Death And Dying World Religions Study Questions Chap 6

Front 1

Buddha

Back 1

Founder of Buddhism. His birth name was Siddhartha Gautma, he was a prince who left his wealth after seeing that sickness and death were the natural process of every person. He founded Buddhism and taught it to all that would listen, using Hindu as his foundation.

Front 2

Four Noble Truths

Back 2

How Buddha perceived life.

The 4 noble truths include:

-The noble truth of Dukkha (suffering or the impermanence of all things in this world.

-origins of dukkha

-cessation of dukkha

-the way to the cessation of dukkha

All Buddhists believe in this life despite the diversities.

Front 3

Mahayana Buddhism

Back 3

Mahayana Buddhism spread into Tibet between the seventh and ninth centuries of the Common Era, and spawned a large number of smaller Mahayana Buddhist sects. The most important of these was the Kadampa sect, out of which would emerge the Dalai Lamas. Moved into China and Korea. The Pali Canon or Tipitaka is central to their beliefs, but they have their own scriptures to follow.

Front 4

Theravada Buddhism

Back 4

The only school of thought of Buddhism that remains to this day, the "Doctrine of Elders".

Predominant, in what are known today as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. The central basis of teahings are focused around the Pali Canon or Tipitaka

Front 5

Arhat

Back 5

The noble ones in Theravada Buddhism, monks who seem to have reached nirvana. They are never seen again.

Front 6

Amitabha

Back 6

The name of a celestial bodhisattva thought that if chanted upon death will take the individual to Heaven (Japan) Amitabha will guide them on the path of nirvana.

Front 7

Avalokitesvara

Back 7

Bodhisattva in Tibet thought to have manifested himself into the Dalai Llama to protect the Tibetan people.

Front 8

Tipitaka

Back 8

Oldest body of Buddhist scripture. It is divided into 3 sections,

-Sutta Pitaka is stories of Buddhas discourses and stories about himself.

-Vinaya Pitaka deals with morality and ethics (stories to teach others about ethical conduct)

-Abhidhamma Pitaka- philosophical analyses of Buddhists teachings.

Also called the Pali Canon because it is written in Pali.

Front 9

Sutra

Back 9

Body of literature that Mahayna Buddhism is based on. The most important texts are

Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Pundarika Sutra), Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Prajnaparamita Sutra),

the heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita Hrdaya Sutra)

and Vimalakirti Sutra

Front 10

Anatman

Back 10

The concept of having "no self" because there is no such reality as the self or soul, nothing is permanent

Front 11

Bodhisattva

Back 11

Someone who has achieved nirvana but voluntarily stays for repeated rebirths and deaths to teach others

bodhisattvas become powerful divinities who reside in various heavenly realms into which individuals can be reborn, either because of their own good karma or because it has been willed by the bodhisattva himself.

Front 12

Dalai Lama

Back 12

Means Ocean of Wisdom Teacher

Front 13

Outline the story of the Buddha’s life, and describe what specifically triggered his quest to end human suffering.

Back 13

Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama and he was a prince born into wealth. Astrologers told his father that he would forsake his heritage after encountering 4 men. When Gautama explored outside he met 4 men, a crippled man, a sick man, and the rotting body of a dead man. When he met a medicant who encouraged him to follow methods of Indian tradition to find escape. He left his family and explored to find peace. As he explored he was struck with 3 visions, -memories of his incarnations, awareness of the procession of human kind through suffering of birth death, knowledge of the universe and understanding that everything except nirvana arise and pass away.

Front 14

What are the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path?

Back 14

The four noble truths are how Buddha perceived life

1. the noble truth of Dukkha (suffering or impermanence of all things in this world)

2. the origin of dukkha

3. noble truth of cessation of dukkha

4. the noble truth of the way to cessation of dukkha

The 8fold Path describes how to live so that eventual enlightenment will take place.

Front 15

Explain the concept of anatman, and explain how it differs from the concept of the atman in Hinduism.

Back 15

The anatman means no soul, because the permanence of the self or the soul don't exist. However reincarnation is possible, though spontaneously forms into another.

Atman in Hindu refers to ones souls, which reincarnates into different bodies and journeys to reach moshka.

Front 16

Explain the Buddhist logic behind reincarnation.

Back 16

One acrews good or bad karma based upon their actions in life. The acrewment of good karma will lead you to enlightenment.Each reincarnation is a step toward enlightenment if you live your life well.

Front 17

What is nirvana, and how does it differ from moksha in Hinduism?

Back 17

Nirvana i the extinguishing of desire anger or ignorance. Nirvana is a state of mind, where moshka is where the individual ceases to be an individual. Nirvana is the natural laws of the universe, not controlled by divine intervention or will like moshka.

Front 18

Outline the main differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.

Back 18

Theravada Buddhism emphasizes that nirvana is only attained by becoming a monk. Laypeople may reach nirvana by taking monastic vows or being reborn into a monastic life. Emphasis for laypeople is to visit monasteries and contribute financially, which following the five principals, refraining from stealing, drugs, wrongs speech, sexual improperties,

Mahayana Buddhists shifts attention to Bodhavisttva. Mahayana is different because it belives nirvana can be achieved universally.

1. Mahayana states that all self and suffering is an illusion

2. Mahayana believes in an underlying unity or connectedness of everything

3. Theravada sees Buddha as a regular man who achieved enlightenment, Mahayana believes him to be a projection of enlightenment.

4. Theravada believes in individual enlightenment, Mahayana teaches that one may reach enlightenment through devotion

5. Mahayana teaches that transference of merit and karma is possible

6. Theravada believes enlightenment is the goal, Mahayana teaches that bodhivista is the goal

7. Theravada believes nirvana is a release of samsara Mahayana states nirvana is the realization of underlying connectedness in the world

8.mayahana aims to transcend illusion to help the world where Theravada aims to escape the world

Front 19

Mara

Back 19

The God of Death