Buddhism Beliefs and Teachings Flashcards
(49 cards)
What is Buddhism?
- Old religion. 2,400 years old
- Siddhartha Guatama son of Queen Maya
*And they follow the teachings to stop suffering and reach enlightenment.
What are the sacred texts in Buddhism?
They called the Pali Canon also known as the Tipitaka because it is split into three main parts.
What are the different branches of Buddhism?
Theravada**, popular in Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Many Theravada buddhists live a monastic life and its a community of monks who spend alot of time meditating.
**Mahayana, Popular in Japan, Korea,Tibet and Taiwan and China. They believe anyone can overcome suffering.
Zen**, part of the Mahayana branch, they use meditation to find out the truth of ife.
**Pure Land, part of the Mahayana branch where they belive they will be reborn in a practice world.
What is the Dhamma?
The Buddha’s teachings he gave while he was alive. The most famous one is The Four Noble Truths.
Dhamma is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism.
What is The Three Jewels of Buddhism?
Dhamma: The Buddha’s teachings
The Buddha
Sangha: The Buddhist community
These are to guide Buddhists.
What is Dependent Arising?
The idea that everything is connected and all existence is caused by something else. For example, everything exists because something else exists e.g. a person exists because of their parents…
They believe things in our previous lives can affect our current life.
To understand the Dependent Arising helps us to break free from the causes and effects.
What are the Three Marks of Existence?
Dukkha, suffering
Anicca, Imperminence
Anatta, no fixed self.
Why do Humans suffer?
They suffer because of mental or physical pain (Dukkha-dukkha); impermanence (anicca) nothing lasts forever and this causes mental suffering or physical suffering lastly, general dissatisfaction with life - being attached to things you can’t keep.
Why should people learn about the Three Marks of Existance?
So then they can suffer less.
Buddhists think people constantly attach themselves to physical things (money), emotional things (people) and this leads to suffering because they are impermanent. Being aware and accepting of the Three Marks of Existence will lead to less suffering.
What are the Five aggregiates?
Form, mental formation, perception, sensation and consciousness.
What do Mahayana Buddhists believe?
They believe that there’s a potential Buddha inside us.
Buddha means enlightened one
Theravada Buddhists
Theravada Buddhists mainly from Sri Lanka, SE Asia. Many live a monastic life - in a community of monks and speak a lot of time mediating.
Pure Land Buddhists
A branch of the Mahayana Buddhists, mainly in Japan. They believe they will be reborn into paradise called the Pure Land. A large part of their practice involves chanting (repeating a phrase over and over again)
What is the Buddhists sacred texts called?
Pali Canon: used by Theravada Buddhists (aka Tipitaka meaning three baskets) Three parts:
Vinaya Pitaka, the rules for living as a monk,
Sutta Pitake, the teachings of the Buddha,
Abbidhamma Pitaka, philosophical writings.
Mahayana Buddhists
Popular in Korea, Japan, Tibet, Taiwan and China. They believe that anyone can overcome suffering and find peace by living a good and selfless life. Helping others is important.
What do Theravada Buddhists believe humans are made of?
The Five Aggregates
Form: physical things that can be touched;
Sensation: basic feelings toward something;
Perception: recognising something;
Mental formation: opinions about something;
Consciousness: awareness
But these things are constantly changing so it links with anatta (no fixed self)
Do the Mahayana Buddhists believe in the Five Aggregates?
Yes. They also believe in the teaching of sunyata (emptiness) People are empty because we have no fixed self and are made of the five aggregates which are constantly changing.
What is a sutra?
Sutras are teachings (Mahayana Buddhists)
Five Aggregates Memory story
Ethan picked up his phone (form), felt it buzz with a message (sensation), saw it was from his crush saying “Hey 😊” (perception), thought “Maybe they like me back!” (mental formations), and felt a warm rush of happiness (consciousness).
What is Buddha nature?
A Mahyana belief that everyone has the potential of enlightenment (to be a Buddha) and free of suffering. Most people don’t reach it because it is hard work and you have to master the Six Perfections.
What are the Six Perfections?
A monkey called Ethan shared bananas (generosity), played fair (morality), waited calmly for rain to stop (patience), swung through trees with energy** (energy)**, sat still at sunset (meditation), and understood the jungle’s ways (wisdom).
GeMoPaEnMeWi
Bodhisattva
Mahayana Buddhists
A person who has followed Buddha’s teachings and reached enlightenment by achieving the Six Perfections.
They STAY on earth to help others to reach the same destiny. This is the ideal goal.
Arhat
Theravada Buddhists
A person who has followed Buddha’s teachings and reached enlightenment. They no longer suffer because they understand the truth of life and have peace.
They are not reincarnated (reborn) because they have broken the cycle of rebirth. They can only become an Arhat by being a monk. This is the ideal goal.
Exam Question 5 marks
Explain two Buddhist beliefs about the Three Marks of Existence. Include at least one example from Buddhist teaching.
Anicca (impermanence) – Buddhists believe that everything changes, and nothing lasts forever. For example, in the story of Kisa Gotami, the Buddha teaches her that death is a natural part of life, helping her understand impermanence.
Dukkha (suffering) – Buddhists believe that suffering is a part of life and caused by craving and attachment. The Buddha explained this in the Four Noble Truths, which guide Buddhists toward ending suffering.
