romikgosai/squad_modified huggingface dataset:
The method of self-exertion or "self-power"—without reliance on an external force or being—stands in contrast to another major form of Buddhism, Pure Land, which is characterized by utmost trust in the salvific "other-power" of Amitabha Buddha. Pure Land Buddhism is a very widespread and perhaps the most faith-orientated manifestation of Buddhism and centres upon the conviction that faith in Amitabha Buddha and the chanting of homage to his name liberates one at death into the Blissful (安樂), Pure Land (淨土) of Amitabha Buddha. This Buddhic realm is variously construed as a foretaste of Nirvana, or as essentially Nirvana itself. The great vow of Amitabha Buddha to rescue all beings from samsaric suffering is viewed within Pure Land Buddhism as universally efficacious, if only one has faith in the power of that vow or chants his name.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What is characterized by the deep truts in the "other-power" of Amitabha Buddha
A: Pure Land', '
Q: What is perhaps the most faith-oriented for of Buddhism?
A: Pure Land', '
Q: What Buddha vowed to rescue all beings from samsaric suffering?
A: Amitabha']
Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha was the first to achieve enlightenment in this Buddha era and is therefore credited with the establishment of Buddhism. A Buddha era is the stretch of history during which people remember and practice the teachings of the earliest known Buddha. This Buddha era will end when all the knowledge, evidence and teachings of Gautama Buddha have vanished. This belief therefore maintains that many Buddha eras have started and ended throughout the course of human existence.[web 15][web 16] The Gautama Buddha, therefore, is the Buddha of this era, who taught directly or indirectly to all other Buddhas in it (see types of Buddhas).

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who is believed to have achieved enlightenment first?
A: Gautama Buddha', '
Q: What is the term for the stretch of history during which people rmember and practice the teachings of the earliest known buddha?
A: A Buddha era', '
Q: Who is the Buddha of this Buddha era?
A: Gautama Buddha', '
Q: Who taught directly or indirectly to all other Buddhas?
A: Gautama Buddha']
In addition, Mahayana Buddhists believe there are innumerable other Buddhas in other universes. A Theravada commentary says that Buddhas arise one at a time in this world element, and not at all in others. The understandings of this matter reflect widely differing interpretations of basic terms, such as "world realm", between the various schools of Buddhism.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who believes there are innumerable other Buddhas in other universes?
A: Mahayana Buddhists', '
Q: What buddhist belief says that Buddhas come one at a time and not within other eras?
A: Theravada']
The idea of the decline and gradual disappearance of the teaching has been influential in East Asian Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism holds that it has declined to the point where few are capable of following the path, so it may be best to rely on the power of Amitābha.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What form of Buddhism has declined to the point where few are capable of following the path?
A: Pure Land']
Bodhisattva means "enlightenment being", and generally refers to one who is on the path to buddhahood. Traditionally, a bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. Theravada Buddhism primarily uses the term in relation to Gautama Buddha's previous existences, but has traditionally acknowledged and respected the bodhisattva path as well.[web 17]

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What does Bodhisattva mean?
A: enlightenment being', '
Q: What is the term for the spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings?
A: bodhicitta']
According to Jan Nattier, the term Mahāyāna "Great Vehicle" was originally even an honorary synonym for Bodhisattvayāna "Bodhisattva Vehicle." The Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, an early and important Mahayana text, contains a simple and brief definition for the term bodhisattva: "Because he has enlightenment as his aim, a bodhisattva-mahāsattva is so called."

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What term means "great vehicle"?
A: Mahayana', '
Q: What is an honorary synonym for Bodhisattvayana?
A: Mahayana', '
Q: The Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra is an important text of what type?
A: Mahayana']
Mahayana Buddhism encourages everyone to become bodhisattvas and to take the bodhisattva vow, where the practitioner promises to work for the complete enlightenment of all beings by practicing the six pāramitās. According to Mahayana teachings, these perfections are: dāna, śīla, kṣanti, vīrya, dhyāna, and prajñā.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What buddhism encourages everyone to become bodhisattvas?
A: Mahayana', '
Q: What is the idea there the practitioner promises to work for the complete enlightenment of all beings by practicing the six paramitas?
A: bodhisattva vow', '
Q: What are the six perfections under Mahayana teachings?
A: dāna, śīla, kṣanti, vīrya, dhyāna, and prajñā']
A famous saying by the 8th-century Indian Buddhist scholar-saint Shantideva, which the 14th Dalai Lama often cites as his favourite verse, summarizes the Bodhisattva's intention (Bodhicitta) as follows: "For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world."[citation needed]

Questions and answers:
["
Q: Which Dalai Lama cites Shantideva's famous saying?
A: the 14th Dalai Lama"]
Devotion is an important part of the practice of most Buddhists. Devotional practices include bowing, offerings, pilgrimage, and chanting. In Pure Land Buddhism, devotion to the Buddha Amitabha is the main practice. In Nichiren Buddhism, devotion to the Lotus Sutra is the main practice.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Devotion is an important part of the practice of most what?
A: Buddhists', '
Q: What are the devotional practices?
A: bowing, offerings, pilgrimage, and chanting']
Buddhism traditionally incorporates states of meditative absorption (Pali: jhāna; Skt: dhyāna). The most ancient sustained expression of yogic ideas is found in the early sermons of the Buddha. One key innovative teaching of the Buddha was that meditative absorption must be combined with liberating cognition. The difference between the Buddha's teaching and the yoga presented in early Brahminic texts is striking. Meditative states alone are not an end, for according to the Buddha, even the highest meditative state is not liberating. Instead of attaining a complete cessation of thought, some sort of mental activity must take place: a liberating cognition, based on the practice of mindful awareness.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Buddhism traditionally incorporates states of what type of absorption?
A: meditative', '
Q: The most acient yogic ideas is found in the early sermons of who?
A: the Buddha', "
Q: The difference between the Buddha's teaching and the yoga presented in what what type of texts is significant?
A: Brahminic", '
Q: According to the Buddha event he highest meditative state is not what?
A: liberating']
Meditation was an aspect of the practice of the yogis in the centuries preceding the Buddha. The Buddha built upon the yogis' concern with introspection and developed their meditative techniques, but rejected their theories of liberation. In Buddhism, mindfulness and clear awareness are to be developed at all times; in pre-Buddhist yogic practices there is no such injunction. A yogi in the Brahmanical tradition is not to practice while defecating, for example, while a Buddhist monastic should do so.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Meditation was an aspect of the practice of who?
A: the yogis', '
Q: In Buddhism, what must be developed at all times?
A: mindfulness and clear awareness']
Religious knowledge or "vision" was indicated as a result of practice both within and outside of the Buddhist fold. According to the Samaññaphala Sutta, this sort of vision arose for the Buddhist adept as a result of the perfection of "meditation" coupled with the perfection of "discipline" (Pali sīla; Skt. śīla). Some of the Buddha's meditative techniques were shared with other traditions of his day, but the idea that ethics are causally related to the attainment of "transcendent wisdom" (Pali paññā; Skt. prajñā) was original.[web 18]

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Religious knowledge is also known as what?
A: vision', '
Q: What type of techniques were shared with other traditions of his day?
A: meditative', '
Q: There is an idea where ethics are causally related to the attainment of what?
A: transcendent wisdom']
The Buddhist texts are probably the earliest describing meditation techniques. They describe meditative practices and states that existed before the Buddha as well as those first developed within Buddhism. Two Upanishads written after the rise of Buddhism do contain full-fledged descriptions of yoga as a means to liberation.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What are probably the earliest texts describing meditation techniques?
A: Buddhist texts', '
Q: What describes meditative states exising before the Buddha?
A: Buddhist texts', '
Q: What two items were written after the rise of Buddhism?
A: Upanishads']
While there is no convincing evidence for meditation in pre-Buddhist early Brahminic texts, Wynne argues that formless meditation originated in the Brahminic or Shramanic tradition, based on strong parallels between Upanishadic cosmological statements and the meditative goals of the two teachers of the Buddha as recorded in the early Buddhist texts. He mentions less likely possibilities as well. Having argued that the cosmological statements in the Upanishads also reflect a contemplative tradition, he argues that the Nasadiya Sukta contains evidence for a contemplative tradition, even as early as the late Rig Vedic period.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In pre-buddhist early Brahminic texts there is no evidence for what?
A: meditation', '
Q: The upanishads statements reflect what type of tradition?
A: contemplative', '
Q: What contains evidence for a contemplative tradition?
A: Nasadiya Sukta']
Traditionally, the first step in most Buddhist schools requires taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Sanskrit: tri-ratna, Pāli: ti-ratana)[web 19] as the foundation of one's religious practice. The practice of taking refuge on behalf of young or even unborn children is mentioned in the Majjhima Nikaya, recognized by most scholars as an early text (cf. Infant baptism). Tibetan Buddhism sometimes adds a fourth refuge, in the lama. In Mahayana, the person who chooses the bodhisattva path makes a vow or pledge, considered the ultimate expression of compassion. In Mahayana, too, the Three Jewels are perceived as possessed of an eternal and unchanging essence and as having an irreversible effect: "The Three Jewels have the quality of excellence. Just as real jewels never change their faculty and goodness, whether praised or reviled, so are the Three Jewels (Refuges), because they have an eternal and immutable essence. These Three Jewels bring a fruition that is changeless, for once one has reached Buddhahood, there is no possibility of falling back to suffering.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What is the first step in a school of Buddhism?
A: the Three Jewels', '
Q: What mentions taking refuge on behalf of young or unborn children?
A: Majjhima Nikaya', '
Q: What type of Buddhism adds a fourth refuge?
A: Tibetan', '
Q: The Three Jewels are preceived as possessed of an eternal and unchanging what?
A: essence.', '
Q: What has an irreversable effect?
A: The Three Jewels']
According to the scriptures, Gautama Buddha presented himself as a model. The Dharma offers a refuge by providing guidelines for the alleviation of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana. The Sangha is considered to provide a refuge by preserving the authentic teachings of the Buddha and providing further examples that the truth of the Buddha's teachings is attainable.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Who presented himself as a model?
A: Gautama Buddha', '
Q: What offers a refuge by providing guidelines for the alleviation of suffering?
A: Dharma', '
Q: What provides refuge by preserving the authentic teachings of the Buddha?
A: Sangha']
Śīla (Sanskrit) or sīla (Pāli) is usually translated into English as "virtuous behavior", "morality", "moral discipline", "ethics" or "precept". It is an action committed through the body, speech, or mind, and involves an intentional effort. It is one of the three practices (sīla, samādhi, and paññā) and the second pāramitā. It refers to moral purity of thought, word, and deed. The four conditions of śīla are chastity, calmness, quiet, and extinguishment.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What is an action committed through the body and involves intentional effort?
A: Śīla', '
Q: Sila is the second what?
A: pāramitā']
Śīla is the foundation of Samādhi/Bhāvana (Meditative cultivation) or mind cultivation. Keeping the precepts promotes not only the peace of mind of the cultivator, which is internal, but also peace in the community, which is external. According to the Law of Karma, keeping the precepts is meritorious and it acts as causes that would bring about peaceful and happy effects. Keeping these precepts keeps the cultivator from rebirth in the four woeful realms of existence.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What keeps the cultivator from rebirth in the four realms of existance?
A: keeping the precepts', '
Q: What is the foundation of Samadhi/Bhavana?
A: Śīla', '
Q: What promotes not only the peace of mind but also peace in the community?
A: keeping the precepts']
Śīla refers to overall principles of ethical behavior. There are several levels of sīla, which correspond to "basic morality" (five precepts), "basic morality with asceticism" (eight precepts), "novice monkhood" (ten precepts) and "monkhood" (Vinaya or Patimokkha). Lay people generally undertake to live by the five precepts, which are common to all Buddhist schools. If they wish, they can choose to undertake the eight precepts, which add basic asceticism.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What does sila refer to?
A: overall principles of ethical behavior', '
Q: Lay people tend to live by the five what?
A: precepts', '
Q: Schools can undertake eight precepts, which add basic what?
A: asceticism.']
The precepts are not formulated as imperatives, but as training rules that laypeople undertake voluntarily to facilitate practice. In Buddhist thought, the cultivation of dana and ethical conduct themselves refine consciousness to such a level that rebirth in one of the lower heavens is likely, even if there is no further Buddhist practice. There is nothing improper or un-Buddhist about limiting one's aims to this level of attainment.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Precepts are not created as imperatives, but as what?
A: training rules', '
Q: The cultivation of dana and what kind of conduct refine consciousness?
A: ethical', '
Q: Even if there is no further Buddhist practice, what heavens is still likely?
A: lower']
In the eight precepts, the third precept on sexual misconduct is made more strict, and becomes a precept of celibacy. The three additional precepts are:

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Of the eight precepts which one is on sexual misconduct?
A: third', '
Q: What is the third strict precept on sexual misconduct?
A: a precept of celibacy']
The complete list of ten precepts may be observed by laypeople for short periods. For the complete list, the seventh precept is partitioned into two, and a tenth added:

Questions and answers:
['
Q: How many precepts are on the list?
A: ten', '
Q: In the complete list of precepts, which one is partitioned into two?
A: seventh']
Vinaya is the specific moral code for monks and nuns. It includes the Patimokkha, a set of 227 rules for monks in the Theravadin recension. The precise content of the vinayapitaka (scriptures on Vinaya) differs slightly according to different schools, and different schools or subschools set different standards for the degree of adherence to Vinaya. Novice-monks use the ten precepts, which are the basic precepts for monastics.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: How many basic precepts are there for monastics?
A: the ten precepts', '
Q: What is the specific moral code for monks and nuns?
A: vinaya', '
Q: How many rules dows the patimokkha have?
A: 227', '
Q: What are the scriptures on vinaya called?
A: vinayapitaka']
Regarding the monastic rules, the Buddha constantly reminds his hearers that it is the spirit that counts. On the other hand, the rules themselves are designed to assure a satisfying life, and provide a perfect springboard for the higher attainments. Monastics are instructed by the Buddha to live as "islands unto themselves". In this sense, living life as the vinaya prescribes it is, as one scholar puts it: "more than merely a means to an end: it is very nearly the end in itself."

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Regarding the monastic rules, the Buddha reminds his hearers that it is the spirit that what?
A: counts', '
Q: The rules themselves are designed to assure a satisfying what?
A: life', '
Q: The rules are a perfect springboard for what?
A: higher attainments', '
Q: Monastics are instructed by the Buddha to live as what?
A: islands unto themselves']
In Eastern Buddhism, there is also a distinctive Vinaya and ethics contained within the Mahayana Brahmajala Sutra (not to be confused with the Pali text of that name) for Bodhisattvas, where, for example, the eating of meat is frowned upon and vegetarianism is actively encouraged (see vegetarianism in Buddhism). In Japan, this has almost completely displaced the monastic vinaya, and allows clergy to marry.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Distinctive Vinaya and ethics are contained within what sutra?
A: Mahayana Brahmajala', '
Q: Bodhisattvas are not encouraged to eat what?
A: meat', '
Q: Where is the monastic vinaya displaced and clergy is allowed to marry?
A: Japan']
Buddhist meditation is fundamentally concerned with two themes: transforming the mind and using it to explore itself and other phenomena. According to Theravada Buddhism the Buddha taught two types of meditation, samatha meditation (Sanskrit: śamatha) and vipassanā meditation (Sanskrit: vipaśyanā). In Chinese Buddhism, these exist (translated chih kuan), but Chán (Zen) meditation is more popular. According to Peter Harvey, whenever Buddhism has been healthy, not only monks, nuns, and married lamas, but also more committed lay people have practiced meditation. According to Routledge's Encyclopedia of Buddhism, in contrast, throughout most of Buddhist history before modern times, serious meditation by lay people has been unusual. The evidence of the early texts suggests that at the time of the Buddha, many male and female lay practitioners did practice meditation, some even to the point of proficiency in all eight jhānas (see the next section regarding these).[note 11]

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In Chinese Buddhism what meditation is more popular?
A: Zen', '
Q: Evidence has shown some lay people got to proficiency in all eight what?
A: jhānas']
In the language of the Noble Eightfold Path, samyaksamādhi is "right concentration". The primary means of cultivating samādhi is meditation. Upon development of samādhi, one's mind becomes purified of defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What does the word samyaksamadhi mean?
A: right concentration', '
Q: Meditation is the primary means of cultivating what?
A: samādhi', '
Q: Upon development of samadhi, a person gets rid of what?
A: defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous']
Once the meditator achieves a strong and powerful concentration (jhāna, Sanskrit ध्यान dhyāna), his mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight (vipassanā) into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all suffering. The cultivation of mindfulness is essential to mental concentration, which is needed to achieve insight.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: What is powerful concentration called?
A: jhāna', '
Q: What is the term when the mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight?
A: vipassanā', '
Q: Mindfulness is essential to concentration, which is neede to achieve what?
A: insight']
Samatha meditation starts from being mindful of an object or idea, which is expanded to one's body, mind and entire surroundings, leading to a state of total concentration and tranquility (jhāna). There are many variations in the style of meditation, from sitting cross-legged or kneeling to chanting or walking. The most common method of meditation is to concentrate on one's breath (anapanasati), because this practice can lead to both samatha and vipassana'.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Samatha meditation starts from being mindful of an object or what?
A: idea', '
Q: What is the term for tranquility?
A: jhāna']
In Buddhist practice, it is said that while samatha meditation can calm the mind, only vipassanā meditation can reveal how the mind was disturbed to start with, which is what leads to insight knowledge (jñāna; Pāli ñāṇa) and understanding (prajñā Pāli paññā), and thus can lead to nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna). When one is in jhana, all defilements are suppressed temporarily. Only understanding (prajñā or vipassana) eradicates the defilements completely. Jhanas are also states that Arahants abide in order to rest.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In Buddhism, samatha meditation can calm the what?
A: mind', '
Q: Vipassana meditation can reveal how the mind was what?
A: disturbed', '
Q: What is the term for insight knowledge?
A: jñāna', '
Q: What is the term for understanding?
A: prajñā', '
Q: What eradicates the defilements completely?
A: understanding']
In Theravāda Buddhism, the cause of human existence and suffering is identified as craving, which carries with it the various defilements. These various defilements are traditionally summed up as greed, hatred and delusion. These are believed deeply rooted afflictions of the mind that create suffering and stress. To be free from suffering and stress, these defilements must be permanently uprooted through internal investigation, analyzing, experiencing, and understanding of the true nature of those defilements by using jhāna, a technique of the Noble Eightfold Path. It then leads the meditator to realize the Four Noble Truths, Enlightenment and Nibbāna. Nibbāna is the ultimate goal of Theravadins.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: In Theravada Buddhism, what is the cause of human existence and suffering?
A: craving', '
Q: What does craving carry with it?
A: defilements', '
Q: Deeply rooted afflictions of the mind create what?
A: suffering and stress', '
Q: What is the ultimate goal for Theravadins?
A: Nibbāna']
Prajñā (Sanskrit) or paññā (Pāli) means wisdom that is based on a realization of dependent origination, The Four Noble Truths and the three marks of existence. Prajñā is the wisdom that is able to extinguish afflictions and bring about bodhi. It is spoken of as the principal means of attaining nirvāṇa, through its revelation of the true nature of all things as dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence) and anatta (not-self). Prajñā is also listed as the sixth of the six pāramitās of the Mahayana.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: How many Noble Truths are there?
A: Four', '
Q: Prajna is the wisom that is able to extinguish afflictions and bring about what?
A: bodhi', '
Q: What is listed as the sixth of the six paramitas of the mahayana?
A: Prajñā']