Question

1. in the theravada school of buddhism, only ______ are considered real buddhists.
2. the goal of following the path in the theravada school is to \escape from the ______ of individuality.\
3. the mahayana school of buddhism teaches that all ____ have an \inner-__\ nature, and can reach ____.
4. mahayana literally translates as

a. the great vehicle
b. the grand highway
c. the right path

1. true or false?

__ theravanda is the larger school of buddhism
__ some mahayana buddhists think of the buddha as semi-divine
__ all buddhists are strict vegetarians
__ theravanda buddhists believe that buddha was only a great teacher, nothing more
__ mahayana is the older school of buddhism
__ buddhists accept karma
__ buddhists allow moderate use of alcohol
__ all buddhists must refrain from lying as part of the five precepts
__ monks are allowed to receive gold or silver offerings to support their prayers
__ all businesses involved in the production of meat for consumption are forbidden to buddhists
__ buddhists do not believe that anyone can ever really \see things as they are\
__ many buddhists accept that there are different
ealms\ to which one can be re-incarnated
__ nirvana is basically a place like heaven
__ accepting karma and samsara is essential to the right view
__ monks are allowed to listen to religious music, but not secular music
__ the mahayana school believes there have been many \enlightened ones\ who have come to help people reach nirvana
__ a person can achieve enlightenment from any of the realms of samsara
__ for buddhists, an important characteristic of the world to recognize is that everything ceases to exist eventually
__ most of the world’s buddhists are still found in india, the country of their origin
__ strangely enough, it is harder to achieve enlightenment from the realms of the gods and demi-gods, than from the human realm
__ if you get reincarnated to the \hell\ realm, you are lost forever
__ buddha believed he found the \middle path\ between asceticism and indulgence

Explanation:

These questions relate to core tenets and distinctions of Buddhist schools (Theravada and Mahayana), including terminology, beliefs, and practices.

Answer:

1. monks (or ordained practitioners)
2. cycle (of samsara)
3. sentient beings; Buddha-nature; enlightenment (or Nirvana)
4. a. the Great Vehicle

20.

• Theravada is the larger school of Buddhism: False
• Some Mahayana Buddhists think of the Buddha as semi-divine: True
• All Buddhists are strict vegetarians: False
• Theravada Buddhists believe that Buddha was only a great teacher, nothing more: True
• Mahayana is the older school of Buddhism: False
• Buddhists accept karma: True
• Buddhists allow moderate use of alcohol: False
• All Buddhists must refrain from lying as part of the Five Precepts: True
• Monks are allowed to receive gold or silver offerings to support their prayers: False
• All businesses involved in the production of meat for consumption are forbidden to Buddhists: False
• Buddhists do not believe that anyone can ever really "see things as they are": False
• Many Buddhists accept that there are different "realms" to which one can be reincarnated: True
• Nirvana is basically a place like heaven: False
• Accepting karma and samsara is essential to the Right View: True
• Monks are allowed to listen to religious music, but not secular music: False
• The Mahayana School believes there have been many "enlightened ones" who have come to help people reach Nirvana: True
• A person can achieve enlightenment from any of the realms of samsara: True
• For Buddhists, an important characteristic of the world to recognize is that everything ceases to exist eventually: True
• Most of the world’s Buddhists are still found in India, the country of their origin: False
• Strangely enough, it is harder to achieve enlightenment from the realms of the gods and demi-gods, than from the human realm: True
• If you get reincarnated to the "hell" realm, you are lost forever: False
• Buddha believed he found the "middle path" between asceticism and indulgence: True