World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 34 of 96 Vijnana: Consciousness, an awareness of the world 4. Namarupa: Traits, referring to the mind and the body 5. Sadayatana: The senses (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind-organ) 6. Sparsa: Contacts with other things 7. Vedana: Feelings 8. Trsna: Desire or thirst 9. Upadana: Clinging or grasping; the word also means “fuel”, which feeds the continuing cycle of rebirth 10. Bhava: Clinging to existence 11. Jati: Literally “birth”, but life is understood as starting at conception 12. Jaramarana:Old age and death Suffering ends when the person attains nirvana. Liberation Nirvana Nirvana means “cessation” or “extinction”. In this context, it is the end of craving and ignorance, and therefore, suffering. The end of suffering means the end of rebirths. The term for one attaining nirvana is “arahant”. The term “parinirvana” refers to the complete nirvana that is attained by the arahant at the moment of death; this is when the physical body expires. Buddhas A Buddha is a fully awakened being who has completely purified his mind of desire, aversion, and ignorance. A Buddha is no longer bound by Samsara. Many Buddhists do not consider Siddhartha Gautama as the only Buddha. Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists believe that the next Buddha will be named Maitreya. Bodhisattvas Bodhisattva means “enlightenment being” and refers to one who is on the path to Buddhahood. This person wishes to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of others. Practice Devotion Devotion is extremely important. The devotional practices include bowings, offerings, pilgrimage, and chanting. There are different practices depending on the location. In Pure Land Buddhism, the devotion is to the Buddha Amitabha. In Nichiren Buddhism, the devotion is to the Lotus Sutra. Dependent Arising The Twelve Nidanas describe a causal connection between the successive characteristics of cyclic existence. Each one of these gives rise to the next: 1. Aidya: Ignorance – spiritual ignorance of the nature of reality 2. Samskaras: An individual’s set personality, their predisposition 3.