BUDDHISM- THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Flashcards
(28 cards)
The Four Noble Truths:
The Buddha’s most basic teachings, which set out the causes of suffering and the route to overcoming it.
*Dukkha:
Sanskrit word meaning “suffering” or “unsatisfactoriness.”
Tanha?
Sanskrit word meaning “craving” or “thirsting”
What are the four Noble Truths?
- Suffering (dukkha): All life involves suffering
- The Origin of Suffering (samudaya): Suffering is caused by craving
- The Cessation of Suffering (nirodha): If craving is eliminated, we will no longer suffer.
- The Path to the Cessation of Suffering (magga): To end suffering and attain nirvana, follow the Eightfold Path.
What are the three types of suffering?
Ordinary suffering (dukkha dukkha): psychical and mental pain, e.g. breaking a leg.
The suffering of change (viparinama dukkha): Caused by attachment to impermanent things, e.g. a favourite band breaking up.
The suffering of existence (sankhara dukkha): general background anxieties we all have.
Why are the Four Noble Truths important?
- First thing the Buddha taught, so the start of Buddhism as a religion.
- Could be described as the essence of the Buddhist religion: The Buddha said “I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering”.
- 4th Noble Truth sets out the path Nirvana.
- 4th Noble Truth guides Buddhists on how to live.
The Three Poisons?
Ignorance, greed, and hatred. The negative characteristics possessed by all humans.
Arhat?
A “perfected person” who has eliminated the three poisons and attained nirvana.
Klesha?
A negative mental state, such as ignorance or attachment. Believed to be the cause of suffering.
What are Buddhist teachings on the Three Poisons?
T: Tanha – The three poisons of ignorance, creed, and hatred are believed to be the cause of tanha (craving).
H: Human Beings – Buddhists believe that all human beings are born with these negative qualities.
R: Roots – The three poisons are also called the three unwholesome roots, because they are believe to be the root cause of wrongful actions, and suffering.
E: Eliminate – Buddhists practice meditation to eliminate the three poisons and replace them with the positive qualities of generosity, compassion, and wisdom (the three wholesome roots).
Escaped Samsara - In Theravada Buddhism, Someone who eliminates the three poisons is believed to have escaped samsara. They are called an arhat - a “perfected person”.
Nirvana:
The goal of Buddhism. A state of “liberation” from suffering and samsara.
Bodhisattva:
A being who is on the path to enlightenment, but delays nirvana to help other beings.
Parinirvana:
“Final Nirvana”. Freedom from samsara only attained after death, when a person has attained nirvana in life.
What is nirvana?
B: Buddha - The Buddha reached nirvana under the Bodhi tree, and his experiences shape Buddhist beliefs about nirvana.
L: Liberation – Nirvana can be translated as “liberation”, from the three poisons, suffering, and samsara.
O: Other perspectives – Some Mahayana Buddhists believe that we already live in nirvana and can experience it in moments of insight.
W: Work – Theravada Buddhists believe that attaining nirvana takes many lifetimes of hard work and spiritual progress.
I: In this life – Buddhists believe that first stage of nirvana is a psychological transformation, but the enlightened person is still bound to their body and can experience physical pain.
N: Next life? - The second stage is parinirvana, where a person is not reborn. Some Buddhists believe that the enlightened person continues to exist in a “next life” of permanent bliss.
G: Goal – Attaining Nirvana could be said to be the ultimate goal of the Buddhist religion.
The Eightfold Path:
The Buddha taught his disciples these practices to reach Nirvana. Also called “The Middle Way”.
Magga:
Sanskrit word meaning “path” or “way”.
Threefold Way?
The three branches of The Eightfold Path: the ways of Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation
What are the parts of the Eightfold Path?
The Way of Wisdom (prajna):
Right View: Seeing the world correctly.
Right Intention: Making a sincere commitment to follow the Eightfold Path.
The Way of Morality (sila)
Right Speech: Speaking carefully, avoiding lies and harmful comments.
Right Action: Living an ethical life by practising the Five Moral Precepts
Right Livelihood: Earning money in ways that do not harm other beings.
The Way of Meditation (samadhi)
Right Effort: Working hard to become a better person.
Right Mindfulness: This is being aware, of oneself and the world around us.
Right Concentration: Training the mind to be calm and to develop compassion and wisdom.
the way of wisdom (eight fold path)
The Way of Wisdom (prajna):
Right View: Seeing the world correctly.
Right Intention: Making a sincere commitment to follow the Eightfold Path.
the way of morality (eightfold path)?
The Way of Morality (sila)
Right Speech: Speaking carefully, avoiding lies and harmful comments.
Right Action: Living an ethical life by practising the Five Moral Precepts
Right Livelihood: Earning money in ways that do not harm other beings.
the way of meditation (eightfold path)
The Way of Meditation (samadhi)
Right Effort: Working hard to become a better person.
Right Mindfulness: This is being aware, of oneself and the world around us.
Right Concentration: Training the mind to be calm and to develop compassion and wisdom.
Why is the Eightfold Path important?
- How Buddhists reach nirvana.
- The Way of Wisdom helps Buddhists to see the world the right way.
- The Way of Ethics influences Buddhist attitudes to moral issues.
- The Way of Ethics helps in earning good karma.
- The Way of Meditation helps Buddhists train their mind to avoid negative thoughts.
Pancha Sila:
Sanskrit term for the Five Precepts.
Chanting
Repeating words or phrases rhythmically. Done to prepare for, or as a form of, meditation.
