Buddhist Practices

Question 1

3 jewels of Buddhism

Answer 1

Triratna:
Buddha
Dharma
Sangha

Question 2

Temples and viharas purposes

Answer 2

Buddhists venerate the Buddha

Question 3

What is an Arhat

Answer 3

A Therevadan monk who is trying to achieve enlightenment, they have 8 possessions
They floolow Therevadan path by following 8 fold path
Get food from lay people
All day meditating
Only monks and nuns

Question 4

Pure Land Buddhists

Answer 4

Amidha Buddha
Anyone can be enlightened
Can’t go backwards on the path
Chant his name 3 times to go to the Pure Land

Question 5

Bhikku

Answer 5

Monks who teach and help Buddhists to become better

Question 6

Therevadan temples features (that Mahayanan don’t have)

Answer 6

À bo tree
1 Buddha statue
Pond with lotus flowers

Question 7

Mahayana Temple features

Answer 7

Pagoda-tiered shaped roof
Prayer wheels and flags
Statues of the Great Bodhisattvas

Question 8

Features of both temples

Answer 8

A stupa
Meditation room (or main prayer hall + 3 Buddha Hall in M)
A puja shrine
Guest accommodation
Study rooms

Question 9

What is a vajra

Answer 9

Uses to symbolise creation and “male qualities” (compassion, understanding and strength)

Question 10

What is a Bell/Ghanta

Answer 10

Used to signify start and end of worship and “female qualities” (wisdom, understanding of relationships)

Question 11

What is a mandala

Answer 11

‘circle’. Uses circular geometric patterns to aid meditation.
Used to focus mind.

Question 12

What is a stupa

Answer 12

Bell-shaped structure put in places of significance for Buddhists.
Contains relics of the Buddha / holy books

Question 13

Colours of the Buddhist flags

Answer 13

Red: blessing
Orange: wisdom
Yellow: middle path
Green: care for natural world
Blue: peace + compassion
White: purity
All 5: unity

Question 14

Differences between UK temples and Eastern temples

Answer 14

Greater emphasis on meditation (not Puma and offerings)
Less relics
Less emphasis on afterlife + karma

Question 15

3 types of meditation

Answer 15

Samatha
Vipassana
Metta Bhavana

Question 16

Samatha meditation purpose, how it’s done and qualities it develops

Answer 16

To focus and calm the mind
By focusing on breathing, an object, walking
Wisdom, Right concentration

Question 17

Vipassana meditation purpose, how it’s done and qualities it develops

Answer 17

To develop insight + awareness of sounds, emotions + situations
By considering different situations or listening to a noise or feeling and be mindful of their reaction to it
Wisdom, R mindfulness, metta + karuna, to apply 3 lakshanas

Question 18

Metta bhavana meditation purpose, how it’s done and qualities it develops

Answer 18

To develop kindness
By visualising + reciting in mind ‘may I be happy, healthy, free from harm, live with ease and loving kindness
R speech, R action, R livelihood, metta + karuna

Question 19

Brahms viharas can be developed by meditating in any form. What are they?

Answer 19

Uppekha (peace)
Mudita (joy)
Metta (loving kindness)
Karuna (compassion)

Question 20

Stages of venerating at the puja shrine

Answer 20

1. Shoes off
2. Donation to monk
3. Light candles
4. Light incense
5. Bow, nose to ground - ‘Earth touching’
6. Chant triratna
7. Meditate
8. Dharma talk
9. Metta chant
10. Offering

Question 21

Features of a puja shrine

Answer 21

Photograph
Buddha statue (develop wisdom + compassion)
Water
Incense (teachings spread across world)
Flowers
Fruit
Candles
Bell

Question 22

Types of mantras

Answer 22

Metta chant: ‘let none through anger or ill will wish harm upon another’
5 precepts chant: ‘I undertake the precept…’
Triratna chant
Amidha Buddha chant: Pure Land Buddhists
Om Mani Padme Hum

Question 23

What are mantras

Answer 23

Phrases in Sanskrit. Sequences of sacred syllables recited

Question 24

Importance of mantras

Answer 24

Calms mind before meditation
Brings Sangha together
Reminder of Dharma (triratna chant)
-ve energy into +ve energy

Question 25

What do Mahayana Buddhists use when chanting

Answer 25

Mala (prayer beads) To count their mantras and focus mind 108 beads and 3 tassels (108 worldly desires and triratna to represent Buddha hood (all have Buddha nature and can escape Samsara)

Question 26

Om Mani Padme Hum chant

Answer 26

Om: represents enlightenment Mani: compassion & love Padme: spiritual growth & wisdom Hum: Avalokiteshvara Mainly Mahayanan

Question 27

Mudras

Answer 27

Special gestures Buddhists make when meditating

Question 28

5 ways Buddhists make offerings

Answer 28

Offerings at the shrine Offerings at funerals to charity, cloth to monks, Offerings into the monks alms bowls Offerings at festivals Monks make offerings by giving dharma talks & leading meditation

Question 29

Importance of offerings

Answer 29

Reminder of the dharma - 2nd precept - give generously, shrine objects - bell - karma Brings sangha - Alma bowls, kathina - lay people supporting monks Good karma - break out of samsara and reach nirvana

Question 30

Parinirvana Festival - what does it celebrate

Answer 30

Mahayanan Remembers Buddha's death & his entry to parinirvana at his death - never to be reborn again Feb (15th)

Question 31

Parinirvana Festival features (5)

Answer 31

Pilgrimage to Kushinigar where he died in N. India Remever dead loved ones Read from parinirvana suttas Listen to Dharma talk on 3 Lakshanas at temple Gather as sangha & follow +ve aspect of 2nd precept

Question 32

Kathina festival what is it

Answer 32

Therevadan Remembers the vassa period & the rain's retreat Oct/Nov - end of vassa period

Question 33

Kathina festival features (3)

Answer 33

Teams of Buddhists carry donations to temple (kathina tree holds donations) Lay people give offerings (food for meal with sangha) (importantly cloth) Cloth made into robes for monks KATHINA MARKS THE START OF THEM LEAVING THE MONASTRY

Question 34

Wesak festival - what is it

Answer 34

Therevadan Celebrates the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha Full moon of May

Question 35

Wesak festival features (9)

Answer 35

Lay people keep extra 5 precepts Give offerings to monks Sangha read suttas & chant triratna Read birth stories of Buddha from the Jatakas Lakshana talk Stupas are lit 'bathing the Buddha' ceremony Gifts offered to Buddha statues Thailand: caged doves released

Question 36

Importance of all festivals

Answer 36

Reminder of the 3 jewels Practice good karma and dana

Question 37

Importance of festivals

Answer 37

P: 2nd precept K: 1st precept W: reminded of knowledge & insight he gained from night of enlightenment: 4 noble truths, 8 fold path and 5 precepts

Question 38

Wesak importance only (2)

Answer 38

Reminder of importance of life of Buddha & his teachings Time to think about what they can learn from his life

Question 39

Kathina importance only

Answer 39

Wellbeing of monks and nuns

Question 40

Parinirvana importance only (2)

Answer 40

Reflect on their lives & how to work towards Nirvana Remever lived ones & death is a part of life for all

Question 41

What is visualisation

Answer 41

Looking carefully at an object and then reflecting it and trying to embody it, as a part of meditation

Question 42

Different visualisations

Answer 42

Siddharta Gotama - Brahma viharas Manjushri - wisdom Avalokiteshvara - compassion Medicine Buddha - end of suffering Amidha Buddha - non-attachment and Pure Land

Question 43

Mahayana Funeral features

Answer 43

Name of Buddha whispered into ear Body is washed Flowers on coffin Candles Readings from Tibetan Book of Dead Sky burials Rebirth after 49 days Focus on Bardo State

Question 44

Therevadan funeral features

Answer 44

Set up a shrine Lay ppl give clothes and offerings to monks Relatives give to charity Cremation Mantras on 3 Lakshanas Monks visit Relative's house (merit making ceremony) - 1wk, 3mths and 1yr after death