Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
What is it? |
-The way to end suffering is to follow the NEF, it is the fourth noble truth.
-It is known as the "middle way", as it is in between two extremes: hedonism and asceticism.
-It is a practical guide to ethical and mental development, with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and illusions (essentially leading to enlightenment). |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
What is it's aim? |
-Wisdom (Prajna): develops our understanding of reality, dispelling illusions and transforming the way that we view ourselves.
-Morality (Sila): develops loving kindness and compassion for all living beings, the three poisons no longer guide our actions.
-Mental Training (Samadhi): develops/transforms the way which we think. |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Interdependence... |
-They are interdependent principles that link to each other. All steps must be practiced simultaneously.
-Morality is needed to achieve wisdom, mental training is needed to achieve morality (etc).
|
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Wisdom...
Right View... |
-Buddhists must try to dispel illusions and overcome ignorance.
-They must understand and live by the three marks of existence and the four noble truths. -
-They seek to deepen their understanding by following the Buddha's teachings- but this involves more than just learning the Dhamma- it means accepting the basis of life.
-They must grasp the impermanent nature of worldly objects and ideas. |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Wisdom...
Right Intention... |
-What motivates Buddhists to follow the path.
-Should be for the sake of freedom and eventual enlightenment, but also for unselfish love for all beings.
-Considered the driving force behind following the NEF.
-Means commitment to ethical and self improvement. They must live in a caring and unselfish way.
-They must act out of compassion for the suffering of all beings.
|
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Morality...
Right Action... |
-Promotes moral, honorable and peaceful conduct.
-And so, all must: -Not destroy life -Not steal -Not overindulge the senses -Not lie -Not cloud the mind with drugs or alcohol -These rules are also known as the Five Precepts of Buddhism. |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Morality...
Right Livelihood... |
-Earn a living in a way that does not tarnish their principles.
-Work should benefit, and not harm others.
-They should not: -Trade in deadly weapons -Trade in animals for slaughter -Trade in slavery -Trade in intoxicants |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Mental Training...
Right Effort... |
-A Buddhist should be aware, and want to shape, they way they think.
-First step: to make a conscious effort to set aside negative thoughts and replace them with positives.
-Always try to see the best in others. |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Mental Training...
Right Mindfulness... |
-Helps people to become more aware of themselves and everything around them.
-Recognising unconscious motives and impulses as well as observing and responding to the needs of others. |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Mental Training...
Right Concentration... |
-Refers to training the mind through meditation practice.
-This develops equanimity, focus and tranquility.
-Buddha gained enlightenment by meditation. Buddhists believe that through meditation the mind is enabled to: -become calm -develop loving kindness -gain insight into the truths of life |
|
|
The Noble Eightfold Path...
Dhammapada Quotes... |
Dhammapada 273-289:
-"A man should control his words and mind and should not do any harm to his body. If theses ways of action are pure he can make progress on the path of the wise"
-"Spiritual yoga leads to light: lack of yoga leads to darkness. Considering two paths, let the wise man walk on the path that leads to light"
|
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Skilful and Unskilful actions...
What are they? |
-These "actions" go under Sila, or Morality.
-The guidelines for Morality are contained within Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.
-These guidelines help to distinguish between right and wrong, or Skilful and Unskilful actions. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Skilful and Unskilful actions...
Skilful Actions... |
-These are wholesome actions, referred to as Upaya Kausala.
-Skilful actions... -produce good kamma -lead to the cessation of Dukkha and the moderation/control of attachment (Tanha) - are motivated by love and compassion for all beings -will eventually lead a person to Nibanna
-An action is right if motivated by Ahimsa. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Skilful and Unskilful actions...
Unskilful Actions... |
-These are considered to be unwholesome actions.
-Unskilful actions: -produce negative kamma -lead to more Tanha, and therefore, more Dukkha -are motivated by the three poisons -incarcerate the person more fastly into Samsara |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
The Five Precepts...
What are they? |
-Right Action provides a "code of conduct" of moral behaviour in the form of the Five Precepts: or Pansil.
-These are things that Buddhists should avoid when on the path to Nibanna.
-Undertaking these precepts accumulates good kamma: this means that enlightenment depends partly on moral behaviour.
-However do not establish right and wrong actions in an absolute way.
-It often depends on the circumstances in which yo perform and action: these can change, and so skilfulness of an action may change. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
The Five Precepts...
|
1. I will abstain from taking life: I will show only loving kindness (metta) to all beings. 2. I will abstain from taking what is not freely given to me: I will show generosity (dana) to all beings. 3. I will abstain from misuse of the senses: I will show respect to all beings. 4.I will abstain from wrong speech : I will show honesty, truthfulness and sincerity to all. 5. I will abstain from drugs and alcohol which cloud the mind: I will show mindfulness in y actions.
Monks and Nuns undertake a further Five Precepts:
6. To abstain from untimely meals. 7.To abstain from dancing, singing and watching unsuitable entertainment. 8.To abstain from the use of perfumes and personal adornments. 9. To abstain from the use of high seats. 10. To abstain from accepting gold or silver. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
The Five Precepts...
These are not commandments! |
-The precepts are not commandments because they are not commanded by a God (keeping in mind that the Buddha is not a God!).
-The answer of Right and Wrong comes from within humanity, not outside it.
-These are practical pieces of advice and training aids given from Buddha (enlightened one) to others for the purpose of enlightenment.
-They are not supposed to be accepted blindly: they must be examined, understood and lived. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Buddhist Values...
Ahimsa... |
-The core principle: non-violence and respect for all life.
-Based on the first of the Five Precepts: "avoid taking life". One must examine one's behaviour to ensure others are not injured or harmed.
-Includes non-human creatures who are worthy of moral consideration, seeing as everything is interconnected. As a result, many Buddhists are vegetarian.
-They should apply this principle to themselves and not cause harm to themselves: they must keep to the middle path. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Buddhist Values...
Metta... |
-Means "loving kindness": must be applied to all creatures. Universal love must be cultivated.
-Then try to become aware of negative effects that anger and hatred have on others and the positive effects of love, care and warmth.
-Leads to an altruistic standpoint as it involves putting others first, as seen in the Boddhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Buddhist Values...
Karuna... |
-A central Buddhist value: "compassion". So important because of the teachings of Anatta: if there is no fixed self and if our existence is conditioned- we share the same life with others.
-We are connected to everything around us: harming others is the same as harming yourself, working for others welfare is the same as working for your welfare.
-Anatta implies that we should act to benefit all things, rather than the illusion of self. But we are used to ourselves being the centre of our lives. Anatta implies that all beings are one: happiness and equality is important.
-Does not mean feeling sorry for others. Karuna means feeling the suffering of others in order to recognise that you cannot be happy as long as there are others who are not.
-It is active, helping those in distress, but is also a frame of mind; a state of concern for all beings and a desire to relive them from their troubles. |
|
|
Buddhist Morality...
Buddhist Values...
Six Paramitas (Perfections)... |
-Qualities that a person must develop in order to make progress towards enlightenment, including: -dana: not craving for goods but sharing them for the benefit of others -sila: morality/ being a moral person -virya: energy/ putting loving kindness into action -kshanti: patience/ behaving a thoughtful way -samadhi: meditation -prajna: wisdom |
