Society

Question 1

what school of buddhism is Zen

Answer 1

Mahayana

Question 2

what is the meditation practise of Zen Buddhism

Answer 2

Zazen

Question 3

what is the most difficult bit of Zazen meditation for people to comprehend

Answer 3

is sitting with no goals or expectation of ‘getting enlightened’

Question 4

what is the flower sermon

Answer 4

the buddha taught the dharma by holding up a flower, on of his disciples understood the message and smiled. this shows the direct grasp of reality transferred from pastor to pupil

Question 5

according to Denise Cush what are the main ideas of Zen Buddhists

Answer 5

• Buddha nature is within all beings
• the truth cannot be put into words rather passed from mind to mind

Question 6

why is attainment of nirvana different for Zen than Mahayana

Answer 6

One believe you can attain enlightenment in the here and now, unlike Mahayana that teaches it is only possible after a lifetime

Question 7

what do Zen buddhists compare enlightenment to

Answer 7

Boredom

Question 8

why do Zen Buddhist see words as damaging

Answer 8

they prevent you from using the dharma, the only real way to see the dharma is though mind to mind transmission.

Question 9

what are the key features of Rinzai

Answer 9

-emphasised teaching methods such as shouting and beating disciples
this was attractive for Chinese warriors

Question 10

key features of Soto

Answer 10

-emphasises a quiet approach with decent moral behaviour, as Rinzai may be a form of showing off

Question 11

what do Rinzai and Soto have in common

Answer 11

they both believe the Dharma is passed mind to mind

Question 12

what is the most practised buddhism in Japan

Answer 12

Pure land Buddhism

Question 13

what is Pure land based on

Answer 13

the hope to reborn in the paradise where Amitbha Buddha lives

Question 14

why do Pure land buddhist want to be born in Amitbhas paradise

Answer 14

so they will be taught by the Amitbha buddha and have improved chances of becoming enlightened. there is no suffering.

Question 15

why do Pure lands Chant

Answer 15

they chant Amibhas name to show appreciation so they will be reborn in the pure lands

Question 16

why is chanting important to pure lands

Answer 16

it does not require extensive temples or arts, as a result the sect has lasted over persecutions

Question 17

how does chanting develop perfection

Answer 17

the recitation of the buddha name is an extension of his passion, allowing generosity

Question 18

views of Jodo shu

Answer 18

teaches that the only hope for people is the Amida vow

Question 19

views of Jodo Shinshu

Answer 19

argued that people who earn good merit leads to false self importance, humans are entirely sinful and unable to earn their own salvation

Question 20

what is the comparison of reaching pure lands by Jodo shu and Jodo shinshu

Answer 20

for Shu it is the next stepping stone in reaching enlightenmen, whereas for shinshu it is the final goal and is equivalent to nirvana

Question 21

what are the main reasons for the spread of Buddhist to the West

Answer 21

• many buddhists migrated to the USA
• European officials would collect large amount of Mahayana Manuscripts

Question 22

Known arguments for the popularity of Buddhist ideas on the West

Answer 22

• it keeps up with both science and secular liberalism
• meditation has a strong appeal
• Buddhism holds rational ethical principles

Question 23

what are some media stereotypes of buddhists

Answer 23

• all buddhists are vegetarian, the Dalai Lama is.
• Buddhism can be enhanced through drugs
• they do not believe in heaven

Question 24

how is the Dalai Lama portrayed by the West

Answer 24

• admirable due to his open mindset, this is attractive as it connects with modern audiences

Question 25

how is the Dalai Lama understood in the east

Answer 25

Tibetans are entirely devoted to him, the place faith in him to restore tibet to its former glory

Question 26

examples of Western inculturation

Answer 26

- there is an attitude of cherry picking, such as stripping Buddhism of its 'superstitious' teachings - Buddhist ideas are applied to secular life such as meditation

Question 27

why does Stephen Batchelor advocate for secular Buddhism

Answer 27

the dharma is a way of life rather than a religious belief, all the buddha did was teach the dharma.

Question 28

what evidence there shows that buddhism is secular rather than religious

Answer 28

the buddhas first teachings were simple, only after death did Buddhism become and ritualistic and have monastic life

Question 29

what did Paul Knitter argue of dual belonging

Answer 29

that it is possible to be part of two different religions

Question 30

What does knit see as similarities between christianity and Buddhism

Answer 30

- taking refuge in the buddha vs the trinity - heaven/rebirth

Question 31

how can points from the Dalai Lama support dual belonging

Answer 31

he emphasised the idea that there are many points one can learn from other religions, and there are no religions that teach anger or Hate

Question 32

how has dual belonging helped Knitter

Answer 32

he can criticise his own language, ideas he did not like in one religion he was able to find in the other.

Question 33

how does Thich Nhat support dual belonging

Answer 33

'I do not think there is that much difference between christianity and buddhism.'

Question 34

what is Enzo in Zen Buddhism

Answer 34

is the sacred symbol and represents emptiness and fullness. masters use it for meditation

Question 35

what are Koans

Answer 35

Joanna re paradoxical and are riddle like saying hat cannot be solved through logic. e.g. what is the sound of hand clapping

Question 36

what is the use of koans

Answer 36

you are not meant to be able to explain koans rather that are to help us understand that we impose words on concepts in reality. especially used in rinzai

Question 37

zazen mediation cannot be used alone to achieve enlightenment

Answer 37

Jan suggests that zen monks only use Samatha meditation, not vipassana. this os because it doesn't give the insight into the dharma. therefore, zazen cannot be used alone.

Question 38

what is the criticism of the flower sermon

Answer 38

even if the flower sermon is correct, that doesn't mean wordless transmission is the only superior method

Question 39

what does Batchelor reject of Buddhism and why

Answer 39

he did not believe in karma and rebirth, rather they were a product of the buddhas time to be able to be moral

Question 40

what supports bachelor's rejection of Kamma and rebirth

Answer 40

the deer sermon was simple and did not contain mysticism

Question 41

how does Brahmali critic Batchelor

Answer 41

he argues that the buddhas teachings in the Nikayas taught rebirth and buddhism is defined as what the Buddha taught. so Batchelore cannot be a buddhist

Question 42

what defends Batchelor when it comes to Brahmali

Answer 42

many ideas in the nikaya are now rejected. many things band in the nikayas are now central to a training enlightenment in different forms of buddhism

Question 43

how can secular buddhism be upaya

Answer 43

the buddhist teachings re meant to be adapted

Question 44

how is dual belonging an issue for buddhist teachings and how does Knitter get past this

Answer 44

belief in God can be an issue of ideas such as Annica and anatto. however, for Knitter God is an experience.