Introduction
What do you know about Buddhism? What have you heard about this religion?
What does “Be a lamp unto yourselves” mean?
Historical Overview
Who is Siddhartha Gautama? And when did he live?
What does the title “Buddha” mean?
What are the three major vehicles of Buddhism? Give a bit of detail about each one.
About how many Buddhists are there in the world today? Why is this number harder to be sure about?
Myths of Origins
What happens to Siddhartha’s mother before he is born?
What is the prophecy given to Siddhartha’s parents shortly after his birth?
How is Siddhartha raised? What is he kept from?
What are the Four Sights, how does Siddhartha come to see them, and how do they affect him?
Historical Myths
What does Siddhartha do after leaving home?
What is the Middle Way? And how does it help Siddhartha become enlightened?
What does Siddhartha realize when he becomes enlightened? And what does he do after becoming enlightened?
What does “Theravada” mean? What does “Hinayana” mean? How do Theravadan Buddhists view the path to enlightenment?
What does “Mahayana” mean? When does it begin? How do Mahayana Buddhists view the path to enlightenment?
What does “Vajrayana” mean? Where is Vajrayana Buddhism practiced? How do they view the path to enlightenment?
Myths of Endings
Do Buddhists also believe in “samsara” and “karma”?
What is samsara?
What is karma?
What is Nirvana? What are some ways that it is described by Buddhists?
What is a “bodhisattva”? In what vehicles of Buddhism are they popular?
What are some examples are bodhisattvas?
Where are bodhisattvas go after achieving enlightenment and dying?
Doctrine
What theism is Buddhism?
What does “anatman” and “anatta” mean?
What does the “no soul” or “no self” doctrine teach us about our identity?
What is the theory of “dependent origination”? What does it teach us about everything in the world?
According to Buddhism, where do we find the truth that leads us to enlightenment?
What are the Four Noble Truths?
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What are the Three Gems?
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Why are they important to Buddhists?
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