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How Buddhist Are You? Find Out with Our Quiz

Ready to discover your Buddhist IQ? Take our Am I Buddhist Quiz now!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Amber Van Der VlietUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Am I a Buddhist Quiz on golden yellow background

This Am I a Buddhist quiz helps you see how your views match Buddhist teachings and history. Answer short, practical questions, reflect on ideas like compassion and the Four Noble Truths, and spot what you know and what you don't - so you can learn a few facts while you play.

What are the Three Jewels in Buddhism that practitioners take refuge in?
Dharma, Yoga, Nirvana
Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
Buddha, Karma, Meditation
Sangha, Sutra, Temple
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Which of the following is NOT one of the Four Noble Truths?
There is a path to end suffering
Suffering is caused by craving
Suffering can be eliminated only by divine intervention
Suffering has a cause
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The Noble Eightfold Path belongs primarily to which category of practice?
Astrology, prayer, and fasting
Prophecy, divination, and charity
Ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom
Ritual, sacrifice, and pilgrimage
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In Buddhism, anatta refers to which teaching?
No permanent self
Universal compassion
Celestial realms
Karmic reward
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The Buddha is traditionally said to have attained enlightenment under which tree at Bodh Gaya?
Bodhi tree (a fig tree)
Neem tree
Banyan tree unrelated to fig
Sal tree
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The Pali Canon is traditionally divided into three "baskets" called the Tipitaka. Which is NOT one of them?
Tantra Pitaka
Vinaya Pitaka
Abhidhamma Pitaka
Sutta Pitaka
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Which school emphasizes the ideal of the bodhisattva who delays final nirvana to help all beings?
Mahayana
Advaita Vedanta
Theravada
Jainism
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Which practice is most associated with Zen (Chan) Buddhism?
Fire walking
Astrological charting
Zazen (seated meditation)
Animal sacrifice
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Which emperor is famous for supporting and spreading Buddhism after witnessing the Kalinga war?
Kanishka II
Chandragupta I
Akbar
Ashoka
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Which statement best describes nirvana in Buddhism?
A state of eternal worldly pleasure
A heaven ruled by a creator god
Rebirth into a royal bloodline
The cessation of greed, hatred, and delusion
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A key distinction often noted between arhat and bodhisattva ideals is that the bodhisattva aims to do what?
Postpone final nirvana to aid all beings
Seek solitary liberation only
Eliminate ethics to transcend karma
Reject meditation entirely
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Which site is traditionally associated with the Buddha's birthplace?
Lumbini
Bodh Gaya
Sarnath
Kushinagar
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Which of these is one of the Five Aggregates (skandhas)?
Divinity
Destiny
Feeling (vedana)
Grace
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Which text is central to Pure Land Buddhism?
Tao Te Ching
Upanishads
Rig Veda
Amitabha Sutra
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Right Livelihood in the Eightfold Path most directly concerns what?
Choosing ethical ways to earn a living
Eliminating all possessions
Fasting on lunar days
Memorizing all sutras
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The title "Tathagata" refers to whom in Buddhist texts?
A Hindu avatar
A Vedic priest
The Buddha
A Jain teacher
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Which council is traditionally said to have compiled the early teachings shortly after the Buddha's passing?
Council of Trent
Second Council of Lyons
First Buddhist Council at Rajgir
Council of Nicaea
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In Abhidharma analysis, rupa refers to which aggregate?
Consciousness
Form (materiality)
Perception
Intentional formations
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Who is Maitreya in Buddhist tradition?
The future Buddha
A wrathful yaksha
Founder of Zen
Guardian of the underworld
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The doctrine of sunyata in Madhyamaka asserts what about inherent existence?
All phenomena lack inherent existence
Inherent existence is proven by perception
Some phenomena are uncaused and permanent
Emptiness means nothing exists at all
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Core Buddhist Teachings -

    Recognize and recall fundamental doctrines such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path presented in the quiz, building a solid foundation in Buddhist philosophy.

  2. Describe Influential Figures and Traditions -

    Summarize the roles of key historical figures like Siddhartha Gautama and Nichiren, and outline major traditions across Asia to appreciate Buddhism's diverse heritage.

  3. Differentiate Buddhist Schools -

    Distinguish between Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana branches by identifying their unique practices and beliefs through targeted quiz questions.

  4. Assess Your Buddhism Knowledge -

    Evaluate your current understanding by taking the "Am I a Buddhist Quiz," pinpointing strengths and areas for further study.

  5. Apply Insights to Personal Practice -

    Translate quiz feedback into actionable steps for integrating Buddhist principles into daily life, enhancing both knowledge and practice.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Four Noble Truths -

    Deep dive the core teachings: suffering (Dukkha), its origin, cessation, and the path leading away. Use the mnemonic "STOP" (Suffering, Truth of cause, Overcoming, Path) to lock them in before your am i a buddhist quiz.

  2. The Noble Eightfold Path -

    Memorize the eight aspects - Right View, Intention, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration - as the blueprint to ethical living. You can group them into three categories - wisdom, ethics, and meditation - and tag them "WEM" to recall each trio quickly.

  3. Life and Epoch of the Buddha -

    Note the key dates: Siddhartha Gautama's life spans approximately 563 - 483 BCE, enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, and the first sermon at Sarnath (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta). Remember the triptych "Birth, Awakening, Teaching" as a timeline hack for quiz recall.

  4. Major Buddhist Traditions -

    Understand the three main branches: Theravada (Southern Asia focus), Mahayana (East Asia, includes Zen and Nichiren), and Vajrayana (Tibet, Tantra). Keep the acronym "TMV" in mind - Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana - to breeze through that buddhist personality test segment.

  5. Core Meditation Practices -

    Differentiate between Samatha (calming) and Vipassana (insight) meditations - both central to mindfulness training. A quick practice hack is box breathing (4-4-4-4) to stabilize focus, a common question style in a buddhism knowledge quiz.

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