Comparative Religions - Buddhism

Buddha

Awakened one; one who is enlightened

Buddhism

a way of life based on simple teachings of the Buddha

What dream did Queen Maya have about her son being born?

She was carried high over the Himalayas to a silver mountain. She was set on a silver couch. A white elephant with six tusks walked around her and struck her right side

Siddhartha Gautama

The young prince who later became the Buddha

Where did Queen Maya give birth to Siddhartha?

Lumbini Gardens

At what age did Siddhartha marry?

16

What were the 3 forms of suffering Siddhartha encountered on his journey in order?

age, sickness, death

Ascetic

A person who gives up worldly pleasures such as possessions, fine clothes, money, and even shelter

Enlightenment

Finding deep truth and freedom from suffering

What was the first path to enlightenment Siddhartha sought?

Being an ascetic

Alms

Gifts of food

What was Siddhartha's conclusion about ascetics?

That denying bodily pleasures did not bring enlightenment

Middle way

Living in balance of pleasure and pain/suffering to reach enlightenment

What did Siddhartha do on his 35th birthday?

He bathed in the river and rested quietly in a grove of trees beneath a full moon

Bodhi

Enlightenment tree

Mara's 3 daughters

Discontent, passion, and desire

Nirvana

True happiness and peace

What was the turning point of Siddhartha Gautama into the Buddha?

When he meditated under the Bodhi tree through night about the nature of reality until he reached enlightenment

The Four Noble Truths

The basic principles of Buddhism; The truths that the Buddha discovered under the Bhodi tree

The First Noble Truth

Suffering is present in all things, and nothing lasts forever

The Second Noble Truth

Suffering is caused by cravings, desires, and wants

The Third Noble Truth

The way to end suffering is to give up all cravings

The Fourth Noble Truth

The way to give up all cravings is to live life according to the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

The path one travels to follow the middle way

Right Understanding (1st Path)

Develop a deep understanding of the Four Noble Truths

Right Purpose (2nd Path)

Live a life of selflessness, love, and nonviolence

Right Speech (3rd Path)

Be careful and truthful in what you say; do not lie or gossip

Right Action (4th Path)

Do not kill, steal, or lie; be honest

Right Way to Earn a Living (5th Path)

Do not work at a job that causes harm to people or living creatures

Right Effort (6th Path)

Promote good actions and prevent evil actions

Right Mindfulness (7th Path)

Be aware of but not attached to your emotions, thoughts, and feelings

Right Concentration (8th Path)

Focus your mind with such practices as meditation

Pāļi Canon

The only sacred text of Buddhism that is "the truth"; where all the Buddhist teachings come from

What is the Buddhist belief of God and souls?

That there is no God and no souls

Transmigration

When your consciousness moves between the realms

Bhavacakra

The wheel that describes the 6 Buddhist realms

Mara/Yama

The Lord of Death

3 Positive Realms

Human, Demigod, and God Realm

3 Negative Realms

Animal, Hungry Ghosts, and Hell Realm

Human Realm

Realm of humans; suffering is inevitable, you can also experience immense joy. Must find the middle way

Demigod Realm

The realm of a mix between humans and gods; pleasure and abundance the same as Gods, but suffer because of greed of wanting to be like gods

God Realm

Realm of hyper-powerful beings that have everything they want, but waste their lives on meaningless things; they are not fulfilling their dharma

Animal Realm

The realm of wild animals whose primary form of suffering is fear of predators

Realm of Hungry Ghosts

The realm of hungry ghosts whose primary form of suffering is extreme hunger and thirst; if they find some form of sustenance it will disappear, and if they reach it and consume it they feel agony

Hell Realm

Similar to the western depiction of Hell; 18 levels of hell that have extreme levels of temperature and suffering

Rooster

Greed; when transformed -> generosity

Snake

Hatred; when transformed -> compassion

Pig

Ignorance; when transformed -> wisdom

What must you do first before working towards the middle way?

Transform the 3 causes of suffering

Sangha

Buddhist community of monks and nuns

Bhikshus

Buddhist monks

bhikshunis

Buddhist nuns

World-renunciation

Rejection of material comforts to achieve a greater sense of oneness with others and enlightenment

Laity

People who follow the Buddhist teachings but still remain householders