Buddhism Beliefs Flashcards
(34 cards)
What did the holy man say that Siddhartha may become?
-a great ruler
-great spiritual leader
What are the four sights and what do they represent?
Old man
-everyone ages
Ill man
-everyone gets sick
Dead man
-all things die
Holy man
-the only answer to these problems
How might stories of the Buddha’s life influence Buddhists today?
-seeing the 4 sights made them realise they have to accept old age, sickness and death just like the Buddha did
-irrelevant as the Buddha lived in a different time especially his luxurious childhood
- helps them find the middle way and achieve an astethic lifestyle
What are the 3 watches of the night?
Three realisations Siddhartha made in order to become enlightened
What are the 4 noble truths?
The Four Noble Truths are what Buddha taught about suffering
- There is suffering
- Suffering has a cause
- Suffering can come to an end
- There is a way to end suffering
What’s an Arhat?
A ‘perfected person’ who has overcome the main sources of suffering
What’s an Acetism lifestyle ?
A lifestyle of strict self-denial, rejected by Siddhartha for the Middle Way
What’s a Bodhisattva?
An enlightened person who chooses to remain in samsara to teach others
What is Dependent Arising?
The idea that everything is dependent on everything else
What’s Dharma?
The Buddha’s teachings – how to reach the state of enlightenment
What are the 3 marks of existence?
- Dukkha (suffering)
- Anicca (impermanence)
- Anatta (no fixed self or soul)
Whats the Eightfold Path?
Eight aspects of life Buddhists live by to try and reach enlightenment
Eg : right effort , right action , right livelihood
What’s Enlightenment?
A state of spiritual wisdom which arises from understanding the nature of reality
What are the Jakata Tales?
A book of popular tales about the life of the Buddha
What is Nirvana?
A state of complete enlightenment which lies outside the cycle of samsara
What’s the cycle of Samsara?
Cycle of birth, dead and re-birth
What’s the ultimate aim for Buddhists?
To break free from the cycle of Samsara
What are the aspects of the Eightfold Path?
-Right Speech
-Right Action
-Right Livelihood
-Right effort
-Right mindfulness
-Right concentration
-Right understanding
-Right intention
What are the 3 sections of the threefold way?
-Ethics (Sila)
-Meditation (samadhi)
-Wisdom (panna)
What do Theravada Buddhists think the Buddha is?
One of the three refugees or jewels, not God but a guide
What do Theravada Buddhists devote their lives to do?
Achieving Enlightenment
What are some rules Theravada Buddhists promise to keep and why?
Go celibate and own no possessions
-so their only focus is meditation
How do Theravada Buddhists become an Arhat?
Achieve nibbana
What happens when an Arhat dies?
They escape the cycle of Samsara
