Bhuddism The Whole Textbook

• Anicca refers to Impermanence in Buddhism.
• Anatta refers to no self in Buddhism.
• Dukkha refers to Suffering in Buddhism.
• The sankharas (sic) are different parts that make up a person in Buddhism.
• Samsara is the cycle of rebirth and death in Buddhism.
• Pratityasamutpada, or Dependent Origination, is a key concept in Buddhism.
• Nirvana is the state of enlightenment in Buddhism.
• The Buddha is a person who has reached enlightenment in Buddhism.
• The Pali canon is the complete scripture collection of Theravada Buddhists, also known as the Tipitaka, which consists of three sections: The Basket of discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), The basket of discourses (Sutta Pitaka), and The basket of higher teachings (Abhidhamma pitaka).
• In order to become aware we need to meditate and acquire wisdom.
• The three poisons are things that Buddhists believe poison us, the cause us to suffer, they are negative traits and toxins which cause us to be reborn and stop us reaching enlightenment and nirvana.
• Ignorance, or avidya, is not being able to see the truth about things, not being able to see things as they are.
• Buddhism teaches that as long as we are ignorant of things in the world we will suffer from all types of misunderstanding and delusions.
• There are two types of ignorance explained by the Buddha: views, which is speculative viewpoints, non-considered or reasoned opinions, which can lead to a narrow outlook on life, and conceit, which is linked with egoism.
• Craving, or tanha, is the strong desire we have to please our senses and experience life itself.
• The Buddha had discovered that suffering was an inevitable part of life.
• Suffering often refers to painful feelings and only that, whereas the word dukkha is much more inclusive.
• The three types of craving listed by the Buddha are: the craving of the senses, the craving for self protection, and the craving to get rid of unpleasant situations.
• The three marks of existence (lankshanas) are interlinked, with samsaric existence being frustrating because we experience not only suffering, but pleasures which don’t last (they are impermanent).
• The teaching of anatta can be difficult for Hindus who believe in the atman as the true self, the part of us that lives on after death.
• The teaching of anatta states that there is no such thing as a soul or Atman, and that there is no fixed self, we exist in a state of constant change.
• The permanent thing we need to accept in Buddhism is nirvana.
• Not taking part in sexual misconduct, not lying or gossiping, and not taking intoxicating substances such as drugs or drink are all aspects of ethics.
• Wisdom in Buddhism means listening to and understanding the teachings of Buddhism, applying them to your own life, and not just understanding them.
• The three characteristics of dukkha are impermanence (anicca), insubstantiality or “not-self” (anatta), and frustration or suffering (dukkha).
• Meditation is the practice of clearing and controlling the mind.
• Buddhists believe that we cannot identify our bodies or our minds as being us because these change.
• The Buddha says that there is no permanent self, we exist in a state of constant change.
• The three marks of existence (lankshanas) is a teaching of early Buddhism which is accepted by all Buddhist schools and is an analysis of the First Noble Truth, the doctrine of dukkha.
• Dependent origination/conditionality (pratityasamutpada) is a teaching of early Buddhism which is accepted by all Buddhist schools and is an explanation of the First Noble Truth, the doctrine of dukkha.
• The eightfold path consists of ethics, wisdom, and meditation.
• Because of the different beliefs in Buddhism, some would argue that it is important to believe in Bodhisattvas, while others would argue that it is not.
• An arhat has conquered their own minds, is free from hatred, greed and ignorance, is wise and compassionate, will not be reborn into samsara, and can be male or female.
• The purpose of a Bodhisattva is to inspire others, save others, show the importance of compassion and willingness to make sacrifices on behalf of others, learn the truth and teach others, and intervene in the world to help others.
• In Zen Buddhism, these four promises are made: Beings are numberless; I vow to free them, Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them, Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them, The Awakened Way is unsurpassable; I vow to embody it.
• The Bodhisattva path in Mahayana can be followed by any layperson, whereas in Theravada pursuing a monastic route to become an arhat is more important.
• The concept of arhats is more significant in Theravada Buddhism, while the concept of bodhisattvas is central to Mahayana Buddhism.
• Mahayana Buddhists often call upon Bodhisattvas in times of need.
• A Bodhisattva can manifest on earth as anything that may help people on the path to enlightenment, including strangers, friends, babies and even a bridge.
• Theravada Buddhists believe that each age has a Buddha, and the Buddha of this current age is Siddhartha Gautama.