Download What is the purpose of life? What do Buddhists say?

Draft June 2014
What is the purpose
of life?
What do Buddhists
say?
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Engage Watch Pharrell video Happy and discuss what happiness is and what makes you happy?
Express knowledge and understanding
Complete Diamond 9 activity
•
Design
own mandalas for meditation
What would you rather have? A million pounds, sweets for life, youth forever, always happy?
Interview with Aung San now that she has
been released. Key question to include:
‘What are your Buddhist beliefs and how
have they influenced your difficult
decisions?’
The Buddha says people should live in the Right Way. Think of 4 ways that you could live in a
right way. Discuss with partners and report back
Give out Buddha quotes about happiness to discuss in groups (
Do a meditation exercise. Create an origami lotus flower
Explain that this lesson they have been given little tasters of Buddhism. Discuss what they know
about Buddhism and what they would like to know
Create a guide to Buddhism explaining what
Buddhism says is the meaning and purpose
of life.
Write your response to some sayings and
teachings of the Buddha
Write an essay: What do you think is the
meaning and purpose of life?
Or Does following Buddhism make you
happier?
Express
Assessment on Aung San Suu Kyi
different images of the Buddha.
Find out the story of the Buddha. Enquire about what
the Buddha said was the way out of Suffering
What is the
purpose of life?
Enquire
What do
Buddhists say?
Evaluate
Evaluate, analyse and respond to
what has been learnt
Enquiry questions developed Show some
Engage
Explore
Key Questions KS3: Beliefs and Concepts
Find out what are the 4 Noble Truths, the 8-fold path
and the 5 precepts
Read the Chinese/Korean chopsticks story and
discuss.
Investigate important concepts in Buddhism with a
market place activity
Explore the concept
LAR&B – What Key concepts or ideas are fundamental to
Buddhism? What do Buddhists believe about the meaning, purpose
and value of human life? What do Buddhists believe about life after
death? How might the teachings and example of the Buddha, inform
and act as a source of authority for a Buddhist’s life?
Explore someone who has followed Buddhist
beliefs Explore someone who has followed
Buddhist beliefs Aung San Suu Kyi and the
effect these had on her life
LFR&B Is life a search for something, if so what? How do your own
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values and views about life after death compare
to Buddhist ones?
See page 3-5 for detailed plan
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LAR&B – What Key concepts or ideas are fundamental to Buddhism? What do Buddhists believe about the meaning, purpose and value of
human life? What do Buddhists believe about life after death? How might the teachings and example of the Buddha, inform and act as a source
of authority for a Buddhist’s life?
LFR&B Is life a search for something, if so what? How do your own values and views about life after death compare to Buddhist ones
Engage
Watch Pharrell video Happy www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM and discuss what happiness is and what makes you happy?
Do you think it is possible to ever be truly happy? What make people unhappy – age, sickness, death? Can any of these be
avoided? Complete Diamond 9 activity as a class-to show what makes them happy- can they agree as a class? Appendix 1
or
What would you rather have? A million pounds, sweets for life, youth forever, always happy? Stand in 4 corners to answer. Discuss
their responses
and
Give out Buddha quotes about happiness to discuss in groups (google images search)
The Buddha says people should live in the Right Way. Think of 4 ways that you could live in a right way. Discuss with partners and
report back
and
Do a meditation exercise. Colour mandalas as another meditation exercise. Discuss what they feel about meditation See Appendix
2 & 2a. Create an origami lotus flower The lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment for Buddhists because it goes from darkness
to light, goes from mud at the bottom of the pond to air. Because it is beautiful. And the opening of the petals represent the slow
opening of people to enlightenment. www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Simple-Origami-Lotus-Flower
Explain that this lesson they have been given little tasters of Buddhism. Discuss what they know about Buddhism and what they
would like to know
See Appendix 3 for introduction to Buddhism
Enquire
Show some different images of the Buddha. (google images) Which do they like best? Why?
Find out the story of the Buddha using video clips, internet search, books, putting story into order from mixed up cards etc. See
Appendix 4
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www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/history/history.shtml
www.truetube.co.uk/film/enlightenment-buddha
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/001bio.htm
Enquire about what the Buddha said was the way out of Suffering
2. Find out what are the 4 Noble Truths and create a poster to show, including your opinions. See Appendix 5
3. Find out what the Eight Fold Path is by using Appendix 6 Can students add examples of their own? Explain activity with
circles/wheels. Dharma wheels = oldest Buddhist symbol. Dharma = teaching. Write down each of the 8 steps around the
edge of the segmented circle and then write an example of fulfilling this step in the segment.
4. Read slowly the Chinese/Korean chopsticks story. Class to make notes of the story without using words i.e.
drawings/illustrations. http://mir.pravo.by/webroot/delivery/files/books/Heaven%20and%20hell.pdf They then read back
their stories using their pictures in pairs. Discuss the story – what questions do they have? E.g. Why did he want to go to
Hell? Why were people happy/unhappy? What is the moral of the story? Are Heaven and Hell the same places? Is the
story right? Does helping others make you happy?
• Part of Right Action is following the 5 precepts. See Appendix 7 and discuss as a class
• Abstain from taking life.
• Abstain from taking what is not given.
• Abstain from sexual misconduct.
• Abstain from false speech.
• Abstain from alcohol.
5. Important Concepts Appendix 13 In threes investigate one of these concepts, draw its meaning as a diagram/picture with
a maximum of ten words and then do ‘market place activity where 2 people visit other groups to find out what they have
learnt and one stays to teach others. Then the 2 who visited other groups return and teach the group member they left
behind
•
•
•
•
•
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Ahimsa - no harm to living things. Non-violence and respect for all forms of life
Anatta - no self/soul (we are all interconnected)
Anicca – impermanence
Dukkha – suffering/distress
Karma – law of cause and effect
Metta – loving kindness unselfish love (compassion)
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•
•
•
Explore
Moksha – liberation
Nirvana – extinction or ultimate enlightenment
Samsara – cycle of birth and rebirth
Explore someone who has followed Buddhist beliefs Aung San Suu Kyi See appendix 9 for information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_IjNKT_T5o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwKEdFoUB0o U2 Song Walk On written about Aung San Suu Kyi. Bono, the lead singer has
her picture on his tshirt and there is a clip of her speaking at the end of the video
Read her story/ give out cards for students to work out story up to the point where she has to decide whether to leave Burma to
visit her dying husband. Appendix 9a & b or Appendix 10. Then give out dilemma cards for them to discuss in groups whether she
should return to her dying husband in America or stay and help Burma. Report back their decision and why to rest of class. Then
using appendix 9c reveal what she chose to do
What was her difficult decision? What motivated her? What would you have done if you were her? What questions would you like
to ask her if you could? Did her unselfishness overcome suffering?
Evaluate
Use assessment Appendix 12
Express
http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Mandala Design own mandalas for meditation and choose music to meditate to
In pairs imagine you are a BBC reporter and you have been asked to interview Aung San now that she has been released. Key
question to include: ‘What are your Buddhist beliefs and how have they influenced your difficult decisions?’
Create a guide to Buddhism using the information on Appendix 13 explaining what Buddhism says is the meaning and purpose of
life.
Write your response to some sayings and teachings of the Buddha and illustrate your work. See Appendix 8
Write an essay: What do you think is the meaning and purpose of life? Or Does following Buddhism make you happier?
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Appendix 1 Diamond 9 What makes you happy?
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Appendix 2 Meditation
Think about how you de-stress
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Buddhists use meditation to focus their thoughts on what really matters
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It helps them to stop, become calm and peaceful and think about what is important in life
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Draw a bin.
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In the bin write down everything that is worrying or concerning or stressing you.
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Picture yourself throwing this bin away.
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Now you can try to relax
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Sit back on your chair or head on the desk, relax, close your eyes and listen to the music.
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If you don’t want to take part in the meditation, you can listen quietly but do not disturb
the rest of the class
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Begin to colour your sheet.
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As you do it – think of how you can be a more peaceful person.
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Think of your breathing. Try to relax yourself
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What worries do you have?
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Focus on the positive things in your life
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On your post-it, write down one word that
describes what this meditation has made
you think about.
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What did we think?
•
How was the experience?
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Why do people meditate?
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What might be the benefits?
Appendix
2a Mandalas
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Mandalas are circle patterns that have
been used in Buddhist meditations for
hundreds of years.
Begin colouring and see yourself
taking a journey. Enjoy the beauty of
the colours. Focus only on colouring
the mandala and if any other thoughts
come into your mind, simply let them
go. Picture them as a bunch of
balloons that you can release into the
air and watch them float away. Gently
think about the calmness and peace
that you can feel while creating this
piece of art.
Try to picture yourself joining with the
mandala. Become part of it as you
journey from the outside towards the
centre. Picture yourself growing
closer to it. Focus on the colours and
patterns. Move away from the stress
of everyday life as you colour the
pattern. Moving towards the centre,
you are letting go of all your stresses
and worries. As you reach the centre,
you have found a safe place where
you can feel content and at peace.
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Appendix 3 Introduction to Buddhism
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Appendix
3 continued Introduction to Buddhism
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Appendix 4 The Story of the Buddha
The pictures are in the correct order. Match the mixed up sentences to them to tell the story
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Dad
Siddartha
Servant
Old
Sick
Dead
Holy Man
Wise Teachers
Teacher
Ascetic Companions
Starve
Meditate
Enlightenment
He also saw a sick person and realised that anyone could become ill.
One day Siddhartha left the palace and saw an old person which made him realise that one day he would be old.
The last person he saw was a holy man, who was poor but happy. He had given up his possessions to lead a spiritual life. Siddhartha decided to do the sam
Siddhartha Gotama was born in a palace. He was a prince.
The world outside was kept hidden from him. He lived a life of luxury with servants attending to his need
Finally he sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated on the questions: Why is there suffering? Where is true happiness to be found?
He decided to live a life of total poverty and starve himself, but he did not find the answer to his question
Here he became enlightened or awakened to the problem of suffering in the four noble truths.
Then he saw a dead man and realised that life could end.
He travelled to search for an answer to the suffering he had seen. He wandered through the forest asking advice from wise teachers and ascetic companions.
He saw an old man and realised everyone grows old
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Why did Siddhartha’s father want to protect him?
Was it a good thing to try to protect him?
What surprises you about the story?
What is interesting about this story?
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Appendix 5 The four Noble Truths
Create a poster about the Four Noble
Truths
Find pictures in newspapers or on the
internet of different types of suffering
Were these types of suffering caused by
selfishness?
Explain on the poster whether you agree
with the Buddha
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Create a Dharma wheel, showing the meaning of the
Eight Fold Path. Give your own examples using the ideas
below to start you off.
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Appendix 7 The five precepts
Appendix 6 the Eight fold pat
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What to avoid
Avoid harming any living things
For example: Don’t kill animals or insects, don’t be
unkind to people, don’t bully
Behaving in a positive way
Showing kindness to people,
giving to charity
Avoid taking what has not been given
For example:
Avoid sexual misconduct
For example:
Avoid false speech
For example:
Avoid drink and drugs that cloud the mind
For example:
Appendix 7 The 5 precepts
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Appendix 8
Teachings of the Buddha
The Teachings Of Buddha
Below are some sayings of the Buddha. Do you agree or disagree with them. Why? Can you draw a diagram, picture or symbol to represent them?
1. ‘Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.’
YOUR RESPONSE:
2. ‘All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought,
happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.’
YOUR RESPONSE:
3. ‘It is better to travel well than to arrive.’
YOUR RESPONSE:
4. ‘No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.’
YOUR RESPONSE:
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Appendix 9a Aung Sung Suu Kyi cards to investigate her story
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Appendix 9b continued Aung Sung Suu Kyi cards to investigate her story
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Appendix 9 continued Aung San Suu Kyi cards to investigate her story
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Appendix 10 Aung San Suu Kyi story
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Appendix 9
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Appendix 11 Aung San Suu Kyi dilemma cards
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Appendix
Aung San Suu Kyi assessment
Use the sentence starters below to write about Aung San and how her Buddhist beliefs have influence her decisions. Use at least one sentence starter from each box.
Aung San decided to stay in Burma rather than
…
She was trying to be unselfish because Buddhists
believe that …
I think that her decision caused more suffering
because …
Aung San was under house arrest in Burma
because ..
She was influenced by the Buddhist teachings of
the 8 Fold Path for example ..
I think her decision caused less suffering in the long
run because …
Aung San lives in Burma. She was not free
because …
She was influenced by the Buddhist Meditation
that says …
I feel sad that …
I feel inspired by Aung san because …
Aung San was influenced by her Buddhists beliefs
for example …
I think Aung san was brave and strong because .
I think her children would have felt …
I think her husband would have …
I think Aung San’s decision was …
If I was a Buddhist I would have made the same
decision as Aung san because …
If I was a Buddhist I would not have stayed in
Burma because …
One situation when I have been unselfish was
when ..
My beliefs are very different to Aung San because
…
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One question I would like to ask Aung San is ..
One question I would like to ask her children is ..
One question that I would like to ask her husband
would be …
One question I would like to ask the Buddha would
be ..
Appendix
Beliefs Summary
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Buddhist Beliefs Summary
4 Noble Truths




The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
The truth of the origin of suffering
The truth of the cessation of suffering
The truth of the path to the cessation
of suffering
To escape suffering, the Buddhist follows the
Eight Fold Path
Noble Eightfold Path
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Right Understanding
Right Thought/Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Part of Right Action is to follow the 5 Precepts
5 Precepts
1. Abstain from taking life.
2. Abstain from taking what is not given.
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct.
4. Abstain from false speech.
5. Abstain from alcohol.
Important Concepts









Ahimsa - no harm to living things. Non-violence and respect for all forms of life
Anatta - no self/soul (we are all interconnected)
Anicca – impermanence
Dukkha – suffering/distress
Karma – law of cause and effect
Metta – loving kindness unselfish love (compassion)
Moksha – liberation
Nirvana – extinction or ultimate enlightenment
Samsara – cycle of birth and rebirth
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Attainment Target 1: Learning about Religion
Attainment Target 2: Learning from Religion
Level
I can…
I can
Use detailed reasons and examples to explain Aung San’s
decision, showing how it was influenced by her beliefs and how
I am influenced by my beliefs
Use detailed reasons and examples to explain how I am influenced by my
beliefs
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7
6
5
Ask questions about Aung San’s choices giving reasons and
compare them to decisions I might make.
4
Ask questions about Aung San’s moral choice and suggest
reasons for her decision.
3
Resources for this enquiry
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Background information
Religious Education requirements
This unit fulfils requirements for the KS3 learning theme Beliefs and Concepts/Authority in relation to Buddhism
Religious concepts
•
•
Ahimsa - no harm to living
things. Non-violence and
respect for all forms of life
NEED DETAIL ON ALL OF THESE
•
Anatta - no self/soul (we are all
interconnected)
•
Metta – loving kindness
unselfish love (compassion)
•
Anicca – impermanence
Moksha
Karma – law of cause and effect
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•
Dukkha – suffering/distress
Nirvarna