Deck 8: Mahayana Buddhism the Great Vehicle and Vajrayana Buddhism the Thunderbolt Vehicle

Question 1

According to Pure Land Buddhism, anyone can attain rebirth in the Western Paradise and eventually Buddhahood through __________.

A) believing in the truth of the Lotus Sutra
B) faith in Amitabha (Amida) Buddha
C) good works
D) the martial arts
E) silent meditation

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the __________ school of Mahayana Buddhism, a teacher might say, "If you meet the Buddha, kill him!"

A) Nichiren
B) Pure Land
C) Tendai
D) Tibetan
E) Zen

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The most popular Mahayana text is __________, which contains the supposed sayings of the Buddha, delivered on Vulture Peak (near Bodh Gaya) in India.

A) Book of the Dead
B) Diamond Sutra
C) Lotus Sutra
D) Platform Sutra
E) Shinto Myth

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to the Zen worldview, every individual has __________.

A) a Buddha-nature
B) the potential to become materially rich
C) a rational mind that will lead to the truth
D) sinned
E) an unchangeable soul

Question 5

According to Zen tradition, the Buddha once held a lotus before his disciples, smiled, and said ___________.

A) if you meet the Buddha, kill him
B) know yourself
C) nothing
D) place your faith in me
E) what is the sound of one hand clapping?

Question 6

The influence of Zen Buddhism on Japanese culture is evident in __________.

A) bushido, the Samurai warrior's code of behavior
B) generic law codes
C) the habitus of writing
D) medicinal drinks
E) the tang yin ceremony

Question 7

Which statement best expresses the goal/end in the Zen worldview?

A) "Ask and you will find."
B) "Escape the world and you will find the truth."
C) "There is no 'goal,' you are already enlightened."
D) "You too can reborn in the Pure Land of the Western Paradise."
E) "Your soul will rise to the top of the universe."

Question 8

According to the Zen worldview, we must all awaken to the calmness of the __________.

A) dual mind
B) eagle mind
C) monkey mind
D) pure mind
E) rational mind

Question 9

Unlike Theravada Buddhism, Mahayan Buddhism teaches that there are three separate bodies or natures of the Buddha, the earthly body, the heavenly body, and the __________ or nature of the Buddha, who is present in all reality.

A) astral
B) corporeal
C) cosmic
D) ethereal
E) yingling

Question 10

Buddhism entered Japan from ________??__ in the sixth century C.E.

A) China
B) Guam
C) India
D) Korea
E) Malaysia

Question 11

According to Zen tradition, the Indian monk __________ introduced the insights of Zen to China.

A) Amida
B) Bodhidharma
C) Guan yin
D) Hui neng
E) Siddartha

Question 12

In Theravada Buddhism, a/an __________ is a "Buddha in the making."

A) bodhisattva
B) cosmic Buddha
C) earthly Buddha
D) koan
E) lama

Question 13

A being who postpones final enlightenment in order to help others in their spiritual quests is known as a __________.

A) bodhisattva
B) heavenly Buddha
C) kami
D) lama
E) miko

Question 14

The story of the origins of the Japanese islands is recounted in the __________.

A) Book of the Dead
B) Diamond Sutra
C) Lotus Sutra
D) Platform Sutra
E) Shinto Myth

Question 15

According to Japanese legend, the Mongol fleet of Kublai Khan that threatened Japan in 1281 was destroyed by __________.

A) Bonsai warriors
B) Buddhist monks led by Nichiren
C) the first Japanese emperor and his fleet
D) the kamikaze
E) the prayers of women

Question 16

The Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism is based on a Sanskrit text that tells the story of the heavenly Buddha __________ , who resides in a celestial region known as the Pure Land or Western Paradise.

A) Amitabha
B) Bodhidharma
C) Guanyin
D) Maitreya
E) Sakyamuni

Question 17

In Zen teaching, the unfocused, ordinary rational mind is called the __________ mind.

A) eagle
B) monkey
C) non-dual
D) pure
E) tiger

Question 18

According to Theravada Buddhism, there is only one Buddha in each age, enlightened beings who have traversed the __________ on their own.

A) cycle of samsara
B) ego and self
C) ordinary knowing
D) path to Nirvana
E) the trikaya

Question 19

The Buddhist Churches of America are associated with which the __________ school of Mahayana Buddhism.

A) Nichiren
B) Pure Land
C) Tendai
D) Tibetan
E) Zen

Question 20

"What did your face look like before your parents were born?" is an example of a __________.

A) bodhisattva
B) haiku
C) koan
D) satori.
E) sutra

Question 21

Describe the basic teachings of Zen Buddhism and suggest reasons why it is the most popular form of Buddhism in the West.

Question 22

Practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism are taught to use visualization techniques to identify with various Buddhas and bodhisattvas pictured in __________.

A) koans
B) mandalas
C) the monkey mind
D) rock gardens
E) the writings of the Dalai Lama

Question 23

In which school of Buddhism are you most likely to find prayer wheels?

A) Mantrayana
B) Pure Land
C) Tendai
D) Vajrayana
E) Zen

Question 24

Describe the basic teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and suggest reasons why it is growing in popularity in the West.

Question 25

Using the "framework for understanding" religious worldviews developed in Chapter 1, compare the worldview of Pure Land Buddhism with that of Christianity.

Question 26

Explain Nagarjuna's understanding of sunyata in contrast to that of the Yogacara school.

Question 27

Explain the concept of the "Buddha body" and discuss its significance in Mahayana Buddhism.

Question 28

Namu myo-ho-renge-kyo ("Hail to the wonderful truth of the Lotus Sutra!") is a chant taught by the __________ school of Buddhism.

A) Nichiren
B) Pure Land
C) Tendai
D) Vajrayana
E) Zen

Question 29

Who called Pure Land Buddhism "a hell" and Zen Buddhism "a devil"?

A) Amaterasu
B) Amitabha
C) Bodhidharma
D) Nichiren
E) Siddartha Gautama

Question 30

In general, Zen teaches an enlightened person to __________.

A) chant devotions day and night to the Buddha of Infinite Light
B) commit ritual suicide
C) go about your daily routine
D) grab all you can get
E) wander the world as a beggar

Question 31

Discuss the significance of the doctrine of sunyata with respect to contemporary science. What challenge(s) does it pose to the "scientific" world view? How might it be reconciled to the contemporary understanding of science?

Question 32

Compare and contrast Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist teachings on the number and role(s) of Buddhas.

Question 33

The most famous text in Tibetan Buddhism is the Bardo Thodol, known in the West as the __________.

A) Book of the Dead
B) Good Book
C) Lotus of the Good Law
D) Sayings of the Dalai Lama
E) Tantric Bible

Question 34

Using the framework outlined in chapter one, identify the key features of the Mahayana Buddhist worldview (the views of human nature; problem; cause; reality; goal; means; and sacred) and explain their interrelationships.

Question 35

Trace the spread of Buddhism to China, Japan, and Korea. What cultural factors caused some of the key differences in these various forms of Mahayana Buddhism?

Question 36

Using the "framework for understanding" religious worldviews developed in Chapter 1, compare the worldview of Pure Land Buddhism with that of Theravada Buddhism.