Flashcards
Buddhist Beliefs
Cards in this deck (17)
- 1What is Theravada Buddhism?The older and the more conservative division. They follow the teachings of the Buddha exactly, and many of them are monks or nuns. They strive to be arhats, who are perfected people who have reached enlightenment and achieved nibbana, so they will no longer be reborn through samsara.
- 2What is Mahayana Buddhism?The goal of a Mahayana Buddhist may be to become a Bodhisattva and this is achieved through the Six Perfections. Compassion is very important, so Bodhisattvas choose to stay in the cycle of samsara to help others to achieve enlightenment as well as themselves.
- 3What is The Noble Eightfold Path?The fourth part (magga) of the Four Noble Truths. They are eight guiding principles that gives Buddhists a path they can follow to end suffering and achieve enlightenment. It is also known as the Threefold Way as it contains the three basic aspects of Buddhist life, which are ethics, meditation and wisdom.
- 4What are the eight actions?Right action (not harming others), right speech (speaking truthfully), right livelihood (earning a living by not harming others). Then, right mindfulness (being aware of the emotions of others), right effort (putting effort into meditation), right concentration (developing focus to meditate). Then, right view/understanding (remembering that actions have consequences), and right intention (being clear about following the Buddhist path).
- 5What are these eight actions important?They will determine what a person is reborn as in their next life. Kamma is gained through following the Noble Eightfold Path and results in positive consequences. By clearing themselves of bad thoughts, through following the ideas in the Five Precepts, Buddhists will be in a better position to meditate. Meditation helps Buddhists gain wisdom by acting in a moral and ethical way.
- 6What are The Five Khandas?Theravada Buddhists are taught that the human personality is made up of five parts. This idea appears in the Khanda Sutta, a Buddhist scripture. The Buddha taught that all people are made up of these five elements. The different parts are fluid, and change all the time, so there is no permanent ‘self’ (anatta).
- 7What are the five elements that form The Five Khandas?Form (the body), known as Rupa, this is matter that can be touched, and links to our five senses. Sensation (feelings), known as Vedana, these are feelings, physical or emotional, experienced from using the five senses. Perception (recognising what things are), known as Samjna, this allows people to recognise things in the world because they have seen or experienced those things before. Mental formations (thoughts), known as Samskara, the different opinions and feelings that people may have. Lastly, consciousness (an awareness of things), known as Vijnana, the awareness a person has of the things around them..
- 8What is Buddha-nature, a belief within Mahayana Buddhism?A Bodhisattva aims to teach others how to be free of suffering (dukkha) and reach Buddhahood, the state of enlightenment.
All humans have the nature of the Buddha within them already, so everyone has the ability to become enlightened like the Buddha if they commit themselves to the Buddha’s teachings, The Dhamma, and The Sangha. - 9What is the Path of the Arhat, within Theravada Buddhism?To become an arhat, the Buddha stressed the importance of following the Four Noble Truths, ridding yourself of pleasures, controlling the senses, becoming free of cravings, not doing evil things, and practising patience and concentration. An arhat has ‘blown out’ the Three Poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance. The Buddha and his followers were arhats as they freed themselves from worldly desires and suffering.
- 10What is the Path of the Bodhisattva, within Mahayana Buddhism?To become Bodhisattvas, Buddhists must practise the Six Perfections. These are; be generous and give to others, live a life in which you do the right thing, have patience with all people, sustain your energy so that you keep going through difficult times, work on concentration by meditating, and gain wisdom.
- 11What is Kamma?The idea that all actions have consequences. A skilful action produces happiness, and an unskilful action produces suffering. The Buddha taught that kamma is important because people have the power to determine their own destiny through their actions, and they can be set free from ignorance and suffering.
- 12What is Karuna?Compassion, a feeling of concern for others who are suffering and a desire to help. The Buddha taught that showing compassion to others can be practised by everyon, and Buddhists should try to practise empathy. Compassion is one of the Four Sublime States, which the Buddha taught that people should develop within themselves, so that they know (through wisdom) how to help others.
- 13What is Metta?Loving kindness, another one of the Four Sublime States. It is important as Buddhists want to develop this quality in order to help others to be free from suffering. Metta is a more positive way of looking at life than karuna, as it is about trying to show love to others before they need help. Metta leads people to be kinder, more considerate and more helpful. The other two of The Four Sublime States are sympathetic joy and calmness.
- 14What is the idea of Rebirth?When someone dies, they will be reborn again as something else, but what they are reborn as depends on their kamma in their previous life. The cycle of rebirth is called samsara and it is an ongoing cycle of life, death and rebirth. Humans go through an unknown number of cycles of rebirth over many lifetimes. Through doing skilful actions in their life, a person can be reborn into one of the six realms.
- 15What are the six realms?The realm of the gods, the realm of the angry gods, the realm of the animals, the realm of the tormented beings, the realm of the hungry ghosts, and the realm of humans. Buddhists believe that the human realm is the best one to be in if they want to reach enlightenment.
- 16What are The Five Precepts?The Buddhist version of a code of conduct to help people behave in a moral and ethical way, to get rid of suffering and to achieve enlightenment. It is important to practise the precepts over time, they count as skilful actions, which produce good consequences.
- 17What are the five rules?Refrain from taking life, so not killing any living being, many Buddhists are vegetarian. Refrain from taking what is not given, so not stealing from anyone.
Refrain from the misuse of the senses, so not having too much sensual pleasure, such as committing adultery. Refrain from wrong speech, so not lying or gossiping about other people. Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind, so not drinking alcohol or drugs.
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- SPS Evidence (Buddhism) Flashcards on Buddhist Beliefs, created by Miss Rogers on 22/09/2020.
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- Created by Miss Rogers · May 23, 2020
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