Buddhism Beliefs Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary in Buddhism, useful for exam preparation.

Bodhisattva

An enlightened being who chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others achieve enlightenment.

Arhat

A 'perfected person' who has overcome the main sources of suffering and reached Nirvana.

The Noble Eightfold Path

A guide for ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions.

Dukkha

The concept of suffering or dissatisfaction that Buddhists seek to overcome.

Anicca

The idea of impermanence, that everything is constantly changing.

Anatta

The doctrine that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul.

Four Noble Truths

The foundation of Buddha's teachings about suffering and its cessation.

Nirvana

A state of complete enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of samsara.

Samsara

The cycle of life, death, and rebirth in Buddhism.

Karma

The law of moral causation, where actions influence future circumstances.

The Six Perfections (Pāramitās)

Qualities that Mahayana Buddhists strive to develop: Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy, Meditation, and Wisdom.

Five Moral Precepts

Guidelines for ethical conduct in Buddhism: abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants.

Sangha

The community of Buddhist practitioners, including monks and laypeople.

Dharma

The teachings of the Buddha and the fundamental principles of Buddhism.

Mara

The being that represents temptation and distraction from the path to enlightenment.

Middle Way

The path between self-indulgence and self-denial that leads to enlightenment.

Three Jewels

The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha in whom Buddhists take refuge.