Life of the Buddha
What does the name Buddha mean?
"The awakened one" or "the enlightened one."
No god. Neither.
Why are most Hindus vegetarian?
Because they believe in non-violence or souls can reincarnate into animals.
What is Sanskrit?
Ancient language of India
What does enlightenment mean?
the state of spiritual insight and finding the truth and meaning in life. The goal of Buddhists.
What was the Buddha's birth name?
Siddhartha Gautama
What do Buddhists say is the source of suffering or sadness in life?
Desire or wanting something you don't have.
According to Hindu faith, what does Karma determine?
Who or what you are reincarnated into in your next life.
What is a caste system? What does it do in society?
A caste is a class or group of people and it seperates people as more or less important.
What are alms?
Donations of money, food, or goods to the poor.
Why did the Buddha run away from home?
He wanted to find an answer to suffering in life.
Why do Buddhists meditate?
To practice mindfulness and mental discipline.
What are the Vedas?
Ancient knowledge passed down by priests that would become Hinduism.
What is Dharma and why might it be different for each person?
Dharma is your duty or obligation in life and it is different depending on your caste or job.
What is Nirvana?
The ideal state of happiness and peace. What you reach from enlightenment.
Why did the Buddha realize that starving himself was NOT the right way to enlightenment?
Because he would die achieving nothing or he would not be able escape rebirth.
Where did the four noble truths come from?
The things the Buddha saw were true about life.
Where do the Hindu gods come from and what do they represent?
They come from Brahman (the universe) and they represent different aspects or parts of the universe. (Luck, death, destruction)
What is a pilgrimage and why do people do it?
A journey or trip to a holy place. People want to become closer to their religion/faith.
What is the idea of the 8-fold path?
The steps needed to life a good life to reach enlightenment/nirvana. Escape rebirth.
What issues did the Buddha have with the Brahmin (hindu) religion at the time?
He believed that the knowledge should be available to everyone.
Which one of these is NOT one of the teachings of the 8 fold path?
1. Do not lie or gossip
2. You must pray to the Buddha
3. Do not work in a job that hurts animals
4. You should donate to those who are in need
2. You do not pray to anyone in Buddhism.
Why are the Brahmin priests at the top of the Indian social structure?
They are the only ones who know the ancient knowledge and how to teach it.
What is the idea of Asceticism or living as an ascetic. Why do people do it?
To live without any pleasures of life or to live homeless by choice without any belongings. They do this so they can remove desire and greed.
What are the four noble truths?
The four ideas that the Buddha were said to be true about the universe. The four main ideas of Buddhism.
1. Life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by desire
3. There is a way to end suffering
4. You can escape reincarnation (Nirvana) by living a good life.