Vihara

• What is the place of worship for Buddhists called?

  A temple or vihara
• Do Buddhists believe that the Buddha is a god?

  No, they do not believe that the Buddha was a god
• What is a vihara?

  A vihara is both a temple and monastery
• What is the purpose of a monastery?

  A monastery is a place where monks live
• What is a monk?

  A monk is a member of a group of religious men who do not marry and usually live together in a monastery
• What is the custom regarding shoes and hats when entering a Buddhist temple?

  Shoes and hats are normally removed
• What can a Buddhist temple contain?

  A Buddhist temple can contain a number of different shrines
• What is a stupa?

  A stupa is a temple or shrine that contains a relic of the Buddha or a holy person
• What is a relic?

  A relic is part of a deceased holy person's body or belongings
• What does the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka hold?

  A tooth belonging to the Buddha
• Why are statues of the Buddha present in temples?

  They help people to concentrate on their chanting or meditation
• How do people show respect to the Buddha?

  By making offerings such as flowers, candles, and incense
• What do the offerings of flowers, candles, and incense remind Buddhists of?

  That everything is temporary
• What does Buddhism teach about attachment to things?

  Buddhists believe that we should be willing to let go of things because nothing in life lasts forever
• What is an important symbol for Buddhists often found in temples?

  The lotus flower
• Why are Buddhist temples designed to be quiet places?

  To allow people to meditate
• What does meditation mean in Buddhism?

  Meditation means stilling your mind in order to focus your thoughts
• How do people typically sit while meditating in a Buddhist temple?

  People sit on the floor or a cushion
• What is the purpose of sounding a bell or singing bowl during meditation?

  To mark the beginning and the end of a meditation session
• What roles do Buddhist monks play in the community?

  Buddhist monks lead meditation, give advice on living a good life, lead rituals for the dead, bless children, and help prepare for weddings
• What do Buddhist monks in Thailand do with tourists visiting the temple?

  They talk to tourists