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Buddhism

Total questions: 63

Worksheet time: 2hrs 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who was the founder of Buddhism?

a)

Vishnu

b)

Confucius

c)

Siddhartha Gautama

d)

Dalai Lama

2.

Buddha was born as a ________.

a)

pauper

b)

prince

c)

king

d)

rich boy

3.

According to Buddhist tradition, how was Prince Siddhartha's birth unique?

a)

He was born with three arms

b)

He was born singing

c)

He was born walking and talking

d)

He couldn't speak

4.

What two possible futures did the Hindu priests predict for Prince Siddhartha after he was born?

a)

a powerful warrior or brilliant poet

b)

a poor man or religious follower

c)

a religious king or truthful leader

d)

a great ruler or great religious leader

5.

What did Siddhartha's father most want his son to become?

a)

a powerful ruler

b)

a great religious leader

c)

a strong warrior

d)

a husband and father

6.

Siddhartha's father wanted to prevent his son from

a)

being well educated.

b)

marrying.

c)

seeing people suffer.

d)

living a life of luxury.

7.

What happened when Siddhartha was 29?

a)

He had a son and began to travel outside of his palaces.

b)

He traveled to many different countries to experience different cultures.

c)

He became very sick and was forced to become an ascetic.

d)

He got married to a young noblewoman and built her a new palace.

8.

What did Siddhartha Guatama see in his travels that upset him?

a)

He saw too many people that were stealing from the poor and giving to the rich.

b)

He saw too many homes that needed to be repaired.

c)

He saw beggars, people who were ill, and people broken down with old age, no home and no where to go.

d)

He saw too many people that needed to bathe.

9.

According to Buddhist tradition, what happened to make Prince Siddhartha Gautama walk away from the comforts of princely life?

a)

Siddhartha's father wanted him to be a great religious leader so he encouraged him to leave.

b)

He saw a monk or ascetic and he was fascinated by his lifestyle.

c)

Siddhartha left the palace and saw all the excitement, fun and joy in the world. He wanted to be a part of it.

d)

At age 29, he saw the pain and suffering of the world and was shocked. He left his comfortable life in search of a greater truth.

10.

Siddhartha was inspired to leave his royal life and search for enlightenment when he saw

a)

happiness.

b)

suffering.

c)

greed.

d)

wealth.

11.

The three forms of suffering that Siddhartha encountered were

a)

aging, greed, and ill health.

b)

sickness, knowledge, and aging.

c)

aging, sickness, and death.

d)

death, persecution, and sickness.

12.

As part of Siddhartha's ascetic lifestyle, he would sometimes deny himself

a)

food.

b)

sleep.

c)

shelter.

d)

all of these options.

13.

According to tradition, how did Siddhartha Gautama become the Buddha?

a)

He meditated under a bodhi (fig) tree day after day.

b)

He attained a new level of consciousness-nirvana.

c)

He attained a state of blissfulness and peace and became 'enlightened'.

d)

All of the above answer choices are correct.

14.

What was Buddha also known as?

a)

The 'light' of the World

b)

The enlightened one

c)

King of the Buddhists

d)

His Holiness

15.

According to Buddha's teaching why do people suffer?

a)

People suffer because they desire worldly things and self-satisfaction.

b)

People suffer because they are mean and full of hate.

c)

People suffer because they don't go to school and are not educated.

d)

People suffer because they want to.

16.
Buddha believed that suffering is caused by people's _________.
a)
enemies
b)
needs
c)
wants
d)
gossiping
17.

The basic core teachings of Buddhism are embodied in what is referred to as ___________________?

a)

The Four Commandments

b)

The Laws of Buddha

c)

The Four Noble Truths

d)

The Nobility of the Four Truths

18.
What is the Middle Path?
a)
A life of moderation
b)
A state of no more suffering
c)
Right thought
d)
Right concentration
19.

Which of the following would best summarize the 4 Noble Truths?

a)

the reason humans suffer is because of too much wealth, we must share it

b)

the reason humans suffer is because of poverty, we must get rid of poverty

c)

the reason humans suffer is because of envy, we must stop envying

d)

the reason humans suffer is because we desire, we must stop wanting

20.

According to the fourth Noble Truth, what is the way to help remove desire in order to achieve enlightenment?

a)

Complete the understanding of the first Three Truths

b)

Follow the Eightfold Path

c)

Totally stop thinking or having all desires and wants

d)

Adopt the 5 Moral Precepts

21.

What do you call a man who has taken a solemn vow to devote his life to prayer and service in a monastery?

a)

missionary

b)

monk

c)

pastor

d)

minister

22.
What institutions did Buddhists create to help promote the spread and study of Buddhist thought?
a)
Churches
b)
Synagogues
c)
Monasteries
d)
Mosques
23.

In Buddhism, the rebirth of a soul in a new body is....

a)

reincarnation

b)

kharma

c)

nirvana

d)

resurrection

24.

Siddhartha was born in the country now called ____________

a)

Nepal.

b)

China.

c)

Hong Kong.

d)

Japan.

25.

Where was the founder of Buddhism born and where did Buddhism spread to?

a)

Nepal. Spread to the Middle East.

b)

China. Spread to the rest of Asia

c)

India. Leading religion in India, Nepal and Tibet

d)

At the border of India and Nepal. Leading faith in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan & Korea

26.

What city did Buddhism, the religion of Buddha, begin in?

a)

Lumbini

b)

Kathmandu

c)

India

d)

Nepal

27.

The spiritual and political leader in Tibet for Buddhists is

a)

Siddartha Gautama

b)

The Bodhisattvas

c)

The Dalai Lama

d)

The Tibetan King

28.

Who is the god or supreme deity in Buddhism?

a)

Siddartha Gautama

b)

The Dalai Lama

c)

There is no god or supreme deity

d)

The Bodhisattvas

29.

What does Vesak or Wesak celebrate?

a)

The Middle Way or Path

b)

The birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha

c)

The life of the Dalai Lama

d)

A day of prayer for peace in our lives

30.

A chant used for meditation in Buddhism is called a ______________________.

a)

Metta

b)

Karma

c)

Mantra

d)

Hymn

31.

Buddha is a God. True or False?

a)

true

b)

false

32.
Buddhism shares its roots with this other major religion. What is it?
a)
Christianity
b)
Confucianism
c)
Hinduism
d)
Taoism
33.

Which of the following beliefs are shared or common in both Hinduism and Buddhism?

a)

Each soul is reincarnated after death.

b)

Everyone has the same social status.

c)

We must adopt the 'Middle Way'.

d)

Material wealth shows you have the blessings of the gods.

34.

What was one reason the principles of Buddhism initially became popular in India?

a)

Buddha was a wise person.

b)

Buddha was an attractive person

c)

Buddhism did not accept the caste system.

d)

Buddhism was only for smart people.

35.

Which classification of people adopting the Caste system especially liked Buddha's message?

a)

Brahmins

b)

Kshatriyas

c)

Vaisyas

d)

Untouchables

36.

Siddhartha wanted to become enlightened, meaning he wanted to

a)

find truth and freedom from suffering.

b)

learn about Buddhism and pass a test for enlightenment.

c)

understand how people from other cultures lived.

d)

have a strong understanding of all religions.

37.

What did Siddhartha do to try to achieve enlightenment?

a)

meditate

b)

write books

c)

analyze his dreams

d)

study in a Buddhist monastery

38.

Siddhartha took a path to enlightenment that was a balance between extreme life styles. This path was also called the

a)

“middle way.”

b)

“high road.”

c)

“low road.”

d)

“final path.”

39.

The teachings of "right understanding," "right action," and "right concentration" are part of the

a)

Four Noble Truths.

b)

ascetic lifestyle.

c)

Hindu religion.

d)

Eightfold Path.

40.

What is nirvana?

a)

a state of perfect peace

b)

heaven

c)

paradise

d)

a state of perfect pizza

41.

What was taught by the Buddha, the path one must follow to achieve nirvana?

a)

The Five Pillars

b)

The Four Noble Truths

c)

The Eightfold Path

d)

Ten Commandments

42.

Which Buddhist sect focuses on the wisdom of the Buddha?

a)

Theravada

b)

Mahayana

c)

Orthodox

d)

Reform

43.

What is also known as 'popular' Buddhism. It allows people more ways to reach enlightenment and Bodhisattvas can help you reach enlightenment.

a)

Theravada

b)

Mahayana

c)

Conservative

d)

Receptive

44.

Which flower symbolizes the concept of enlightenment and is the 'throne' for many statues of Buddha?

a)

Lotus

b)

Rose

c)

Lily

d)

Carnation

45.

What is the belief called, that 'actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life'?

a)

karma

b)

dharma

c)

Brahman

d)

Atman

46.
A word that actually means "action" or "fate", most people think of its meaning as "what goes around comes around". What is this word? 
a)
karma
b)
curry
c)
Rajma
d)
Jalebi
47.

Which tree did Buddha sit under, in deep meditation until he achieved enlightenment?

a)

oak

b)

elm

c)

bodhi (fig)

d)

palm

e)

cypress

48.
In Thailand it is customary for all boys to become a _________ for at least a month. This gives them exposure to life in a Buddhist monastery.
a)
bishop
b)
rabbi
c)
priest
d)
monk
49.

Siddhartha learned that being an ascetic did not bring enlightenment, so he aimed to find a balance between the extremes of pleasure and pain. He called this the...

a)

holy way

b)

higher way

c)

middle way

d)

Buddhist way

50.

Finding enlightenment (or nirvana) to Siddhartha meant which of the following?

a)

understanding the nature of the world

b)

finding deep truth and freedom from suffering.

c)

using meditation to gain spiritual knowledge

51.

By meditating under a Bodhi tree, Siddhartha reached nirvana, which is...

a)

heaven

b)

an ideal state of tranquility and peace

c)

death

d)

paradise

52.

The Buddha said that one could end suffering and find enlightenment by following...

a)

ones' own heart

b)

the Eightfold Path

c)

Asceticism

d)

your Dharma

53.

Where does human suffering come from?

a)

From nature

b)

Desire and want

c)

evil and fear

d)

unmet expectations

54.

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is known as

a)

Moksha

b)

Atman

c)

Samsara

d)

Brahman

55.

According to the fourth Noble Truth, what is the way to remove desire in order to achieve enlightenment?

a)

Follow the Ten Commandments

b)

Get as many material possessions as possible

c)

Follow the Eightfold Path

d)

Follow the 12-step Program

56.

In the Eightfold Path, in order to develop mental focus needed for meditation, we need to have the ________________________.

a)

Right livelihood

b)

Right effort

c)

Right mindfulness

d)

Right meditation

57.

What does the 8 fold path consist of?

a)

Right thought, intent, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.

b)

Right decisions, choices, livelihood, talking, playing

c)

8 pathways that start from under a fig tree

d)

8 ways to fold up the Caste System.

58.

What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism?

a)

to reach a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering (nirvana)

b)

to reach heaven

c)

to be reincarnated into the Dalai Lama

d)

to reach the highest caste level

59.

What are the 2 major differences between Buddhism and Hinduism?

a)

Belief in deities and karma

b)

Belief in man, and in dharma

c)

Belief and unbelief in deities, and in the Caste System

d)

Against reincarnation, and the Vedas

60.

What Hindu religious text did Buddha challenge?

a)

The Upanishads

b)

The Torah

c)

The Vedas

d)

The Bible

61.

Buddhism's sacred texts are called:

a)

Qur'an

b)

Tripitaka

c)

Bible

d)

Torah

e)

Vedas

62.

Buddhism began In which time period?

a)

5th century BC

b)

6th century AD

c)

551-479 BC

d)

about 500 years after Jesus died

63.

About how many Buddhist followers are there in the world today?

a)

1/2 billion people

b)

1 billion people

c)

1 1/2 billion people

d)

2 billion people