Unit 5 Quiz Review - Buddhism

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key terms, concepts, festivals, and historical topics for the Unit $$5$$ Quiz on Buddhism, based on the Siddhartha Gautama study guide.

Asceticism

A lifestyle characterized by severe self-discipline and abstinence from all forms of indulgence, often for spiritual purposes.

Bodhisattva

In Buddhism, an enlightened being who has reached the state of Nirvana but chooses to delay it to help others reach enlightenment.

Buddha

The title meaning "the enlightened one," specifically referring to Siddhartha Gautama who attained spiritual awakening under the Bhodi tree.

Buddhism

The major world religion and philosophy based on the teachings, history, and beliefs of Siddhartha Gautama.

Dharma

The collection of Buddhist teachings and the universal truth or law that governs the world.

Mudra

A symbolic hand gesture or ritual movement used in Buddhist practices and iconographic representations.

Nirvana

The ultimate spiritual goal in Buddhism, representing the end of suffering and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Pagoda

A tiered tower with multiple eaves commonly used in East Asia as a Buddhist house of worship or shrine.

Puja

A ritual act of showing reverence and devotion to the Buddha through prayers, offerings, and songs.

Sangha

The Buddhist community, which includes monks, nuns, and lay followers.

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince whose life history, birth, and realization of the Four Noble Truths led to the founding of Buddhism.

Dukkah

The Buddhist concept of suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or pain, which is central to the Four Noble Truths.

Eightfold Path

The $8$ practices used in Buddhism to develop mindfulness and end suffering, leading to enlightenment.

These practices are.. right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Enlightenment

The state of complete spiritual insight reached by the Buddha after meditating under the Bhodi tree.

Five Elements of Buddhism

The $5$ fundamental components that make up Buddhist cosmology and the physical world.

These elements are earth, water, fire, air, and space.

Five Precepts

The $5$ basic ethical guidelines that Buddhist laypeople follow to live a moral life.

These precepts are to abstain from killing living beings, taking what is not given, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, and consuming intoxicants.

Four Noble Truths

The $4$ core principles taught by the Buddha that show the nature of suffering. These truths are: 1. Dukkha: Life is filled with suffering. 2. Samudaya: The cause of suffering is desire or attachment, referred to as craving. 3. Nirodha: It is possible to end suffering by releasing desire and attachment. 4. Magga: The path to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path, a guide to mental development leading to enlightenment.

Karma

The law of cause and effect in which an individual's actions determine their future status and rebirth.

Lotus Flower

A significant Buddhist symbol representing purity, spiritual awakening, and the path to enlightenment.

Stupa

A rounded, dome-shaped monument used as a place for meditation and to house sacred Buddhist relics.

Sutra

A religious text or scripture that records the teachings and discourses of the Buddha.

Temple

A sacred building or site dedicated to Buddhist practice, teaching, and worship.

Theravada Buddhism

One of the oldest branches of Buddhism, emphasizing the original teachings of the Buddha and personal enlightenment.

Three Jewels

The $3$ fundamental aspects of Buddhism that followers take refuge in: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

Tripitakas

The "Three Baskets," which is the traditional term for the collection of Buddhist canonical scriptures.

Vajrayana Buddhism

A complex and multifaceted system of Buddhist thought and practice often associated with Tibetan Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism

A major branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the Bodhisattva path and the universal nature of enlightenment.

Mandala

A spiritual and ritual symbol in Buddhism representing the universe, often used as a focus for meditation.

Mantra

A sacred sound, word, or phrase repeated during meditation to invoke spiritual power and focus.

Wheel of Law

Also known as the Dharmachakra, this symbol represents the Buddha's teachings and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Zen Buddhism

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on the value of meditation and intuition rather than ritual worship.

Meditation

The practice of mental concentration and quiet contemplation, essential for reaching enlightenment.

Samsara

The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth from which Buddhists seek liberation.

Festival of the Tooth

A Buddhist holiday and festival that honors the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.

Sodhi Day

A significant holiday in Buddhism celebrating the day of the Buddha's enlightenment.

Kapilavastu

The city where Siddhartha Gautama lived and where he witnessed $3$ sights that motivated his spiritual journey.

Festival of Obon

A Japanese Buddhist festival designed to honor and commemorate the spirits of one's ancestors.

Festival of Vesak

A holy day for Buddhists that celebrates the birth, spiritual enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

Bhodi tree

The sacred tree under which Siddhartha Gautama meditated when he attained spiritual enlightenment.