Week 4

Week 04 Content

Study Questions for Buddhism

Keep these study questions in mind as you read Chapter 4:

What two questions led to Siddhartha Gautama to leave a life of luxury and begin his search for truth?

What did 'the Buddha' tell his followers just before he died? What are the three major branches of Buddhism?

Know the Four Noble Truths, and answer the following questions: What causes suffering? How do you minimize it? How does one become released from it?

Journal #1

Journal #1 - Reflect on what you have learned about the Indigenous, Hindu and Buddhist

traditions, and note any similarities you have identified as well as noted differences.

Download your journal in the 'Course Works' tab under Journal #1.

Sarah Ghetti on experience with Buddhism

Sarah Getti McNeill is a chaplain at Methodist Hospital and spent time in Sri Lanka, a small island country just off the south Indian coast.You will enjoy the pictures and her comments on what she saw and experienced first hand during her year in that setting. Here is the video.

Midway Exam

Terms to know

To understand another culture/religion, one must be familiar with some of the vocabulary.

This is a list from the first 4 chapters over which you will be tested... They will be included in a

multiple choice and matching part of the exam.

Understand these Key Terms for the multiple choice section of exam... it might help to first

see if you can match the terms with a given religion/chapter as a way of remembering their meaning.

This list will help you be ready to answer multiple choice questions on exam

bhakti yoga bodhisattva dharma divination guru hatha yoga

karma Mahayana Buddhism moksha monotheism mystical orientation

myth nirvana polytheism prophetic orientation puja

Vajrayana Buddhism religion sacramental orientation samsara

sangha shaman Theravada Buddhism vision quest zen

Know these Key Terms for Matching question/section

You will be asked to match the word with the corresponding definition

1. ahimsa 2. Animism 3. Arhat 4. Atheism 5. Brahma 6. Caste 7. dharma

8. immanent 9. Lama 10. Samsara 11. Shaman 12. Symbol 13. Taboo 14. transcendent

15. Trimurti

Essay questions for exam

This is the list of the Study Questions from which the test will be created:

1. How is the traditional dictionary definition of religion different than the definition of religion according to world religion scholars?

2. The author discusses 8 elements manifested in varying degrees in all religions. Be familiar with these and how they relate to each religion.

3. Identify factors that have renewed interest in the study of ‘oral religions'.

4. What are the threats to the indigenous religious groups and how they are affecting these religions and cultures.

5. What is the purpose of reincarnation in Hinduism? What determines the life into which one is reincarnated? Elaborate… What marks the end of the cycle of reincarnation?

6. According to our speakers Hinduism is a monotheistic religion; how is that possible with all the ‘gods’ that are worshipped? What is the purpose and role of a shrine in a Hindu family’s home? Define the term ‘puja’ as it relates to the Hindu worship practices.

7. Note the many different kinds of ‘yoga’ and how each one functions within Hindu practice.

8. What two questions led to the Buddha’s search for truth and still shapes Buddhism today? What was his final teaching to his followers just before death?

9. Note there are three major branches of Buddhism, each with basic beliefs and practices that characterize that branch.

10. To explain the Buddha’s notion of suffering, use the Four Noble Truths and answer the following questions: What causes suffering? How do you minimize it? How does one become released from it?