Buddhism Exam Review

Flashcards about places of worship, practices, and key concepts in Buddhism, based on the provided lecture notes.

Where do Buddhists commonly practice their faith?

Buddhists can practice at home or in communal spaces like temples.

What is at the heart of a Buddhist community?

A temple is often at the heart of a Buddhist community.

What might a Buddhist temple complex include?

A main hall, meditation hall (gompa), study hall, shrines, pagoda, or stupa.

What do pagodas and stupas generally symbolize?

The five Buddhist elements: earth, water, fire, air, and wisdom.

Why are temples important centers of religious life for Buddhists?

Temples are important centers of religious life where Buddhists can study, meditate, and practice together.

What do Buddhists do at temples?

Buddhists may listen to talks, and lay people may take offerings to support the monastic community.

What is a Buddhist shrine?

An area where the focus is a statue of the Buddha (a Buddha rupa).

Where can shrines be found?

Shrines can be found in a temple or in a home.

What do shrines provide for Buddhists?

A focal point for Buddhists to meditate or practice devotion.

Why do Buddhists make offerings at a shrine?

As a way of paying respect to the Buddha and expressing gratitude and thanks for his teachings.

What does an offering of light symbolize?

Wisdom, because the light of the candle drives away the darkness of ignorance.

What does an offering of flowers remind Buddhists of?

That all things are impermanent.

What does an offering of incense symbolize?

Purity, reminding Buddhists of the importance of practicing pure thoughts, speech, and conduct.

What is a monastery (vihara)?

A building or group of buildings where a community of Buddhist monks or nuns live.

What do Buddhist Monks and Nuns do in Monasteries?

Studying, practicing, and meditating on the Buddha's teachings.

What is a stupa?

A small, dome-shaped building that usually contains holy relics.

Explain the purpose of worship (puja) in Buddhism.

To express gratitude and respect for the Buddha and his teachings.

What does worship in Buddhism provide?

An opportunity to acknowledge the importance of the Buddha, focus on faith, and deepen understanding of teachings.

How do Buddhists acknowledge the Buddha's qualities?

Through performing puja and reciting verses of scripture.

What may puja include?

Rituals and ceremonies carried out in groups, or private worship in the home.

What activities are often involved in puja?

Meditation, making offerings, chanting, reciting mantras, and bowing.

Why did monks chant texts in the early days of Buddhism?

To learn and remember them, as it was the only way to share Buddhist texts and teachings.

What is chanting?

Reciting from sacred texts, written records of what the Buddha taught.

What is the purpose of Chanting?

Increase a Buddhist's receptivity towards the Buddha and his teachings and helps to calm and concentrate the mind.

What is a mantra?

A sequence of sacred syllables that is usually chanted over and over.

What power do some Buddhist believe mantras have?

Transformative powers and can be used in meditation to focus the mind.

What do mantras often call on?

The spiritual qualities of a Buddha or Bodhisattva.

What is a mala?

A string of prayer beads used to count the number of recitations in a mantra.

What do Buddhist often do before meditating?

Recite verses praising the three refuges: the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha

What do Theravada Buddhists recite?

The five moral precepts

What does meditating usually involve?

the practice of mindfulness of the body and breath.

What do meditators do when thier mind wanders?

They simply return their attention to their physical experience.

What are the two most common types of meditation for Theravada Buddhists?

Samatha to develop calm and positive emotion and Vipassana to develop understanding and wisdom.

What do student do in Tibetan Buddhism?

Students in the monastic community are sometimes given part of the Buddhist scriptures to learn by heart.

What is loving-kindness meditation?

Where the aim is to develop a sense of compassion towards oneself and others, and to let go of ill will and resentment.

What are the two main purposes of Meditation?

To develop a still, calm and focused mind and develop greater understanding of the Buddha's teachings.

What does deeper insight bring about?

Deeper compassion and less suffering, and leads eventually to enlightenment.

What do visualisations involve?

Visualising and sometimes even praying to, the Buddha or other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

What does Samatha mean?

Calming

What does Mindfulness of Breathing entail?

Paying attention to the sensation of breathing, and all the tiny movements it brings about in your body.

What did the Buddha mentioned to focus samatha meditation on besides breathing?

Kasinas: earth, water, fire, wind, blue, yellow, red, white, space and consciousness

What does learning to focus Gently on one object help with?

develop a calm and concentrated mind.

What is a normal aspect of meditation?

Distraction

What is vipassana meditation often called?

'insight meditation'

What is the main object of vipassana meditation?

to penetrate and gain insight into the true nature of reality - to see things as they really are.

What is the main difference between samatha and vipassana meditation?

not in the techniques or methods used, but in the objects being studied.

What is Zazen?

Japanese word, literally meaning 'seated meditation'.

What tradition is Zazen practice in?

Zen Buddhism.

What is a visualization meditation?

Requires the meditator to visualise an object in their mind.

What do Tibetan Buddhist usually visualise during meditation?

a 'deity'

What kind of character should meditator visualise?

They might even imagine themselves as that deity, with its particular qualities, in order to gain those qualities and become more like that deity themselves.

What kind of images might Buddhism focus on?

Medicine Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, Buddha Amitabha

What are Thangkas and Mandalas?

Patterns that help them visualise a deity

What is a common belief about when a Buddhist dies?

their kammic energy leaves their body and is reborn in a new one.

What do Buddhist bear in mind about death?

what the Buddha taught about impermanence being a natural part of life.

What donation do the family and friends usually make to a Theravada Funeral?

donate to a worthy cause and transfer the merit to the deceased

What is done by mourners to trasnfer merit to the deceased?

offer cloth to make new robes to a senior monk of a nearby monastery on behalf of the deceased person.

What is set up at a funeral?

A shrine with candle, insence and flower

What might the monks do at a feneral?

give a sermon and perform Buddhist rites.

What is Sky Burial?

the body is left in a high place as a gift to the vultures

Prayers after the death can be said for how long?

ceremonies involving prayers and offerings of yak-butter lamps may be made every seven days for 49 days after the death.

What is Wesak (Buddha day)?

best known and most important of all the Buddhist festivals

What 3 events in the Buddha's Life is Wesak celebrating?

birth, his enlightenment and his passing into parinirvana

What is done to celebrate Wesak?

Buddhists may light up their homes with candles, lamps or paper lanterns, and put up decorations.

What do the monks do during Wesak?

lead some meditation, chant from the Buddhist scriptures, or give sermons about the Buddha's teachings.

What is Parinirvana Day?

Mahayana festival that is celebrated during February to remember the Buddha's passing into parinirvana.

What sutra is important for this festival?

The Mahaparinirvana Sutra is an important Buddhist scripture that describes the Buddha's last days, and passages from it are often read on Parinirvana Day.

What is kamma (karma)?

actions have consequences

What do skillfull actions lead to?

happiness

What do unskillful actions lead to?

Suffering

What is the Human realm said to be?

the best realm within which to reach enlightenment.

What is right action?

one of the eight practices in the Eightfold Path

What is Karuna?

compassion that Buddhists show for the sufferings of everyone in the world.

Karuna is one of what?

Karuna is one of the four sublime states in Buddhism

Buddhists believe that what should be developed together?

wisdom and compassion

What is Karuna to Wisdom?

Inseparable

What does the the Tibetan word rokpa' mean?

help' or 'friend

What is Metta?

loving-kindness

What are Buddhist aiming to do with metta?

develop a loving, kind, friendly attitude towards themselves and all other beings.

What do Buddhist believe about someone who has culitvated Metta?

will not be so easily angered. They will be more caring, more loving, and more likely to love unconditionally

What do meditating do during loving-kindness mediation and what qualities do they visualsie?

meditator might visualise or imagine one of these people looking happy. They might reflect on the positive qualities of the person and any acts of kindness they have done

What are the 5 moral precepts?

abstain from taking life, abstain from taking what is not freely given, abstain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct, abstain from wrong speech, abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind

The first precept means that?

Buddhists undertake not to harm or kill any living being, including animals

The second precept means that?

undertake not to take things that have not been given to them.

The third precept means that?

Buddhists undertake not to abuse or overindulge in sensual pleasures, or to use sex harmfully.

The fourth precept means that?

Buddhists undertake not to lie or gossip about other people.

The fifth precept means that?

not taking alcohol or drugs – is important for Buddhists who have committed themselves to developing calm, clear awareness.

The root precent is ?

not to cause harm. The others are all expressions of this.

What are the 6 perfections?

generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, wisdom

What are the 3 types of giving?

give material goods such as food, clothes and money, give protection from fear and give the Dhamma, the Buddha's teachings.