Q&A Hero

Q: Why is the Sutta Pitaka the most important of the books of the Pali canon? a. it answers the questions of King Milinda b. it explains how Buddhism grew out of Hinduism c. it is considered to have been divinely inspired d. the principal voice heard in the discourses is the that of the Buddha

Q: _________ is the Buddhist sect to which most believers in Sri Lanka and Burma belong. a. Madhyamika b. Mahayana c. Theravadin d. Vajrayana

Q: What was one of the most important messages of the Fourteen Rock Edicts? a. Asoka was to be revered as a Buddha b. attaining the goal of Nirvana c. followers should practice piety and a common law d. the importance of the practice of meditation

Q: Who issued the Fourteen Rock Edicts? a. Asoka b. Buddha c. Gautama d. Magadha

Q: Whether or not a schism occurred when the Second Council met at Vaisali, we know that the next three centuries produced no fewer than _________ Buddhist sects. a. 4 b. 8 c. 16 d. 32

Q: Tradition purports that immediately after the Buddha's death 500 monks gathered and chanted the contents of the _________. a. Bhagavad Gita b. Brahmanas c. Tripitaka d. Visuddhimagga

Q: Which of the following seemed to satisfy the deepest needs of Buddhist followers? a. believing in myth and ritual b. daily meditation c. practicing self-reflection d. understanding the path to enlightenment

Q: Which of the following accurately reflects a philosophy found in early Buddhism? a. Daily prayer is critically important. b. Each individual must determine which gods he must appease in each reincarnation. c. To know or not to know is the only primary concern. d. Worshipping the Buddhist pantheon is critically important.

Q: The Communist Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot seized power in _________ and banned _________.

Q: _________ is the state religion of Thailand.

Q: The practice of _________ ended hereditary rule in the Yellow Hat monasteries.

Q: _________ is the head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Buddhists.

Q: __________ was the founder and first patriarch of the meditative Chan (Zen) tradition.

Q: As Buddhism rose in China and Japan, there was a decline in this country: _________.

Q: Lamaism, or Tibetan Buddhism, may also be called the _________, or Holy Words.

Q: The English translation of "Tripitaka" is _________.

Q: The chief interest of the Pure Land schools is__________.

Q: The Manushi Buddhas are primarily _________ and cannot be sought out by prayer.

Q: The clan name of Prince Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism was _________. a. Ganges b. Gautama c. Pali d. Shakamuni

Q: Among contemporary Burmese Buddhists, Spiro found three points of view concerning the meaning of nirvana. Which of the following is not one of those? a. Although we cannot say what nirvana is, it is not extinction or annihilation. b. Nirvana means total extinction. c. Only the Buddha knew the true nature of nirvana. d. Short of experiencing nirvana, nothing can be said about it.

Q: In the Buddhist teachings, "Tanha" or thirst refers to desire or craving, the impetus for clinging and becoming. This is the impetus for _________. a. asceticism b. Buddhism c. rebirth d. truth telling

Q: Which of the following is NOT part of an initiate's vows upon entering the Sangha? a. I take refuge in the Ananda. b. I take refuge in the Buddha. c. I take refuge in the Dharma. d. I take refuge in the Sangha

Q: The seventh step on the Eightfold Path is made possible by _________. a. non-indulgence in loose or hurtful talk b. the belief in the Four Noble Truths c. the love of all creatures with the right sort of love in word and deed d. well-disciplined thought habits during long hours spent in attention to helpful topics

Q: What is the first step in the Eightfold Path? a. right aspiration or purpose b. right belief c. right conduct d. right effort

Q: The Buddhist teachings suggest that freedom from fetters can be achieved only by ________ means. a. educational b. both positive and negative c. negative d. postitive

Q: Which attachment did the Buddhist philosophy allow? a. attachment to the Buddha b. attachment to the family c. attachment to the monks d. no attachments were allowed

Q: The Buddha _________ philosophical speculation as a way of liberation. a. accepted b. rejected c. taught d. was ambivalent about

Q: What is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths? a. the Eightfold Path b. the Five Hindrances c. the Ten Fetters d. the Three Intoxications

Q: Among Buddhists of today, what is presumed once a monk conquers the first three of the ten fetters? a. he has become enlightened and is in perinirvana b. he will not be reborn again before he enters Nirvana c. he cannot be reborn more than seven additional times before entering Nirvana d. he will be reborn only once more on the human level

Q: According to the Buddhist literature, what is the name of the list of things by which beings are bound to the wheel of existence? a. the Eightfold Path b. the Five Hindrances c. the Ten Fetters d. the Three Intoxications

Q: The Buddhist literature includes lists of things to be avoided. Which of the following is one of the Three Intoxications? a. ignorance b. restlessness c. self-rightousness d. sloth

Q: The Buddha taught that all composite beings able to reason suffer from three great flaws. One of these flaws is __________ which refers to the ultimate unreality of the self or atman. a. anatta b. anicca c. dharma d. dukkha

Q: The philosophy of _________ purports that human personality in one existence is the direct cause of the type of individuality that appears in the next existence. a. causal continuity b. karmic inevitability c. the ananda d. the ethical framework

Q: Gautama used _________ to test the Brahmin philosophy during his six year quest. a. communal ritual b. prayer c. scriptural study d. yoga

Q: The whole body of beliefs and practices of the Buddhist faith is referred to as __________. a. Dharma b. Pali c. Sasana d. Vinaya

Q: Followers of Buddhism and Jainism shared this belief. a. Acceptance of the Law of Karma would lead to liberation of the soul. b. Liberation of self from suffering was dependent on caste or station in life. c. The Brahmin priesthood alone could show the way to salvation. d. The ritual observances of the Vedas could curry the favor of the gods.

Q: The Buddha inducted several family members into the order. Which of the following was not inducted into the order? a. Buddha's aunt b. Buddha's father c. Buddha's stepmother d. Buddha's son

Q: According to the Buddhist philosophy, what entity produces no new karma? a. a Buddhist monk b. an altered ego c. an arahat d. a conscious soul

Q: While meditating under a fig tree, Gautama came to realize that ________ was what blocked his release from suffering. a. coveting the possessions of others b. desire c. failure to worship the Hindu gods d. humility

Q: Gautama was without desire after his _________. a. Great Enlightenment b. rejection of Brahmanism c. severe illness d. study of Jainic legends

Q: How did Guatama test extreme asceticism? a. by depending on others for sustenance b. by diligently pursing meditation in a rigorously disciplined body c. by studying the sacred texts d. by wandering with other ascetics

Q: Who had hoped that Gautama would become emperor of India? a. his father b. his followers c. his wife d. his son

Q: What did Gautama do after his enlightenment that delayed his entrance to Nirvana? a. He accepted a bowl of rice and milk from a kind woman. b. He became a teaching Buddha. c. He created a written record of his quest for enlightenment. d. He fathered another child with his wife.

Q: Lay Buddhists must adhere to __________ of the Ten Precepts of Buddhism.

Q: The founder of the order of Buddhist nuns was _________.

Q: The Buddhist monastic order is known as the __________.

Q: _________ were ordained monks authorized by the Buddha to ordain converts into the order.

Q: Some scholars belief that Buddhism is an atheistic philosophy because _________.

Q: After his enlightenment the Buddha referred to himself as the Tathagata, or _________.

Q: An arahat is _________.

Q: The first religious philosophy tested and rejected by Gautama was _________.

Q: What famous legend _________ provides Buddhists with an explanation of why Gautama renounced his life under the same roof with his wife and young son?

Q: One thing that makes it difficult to differentiate between historical truth and tradition is that _________ was the principal method of preserving literature and learning for many centuries.

Q: What are the Tirthankaras in Jain philosophy? a. moral restrictions b. savior beings c. supernatural powers d. worshippers

Q: Where will monks who wish to emulate Mahavira's path find a summary of his ascetic practice? a. The Book of Transcendence b. The Doctrine of Moksha c. The Five Great Vows d. The Purification Rites of Jina

Q: According to Jain philosophy, what is the Siddha-sila? a. home of the liberated soul b. the nothingness that represents the pure state of a soul c. the rebirth of a pure soul d. the universe of all living things

Q: How did Mahavira become known as the Jina (Conqueror)? a. He achieved freedom for all Indians by abolishing the caste laws. b. He achieved victory over his body and the desires that bind one to world of matter and sin. c. He achieved victory over other ascetic sects with his belief in the afterlife. d. He achieved victory over the ruling political class.

Q: Why did Mahavira believe that no help would come from higher beings or gods? a. The gods were opposed to Mahavira's nakedness b. There were no such beings. c. They were finite beings subject to rebirth. d. They were occupied with more important tasks than helping humans.

Q: The philosophy of Jainism purports that souls _________. a. are indestructible b. are male c. cannot be liberated d. have a finite length of being

Q: When Mahavira first joined the monk's his initiation required him to do which of the following? a. obtain new garments b. pluck out his hair c. recite the Five Verses d. slaughter a pig

Q: Jainism was a reaction to what Brahmanic philosophy? a. ahimsa b. dualism c. idealism d. monism

Q: The sect of Ajivakes held a strictly deterministic view that all living beings must pass through a cycle of rebirths lasting how long? a. 1,400,000 kalpas b. 1,840,000 kalpas c. 8,400,000 kalpas d. 10,400,000 kalpas

Q: Mahavira is an honorary title. What does it mean? a. ascetic b. god c. great man d. rajah

Q: The _________ Jain sect tolerates no idols, has no temples, and worships everywhere. a. Digambaras b. Dravidian c. Shvetambaras d. Sthanakvasis

Q: Which of the following is believed true, not legend about Mahavira? a. He grew up sinless. b. He was omniscient. c. He was raised in a privileged household. d. His birth was supernatural.

Q: What Jainist principle ensures that monks and laypersons are not widely separated? a. public rites b. the communal act of repentance c. the equal value of all souls d. the law of caste

Q: Which of the following is a Jain devotional act? a. animal protection b. sacramental rites c. rending of garments d. welcoming strangers to the home

Q: Which of the Five Great Vows is the most radically ascetic? a. I renounce all attachments. b. I renounce all killing of living beings. c. I renounce all sexual pleasure d. I renounce all taking of anything not give.

Q: Early in the history of Jainism, the three sects were divided on the issue of clothes. Which sect went about "clad in atmosphere" whenever religious duty demanded it? a. the Digambaras b. the Dravidians c. the Shevetambaras d. the Sthanakvasis

Q: Where does the liberated soul come to dwell? a. Ahamkara b. Gunas c. Isatpragbhara d. Sattva

Q: How does the Jaina philosophy classify souls? a. according to their age b. according to their gender c. according to the layers of karmic matter they have accumulated d. according to the number of senses they have

Q: To what does the term "jiva" refer? a. living beings in the universe b. lifeless things in the universe c. the eternal evil d. the eternally liberated being

Q: According to Jainism, ________ is the subtlest form of matter. a. karma b. light c. space d. time

Q: How many years did it take Mahavira to become the Jina? a. 11 b. 13 c. 17 d. 23

Q: Why did Mahavira refrain from speaking to or greeting anyone? a. he believed others were better than him b. he feared that someone would recognize him c. he thought others were beneath him d. he was fearful of forming personal attachments

Q: When Mahavira sought his brother's consent to join the monks and become "houseless" his brother required him to stay in the palace for an additional year. What did Mahavira do during this time?a. attended to his parents needsb. divorce his wifec. gave away his valuable possessionsd. studied Parshva's teachings

Q: The fact that Mahavira was not _________ made it easier for him to renounce his princely life. a. a father b. married c. the oldest son d. the youngest son

Q: The belief that the physical world and an infinite number of living souls are both real and mutually exclusive describes what type of world view? a. a dualistic worldview b. a karmic worldview c. a monistic worldview d. a sacrificial world view

Q: The Jains believe various kinds of karma are accumulated during the births of souls; how does one get rid of all the karmic layers that surround the soul? __________.

Q: What is the rite of sallakhana?