Download Mid-Term Review

History of Buddhist Philosophy
KEY TERMS
1. स"सार
Saṃsāra
Samsara
2. कम'
Karma
Karma
3. (ती+यसम-+पाद
Pratītyasamutpāda
Pratityasamutpada
4. अना+मन्
Anātman
Anatman
5. अ3न+य
Anitya
Anitya
6. 4ःख
Duḥkha
Duhkha
7. त78णा
Tṛṣṇā
Trishna
8. 3नव;ण
Nirvāṇa
Nirvana
9. अह'त्
Arhat
Arhat
10. तथागत
Tathāgata
Tathagata
11. (?ा
Prajñā
Prajna
Mid Term Exam Review—1
History of Buddhist Philosophy
12. क@णा
Karuṇā
Karuna
13. AकBध
Skandha
Skandha
14. समा3ध
Samādhi
Samadhi
15. बो3धसFव
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
16. शHBयता
Śūnyatā
Shunyata
17. तथता
Tathatā
Tathata
18. बो3धिचK
Bodhicitta
Bodhicitta
19. सLभोगकाय
Sambhogakāya
Sambhogakaya
20. धम'काय
Dharmakāya
Dharmakaya
21. उपाय
Upāya
Upaya
22. Oयान
Dhyāna
Dhyana
Mid Term Exam Review—2
History of Buddhist Philosophy
QUESTIONS
Mid Term Exam Review—3
1. What are the three characteristics of Saṃsāra according to the Buddha's early teachings?
2. What are the five groups of processes that constitute the self from the Buddhist point of view?
3. What are the Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha in his first sermon and how might these truths be
explained in terms of a visit to a medical doctor?
4. Explain how the notion of Pratītyasamutpāda can be said to be the central doctrine of Buddhism.
5. How does The Fire Sermon perhaps raise the central question concerning the Buddhist notion of Nirvāṇa?
6. What is meant by "mindfulness practice" in the Buddha’s teaching The Foundation of Mindfulness
(Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta) that continues to be so important in Theravāda Buddhism today?
7. What is meant by the Mahāyāna notion of a Bodhisattva and how might the elevation of the Bodhisattva ideal in
Mahāyāna over the Theravāda ideal of the Arhat perhaps suggest an evolution in the Buddhist notion of
enlightenment?
8. How does the Trikāya teaching in Mahāyāna Buddhism depart from the earlier Theravāda conception of the
Buddha? What are the three bodies of the Buddha in Mahāyāna Buddhism?
9. What is the Prajñāpāramitā (“Perfection of Wisdom”) taught in the Heart Sūtra that is the central teaching of
Mahāyāna Buddhism?
10. How is the Mahāyāna ideal of the Bodhisattva emphasized in the Vimalakīrti Sūtra and what is the central
theme of this text concerning the understanding of Śūnyatā?
11. What is meant by the “storehouse consciousness” (ālaya-vijñāna) that is introduced in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra?
Why is this “storehouse consciousness” referred to by the name “Tathāgata-garbha”?
12. What is meant by the term Upāya that is brought forth in the Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra (The Lotus Sūtra)?
What is the point of the story about the burning house?
13. How is the devotional side of Mahāyāna Buddhism brought out in the Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtras (The Land of
Bliss Sūtras)?
14. How did Nāgārjuna explain the Mādhyamika as the "Middle Path" and how did he explain the notion of
Śūnyatā as following from the central doctrine of Buddhism and thus consistent with the middle path taught by
the Buddha?
15. What did Nāgārjuna mean in stating that there is no difference between Saṃsāra and Nirvāṇa and what are the
implications of this view?
16. What was the primary focus of the Yogācāra School of Mahāyāna Buddhism and why was it also known as the
Vijñānavāda school?