BUDDHISM- HUMAN DESTINY AND ETHICAL TEACHINGS Flashcards
(18 cards)
Arhat?
A “perfected person” who has eliminated the three poisons and attained nirvana.
Dharma?
The spiritual laws of the universe; The Buddha’s teachings.
Theravada?
A school of Buddhism. The word means “The Way of the Elders.”
What is an arhat?
A: Aim – becoming an arhat is the ultimate goal for Theravada Buddhists.
R: Reached enlightenment – an arhat is a person who has achieved enlightenment and achieved a perfect insight into the dharma.
H: Helped along the way – Arhats reach nirvana through following instruction, whereas a “Buddha” discovers the Dharma for themselves
A: Achieved by following the eightfold path – For Buddhists, the way to become an arhat is to follow the eightfold path laid out by the Buddha
T: Three poisons – an arhat has overcome the three poisons (ignorance, greed, hatred) and become a “perfected person.”
S: Samsara – an arhat has broken free of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Once they die, they are no longer reborn.
Bodhisattva?
A being who is on the path to enlightenment, but delays nirvana to help other beings.
Mahayana?
A school of Buddhism. The word means “The Great Vehicle.”
Bodhisattva Vow?
Promise made by Mahayana Buddhists to free all other beings from Samsara.
What is a Bodhisattva?
B: “Buddha in training” – a bodhisattva could be described as a Buddha in training, a being who is on the path to enlightenment and Buddhahood.
O: Objective – Becoming a bodhisattva is the objective of Mahayana Buddhism.
D: Dalai Lama – Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is the incarnation of a bodhisattva.
H: Help other beings – Out of compassion, boddhisattvas delay their own enlightenment until all they have helped all other beings reach enlightenment.
I: Inspiration – Bodhisattvas inspire other Buddhists, and often act as a focus for worship.
S: Six Paramitas – Bodhisattvas are believed to have perfected the six paramitas (remembered with the mnemonic (Generous Moral Patients Energise Meditating Wizards)
Paramita?
A “Perfection”. A perfect virtue that must be developed by those on the Bodhisattva path
What are the six paramitas?
Generosity (dana): A bodhisattva is selfless in giving up their own interests, even their own life, for the sake of other beings.
Morality (sila): Thinking and acting in ways that show respect for all forms of life.
Patience (kshanti): Understanding your own limitations and the limitations of others. Persevering through the many lives it may take to become a Buddha.
Energy (virya): Channelling your energy towards doing good actions, rather than just thinking good thoughts.
Meditation (samadhi): Developing a clear mind to be able to see life calmly and perceive reality correctly.
Wisdom (prajna): Understanding of and insight into the Buddha’s teachings.
Pure Land Buddhism?
The most popular form of Buddhism in Japan. It offers a simple, practical path to nirvana.
Nembutsu?
An important Pure Land practice. It involves chanting “I dedicate my life to the Buddha of infinite light.”
Amitabha Buddha?
The “Buddha of Infinite Light.” The being worshipped by Pure Land Buddhists.
What is Pure Land Buddhism?
R: Reach the Pure Land - The goal of this form of Buddhism is to reach the Pure Land in their next rebirth.
E: Enlightenment will follow – this is because the Pure land is a realm where there are no distractions or obstacles to reaching nirvana.
A: Amitabha – this Buddha created the Pure Land. Reciting his name is a key practice of Pure Land Buddhism.
L: Less Emphasis – There is less emphasis on Gautama Buddha, meditation and intellectual understanding of the Buddha’s teachings than in other forms of Buddhism. The focus is on devotion to Amitabha.
M: More Practical – Because Pure Land practices are relatively simple, its followers see it as a more practical form of Buddhism for people who live busy lives but who still want to work towards enlightenment
Karma?
Sanskrit word meaning “action”, or “actions and their consequences”.
Metta?
Loving kindness.
Karuna?
Compassion, for other beings and also for yourself.
What are the key concept of Buddhist ethics?
- Our life now is shaped by the karma we have accumulated in this and previous lives. The karma we create now will affect us later in this and future lives.
- Creating “merit” (good karma) can lead to a favourable rebirth. However Buddhists ultimately seek an end to karma and rebirth.
- The Buddha taught that reaching enlightenment required the development of two qualities wisdom (prajna) and compassion (karuna).
- Compassion is at the heart of Buddhist ethics – the Five Moral Precepts and the Bodhisattva vow reflect this attitude of compassion.
- Metta is linked to the Five Precepts, which are seen as behaviours that promote metta and create well-being for ourselves and others.
- Metta bhavana, or “loving kindness meditation” is a Buddhist practice that aims to cultivate an attitude of metta.
