Edexcel- Section3: Living the buddhist life

Buddhist worship, meditation, shrines and death rituals

purpose of meditation

purpose of meditation

put an end to suffering by extinguishing its causes (three poisons) and lead people to enlightenment

samatha meditation

tranquility meditation, increase focused and calm mind, involves breath awareness

vipassana meditation

insight/wisdom meditation, develop insight into ultimate reality and investigate the dhamma and four noble truths, helps lead to enlightenment

metta bhavana

loving kindness meditatio

zazen meditation

zen buddhism meditation, self awareness and awareness of the present moment - studying a koan, a puzzle with no solution (showing how inadequate logical reasoning is, leading to enlightenment.), or Where the mind has no object at all

visualisation

many buddhists visualise during meditation, eg. pure land buddhists visualise rebirth in amitabha's pure land

benefits of meditation

- eliminate three posions
- vipassana helps reach enlightenment
- develops positive emotions such as peace and concentration

why is chanting important

- enables focus in meditation
- memorise teachings gives confidence/satisfaction
- increased devotion to buddha energises their lives

why is chanting not important

- meditation is more important
- can create attachment
- accept buddhas teachings for ourselves

mahayana and mantra recitation

use it to communicate with the buddha as they believe he is not just a historical figure. they chant ‘Namo buddhaya‘ which means homage to the buddha

three features of a vihara

• a buddhist monastry containing:

• house monasteries for monks
  - use statues to focus the mind
  - facilities for offerings to buddha and monks

three features of a gompa

- full of artwork
- wheel of life at the entrance
- guarded by fearsome protector deities

three features of a stupa

- solid bell-shaped structures
- contain holy relics of buddha
- base is sealed with copper as protection

people walk around them as ritual practice to commenmorate the buddhas life and wisdom

three features of a shrine room

- central figure of buddha
- etiquette in the room
- offerings are given as a sign of respect

why are devotional objects important

- help focus the mind on meditation and chanting
- show respect to buddha
- communication with buddha (mahayana)

why are devotional objects not important

- better to focus on the dhamma
- creates attachment
- we should not spend our time worshipping buddha

why do pujas

- reinforce faith and devotion
- remove obstacles or negative conditions
- positive influence on the spread of the dhammacelebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away
- offerings to the buddha
- visit a temple
- chant and pray

wesak

celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away
- offerings to the buddha
- visit a temple
- chant and pray

vassa

3 month retreat
- monks retreat to monasteries to meditate and chant
- increase focus by giving up smoking and drinking
- lay people show devotion by supporting monks with food and drink

kathina

occurs at the end of vassa
- time of giving alms
- lay people offer cloth to monks

hanamatsuri

floral festival celebrates buddhas birth
- reminder of impermanence

obon

a Japanese festival honoring ancestors
- visit and clean graves
- offer prayers and chants
- lanterns lit to guide ancestors spirits

uposatha days

days of renewed commitment to the dhamma
- often occurring on full-moon
- special effort to keep 5 precepts
- monks make confessions to cleanse themselves

parinibbana day

celebrate the day that buddha achieved enlightenment
- meditating
- visiting monasteries
- reminder of buddhas path to enlightenment

lama tsong khapa day

tibetan festival celebrating the day when Lama Tsong Khapa achieved paranibbana
- on this day all merit is increased
- increased focus on ethical practice eg 8 precepts

whats a buddharupa

statues of people who have become enlightened

_{why do temples face east}

towards the rising sun (to remresent a fresh start)

what offerings do they make and why

flowers (beautiful but imperminant) and candles which are a mark of light and wisdom . they are used to prepare for meditation and accumulate merit in hope of a better rebirth

what is puja

the worship, including mantras chanting meditation and offerings

what are mala beads

a circular ring of beads that help buddhists to keep count of chanting. they are a circle to represent the circle of life and death and they are made from bodhi wood often. theravadan beads have 108 beads.

amitayus meditation sutra

the Buddha describes to the imprisoned Queen Vaidehi the thirteen visualisation methods for her to get to the pure land., including visualisation of te pure land and the amitabha buddha. this shows visulaisation is key

what do theravada buddhist chant

tiratana (the three refuges) and pancasila (the five preceipts)

dhammapada 1-2

Written by the Gautama Buddha himself - says that the mind precedes all, and that understanding and mental formations are a key theme in buddhism

dhammapada 190

explains that by following the tiratana and taking refuge in it, a buddhist will understand the four noble truths and stop suffering.

nam myoho renge kyo

is the title of the mahayanan text of the lotus suttra which explains all buddhist ethics. by chanting it it connext them to this text and brings forth their inner buddha nature

mahayan death ritual

ceremonies are held in the 49 days after death which mark the time between death and rebirth. the amitbha sutra is also recited

tibetan death ritual

as they are dying the the Tibetan Book of the Dead is read, in order to help them pass on to their next life.

This ritual is repeated for 49 days, which is the period of transition between lives.

it explaions Tibetan religious views on life, death, and the afterlife. In the book, the cycle of reincarnation is explained, as is the method by which a soul might be released from the cycle.

kimsila sutta

says that buddhists should be mentaly strong and able to self controll

Anapanasati Sutta

Describes origin of Vassa (the rain retreat) when Buddha told monks to stay in monasteries to not trample animals and plants during their travels in the monsoon season

Vakkali Sutta

the story of the buddha speaking to a dying person, saying that whoever sees darma sees him, showing that by meditating on the dammha you can see the buddha

Mangala Sutta

The buddha lists 38 highest blessing a person can do