How does Theravada Buddhism view the Buddha in terms of his nature and how he achieved enlightenment?

Theravada Buddhism views the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) as a human being who attained enlightenment through his own efforts, not as a divine or supernatural being.

According to Theravada Buddhism, how many Buddhas exist in the current age and what is the status of other Buddhas?

Theravada Buddhism emphasises the historical Buddha as the only Buddha of this current age; previous and future Buddhas exist but are not currently accessible.

How does Mahayana Buddhism's view of the Buddha differ from seeing him merely as a historical figure?

Mahayana Buddhism views the Buddha as a transcendent, cosmic figure whose nature extends beyond his historical human existence.

What is distinctive about the Mahayana understanding of Buddhas and bodhisattvas in relation to helping sentient beings?

In Mahayana Buddhism, there are multiple Buddhas and bodhisattvas who can be called upon for help and who actively work for the salvation of all sentient beings.

What doctrinal development in Mahayana Buddhism arose from the concept that the Buddha manifests through different bodies or aspects?

Mahayana Buddhism developed the concept that the Buddha has different bodies or aspects through which he manifests, leading to the Trikaya doctrine.

AQA A-Level Religious Studies 7062

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Topic overview Paley's Watch and the Design Argument Hume's Criticisms of Design Anselm's Ontological Argument Gaunilo, Kant and Assessing the Ontological Argument Aquinas's Third Way Hume, Russell and Assessing the Cosmological Argument

Evil and Suffering

Topic overview The Problem of Evil Hick's Soul-Making and the Free Will Defence Process Theodicy and Evaluating Theodicies

Religious Language

Topic overview Verification, Falsification and Language Games Tillich's Symbols, Analogy and the Via Negativa Strengths and Weaknesses of Religious Language Theories

Self and Life After Death

Topic overview Descartes, the Soul and Radical Doubt Personal Identity and Survival

Religious Experience

Topic overview Visions and Otto's Numinous Experience The Marks of Mystical Experience Credulity, Testimony and Swinburne Scientific Challenges to Religious Experience The Value of Religious Experience for Faith

Miracles

Topic overview Realist and Anti-Realist Views of Miracle Hume and Wiles on Miracles

Ethical Theories

Topic overview Natural Moral Law and Its Precepts Fletcher's Situation Ethics and Aristotle's Virtue Ethics Applying the Three Theories Strengths and Weaknesses of the Three Theories

Issues of Human Life and Death

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Meta Ethics

Topic overview Divine Command Theory Naturalism, Non-Naturalism and Intuitionism The Foundations of Divine Command Theory The Naturalistic Fallacy and Non-Naturalism

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Topic overview Moral Responsibility, Determinism and Punishment Free Will as a Condition of Responsibility Libertarianism and Hard Determinism Reward, Punishment and Determinism

Conscience

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Bentham and Kant

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Buddhism: Religion, Gender and SexualityBuddhism

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Buddhism: God and Ultimate RealityBuddhism

Topic overview Theravada and Mahayana Views of the Buddha The Trikaya Doctrine Anicca and the Three Marks of Existence Sunyata and the Two Truths Anatta and the Five Aggregates

Buddhism: Self, Death and the AfterlifeBuddhism

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Buddhism: Expression of Religious IdentityBuddhism

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Christianity: God and Ultimate RealityChristianity

Topic overview Monotheism, Transcendence and the Trinity Jesus as the Son of God God as Personal, Father, King and Love Gendered Language and the Feminist Critique Process Theology and Divine Power

Christianity: Self, Death and the AfterlifeChristianity

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Christianity: Good Conduct and Key Moral PrinciplesChristianity

Topic overview Justification and the Fruits of the Spirit Imputed Righteousness and Predestination Sanctity of Life and the Unborn Just War Theory Dominion over Creation Stewardship, Animals and the Environment

Christianity: Religion, Gender and SexualityChristianity

Topic overview Biblical Criticism and Gender Roles Female Ordination in the Church of England

Christianity: Religion and ScienceChristianity

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Christianity: Religion and SecularisationChristianity

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Christianity: Religion and Religious PluralismChristianity

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Christianity: Dialogue with PhilosophyChristianity

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Christianity: Dialogue with EthicsChristianity

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Christianity: Expression of Religious IdentityChristianity

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Hinduism: Sources of Wisdom and AuthorityHinduism

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Hinduism: Good Conduct and Key Moral PrinciplesHinduism

Topic overview Karma and Moral Intention Karma Yoga and Seva Dharma and Sanatana Dharma The Four Ashramas and Varnashrama Dharma Ahimsa in Hindu Thought Ahimsa, War and Weapons

Hinduism: Religion, Gender and SexualityHinduism

Topic overview Hindu Reform and the Status of Women Brahmacharya, Marriage, Sexuality and the Texts on Women

Hinduism: Religion and ScienceHinduism

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Hinduism: Religion and SecularisationHinduism

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Hinduism: Religion and Religious PluralismHinduism

Topic overview Hinduism, Migration and Pluralism

Hinduism: Dialogue with PhilosophyHinduism

Topic overview Hinduism and Philosophy: The Dialogue

Hinduism: Dialogue with EthicsHinduism

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Hinduism: God and Ultimate RealityHinduism

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Hinduism: Self, Death and the AfterlifeHinduism

Topic overview The Four Aims of Life Moksha in the Different Traditions Atman and Jiva Samkhya and the Chariot Parable Samsara and Karma in Hinduism Reincarnation and the Realms of Rebirth

Hinduism: Expression of Religious IdentityHinduism

Topic overview The Four Paths of Yoga Raja Yoga and the Eight Limbs Bhakti, Darshan and Pilgrimage Puja, Arti and Prasad The Ashram and the Gurukula Life in a Modern Ashram

Islam: God and Ultimate RealityIslam

Topic overview Tawhid and Shirk The Throne Verse The Ninety-Nine Names of God Anthropomorphic Language and Ta'wil Sufism: Tasawwuf, Tariqa and Dhikr The Verse of Light Al-Qadr and the Preserved Tablet Bada and Living with Al-Qadr

Islam: Good Conduct and Key Moral PrinciplesIslam

Topic overview Taqwa, Obedience and the Sources of Law Shari'ah and Its Five Categories The Sanctity of Life in Islam Greater and Lesser Jihad Khalifah and the Environment Animals, Climate Change and Stewardship Today

Islam: Religion, Gender and SexualityIslam

Topic overview Islam, Gender and Sexuality

Islam: Religion and ScienceIslam

Topic overview Islam and Science

Islam: Religion and SecularisationIslam

Topic overview Islam and Secularisation

Islam: Religion and Religious PluralismIslam

Topic overview Islam, Migration and Pluralism

Islam: Dialogue with PhilosophyIslam

Topic overview Islam and Philosophy: The Dialogue

Islam: Dialogue with EthicsIslam

Topic overview Deontological and Teleological Ethics beside Islam Muslim Responses to Ethical Issues Euthanasia, Capital Punishment and Cloning in Islam Wealth, Tolerance, Free Will and Evaluation

Islam: Sources of Wisdom and AuthorityIslam

Topic overview The Revelation of the Qur'an Arabic, Translation and the Hafiz Khatam an-Nabiyyin and the Prophets The Science of Hadith Shi'a Islam and the Imamate

Islam: Self, Death and the AfterlifeIslam

Topic overview Ibadah and Niyyah Dunya and Akhirah The Soul, Barzakh and Resurrection Judgement, Paradise and Hell

Islam: Expression of Religious IdentityIslam

Topic overview What Makes a Person a Muslim The Sunni and Shi'a Division The Five Pillars and Zakat Salah, Wudu and the Qiblah Hajj and Umrah The Modern Development of Hajj The Mosque and Its Features British Mosques and the London Central Mosque

Judaism: God and Ultimate RealityJudaism

Topic overview God as Personal and Anthropomorphism God as King, Father and Gendered Language Buber: I-It and I-Thou Buber on Meeting the Eternal Thou Monotheism and the Shema Maimonides' Thirteen Principles

Judaism: Dialogue with PhilosophyJudaism

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Judaism: Religion and ScienceJudaism

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Judaism: Religion and SecularisationJudaism

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Judaism: Religion and Religious PluralismJudaism

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Judaism: Dialogue with EthicsJudaism

Topic overview Kant, Bentham and Jewish Ethics Consequences, Character and Jewish Ethics The Mitzvot and Tikkun Olam Sanctity of Life, Animals, Theft and Lying Capital Punishment, Euthanasia and Cloning in Judaism Marriage, Sexuality and Genetic Engineering Wealth, Tolerance and Religious Freedom in Judaism Bechirah Chofshit: Free Will and Conscience Other Ethical Traditions and Jewish Ethics What Ethical Criticism Means for Torah and Halakha

Judaism: Religion, Gender and SexualityJudaism

Topic overview The Ordination of Women as Rabbis Open Orthodoxy and the Title Rabba JOFA and the Agunah Celibacy, Marriage and Same-Sex Relationships Rachel Adler and Brit Ahuvim Jewish Thinking on Gender Roles

Judaism: Expression of Religious IdentityJudaism

Topic overview Who Is a Jew?Circumcision, Bar and Bat Mitzvah Kippah, Tzitzit, Tallit and Tefillin The Dietary Laws and Shechitah Keeping Shabbat The Synagogue and the Minyan Yom Kippur Pesach, the Seder and the Haggadah

Judaism: Sources of Wisdom and AuthorityJudaism

Topic overview The Tenakh and the Torah The Tenakh in Worship and as Authority The Mishnah and the Talmud The Authority of the Oral Torah Rabbis and Semikhah The Beth Din

Judaism: Self, Death and the AfterlifeJudaism

Topic overview Kiddush Hashem and the Purpose of Life The Messiah and the Messianic Age She'ol and the Reticence of the Tenakh Nefesh, Neshamah and Ruach Resurrection of the Flesh The Pittsburgh Platform, Divine Justice and Gilgul

Judaism: Good Conduct and Key Moral PrinciplesJudaism

Topic overview The 613 Mitzvot Free Will, Responsibility and Pikuach Nephesh The Sanctity of Life in Judaism Healing, War and Bal Tashchit Dominion and Stewardship in Judaism Shemittah and Modern Environmental Thought

Buddhism: God and Ultimate Reality

Theravada and Mahayana Views of the Buddha

4 things to know
Component 2

Overview

Recall questions on the Theravada Buddha and whether he is worshipped, and on how the Mahayana view goes beyond the historical figure.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Process

What is distinctive about the Mahayana view of the Buddha?

Key term

What role does the Buddha serve in Theravada Buddhism, and is he worshipped as a god?

Key term

What does the Trikaya doctrine teach about the Buddha?

Process

Contrast the Theravada and Mahayana understandings of the Buddha.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How does Theravada Buddhism view the Buddha in terms of his nature and how he achieved enlightenment?
Model answer
Theravada Buddhism views the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) as a human being who attained enlightenment through his own efforts, not as a divine or supernatural being.
2
What role does the Buddha serve in Theravada Buddhism, and is he worshipped as a god?
Model answer
The Buddha is regarded as a supreme teacher and example whose teachings (Dhamma) guide others to enlightenment, but he is not worshipped as a god.
3
According to Theravada Buddhism, how many Buddhas exist in the current age and what is the status of other Buddhas?
Model answer
Theravada Buddhism emphasises the historical Buddha as the only Buddha of this current age; previous and future Buddhas exist but are not currently accessible.
4
How does Mahayana Buddhism's view of the Buddha differ from seeing him merely as a historical figure?
Model answer
Mahayana Buddhism views the Buddha as a transcendent, cosmic figure whose nature extends beyond his historical human existence.
5
What is distinctive about the Mahayana understanding of Buddhas and bodhisattvas in relation to helping sentient beings?
Model answer
In Mahayana Buddhism, there are multiple Buddhas and bodhisattvas who can be called upon for help and who actively work for the salvation of all sentient beings.
6
What doctrinal development in Mahayana Buddhism arose from the concept that the Buddha manifests through different bodies or aspects?
Model answer
Mahayana Buddhism developed the concept that the Buddha has different bodies or aspects through which he manifests, leading to the Trikaya doctrine.

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Arguments for the Existence of God

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Self and Life After Death

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1 2:8-15.

TimothyCorinthiansPeter

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AExclusivism holds salvation is available only to Christians.

BInclusivism holds salvation is available through Christ to non-Christians.

CPluralism holds salvation is available through multiple religious paths.

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Olam Ha-Ba means the world to come.

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