GCSE Buddhism AQA

Buddha

An enlightened or awakened being

asceticism

Denying yourself worldy pleasures

Samatha Meditation

calming the mind

Vipassana Meditation

'insight meditation'; a type of meditation that involves developing understanding of the nature of reality

Mara

Demon who tempted Siddhartha with visions of beautiful women

nibbana

Freedom from suffering and rebirth

kamma

Law of cause and effect

Therevada Buddhism

One of the two big branches of Buddhism. More Traditional

Mahayana Buddhism

One of the two big branches of Buddhism. Less traditional

The Four Sights

(1) an old person, (2) a sick person, (3) a dead person and (4) an ascetic holy man.

Why the Buddha is important to Buddhists

He is a role model, guide and evidence that anyone can become enlightened

dhamma

The teachings of the Buddha and the eternal law

dependent origination

Everything comes from and depends on something else

samsara

Cycle of death and rebirth that has no beginning.

Three Jewels/refuges

Buddha, dhamma, sangha

anicca

impermanence

anatta

no fixed self or soul

dhukka

suffering or dissatisfaction

The three marks of existence

anicca, anatta, dhukka

Pali canon

oldest collection of Buddhist texts

suttas

large collection of Buddhist texts

The first noble truth

truth of dhukka

dukkha-dukkha

suffering caused by ordinary problems e.g. sickness

viparinama-dukkha

suffering caused by change

sankhara-dukkah

suffering caused by existence

The second noble truth

suffering is caused by craving (tanha)

The three poisons/fires

greed, anger, ignorance

The opposite of greed

generosity

The opposite of anger

compassion

The opposite of ignorance

wisdom

The Third Noble truth

It is possible to overcome dukkha if we stop its cause, craving

Nibbana in life

the three poisons are cured but the person is still alive

paranibbana

the person is dead and will never again be reborn into samsara

Theravada understanding of enlightenment

true understanding and acceptance of the four noble truths

Mahayana understanding of enlightenment

the realisation that samsara and nibbana are the same

The fourth noble truth

The way to overcome dukkha is to follow the Eighfold Path.

Right resolve

The desire to give up the three poisons.

Right speech

No lying or gossip

Right action

No killing or injuring, no taking what is not given, no wrong sexual acts.

Right livelihood

No making a living from something that harms living beings

Right effort

Avoid negative states of mind and promote positive states of mind

Right mindfulness

Be aware of the true nature of reality

Right concentration

Practice meditation.

Five skhandas

Five factors that make up a person

First skhanda

material form

Second skhanda

sensations

Third skhanda

perceptions

Fourth skhanda

mental formations

Fifth skhanda

consciousness

sunyata

emptiness

tathagatagarbha

embryonic Buddha living inside every person

Buddha nature

all beings have the seed of buddhahood inside them

Arhat

A perfected person who will not be reborn

Bodhisattva

person who has dedicated themselves to attaining enlightenment for the good of all beings

The difference between a Buddha and an arhat

A Buddha has rediscovered the dhamma after it has been lost

Pure Lands

mystical lands created by Buddhas where it is easy to hear the dhamma and become enlightened

karuna

compassion

metta

loving kindness

loving kindness

desire for all beings to be happy

five precepts

ethical rules followed by Buddhists

first precept

To abstain from harming living beings

second precept

To abstain from taking what is not given

third precept

To abstain from sexual misconduct

fourth precept

To abstain from false speech

fifth precept

To abstain from intoxication

six perfections

generosity, virtue, patience, effort, meditation, wisdom

skillful action

actions that produce positive states of mind and generates good kamma

unskillful action

actions that harm oneself or other and produce negative kamma

middle way

path between two extremes

purpose of chanting

Makes the mind joyful and calm

Mantra

Sacred words of power that are repeated during meditation

mala

Prayer beads used to count the numbers of mantras chanted

Common offerings at a Buddhist shrine

flowers and water

purpose of Buddhist worship

Generate good kamma, remind Buddhists of the dhamma, help Buddhists cultivate the six perfections

Samatha meditation

Total concentration on a single object

metta meditation

practicing loving kindness to all beings

Vipassana meditation

Total awareness of the true nature of reality in the moment

Zazen meditation

Sitting meditation practiced in Zen Buddhism

Mindfulness

Bringing your attention to the present moment.

Visualisation meditation

Seeing something in your mind such as Amitabha Buddha or the Pure Land

temple

Buddhist building for worship

Gompas and Viharas

Buddhist monasteries

Shrines

The place at home or in a temple where the Buddha or bodhisattvas are worshipped

main sites of Buddhist pilgrimage

the place of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, first teaching and death

retreats

withdrawal from everyday life in order to focus on meditation and the dhamma

Bodh Gaya

the site of the Buddha's enlightenment

Sangha

The Buddhist community and the third of the 'Three Refuges' of Buddhism

Monastic Sangha

Buddhist monks and nuns

Lay Sangha

Buddhists who have taken refuge in the 'Three Refuges' but are not monks or nuns.

sixth precept

abstain from food after noon

seventh precept

abstain from dancing, singing or music

eigth precept

abstain from perfumes and jewellery

ninth precept

abstain from high or luxurious beds

tenth precept

abstain from touching money, gold or silver

alms collecting

a form of begging conducted by many Buddhist monks and nuns

Wesak

celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and entry to paranibbana

Paranibbana day

Mahayana festival celebrating the day when the Buddha died and achieved paranibbana

Obon

Japanese festival where people clean the graves of their ancestors

One thing that happens during Theravada death rituals

pour water into an overflowing cup to represent transfer of merit

One thing that happens during Tibetan death rituals

read the Tibetan Book of the Dead to help guide the dead person