Religion Quiz: Buddhism 101: 10 Questions | Religion

Answer: He wanted to understand the truth of life

Siddhartha Gautama's inquiring and contemplative nature saw him become unhappy with his life and the inequality he saw on the streets. Penniless and homeless, he became a disciple of Brahman teachers and adopted the life of an ascetic. Eventually he became disillusioned with Hindu asceticism and the Indian caste system and left to seek answers on his own.

While meditating under a Bodhi tree 35-year-old Siddhartha Gautama fully realized the cause of suffering and the pathway to eliminate it. He attained Enlightenment, and thus Buddhism was born.

Answer: The collective teachings of the Buddha

The word Dharma has more than one meaning but in Buddhism it simply refers to the teachings of the Buddha.

One of the oldest known Buddhist symbols is the Dharma Wheel, or Dharmacakra. The eight spokes represent the Eightfold Path. The parts of the wheel symbolize various aspects of Buddhism; the hub represents discipline, the spokes represent wisdom and the rim represents concentration.

Answer: Impermanence, suffering and egolessness

Only the understanding and mastery of impermanence, suffering and egolessness can bring peace and the end of suffering.

Impermanence refers to the fact that all conditional things are in a state of flux.

Suffering and dissatisfaction comes from craving pleasure or avoiding pain and from trying to cling to things that are impermanent.

Egolessness refers to the denial of a separate permanent "I". Buddha reasoned that there was no permanent soul because all things that exist are subject to change.

Answer: No

The Buddha was not a god, but a historical spiritual leader. Buddhists may pay respect to images of the Buddha, but Buddhism is a non-theist religion without acts of worship. Buddhists instead meditate or practice an inner reconditioning to awaken inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom.

Answer: The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are:

The truth of suffering
The truth of the cause of suffering
The truth of the cessation of suffering
The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering

buddhanet.net explains the connection between a doctor and the Buddha with the following analogy:
"
A Doctor tells us / The Buddha tells us the truth about

What is wrong with us / The presence of suffering
What is the cause of our illness / The cause of suffering
That there is a cure / The end of suffering
What we have to do to get well / The way to the end of suffering"

Answer: The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is a practical guide of interdependent principles that describe the way to end suffering and, together with the Four Noble Truths, form the core beliefs of Buddhism.

Answer: A Buddhist book of proverbs

The Dhammapada is a Buddhist scripture containing 423 verses that deal mainly with ethics. It is one of the most well known and loved texts, and has been regarded as the most succinct expression of the Buddha's teachings.

It is said that after the Buddha's death a council of his disciples wrote these scriptures that were previously only known through oral lectures. The Dhammapada is part of the Khuddaka Nikaya collection of the Sutta Pitaka in the Theravada Pali Canon.

Answer: Karma

In Buddhism karma is understood to be a natural law, without judgment or divine intervention. It is intentional, conscious and willful action to which there are consequences. The effects of these actions may be seen presently, in the future of one's lifetime, in the next lifetime or only after several lifetimes. Buddhists believe the retributive process of karma can span more than one lifetime.

As long as there is suffering (delusions, greed, aversion etc.), karma will be generated. Once the accumulated karma is realized (over many lifetimes), the cycle of rebirth can cease. A state of Enlightenment is reached and, hence, the end of suffering.

Answer: The colours of the aura that shone around the Buddha when he attained Enlightenment

The Buddhist flag, a symbol of faith and peace, was first hoisted in Sri Lanka in 1885. It was designed by J.R. de Silva and Colonel Henry S. Olcott. There are six vertical stripes of blue, yellow, red, white and orange. The last vertical section is composed of all five colours arranged in horizontal stripes.

The aura colours symbolize:

blue - universal compassion
yellow - the Middle Path
red - blessings
white - purity and liberation
orange - wisdom

Some Buddhist sects replace the orange colour with pink or plum.

Answer: Nirvana

Nirvana is freedom from the constant cravings that we experience in life, such as dissatisfaction, jealousy, greed, ignorance etc. The state of Nirvana settles all karmic debt thereby ending the cycle of birth and death.