living the buddhist life key words

Question 1

Puja

Answer 1

Acts of worship

Question 2

Vihara

Answer 2

Temple with living accommodation for monks or nuns

Question 3

Pagoda

Answer 3

– Multiple rooved building a type of Mahayana building often containing relics

Question 4

Stupa

Answer 4

Mound shaped monument often with relics

Question 5

Triratna Buddhist Centre

Answer 5

Place where Buddhists meet in the west, often in urban centres

Question 6

Triratna

Answer 6

The three jewels (Buddha, dhamma, sangha)

Question 7

Gompa

Answer 7

– A Tibetan building which is a place of learning (University) and meditation/worship

Question 8

Shrine

Answer 8

A place with a statue/image of Buddha, a focus for puja, offerings are placed here

Question 9

Buddharupas

Answer 9

– Statues of the Buddha (e.g. meditation or paranibbana statues)

Question 10

Bodhi Tree

Answer 10

The type of tree (fig) under which the Buddha gained enlightenment

Question 11

Meditation

Answer 11

Calming and focussing the mind to help achieve true understanding

Question 12

Samatha meditation

Answer 12

Meditation to concentrate the mind/achieve mindfulness

Question 13

Metta bhavana meditation

Answer 13

– Meditation on loving kindness to all beings

Question 14

Vipassana meditation

Answer 14

Meditation on the teachings of the Buddha

Question 15

Zazen meditation

Answer 15

– Seated meditation aimed at revealing our Buddha nature by a focus on the present moment

Question 16

Mindfulness breathing

Answer 16

– Meditation that focusses on the experience of breathing

Question 17

Chanting

Answer 17

– Repeating key sounds, words or passages used either to prepare for meditation by focusing the mind or as a form of devotion to either Buddha or a bodhisattva.

Question 18

Mantra

Answer 18

A collection of sacred words or syllables repeated as a form of Buddhist practice

Question 19

Sacred syllables

Answer 19

Mantras which hold meaning and dhamma in syllable

Question 20

Visualisation

Answer 20

Seeing something in your mind. This could be an object to help meditation. It could be a bodhisattva or Buddha to focus on their values and qualities

Question 21

Mala beads

Answer 21

– A string of beads to help you count recitations

Question 22

Retreat

Answer 22

Period of time away from ordinary life in order to focus on meditation and/or the dhamma

Question 23

Wesak

Answer 23

A festival to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, death and enlightenment (Theravada)

Question 24

Vassa

Answer 24

The 3 month rain retreat spent in meditation and study (Theravada)

Question 25

Kathina

Answer 25

Festival to celebrate the end of Vassa, laity give to monks and nuns in thanks (Theravada).

Question 26

Upsotha days

Answer 26

Days to focus and cleanse the mind and dedicate oneself to the Dhamma

Question 27

Paranibbana day

Answer 27

To celebrate Buddha’s death and enlightenment (Mahayana)

Question 28

Hanamatsuri

Answer 28

– Japanese festival of flowers to celebrate Buddha’s birthday (Mahayana)

Question 29

Obon

Answer 29

Japanese 3 day festival of the dead to honour ancestors (Mahayana)

Question 30

Lama Tsong Khapa Day

Answer 30

A Tibetan festival to celebrate the enlightenment of Lama Tsong Khapa the founder of a Tibetan Buddhist tradition

Question 31

Mourning Rituals

Answer 31

Activities and ceremonies which take place after someone’s death

Question 32

Tibetan Book of the Dead

Answer 32

Describes the states between death and re-birth

Question 33

Tibetan Sky Burial

Answer 33

Tibetan funeral where the body is left exposed on a mountain side