Buddhism Beliefs Year 10 Mock

Question 1

Why did the Buddha give up his life of luxury?

Answer 1

Because he saw the Four Sights

Question 2

What are the Four Sights?

Answer 2

• An old man
• A sick man
• A dead man
• A holy man

Question 3

Name another reason Siddhartha gave up his life of luxury?

Answer 3

• He realised he wouldn’t find the answer to the problem of suffering
• He was being prepared to be a king - he wanted to seek religious life
• He fulfilled the prophecy of Asita
• He would not have been able to show his compassion for humankind by staying in the palace
• He was discontented

Question 4

In what type of Buddhism is it the spiritual goal to become a Bodhisattva?

Answer 4

Mahayana Buddhism

Question 5

How do Bodhisattva’s influence Buddhists?

Answer 5

• Buddhists will want to be compassionate in order to help other beings with their problems.
• Bodhisattva’s combine being compassionate with wisdom so Buddhists want to do this too

Question 6

Give some other examples of how Bodhisattvas influence Buddhists?

Answer 6

• Buddhists want to follow the six paramitas

Question 7

What are the six paramitas?

Answer 7

1. Generosity
2. Morality
3. Tolerance / Patience
4. Energy
5. Meditation / Wisdom

Question 8

What is the Bodhisattva vow?

Answer 8

‘However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them’

Question 9

Buddhists will also want to (…)?

Answer 9

‘Go forth for the welfare of the many’

Question 10

What do Buddhists use to help them visualise Buddha / Bodhisattva?

Answer 10

Patterns or paintings

Question 11

What do images of Bodhisattvas function as?

Answer 11

Reminders of their spiritual qualities BUT some Buddhists see the images as actually possessing the spirit

Question 12

Bodhisattvas can be male or female what does this encourage?

Answer 12

The Buddhists belief in the equality of all

Question 13

What type of Buddha do Pure Land Buddhists believe in?

Answer 13

Amitabha Buddha

Question 14

Where do Pure Land Buddhists hope to be reborn?

Answer 14

The paradise where Amitabha lives

Question 15

What is the name of the Pure Land Buddhist heaven?

Answer 15

Sukhavati

Question 16

What do Pure Land Buddhists have to do to be reborn into Sukhavati?

Answer 16

Simply call on the name of Amitabha

Question 17

Why did Amitabha create this paradise?

Answer 17

Out of compassion and love for all beings

Question 18

Who do Pure Land Buddhists believe they will be taught by is they are born into Sukhavati?

Answer 18

They will be taught by Amitabha himself

Question 19

Being taught by Amitabha means they have a higher chance of?

Answer 19

Attaining Buddhahood (being a Buddha)

Question 20

Chanting Amitabha’s name…
(Leila’s saying)

Answer 20

‘Namo Amida Butso’

Question 21

What is there none of in Pure Land?

Answer 21

Suffering / problems to stop people achieving enlightenment

Question 22

What did the Buddha Amitabha say to Bodhisattvas from the Pure Land Sutras?

Answer 22

‘you must always call me to mind again and again’

Question 23

In Theravada Buddhism what are the difficulties of attaining enlightenment?

Answer 23

• You have to be a monk
• monastic communities are expected to lead a life studying Buddhist doctrine
• discipline is difficult
• Some traditions only males can gain enlightenment

Question 24

Why might attaining enlightenment be difficult?

Answer 24

It is a real experience that takes time, dedication and effort to experience it

Question 25

Discussing the difficulties of attaining enlightenment. What can no one fully overcome?

Answer 25

Suffering - cannot extinguish greed, hatred and delusion which is what enlightenment is about.

Question 26

Arguing that enlightenment is difficult to attain. What are some arguments in support?

Answer 26

- too abstract to understand - unrealistic to think the goal of a religion can be achieved in thus present life - suffering is a fact of life - people will always experience hurt and pain

Question 27

What does the Tibetan Wheel teach?

Answer 27

That suffering is constant so how can enlightenment be the goal?

Question 28

What is a major problem in the western world?

Answer 28

Temptation is apart of human nature

Question 29

Arguments against that ‘Enlightenment is difficult to attain’?

Answer 29

- The Buddha did it so others can too - The Buddha would not have identified a path to enlightenment if he didn’t think people could reach it

Question 30

What is believed in Zen Buddhism?

Answer 30

All can achieve enlightenment as they already have Buddha nature in them

Question 31

What is taught in Pure Land Buddhism regarding chanting?

Answer 31

Chanting might suggest that enlightenment is easy to attain

Question 32

What does a Bodhisattva help?

Answer 32

People achieve enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism

Question 33

What sets up the Four Noble Truths as a profound teaching?

Answer 33

It establishes the Buddha as a physician for all the ills of the world as he identifies the problem and gives a diagnosis in the first two Noble Truths

Question 34

How can anyone experience selflessness?

Answer 34

By a certain change in outlook. The experience involves intensive meditation. It follows the study of the Four Basic Truths of Buddhism so enlightenment is possible for all it is up to their commitment to the goal of Buddha