English Terms

Question 1

Alms

Answer 1

stuff for the poor, what a beggar begs for. Most common way to make merit - giving alms to the Sangha. Gifts of food, robes, medicine, and other requisites necessary for monastic life

Question 2

Buddha image

Answer 2

a Buddha image that’s been officially consecrated. Some iconography include: halo, bun of hair, celestial eye, pristine and mask-like facial features, left shoulder covered, unadorned and simple robe, crossed-legs with soles of feet up, “umbrella”

Question 3

Buddhist Councils

Answer 3

held to recount scriptures, disagreements that emerge, often needed at start of new reign of king

Question 4

First council

Answer 4

soon after death of Buddha - Rajagrha

Question 5

Second council

Answer 5

approximately 100 years later - Vaisali. There was dispute about certain vinaya interpretations

Question 6

Third council

Answer 6

date in dispute; c. 350 BCE in Pataliputra or during reign of Asoka c. 250 BCE. Sponsored by King Asoka (associated with patronage of Buddhism, kingship, and calling of councils)

Question 7

Celibacy

Answer 7

abstinence

Question 8

Cosmology

Answer 8

Cosmology is the study of the Universe and its components, how it formed, how its has evolved, and what is its future; how a person/culture of people view the world

Question 9

Dhamma language/Everyday language

Answer 9

metaphorical way of saying things vs how people would actually say it. Addressed by Buddhadasa

Question 10

Eight-fold Path

Answer 10

part of 4 noble truths, the fourth noble truth
Wisdom:
-Right understanding
-Right thought
Morality:
-Right speech
-Right action
-Right livelihood
Concentration:
-Right effort 
-Right mindfulness
-Right meditation

Question 11

Enlightenment

Answer 11

escaping suffering/reincarnation, escape from samsara

Question 12

Five Aggregates

Answer 12

material form(rupa-khandha), 
feeling/sensation(vedana-khandha), 
perception(sanna-khandha), 
mental formation (samkhara-khandha), 
consciousness (vinnana-khandha)

Question 13

Five Precepts

Answer 13

Abstain from killing
Abstain from taking what is not given
Abstain from sexual misconduct
Abstain from false speech
Abstain from alcohol/intoxicants

Question 14

Four Noble Truths

Answer 14

dukkha is a suffering. Suffering is due to craving. The cessation to suffering is to end craving. To end craving is to follow the eightfold path

Question 15

Four Signs/Sights

Answer 15

four encounters that led Gotama’s realization of the impermanence and ultimate dissatisfaction of conditioned existence. He observed four sights: an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic

Question 16

hells & heavens

Answer 16

There are multiple layers
Not permanent rebirths
Determined by good/bad karma accumulated
You can leave in future rebirth(s)

Question 17

Meditation

Answer 17

?

Question 18

Merit

Answer 18

results from acts of good deeds, thoughts or acts that which carries through life and other incarnations, a means towards spiritual liberation

Question 19

merit field

Answer 19

A place to sow the seeds of merit. A monk is a merit field when given gifts

Question 20

Merit-making

Answer 20

most common way to make merit - giving alms to the Sangha: Other ways to make merits: recite a text, virtuous behavior etc

Question 21

merit transference

Answer 21

transfer from one person to another. Example: to parents, deceased relatives

Question 22

Middle Way/Middle Path

Answer 22

Siddhartha realized that overindulgence and extreme deprivation are both bad. Moderation is key

Question 23

Monk

Answer 23

ordained man (bhikku)

Question 24

Nun

Answer 24

ordained woman (had fewer rights and more restrictions) (bhikkuni)

Question 25

Ordination

Answer 25

the process in which individuals are set apart to perform various religious rites and duties

Question 26

Pilgrimage

Answer 26

this practice has to do with sacred sites that had relics of the Buddha’s body and wandering monks would travel to these areas (stupas) to honor the Buddha and interact with the dharma and regular Buddhist could do the same and visit these places (example: our professor’s trip)

Question 27

Refuge

Answer 27

protection; help or aid; shelter; reorienting one’s life and dedicating life toward the Path, etc. Act of faith leading to insight, liberation, enlightenment, and eventually Nirvana. Transformation of vision, see things as they really are

Question 28

Relic

Answer 28

remains of the Buddha, placed around the world in stupas that people can visit

Question 29

Renunciation

Answer 29

abandoned material comforts to achieve spiritual enlightenment

Question 30

Ritual

Answer 30

4 components of some rituals

• Gift giving
• Invoke protection (chants - through sound and absorbent materials-blossoms, water, thread)
• Merit making
• Social and communal participation and approval

Question 31

simile of the lute strings

Answer 31

Representation of the middle way. Story of Sona, in which the Buddha compared meditation as a lute string. That he should “do it in a relaxed way, but without being slack”

Question 32

Triple Gem

Answer 32

Buddha
Dharma
Sangha

Question 33

Thai Term:
sai sincana (white thread or string)

Answer 33

Consecration ritual device used to transfer sacred power from a particular source, especially a Buddha image, to an object.