Buddhism Beliefs, Teaching & Practices- Religious Studies OCR

The four things the Buddha saw when he left the palace. 

• An old man.
• A sick man.
• A dead man.
• A holy man (Sadhu/Ascetic).

The demon who tempted Siddhartha Gautama.

The Buddha’s name before he reached enlightenment.

When a Buddhist finds the truth and breaks free from the cycle of rebirth.

The final goal of Buddhism. 

A place of pure bliss.

The teachings of the Buddha.

Wholesome places where it is possible to overcome suffering. 

• The Buddha.
• The Dhamma.
• The Sangha.

The monastic order of the Buddha.

Everything comes into existence because of the conditions around it.

The cycle of rebirth.

Three characteristics of all existence.

• Dukkha.
• Impermanence (annica).
• No fixed self (annata).

The links between cycles of rebirth that keep us trapped in the Wheel of Life (and suffering).

Dukka exists throughout life.

Suffering exists.

• Painful experiences (dukkha-dukkha).
• The changing nature of things (viparinama-dukkha).
• All pervasive suffering (sankhara-dukkha).

Dukkha is caused by desire, craving and attachment.

Suffering has a cause.

Tanha.

Samudaya.

Three unwholesome roots in Buddhism.

• Lobha (attachment).
• Dosa (aggression).
• Moha (ignorance).

By giving up craving, suffering can be destroyed.

Suffering has an end.

By following the Eightfold Path you can be free from dukkha.

There is a way to end suffering.

Magga.

This needs to be followed to overcome suffering.

• Right Speech.
• Right Livelihood.
• Right Action.
• Right Mindfulness.
• Right View.
• Right Intention.
• Right Concentration.
• Right Effort.

(SLAMVICE)

Ways to help train your mind.

• Ethics (Sila).
• Meditation (Samadhi).
• Wisdom (Panna).

Humans are temporary mixes of these.

• Form.
• Sensation.
• Perception.
• Mental formations.
• Consciousness.

'Doctrine of the elders' in the Pali language.

The branch of Buddhism which uses the Pali Canon as their main authority.

Practised mostly in Southern Asia.

This is strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. 

It is not a single group but a collection of Buddhist traditions including Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhist hold this belief. 

It means 'Saint'.

Someone who delays reaching Nibbana out of the compassion for other human beings.

Someone who is fully awakened and has gained enlightenment.

Also known as 'Buddhafield 'is a version of enlightenment. 

A realm exists outside of normal reality.

Means 'action'.

This effects future lives (i.e. your situation in life).

When a Buddhist dies they are born again based on their kamma from previous lives.

Empathising with the suffering of others and responding to the suffering of all living things.

All Buddhist actions should be based on this.

"All living things are worthy of loving-kindness".

• Courage.
• Renunciation (letting go).
• Equanimity.
• Wisdom.
• Patience.
• Honesty.
• Loving-kindness.
• Effort.
• Generosity.
• Morality.

(CREW PHLEGM)

The Buddha taught that it is best to avoid extreme views and actions.

He taught that compromise is often at the heart of wisdom.

• Meditation.
• Chanting,
• Puja.
• Mantra.
• Malas.
• Offerings.

A means of transforming the mind. 

The techniques encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things.

A form of musical verse.

Expressions of "honour, worship and devotional attention." 

Acts include bowing, making offerings and chanting. 

These devotional acts are generally performed daily at home as well as during communal festivals and Uposatha.

It is a sacred utterance (syllable, word, or verse) that is considered to possess mystical or spiritual efficacy. 

They are spoken aloud or sounded internally in one's thoughts. 

They can be repeated continuously or just sounded once.

They are prayer beads and are used to count the number of times a mantra is recited, breaths while meditating or the repetitions of a Buddha's name.

They are symbolic ways of expressing gratitude.

Typical material offerings involve simple objects such as a lit candle or oil lamp, burning incense, flowers, food, fruit, water or drinks.

• Samatha.
• Maitri or metta bhavana.
• Vipassana.
• Zazen.
• Mindfulness.
• Visualisation.

Techniques which can help to calm the mind.

The practice generally consists of silent repetitions of phrases like "may you be happy" or "may you be free from suffering", for example directed at a person who, depending on tradition, may or may not be internally visualized.

A Pali word that means "insight" or "clear seeing". 

It is a traditional Buddhist practice, dating back to 6th century BC. 

You focus on breathing as part of this meditation.

Practitioners keep their eyes open and face a plain wall: it is about accepting whatever is given in the present moment. 

It emphasises awareness of the present moment and the letting go of thoughts about the past and future.

About grounding your awareness in the present moment instead of getting "lost in thought".

You have a focus throughout the mediation on something that you would like, such as being free from an illness.

• Temples.
• Viharas.
• Shrines.
• Pilgrimage sites.
• Retreats.
• Artifacts and offerings.

Observed by Buddhist monks.

• Not destroying living creatures.
• Not taking what is not given.
• Not partaking in sexual activity.
• Not partaking in false speech.
• Not using intoxicants.
• Not eating at the forbidden time (after noon).
• Not dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments.
• Not wearing garlands or using perfumes and cosmetics.
• Not using high seats or beds.
• Not accepting money.

• Wesak.
• Vassa / rain retreat.
• Uposatha days.
• Parinirvana day.
• Lama Tsong Khapa day.

Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.

A 3 month annual retreat that takes place during the wet season. 

Many lay Buddhists celebrate by giving up smoking, alcohol or meat.

Generally held weekly. 

It gives lay Buddhists the chance to go to the monastery, listen to the dhamma and make offerings.

It is celebrated in February and is believed to be the day that Buddha achieved enlightenment. 

It gives Buddhists the time to focus on the idea of impermanence.

This is the day to celebrate a particular branch of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Some Tibetan Buddhists believe that their kamma is multiplied by 100,000 so they adhere to monastic rules on this day.

After death humans are instantly reborn into one of 6 states and 31 planes of existence, the quality of their new life is influenced by past actions [karma]. 

All states are temporary but some last for a very long time.

Tibetan Buddhists believe in 'bardo states'. 

Bardo states are 'intermediate states' between one life and the next. 

There are a total of six bardos.

• Cloth offered to the monk on behalf of the deceased.
• Water poured into an overflowing cup.
• Make offerings.
• Wear white.
• Chant.
• Cremation or burial.

• Use 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead' to prepare for death.
• It doesn't matter how the body is treated after death, as it is only a shell.
• Some parts of the deceased e.g. nails hair etc. are put inside statues at the temples so that offerings can be made.

• Cremation within 24 hours of death.
• Ashes are put into a family grave or temple.
• Another service is held 49 days after death, as this is when it is believed that the kamma takes effect and they are reincarnated.
• Memorials carried out for the deceased in the years following their death.

A collection of texts considered to be the oldest Buddhist scriptures.

Written by the Buddha's later followers detailing his teachings.

Everything comes into existence because of the conditions around it.

The Buddhist belief of suffering.

Nothing is permanent.

There is no self.