Buddhist Beliefs Flashcards
(40 cards)
What does ‘ Buddha’ mean?
- The enlightened one
What is the dhamma?
the truth about the nature of existence/ teachings of the buddha
Define Paticca-Samuppada
Dependent Origination
What is the belief of Paticca-Samuppada?
The belief that everything is interconnected. All things are caused to exist by other things and are dependent on them.
Name the Three Marks of Existence in Pali and English?
1) Dukkha- suffering
2) Anicca- impermanence
3) Anatta- no self or no soul
Name the three types of dukkha in Pali and in English
dukkha-dukkha - ordinary suffering
viparinama-dukkha- suffering caused by change
Sankhara-dukkha- suffering as a result of being human and dissatisfied with life
Name the Five Aggregates/khandas?
1) Form
2) Sensation
3) Perception
4) Mental Formations
5) Consciousness
Name the Four Noble Terms in Pali and English.
1) dukkha- suffering exists
2) Samudaya- there is a cause of suffering
3) Nirodha- there is a cure to suffering
4) Magga- the path away from suffering
Give the Second Noble Truth and two reasons why its important to Buddhist’s today - include SOA
- Samudaya allows us to understand the nature of suffering. This is the Three Poisons of desire, craving and ignorance. ( THE FIRE SERMON ) Buddhist believe that this is what leads us to being reborn into the cycle of samsara.
- Samudaya allows us to understand the nature of samsara. This is because the Wheel of life shows that the three poisons and actions are connected as the wheel of life is kept into force by bad kamma. This means that Buddhists today should aim to do good acts and eliminate the Three Poisons as this will lead to nibbana
Name the Three Poisons, its animal form , where it is found
1) Greed and Desire ( rooster)
2) Ignorance or delusion ( Pig)
3) Hatred ( snake)
They are found at the centre of the Wheel of life and cause craving and suffering which keeps the wheel turning
What is the cycle of samsara?
the cycle of birth, death and rebirth that Buddhists want to escape
Name the 6 realms
- god realm
- demi-gods realm
- human realm
- animals realm
- hungry ghosts realm
- hell realm
Name the best realm to be born into.
- the human realm
Give the 2 ways the realms are to be understood
- different places
- states of mind, psychological worlds
What are Mahayana Buddhists view on the cycle of samsara and how does this differ from Theravada Buddhists?
Mahayana: The Buddha drew the Wheel of Life as a way to explain the ideas to people.
Theravada tradition shows no origin source of this image.
Give 3 beliefs about the Third Noble Truth
- It teaches that suffering can be ceased by extinguishing the Three Poisons and tanha.
- to overcome suffering we need to detach from the physical world so that we do not desire things
- it teaches that although suffering is inevitable it is possible to overcome it through our actions
What is the direct translation of ‘nibbana’ and the meaning behind it?
Translates to extinguish , which means one should extinguish the three fires (poisons) to cease suffering
What is the Fourth Noble Truth?
The Fourth Noble Truth is the method to stop suffering which is called the Eightfold Path
What mark of existence do the five khandas link to?
It links to anatta as they show we do not have a self or soul as all humans are a collection of these five khandas
What do Mahayana Buddhists aim to be?
- to become a bodhisattva
What is a Bodhisattva?
an enlightened being who chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others achieve enlightenment
- this is done through compassion.
How does someone become a Bodhisattva?
- through perfecting the six paramitas or perfections
What are the Six Perfections?
1- generosity 2- morality 3- patience 4- energy 5- meditation 6- wisdom
What is Buddha-Nature?
The idea that everyone has an essence of a Buddha within them.
