Buddhist practices Flashcards

1
Q

Whats in a temple

A

Main hall/building
Meditation hall/building
Study hall/building
Shrine or number of shrines
Stupa

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2
Q

Whats a stupa

A

A small building in a monastery that often contains holy relics

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3
Q

What type of offerings are given at a shrine

A

Offering of light (such as candle) symbolises widom cos light drives away darkness

Offering of flowers reminds Buddhists that all things are impermanent

Offering of incense symbolises purity

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4
Q

What is puja

A

Worship

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5
Q

What does puja allow Buddhists to do(3 things)

A

Express their gratitude and respect for the Buddha and his teachings
Gives them opportunity to acknowledge how important Buddha is in their lives
Allows them to focus on their faith and deepen their understanding of Buddhas teachings

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6
Q

How do Buddhists worship (7 things)

A

Meditate, give offerings, chant, recite mantras, and bow, rituals and ceremonies carried out in groups, private worship in the home

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7
Q

What do buddhists chant

A

3 refuges and 5 moral precepts or bodhisattva vow

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8
Q

What is samatha meditation

A

Meditation that focuses on calming the mind and focuses on your breath

Paying attention to sensation of your breathing and all the tiny movements it brings about in your body. e.g feeling chest expand

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9
Q

What is vipassana meditation

A

Meditation to try and gain insight into the true nature of reality and see things as they are

Helps buddhists understand all things are characterised by 3 marks of existence

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10
Q

What do Tibetan Buddhists visualise

A

Often visualise a deity (a being who has become fully enlightened such ad a Buddha or Bodhisattva)

Concentrate not only on what the deity looks like but also on the qualities in order to gain those qualities and attributes

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11
Q

What can a Buddhist use to visualise a deity

A

Thangka (detailed painting of Buddha ot Bodhisattva)

Mandala(intricate, circle shaped pattern used for meditation)

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12
Q

What happens at a funeral

A

People will make donations

Shrine may be set up to display the deceased’s portrait along with an image of the Buddha next to the shrine

Monks may give a sermon and perform Buddhist rites

Deceased usually cremated but can be buried

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13
Q

What can the family of the deceased do

A

They can create good karmic energy on behalf of the deceased to give them a better chance at the best rebirth

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14
Q

What do Buddhist festivals give Buddhists time to do?

A

Gives them opportunity to remember and celebrate the Buddha’s life and his teaching and to meet with family and practice together

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15
Q

What is a retreat

A

a period of time away from everyday life to focus on meditation

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16
Q

What is Wesak

A

a Therevadan festival that celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away

All 3 events happened on a full moon

To honour and remember the Buddha and his teachings

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17
Q

How is Wesak celebrated

A

Houses lit up with candles, lamps and put up decorations

Make offerings to the Buddha and give gifts such as food, candles and flowers to the monks

Monks may lead meditation or chant from the Buddhist scriptures

Focus mainly on Buddhas enlightenment

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18
Q

What is Paranirvana Day

A

Mahayana festival that is celebrated to remember Buddha’s passing to paranirvana.

Gives Buddhists chance to reflect on the fact of their own future death and remember friends and relatives who died

Idea of impermanence is a big focus on this day

Some may go on retreats and traditional day for pilgrimage

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19
Q

6 realms are:

A

Realm of the gods
Realm of the angry gods
Realm of the animals
Realm of the tormented beings
Realm of the hungry ghosts
Realm of the humans

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20
Q

4 sublime states meaning

A

4 qualities of love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity which the Buddha taught that Buddhists should develop

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21
Q

Equanimity meaning

A

Maintaining stability and calm in the face of both happiness and suffering

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22
Q

What does chanting increase?

A

A buddhist’s receptivity to the Buddha and his teachings. Also concentrates and calms the mind

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23
Q

What type of practice is chanting

A

Devotional practice

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24
Q

What is a mantra

A

A sequence of sacred syllables that is usually chanted over and over or silently said in the mind

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25
Q

Why are mantras important

A

They can focus the mind in meditation
Some believe they have transformative powers

26
Q

Why are mantras important for tibetan buddhists

A

Mantra helps them to become more receptive to compassion therefore helping them to better express this quality in their lives

27
Q

What is a mala

A

String of 108 beads that helps Buddhists count the number of recitations they have done

28
Q

How do Buddhists bow

A

They bow 3 times in front of a shrine to recall the 3 refuges

29
Q

meditation definition

A

A spiritual exercise that calms the mind and body, and leads to the development of insight into the nature of reality

30
Q

what do buddhists do before meditating

A

recite verses praising 3 refuges and (therevada buddhists) 5 moral precepts

31
Q

Why is loving-kindness meditation done?

A

To develop a sense of compassion for oneself and others and to let go of ill will and resentment. Helps to create a sense of calmness and positivity

32
Q

What can Buddhists use as a focus for meditation (6 things)

A

certain character traits, emotions, breathing process, an image, candle flame, buddha

33
Q

what does mindfulness of breathing do

A

makes buddhists more aware and present

34
Q

What is a kasina

A

A kasina is an object used as a focus of attention in samatha meditation. 10 kasinas including elements -earth water fire air- and colours -red yellow blue.

35
Q

Purpose of samatha meditation

A

Helps to develop concentration/ focus

Preparation for vipassana meditation

Focus on single object helps create calm and tranquil mind

Helps buddhists feel more alive and happy

36
Q

3 main aims of vipassana meditation

A

Understand how all things are characterized by 3 marks of existence

Develop greater wisdom and awareness about the world

Ultimately achieve enlightenment

37
Q

what is zazen meditation

A

Literally meaning “seated meditation” Practised in Zen Buddhism

38
Q

What is zazen intended to lead to

A

Deeper understanding into the nature of existence.

39
Q

How to do zazen meditation

A

Start sitting, relaxing and a period of mindfulness of breathing. Meditator then simply sits with awareness of the present moment. Thoughts and experiences may come and go and meditator returns again and again to present moment

40
Q

Why do mahayana buddhists use visualization?

A

They believe visualising themselves as the Buddha helps them to stimulate and awaken their Buddha-nature

41
Q

Examples of visualisations

A

Medicine Buddha- Visualising this Buddha may reduce suffering and promote healing powers

Avalokiteshvara- Visualising this Bodhisattva helps buddhists to develop a sense of compassion

Buddha Amitabha- Pure land Buddhists may visualise Buddha Amitabha in hopes of being rebirthed into Pure Land

42
Q

Theravada funerals

A

Very little money spent

Family/ friend donate to worthy cause

Rituals transferring merit to deceased
e.g offer cloth to make new robes to nearby monastery

43
Q

Funerals in Tibet

A

Sky burial- body left in high place as a gift for the vultures, started because lack of wood for cremation

More common now to cremate

Revered teachers remains placed in a stupa

Ceremonies involving prayers and offerings of yak-butter lamps may be made every 7 days for 49 days

44
Q

Funerals in Japan

A

Coffin placed with head facing west towards direction of Sukhavati

Those assembled chant Amitabha Buddha around the coffin

Relatives after cremation come together and pick the bones out using chopsticks

Remains can be kept for 49 days and offerings made every 7

45
Q

Wesak significance

A

Commemorates 3 major events in Buddhas life-birth enlightenment death

Opportunity to honor and remember buddhas teachings

Light used to symbolise hope, enlightenment and overcoming ignorance

46
Q

Celebrating wesak

A

Caged animals released
Go to monastery to listen to sermons on buddhas life or practice meditation
Make offerings to Buddha/ gifts to monasteries
Light up homes with candles and lanterns

47
Q

Paranirvana Day significance

A

Celebrated during Feb to remember Buddha’s passing to paranirvana

Solemn occasion where buddhists reflect on their own future death and remember friends or relatives who have passed away

Teaching of impermanence is important on this day

48
Q

Celebrating Paranirvana Day

A

read and study the Mahaparinivarna Sutra (buddhist scripture that describes buddhas last days)

meditate and worship at home or in temple

go on retreat to reflect and meditate or go on pilgrimage to Kushinagar (where Buddha died)

49
Q

Buddhist retreats

A

May involve meditation, talks, study groups, workshops and rituals

aim to help them deepen their understanding of buddhist practices

held in monasteries or buddhist centers

50
Q

Example of buddhist retreat

A

Vassa- annual retreat in theravada when monks dedicate more time to meditate and study

51
Q

What are skilful actions motivated by and what is the result of it

A

Motivated by generosity, compassion and understanding

Results in happiness

52
Q

What are unskilful actions motivated by and what is the result of it

A

Motivated by craving, ignoring, hatred

Results in suffering

53
Q

what is karuna (4)

A

recognizing a person cannot be happy while others suffer

feeling concern for the suffering of others, almost as if it were your own

wanting others to be free from suffering and trying to relieve it

recognizing when you are suffering and showing compassion towards yourself

54
Q

Charity motivated by compassion

A

ROKPA
Tibetan word for “help” or “friend”
Involved in projects in Zimbabwe, Nepal and Tibet
Helps run schools and provide education to thousands of children each year

55
Q

Aim of ROKPA

A

To help families out of poverty and teach children about the value of compassion

56
Q

Why is metta an important quality to develop

A

Reduces tendency to act out of negative emotions such as greed and hatred(2/3 poisons showing reducing these negative emotions will reduce suffering and eventually lead to enlightenment)

57
Q

what is metta

A

A desire for others to be happy

58
Q

3 facts about metta

A

one of 4 sublime states

should be cultivated even to those who act unskillfully

should not expect anything in return

59
Q

What are the 5 moral precepts

A

1) Abstain from taking life
2) Abstain from taking what is not freely given
3) Abstain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct
4) Abstain from wrong speech
5) Abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

60
Q

Following 5 moral precepts

A

Need to be applied sensitively and need balance from one precept against the next

First precept is a root for all the others

Purifies mind of greed, hatred and ignorance