Key Buddhist Practices

Question 1

Dana - selfless giving

Answer 1

Starting point for lay Buddhists, taught by the Buddha when he first gained enlightenment
Way to combat the three poisons, particularly greed
Links to anatta (no-self) and the idea of letting go of self and selfishness

Question 2

Giving to the monastic sangha

Answer 2

By giving to monks and nuns, Buddhists gain more than they give because they support the maintenance of the dhamma
Monks and nuns set an example of how to live, giving back to the lay community
Giving alms is believed to lead to a better rebirth

Question 3

Giving to the wider community

Answer 3

Contributing towards printing books for free distribution or supporting Buddhist websites
Volunteering for the local sangha
Manchester Buddhist Centre

Question 4

Punya - merit

Answer 4

Performing good actions with the right intentions
Most Buddhists want to direct the merit or good consequences from their worship out to others in the world to avoid selfishness

Question 5

Gaining and transferring merit

Answer 5

In Theravada tradition, this can involve transferring the merit to those who are reborn in less fortunate realms such as the pretas (hungry ghosts) to help them to a better rebirth
A boy who becomes a novice or monk will share the merit with his mother, who will also gain merit from giving up her son and from her joy in his becoming part of the monastic sangha.

Question 6

The three jewels - refuges

Answer 6

The Buddha
The Dhamma
The Sangha

Question 7

Taking refuge in the Buddha

Answer 7

Trusting the historical person and to be grateful for his explanation of the dhamma
It also involves recognising the possibility of your own enlightenment and seeing in him an example of how human beings can escape suffering

Question 8

Taking refuge in the Dhamma

Answer 8

Exploring the teachings of the Buddha, not just blindly following them. Only through proper understanding will Buddhists move towards enlightenment
The Buddha and the Dhamma are intimately linked. The Buddha said, ‘He who sees me sees the dhamma, he who sees the dhamma sees me.’

Question 9

Taking refuge in the sangha

Answer 9

Sharing your spiritual journey with the Buddhist community
When the Buddha died, the Sangha were the guardians of the dhamma as the Buddha made clear that he would have no successor.
The Buddha said ‘be a lamp unto yourselves’ showing that the Sangha had to guide each other to enlightenment

Question 10

Going for refuge in Theravada Buddhism

Answer 10

Forms part of the regular practice of chanting and helps Buddhists to reflect on the qualities of each ‘jewel’.

Question 11

Going for refuge in Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 11

Different branches emphasise different Buddhas, for example in Pure Land Buddhism, the Buddha refuge focuses on Amitabha (Amida), in Zen Buddhism, the focus is on the Buddha-nature within all people.

Question 12

Heritage Buddhists

Answer 12

Not really how the Buddha seemed to want people to practice. In Buddhism people are supposed to reflect carefully on the symbolism of the teachings and how they can be applied to everyday life, not just follow blindly

Question 13

Convert Buddhists

Answer 13

Going for refuge is the first step to conversion
Signifies a change from a more mundane life to one which has spirituality at its heart. It is a commitment to look beyond the small boundaries of human life to a path based on unchanging spiritual principles and truths.

Question 14

4 types of meditation

Answer 14

Samatha - calmness meditation
Metta Bhavana - lovingkindness meditation
Vipassina - insight meditation
Zazen - sitting meditation

Question 15

Benefits of samatha meditation

Answer 15

Heightened powers of concentration
Mind is no longer taken over by doubts, fears and worries

Question 16

Benefits of Vipassina meditation

Answer 16

Makes a Buddhist aware of the noble truths and marks of existence
Develops compassion

Question 17

Samatha

Answer 17

Selecting an object to meditate on – usually the breath but sometimes a mantra (chant) or everyday object. The aim is to become engrossed in the object of meditation until you can no longer be distracted by either the outside world or thoughts that arise in your own mind.

Question 18

Metta Bhavana

Answer 18

cultivating the 4 bramhaviharas (godlike states)
develops these attitudes towards themselves, people they are close to, and eventually strangers

Question 19

Vipassina

Answer 19

Separate out their experiences into categories of body, feelings, moods and thoughts. Beginning with the body, they may concentrate on breathing and focus on every minor bodily sensation without responding to it, thereby breaking the habit of stimulus and response.

Question 20

Zazen

Answer 20

Sitting in a focused and mindful way and using intuition to understand that nibbana is here and now. The meditator is not trying to think.

Question 21

Influence of the ‘Bon’ religion on Tibetan Buddhism

Answer 21

Focused on spirit-essences within a person and their close relationship to various deities
Teachers who brought it looked for a from of Buddhism that would fit in well with existing beliefs and practices
Moments of transition in life are charged with spiritual potential

Question 22

Life after death - Tibetan Buddhism

Answer 22

Believe in ‘tulkus’
People are reincarnations of specific enlightened beings e.g. a guru or lama

Question 23

Mantras

Answer 23

Recited in order to visualise celestial bodhisattva figures
Develop the spiritual qualities they represent

Question 24

Om mani padme hum

Answer 24

Mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara
Six syllables are associated with the six perfections or the six realms of rebirth
Reflects the compassion of Avalokiteshvara

Question 25

Use of mantras

Answer 25

May use prayer beads to count the repetitions Activate the power of the mantra and generate karmic fruitfulness by using prayer wheels Written on prayer flags - wind spreads compassion

Question 26

Mudras

Answer 26

Symbolic hand gestures which evoke certain aspects of enlightenment Buddhist art often entails a deity or Bodhisattva figure performing a specific mudra In Vajrayana practice they work in three levels - body, speech and mind

Question 27

Making mudras

Answer 27

Represents the mental state the Buddhist aims to create - giving the body a physical focus assisting the mind in meditation

Question 28

Mandala

Answer 28

Used to portray the heavenly realm or ‘Pure Land’ The complexity of the symbol represents the complexity of the dhamma The practitioner visualises themselves entering the mandala

Question 29

Mandala - punya

Answer 29

A sand mandala is able to channel punya towards those who view it and the environment Coloured sand is dispersed into flowing water as a way of spreading the punya generated Form of meditation allowing them to contemplate these key ideas

Question 30

The modern mindfulness movement

Answer 30

Originated in the 60s where people were experimenting with a range of ‘Eastern’ meditation techniques Jon Kabat Zinn studied Buddhist teachings and found that these transformed their lives He tried to link techniques from Buddhism with modern science to create a more secular form of mindfulness

Question 31

Purpose of the mindfulness movement

Answer 31

We need to consider the health of the mind as well as the body Reduce human suffering and promote wellbeing

Question 32

Mindfulness in healthcare

Answer 32

Mindfulness based stress reduction Proven to reduce the recurrence rate of depression by 40-50% Reduces stress hormone levels, chronic pain, anxiety Teachers from the Triratna order train NHS professionals

Question 33

Mindfulness in schools

Answer 33

A way to develop more resilient individuals who can cope better with the modern world Increased grades and more pro social behaviour Reduces indications of depression, anxiety and stress among secondary age pupils

Question 34

Mindfulness in businesses

Answer 34

A way of helping workers manage stress Enhances performance and wellbeing Leads to more productive workers

Question 35

Mindfulness as a business

Answer 35

Big companies have embraced mindfulness training - Google, LinkedIn, Ford McMindfulness

Question 36

order of interbeing

Answer 36

dedicated themselves to mindfulness, ethical behaviour, and compassionate action observed the 14 precepts of engaged Buddhism (mindfulness trainings)

Question 37

14 mindfulness trainings

Answer 37

openness non-attachment to views freedom of thought awareness of suffering compassionate, healthy living taking care of anger dwelling happily in the present moment true community and communication truthful and loving speech protecting and nourishing the sangha right livelihood reverence for life generosity right conduct

Question 38

developments of socially engaged Buddhism

Answer 38

using media to get their message across TNH set up the Plum Village to develop the order of interbeing Buddhist women’s organisation

Question 39

Buddhist peace fellowship

Answer 39

wanted to bring a Buddhist perspective into the global peace movement draws on Buddhist teachings of non-violence campaigns to protect the environment, end war and violence

Question 40

Joanne Macy

Answer 40

believes that everything is interconnected (paticcasamutpada) member of Buddhist peace fellowship

Question 41

Sakyadhita

Answer 41

international Buddhist Women’s association improves opportunities for women in education, health etc provides training in conflict resolution wants to change the roles of women

Question 42

problems with the modern mindfulness movement

Answer 42

it has become so popular that it is often taught or explained badly it can be used to cover up the real problems with modern society mindfulness could be harmful Buddhism is not a replacement for healthcare

Question 43

negatives of socially engaged Buddhism

Answer 43

distraction from the transformative practice of wisdom, meditation and morality brings dangers of being attached to the world and particular views

Question 44

positives of socially engaged Buddhism

Answer 44

not a new form of Buddhism, but Buddhism with a particular emphasis on the social practice that has always been there the ideal of the Boddhisattva also puts compassion for the suffering of others at the heart of Buddhism - SEB is the bodhisattva path in action the distinction between gaining enlightenment and social engagement is false because both the self and the world must be changed before suffering can end