Paper 1 Buddhist Practices

Question 1

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is a Bodhisattva?

Answer 1

For Mahayana Buddhists, someone who is enlightened but stays in the cycle of Samsara to help others achieve enlightenment aswell.

Question 2

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Buddhahood?

Answer 2

When someone achieves enlightenment and becomes a Buddha.

Question 3

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Buddha Nature?

Answer 3

In Mahayana Buddhism, the idea that everyone has the essence of a Buddha inside them.

Question 4

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is a Buddha Rupa?

Answer 4

An image or statue of the historical Buddha or a being belived to have attained Buddhahood.

Question 5

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Chanting?

Answer 5

Singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound.

Question 6

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What are Devotional Objects?

Answer 6

Objects used by Buddhists during Puja such as Buddha Rupas and bells.

Question 7

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is the 8 Fold Path?

Answer 7

Magga - the 4th Noble Truth known as ‘The Middle Way,’ it includes the way to wisdom; mental training and the way of morality. Eight Stages to be practised simultaneously.

Question 8

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Enlightenment?

Answer 8

A state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of exsitence.

Question 9

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Ethics?

Answer 9

Sila - moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes; part of the 8 Fold Path.

Question 10

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What are the 5 Moral Precepts?

Answer 10

Part of the 8 Fold Path (right action) eg.
avoid harm
avoid taking what is not given
avoid intoxicants that cloud the mind
avoid false speech
avoid the misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct.

Question 11

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is a Gompa?

Answer 11

Tibetan monasteries associated with learning and studying the Dhamma.

Question 12

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Kamma (Karma)?

Answer 12

The belief in cause and effect, intentions and actions will affect the future.

Question 13

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Karuna?

Answer 13

Compassion, sharing in the suffering of others

Question 14

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Mantra Recitation?

Answer 14

A short sequence of words or syllables chanted repetitively as a form of meditation, such as Om mani padme hum or Nam Myoho Renge Kho

Question 15

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What are Malas?

Answer 15

Strings of beads used as a prayer aid

Question 16

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Meditation?

Give 1 example of Meditation.

Answer 16

Samadhi - a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness.

Question 17

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Metta?

Answer 17

Loving Kindness

Question 18

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Mourning?

Answer 18

An expression of grief after someone has died

Question 19

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What are Offerings?

Answer 19

Symbols of Buddhist teachings used in Puja (eg. flowers or incense)

Question 20

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Parinirvana Day?

Answer 20

A festival in Mahayana Buddhism that celebrates the death of the Buddha and his attainment of final nibbana. It is most often celebrated of the 15th February.

Question 21

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Puja/Devotional Ritual?

Answer 21

The name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer and offerings.

Question 22

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What are Retreats?

These shouldn’t be luxurious or expensive.

Answer 22

Temporarily leaving one’s everyday life and going to special places to aid spiritual development.

Question 23

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Samatha?

Answer 23

Concentration and tranquility. A method of meditation; a state of calmness

Question 24

Buddhist Practices Paper 1

What is Samsara?

Answer 24

The repeating cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Question 25

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is a Shrine?

Answer 25

A room or part of a room which contains a Buddha Rupa, candles, an incense burner and sometimes other offerings.

Question 26

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is a Sky Burial?

Answer 26

Tibetan tradition where a dead body is left in a high place as a gift to the vultures.

Question 27

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What are the 6 Perfections?

Answer 27

Ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism to lead a being to enlightenment - the 6 perfections are **generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation and wisdom**.

Question 28

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is a Stupa?

Answer 28

A monument containing relics of the Buddha or an important Buddhist Teacher.

Question 29

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is a temple?

Answer 29

A structure / building for religious or spiritual activities, such as meditation. Will usually contain a shrine(s)

Question 30

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is the Tibetan Book of the Dead?

Answer 30

The Tibetan Book of the Dead is the Buddhist text that describes in detail the stages of death from the Tibetan point of view.

Question 31

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is a Vihara?

Answer 31

A Buddhist monastery, where monks and nuns live

Question 32

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is Vipassana?

Answer 32

Insight - a method of meditation focused on insight into the nature of things.

Question 33

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is Visualisation?

Answer 33

Forming a mental image. A method of meditation in Mahayan Buddhism, imagining an image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva and focuing on their qualities.

Question 34

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is Wesak?

Answer 34

A Buddhist festival celebrating the Buddha's birth. For some Buddhists it also celebrates his enlightenment and death.

Question 35

# Buddhist Practices Paper 1 What is Zazen?

Answer 35

The main form of meditation in Zen Buddhism ( Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism) practice cross-legged with the aim of gaining vipassana (insight)