Buddhism Cards – Flashcards
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What great king converted to Buddhism and helped spread it throughout India? Ashoka, Altan Khan, Wu, Alexander, Cyrus
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Ashoka
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What does the Tripitaka or Pali Canon consist of? The Lotus Sutra, The Heart Sutra, and the Diamond Sutra; Ritual instructions, hymns, and philosophical texts; Texts on suffering, impermanence, and no-self; Discourses on dharma, monastic rules, and systematic treatises
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Discourses on dharma, monastic rules, and systematic treatises
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Which of the following was NOT a Japanese form of Buddhism? Hwaom, Tendai, Nichiren, Zen, Shingon
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Hwaom
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By what title was Siddartha Gautama first known? Mara, Mahatma, Shakyamuni, Guru, Mahavira
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Shakyamuni
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What is the traditional place of the Buddha's enlightenment, now a major pilgrimage sight? Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Ladakh, Kushinagar
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Bodh Gaya
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What title, meaning 'thus-gone one', does the Buddha most often use to refer to himself? Mahatma, Tathagata, Shakyamuni, Bodhisattva, Arhat
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Tathagata
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What is the gongan ('koan' in Japanese)? A logic puzzle given to Buddhist students to find the solution through careful thought and reflection, a paradoxical thought exercise designed to defy rational understanding and propel the student toward enlightenment, a phrase repeated by Pure Land Buddhists to express praise and gratitude to Amitabha Buddha, a paradoxical thought exercise designed to defy rational understanding and propel the student towards enlightenment, a stick used by Chan/Zen masters to strike students and thus spark an awakening experience, a short sutra or text that is chanted for several hours a day
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A paradoxical thought exercise designed to defy rational understanding and propel the student toward enlightenment
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The collection of 'birth stories', or tales of the Buddha's previous lives, are called: Jataka, Janamsakhi, Puranas, Lotus Sutra, Tripitaka
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Jataka
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According to many accounts, approximately when did Siddartha Gautama live? Fifth to sixth century BCE, First century CE, Tenth century BCE, First century BCE, Sixth century CE
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Fifth to sixth century BCE
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Which of the following is NOT a form of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism? Nichiren, Chan, Tiantai, Saniun
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Nichiren
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The Madhyamika ('Middle Way') school was founded by: Bodhidharma, Asanga, Ananda, Nagarjuna, Nichiren
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Nagarjuna
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Vajrayana is also known as: Tantric Buddhism, The 'third turning of the wheel of dharma', Korean Buddhism, Both A and B, All of the above
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Both A and B
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'Hinayana', which Theravada is sometimes called, means: 'Great Vehicle', 'Way of the Elders', 'Diamond Vehicle', 'Ancient' School, 'Little Vehicle'
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'Little Vehicle'
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The term 'Buddha' literally means: 'Fully enlightened one', 'Divine One', 'Immortal One', 'Supreme Master', 'Being striving for Enlightenment'
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'Fully enlightened one'
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What were the four sights that, according to tradition, Siddartha Gautama saw that caused him to leave his home and become an ascetic? A priest, a writer, a merchant, and a servant; A sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a monk; A monk, a nun, a layman giving alms, and a laywoman giving alms; a tree, a mountain, a waterfall, and a deer; a rich man, a poor man, a healthy man, and a sick man
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A sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a monk
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What simple form of meditation, meaning 'insight' or 'mindfulness', is practiced by Theravada Buddhists? Vipassana, Nembutsu, Zazen, Dana, Tantra
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Vipassana
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The sacred geometric design used in Vajrayana Buddhist practice is called a: Mandala, Pagoda, Chakra, Koan, Murti
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Mandala
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The term anatman means: 'realm of rebirth', 'enlightenment', 'impermanence', 'no-self' or 'no-soul', 'suffering'
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'No-self' or 'no-soul'
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Which of the following is NOT a common mudra or hand gesture found in depictions of the Buddha? 'Granting Protection': Right hand raised, palm out; 'Teaching': One hand raised with open palm and thumb touching index finger; 'Strength': Right hand raised tightened into a fist, representing the strength of wisdom; 'Touching the Earth': The fingers of the right hand are extended down, calling the Earth to witness his enlightenment; 'Meditation': Hand(s) raising in the lap, palm up
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'Strength': Right hand tightened into a fist, representing the strength of wisdom
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The term 'nirvana', in Buddhism, refers to: The state of enlightenment; Hell; the realm of change, death, and rebirth; Heaven; The highest state of concentration in meditation
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The state of enlightenment
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Colorful strips of cloth often found in temples, which often have symbols, mantras, and prayers printed on the, are called: Pagodas; Caityas; Stupas; Prayer flags; Mudras
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Prayer flags
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What are the 'three bodies' (trikaya) of buddhahood, according to Mahayana teaching? The appearance body, body of bliss, and dharma body; Deity, human, and underworld being; Male body, female body, and heavenly body; The arhat, the bodhisattva, and the buddha; Siddartha, Shakyamuni, and Tathagata
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The appearance of body, body of bliss, and dharma body
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What are the three main traditions or 'vehicles' of Buddhism? The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha; The Lotus Sutra, the Heart Sutra, and the Diamond Sutra; Suffering, impermanence, and no-self; Morality, meditation, and wisdom; Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana
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Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana
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Which of the following is NOT one of the Four Noble Truths? Suffering will cease when desire ceases; Suffering arises from excessive desire or craving; The end of desire, and thus suffering, is through the Eightfold Plath; The cosmos have no beginning, middle, or end; Suffering is real - no living being can escape suffering
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The cosmos have no beginning, middle, or end
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What vow were Mahayana Buddhists, both lay and monastic, encouraged to take? Bodhisattva vow; vow of chastity; vow to achieve enlightenment in less than three lifetimes; Meditation vow; Vow of silence
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Bodhisattva vow
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According to the traditional story of the Buddha, what did Brahmins predict about his future when he was an infant? That we would die before he was five years old; That he would become either a great emperor or a fully enlightened being; That he would become a God; That we would conquer the rival powers throughout India; That he would unite all of India under one great faith
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That he would become either a great emperor or a fully enlightened being
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What Bodhisattva of compassion is sometimes referred to as the 'Virgin Mary of East Asia'? Amitabha, Maitreya, Manjusri, Guanyin, Ksitigarbha
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Guanyin
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The Buddhist Monastic community consists or ordained men and women called: Acharyas; Arhats; Bhikshus and Bhikshunis; Theravadins; Bodhisattvas
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Bhikshus and Bhikshunis
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In the Buddhist tradition, the term 'dharma' means: 'Teaching', 'Community', 'Righteousness', 'Duty', 'Religion'
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'Teaching'
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Who is traditionally believed to have brought Buddhism to Tibet? Nichiren; Dogen; Bodhidharma; Padmasambhava
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Padmasambhava
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Who led the conversion of thousands of dalits (untouchables) in India to Buddhism, himself included, in 1956? Jawaharial Nehru, Dr. Bhimrao R. Ambedkar; Indira Gandhi; Mohandas K. Gandhi; Bhagat Singh
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Dr. Bhimrao R. Ambedkar
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Which of the following was NOT a disagreement between newer Mahayana and older Theravada forms of Buddhism? Whether only monastics, or both monastics and laypeople, could achieve enlightenment; Different scriptures emphasized; Focus on the historical Shakyamuni versus belief that he represented only one manifestation of buddhahood; The importance of meditation and study of scriptures; Total self-reliance as the only way to enlightenment versus appealing to bodhisattvas for help
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The importance of meditation and scripture
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What Buddhist practice did not originally sit well with the social system and values in China? Ancestor Veneration; Monasticism; Meditation; Temple Building; Bodhisattva Veneration
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Monasticism
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What are the two schools or sub-sects of Southern Chan Buddhism known as? 'Active' and 'Passive'; 'Tall' and 'Short'; 'Meditation' and 'Wisdom'; 'Hot' and 'Cold'; 'Gradual' and 'Sudden'
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'Gradual' and 'Sudden'
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What are the 'Three Jewels' in Buddhism? Morality, Meditation, and Wisdom; The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha; Suffering, Impermanence, and no-self; Vinaya, Sutras, and Abidharma; Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana
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The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha
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The term 'arhat' means: 'worthy one' or 'Saint'; 'Teacher'; 'Awakened One'; 'Seer'; 'Ford-builder'
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'Worthy one' or 'Saint'
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A stupa is: a geometric pattern or design as a visual aid in meditation and ritual; a word puzzle given to Zen students to help them break out of conventional thinking and realize their Buddha-nature; a statue or idol of the Buddha or an important bodhisattva; A text containing Buddhist teachings or discourses; a mound or structure built over an important relic, which becomes a pilgrimage site
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A mound or structure built over an important relic, which becomes a pilgrimage site
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In Buddhist tradition, Mara is: The first convert to Buddhism; Siddartha Gautama's first meditation instructor; A great Indian kind who converts to Buddhism; The Lord of Death; The God of creation
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The Lord of Death
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According to what Mahayana school can we pray to Amitabha Buddha to be reborn in his realm, and from there achieve enlightenment? Pure Land; Zen; Tiantai; Yogacara
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Pure Land
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Chan was founded by: Padmasambhava; Bodhidharma; Vasubandhu; Nagarjuna
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Bodhidharma
