Religious Studies A (AQA GCSE) - Buddhism - Quotation Bank

"One is not a noble who harms living things" - the Buddha

Can be used as evidence to expand on the Moral Precept of "Abstain from harm"

"Whoever... speaks untruth... digs up a root in this very world" - the Buddha

Can be used as evidence to expand on the Moral Precept of "Abstain from wrong speech"

"Just as a mother would protect her own son with her life, so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings" - the Buddha

Can be used to prove the benefits of Metta

"When a monk becomes an arhat, his fermentation has ended" - the Buddha

The Buddha is saying that once you become an arhat, there is nothing else you can do. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to become an arhat.

"Go forth for the welfare of many" - the Buddha

Argument for Mahayana Buddhists to become a bodhissatva

"The five clinging aggregates are suffering" - the Buddha

'clinging' - you can never get rid of the aggregates, as they are how you interact with the world and are human experience. They also result in us 'clinging' to the world.

The Five Aggregates are what cause suffering, as they are affected by the world.

"With respect to the seen is merely the seen" - the Buddha

About how meditation can bring peace to the Buddhist so that they are no longer negatively effected by the things around them.

"Merit is not burnt by fire" - the Buddha

Cremation : The body that is burned up is not worth anything, as it is the merit or kamma that remains and is unburnt.

Reminder to focus on what is important, as your merit does not go away after death, but everything else does.

"May I lead all sentient beings to full enlightenment" - Bodhisattvas

A prayer said on the day of Pari nirvana, showing the reflection on the day, along with the ultimate goal of Bodhisattvas.

"Attachment is the root of suffering" - the Buddha

General quotation which states that tanha leads to suffering because of anicca.

"If you can't find a good companion to walk with on your journey, then walk alone" - the Buddha

Places of worship such as temples are not necessarily required for meeting with other Buddhists, but this does imply it is helpful.

"Breath is the bridge" - Honen

Focus on the importance of focusing on a specific thing in meditation (kasinas)

"The wise do not grieve" - the Buddha

Grieving is a negative as it leads to suffering, and it is foolish to grieve as you should not be attached to anything because of anicca.

"From the arising of this, comes the arising of that" - the Buddha

Explanation of dependent arising. Everything is dependent on everything else.

"Radiate boundless love towards the entire world" - the Buddha

Show karuna (and metta) to the world. Because of dependent arising, it will benefit everybody including yourself.

"It is impossible to be enlightened without following the eightfold path" - the Buddha

Signifies the importance of Buddhists following the eightfold path.

Could be used in trying to justify one part of the dhamma over the other.

"Form is not self" - the Buddha

Anatta and Human Personality. Because the form is not your self, it leads to affliction between the two, leading to suffering.

"Resolutely train yourself to attain peace" - the Buddha

Buddhists should seek to achieve enlightenment, as the only way to end suffering and be at peace is to escape the cycle of Samsara.

"Saying [Amida, save me!] with a conviction that by saying it one will certainly attain birth in the Pure Land" - Honen

Chanting is necessary or a way to reach the Pure Land / Sukhavati

"What I teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering" - the Buddha

The dhamma outlines that suffering is inevitable, but also states how to ultimately escape suffering.

"All phenomena are without self" - the Buddha

Links to anatta, the idea of no fixed self.

"Intention, I tell you, is kamma" - the Buddha

Kamma is determined by the intentions, not the outcomes.

"Hatred does not cease by hatred" - the Buddha

Shows the importance of metta (loving-kindness) , as hatred back only perpetuates more hatred