P+R MINI MOCK - BUDDHISM

What is a place of worship?

a specifically designed building or space where religious people can come together and engage in devotional practices

Is there are requirement for Buddhists to visit places of worship?

No

What is a temple?

a building that allows many people to come together to learn, meditate, celebrate and offer devotion, a temple will contain a shrine and space for community activities

What do Buddhists scriptures say about the benefits of building a temple?

“Because of the virtue of building the temple, I was reborn in the devas [heavenly realm].” Samyuktaratnapitaka Sutra

What is a vihara?

a monastery for monks or nuns who have decided to devote themselves to the Buddhist path. Members of the wider community support the vihara and earn positive karma. The vihara in return supports the members of the community in their spiritual growth.

What is a shrine?

the site of a statue or image of the Buddha. This can be either within a temple or vihara, or alone. Many Buddhists have shrines in their homes.

What is a stupa?

a burial mound built to house relics of the Buddha or another important Buddhist teacher.

What is a Meditation Hall?

a space within a temple or vihara that is dedicated to meditation and is designed to help aid calmness and concentration.

How do Buddhist places of worship vary based on where they are?

• The architecture and design are typically influenced by local cultural traditions.

• For example the Mahabodhi Tempe has typical Indian temple architecture (truncated pyramid made of stone decorated with engravings depicting the life of the Buddha.) This can be contrasted with Buddhist temples in Japan (which are made almost entirely from wood, and consisting of posts supporting a large and gently curved roof).

• In England where Buddhism is not widely practiced the Buddhist temples here use buildings originally intended for other purposes. For example, the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green is based in an old fire station. However, there are some Buddhist Temples in Britain that are purpose built in a more traditional Asian style, such as the Buddhapadipa Temple in Wimbledon. This is built in the traditional Thai style as its construction as it was funded by the this government

How are Buddhist temples usually designed?

to symbolise Buddhist cosmology,

• for example temples being bult with a tall central spire or dome is often said to represent Mount Meru, the centre of the universe in Buddhist cosmology and are usually surrounded by smaller temples and walls, symbolising the oceans and lesser mountains

• Some temples are also arranged in three sections, representing the three realms of existence: the base, the middle and the upper

What does the base or entrance represent?

representing the world of desire (six realms of samsara)

What does the middle level represent?

representing the world of form (inhabited by beings who have transcended sensual desires but still retain a physical form)

What do the upper levels represent?

including towers or central shrines – representing the formless realm (where beings have transcended both physical form andsensual desires, existing in a state of consciousness)

What is a mandala?

often employed as a blueprint or plan for designing places of worships, it is a circular configuration of geometric patterns, symbolic of the journey towards self-realisation and enlightenment.

What are key features of a vihara?

• have accommodation where monks or nuns can sleep, can also be a dormitory, may also provide accommodation for lay visitors

• places for communal eating, monks often rely on donations allowing lay Buddhists to cultivate generosity (dana) and gain good karma

• often spaces of communal education so viharas will typically have classrooms, with separate classrooms for training monks or nuns or for lay visitors seeking further dhamma instruction

• a library of Buddhist scriptures, which will vary depending on the Buddhist tradition

• meditation hall/shrine room, calm places with a shrine that help Buddhists focus on the Buddha and how he achieved enlightenment. mahayana shrines may also be decorated with statues of bodhisattvas

• stupas are burial mounds that contain relics of a deceased person. big ones may have relics of the buddha or another important Buddhist teachers, smaller ones may have relics of members of the monastic community

• many viharas have a garden where they have a fig tree which is a reminder of the bodhi tree where the Buddha achieved enlightenment, reminding Buddhists about what the Buddha achieved and encourages them to practice meditation

What are the features of shrines or offerings?

• shrines are the site of any image or statue of the Buddha that is the object of devotion or veneration, statue is sometimes called a rupa

• statues sometimes covered in gold leaf or painted gold, symbolises enlightenment as gold is a pure metal representing a pure state of mind and enlightenment, and since gold is rare it emphasises the importance of the Buddha for Buddhists

• The central place of the Buddha statue helps Buddhists to focus on the Buddhas teachings and to concentrate in meditation

• flowers are given as an offering by those visiting the shrine, being beautiful and being a symbol of anicca since their life cycle is so short. different number of flowers can represent different things, like one flower representing the unity of all things where three flowers may represent the triratna (buddha, dhamma, sangha)

• incense sticks represent the need to cleanse the mind of the three poisons

• candles are used to provide light as a symbol of enlightenment

• there are gifts of food (fruit, rice, water) to the Buddha, showing respect and reverence to the Buddha by treating him like an honoured guest and demonstrates thankfulness to the Buddha for his teachings

What is a quote that represents how flowers are a symbol of anicca?

“All conditioned phenomena are impermanent” Dhammapada 277

What is a quote that represents how incense is a reminder to cultivate virtuous qualities?

“Sandalwood or lavender, lotus or the jasmine great, of these many fragrances, virtue’s fragrance is supreme.” Dhammapada 55

Why do Buddhists give offerings to monks?

• In the Anguttra Nikaya, the Buddha says that there are eight types of individuals who are worthy of offerings, including monks and arhats

• In Buddhist countries, food offerings are given to monks, with Theravada Monks going into the streets with alms bowls and receive food. in some places monks may take food from their shrines

• Offerings to both statues of the Buddha and to monks are a way of cultivating dana and generosity. Its also the only way many of these monks may eat

• Generosity combats tje poison of greed, and in Mahayana its one of the six paramitas, the qualities one needs to develop to unlock the Buddha-nature

What is a quote that offerings (either to monks or shrines) cultivate generosity?

• “…the wise rejoice in charity and so gain happiness in the life hereafter.” Dhammapada 177

• (Dana is one of the six paramitas) + “The six perfections are the great vehicle of a Bodhisattva.” Large Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom

Why are stupas important?

• For Buddhists, building stupas has karmic benefits. Karma is generated by a person’s actions and the ethical consequences of those actions, which affects their rebirth. The Avadana Sutra suggests that if a person builds a stupa they will not be reborn in a remote location and will not suffer from extreme poverty. As a result, a vast number of stupas are built in rural areas across Southeast Asia.

Why do Buddhists circumambulate (walk around) stupas?

• it represents the endless cycle of samsara

• its a meditative practice

• not veneration for the relics themselves since the Buddha did not want to be revered as a god but wanted his ashes in the stupas to serve as a reminder of his teachings.

What are the conflicting arguments for Buddhists about visiting places of worship

• some Buddhist believe they aren’t necessary as many devotional practices that are carried out in temples can also be practiced at home and since the Buddha became enlightened because of solo meditation there is no need to meditate in a temple or vihara

• other Buddhists would argue that temples and viharas have been build to be as conducive as possible to Buddhist practice, for example meditation halls in a Buddhist temple are designed to aid concentration and avoid distractions. Lay Buddhists may also find it helpful to go to viharas and temples to receive instruction

What are the other reasons to visit temples and viharas?

• There are other reasons to visit temples and viharas. These are places where the Buddhist community (the sangha) can gather together. The sangha is one of the three jewels (triratna), so making connections with them and going to them for help can be important for Buddhists.

• Making connections with the community might be particularly important in places where Buddhism is not the majority religion, such as in Britain.

• Temples and viharas are also places where Buddhists can celebrate important events, such as weddings and funerals, and Buddhist festivals.

What is a devotional practice?

a ritualised action that an individual or group repeats on a regular basis.

Why are the devotional practices done by Buddhists different to those from other religions?

they have a different meaning since they are not directed towards a God or gods

What is puja in a Hindu context

worship or adoration, in Buddhism it is from the Hindu culture of the Buddhas childhood but it does not mean the same thing in Buddhism

What is puja in Buddhism

a sign of commitment to the

• Buddhist path

• the Dhamma

• to a Buddha

• to a Boddhisatva

Therefore the word veneration is more appropriate in a Buddhist context, and typically refers to ceremonies that involve offerings or gifts

What is usually present during puja?

• images of a Buddha or Bodhisattva

• lotus flowers (symbolise enlightenment)

• the Buddhist Wheel to represent the dhamma

What do puja devotional rituals include?

• prostrating before an inage of the Buddha ( which is where a person kneels and bows with forehead, hands, knees, and feet touching the floor), showing commitment to his teachings and to request blessings

• making offerings during puja, such as flowers, food, water and other gifts

• recite mantras

• chant

• use mala beads

How is puja understood in Theravada Buddhism?

puja traditions focus on ‘making merit’. This means earning positive karma by making offerings to monks or a monastery, chanting mantras and reciting Buddhist texts.

How is puja understood in Mahayana Buddhism?

puja traditions include confessing bad actions, wishing others well and celebrating the good in the world. Often Mahayana Buddhists will dedicate the merit they accumulate through puja to other living beings. This is reflective of the bodhisattva vow to liberate all sentient beings. The Buddhas are also requested to not yet leave the world to go to final Nirvana and to keep teaching for the benefit of the world.

What are some quotes that represent the importance of puja?

• A way of showing generosity - one of the six paramitas: “The six perfections are the great vehicle of the bodhisattva.” - The Large Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom

• As a way of cultivating good karma: “Not to do evil, to cultivate merit, to purify ones mind - this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.” Dhammapada 183

• As a form of veneration of the Buddha: “We become like the people we respect.” Thubten Chodron (Tibetan Buddhist nun)

What are mudras?

meaning gesture it refers to the symbolic hand gestures displayed by images of buddhas and bodhisattvas that remind Buddhists of their important qualities. It is done to try and become like the Buddha and Boddhissatvas

What is the meditation mudra?

the hands rest in the lap, with fingers of one hand resting on the fingers of the other and palms facing upwards. Gautama Buddha and Amida Buddha are often shown in this pose.

What is the generosity mudra?

one hand is held downwards with the palm open and the fingers pointing downwards. This symbolises welcome, generosity and compassion. The Bodhisattva Tara and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara are shown making this gesture.

What is the wisdom mudra?

in this pose, the thumb and finger touch, to form a circle. This also indicates that the Buddha is engaged in teaching or discussion. In devotional practices, some Buddhists – mainly Tibetan – will focus on their own hand gestures and try to replicate certain mudras. In this case, the mudra becomes a physical focus which can help the mind in meditation. A complex sequence of mudras is often used by a bhikkhu (monk) or bhikkhuni (nun) when offerings are being made at a Buddhist shrine.

What is chanting?

the repetitoon of a eord or phrase in a rhythic pattern, favoured in Buddism as it can calm the mind, cultivate positive emotions and deepen understanding of Buddhist teachings. It is often used as part of part of other devotional practices such as puja

What do Buddhists often chant?

mantras, a sacred word, syllable, or phrase used as an invocation or object of meditation, the words of the mantras are believed to help focus energy and channel a path to enlightenment for the person reciting the mantra

What is something that shows that mantras are important to Buddhists

one of the most popular is one chanted by Tibetan Buddhists called Om Mani Padme Hum, which is seen not just from monks or nuns, but carved into rocks and painted into the sides of hills, as well as being written on prayer flags and prayer wheels

How do Tibetan Buddhists view the Om Mani Padme Hum?

• the Buddha is recorded as saying this is the most beneficial mantra

• the sutra says the recitation this mantra is a means to liberation from samsara and achievement of enlightenment

• they believe the whole dhamma is contained within the mantra

• it is addressed to a bodhisattva of compassion called Avalokitesvara, and a way of calling on him to relieve the suffering of all beings

• reciting it can lead to numerous positive qualities, such as the development of great compassion and accumalation of merit

• The six syllables of the manta have sometimes been interpreted as representing the six perfections which can be cultivation through constant chanting of the mantra The six syllables in the mantra have also been interpreted as the purification of the six realms of samsara, as by calling on the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara through the mantra he is made present in those realms.

What are mantas in pure land Buddhism?

• nembutsu, chanting the name of Amida Buddha is a core practice, expressing graditude and faith in Amida Budda

• pure land buddhists will often chant “I take refuge in Amida Buddha” in Japenese, this is because This is because Amida vowed that if he achieved Buddhahood, he would create a Pure Land and anyone that called on his name ten times would be reborn there.

What does the Triratna mean?

means three jewels, referring to the Budda, the Dhamma (buddhist teachings), and the sangha (buddhist community)

How do Buddhists practice the triratna?

Buddhists will repeat:

I take refuge in the Buddha

I take refuge in the dhamma.

I take refuge in the sangha.

What does each part of the triratna represent?

taking refuge in the Buddha centres on the authority of the Buddha as a supremely awakened being as a teacher. Secondly, the taking of refuge in the dhamma honours the truth of the Buddha's teachings and their effectiveness in bringing people to enlightenment. The taking of refuge ends with the acceptance of worthiness of the sangha who follow the Buddha’s path and who are a source of support and inspiration. The sangha is usually defined as the monastic community but may also include lay people.

When is taking refuge in the Triratna done?

at the beginning of the day, at the beginning of a meditation session or during puja. Taking refuge in the Three Jewels signifies a commitment to the Buddhist path and an acknowledgement that one can seek guidance and support from the Buddha, his teachings, and the community.

What are quotes about the importance of chanting and mantras?

• The importance of chanting the Triratna: “One, who takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, understands with clarity of wisdom the Four Noble Truths… Having come to this refuge, one is liberated from all dukkha.” -Dhammapada 190-192

• Om Mani Padme Hum (‘Hail to the jewel in the lotus’) - “This is the most beneficial mantra.” -Basket Display Sutra

• Chanting Amida Buddha’s name: “If you wish to come and be born in my realm, you must always call me to mind again and again…”- Pratyutpanna Samadhi Sutra

What are the mala beads?

• a string of 108 beads used commonly in Tibetan Buddhism used to count the number of times a mantra has been recited, providing a visual and physical way of keeping track of the number of mantra repetitions which can be helpful for beginners.

• One bead is counted for each recitation of a mantra, such as Om Mani Padme Hum. The first bead is held between the index finger and thumb, and with each recitation of the mantra move your thumb to pull another bead in place over the index finger.

What are mala beads used for in Pure Land Buddhism?

• In Pure Land Buddhism, mala beads, also known as ‘thought beads’, are used as a tool for mindfulness and to aid in the recitation of the name of Amida Buddha. In Pure Land practice, the malas are often draped over the hands, with the beads encircling the palms, while the hands are held in a prayer position.

How are mala beads used during samatha meditation?

They are a tool to aid focus and concentration by providing a tactile and visual anchor for breath. As each bead is turned, the practitioner takes a deep breath in and then exhales. This helps to ground the mind and maintain attention.

Why are there 108 mala beads?

• that it is believed to be a reminder of the 108 negative mental states (kleshas) that one must overcome in order to achieve enlightenment.

• For example, in a Chinese Buddhist text, the Buddha is recorded as instructing a king to make a mala from seeds and recite an homage to the three jewels while passing the mala through his fingers. The Buddha told him that if a million recitations were completed, the king would end the 108 kleshas.

What is meditation and what does it mean in Buddhism?

• Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train their attention and awareness, achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

• In Buddhism, it is believed that meditation can lead to insight into the true nature of reality. The Buddha achieved enlightenment through meditating under the bodhi tree, and as such many Buddhists aim to follow his example by practising meditation as well.

Why is meditation important in Buddhism?

• it is a key component of the threefold way/eightfold path – the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. Three components of the eightfold path are associated with meditation: right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration

• This tells us a number of things about the benefits of meditation for Buddhists - it can lead to happier states of mind and control of the passions; it can help us to overcome cravings and attachments; and ultimately, it can lead to enlightenment and the achievement of nirvana.

What is a quote that highlights the importance of the Threefold Way (since meditation is a way of cultivating this)

“And what is the middle way realized by the Tathagata [Buddha] that… leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding? Precisely this Noble Eightfold Path.” Dhammacakkapavatana Sutta

What is a quote about how meditation leads to true wisdom?

“When you begin to disentangle [your sense organs], you will realize that the ego is empty. When this emptiness [sunyata] is perfectly clear, you will realize that all dharma (phenomena) are empty. When you are disengaged from dharma, the emptiness (of ego and dharma) will vanish.” - Surangama Sutra

What is the Surangama Sutra and what does it say about meditation?

• a Mahayana text that discusses the practices needed to reach enlightenment made up of a dialogue between the Buddha and his cousin Ananda

• In this dialogue, the Buddha tells Ananda that without the concentrated state of mind made possible through meditation, following the Dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings) is worthless.

• As this is a Mahayana text, it also discusses the aim of meditation as being the unlocking of the Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha). Without meditation, this cannot become visible. It will be obscured by the ordinary mind, which is concerned with daily cares and desires.

• When teaching meditation in this sutra, the Buddha uses the analogy of a silk scarf with six knots in it, representing the six sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind). The aim is to undo these knots one at a time through the practice of meditation. Once you pick the organ, and if the knots of the sense-organs are removed, then the defiling appearances disappear, and all false thinking is removed.

What are the main types of meditation?

there are 400 types of Buddhist meditation, but they most fall under 3 broader categories

• samatha

• mettabhavana

• vipassana

What is samatha?

• calmness or breathing meditation

• Samatha techniques help to calm the mind and focus the awareness, which in turn can lead to more positive emotions and mental states.

Why is samatha meditation important?

• Samatha is often understood to be a foundational practice for other forms of meditation, such as vipassana.

• This is because our normal states of mind are too divided, unfocused and full of negative emotions to allow insights into the true nature of reality to arise.

• A traditional analogy that is often used is to compare our normal state of mind to turbulent, muddy water, too clouded by swirling dirt to let any light pass through. Samatha meditation calms the turbulence of the mind and allows the mind to settle, so that the water becomes clear.

What is the importance of samatha meditation?

It is good to tame the mind, for a well-tamed mind brings happiness. - Dhammpada 35

What is a concentration object?

• an object to concentrate on while meditating

• maybe a coloured disk, a candle flame or a mantra being chanted, however the most common one is the breath (so why it is called mindfulness of breathing)

What is the significance of breathing in samatha?-

• The breath is a constantly present object of attention that helps train the mind to focus and stay present. This is crucial for developing concentration, which is a prerequisite for deeper meditative states.

• In this form of meditation, practitioners will focus on breath coming in and breath going out, how the breath feels in their bodies, the feeling of their nose and mouth as it exits, and so on.

• As seen previously, mala beads might also be used to count breaths.

What is mettabhavana meditation?

• meditation that focuses on cultivating loving kindness

What is the importance of mettabhavana meditation?

Hatred is, indeed, never appeased by hatred in this world. It is appeased only by loving-kindness. -Dhammapada 5

What are the stages of metta in mettabhavana meditation?

1. Having thoughts of metta about oneself, for example thinking to themselves ‘May I be well, may I be happy, may I be at peace’.

2. Having thoughts of metta about someone who they like or love, for example a friend or family member, and thinking ‘‘May they be well, may they be happy, may they be at peace.’

3. Having thoughts of metta about someone neutral. This might be a person that you don’t know very well, that you have no thoughts towards, or you often don’t notice. They would think ‘May they be well, may they be happy, may they be at peace.’

4. Having thoughts of metta about someone who is difficult or an enemy. They would think ‘May they be well, may they be happy, may they be at peace.’

5. Bringing together in one’s mind oneself, the person who is loved, the person one is neutral about, the person who is difficult, and all of the beings in the world and having thoughts of metta towards them. They would think ‘May we all be well, may we all be happy, may we all be at peace.’

What are the effects of mettabhavana beyond meditation into ethical conduct?

Once we cultivate metta for others we act in more ethical ways helping to accumulate merit or positive karma. It also helps to overcome negative emotional states like the three poisons, which are a source of dukkha.

What is vipassana meditation?

• meditation that aims to become enlightened (insight meditation)

• Once a Buddhist has established a deep and firm meditative state using samatha techniques, they might focus their attention on an aspect of reality. In their heightened awareness it may cultivate genuine insight into the truth. Buddhists often focus on one of the three marks of existence - dukkha, anicca and anatta.

• For example, by focusing on anatta, a person might be able to overcome the false sense of self and attachment to ego.

What is a quote about the importance of vipassna meditation?

Indeed, wisdom is born of meditation; without meditation wisdom is lost. - Dhammadapada 282

What does vipassana meditation mean in Theravada Buddhism?

• once a person has gained insight into the true nature of reality they become enlightened and are thus liberated from dukkha and samsara.

• It can be said that the Buddha practised vipassana meditation under the bodhi tree.

What does vipassana meditation mean in Mahayana Buddhism?

• one of the six paramitas and is said to unlock the final perfection – prajna (wisdom). The aim of vipassana meditation is therefore to unlock the Buddha-nature through the realisation that all is characterised by sunyata (emptiness).

What is the connection between samatha and vipassana?

While it is common today to distinguish different types of meditation, in the early Buddhist tradition samatha and vipassana were seen as part of a single path. For example, a number of sutras mention Samatha and vipassana as mental qualities that should be developed together. For example, in the Riddle Tree Sutta, the Buddha provides a metaphor in which serenity (samatha) and insight (vipassana) are a ‘swift pair of messengers’ who deliver the message of nirvana.

What is a quote that represents the importance of using both samatha and vipasanna meditation?

“And what, bhikkhus, is the path leading to the unconditioned? Serenity and insight…” Samyutta Nikaya

What is the roe of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in meditation?

before he died, the Buddha taught that mentally contemplating his physical body and many virtuous qualities would help pacify an agitated mind, so buddha-visualisation has been an important practice from the early days of Buddhism. However, it is particularly a technique that is used in Mahayana Buddhism.

What is Buddha visualisation?

• Producing a vivid image of a Buddha and holding it in the mind for a long period of time is difficult as the mind easily wanders and loses the image. As such, there are often aids that Buddhists can use to help them concentrate on the Buddha. For example, Buddhists use images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas to help them focus when meditating and as inspirations or guides.

• As we have seen, it is typical for Buddhists to have a shrine as a focal point in a meditation hall which contain an image of a Buddha or bodhisattva. These can help Buddhists to focus on the Buddha’s important qualities, such as through the use of mudras.

• Alternatively, they might focus on bodhisattvas that are associated with particular qualities. For example, Manjushri is said to be the embodiment of wisdom.

What does Buddha visualisation look like in Pure Land Buddhism?

In some traditions, such as Pure Land Buddhism, they use a sound-image to help concentrate the mind on Amida Buddha. By constantly repeating the name of Amida Buddha during meditation it helps to hold him in the mind and stops the mind becoming distracted. In the Pure Land tradition, buddha-visualisation as a meditative practice is important because it allows Amida Buddha to be actually present in the mind of individual. Since a Buddha’s existence is not limited to a physical body it is possible for a Buddha to be fully present in the mind of the practitioner. This allows their consciousness to be interactive with the Buddha and therefore for their minds to be purified. Some Pure Land thinkers have argued that such practices can allow them to see Amida’s Pure Land.