buddhist key vocab 2

Question 1

Buddharupa

Answer 1

Buddharupa is a statue of the Buddha or a Bodhisattva found in the main hall of the temple

Question 2

Gompa

Answer 2

Gompa is the Tibetan word for the meditation room in a temple

Question 3

Stupa

Answer 3

contains holy relics, represents earth, water, fire, air and wisdom

Question 4

Vihara

Answer 4

monastery where nuns and monks live

Question 5

Puja

Answer 5

worship

Question 6

Mantra

Answer 6

A sequence of sacred syllables which represent a particular quality of the Buddha, or of a bodhisattva

Question 7

Om mani padme hum

Answer 7

The mantra of compassion.

Question 8

Retreat

Answer 8

retreat’ to a monastery, usually for a weekend or a few days, to live with other people who share the same faith, live a simple life, practise meditation and Buddhist rituals.

Question 9

Vassa

Answer 9

communities monks observe Vassa which is an annual retreat lasting for three months. It happens during the rainy season

Question 10

Wesak

Answer 10

Buddhists celebrate his life when the moon is full. It is a festival of light to remember his enlightenment and the way it gives Buddhists freedom from suffering.

Question 11

Parinirvana Day

Answer 11

This is a more solemn festival as it is a chance to reflect on their own future death, and to remember loved ones who have died. Anicca is the central focus of the festival.

Question 12

Mahaparinirvana Sutra

Answer 12

important scripture that describes Buddha’s last days read during Parinirvana

Question 13

Kushinagar

Answer 13

Pilgrimage during Parinirvana to Kushinagar in India,

Question 14

Kamma

Answer 14

we are not rewarded or punished for our actions, but rather that we bring the consequences upon ourselves.

Question 15

Skilful actions’

Answer 15

rooted in generosity, compassion and understanding, and these lead to happiness

Question 16

‘Unskilful actions’

Answer 16

rooted in the 3 poisons of ignorance, greed and hate and lead to suffering.

Question 17

Six Realms

Answer 17

Good or bad kamma will result in re-birth: animals, the realm of the tormented beings, and the human realm. The human realm is the best to reach enlightenment.

Question 18

Karuna

Answer 18

compassion

Question 19

Buddha’s example of karuna

Answer 19

Buddha’s decision to share what he learnt about suffering and how to overcome it;

Question 20

Four Sublime States

Answer 20

: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.

Question 21

ROKPA

Answer 21

a Buddhist charity that sets up schools in LEDCs - teach about karuna, best way to bring about change for society

Question 22

Metta

Answer 22

loving kindness to all people

Question 23

‘loving kindness meditation’

Answer 23

Metta can be practised through ‘loving kindness meditation’ where you visualise happiness first for yourself, then a friend, neutral person, then someone you don’t like

Question 24

The Five Moral Precepts

Answer 24

To abstain from taking life (of any living being)
To abstain from taking what is not freely given
To abstain from misuse of the senses
To abstain from wrong speech
To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

Question 25

The Six Perfections

Answer 25

required to be a Bodhisattva: | Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy Meditation Wisdom

Question 26

Kammic energy

Answer 26

when they die their Kammic energy leaves their body and it is reborn in a new one.

Question 27

Shrine

Answer 27

displaying a picture of the deceased alongside an image of the Buddha. Mourners will offer flowers, as these represent anicca.

Question 28

Transferring positive energy

Answer 28

mourners will give the money to charity, or make a donation to the temple. This will bring them good kamma which they believe they can transfer to the deceased

Question 29

Sky burial

Answer 29

Tibetan Buddhists favour ‘sky burials’ where the body is left in a high place as a gift for the vultures.

Question 30

Yak butter lamps

Answer 30

Ceremonies involving the lighting of yak butter lamps are made every seven days for forty nine days.

Question 31

Samatha meditation

Answer 31

Samatha meditation involves focusing on mindfulness of the body and breath.

Question 32

Kasinas

Answer 32

Kasinas are used for focus during meditation. There are ten Kasinas including earth, water and fire, and colours like blue or red.

Question 33

Vipassana meditation

Answer 33

Vipassana meditation occurs when the mind is calm, and one develops a sense of the true nature of reality. The mind is focused entirely on the present

Question 34

Walking meditation

Answer 34

Some people walk when they meditate, focusing entirely on the physical sensation of walking. The aim is to give your full attention to whatever is going on in your mind at the time

Question 35

Thanka

Answer 35

Paintings of the Buddha used as a visualisation during meditation

Question 36

Visualisation

Answer 36

In visualisation you are simply imagining a kasina. You begin by looking at a picture (for example) and then put the picture away. You then revisit it in your mind visualising all the intricate details

Question 37

Mandala

Answer 37

A circular pattern made of sand (to remind Buddhists of anicca). It can be used as a visaulisation meditation