddha Gotama’s original name

Question 18

Sudinna

Answer 18

a monk who had sex with his wife to procreate. He then told the Buddha due to extreme remorse. This provoked the Buddha to create an official rule stating that monks must remain celibate. Sudinna experienced “defeat” and cast out of the communion.

Question 19

Sumedha

Answer 19

A brahman that was Buddha Gotama’s distant past life. Received a prediction from the then Dipankara Buddha that “In the next era you will become a buddha named Shakyamuni/Siddhartha.” Uses his body as a bridge for for the passage of the Dipankara Buddha.

Question 20

Upagupta

Answer 20

Ashoka’s spiritual leader - went on pilgrimage with Asoka

Question 21

Vitasoka

Answer 21

Asoka’s brother who became a monk. He killed people in his past life as a hunter, so in future rebirths, he always will die by a sword. Due to Asoka’s order, he was murdered mistakenly.

Question 22

Wijayaratna

Answer 22

Wrote “Buddhist Monastic Life According to the Texts of the Theravada.”