Ghost Quiz

1. Ghost Quiz

2. In the early Vedic system beings stayed in the afterlife once dead True False

3. Wrong! • In pre-Buddhist ancient India there was a progression of ideas concerning the afterlife and rebirth. • One of the oldest ideas was alternating system between this world and an underworld. In the early Vedic period the afterlife was considered to be a dark and shadowy place. There was a desire to be reborn back into this world with one’s family. Next Question

4. Correct! • In pre-Buddhist ancient India there was a progression of ideas concerning the afterlife and rebirth. • One of the oldest ideas was alternating system between this world and an underworld. In the early Vedic period the afterlife was considered to be a dark and shadowy place. There was a desire to be reborn back into this world with one’s family. Next Question

5. Karma appeared in the later Vedic period, what did it represent? A. Emotional Action B. Sacrificial Action C. Social Action

6. Wrong! • Karma appeared in the later Vedic period as sacrificial acts which if correctly performed would enable a desired result to come into effect, if the sacrifice was performed incorrectly then there would not be a result. • In texts such as the Upaniṣads it was explained that actions performed on a small scale (microcosm) would have an effect on the cosmos as a whole (macrocosm). Next Question

7. Correct! • Karma appeared in the later Vedic period as sacrificial acts which if correctly performed would enable a desired result to come into effect, if the sacrifice was performed incorrectly then there would not be a result. • In texts such as the Upaniṣads it was explained that actions performed on a small scale (microcosm) would have an effect on the cosmos as a whole (macrocosm). Next Question

8. Karma in Buddhism is the result of all intentional actions True False

9. Wrong! • Karma, within Buddhist thought, is a system of cause and effect. Rather than being linked to ritual actions karma is understood to concern all intentional thoughts and actions. • What this means is that actions have a moral quality to them. Actions that are intentionally good and well meaning will have positive outcomes whereas actions that are intentionally selfish, discriminatory and hurtful will produce negative outcomes. Next Question

10. Correct! • Karma, within Buddhist thought, is a system of cause and effect. Rather than being linked to ritual actions karma is understood to concern all intentional thoughts and actions. • What this means is that actions have a moral quality to them. Actions that are intentionally good and well meaning will have positive outcomes whereas actions that are intentionally selfish, discriminatory and hurtful will produce negative outcomes. Next Question

11. How many levels of rebirth are there listed in the Abhidharma? A. 8 B. 31 C. 108

12. Wrong! • In the Abhidharmait is explained that there are thirty-one levels of existence. These levels are an expansion of the six gatis.These are as a god (deva), demi-god (or asura which do not feature in all lists), human, animal, ghost and hell being. Next Question

13. Correct! • In the Abhidharmait is explained that there are thirty-one levels of existence. These levels are an expansion of the six gatis.These are as a god (deva), demi-god (or asura which do not feature in all lists), human, animal, ghost and hell being. Next Question

14. In Buddhist thought ghosts are only found in hells? True False

15. Wrong! Within the frame work of Buddhist doctrine ghosts can be: • Hungry ghosts (peta) as one of the six forms of existence. • Hell beings as one of the six forms of existence. • Intermediate beings in between those six existences (Tibetan Buddhists for example teach that there is an in-between stage of up to 49 days between death and rebirth). Next Question

16. Correct! Within the frame work of Buddhist doctrine ghosts can be: • Hungry ghosts (peta) as one of the six forms of existence. • Hell beings as one of the six forms of existence. • Intermediate beings in between those six existences (Tibetan Buddhists for example teach that there is an in-between stage of up to 49 days between death and rebirth). Next Question

17. What are ghosts in Buddhist culture? A. The newly dead who linger near their body B. Ancestors C. Local spirits

18. Correct! All of the options were correct. Within the frame work of Buddhist practice ghosts can be: • Anyone (newly) dead who is still lingering near the corpse or his former home (preta). • Ancestors (pitṛ) who look after family lineage and harvest • local spirits, too came to be incorporated. Next Question

19. What can be given to ghosts to help them? A. Nothing, ghosts are beyond help B. Merit C. Stones

20. Wrong! • Merit is given to ghosts and the deceased in order to provide them with a better rebirth. Merit can be given in a number of ways. Through chanting, offerings and there are even festivals in Laos and China that are dedicated to generating merit for ghosts. Next Question

21. Correct! • Merit is given to ghosts and the deceased in order to provide them with a better rebirth. Merit can be given in a number of ways. Through chanting, offerings and there are even festivals in Laos and China that are dedicated to generating merit for ghosts. Next Question

22. What is this?

23. What is in the previous picture? A. Paper money used as an offering in China to transfer merit to ghosts B. Paper money dying people give out to avoid becoming ghosts C. Paper money used as fuel for cremations

24. Wrong! • In China there are a number of rituals that are performed in memory of the dead during the course of the Ghost Month. During this period the ‘spirits’ of the dead are invited to the Buddhist monasteries to participate. At the end of the Ghost Month the paper money (as pictured) is burned as part of an offering to generate merit for ghosts. Next Question

25. Correct! • In China there are a number of rituals that are performed in memory of the dead during the course of the Ghost Month. During this period the ‘spirits’ of the dead are invited to the Buddhist monasteries to participate. At the end of the Ghost Month the paper money (as pictured) is burned as part of an offering to generate merit for ghosts. Next Question

26. Ghosts are seen as being dangerous? True False

27. Wrong! • In some Buddhist cultures it is understood that one can become a ghost if they have a bad death. That is, if one dies in a violent or untimely manner. • These ghosts are often seen as dangerous and there are rituals and festivals in which the living can placate ghosts by feeding and clothing them.

28. Correct! • In some Buddhist cultures it is understood that one can become a ghost if they have a bad death. That is, if one dies in a violent or untimely manner. • These ghosts are often seen as dangerous and there are rituals and festivals in which the living can placate ghosts by feeding and clothing them.

29. What is the collection of ghost stories in the Pali Canon called? A. Jātakas B. Petavatthu C. Theragatha

30. Wrong! • There is a canonical book, the Petavatthu, which is a collection of ghost stories. This is found within the Kuddhaka Nikāya. • The Jātakas are a collection of stories about the previous lives of the Buddha. They are also found within the Kuddhaka Nikāya. • The Theragatha is a collection of poetry that was recited by monks found within the Kuddhaka Nikāya.

31. Correct!