Buddhism Key Concepts

Question 1

Buddha

Answer 1

One who is fully enlightened- Siddhartha Gautama

Question 2

Dhamma (Dharma)

Answer 2

Teaching of the Buddha

Question 3

Dukkha

Answer 3

Suffering/ unsatisfactoriness

Question 4

Four noble truths

Answer 4

The Buddhas first teaching
Suffering
Cause of suffering
The end of suffering
The means by which to end suffering

Question 5

Metta bhavana

Answer 5

The development of the four types of loving kindness
Usually through meditation

Question 6

Noble Eightfold Path

Answer 6

The ‘medicine’ of the four noble truths
Eight steps towards overcoming suffering and desires, and achieving Nirvana, commonly divided into three sections, wisdom, Morality and meditation

Question 7

Parinirvana

Answer 7

One complete final Nirvana after death, the Buddha, after achieving Nirvana in this life, decided to remain in the world to share his teachings.Upon his bodily death he would be in the state parinirvana.

Mahayana Buddhist festival, commemorating the death of the Buddha, sometimes called Nirvana day.

Question 8

Samatha

Answer 8

Calm or breathing meditation

Question 9

Tanha

Answer 9

Desire, wanting craving of possessions, people, permanence

Question 10

Vipassana

Answer 10

Insight, meditation, enabling the individual to see the true nature of things

Question 11

Wesak

Answer 11

A festival to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha

Question 12

Sangha

Answer 12

Community of Buddhists
This can be lay or monastic