buddhist practices Flashcards
(42 cards)
Q: What is puja in Buddhism?
A: A devotional ritual or prayer performed to show respect and honour to the Buddha.
Q: What are the types of puja?
A: Chanting, meditation, making offerings, and devotional rituals.
Q: What is samatha meditation?
A: Calming meditation that helps develop concentration and mindfulness.
Q: What is vipassana meditation?
A: Insight meditation that leads to wisdom and understanding of the nature of reality.
Q: What is zazen?
A: Seated meditation practiced in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing mindfulness and presence.
Q: What are mantras in Buddhism?
A: Sacred sounds or phrases chanted to aid concentration and spiritual development.
Q: What is the significance of visualisation of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Buddhism?
A: Practitioners visualize enlightened beings to help develop their own qualities and focus in meditation.
Q: What are the key features of a Buddhist temple?
A: Main hall (gompa), meditation hall, and a shrine containing a Buddha rupa.
Q: What is a stupa?
A: A dome-shaped structure representing the Buddha’s mind, often used for meditation and pilgrimage
Q: What is Wesak?
A: A festival celebrating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
Q: What is Parinirvana Day?
A: A Mahayana festival marking the Buddha’s death and his attainment of final nirvana.
Q: What are offerings in Buddhist worship and what do they represent?
A: Light (wisdom), flowers (impermanence), incense (purity), etc.
Q: What is the purpose of chanting in Buddhism?
A: To aid concentration and internalize teachings
Q: Why do Buddhists engage in meditation?
A: To develop concentration, mindfulness, insight, and reduce suffering.
Q: What is Buddhist funerary practice for Theravada Buddhists?
A: Transfer of merit to the deceased, rituals like cremation, and offering to monks
Q: What is the Buddhist attitude toward death?
A: It’s a natural part of life and a step in the cycle of samsara.
Q: What are some common practices in Buddhist funerals in Japan and Tibet?
A: In Tibet: Sky burial; in Japan: cremation, chanting, and family rituals.
Q: What is the role of engaged Buddhism?
A: Applying Buddhist teachings to social, political, and environmental issues.
Q: What is Dhamma (Dharma) in Buddhism?
A: The teachings and universal truths taught by the Buddha.
Q: What are the Three Jewels (Refuges) in Buddhism?
A: 1. The Buddha, 2. The Dhamma, 3. The Sangha.
Q: Why are the Three Jewels important?
A: They are the foundation of the Buddhist path and help guide practitioners toward enlightenment.
Q: What are the Three Marks of Existence?
A: 1. Anicca (impermanence), 2. Dukkha (suffering), 3. Anatta (no fixed self).
Q: What is Anicca?
A: The idea that all things are impermanent and constantly changing.
Q: What is Dukkha?
A: Suffering is a part of life; it has causes and can be overcome.
