Matters of Life and Death | Buddhism Flashcards
(42 cards)
1
Q
Describe the Big Bang theory
A
- 13.7 billion years ago all the matter in the universe was concentrated into a single point and then began to enlarge rapidly
- causing an explosion leading to life on earth.
2
Q
Give 2 pieces of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory
A
- all the galaxies are moving away from us
- the universe is ever expanding
3
Q
Give three Buddhist views on the origin of the world - link to SOA
A
- The buddha believed the origin of the world has no religious value for gaining spiritual wisdom.
- The world is nothing but samsara. The world came into being due to the destruction of another and will continue this way due to Paticca-Samuppada , - Dalai Lama
- The pattern of death and rebirth is eternal and cyclical and so it is pointless to single out any one beginning
4
Q
Give 2 Buddhist views on the value of the universe ( how we use it) - link to SOA
A
- Buddhism promotes self restraint and balance by working with nature then mankind will be happier due to concept of Paticca-Samuppada
- Buddhists view the universe as a commodity and that we should use the resources in the world as we depend on nature for food /clothing and medicine
- Lily de Silva
5
Q
Give a Buddhists view on the sanctity of life.
A
- Human life is not scared as there is no God however it is important and valuable as they are the only beings who can achieve enlightenment
6
Q
What does the First Precept teach about the sanctity of life? - link to suffering
A
- The precept prohibits all kinds of violence against all living beings as it is unskilful because it brings suffering on the doer and the victim preventing them both from enlightenment
7
Q
Give 3 reasons why humans are special in Buddhism
A
- Buddha’s are always human
- The chances of being born human are so remote and highly valued
- Humans have a unique capacity for moral choice, elimination of suffering and attainment of nibbana whereas animals and other realms do not
8
Q
Describe Darwin’s theory of evolution ( All…)
A
All different species have developed over time from simple life forms
9
Q
Describe the concept of the survival of the fittest
A
- individuals show a random variation in their genes
- They are found to be more suited to the environment and more likely to survive and reproduce
- these genes are then passed down to their offspring
10
Q
Give a buddhist response to the origin of human life and the Big Bang theory ( hint: link to key buddhist belief)
A
- the absence of God and the view that existence is cyclical means there is no creation story nor a single one point where the universe began
11
Q
Give two Buddhist views in favour of the theory of evolution
A
- the Buddha stated that the origins of the world are not important and meaningless and so do not challenge beliefs
- Many Buddhists tacitly agree with evolution as the buddha never condemned it and stated that we are to think about the origins of the universe using science
12
Q
Give two Buddhist views against the theory of evolution
A
- Evolution states that natural selection is random.
- This challenges the belief of Paticca-Samuppada as it goes against the belief that everything is interconnected and reliant on other things
- Evolution states that the universe began at a specific point in time and evolved from there
- This challenges the belief that the universe is cyclical and there were universes before and will be universes after
13
Q
Give three different views on when life begins and define them briefly - non religious
A
- conception
- viability ( when the foetus can survive outside the womb)
- birth
14
Q
When does a Buddhist believe life begins and why ?
A
- consciousness arises at conception as this is when the karmic consequences are transferred to the body
15
Q
Give the UK law’s view on abortion
A
It is legal up until 24 weeks after that it is illegal unless there is risk to life
16
Q
Give 3 Buddhists views against abortion- link to SOA
A
- As rebirth begins at conception, abortion interferes with the transference of kamma and prevents that being from seeking enlightenment
- it breaks the first precept and the key principle of ahimsa as you are killing someone
- The Vinaya rules view a monk who has deliberately assisted a woman in having in abortion as a great offense requiring him to leave the monastic sangha
17
Q
Give 3 Buddhist views which allow abortion - link to 2 SOA - *
A
- An abortion could show karuna to a mother if she feels unable to bring up a child eg financial reasons
- ’ be a refuge unto yourself’ shows that rules should not always be followed dogmatically and you should decide what is best for yourself
- Abortion may be permitted if it were to save the life of the mother . This reflects the spiritual instrumentalism of Buddhism where a human life is seen as valuable but not all human life is equally valuable ( mother’s life»_space; foetus )
- Parable of the Burning House
18
Q
Give a humanist’s view on abortion ( link to key humanist belief)
A
Most humanists do not believe life is sacred
- They would take a liberal pro choice stance as they value happiness and personal choice
19
Q
Give a situation ethicist view on abortion and how it links with buddhist views
A
- ’ do the most loving thing in any situation ‘
- This can be used both for and against abortion and is dependent on the situation eg aborting a baby if the mother is not able to raise it
link: This could link with Buddhists views on metta and karuna and also skilful means ( upaya)
20
Q
Give 3 Buddhist beliefs about the afterlife
A
- life is in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara which Buddhists aim to escape from through eliminating the Three Poisons
- the belief in anatta which means you have no soul to pass on to your next life but instead one’s kamma
- Buddhists believe you are reborn into one of the six realms in the wheel of samsara
21
Q
Give three Buddhist arguments to support life after death
A
- The Buddha is proof of rebirth and often spoke of having many lives in the suttas
- Ian Stevenson claimed to discover evidence of remembered past lives in small children as well as links between birth marks and causes of death
- In Tibetan Buddhism they have teachings about death which is often read to tell the dying person how to act to ensure a positive rebirth
- SOA: The Tibetan Book of the Dead
22
Q
Give three non religious arguments against life after death and a Buddhists response
A
- afterlife is just used as a source of comfort
buddhist response: it s not always comforting as people may be reborn into a lower realm and also that it should not be comforting as that indicates attachment - lack of evidence
buddhist response: there is evidence such as the buddha speaking of his past lives and Ian Stevenson’s research on children and past lives - social control- made up to encourage people to do good and avoid bad deeds
buddhist response: Buddhists would reject this view as they do not believe in a higher power that controls justice. The realm you are born into is controlled by ones own kamma.
23
Q
Define Euthanasia
A
the act of deliberately ending a persons life to relieve suffering
24
Q
Define the two types of euthanasia
A
voluntary- a conscious decision is made to die and help is asked for
non-voluntary - a person is unable to give consent and another person takes the decision on their behalf
25
Define active and passive euthanasia
active: deliberately intervening to end someone's life
passive: withholding treatment that is necessary to sustain life leading to someone's death
26
What does UK law say about euthanasia?
- It is illegal under English Law
| - It is regarded as either manslaughter or murder
27
Give 3 buddhist views against euthanasia
- it demonstrates that one's mind is not in a good state as they have allowed physical suffering to cause mental suffering. Meditation and pain killers should be used.
- it breaks the first precept and goes against the principle of ahimsa
- it can lead to one losing monkhood as it deemed as a grave offence
28
Give 3 Buddhist views which allow euthanasia - refer to SOA
- skilful means means that one can break the precepts for the greater good eg euthanasia
- Karuna- Ending life in the most painless way is more compassionate then sustaining it -
- Autonomy is crucial in Buddhism so some may argue that it is your choice to end your life then it should be allowed ( be a refuge unto yourself'
29
Give two alternatives to euthanasia and briefly define them
Palliative care - care for the terminal ill and their families provided by a health service
Hospice- a home providing care for the sick of terminally ill.
30
Give three features of The Buddhist Hospice Trust
- it aids ill, dying or bereaved Buddhists by offering spiritual support
- provide emotional and spiritual guidance
- provide counselling services for families
31
Give one reason why a hospice is better than Euthanasia - Buddhist view
- it shows more metta as ill people should not feel as though they should end their life but live it out in a peaceful and happy setting
32
Give a humanist's view on euthanasia and a Buddhist's response
- Humanists support the attempts to legalise euthanasia as they believe that an individual should be able to die with dignity and live by their own values
Buddhist response: ' Be a refuge unto yourself' supports this.
33
Give a situation ethicist's view on euthanasia and a Buddhist's response
- Allowing someone who wants to die is the most loving thing to do as it will end their suffering
Buddhist response: It may end their suffering temporarily but it will continue in the next life
34
Give 3 issues in the natural world
- pollution
- global warming
- threats to the world and use of its resources
35
Give 3 buddhist views against the abuse of the natural world ( link to 3 key buddhist teachings)
Paticca-Samuppada - as everything is interconnected, humans depend on nature as nature depends on us therefore causing harm will reflect back on to us so we should aim to live in harmony
Five Precepts - by destroying the habitat of animals, you break the second precept and the principle of ahimsa
Kamma- harming the environment is an unskilful action leading to the accumulation of bad kamma resulting in a negative rebirth
36
What did the Buddhist declaration state in the Assisi Declaration on Nature, 1997
- the main threat to the world is humans being indifferent to the effects of their actions so we should treat the world with respect
37
Give 2 Buddhist views in favour of Animal Testing
- Animals are lower life forms unable to achieve enlightenment as they are a result of negative kamma and so humans are justified in using them to help others
- it could be seen as skilful means to break the first precept for the greater good of curing diseases for humans
38
Give two Buddhist views against Animal Testing
- it contradicts the idea of ahimsa and breaks the first precept which is applicable to all living beings
- It could be seen as going against karuna to harm animals for our benefit
39
Give three Buddhist views in favour of vegetarianism
- Eating meat contradicts the first precept and out of metta and karuna animals should not be eaten
- Eightfold Path - Right Livelihood teaches that they should avoid work connected with killing animals
- The Buddha said monks should not eat meat if the animals was killed purely for the monk
40
Give three Buddhist views against vegetarianism include counter
- The Buddha told monks that those who receive meat in their alms bows should eat it rather than waste it
counter: should not be eaten if they suspect the animal was killed purely for them
- being reborn as an animal is a spiritual setback so they are not seen as an equal
- only a human can reach enlightenment and an animal has to use up all the bad kamma first
41
How does The Middle Way apply to values regarding vegetarianism?
- one must find a middle way with extreme practices and not become fanatically attached to it
42
Give a utilitarianist's view on animal testing
- the greatest happiness for the greatest number
| this could be used to support animal testing as it could make the majority of humans happy by curing diseases
