Key Concepts and Teachings of Buddhism

Great Maya's dream

What entered her body without causing her pain?

The seer

Who says about the prince, 'Uninterested in worldly affairs he will give up his kingdom. By strenuous efforts he will win that which is truly real.'

King's response to the prophecy

What does the king do in response to the prophesy about his son?

First passing sight

What is the first passing sight that the prince sees on his journey?

Second excursion

What does the prince see on his second excursion?

Third excursion

What does the prince see on his third excursion?

Prince's concern

What is it about these three sights that bothers the prince? Why do they prevent him from finding delight in the world as he once did?

Fourth passing sight

What is the fourth passing sight that the prince sees?

Prince's response to fourth sight

What did the prince do in response to the fourth sight?

Meditation tree

What is the tree called where the prince sat to meditate and vowed not to leave until he accomplished his task?

Attacker of the prince

Who sent his three sons and three daughters to attack the prince while he meditated?

Quote about suffering

Who said, 'Having myself crossed the ocean of suffering, I must help others to cross it. Freed myself, I must set others free...'

Parable of the arrow

In the parable of the arrow, what does the man require the doctor to do before he will allow the doctor to remove the arrow?

Lesson from the parable of the arrow

What is the lesson we are supposed to draw from the parable of the arrow?

Four Noble Truths

What are the Four Noble Truths?

Noble Eightfold Path

What are the eight parts of the Noble Eightfold Path?

Two extremes and middle way

What are the two extremes men ought to avoid, and what is the 'middle way' between them?

Three poisons

What are the three poisons?

Three marks of existence

What are the three marks of existence?

Five Precepts

What are the Five Precepts?

Three Jewels

What are the Three Jewels (or Three Refuges)?

Founder of Buddhism

Who was the founder of Buddhism? What was he called after attaining enlightenment?

Enlightenment for anyone

Can anyone become enlightened or become a buddha?

Main symbol of Buddhism

What is the main symbol of Buddhism?

Middle Path

What is the 'Middle Path' of Buddhism?

Buddhism followers

Buddhism has become the most influential religion from Asia with about 400 to 450 million followers worldwide making it the 4th largest religion.

Gautama's background

What was Gautama's background and what were two predictions made about his future?

Buddha's purpose

What did the Buddha say he was born for?

Four Passing Sights

An old person, a gravely ill person, a human body on the way to cremation, a holy man who had renounced ordinary life.

Bodhi Tree

The tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment.

Sangha

Community of Buddhist monastics established by Buddha.

Three Refuges

"I take refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the dharma; I take refuge in the Sangha."

Cause of Buddha's Death

He died of illness. His final instructions were "Decay is inherent in all things; work out your salvation with diligence."

Theravada Buddhism

The oldest sect of Buddhism advocating for strict adherence to what they consider the earliest Buddhist practices.

Mahayana Buddhism

A sect of Buddhism that holds that Buddhism is for a large community and not just for monks.

Bodhisattvas

"Buddha-to-be," one who comes very close to achieving full buddha nature but postpones it to help others.

Pure Land

The pure land is heaven.

Zen Buddhism

A Buddhist group that aims for the immediate acquiring of a "buddha mind."

Koan

Zen riddle meant to induce nonrational enlightenment.

Zazen

Seated meditation in Zen Buddhism.

Dalai Lama

The head of the School of Tibetan Buddhism, meaning "ocean of wisdom" or oceanic teacher.

Dharma

Law, teaching of Buddhism.

Karma

Law of the cause and effect of actions done by sentient beings.

Samsara

Wandering through reincarnations, a main cause of human suffering.

Nirvana

Blowing out, extinction of desire, attachment, and suffering.

Goal of Buddhism

A complete and definitive liberation from the painful transience of life.

Right understanding

The correct perception of the nature of reality and understanding the Four Noble Truths.

Right intention

The commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement.

Right speech

Speaking truthfully and harmoniously.

Right conduct

Behavior that is ethical and morally upright.

Right livelihood

Earning a living in a way that does not harm others.

Right effort

The effort to cultivate positive states of mind and eliminate negative ones.

Right mindfulness

Awareness of the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena.

Right contemplation

The practice of focused meditation.

Three Characteristics of Existence

Impermanence, dukkha (suffering), and no soul/self (no permanent soul or self).

Sila

Means virtuous behavior, morality, ethics, or precept (moral command).

Precept

A moral command that guides ethical behavior.

Buddha statue

The spiritual center of any Buddhist temple and home altars.

Mantra

A short formula or single word that focuses the mind and expresses great religious meaning.

Consciousness after death

The soul stays in or around the body for three days after death.

Decline of Buddhism

From about 20 to 25% of the world's population in 1800 to a predicted 5% by 2050.

Socially Engaged Buddhism

A form of Buddhism that involves social and political activism.

Zen Buddhism surge

A rise in Zen Buddhism in the USA after WWII, linked to the Beatnik and hippie movements.

Celebrity Buddhism

The rise of interest in Buddhism among Hollywood stars in the past 20 years.

Central teaching of Buddhism

All things are impermanent.

Siddhartha Gautama

The name of the founder of Buddhism before becoming the Buddha.

Buddha

The name of the founder of Buddhism after his enlightenment.

Wheel of Teaching

The main symbol of Buddhism.

Fourth largest religion

Buddhism ranks as the fourth largest religion in the world.

Theravada

A Buddhist sect that stands for 'small vehicle' and 'original/abiding teaching.'

Mahayana

A Buddhist sect known as 'large vehicle' that believes Buddhism should be open to a large community, not just monks.

Bodhisattva

'Buddha-to-be,' one who comes very close to achieving full Buddha nature but postpones it to help others.

Dukkha

Suffering, the second characteristic of existence, caused by desire.

Buddhist funeral rituals

The soul of a dead person stays in or around the body for 3 days after death.

Impermanence

The central teaching of Buddhism is that all things are impermanent.

Buddhists practicing other religions

It is common for Buddhists (especially in China, Japan and the West) to also practice other religions.

Notable figures in Tibetan Buddhism

Film stars such as Naomi Watts, Tina Turner, Steven Seagal, Uma Thurman, and Richard Gere have publicly espoused Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddah

'Enlightened one;' although Gautama is 'the Buddah,' the term applies to all individuals who attain enlightenment.

Buddhism

Religion of enlightenment.

Dharmachakra

'Wheel of teaching,' a symbol of Buddhism.

Four Passing Signs

Gautama's Encounter with old age, sickness, death, and an ascetic.

Hinayana

'Small vehicle' of southern Buddhism known more commonly as Theravada.

Lama

'Guru, teacher,' leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

Parinirvana

The Buddha's entry into full nirvana at his death.

Shakyamuni

'The sage of the Shakya,' clan, to which Gautama belonged; another name for the Buddha.

Sutra

Canonical scripture text.

Tathagata

'One who has gone' to enlightenment; honorific term for the Buddha.

Tipitaka

'Three Baskets,' the main internal divisions of the canon.

Trikaya

Three bodies of the Buddha; the historical Gautama Buddha, many heavenly buddhas, and the Buddhist teaching.

Vajrayana

'Diamond vehicle,' formal name for Tibetan Buddhism.

Zen

Buddhist group that aims for the immediate acquiring of a 'buddah mind.'

Anatta

No soul, the Third Characteristic of Existence.

Anicca

Impermanence, the First Characteristic of Existence, which leads to suffering.

Dukka

Suffering, the Second Characteristic of Existence, caused by desire.

Mandala

Symbolic Buddhist picture.

Mindfulness

The practice of meditative awareness, especially of one's own state.

Insight meditation

Meditation leading to awareness or mindfulness, from which nirvana can be achieved.

Mundra

Position in which the hands and arms are held during meditation.

Paritta

Protective ritual for an individual or community.

Stupa

Burial monument, often with relics of the Buddha or Buddhists.