RS Buddhism A2 WJEC

What are the two types of Buddhism?

Theravada and Mahayana

What scriptures do Theravada Buddhists use?

The Pali Canon

What is the Pali Canon also known as?

Tipitaka, or "three baskets"

Why is the Pali Canon often referred to as the Tipitaka (three baskets)?

because it includes:

-The Vinaya Pitaka or "Basket of Discipline"

-The Sutta Pitaka or "Basket of Discourses"

-The Abhidhamma Pitaka or "Basket of Higher Teachings".

What does the Vinaya Pitaka contain?

It contains the Patimokka rules. There are 227 rules for monks and 311 for nuns

What does the Sutta Pitaka contain?

It contains over 10,000 suttas including the parable of the poison arrow

what is the meaning of the parable of the poison arrow?

Life is so short. It must not be spent in endless metaphysical speculation that does not bring us any closer to the truth.

what does the abhidhamma pitaka contain?

profound moral psychology and philosophy of the Buddha's teachings. This was written after the death of the Buddha.

Name some of the ways the Pali Canon is used

-monks are expected to explain and teach it

-the rules are followed by monks and nuns

-the stories are often told at schools

-the story of the Buddha's life is partly taken from it

-advice is still taken from it today

-Jakata stories are enjoyed by children

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Name some of the Buddhist traditions that come under Mahayana Buddhism

-Zen Buddhism

-Pure Land Buddhism

-Tibetan Buddhism

What scriptures do Mahayana Buddhists use?

The Sutras

what is the goal of Mahayana Buddhism?

It is not to become an arhat and reach Nirvana, but to become a Bodhisattva and eventually a Buddha, to save others and reach enlightenment.

Why is the heart sutra used?

It is not used to be read or recited, but to be contemplated.

What is emptiness?

Summarised by Buddhist teacher Ari Goldfield: the first meaning of emptiness is called "emptiness of essence," which means that phenomena [that we experience] have no inherent nature by themselves."

The second is called "emptiness in the context of Buddha Nature," which sees emptiness as endowed with qualities of awakened mind like wisdom, bliss, compassion, clarity, and courage. Ultimate reality is the union of both emptiness's.

Name one of the parables in the lotus sutra

the parable of the burning house

what is the meaning of the parable of the burning house?

the path to enlightenment, the importance of the lotus sutra, skilful means

Who is the 14th Dalai Lama?

Tenzin Gyatso

What is the Dalai Lama?

spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism

14th Dalai Lama early life and education

-He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family in North-eastern Tibet.

-At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama.

-He began his monastic education at the age of 6.

-At 23 he sat his final examination and passed with honours and was rewarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, equivalent to the highest doctorate in Buddhist philosophy.

14th Dalai Lama political career.

-In 1950, after China's invasion of Tibet, the 14th Dalia Lama was called upon to assume full political power.

-In 1959, following the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising by Chinese troops, the 14th Dalia Lama was forced to escape into exile. Since then, he has been living in northern India.

-In 1963, He presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet, followed by several reforms to democratize the Tibetan administration. The new democratic constitution was named "The Charter of Tibetans in Exile".

-In 1987 in an address to members of the United States Congress in Washington, DC, the 14th Dalia Lama proposed a Five-Point Peace Plan for Tibet as a first step towards a peaceful solution of the worsening situation in Tibet.

-In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.

-On 14 March 2011 he wrote to the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (Tibetan Parliament-in-exile) requesting it to relieve him of his temporal authority.

what does the 14th Dalai Lama teach?

compassion and wisdom

Who is Thich Nhat Hanh?

-Vietnamese Zen Master & social activist

-Campaigned against Vietnam war and more generally for understanding and compassion worldwide

-Written over 100 books, endorsed for Nobel Prize by MLK

-Head of 'engaged Buddhism' movement

what makes zen Buddhism different from other Mahayana traditions?

They believe that enlightenment can be instant and is known as satori

What is satori described as?

great unity, great peace, a feeling of really knowing the truth, of having transcended time and space, reaching a higher state of consciousness - which is impossible to describe in normal words

What is a roshi?

-Zen master. Their pupils are expected to submit without question to the masters authority.

-In Rhinzai Zen these can be traumatic experiences, as masters may perform acts such as hitting or shouting at the pupil- even cutting off fingers.

-One rather shocking story is of Nan chuan who killed a cat when none of his disciples gave the right answer to his question.

What is a Koan in Zen Buddhism?

A riddle or puzzle that cannot be solved using ordinary language or reason

Give an example of a Koan

-What is the sound of one hand clapping?

-Does a falling tree make a sound if no one is around to hear it?

-What is the original face?

The method stressed in Soto Zen of quiet sitting meditation is known as what?

Zazan

how is Zazan practiced?

Zazan is practised staring at a wall with eyes open because Zen does not reject the material world. The idea is just to sit, rather than to sit and think, which will lead to the direct experience of Buddha-reality.

What is Pure Land Buddhism?

A form of Buddhism that requires no special rituals but instead requires chanting of Buddha's name over and over again to achieve enlightenment.

what name is chanted in pure land Buddhism?

Amithaba Buddha

what are the pure land essentials?

-Nembutsu- concentration on the Buddha

-scripture- The Infinite Life Sutra, The Contemplation Sutra and The Amitabha Sutra.

-chanting-Chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha

-faith- faith in the Amitabha Buddha

what school of Buddhism did Nichiren believe was the closest to the true message of the Buddha?

Tendai

What is Mappo?

spiritual decline

what scripture does nichiren Buddhism use?

the lotus sutra

what are the 10 basic principles in nichiren Buddhism?

1. Hell - the feeling of despair or desperation

2. Hunger - when someone constantly wants something.

3. Animality - praying on the vulnerable

4. Anger - selfishness, competitiveness, and arrogance.

5. Tranquillity - is a calm state of life.

6. Rapture - is the pleasures one feels when one's desires are fulfilled.

7. Learning - appears when someone seeks new skills

8. Absorption- a condition based on knowledge and wisdom

9. Bodhisattva - means 'disciple of the Buddha' and is a state where people have strong concern for others which ultimately helps them to overcome their challenges

10. Buddhahood - is the ultimate state to be in as it includes compassion, wisdom, and humaneness.

largest three schools of Nichiren Buddhism

Soka Gakki, Nichiren Shoshu, Nichiren Shu

blind faith

Faith without evidence- Richard Dawkins

What is the Kalama Sutta opposed to?

blind faith and dogmatism

Dalai Lama and science

"if science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change"

Stephen Batchelor

A Buddhist Atheist who believes that Buddhism is a constantly evolving culture of awakening rather than a religious system based on immutable dogmas and beliefs

David Brazier

accepts that there are modern secularised and rational schools of Buddhism today but sees these as only half forms and cultural products rather than the true idea of Buddhism.

Buddhist view of other religions

a wide choice of religion is needed to suit the varied needs of different people. Buddhism recognises that all religions share the same aim of working for the well-being of mankind

Emperor Ashoka

Emperor who converted to Buddhism and proceeded to spread the faith

Important people in British Buddhism

Denise Cush

Edwin Arnold

Rhys Davids

Allan Bennet

covert vs heritage Buddhists

A Convert Buddhist is someone who converts to Buddhism later in life, typically from a Western/non-Buddhist country

A heritage Buddhist is someone who is born into the religion, or someone who had a heavy influence due to living in a Buddhist country

Buddhist groups and centres in the UK

-Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

-Jamyang Buddhist Centre

-Kagyu Samye Ling Tibetan Centre

-Thrissel Hole Buddhist Abbey

Rita Gross

Feminist Buddhist and Author of 1992 book "Buddhism After Patriarchy"

"if we take feminism to mean the freedom from gendered roles and equality of dignity between men and women, then feminism has always had a home in Buddhism

significance of the parable of the Dragon King's Daughter

until the teachings of the lotus sutra it was believed that women could not reach enlightenment

8 important rules for nuns

1. To respect as a senior any monk no matter how young

2. To keep the rains retreat only where monks are present

3. To wait for the monks to appoint the Uposatha day and preach the Patimokka sermon

4. The ceremony at the end of the retreat can only be undertaken in the presence of monks

5. Penance for lesser offences must be given by both orders

6. Full ordination can only be given by the presence of monks as well as nuns

7. No nun can criticise a monk

8. No nun can officially admonish a monk

special features of Tibetan Buddism

· The high status of the teacher or "Lama"

· Preoccupation with the relationship between life and death

· Important role of rituals and initiations

· Rich visual symbolism

· Elements of earlier Tibetan faiths

· Mantras and meditation practice

· Tibetan Buddhist practice features several rituals, and spiritual practices such as the use of mantras and yogic techniques.

· Supernatural beings are prominent in Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhas and bodhisattvas abound, gods and spirits taken from earlier Tibetan religions continue to be taken seriously. Bodhisattvas are portrayed as both benevolent godlike figures and wrathful deities.

· This metaphysical context has allowed Tibetan Buddhism to develop a strong artistic tradition, and paintings and other graphics are used as aids to understand at all levels of society.

· Visual aids to understanding are very common in Tibetan Buddhism - pictures, structures of various sorts and public prayer wheels and flags provide an ever-present reminder of the spiritual domain in the physical world.

· Tibetan Buddhism is strong in both monastic communities and among lay people.

· The lay version has a strong emphasis on outwardly religious activities rather than the inner spiritual life: there is much ritual practice at temples, pilgrimage is popular - often including many prostrations, and prayers are repeated over and over - with the use of personal or public prayer wheels and flags. There are many festivals, and funerals are very important ceremonies.

· Lay people provide physical support to the monasteries as well as relying on the monks to organise the rituals.

Sacred Mandala

a mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe. Once completed it is then destroyed in a ceremony. The destruction of the mandala serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life.