Buddhism: Self, Death and the Afterlife | AQA A-Level Religious Studies (7062)
Buddhism: Self, Death and the Afterlife
- 67 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Component 2: Buddhism, one religion of five
- Component 2
Buddhism: the self, the purpose of life, and what is held to follow death.
Part of Component 2, sat only by students who take Buddhism as their chosen religion.
Sample questions from Buddhism: Self, Death and the Afterlife
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Nirvana in This Life and After Death
How does Nagasena approach the challenge of describing nirvana in the 80th dilemma?
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He uses analogies to describe nirvana indirectly, comparing its qualities to things that can be experienced rather than defining it directly. -
Nirvana in This Life and After Death
What is the apophatic approach to describing nirvana?
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Describing nirvana through negation, stating what it is not, such as the cessation of suffering, craving and rebirth. -
Better Rebirth, the Arhat and the Bodhisattva Ideal
Which ideal does Theravada Buddhism emphasise, and what does this path involve?
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Theravada Buddhism emphasises the arhat ideal, viewing the path to personal Nirvana through following the Buddha's teachings as the primary goal of practice. -
Better Rebirth, the Arhat and the Bodhisattva Ideal
What is the perfection of effort (viriya) in the bodhisattva's practice?
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Effort is one of the six perfections, involving energetic perseverance in spiritual practice as part of the bodhisattva's path to enlightenment for all beings. -
Samsara and Karma
Define karma in Buddhist teaching.
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Karma refers to intentional actions of body, speech and mind that produce consequences affecting future experiences and rebirths. -
Samsara and Karma
What three mental states give rise to unwholesome karma?
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Greed, hatred and delusion give rise to unwholesome karma. -
The Realms of Rebirth and the Bodhisattvas
How does the literal interpretation understand the six realms of becoming?
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The literal interpretation holds that the six realms are actual places of rebirth where beings experience the results of their karma. -
The Realms of Rebirth and the Bodhisattvas
Why do Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama is a tulku?
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Because they believe he is a spiritually advanced being who deliberately chooses rebirth to benefit sentient beings.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Nirvana in This Life and After Death | Recall questions on nirvana as experienced while embodied, on parinirvana, and on nirvana with and without remainder. | 18 |
| Better Rebirth, the Arhat and the Bodhisattva Ideal | Recall questions on better rebirth as a provisional goal beside nirvana, the arhat and bodhisattva ideals in Theravada and Mahayana, and the perfections and vows of the bodhisattva path. | 19 |
| Samsara and Karma | Recall questions on what samsara is, the three factors binding beings to it, and the meaning and working of karma. | 9 |
| The Realms of Rebirth and the Bodhisattvas | Recall questions on the Bhavachakra and its six realms read literally, metaphorically and psychologically, why the human realm favours progress, and Avalokitesvara, the tulku and the Dalai Lama. | 21 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA A-Level Religious Studies Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 3,683 questions with their answers.