Download Ghosts in Buddhism Quiz

True
False
• In pre-Buddhist ancient India there was a progression of
ideas concerning the afterlife and rebirth.
• One of the oldest ideas was alternating system between
this world and an underworld. In the early Vedic period
the afterlife was considered to be a dark and shadowy
place. There was a desire to be reborn back into this
world with one’s family.
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• In pre-Buddhist ancient India there was a progression of
ideas concerning the afterlife and rebirth.
• One of the oldest ideas was alternating system between
this world and an underworld. In the early Vedic period
the afterlife was considered to be a dark and shadowy
place. There was a desire to be reborn back into this
world with one’s family.
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A. Emotional Action
B. Sacrificial Action
C. Social Action
• Karma appeared in the later Vedic period as sacrificial
acts which if correctly performed would enable a desired
result to come into effect, if the sacrifice was performed
incorrectly then there would not be a result.
• In texts such as the Upaniṣads it was explained that
actions performed on a small scale (microcosm) would
have an effect on the cosmos as a whole (macrocosm).
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• Karma appeared in the later Vedic period as sacrificial
acts which if correctly performed would enable a desired
result to come into effect, if the sacrifice was performed
incorrectly then there would not be a result.
• In texts such as the Upaniṣads it was explained that
actions performed on a small scale (microcosm) would
have an effect on the cosmos as a whole (macrocosm).
Next Question
True
False
• Karma, within Buddhist thought, is a system of cause and
effect. Rather than being linked to ritual actions karma is
understood to concern all intentional thoughts and
actions.
• What this means is that actions have a moral quality to
them. Actions that are intentionally good and well
meaning will have positive outcomes whereas actions
that are intentionally selfish, discriminatory and hurtful will
produce negative outcomes.
Next Question
• Karma, within Buddhist thought, is a system of cause and
effect. Rather than being linked to ritual actions karma is
understood to concern all intentional thoughts and
actions.
• What this means is that actions have a moral quality to
them. Actions that are intentionally good and well
meaning will have positive outcomes whereas actions
that are intentionally selfish, discriminatory and hurtful will
produce negative outcomes.
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A. 8
B. 31
C. 108
• In the Abhidharma it is explained that there are thirty-one
levels of existence. These levels are an expansion of the
six gatis. These are as a god (deva), demi-god (or asura
which do not feature in all lists), human, animal, ghost
and hell being.
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• In the Abhidharma it is explained that there are thirty-one
levels of existence. These levels are an expansion of the
six gatis. These are as a god (deva), demi-god (or asura
which do not feature in all lists), human, animal, ghost
and hell being.
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True
False
Within the frame work of Buddhist doctrine ghosts can be:
• Hungry ghosts (peta) as one of the six forms of
existence.
• Hell beings as one of the six forms of existence.
• Intermediate beings in between those six existences
(Tibetan Buddhists for example teach that there is an inbetween stage of up to 49 days between death and
rebirth).
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Within the frame work of Buddhist doctrine ghosts can be:
• Hungry ghosts (peta) as one of the six forms of
existence.
• Hell beings as one of the six forms of existence.
• Intermediate beings in between those six existences
(Tibetan Buddhists for example teach that there is an inbetween stage of up to 49 days between death and
rebirth).
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A. The newly dead who linger near their
body
B. Ancestors
C. Local spirits
All of the options were correct. Within the frame work of
Buddhist practice ghosts can be:
• Anyone (newly) dead who is still lingering near the
corpse or his former home (preta).
• Ancestors (pitṛ) who look after family lineage and harvest
• local spirits, too came to be incorporated.
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A. Nothing, ghosts are beyond help
B. Merit
C. Stones
• Merit is given to ghosts and the deceased in order to
provide them with a better rebirth. Merit can be given in a
number of ways. Through chanting, offerings and there
are even festivals in Laos and China that are dedicated
to generating merit for ghosts.
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• Merit is given to ghosts and the deceased in order to
provide them with a better rebirth. Merit can be given in a
number of ways. Through chanting, offerings and there
are even festivals in Laos and China that are dedicated
to generating merit for ghosts.
Next Question
What is this?
A. Paper money used as an offering in
China to transfer merit to ghosts
B. Paper money dying people give out to
avoid becoming ghosts
C. Paper money used as fuel for cremations
• In China there are a number of rituals that are performed
in memory of the dead during the course of the Ghost
Month. During this period the ‘spirits’ of the dead are
invited to the Buddhist monasteries to participate. At the
end of the Ghost Month the paper money (as pictured) is
burned as part of an offering to generate merit for ghosts.
Next Question
• In China there are a number of rituals that are performed
in memory of the dead during the course of the Ghost
Month. During this period the ‘spirits’ of the dead are
invited to the Buddhist monasteries to participate. At the
end of the Ghost Month the paper money (as pictured) is
burned as part of an offering to generate merit for ghosts.
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True
False
• In some Buddhist cultures it is understood that one can
become a ghost if they have a bad death. That is, if one
dies in a violent or untimely manner.
• These ghosts are often seen as dangerous and there are
rituals and festivals in which the living can placate ghosts
by feeding and clothing them.
• In some Buddhist cultures it is understood that one can
become a ghost if they have a bad death. That is, if one
dies in a violent or untimely manner.
• These ghosts are often seen as dangerous and there are
rituals and festivals in which the living can placate ghosts
by feeding and clothing them.
A. Jātakas
B. Petavatthu
C. Theragatha
• There is a canonical book, the Petavatthu, which is a
collection of ghost stories. This is found within the
Kuddhaka Nikāya.
• The Jātakas are a collection of stories about the previous
lives of the Buddha. They are also found within the
Kuddhaka Nikāya.
• The Theragatha is a collection of poetry that was recited
by monks found within the Kuddhaka Nikāya.