Buddhism: beliefs and teachings Flashcards
(39 cards)
What happened in queen Maya’s dream when she was pregnant? (2)
> She saw a white elephant
It entered her womb
It blessed her
What is the significance of the white elephant? (2)
> Symbol of greatness and justice
Sacred
What happened when the Buddha was born? (4)
> Took 7 steps in each direction {N/S/W/E}
A pink lotus appeared after each step
Each step symbolises the 6 levels of suffering and the seventh is freedom
He declared it would be his last rebirth
What was the prophecy told to the king? What happened because of it? (2)
> That his son would either be a great king or great religious leader
The king sheltered Gautama and give him all of the luxuries in the world so that he would become a king
What were the 4 sights + the corresponding mark of existence for 2 of them. (6)
> Illness
Old age + anicca
Death + anatta
A holy man
What do the 4 sights teach modern Buddhists? (2)
> That everyone suffers
You must try a new path to overcome suffering
What is an ascetic life? (1)
> Where you have very few possessions and avoid any form of luxury/indulgence
A simple and strict lifestyle
Outline the effects of an ascetic lifestyle. (2)
> Teaches self-discipline
Stops craving (tanha)
Sets a persons soul free
Dangerous to health
What happens in the milkmaids tail? (7)
> The Buddha ignored his appetite and became weaker and weaker
One day while he was bathing in the river, he saw a milkmaid
She offered him a bowl of milk and rice
He ate it and threw the bowl into the river
He said that if the bowl goes upstream, he would become Buddha
If it goes downstream, he would fail
It traveled upstream whilst staying in the middle of the river
What happened during the Buddhas final mediation to enlightenment? (5)
> Mara tried to stop him
He attacked Buddha with his armies
He sent his daughters to seduce Buddha
He tried to tempt Buddha with a kingdom
Buddha ignored everything and became enlightened
What were the 3 watches of the night? (3)
> Buddha gained the knowledge of all of his past lives
Buddha realised why we suffer: due to attachment and craving
Buddha understood karma and samsara
What are the 3 marks of existence? (3)
> Dukkha
Anicca
Anatta
Explain the anicca and anatta with a Buddhist teaching. (4)
> Anicca: Everything changes + story of the mustard seed
Anatta: No fixed/permenant self/soul + Nagasenas chariot
Explain the 3 types of dukkha. (6)
> Dukkha Dukkha: Ordinary suffering-physical/emotional pain
Viparinama dukkha: Suffering due to change
Samkhara dukkha: Suffering due to attachment
What are the 7 states of suffering? (7)
> Birth
Illness
Old age
Death
Contact with something unpleasant
Not getting what you wish for
Separation from someone/thing that you love
What are the 5 aggregates? (5)
> Form
Sensation
Perception
Mental formations
Consciousness
What are the pancha sila? (5)
> Do not kill
Do not steal
Do not lie
Do not lust unfaithfully
Do not use intoxicants
What are the 6 perfections? (6)
> Generosity
Morality
Patience
Energy
Wisdom
Meditation
What are the 4 noble truths? (4)
> Dukkha
Samudaya
Nirodha
Magga
Explain each of the 4 noble truths. (4)
> Dukkha: Accept that suffering exists
Samudaya: Suffering is caused by tanha
Nirodha: Suffering can be ended by overcoming craving and attachment
Magga: In order to escape suffering, you must follow the middle way and the eightfold path
Explain the story of Kisa Gotami and the mustard seed.
> Her son died
She could not accept this
She was in sorrow and asked the Buddha what to do for her son to wake up
Buddha said she would need to obtain a mustard seed from asking people
They could only give one if no one in their family had ever died
She could not obtain one
What are the 3 poisons and the animals representing them? (6)
> Greed: Cockerel
Hatred: Snake
Ignorance: Pig
Who is the Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism? (1)
Amitabha Buddha
What is the Pure Lands name and what is it? (4)
> Sukhavati
A place with no suffering/barrier to enlightenment
A place where Amitabha will personally teach Buddhists
The perfect paradise
