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The Illustrated World's Religions--Chapter III

Chapter III ("Buddhism") Questions to Guide Your Study:

1. How would you describe or explain Buddhism’s “the Middle Way” (page 61)?
2. What are some of the characteristics of Buddha’s life (page 64-65)? Any parallels to the life of Jesus?
3. To explain the evolution of Buddhism from Hinduism, Huston Smith outlines the 6 features of “a religion” (page 67). What are the six features and do you see them applying to all religions, including the Restoration movement?
4. Buddha perceived that Hinduism was broken (page 67). How did he fix it (page 68)? Any Restoration movement parallels?
5. What are the 7 characteristics of Buddhism that Huston Smith says are “instructive” (page 68-69)? Do any of these apply to Christianity? To the Restoration movement?
6. Identify the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism (page 70-71). Any commonalities with your personal religious beliefs?
7. What is the preliminary step that precedes the Buddhist’s Eightfold Path (page 72)? Does Christianity have a similar “preliminary step?”
8. What is the Eightfold Path (pages 74-75) and are any of the steps contrary to or common to Christianity?
9. What is the Buddhist equivalent to the 10 Commandments (page 74)?
10. What does Buddhism see as life’s primary adversary (page 75)?
11. Is Nirvana the same as God (page 77)? Is it the same as Heaven or paradise?
12. What are the Three Markers of Evidence (page 78) and how do they complement or contrast with your personal view of the universe?
13. What did Buddha believe regarding the soul, reincarnation and the life hereafter (page 78-79)?
14. What is meant by Mahayana (the Big Raft), Hinayana (Little Raft) and Theravada (The Way of the Elders) Buddhism (Page 81)?
15. What are the nine (9) basic contrasts drawn by Huston Smith between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism (pages 82-84)?
16. Are there socio-political differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism (page 85)?
17. What did Buddha say during his famous “Flower Sermon” (page 87)?
18. What would you identify as Zen Buddhism’s main preoccupation (page 88)?
19. Name the most distinctive feature of Zen (Rinzai sect) Buddhism? Why do they spend time of these “problems?” Give an example of a “problem” (pages 88-89). Can you think of a “problem” that would be a challenge for a Zen Buddhist?
20. What is meant by the Buddhist terms Zazen (page 88), Koan (page 89), Sanzen (page 90) and Satori (page 90)?
21. What are the five (5) attributes of a Zen master (“the man who has nothing further to do”)? See page 91.
22. What is the third major Buddhist path and what is its focus? In what country did it primarily spread (page 92)? What are their distinctive practices? What devices do they use to empower their spiritual quest? Name the unique institution which is part of this path (page 93)?
23. What two things do the three Buddhist paths have in common (page 94)?
24. In the Buddhist metaphor of the raft on a river, what is the river (page 96)?
25. What is the great paradox of Buddhism today (page 97)? Does this paradox represent a Buddhist defeat?