Developments in Buddhist Thought - Samsara

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What is the concept of samsara?
The concept of samsara in Buddhism refers to the cycle of birth, living and death and then returning to life.
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What can the term literally be translated as?
''Continuous movement''.
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What is this concept closely related to the idea of?
Karma and nirvana.
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Why does samsara exist in Buddhist teaching?
People fixate on themselves and their experiences. It comes from ignorance and it causes a state of suffering and dissatisfaction.
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How can samsara be overcome in Buddhism?
Moksha (escaping from the wheel of samsara), can be overcome by following the Buddhist path and improving your karma.
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What is samsara essentially?
Life on earth, filled with sorrow and pain.
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What is karma to Buddhists?
The laws of cause and effect.
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What does karma teach?
That what you reap in life is what you sow.
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What do people have the opportunity to do each day?
Rewrite their karma, with the chance to do good or not to do good.
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What does karma represent on a moment-by-moment basis?
All the good or bad that people do throughout their lives.
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How is samsara driven by karma?
Because whatever you do in this life will affect you in the next life.
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What is nirvana?
The eternal state of being/enlightenment.
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What does nirvana represent?
The end of desire or craving, suffering and individual consciousness.
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Until nirvana is reached samsara is...?
Repeated over and over.
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Which monster holds the wheel of samsara?
Yama - the monster of impermanence.
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Which 12 steps are around the edge of the wheel?
The 12 links of dependent origination.
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How many realms of existence are there?
6 realms.
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How many ''poisons'' are there?
3
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What does Yama represent?
Symbolises the impermanence of everything. The beings he holds are trapped in eternal suffering by their ignorance of the truth of the universe.
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What does Buddhism teach about death?
That death is not the end and not to be feared.
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Which are the three heavenly realms?
Human realm, heaven and titan realm.
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What happens in the human realm?
Considered to be the most fortunate state. Not suffering as heavily as those in the hell realms yet they are not in lengthy bliss like the titans. Humans have the best chance at being enlightened.
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What happens in the realm of the titans?
The ''best''/happiest realm. Here the gods live in a state of bliss. But this is only temporary, the only escape is nirvana.
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Which are the three hell realms?
Animal realm, hell realm and realm of the hungry ghosts.
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What happens in the animal realm?
These being suffer pain, suffering, wounding, hunger and sexual desire. Being reborn as an animal means you have failed to rid yourself of ignorance.
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What happens in the hell realm?
At the bottom of samsara lies the hell realm. People are horribly tortured in many creative ways, but not forever. Only until their bad karma is paid off.
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What happens in the realm of the hungry ghosts?
Lingering around the edges of the mortal realm, trapped by their attachment are the hungry ghosts. They are in the grip of their unfulfilled desires, symbolised by their long necks and big bellies.
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What are the three causes of suffering/three poisons?
Greed, hatred and delusion/ignorance.
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Which animal represents greed?
The pig
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Which animal represents hatred?
The snake.
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Which animal represents ignorance/delusion?
The rooster.
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What is dependent origination?
Teaches that all dharmas (phenomena) arise in dependence of other dharmas (cause and effect/contingency).
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What happens if we break the chain of dependent origination?
We are liberated from suffering.
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Which is the only thing that doesn't have a conditioned/dependent existence?
Nirvana.
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What are the 12 links of dependent origination?
1) Ignorance, 2) Willed action, 3) Consciousness, 4) Form and existence, 5) Senses, 6) Sense impressions, 7) Sensation, 8) Craving, 9) Attachment, 10) Becoming, 11) Birth, 12) Old age/death.
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What does craving give rise to?
Karmic effect.
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Give ways in which samsara is literal:
The ''hell is real stance'' - found in Hinayana Buddhism. Having an inescapable mindset of suffering and pain is more conceivable as being literally real whereas the concept of ''hot and cold hells'' is more metaphorical.
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Give ways in which samsara is metaphorical:
''Hell is a mind state - a distinctly Mahayana stance. We can visit each realm in our minds e.g titan realm - we are blissfully happy, animal realm - we are sleepy and greedy. Ideas such as hungry ghosts are inconceivable in modern day.
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Card 2

Front

What can the term literally be translated as?

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''Continuous movement''.

Card 3

Front

What is this concept closely related to the idea of?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why does samsara exist in Buddhist teaching?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How can samsara be overcome in Buddhism?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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