Buddism Beliefs Terms

Question 1

Amitabha Buddha

Answer 1

The Buddha worshipped by pure land buddhists

Question 2

Anatta

Answer 2

The idea that people don’t have a permanent, fixed self or soul

Question 3

Anicca

Answer 3

Impermanence; the idea that everything changes

Question 4

Arhat

Answer 4

For Theravada Buddhists, someone who has become enlightened

Question 5

Ascetic

Answer 5

Living a simple and strict lifestyle with few pleasures or possessions; someone who follows ascetic practices

Question 6

Bodhisattva

Answer 6

For Mahayana Buddhists , someone who has become enlightened but chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others

Question 7

Buddha

Answer 7

A title given to someone who has achieved enlightenment

Question 8

Buddha rupa

Answer 8

A statue of the Buddha often sitting cross legged in a meditation pose

Question 9

Buddhahood

Answer 9

When someone achieves enlightenment and becomes a Buddha

Question 10

Buddha nature

Answer 10

The idea that everyone has the essence of a Buddha inside them

Question 11

Chanting

Answer 11

In Buddhism, reciting from Buddhist scriptures

Question 12

Dependent arising

Answer 12

The idea that all things arise in dependence upon conditions

Question 13

Dharma

Answer 13

The Buddha’s teachings

Question 14

Dukkha

Answer 14

The first noble truth; there is suffering

Question 15

Engaged Buddhism

Answer 15

A movement in Buddhism that is particularly concerned with applying the Buddha’s teachings to matters of social and environmental injustice

Question 16

Enlightenment

Answer 16

The gaining of knowledge about god self or the nature of reality usually through meditation and self discipline in Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist traditions gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth

Question 17

Ethics

Answer 17

A section of the freefold way that emphasises the importance of skilful action as the basis of spiritual progress

Question 18

Festival

Answer 18

A day or period of celebration for religious reasons

Question 19

Gompa

Answer 19

A hall or building where Tibetan Buddhists meditate

Question 20

Greed

Answer 20

Selfish desire for something

Question 21

Jataka

Answer 21

The jataka tales are popular stories of the lives of the Buddha

Question 22

Karma

Answer 22

A person’s actions; the idea that skilful actions result in happiness and unskilful ones in suffering

Question 23

Karuna

Answer 23

Compassion; feeling concerned for the suffering of others and wanting to relieve their suffering

Question 24

Magga

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 25

An umbrella term to describe some later Buddhist traditions including pure land , Tibetan and zen

Question 26

Mala

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Mandala

Answer 27

An intricate, circle shaped pattern that is used for meditation

Question 28

Mantra

Answer 28

A short sequence of sacred syllables

Question 29

Mara

Answer 29

A demon that represents spiritual obstacles especially temptation

Question 30

Meditation

Answer 30

A practice of calming and focusing the mind and reflecting deeply on specific teachings to penetrate their true meaning

Question 31

Samadhi meditation

Answer 31

A section of the freefold way that emphasises the role of meditation in the process of spiritual development

Question 32

Metta

Answer 32

Loving kindness; showing a benevolent , kind, friendly attitude towards others

Question 33

Mindfulness of breathing

Answer 33

A meditation practice focusing on the experience of breathing

Question 34

Vihara

Answer 34

A place where Buddhist monks and nuns live

Question 35

Nirvana

Answer 35

A state of complete enlightenment, happiness and peace

Question 36

Nidanas

Answer 36

12 factors that illustrate the process of birth, death and rebirth

Question 37

Nirodha

Answer 37

The third noble truth: suffering can be stopped

Question 38

Pali

Answer 38

The language of the earliest Buddhist scriptures

Question 39

Parinirvana day

Answer 39

A Mahayana festival that commemorates the Buddha’s passing away

Question 40

Puja

Answer 40

An act of worship

Question 41

Pure land Buddhism

Answer 41

A Mahayana form of Buddhism on the belief in amitabha buddha

Question 42

Retreat

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Samatha meditation

Answer 43

Calming meditation; a type of meditation that involves calming the mind

Question 44

Samsara

Answer 44

The repeating cycle of birth, life death and rebirth

Question 45

Samudaya

Answer 45

The second noble truth: there are causes of suffering

Question 46

Sanskrit

Answer 46

The language used in later Indian Buddhist texts

Question 47

A shrine

Answer 47

An area within a statue of the bodhisattva which provides Buddhists with a focal point for meditation and devotion