Buddhist keywords

Question 1

Amitabha Buddha

Answer 1

Buddha worshipped by pure land Buddhists

Question 2

Anatta

Answer 2

No fixed self or soul

Question 3

Anicca

Answer 3

Impermanence

Question 4

Arhat

Answer 4

Enlightened person in Theravada Buddhism

Question 5

Ascetic

Answer 5

Living a simple strict lifestyle with no luxuries

Question 6

Buddha-nature

Answer 6

Idea that everyone has the essence of the Buddha inside of them

Question 7

Dependant arising

Answer 7

The idea that all things exist in dependence on other things

Question 8

Dharma/dhamma

Answer 8

Buddhas teaching

Question 9

Dukkha

Answer 9

First noble truth: there is suffering

Question 10

Enlightenment

Answer 10

Gaining true knowledge about God, self and nature of reality through meditation and self discipline

Question 11

Ethics (sila)

Answer 11

Section of the eightfold path that emphasises the importance of skilful action

Question 12

Gompa

Answer 12

Hall or building when Tibetan Buddhists meditate

Question 13

Jataka

Answer 13

The Jatakas tales are stories about the Buddhas lives

Question 14

Kamma/karma

Answer 14

The idea that skillfulll actions result in happiness and unskilfull action result in suffering

Question 15

Karuna

Answer 15

Compassion

Question 16

Magga

Answer 16

The fourth noble truth:the way to stop suffering; eightfold path

Question 17

Mala

Answer 17

Prayer beads used to count the number of recitations in a mantra

Question 18

Mandala

Answer 18

Intricate circle shaped pattern used in meditation which is later discarded to show no attachment

Question 19

Mantra

Answer 19

Short sequence of sacred syllables

Question 20

Mara

Answer 20

Demon that represents spiritual obstacles

Question 21

Meditation (samadhi)

Answer 21

Section of the eightfold path that emphasised the role of meditation in the process of spiritual development

Question 22

Metta

Answer 22

Loving kindness

Question 23

Monastery/vihara

Answer 23

Place where Buddhist monks and nuns live

Question 24

Nibbana/nirvana

Answer 24

State of complete enlightenment, happiness and peace

Question 25

Nirodha

Answer 25

Third noble truth: suffering can be stopped

Question 26

Parinirvana day

Answer 26

Mahayanan festival that commemorates the Buddhas passing away

Question 27

Puja

Answer 27

Act of worship

Question 28

Pure land Buddhism

Answer 28

Mahayanan form of Buddhism based in belief in Amitabha Buddha

Question 29

Retreat

Answer 29

A period of time spent away from everyday life to focus on meditation

Question 30

Samatha meditation

Answer 30

Type of meditation that involves calming the mind and developing deeper concentration

Question 31

Samsara

Answer 31

Repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth

Question 32

Samudaya

Answer 32

Second noble truth: there are causes of suffering

Question 33

Shrine

Answer 33

Area with a statue of a Buddha or bodhisattvah which provides a focal point for meditation

Question 34

Stupa

Answer 34

Small building in monasteries that hold the holy relics

Question 35

Sukhavati

Answer 35

The paradise where amitabha Buddha lives and the pure land Buddhists aim to be reborn

Question 36

Sunyata

Answer 36

Emptiness

Question 37

Tanha

Answer 37

Craving

Question 38

Thangka

Answer 38

Detailed painting of the Buddha or a bodhitattva

Question 39

The Eightfold path

Answer 39

Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration

Question 40

The five aggregates

Answer 40

feelings and sensations, perception, mental formations, and consciousness

Question 41

The five moral precepts

Answer 41

abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication

Question 42

The four sights

Answer 42

Old man, sick man, dead man and holy man

Question 43

The four sublime states

Answer 43

Love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity

Question 44

6 perfections

Answer 44

Generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, wisdom

Question 45

The three poisons

Answer 45

Greed, hatred, delusion

Question 46

Theravada Buddhism

Answer 46

‘School of the elders’ an ancient Buddhist tradition found in Southern Asia

Question 47

Vippisana meditation

Answer 47

‘Insight meditation’ a type of meditation that involves developing understanding of the nature of reality

Question 48

Visualisation

Answer 48

Imagining or ‘seeing’an object in one’s mind

Question 49

Wesak

Answer 49

A Theravada festival that celebrates the Buddhas birth, enlightenment and passing await

Question 50

Wisdom (panna)

Answer 50

Section of the eightfold path that deals with Buddhist approaches to understanding the nature of reality