Buddhism beliefs

What was Queen Maya’s dream

• She dreamed an elephant came from heaven and entered her womb

• The elephant told her she’d give birth to a holy child (He would achieve perfect wisdom)

• She suffered no pain during childbirth

• Siddhartha immediately had the ability to walk and talk - miracle

What was the prophecy of Siddhartha Guatama

That he would become a great king or holy man

What is a quote about Siddhartha’s home life of luxury

“I was delicately nurtured… and I did not leave the mansion” - The Buddha

What are the four sights

Old age

death

sickness

a holy man

How can Buddhas birth influence Buddhists

Encourages Buddhists to follow him

The events of his birth are miraculous

proves him to extraordinary and supernatural

What is the importance of the Old man

Reminded the Buddha of anicca, will eventually happen to all as age is impermanent

Why is the Sick man important

• Shows impermanence, health

• reminded buddha of Dukkha which lead him to try and find the solution to suffering

Why is death importance as one of the 4 sights

Remind Buddha of anatta

why is the holy man important

• Showed the Buddha that it is possible to overcome suffering

• it influenced him to become a wandering truth seeker to learn how to truly stop suffering

How does old age influence Buddhists

It teaches that ageing is inevitable for all

influences Buddhist to stop seeking ways to hide their age e.g. plastic surgery

How does the Holy man influence Buddhists

• he witnessed suffering yet remained calm and content

• influences Buddhists to meditate like him in order to be like him

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How did the sick man influence Buddhist

Allows Buddhists to understand illness as a part of life

influences Buddhists to live with illness they may have and not shame others for their illnesses

what is asceticism

A life of simplicity with few possessions or pleasures

What is the middle way

Living between 2 extremes

How did Siddhartha find the middle way

• Intitally in the palace he lived a life of extravagance and luxury

• after leaving he became ascetic as he wanted to find a solution to suffering

• He stopped practicing asceticism after being offered a bowl of rice and milk by a girl by the river Nairajana

• He realised neither of his previous ways of living gave him real answers to the end of suffering

• this lead him to develop the middle way

what are 2 quotes to do with the middle way

“The practice of such austerities was not the path to Enlightenment” - The Jataka

austerities - hardship e.g. rationing

“(by) avoiding both of these extremes, the middle way is realised” - The Buddha

define enlightenment

The gaining of true knowledge which allows a Buddhist to escape from the cycle of rebirth

define Mara

A demon representing spiritual obstacles especially temptation

define the 3 watches of the night

The 3 realisations Buddha made in order to reach enlightenment

what are 3 ways Mara tried to stop the Buddha from reaching enlightenment

• sending his daughters to seduce Siddhartha, by stripping infront of him

• sending his armies to attack Siddhartha, the arrows they shot turned into flowers before hitting him

• sent a storm of rain, rocks and darkness

• Offer Siddhartha control of his Kingdom, said he would turn the Himalayas to gold to make all men rich

• Attack him, said only he (Mara) could attain enlightenment

A quote to do with Buddha attaining enlightenment

“I will not leave this seat until I have attained the highest wisdom, the supreme enlightenment” - The Buddha

what are the 3 watches of the night

• he gained knowledge of all his previous lives\he understood that life was a cycle of life, death and rebirth. and that beings are born depending on their Karma (actions)

• He came to understand why suffering happens and how to overcome it

what is the eightfold path

A set of guidelines for Buddhists to live by that should lead to the end of suffering

what is the samudaya

the second noble truth (truth about suffering)

what is nirvana

An indescrible state

buddhists ultimate goal, frees you from the cycle of samsara

what is Anicca

impermanence

what is Anatta

The belief there is no permanent or unchanging self

what is Dukkha

suffering, the first noble truth

also known as dissatisfaction with life

what is Magga

The fourth noble truth, the path to the end of suffering

what is Nirodha

The third noble truth, the end of suffering

What is Samsara

the cycle of life, death and rebirth

what is Tanha

craving

what is dependent arising

the belief that everything is dependent upon other things

what are the 4 noble truths

The truth of suffering - Dukkha

The origin of suffering - Samudaya

The end of suffering - Nirodha

The path to suffering - Magga

what are the 3 types of suffering

• the suffering of suffering - physical and emotional

• the suffering through change - inability to accept change

• the suffering of existence - background suffering

key quote about suffering

“birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering”

• The Buddha

what are the 3 types of craving

• Kama-tanha - craving pleasure of the senese e.g. greed

• bhava-tanha - craving for fixed identity

• vibhava-tanha - craving to avoid pain and suffering

key quote about craving

“It is this craving that leads to renewed existence”

• The buddha

what are the 3 poisons

greed

hatred

ignorance

what are eightfold path: ethics

right speech

• avoid hate speech

right action

• avoid conflict

right livelihood

• not harming while making a living e.g. vegetarian

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what are eightfold path: meditation

right effort

• working to develop a positive state of mind

right mindfulness

• developing mindful awareness of the body and nature of reality

right concentration

• working towards a state of mental focus necessary for effective meditation

what are eightfold path: widsom

Right understanding/ view

• learning and understanding the dhamma

Right intention

• commited to developing attitudes needed to learn from Dharma

2 Key quotes about Karma

“If one acts or speaks with an evil mind, from that sorrows follow him”

“If one acts or speaks with a pure mind, from that happiness follows him”

what are 3 beliefs about nirvana

indescrible state

ultimate goal of buddhism - ends 3 posions and cycle samsara

not a physical place

what is the tibetan wheel life

An image that symbolises samasara and illustrates the concept of dependent arising

Nidanas

12 factors that illustrate the process of life death and rebirth

samsara

cycle of life, death and rebirth

Kamma

A persons actions and the consequences of their actions

Nirvana

A state of happiness and enlightenment. indescribable

2 key quotes to do with dependant arising

“All events and incidents in life are so intimately linked” Dalai Lama

A wave is “dependent on a set of constantly changing conditions” sogyal rinpoche

what are the 3 marks of existence and their meanings

Anicca - impermanence

Dukkha - dissatisfaction/ suffering

Anatta - no fixed self/ soul

key quote about Dukkha (3 marks of existence)

‘What I teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering’

• The buddha

key evidence for anicca

The story of Kisa Gatomi

Key evidence for anatta

Nagasena and the Chariot

what are the 5 aggregates

consciousness

form

perception

sensation

mental formations

explain 3 of the 5 aggregates

Consciousness - A persons general awareness of the world around them

form - refers to the sense organs e.g. ears and nose and how they experience material and matter

sensation - the sensation that occurs when someone comes into contact with things, can be physical e.g. pain from tripping over or emotional e.g. joy from seeing a loved one

12 marker ‘Anicca is the most important of the 3 marks of existence’

AGREE

• impermanence causes suffering - important to be aware that everything is changing

‘What is impermanent is Dukkha’

‘Nothing is permanent except change’

• reminds Buddhists nothing is permanent including suffering - gives hope and comfort that Dukkha will not last forever

Story of Kisa Gatomi

• need anicca to accept and understand anatta - inextricably linked - a permanent self cannot exist in a world where everything is cosntantly shifting

5 aggregates - subject to anatta

nagasena and the chariot

DISAGREE

• Dukkha - necessary to understand that life involves suffering to overcome it

‘birth is suffering…

‘What I teach is suffering’

• Anatta - we must accept we have no fixed self

nagasena and the chariot

2 ways 3 marks of existence influence buddhists today

• Dukkha - follow right action and intention, 8-fold path

reduce suffering of themselves and others

• anicca influence to accept change - shown in Kisa Gatomi

allows them to reach englightenment

explain 2 temptations the Buddha experienced

• daughters of mara seducion

• armies of mara, arrows became flowers

Buddha however said ‘I will not leave this seat until I have gained the highest wisdom, the supreme enlightenment’

2 ways in which Paticcasamuppada ifluences Buddhists today

Paticcasamuppada is the idea of dependent arising

• understand all things are linked - their actions could affect others and the world - will want to follow METTA and KARUNA for good karma

• accept impermanence since nothing can exist independently - all things rely on changing conditions - reduces greed and emotional attachment to material possessions that could prevent enlightenment

quote from Thich Nhat Hanh about suffering

‘suffering comes from wrong perceptions’

free from the affliction of suffering

2 quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh about anicca

‘Everything is impermanent’

buddhists would listen to his words

‘The notion of death cannot be applied to reality’

no such thing as death - even death is impermanent as you enter enlightenment

what are the 3 jewels

The buddha

the dhamma

the sangha

what is sangha

meaning ‘community’ and refers to the monastic communties of monks and nuns across the world

The sangha’s 2 roles

• provides important spiritual support and guidance for lay community

• collect and pass on the Buddha’s Dhamma

12 marker ‘The dhamma is the most important of the 3 jewels’

AGREE

• dhamma teaches how to overcome suffering and attain enlightenment - e.g. 4 noble truthes teach craving causes suffering

‘not until I give up this seat of meditation will I achieve enlightenment’

‘suffering comes from wrong perceptions’

teaches the idea of anicca - 3marks of existence

• without Dhamma there would be no need for Sangha as it passes it on - and if Buddha existed with his teachings he would not be an important figure

e.g. 8 fold path - right action and right intention - metta and karuna

DISAGREE

• Buddha - there would be no dhamma or sangha, he witnessed the 4 sights and began to form his teaching

‘I take refuge in the buddha’ - dhamma

shows him as a role model

• sangha - they spread dhamma keeping it alive and provide spirtual guidance - w/o it Buddhist religion may have died out and may be harder to attain enlightenment’

Doctor and Nurse analogy - Buddha = docotor who diagnoses, while Dhamma is the medicine it is useless without a Nurse, sangha, to adminster it

2 schools of buddhism

Theravada and Mahayana

Mahayana Buddhism beliefs (4)

• Buddha remains active in the world - through visions and meditation

• ultimate aim - Bodhisattva

• emphasise importance of 6 perfections

• believe sunyata - emptiness, essential for enlightenment

Theravada Buddhism beliefs (4)

• Buddha ceases to exist, historical figure

• aim is to become Arhat

• becoming part of monastic community is of extreme importance

• some believe it possible to share Kamma w/ others, especially before death

What is an Arhat

a ‘perfected person’, someone who has reached enlightenment and Nirvana and ended their suffering

key quotes for Arhats

‘I alone am a fully enlightened one, Whose fires are quenched and extinguished’ The Buddha

fires refers to suffering, 3 poisons etc

What is a Bodhisattva

Someone who has become enlightened but chosen to stay in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment as well

2 types of Bodhisattvas

Earthly - from earth, entrusted by Buddha to spread dhamma

Transcendent - come from other realms/ pure lands and seen in visions

What is the Bodhisattva vow

However inumerable sentient beings are; I vow to save them

quote for Bodhisattvas

‘Go forth for the good of the many’ The Buddha

what are the 6 perfections

Generosity - be generous and give to others

Morality - do the right thing in life

Patience - have patience w/ all

Energy - sustain energy to keep you going through difficult times

Meditation - help concentration and awareness

wisdom - gain wisdom and understanding

what is Buddha-nature

The idea everyone has the essence of a Buddha inside them, all have the potential to be enlightened

quote about Buddha-nature and analogy

‘To find a Buddha all you have to do is see your nature’ Bodhidharma

bee and honey - beekeeper gets honey when bees are gone - Buddhists discover buddha-nature once greed, craving etc is gone

what is pure landn buddhism

part of Mahayana school of buddhism

• they follow Amitabha a king who attained enlightenment and gave up his kingdom to create a pure lands w/ no suffering

• Land of bliss (Sukhavati) = free from suffering is where PLB aim to be reborn

quote about pure land buddhism

‘Sukhavati is rich in a great variety of flowers and fruit’ Sukhavativyuha Sutra

2 ways to reach the pure ladn

have faith in Amitabha

• reciting scriptures

• chanting his name

• meditating on Amitabha

good thoughts and actions

quote about having faith in Amitabha

‘If you wish to come and be born in my realm, You must always call me to mind again and again ’

first part of explain 2 of 5 aggregates 6 marker

5 aggregates demonstrate anatta - no fixed self

illustrated through Nagasena and the chariot - chariot is just a collection of parts