Living the Buddhist Life Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is meditation?
The practice of calming and focusing the mind in order to focus on specific teachings so that their true meaning can be understood.
What is mindfulness breathing (samatha)
Meditation that focuses on the experience of breathing. Calm abiding.
What is Zazen?
The practice of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, usually by meditation.
What is the visualisation of the Buddha?
The practice of visualising images of Buddha forms and reciting sacred sounds and mantras.
What is a mantra?
A sequence of sacred syllables to be recited by Buddhists.
What are sacred syllables?
Mantras which hold infinite meaning and the dhamma in a single syllable.
What are mala beads?
Prayer beads that are used to count the number of recitations of a mantra.
What is a temple?
The place where Buddhists meet to worship. Often where Monks and Nuns live also.
What is a gompa?
The place where Tibetan Buddhists meditate.
What is a vihara?
A Buddhist temple which has living accommodation for monks or nuns.
What is a shrine?
A place with a statue of a Buddha, providing a focus for believers’ meditation and devotion.
What is a Buddha rupa?
A statue of the Buddha.
What is the Bodhi tree?
The sacred fig tree under which Siddhartha Gautama gained enlightenment.
What is puja?
An act of worship.
What are mourning rituals?
Activities and ceremonies which take place after the death of someone.
What is a retreat?
A period of time spent apart from ordinary life in order to focus on meditation and religious activities. eg Vassa
What is Wesak?
The festival which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha in Theravada Buddhism.
What is Vassa/Rain retreat?
The three month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists.
What is Kathina?
The festival which occurs at the end of Vassa, and is a time of giving where the laity express their gratitude to monks and nuns.
What are Uposatha Days?
Times of renewed dedication to Dhamma practice by lay followers and monastics.
What is Hanamatsuri?
The festival of flowers in Japan, commemorating the birth of the Buddha.
What is Obon?
A Japanese Buddhist festival to honour those who have passed away.
What is Parinibbana?
A Mahayana festival to commemorate the passing away of the Buddha and his esacpe from samsara
What is Lama Tsong Khapa Day?
The celebration of the passing of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition of Buddhism.
