Key Stage 3 Religious Education

Buddhism

Name:

1) Buddhist Beliefs:

What is happening in this picture?

Why do you think he is doing it?

What does this tell us about the idea of suffering?

This is Thích Quảng Đức, pronounced “Tich Kwong Duuk”

He is demonstrating self-Immolation (setting himself on fire)

It is a protest against the persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnam's “Diem” Roman Catholic government.

How does this protest show that the Buddhist is prepared to suffer for what he believes?

What other examples can you think of that demonstrate people are prepared to suffer for their beliefs?

Why do you think people are prepared to suffer for what they believe in?

The Buddha taught what are called: ‘The Four Noble Truths’

1. Dukkha*exists throughout life.2. Dukkha is caused by craving, desire, and attachment.3. By giving up craving, desire and attachment dukkha can be destroyed.4. The path to ending dukkha is ‘the noble eightfold path’…*(Dukkha = suffering/anxiety/discontentment)

1. Can you think of any examples of suffering in people’s lives that are caused by:Desire: greed, craving.

Attachment: clinging to things, not letting things go.

2. Can you think of any examples of suffering that are NOT caused by the above?

3. Which type of suffering is most common? Why?

“Desire and clinging are the main cause of human suffering (dukkha).” Do you agree?Make a list of arguments and evidence in two columns for BOTH sides of the argument to help you answer the question.Agree Disagree

“Desire and clinging are the main cause of human suffering (dukkha).” Do you agree?

2) Buddhism: The Five Precepts

A precept is a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought.

Make a list of five rules that, if you lived by them, would improve your behaviour, and your thoughts your life!

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The five moral precepts are the five principles that Buddhists follow in order to live ethically and morally good lives. They also help Buddhists to overcome the Three Poisons.

How could you rephrase these into modern examples?

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Which of these precepts would be the hardest to follow? Why?

Which would be the easiest? Why?

Different ways of thinking about what a precept is…

Definitely not a commandment from God.Because Buddhism has no creator God (or god) Instead, the precepts come from “The Awakened One” (Buddha).

Precepts are more like a promise you make to yourself.

Why do you think they are described as promises?

Some Buddhists recite them daily, why?

A fixed rule that you vow to never break.It’s not about whether they are holy or divine, more about whether they work: whether they help people to become more moral and live more satisfying lives.

How to analyse in Philosophy & Religion…• Talk about strengths and weaknesses, good things

and bad things.• Refer to evidence, examples, and arguments.• Balance your writing and thought with the

strongest arguments for both sides.• Avoid unfounded opinion.• Deconstruct ideas.

Use this structure to help you analyse one of the precepts.

The precept being analysed is…[choose any one!]One good thing about taking this precept would be…Furthermore…

One bad thing about taking this precept would be…Moreover…

If everyone followed this precept…Additionally…

To conclude…This is because…

Task – Apply these rules to the question ‘Are Precepts more effective than promises?’

3) The Noble Eightfold Path

“What is The Noble Eightfold Path and why is it so important to Buddhists?

The Noble Eightfold path is a method by which Buddhists live their lives.

The first step for a Buddhist is to decide to pursue the Buddhist principles of reducing suffering, finding inner calm, and attaining enlightenment and nirvana. Once a Buddhist has decided to follow these principles, they can step onto the Noble Eightfold Path, also called the magga, which means ‘path’.

Part of The What does it Examples of how I could apply Memory Icon

Noble Eightfold Path

mean? this to my own life…

Part of The Noble

What does it mean?

Examples of how I could apply this to my own life…

Memory Icon

Eightfold Path

Right Mindfulness

Filling one’s mind with the right memories, concepts, and ideas.

Learning useful ideas.

Learning to control thoughts.

Using the internet to research ideas about philosophy and psychology.

Learning about how I can help other people.Letting go of thoughts that cause me to suffer.Choosing to think about the things I am grateful for in life.Choosing to not think thoughts that cause anger.

Which of these do you think would be the hardest to follow? Why?

Which would be the easiest to follow and why?

Now use the table to answer this question:Why is the Noble Eightfold path so important to Buddhist?

4) The Three Jewels

Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels

What does the word ‘refuge’ mean?

When, in life, might you need to take refuge?

What is it about our lives/society that might make us want to take refuge?

Why do you think Buddhists use these three jewels to guide them when they are distressed?

What do you think Buddhists get from each of these jewels?

Is it possible that some people take refuge in the wrong things? Why might they do this?

Can you think of any examples?

Is it better to take refuge in external things, or to turn inwards and find refuge within?

Why do you think this?

5) Buddhism & Meditation

Make a list or spider-diagram showing which religions you think have a tradition of meditation:

“To meditate is to do nothing, sit steadily, neither trying to think nor trying not to think; just sitting, with no deliberate thought, is the important aspect of serene reflection meditation.”

What do you think this quote means in real life?

Meditation is a psychological, spiritual and mystical practice which is compatible with all religions: many people who meditate are not religious at all.Make a list of all the reasons why people might choose to meditate

Use these images to explain to someone how to meditate:

6) The Life of Buddha

What does this image suggest about the life of Buddha? Why do you think this?

The History of Buddhism

The history of Buddhism is the story of one man's spiritual journey to Enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it.

Siddhartha Gautama - The Buddha

By finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddhartha was led from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and became known as the Buddha or 'awakened one'.

A life of luxury

Opinions differ as to the dates of Siddhartha Gautama's life. Historians have dated his birth and death as circa 566-486 BCE but more recent research suggests that he lived later than this, from around 490 BCE until circa 410 BCE.

He was born into a royal family in the village of Lumbini in present-day Nepal, and his privileged life insulated him from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as sickness, age and death.

Discovering cruel reality

One day, after growing up, marrying and having a child, Siddhartha went outside the royal enclosure where he lived. When he went outside he saw, each for the first time, an old man, a sick man, a holy man and a corpse.

This greatly disturbed him, and he learned that sickness, age, and death were the inevitable fate of human beings - a fate no-one could avoid.

Becoming a holy man

Siddhartha had also seen a monk, and he decided this was a sign that he should leave his protected royal life and live as a homeless holy man.

Siddhartha's travels showed him much more of the suffering of the world. He searched for a way to escape the inevitability of death, old age and pain first by studying with religious men. This didn't provide him with an answer.

A life of self-denial

Siddhartha encountered an Indian ascetic who encouraged him to follow a life of extreme self-denial and discipline.

The Buddha also practised meditation but concluded that in themselves, the highest meditative states were not enough.

Siddhartha followed this life of extreme asceticism (avoiding all luxury) for six years, but this did not satisfy him either; he still had not escaped from the world of suffering.

The middle way

He abandoned the strict lifestyle of self-denial and asceticism, but did not return to the pampered luxury of his early life.

Instead, he pursued the Middle Way, which is just what it sounds like; neither luxury nor poverty.

Enlightenment

One day, seated beneath the Bodhi tree (the tree of awakening) Siddhartha became deeply absorbed in meditation, and reflected on his experience of life, determined to penetrate its truth.

He finally achieved Enlightenment and became the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple at the site of Buddha's enlightenment, is now a pilgrimage site.

Buddhist legend tells that at first the Buddha was happy to dwell within this state, but Brahma, king of the gods, asked, on behalf of the whole world, that he should share his understanding with others.

The Teacher

Buddha set in motion the wheel of teaching: rather than worshipping one god or gods, Buddhism centres around the timeless importance of the teaching, or the dharma.

For the next 45 years of his life the Buddha taught many disciples, who became Arahants or 'noble ones', who had attained Enlightenment for themselves.

What did Buddha learn by going outside the royal palace?

What changes did the Buddha make to his life after his visit outside the royal palace?

What teachings did Buddha develop during his journey?

Why do you think he rejected a life of self - denial, instead settled on a middle way?

7. The Three marks of Existence

If you are not your body, your name, your thoughts, beliefs, job or feeling: what are you?Make a list of ideas…

The Buddha taught that all existence is marked by the following three conditions:Anicca – Impermanence, everything changes, nothing lasts, all experience is in a constant state of flux, everything in a constant cycle of birth and death.Dukkha – dissatisfaction, dis- ease, striving, sufferingAnatta – Non-self, not-self, there is no self, no permanent soul, no permanent being that is you. There is no “Miss Warrington”, and “you” aren’t sitting here.

By each quote indicate which of the three marks they are about-> Anicca (Impermanence)-> Dukkha(Suffering)-> Anatta(not Self/ no-self)

8)Buddhism and death

Why is it important to think about death?What are the benefits of thinking about death?

Make a mind-map called “thinking about death” to show your ideas!

Buddhists believe in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara. Through karma and eventual enlightenment, they hope to escape samsara and achieve nirvana, an end to suffering.

All life is in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsara. This cycle is something to escape from. When someone dies their energy passes into another form.

Buddhist believes in karma or 'intentional action'.

Thinking about death

Through good actions, such as ethical conduct, and by developing concentration and wisdom, Buddhists hope to either gain enlightenment or to ensure a better future for themselves. These good actions are set out in the Eightfold Path, which includes right speech, right livelihood, and right concentration. Good actions will result in a better rebirth, while bad actions will have the opposite effect.

Depending on the actions performed in previous lives, rebirth could be as a human or animal or even ghosts, demi-gods, or gods. Being born as a human is seen by Buddhists as a rare opportunity to work towards escaping this cycle of samsara. The escape from samsara is called Nirvana or enlightenment.

Once Nirvana is achieved, and the enlightened individual physically dies, Buddhists believe that they will no longer be reborn.

The Buddha taught that when Nirvana is achieved, Buddhists are able to see the world as it really is. Nirvana means realising and accepting the Four Noble Truths and being awake to reality.

Some Buddhists believe that enlightened individuals can choose to be reborn in order to help others become enlightened. Others believe that, when Nirvana is achieved, the cycle of samsara, all suffering and further existence for that individual itself ends.

Why don't Buddhists believe in souls or an eternal creator God?

Anicca - Buddhists believe that nothing is permanent. Everything changes. So this means that things like everlasting souls or eternal gods cannot exist. Buddhism, unlike other religions, does not believe in a creator God or an eternal or everlasting soul.

Anatta - Buddhists believe that there is no permanent self or soul. Because there is no unchanging permanent essence or soul, Buddhists sometimes talk about energy being reborn, rather than souls.

Why do Buddhists believe in life after death?

Buddhists believe in life after death because the Buddha taught that human beings are each born an infinite number of times, unless they achieve Nirvana. In the Dhammapada the Buddha states:

Long is the cycle of birth and death to the fool who does not know the true path. DhammapadaThe Dhammapada contains many other teachings about samsara, enlightenment, and Nirvana:

One road leads to wealth; another road leads to nirvana. Let the mendicant, the disciple of Buddha, learn this and not strive for honour but seek wisdom. Dhammapada

The Buddha taught his disciples not to fear death. This has been interpreted by Buddhists as suggesting that if they live well, their rebirth will be good.

After his enlightenment, the Buddha could remember his previous lives. Some of these previous lives are recorded in the Buddhist scripture, the Jakata.

In Tibetan Buddhism there are many writings about life after death including the 'Tibetan Book of the Dead'. This is a guide telling the dying person how to react and try to ensure a positive outcome of the experiences. It includes descriptions of the bardo states. These are states between dying and being reborn.

Mahayana Buddhism also uses images to teach about life after death. The Wheel of Existence shows the different realms Buddhists believe you can be reborn into.

Belief in life after death may be influenced by the meaning and purpose it gives to the lives of Buddhists.

TASK - Summarise in your own words a Buddhist’s view on death and the afterlife.

Describe and explain how they might be similar to another religion e.g. Hinduism.

How do they differ from the Christian view of what happens when we die?

9 End of topic assessment

Write a paragraph for each level: you must work your way up the levels like a ladder, you cannot skip levels!

Level 3 - Describe

Describe the teachings of The Buddha.

Level 4 and 5 – Explain (the level depends on the depth!

Explain one of The Buddha’s teaching in greater depth:

-What is the aim of the teaching?-Why was it seen as important?-How could it be applied to your own life?

Use examples to apply some of The Buddha’s teachings, showing that you understand them.

Level 6 – Interpret

Choose any of The Buddha’s teachings; explain how it can be interpreted in different ways, how it might mean different things, and what the implications of those different interpretations are.

Level 7+: Analysis and Evaluation

Choose any of The Buddha’s teachings, explain arguments for and against the teaching, refer to strengths and weaknesses of a belief, how beliefs can be challenged, etc. leading up to a conclusion where you decide if the teaching is true or false.