Buddhism

Question 1

Ahimsa

Answer 1

The Buddhist belief in no-force/non-violence, the aim to minimise harmful impact upon all living things

Question 2

Akusala

Answer 2

Actions which are considered to be unskilful, immoral, that will attract negative karma (eg 3 poisons)

Question 3

Anatta

Answer 3

The doctrine of “non-self”, that there is no unchanging, permanent soul in living beings

Question 4

Anicca

Answer 4

Impermanence: all of conditioned existence, without exception, is “transient, evanescent, inconstant”

Question 5

Amitabha Buddha

Answer 5

The main Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism. “The Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Light” is believed
to have created The Pure Land

Question 6

Amaravati

Answer 6

Theravadan Buddhist monastic tradition with its roots in the Thai Forest tradition

Question 7

Arhat / Arahant

Answer 7

“A perfect person” who has completed Buddhist training and attained nibbana

Question 8

Avalokitesvara

Answer 8

The bodhisattva of compassion

Question 9

Bodhisattva

Answer 9

One who wishes to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. (Bodhisattva vow)

Question 10

Bodhisattva vow

Answer 10

The promise to attain enlightenment to benefit all living beings, not just to be happy oneself but to work towards ending the suffering of others

Question 11

Buddha

Answer 11

“Awakened one”, the founder of Buddhism. “One who is awake” ‘The enlightened one’, the title used to refer
to Siddhartha Gautama to indicate the impact of his enlightenment experience

Question 12

Buddhahood

Answer 12

The condition or rank of a Buddha: one who has fully awakened and has completely purified his mind of the three poisons of desire, aversion and ignorance. A Buddha is no longer bound by Samsara, and has ended the
suffering which unawakened people experience in life

Question 13

Buddha-nature

Answer 13

All living beings already have the enlightened mind within them but do not necessarily realise it

Question 14

Buddha-nature

Answer 14

All living beings already have the enlightened mind within them but do not necessarily realise it

Question 15

Dependant origination

Answer 15

All dharmas (“things”) arise in dependence upon other dharmas: “if this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist.”. Only Nibbana is the exception

Question 16

Devotion

Answer 16

The practice of commemoration of, and commitment to, the Buddha and his teachings

Question 17

Dharma

Answer 17

The teachings of the Buddha. Sometimes refers to ‘cosmic law and order’, or the Buddhist path

Question 18

Dukkha

Answer 18

Suffering, disattisfactoriness. Translated as suffering, a dissatisfactory state of all things

Question 19

Eightfold path

Answer 19

The path to nirvana, comprising eight aspects in which an aspirant must become practised: right views,
intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration

Question 20

Engaged Buddhism

Answer 20

A Buddhist movement which believes that Buddha’s teachings should be applied to situations of social and environmental justice

Question 21

Enlightenment

Answer 21

To become awakened

Question 22

Four noble truths

Answer 22

The four central teachings of Buddhism about the causes of suffering and how to end suffering via The Eightfold Path

Question 23

Four sights

Answer 23

Disease, Old Age, Death & The Holy Man: these four sights triggered Buddha’s spiritual journey and made him renounce (give up) his life as a prince

Question 24

Karma

Answer 24

Translated as action or deed. The law of cause and effect—all actions have consequences that will influence
the future of the person

Question 25

Kusala

Answer 25

Actions which are considered to be skilful, moral and will attract good karma (eg alleviating suffering)

Question 26

Karuna

Answer 26

Compassion (accepting the suffering of others, sympathising with it, and responding)

Question 27

Lama Tsong Khapa Day

Answer 27

A Tibetan Buddhist festival celebrating a renowned teacher: Lama Tsong Khapa

Question 28

Lay sangha

Answer 28

Members of the Buddhist community who are not monks

Question 29

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 29

‘The great vehicle’, One of the two major traditions of Buddhism, now practised especially in China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea. The tradition emerged around the 1st century AD and is typically concerned with personal spiritual practice and the ideal of the bodhisattva

Question 30

Mantra

Answer 30

A statement or slogan repeated frequently: chanted in meditation or as an internal monologue

Question 31

Mara

Answer 31

The demon that tempted Gautama Buddha

Question 32

Meditation

Answer 32

Deliberate training of the mind practised by Buddhist’s to purify the mind and work towards achieving enlightenment

Question 33

Merit making

Answer 33

Performing actions which will result in good outcomes

Question 34

Metta

Answer 34

Loving-kindness

Question 35

Middle path/way

Answer 35

Buddhists should avoid extreme views and practices

Question 36

Middle path/way

Answer 36

Buddhists should avoid extreme views and practices

Question 37

Monastic sangha

Answer 37

Monks/nuns

Question 38

Nidanas (12 links)

Answer 38

12 deep-seated mental habits/activities that keep a human being trapped in the world of dependant origination (which is marked by suffering, impermanence and emptiness (non-self)

Question 39

Nirvana/nibbana

Answer 39

The state where all greed, hatred and delusion are ended. Extinguishment—an escape from Samsara. The end of suffering, awakening to the truth, and perfection of virtue: resulting in the liberation from samsara (conditioned existence). Breaking the 12 links and escaping the world of dependant origination

Question 40

Pali canon

Answer 40

The scriptures written in the language Pali. Known as the ‘three baskets’ covering the life and teachings of the Buddha and Buddhist philosophy

Question 41

Pancha sila

Answer 41

The Five Precepts – Moral vows taken by all Buddhists

Question 42

Paramitas (six)

Answer 42

The six paramitas are the six virtues or perfections Buddhists train towards

Question 43

Parinirvana

Answer 43

The final enlightenment Buddha achieved at death

Question 44

Puja

Answer 44

The making of offerings at an altar

Question 45

Sakyadhita organisation

Answer 45

Translated as ‘daughters of the Buddha’ the organisation is an international association of Buddhist women working to improve the lives of Buddhist women in developing countries

Question 46

Samsara

Answer 46

The world of conditioned experience, unenlightened experience, that is caused by dependant origination and marked by dukkha, anicca and anatta

Question 47

Samatha meditation

Answer 47

Meditation aimed at calmness or tranquillity. It is specifically focused on quieting the mind and can be used to achieve great states of calm and focus

Question 48

Sangha

Answer 48

The community of Buddhist believers, often used to refer to the monastic community

Question 49

Secular Buddhism

Answer 49

A form of Buddhism which focusses on the practical elements of Buddha’s teaching and takes a rationalist approach to Buddhism

Question 50

The five skhandas/aggregates

Answer 50

A concept that asserts five elements constitute and completely explain a living being's mental and physical existence