Buddhism: Origins, Teachings, and Practices

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the origins, history, scriptures, core beliefs, symbols, meditation techniques, and community structures of Buddhism based on lecture notes.

When and where did Buddhism begin, and how many followers does it have worldwide?

Buddhism began in India approximately 2500 years ago and has about 535 million followers worldwide (8-10% of the world's population).

According to the 2021 census, how many Australians identify as adherents of Buddhism?

500,000 Australians consider themselves adherents of Buddhism, representing 2-4% of the population.

What are the three primary branches of Buddhism?

Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.

Based on this traditional depiction of Brahma and the origins of caste, which caste emerged from each part of Brahma's body?

Brahmins (priests & teachers) emerged from the Head; Kshatriyas (warriors & rulers) from the Arms; Vaishyas (farmers, traders & merchants) from the Thighs; Shudras (labourers) from the Feet; and Dalits (outcastes/street sweepers, latrine cleaners) have nothing to represent.

How do Hinduism and Buddhism differ regarding their origins and founder?

Hinduism has no single founder but is a collection of beliefs compiled over time, whereas Buddhism was founded by a single individual, the Buddha.

How do Hinduism and Buddhism differ in their views of deities and the status of the Buddha?

Hinduism features multiple gods/deities and views the Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu, whereas Buddhism regards Hindu deities as not supreme and views the Buddha as the highest authority.

What prophecy did the holy man Asita make upon the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama?

Asita prophesied that Siddhartha would either become a respected king/ruler or a Buddha (an enlightened spiritual teacher).

What were the Four Sights that Siddhartha Gautama encountered, and what did each reveal to him?

1. Old Age: physical wellbeing and youth are temporary; 2. Sickness: nobody is free from sickness; 3. Death: death is unavoidable regardless of status; 4. Holy Man (ascetic): gave hope of overcoming suffering by renouncing desire for spiritual truth.

What did Siddhartha Gautama realize after subjecting himself to extreme asceticism and fasting?

He realized that extreme physical self-denial weakened him and brought him close to death without solving suffering, leading him to discover that the Middle Way was the solution.

What role did King Ashoka play in the expansion of Buddhism around 200 BCE?

King Ashoka was a great emperor of India who became a major supporter of Buddhism, providing wealth, protection, and patronage that helped spread Theravada to Southeast Asia and Mahayana to China and Northeast Asia.

What are the Three Jewels (Three Refuges) in Buddhism?

1. The Buddha (the guide and concept of enlightenment); 2. The Dharma (the teachings explaining suffering and the path to nirvana); 3. The Sangha (the community of monks, nuns, and lay followers).

What are the Four Noble Truths and their corresponding Buddhist terms?

1. Dukkha: suffering is unavoidable in life; 2. Samudaya: the cause of suffering is craving, attachment, and desire; 3. Nirodha: the end of suffering achieved by overcoming desire and craving (Nirvana); 4. Magga: the path to the end of suffering (the Eightfold Path).

What are the three main categories into which the Eightfold Path is organized?

Wisdom (Right View, Right Intention), Morality (Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood), and Concentration (Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration).

What symbol is shown in this image, and what eight specific paths does it illustrate?

The Dharma wheel (dharmachakra) symbolizing the Eightfold Path, showing Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, and Right concentration.

What are the Three Marks of Existence (Tilakkhana) in Buddhism?

Dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness), Anicca (impermanence of all things), and Anatta (non-self, meaning no permanent soul or constant self exists).

What central truth does the story of Kisa Gotami illustrate in Buddhist teaching?

It illustrates that death is a universal cause of dukkha experienced by all people, directly demonstrating the principle of anicca (impermanence).

According to this concept map, what three distinct meanings can the term 'Dhamma' have depending on context?

1. Law: universal law and natural order (e.g., the law of kamma); 2. The path of training: following the Eightfold Path and meditation; 3. The truth and nature of existence: the Three Refuges (jewels) and the Four Noble Truths.

What are the Three Baskets of the Tripitaka (Pali Canon)?

1. Vinaya Pitaka (Basket of Discipline): monastic rules and codes of conduct; 2. Sutta Pitaka (Basket of Discourses): recorded sermons and dialogues of the Buddha; 3. Abhidhamma Pitaka (Basket of Higher Doctrine): philosophical and psychological analyses.

How many specific rules are contained in the Vinaya Pitaka for monks and nuns?

227 specific rules for monks and 311 specific rules for nuns.

What date is associated with the Diamond Sutra scroll, and what core teaching does it present?

Dated May 11, 868 BCE, it teaches the concept of emptiness, explaining that reality consists of interdependent illusions and that enlightenment requires freeing oneself from ego and rigid ideologies.

When was the Lotus Sutra scroll dated, and what does it teach regarding Buddha-nature?

Dated around the 5th century CE, it teaches that all living beings possess inherent Buddha-nature with the potential to reach enlightenment, introducing the concept of 'skillful means.'

How did the First Buddhist Council compile the Buddha's teachings after his death?

500 Arhat disciples met for 7 months, relying on Ananda (who had perfect recollection of the Buddha's discourses) and Upali (who had exceptional knowledge of monastic rules).

What Buddhist symbol is shown here, and what meaning does it carry?

The Suvastika; it represents peace and good fortune, and symbolizes the Buddha's 'Heart Seal' and universal light.

What meaning and significance are represented by the lotus flower in Buddhism?

It represents purity and detachment; because the lotus blooms spotlessly out of muddy water, it symbolizes a mind rising above worldly suffering.

What does this Dharma Wheel symbolize, and what is the significance of its eight spokes?

It represents the Buddha's teachings, with its 8 spokes representing each path of the Eightfold Path to liberation.

What Buddhist symbol is depicted in this image, and why is it significant?

The Bodhi Tree; it represents enlightenment as it is the specific fig tree under which Siddhartha Gautama sat to achieve awakening.

What architectural structure is represented in this image, and what does it signify?

A Stupa; it represents the enlightened mind and consists of dome monuments housing relics that map the path to Nirvana.

What is the symbol shown here, and how is it used in Buddhist meditation?

A Mandala; it represents cosmic harmony and is a geometric diagram used in meditation to visualize the pure realm of a deity.

What Buddhist meditation item is pictured here, and how is it utilized?

Mala Beads; representing mindfulness and focus, it is a 108-bead string used to count breaths or mantras during meditation.

What object is depicted here, and what is the purpose of spinning it?

A Prayer Wheel; representing compassion and blessings, spinning its mantra-filled cylinders purifies karma and spreads spiritual blessings.

What does this Buddhist flag symbolize, and what inspired its colors?

It represents global peace, and its colors mimic the radiant aura that emitted from the Buddha upon awakening.

What Buddhist symbol is shown here, and what three components does it represent?

The Triratna; it represents the Three Jewels of Refuge: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

What monastic item is depicted in this image, and what values does it represent?

The Alms Bowl; it represents humility and renunciation, serving as the vessel monks use to collect daily food offerings from laypeople.

What physical characteristic of the Buddha is highlighted in this image, and what does it symbolize?

The Elongated Ears of the Buddha; they represent wisdom and detachment, stretched by heavy royal jewelry that the Buddha discarded to seek the truth.

According to this diagram, what are the four types of Buddhist meditation and their core focuses?

1. Samatha meditation: focuses on creating a state of calmness; 2. Zazen meditation: focuses on the present moment; 3. Metta bhavana meditation: focuses on loving kindness; 4. Vipassana meditation: focuses on gaining insight.

What is the nature, purpose, and significance of Samatha meditation in Theravada Buddhism?

Nature: tranquility, concentration, and focusing on a single object (breath); Purpose: quiet mental chatter and cultivate one-pointed attention; Significance: provides the foundational calm necessary for the mind to achieve wisdom.

What is the nature and purpose of Vipassana meditation in Theravada Buddhism?

Nature: insight and mindfulness, observing physical sensations and emotions without reaction; Purpose: to see reality as it is, directly experiencing impermanence (annica) and the illusion of self (anatta) to break craving and uproot suffering.

What characterizes Zazen meditation in Zen Buddhism?

It is 'just sitting' with precise physical posture and alert, thought-free awareness to drop striving, concepts, and goals, allowing the inherent Buddha-nature to manifest in the present moment.

Why do monks in Vajrayana Buddhism destroy intricate sand mandalas after completing them?

They are destroyed as a symbolic representation of the Buddhist concept of Annica (impermanence).

According to this infographic, what are the Five Precepts of Buddhism?

1. No Killing: Refrain from taking life; 2. No Stealing: Refrain from taking what is not given; 3. No Sexual Misconduct: Be responsible in sexual conduct; 4. No False Speech: Speak truthfully; 5. No Intoxicants: Avoid substances that cloud the mind.

How do Karuna and Metta differ in Buddhist ethical practice?

Karuna refers to compassion and a deep desire to solve or alleviate the suffering of others, whereas Metta is universal loving-kindness focused on actively expressing goodwill and friendliness.

How are the Lay Sangha and Monastic Sangha interdependent?

Monastics preserve and transmit the spiritual teachings of the Buddha (the Dharma), while lay followers provide essential material resources like food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.

What is merit-making (puñña/puṇya) in Buddhist tradition?

The intentional accumulation of wholesome, positive karma through good deeds, thoughts, and actions (such as giving alms to monastics) that cleanses the mind and creates spiritual benefit.

What events does the festival of Wesak commemorate, and what does the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue symbolize?

Wesak commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death; bathing the Buddha statue symbolizes cleansing greed, anger, and ignorance.

Who is Thich Nhat Hanh, and what core virtues did he model in practice?

He was a global spiritual leader, Zen master, monk, poet, and peace activist whose life and teachings modeled mindfulness, compassion, and peace to help reduce suffering.

What two physical actions occur during Buddhist ordination, and what do they symbolize?

Candidates shave their heads and put on monastic robes, symbolizing world renunciation (abandoning worldly life and attachments) to transition into a 'homeless' life.

From what ancient metaphor is the Buddhist term 'dukkha' derived, and what does it mean?

Dukkha means 'suffering', 'pain', or 'unsatisfactoriness', and is derived from an ancient metaphor of a wobbly, misaligned cart wheel.

What are the recognized limitations regarding how Buddhism reduces suffering?

Buddhism does not remove external causes of suffering like illness or death (which are natural parts of existence); it changes how individuals respond to suffering, meaning its effectiveness depends entirely on individual commitment.