Deck 5: Buddhism

Question 1

Siddhartha's practice that rejected both self-indulgence and self-denial is called the __________.

Answer 1

Middle Way

Question 2

The Buddhist term for liberation is __________.

Answer 2

nirvana

Question 3

The Buddhist term for suffering or dissatisfaction is __________.

Answer 3

dukkha

Question 4

A __________ is one who is dedicated to liberating others from suffering.

Question 5

__________ are reliquary mounds reaching toward the sky that may contain a relic or an image of the Buddha.

Question 6

The Mahayana term for emptiness or voidness is __________.

Question 7

The aim of Zen practice is enlightenment, often experienced as the flash of insight known as __________.

Question 8

The form of Buddhism that offers faithful prayers to Amida Buddha is known as __________.

Question 9

The founder of Buddhism was a contemporary of __________.

A) Jesus
B) Zoroaster
C) Mahavira
D) Muhammad

Question 10

The monastic order that developed from the Buddha's early disciples is called the __________.

A) Temple
B) Gautama
C) Sangha
D) Mara

Question 11

Buddhists who follow the Theravada tradition study a large collection of ancient scriptures called the __________.

A) Great Vehicle
B) The Way of the Elders
C) Rig Veda
D) Pali Canon

Question 12

Which is not part of the Triple Gem?

A) Buddha
B) Dharma
C) Sangha
D) Tipitaka

Question 13

Chan Buddhism focuses predominantly on

A) social service
B) oxherding
C) meditation
D) pilgrimages

Question 14

The Japanese teacher Nichiren believed that the essence of Buddhism could be found in the __________.

A) Lotus Sutra
B) Koan
C) Zazen
D) Lama

Question 15

The Vajrayana practice of meditating upon oneself in the form of a Buddha or bodhisattva in order to embody enlightened qualities is called __________.

A) The Diamond Vehicle
B) Compassion Training
C) Tantric Yoga
D) Deity Yoga

Question 16

A monk or a nun who renounces worldliness for the sake of following the path of liberation is called a __________.

A) Guru
B) Dharma
C) Anitya
D) Bhikshu

Question 17

Siddhartha was born in the mountains of Japan.

Question 18

According to legend, Siddhartha was tempted by Mara, the personification of evil, to keep his insights to himself.

Question 19

Like many noteworthy religious figures, the Buddha lived only into his early thirties.

Question 20

Buddhists maintain that there is one great creator God to whom all prayers should be directed.

Question 21

The Buddhist teaching of anatman is the doctrine that there is no separate, permanent, or immortal self.

Question 22

Buddhism and Hinduism espouse the same understanding of the effects of karma on the human soul.

Question 23

Buddhist meditation involves a wide variety of techniques for cultivating the mind.

Question 24

Because the Buddha is not considered a God, Buddhists tend to have few devotional practices.

Question 25

Vesak is the most important Buddhist festival.

Question 26

The role of women in Buddhism has been steadily increasing since the 1980s.

Question 27

Due to their emphasis on meditation, Buddhists tend to be socially disengaged.

Question 28

The Buddha's emphasis on compassion prevails even among contemporary Buddhists.

Question 29

Describe the four parts of the Four Noble Truths and the eight elements of the eightfold path. How do you see these teachings constructively helping a person to achieve liberation from suffering in life? Give a concrete example (such as how these teachings might help someone deal with job loss or a serious illness).

Question 30

Driven by the principles of non-violence and compassion, contemporary Buddhist thinkers must deal with questions of medical ethics (for example, abortion, suicide, organ transplants, euthanasia). However, these issues could seem to compound one's sense of attachment to life and, therefore, to increase one's experience of suffering. Does constructive action in the world, such as medical interventions, contradict the Buddhist's ultimate understanding of impermanence? Why or why not?

Question 31

Describe Buddhism in the West today. How did it come here and is it spreading? What is its relationship to other religions? In your opinion, can people who are culturally disposed to Western attitudes fully appreciate and participate in the Buddhist lifestyle of renunciation and discipline?