Buddhism - Topic 2 - Practices

What are the 3 places of Worship?

Temples - Where Buddhists come together to practice

Shrines - An area with a statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, which provides Buddhists with a focal point for meditation and devotion

Monasteries - A place where Buddhist monks and nuns live

How do Buddhist Worship?

Chanting - A devotional practice that may increase a Buddhist’s receptivity towards the Buddha and his teachings

Mantra Recitation - A mantra is a short sequence of sacred syllables, that are used in meditation to focus the mind

What is the purpose of Meditation?

To develop a calm and focused mind and to develop greater awareness and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

What is Samatha Meditation??

A type of meditation that involves calming the mind and developing deeper concentration. A technique called mindfulness of breathing is used.

What is Vipassana Mediation?

A type of meditation that involves developing understanding of the nature of reality.

What is Zazen Meditation?

A type of meditation in Zen Buddhism that requires awareness of the present movement.

What is Visualisation?

Imagining or seeing an object in one’s mind.

What are Buddhist Ceremonies around Death?

Theravada Funerals - Little money is spent on them, but instead people are encouraged to donate to a worthy cause and transfer the merit to the deceased to have a more favourable rebirth

Sky Burials - When the body is left in a high place for the vultures as a generous act for traditional Tibetan funerals.

What is Wesak and Parinirvana Day?

Wesak - A Theravada festival that celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death.

Parinirvana Day - A Mahayana festival that commemorates the Buddha’s passing away

What is Kamma?

A person’s actions or the idea that skilful actions result in happiness and unskilful ones on suffering.

What is Karuna?

Compassion - Feeling concerned for the suffering of other people and wanting to relieve their suffering.

What are the 4 Sublime States?

Love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity. The Buddha taught that Buddhists should develop these.

What is Metta?

Loving-Kindness -Showing a benevolent, kind, friendly attitude towards other people.

What are the 5 Moral Precepts?

• To abstain from taking life

• To abstain from taking what is not freely given

• To abstain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct

• To abstain from wrong speech

• To abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

What are the six perfections?

• Generosity/Giving

• Morality

• Patience

• Energy

• Meditation

• Wisdom