Deck 5: Encountering Buddhism: The Middle Path to Liberation

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of Siddhartha Gautama?

A)He proclaimed that his birth as Siddhartha Gautama was his first birth.
B)He led a life of extreme mental and physical self-denial till the age of twenty-one.
C)He was born in China.
D)He was born into a royal family.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Mahayana placed increased importance on this term for the "buddha-to-be," someone who comes very close to achieving the full buddha nature but postpones it to help others reach it.

A)Tathagata
B)bodhisattva
C)samsara
D)Compassionate Guru

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The first of the Four Noble Truths states that:

A)the cause of suffering is desire.
B)to end desire is to end suffering.
C)all life is suffering.
D)to end desire, one must follow the Noble Eightfold Path.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Tibetan Buddhism is also known as:

A)the Lotus Sutra.
B)the Diamond Vehicle.
C)the Platform Sutra.
D)the Samadhi Vehicle.

Question 5

Which of the following is one of the Four Passing Sights that mark the beginning of Buddha's enlightenment?

A)hungry child
B)a gravely ill person
C)the Shanti Stupa
D)the Bodhi tree

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true about Tibetan Buddhism?

A)Buddhism was easily established in Tibet because of Trikaya.
B)The Pure Land Schools of Buddhism became a leading group in Tibet.
C)The direct political rule of the Dalai Lama extended to Bhutan, Nepal, and Mongolia.
D)Tibetan Buddhism is also known as Vajrayana.

Question 7

What is the last of the four passing sights, after which Siddhartha Gautama began his search for enlightenment?

A)a hungry child
B)a sick person
C)a Hindu holy man
D)a Jain monk

Question 8

What is the "Middle Path" of Buddhism?

A)the way between Hinduism and Sikhism
B)the way between atheism and monotheism
C)the way between monasticism and ordinary life
D)the way between extreme self-denial and ordinary life

Question 9

The Great Sangha belittled the traditionalists who advocated keeping strictly to what they considered the earliest practices of Buddhism by calling them:

A)Hinayana.
B)Tathagata.
C)Mahayanas.
D)Trikayas.

Question 10

What is the name of the main leader of Tibetan Buddhism?

A)the Dalai Lama
B)the Panchen Lama
C)the Dondrub Lama
D)the Tibetan Bodhisattva

Question 11

According to Buddhist teachings, which of the following statements is true of karma?

A)It is the law of the cause and effect of actions.
B)It is the endless cycle of wandering.
C)It is the pure land.
D)It is the extinction of desire.

Question 12

This figure became the Buddha after attaining enlightenment.

A)Bodhidharma
B)Siddhartha Gautama
C)Mahaveer
D)Raja Upali

Question 13

The last of the Four Noble Truths points to:

A)the cause of suffering .
B)ending desire.
C)a monastic lifestyle following the Middle Path
D)The Noble Eightfold Path.

Question 14

In the context of Vajrayana, which of the following deals with passing its teachings secretly from guru to student?

A)Esoteric Buddhism
B)Tantric Buddhism
C)the Lotus Sutra
D)the Platform Sutra

Question 15

Which of the following doctrines was developed to convert Buddhist layfolk to Mahayana Buddhism?

A)Koans
B)Trikaya
C)Vinaya Pitaka
D)Acharanga Sutra

Question 16

Buddhism is the religion founded by:

A)Siddhartha Gautama.
B)Mahaveer.
C)Sariputta.
D)Purṇa Maitrayaniputra.

Question 17

What is the route by which Buddhism spread through Asia between 400 BCE and 800 CE?

A)India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Tibet.
B)India, China, Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka.
C)India, Japan, Tibet, China, Sri Lanka
D)India, Tibet, China, Japan, Sri Lanka

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true of the term "buddha"?

A)It applies to Siddhartha Gautama and not his followers.
B)It originated as an English term.
C)It means "the compassionate one."
D)It is a term, not a personal name.

Question 19

Under which of the following trees did Siddhartha Gautama attain enlightenment?

A)the Bodhi Tree
B)the Dharma Tree
C)the Sattva Tree
D)the Shanti Tree

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true of Mahayana Buddhism?

A)The monks of the Great Sangha held that Buddhism should be a vehicle just for monks.
B)Adaptation to indigenous religions was harder for Mahayanists.
C)Some of the Buddhist layfolk's gods and religious practices from their former religion(s) were a part of Mahayana Buddhism.
D)Mahayana Buddhists believed that individuals must find the way to nirvana on their own.

Question 21

The "large vehicle" branch of Buddhism in northern and eastern Asia is called:

A)Mahayana.
B)Tathagata.
C)Theravada.
D)Hinayana.

Question 22

Which the following statements is true of an urna that can be seen on the statues of the Buddha?

A)It is a mark composed of three horizontal stripes.
B)It can be seen on the Buddha statue's arms.
C)It is also called a mudra.
D)It shows that the Buddha has achieved enlightenment.

Question 23

In statues of the Buddha, he is often depicted in a formal position where his right hand is held up with the palm facing forward, symbolizing:

A)the teaching of the Buddhist way.
B)the attainment of enlightenment.
C)a blessing of those venerating the statue.
D)that he has shut out the distractions of the world.

Question 24

What refers to the style of life between extreme self-denial and ordinary life, which can lead to enlightenment?

A)Eightfold Path
B)Seated Meditation
C)Middle Path
D)Diamond Vehicle

Question 25

Dukkha, one of the Three Characteristics of Existence as taught by the Buddha, means:

A)suffering.
B)impermanence.
C)desire.
D)mindfulness.

Question 26

According to the Three Characteristics of Existence, what refers to no soul or self?

A)anatta
B)dukkha
C)mandala
D)anicca

Question 27

In contrast to Hindu beliefs on existence, Buddha taught that:

A)enlightened souls undergo the cycle of rebirth.
B)true satisfaction can be derived from what one has in the physical world.
C)it is possible to lead a life devoid of desires.
D)there is no permanent soul or self.

Question 28

Which of the following sacred texts spells out the elaborate procedures to prepare the spirit before and at death?

A)The Diamond Sutra
B)The Tibetan Book of the Dead
C)The Platform Sutra
D)The Funeral of the Dead

Question 29

According to the Noble Eightfold Path, which of the following statements illustrates right intention?

A)To end suffering, one must strive to satiate all of his/her desires.
B)People must want to change before they can change.
C)Deceptive speech adds to the suffering of the world.
D)Following the Eightfold Path causes nirvana.

Question 30

Anicca, one of the Three Characteristics of Existence as taught by the Buddha, means:

A)suffering.
B)impermanence.
C)desire.
D)mindfulness.

Question 31

Zen Buddhist riddles meant to induce nonrational enlightenment are called:

A)karma.
B)sutras.
C)koans.
D)dharma.

Question 32

In the context of Buddhist moral system, which of the following statements is true of precepts?

A)Following precepts leads to rebirth on earth as an animal.
B)Precepts come naturally and, therefore, are effortless.
C)Precepts can be broken to reach release in one's next life.
D)Following precepts leads to purity in thought, word, and deed.

Question 33

The statues of the Buddha in Buddhist temples and homes:

A)have hands that are concealed.
B)have an urna on the Buddha's arm.
C)are with eyes closed or mostly closed.
D)are often depicted in an upright, standing position.

Question 34

The term buddha is derived from:

A)Hindi.
B)Maithili.
C)Sanskrit.
D)Mandarin.

Question 35

Which of the following statements is true of Buddhist funeral rituals?

A)The ashes and bones of laypeople are collected and stupas are built over them.
B)In Tibet, bodies of pious Tibetan Buddhists are sometimes cut and distributed to birds.
C)Monks do not participate in funerals.
D)Cremation of the dead is a common practice among Tibetan Buddhists.

Question 36

What are brief statements of Buddhist teachings that are frequently used for protection?

A)precepts
B)mandalas
C)mudras
D)dharanis

Question 37

According to the Noble Eightfold Path, earning a living in a way that does not injure others and is conducive to the attainment of liberation is called:

A)right intention.
B)right conduct.
C)right morality.
D)right livelihood.

Question 38

In the context of Buddhist teachings, which of the following statements is true of the Four Noble Truths?

A)It is possible to lead life without any desires.
B)The cause of suffering is desire.
C)Addiction to life leads to satisfaction.
D)Nirvana is caused by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is true of Buddhist temples?

A)In the main hall of a typical Theravada temple, mats, chairs, or pews will be available.
B)They do not have statues or images of the Buddha.
C)There are no architectural differences between Mahayana and Theravada temples.
D)Larger Theravada temples will have places to burn incense in an open-air courtyard.

Question 40

Statues of the Buddha that show him reclining on his right side symbolize:

A)his entry into full nirvana at death.
B)the blessing of those venerating the statue.
C)his observation of the Four Passing Sights.
D)his entry into insight meditation.

Question 41

In Buddhism, the Three Refuges are the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka, and the Abhidamma Pitaka.

Question 42

During 1800s, Chinese immigrants with Buddhist backgrounds came to North America for religious reasons.

Question 43

Buddhist monks perform life-cycle rituals for laypeople.

Question 44

The Four Noble Truths regard emotional suffering as the only true form of suffering.

Question 45

A statue of Gautama at the end of his period of fasting shows him very thin, as almost "skin and bones."

Question 46

Unlike Hindu religious leaders, the Buddha prohibited Indian "untouchables" to be monks.

Question 47

In the context of meditation followed in the Theravada tradition, what is a comprehensive form of meditation that goes all the way to nirvana?

A)insight meditation
B)trance meditation
C)chant meditation
D)lay-oriented meditation

Question 48

In the context of meditation followed in the Theravada tradition, insight meditation is a form of meditation leading to awareness or mindfulness, which propels the meditator toward nirvana.

Question 49

According to the Noble Eightfold Path, what refers to gaining a perspective that ends one's delusions and brings knowledge of reality?

A)right mindfulness
B)right understanding
C)right intention
D)right speech

Question 50

Buddhism teaches that anyone can become enlightened, even become a buddha.

Question 51

Seated meditation in Zen, often for prolonged periods of time, is called:

A)bodhzen.
B)longzen.
C)zazen.
D)koan-zen.

Question 52

The Noble Eightfold Path consists of eight aspects of thought and behavior that need to be cultivated on the path to nirvana.

Question 53

A detailed heart of Buddhist ethical thought is this term, which means "virtuous behavior,"
"morality," "ethics," or precept (moral command).

A)sila
B)anatta
C)anicca
D)mandala

Question 54

Explain the Buddhist concept of the "Middle Path."

Question 55

According to Buddhism, the way to end suffering is to end:

A)desire.
B)life.
C)nirvana.
D)self-denial.

Question 56

A burial mound or monument often containing the relics of the Buddha or prominent Buddhists is called a:

A)mudra.
B)stupa.
C)mandala.
D)dukkha.

Question 57

Buddhists do not consider statues of the Buddha to be as inspiring as paintings and pictures of the Buddha.

Question 58

What is a combination of Mahayana and indigenous religion?

A)Japanese Buddhism
B)Tibetan Buddhism
C)Indian Buddhism
D)Srilankan Buddhism

Question 59

The event that caused Japanese Buddhists in America to become Protestant Christians was:

A)the teaching of Henry Olcott.
B)the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
C)the defeat of Japan in WW II.
D)internment of Japanese Americans in camps.

Question 60

Buddhism does not have a main deity on whom the religion centers and to whom worship and prayer are offered.

Question 61

How did Buddhist religious institutions adapt in the West by "Protestantizing" their traditions?

Question 62

Discuss the various dimensions of prayer for layfolk and Buddhist monks.

Question 63

What are the Five Precepts of Buddhism?

Question 64

Discuss how the Buddha is depicted in paintings or statues.