Buddhism (Chapter Four) - World Religions

What was the name of the man who later became the Buddha and founded the religion of Buddhism?

What was the name of the man who later became the Buddha and founded the religion of Buddhism?

The name of the man that became Buddha and discovered Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama.

What were the Four Passing Sights? Explain their significance to the origins of Buddhism.

The four passing sights were a decrepit old man, a diseased man, a corpse, and a religious ascetic man who lead a "homeless life of solitude and self-denial" in search of salvation from the world of suffering. They helped Gautama realize the world is suffering but there was a way to be free of the suffering.

Explain the doctrine of The Middle Way

The doctrine of the middle way rejects pleasures of sensual pleasure and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

Describe the event of Gautama’s attainment of enlightenment.

Gautama achieved enlightenment when he discovered the 4 noble truths. He did his on his third "watch", which was him turning his focus inward entering a meditative trance. In these trances he would ascend through levels of deepening awareness, until he could perceive with perfect clarity the true nature of the human condition.

What is the Sangha? Who are it’s members?

The sangha is the Buddhist monastic community of monks and nuns: one of the three Jewels of Buddhism.

What are the Three Jewels of Buddhism?

The Three Jewels of Buddhism are three focal elements of Buddhism: Buddha, the Dharma (the Buddha's teachings), and the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic community).

What features of Buddhist cosmology are shared with Hinduism?

Buddhism and Hinduism both share the regard of time as cyclical, and both are considered eternal. They both believe many worlds exist in this eternal cyclical time scheme. They also both share the doctrine of samsara.

Describe the Buddha’s reaction against early Hinduism.

Buddha's reaction against early Hinduism was not good. Buddha thought the speculation regarding the nature of the world, the human condition, and the divine was useless. He also disagreed with the class system and the institutional structure of Hinduism, where only the males in the Brahmin class controlled the sacrificial rituals and sacred texts.

Identify the Three Marks of Existance. How are they interrelated?

The three marks of existence are anatta (no-self), anicca (impermanence), and dukkha (suffering). All of these marks indicate the changing nature of reality.

What is the doctrine of anatta? How does it relate to the Hindu concept of Atman?

The doctrine of anatta denies permanent self. It helps achieve Atman by helping one focus on not being attached to a "self" so they are more able to move on.

According to the Buddhists doctrine of samsara, what is actually reborn? Explain the rold of karma in the Buddhist understanding of samsara.

A bundle of energy is actually reborn and personal identity is based on one's karma.

List the Five Preccepts, which apply to all Buddhists. Then list the five additional precepts that apply to monks and nuns.

The 5 Precepts that apply to all Buddhists are do not take life, do not take what is not give, do not engage in sensuous misconduct, do not use false speech, and do not drink intoxicants. The five additional that apply to monks and nuns are do not eat after noon, do not watch dancing or shows, do not use garlands, perfumes, or ornaments, do not use a high or soft bed, and do not accept gold or silver.

What are some possible English translations of the term dukkha? Explain its meaning in your own words.

Some possible English translations of the work dukkha are suffering, frustration, dislocation, or discomfort. It means that a person cannot be happy in life, he/she will always be a little uncomfortable.

What is tanha? How does it relate to dukkha?

Tanha is selfish desire and it causes dukkha.

List the steps of the Eightfold Path.

The steps of the eightfold path are: right views, right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right meditation.

What is the difference between the Buddha and other humans who attain enlightenment?

The difference between the Buddha and other humans that achieve enlightenment is that the Buddhas don't need help in achieving liberation.

Define and briefly descrie the character of an arhat.

The arhat is the one who had become enlightened. The arhat has experiences through the transcendent state of enlightenment a forecast of the final nirvana.

What is the literal meaning of the word nirvana? How does this help to explain the concept of nirvana?

Nirvana literally means blowing out. This helps to explain the state of nirvana because when a person achieves nirvana, it is like their energy is being snuffed out.

What are the three divisions of Buddhism?

The three divisions of Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

What is the main focus of Theravada Buddhism?

The main focus of Theravada Buddhism is on the early texts, not on Buddha himself.

What is the literal meaning of the name Mahayana, and what are the implications of this meaning?

Mahayana literally means the great vehicle. It implies it's superiority over Theravada Buddhism.

How does Vajrayana Buddhism “fight fire with fire”?

Vajrayana Buddhism fights fire with fire by setting themselves on fire in protest of being kicked out of their homeland Tibet.

Who is the Dalai Lama? How is each Dalai Lama chosen?

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Vajrayana Buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. They are chosen through various means, some supernatural and some mundane.

What are the primary geographical regions of the three divisions of Buddhism?

The primary geographical regions of the type of Buddhism are Theravada (Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand), Mahayana (China, Japan, and Korea), and Vajrayana (Tibet).

Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama and all others who have by their own insight attained perfect enlightenment.

Middle Way

A basic Buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

Nirvana

The ultimate goal of all Buddhists, is the extinction of desire and any sense of individual selfhood, resulting in liberation from samsara and its limiting conditions.

Sangha

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the three Jewels of Buddhism

Dharma

the teachings of the Buddha, and one of the three Jewels of Buddhism

Pali

An ancient language of India, similar to Sanskrit, but more commonly understood, and used in the writing of the earliest Buddhist texts; most important for Theravada Buddhism.

Three Marks of Existance

Characteristics that summarize the changing nature of reality: are anatta (no-self), anicca (impermanence), and dukkha (suffering).

Anatta

One of the three marks of existence; is the Buddhist doctrine denying a permanent self.

Anicca

One of the three marks of existence; is the Buddhist doctrine that all existant things are constantly changing.

Five Precepts

The basic moral requirements that are binding for all Buddhists.

Four Noble Truths

The central teachings of Buddhism: to live is to experience suffering; suffering is caused y desire; the cessation of suffering can be achieved; the solution is the Eightfold path.

Dukkha

The first of the four noble truths is the basic Buddhist insight that suffering is part of the human condition.

Tanha

The second of the Four Noble Truths; defines the basic practices of Buddhism that lead to Nirvana.

Noble Eightfold Path

The fourth of the four noble truths; defines the basic practices of Buddhism that lead to Nirvana.

Arhat

One who has become enlightened; is the ideal type for Theravada Buddhism.

Theravada

Prevalent form of Buddhism in Cambodia, BUrma (the union of Myanmar), Sri Lanka, and Thailand; focuses on the earliest texts and emphasizes monastic lifestyle.

Mahayana

The largest of Buddhism’s three divisions, prevalent in China, Japan, and Korea; encompasses a variety of forms, including those that emphasize devotion and prayer to the Buddha and bodhisattvas.

Bodhisattvas

Future Buddhas; as the ideal types for Mahayana Buddhism, beings who have experienced enlightenment but, are motivated by compassion, and stop short of entering nirvana, so as to help others achieve it.

Vajrayana

Named for the vajra, the Buddhist diamond scepter; a prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet; emphasizes the harnessing of sensual energies to attain Nirvana.

Mandalas

Patterned icons that visually excite; are used in Vajrayana Buddhism to enhance meditation.

Mudras

Choreographed hand movements were used in the rituals of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Mantras

Phrases of syllables chanted to evoke a deity or to enhance meditation; are used in Hinduism and Buddhism, especially in Vayrayana.

Dalai Lama

The spirtual leader of Vajaryana (Tibetan) Buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattava avalokiteshvara.