Sacred texts

What are the sacred texts?

Tripitaka, Lotus of the Good Law (or Lotus Sutra), Tibetan book of the dead

What is the Tripitaka also known as?

Pali canon

When was the Tripitaka written?

Written during the 2^nd century BCE

In what language was the Tripitaka written?

It was written in Pali, a language related to Sanskrit, the classical language of India

How long is the Tripataka?

Approx. 10, 000 pages

What is the term three baskets?

It is a reference to the three sections of the Pali Canon and the fact that these collections of scrolls were originally kept in three baskets

What is the Vinaya Pitaka in the Tripitaka?

contains the Buddha’s instructions for monastic life. It sets out the 227 rules for the sangha

What is the The Vinaya Pitaka also known as

The Discipleships collection

What is the Sutta Pitaka in the Tripitaka?

It contains the Buddha’s teachings. This is of extreme importance to Buddhists as it contains the essential teachings and the life of the Buddha

What is the The Sutta Pitaka also known as?

Sermon Collection

What is the Abhidharma Pitaka in the Tripitaka?

It contains a philosophical discussion of the Buddha’s teachings, it is the most difficult part of the Tripitaka to understand

What is the Abhidharma Pitaka also known as?

philosophical collections

Where is the Lotus Sutra most popular?

Japan and China

What is The Lotus Sutra written in?

Sanskrit

How many chapter in the Lotus Sutra?

28

What do the chapters in the Lotus Sutra contain?

parables and stories of the Buddha’s past and future lives

The Tibetan book of the dead is also known as?

Bardo Thodol

The Tibetan book of the dead is most significant for?

Vajrayana Buddhists

What is in the Tibetan book of the dead?

It tells the four phases which people travel through as they are dying

What are the three phases people go through when dying?

Chikai Bardo, Chonyid Bardo, Sidpa Bardo

What is Chikai Bardo?

The moment of death where the consciousness separates from the body. The dying person encounters the Clear Light, a radiant awareness that if recognised can lead to immediate liberation

What is Chonyid Bardo?

The Mardo of visions where the deceased encounters peaceful and wrathful deities, vivid projections of their own mind. Recognising these visions as mind-created opens the path to liberation, reacting with fear leads to continued wandering.

What is Sidpa Bardo?

The bardo of Rebirth. Consciousness begins with seeking a new physical form. This is when karma influences the direction of rebirth.