r.e buddhism terminology

Question 1

1. the Four Sights

Answer 1

Gautama’s four encounters with illness, old age, death and a holy man

Question 2

2. ascetic

Answer 2

A life free from worldly pleasures (especially sexual activity and consumption of alcohol), often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

Question 3

3. Buddha

Answer 3

Historically the Buddha - the enlightened one. 2. An awakened or enlightened person.

Question 4

4. Buddhahood

Answer 4

Enlightenment

Question 5

5. The Four Noble Truths

Answer 5

Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, Magga (suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, the path to the end of suffering).

Question 6

6. dukkha

Answer 6

Suffering; ill; everything leads to suffering; unsatisfactoriness. The 1st Noble truth

Question 7

7. samudaya (in brackets)

Answer 7

The causes of suffering (the Second Noble Truth).

Question 8

8. tanha

Answer 8

Craving / desire, which causes suffering. The attempt to grasp at the things we enjoy. (The third Noble Truth)

Question 9

9. magga (in brackets)

Answer 9

The Eightfold Path. ‘The Middle Way’ which leads to freedom from suffering (The Fourth Noble Truth)

Question 10

10. The Threefold Way

Answer 10

A term that refers to the three divisions of the Eightfold Path into wisdom, ethics and meditation

Question 11

11. wisdom

Answer 11

Insight into the true nature of reality. One of the six perfections and in Mahayana Buddhism, it is the realization of sunyata, the ‘emptiness’ of all phenomena Also the title of one of the 3 sections of the Eightfold Path. 1.Right Understanding is all about understanding the Buddha’s teachings and in particular the Four Noble Truths 2.Right Thought /Intention is about having the right approach and outlook to following the Eightfold Path; being determined to follow the Buddhist path with a sincere attitude

Question 12

12. panna (in brackets)

Answer 12

Wisdom. Insight into the true nature of reality. One of the six perfections and in Mahayana Buddhism, it is the realization of sunyata, the ‘emptiness’ of all phenomena Also the title of one of the 3 sections of the Eightfold Path. 1.Right Understanding is all about understanding the Buddha’s teachings and in particular the Four Noble Truths 2.Right Thought /Intention is about having the right approach and outlook to following the Eightfold Path; being determined to follow the Buddhist path with a sincere attitude

Question 13

16. Dhamma

Answer 13

Universal law; ultimate truth; the teachings of Buddha. Spelt in Sanskrit as dharma

Question 14

17. Dharma (in brackets)

Answer 14

The Sanskrit form of dhamma. Universal law; ultimate truth; the teachings of Buddha.

Question 15

18. dependent arising

Answer 15

Paticcasamupada. The belief that everything in existence is because other things are. The idea that everything is interconnected and that everyone affects everyone else

Question 16

14. sila (in brackets)

Answer 16

Ethics / moral conduct. Also the title of one of the 3 sections of the Eightfold Path. 3.Right Speech is speaking truthfully in a helpful, positive way; avoiding lying or gossiping about others 4. Right Action is behaving in a peaceful, ethical way, avoiding acts such as stealing, harming others, or overindulging in sensual pleasures 5. Right Livelihood is earning a living in a way that doesn’t harm others; for example not doing work that exploits people or harms animals

Question 17

13. ethics

Answer 17

Sila / moral conduct. Also the title of one of the 3 sections of the Eightfold Path. 3.Right Speech is speaking truthfully in a helpful, positive way; avoiding lying or gossiping about others 4. Right Action is behaving in a peaceful, ethical way, avoiding acts such as stealing, harming others, or overindulging in sensual pleasures 5. Right Livelihood is earning a living in a way that doesn’t harm others; for example not doing work that exploits people or harms animals

Question 18

19. paticcasamupada

Answer 18

The concept of dependent arising. The belief that everything in existence is because other things are. The idea that everything is interconnected and that everyone affects everyone else

Question 19

20. The Three Marks of Existence

Answer 19

Sometimes known as the Three Universal Truths: dukkha, anicca, anatta (unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, no self).

Question 20

21. annica

Answer 20

Impermanence, instability, not permanent. 1st mark of existence

Question 21

22. anatta

Answer 21

No fixed self, no soul; the Universal Truth that the soul is insubstantial; that people change in the course of their lives; denial of a real or permanent self.

Question 22

23. dukkha

Answer 22

suffering; ill; everything leads to suffering; unsatisfactoriness.

Question 23

24. The Five Aggregates

Answer 23

The five skandhas of form, sensation, perception, mental formation, consciousness. The idea that one’s being is composed of these five factors.

Question 24

25. skandhas (in brackets)

Answer 24

The Five Aggregates of form, sensation, perception,
mental formation, consciousness. The idea that a person consists of these five factors.

Question 25

26. form

Answer 25

The first of the Five Aggregates. It refers to matter, to the sense organs and the objects of their experience

Question 26

27. sensation

Answer 26

The second of the Five Aggregates. It is about the feelings that arise from our sense organs making contact with their objects

Question 27

28. perception

Answer 27

The third of the Five Aggregates. The ability to distinguish between different objects that we experience through our senses. It enables memory

Question 28

28. perception

Answer 28

The third of the Five Aggregates. The ability to distinguish between different objects that we experience through our senses. It enables memory

Question 29

29. mental formations

Answer 29

The fourth of the Five Aggregates. They refer to mental activities which direct a person to good, bad or morally neutral actions. They produce good or bad kamma

Question 30

21. consciousness

Answer 30

The fifth of the Five Aggregates. Awareness of something without or before recognition (perception)

Question 31

22. sunyata

Answer 31

Literally ‘emptiness’. In Mahayana Buddhism, it refers to the absence of an intrinsic nature (or identity) in all phenomena

Question 32

22. Bodhisattva

Answer 32

A concept in Mahayana Buddhism. A being destined for enlightenment, who postpones final attainment of Buddhahood in order to help living beings.

Question 33

23. Arhat

Answer 33

A perfected person. In Theravada Buddhism this is a term for a person who has attained nibbana

Question 34

24. Theravada

Answer 34

The kind of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka and Thailand. It came before Mahayana

Question 35

25. Mahayana

Answer 35

A form of Buddhism which includes both the lay and monastic communities. Literally “Greater Vehicle”, it focuses on achieving enlightenment for the sake of all beings. It is the Buddhism of China, Tibet and Japan.

Question 36

27. Pure Land

Answer 36

This is the dominant form of Buddhism in Japan and focuses on chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha

Question 37

28. The Three Poisons

Answer 37

Ignorance, greed and hate

Question 38

29. The Three Refuges

Answer 38

Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.

Question 39

30. The Three Universal Truths

Answer 39

Dukkha, anicca, anatta (unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, no self). Also known as the Three Marks of Existence.

Question 40

31. Buddha- nature

Answer 40

In Mahayana Buddhism, this refers to the fundamental nature of all beings, which means that all beings can attain Buddhahood

Question 41

32. Jataka

Answer 41

The Jataka Tales are stories about the previous lives of the Buddha

Question 42

33. tranquility

Answer 42

A state of peace and calm

Question 43

34. nibbana

Answer 43

Literally ‘blowing’ out. To reach a state of perfect peace where the individual experiences liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Question 44

35. Nirvana (in brackets)

Answer 44

The Sanskrit form of nibbana

Question 45

36. enlightenment

Question 46

37. The Buddha's Life of Luxury

Question 47

38. The Eightfold Path