Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli, and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our unit on Buddhism: Beliefs and Teachings.

Today we're going to be exploring the Threefold Way.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the Threefold Way and why it is important today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five key words: the Threefold Way, Nirvana, wisdom, ethics, and meditation.

The Threefold Way refers to the three divisions of the Eightfold Path: ethics, meditation, and wisdom.

Nirvana is a belief that individuals can achieve a state of perfect peace, where they experience liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Wisdom refers to insight into the true nature of reality.

Ethics are the moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes.

And meditation is a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness.

Today's lesson on the Threefold Way takes two parts.

First of all, we are gonna begin by learning about the Threefold Way, and then we're gonna move on to consider the importance of the Threefold Way.

Let's begin.

The Threefold Way is a shortened version of the Eightfold Path.

It is a common teaching to all Buddhist schools.

The Buddha taught that achieving enlightenment, and, ultimately, Nirvana requires three key practises, known as the Threefold Way.

These practises are divided into three sections: wisdom, ethics, and meditation.

The Threefold Way is the Eightfold Path divided into three sections.

Wisdom, which covers right understanding and right intention, ethics, which is right livelihood, right action, and right speech, and meditation refers to right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

So here you can see that there are the eight stages of the Eightfold Path divided into three sections.

True or force, the Threefold Way is the Eightfold Path divided into four sections? Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The Threefold Way is the Eightfold Path divided into three sections: wisdom, ethics, and meditation.

The section of wisdom emphasises the importance of gaining insight into the true nature of reality.

Right understanding is understanding the Buddha's teachings may also be referred to as the Buddhist Dhamma, especially the Four Noble Truths.

And right intention, which is adopting the right mindset and determination to follow the Eightfold Path.

Let's pause for a check for understanding.

What is the meaning of wisdom? A, moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes, B, insight into the true nature of reality, C, a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness? Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you selected B as the correct answer.

The meaning of wisdom is the insight into the true nature of reality.

The section of ethics emphasises the importance of having good morals and behaviour.

That includes right speech, which means speaking honestly and positively, right action, which is acting peacefully and avoiding causing harm to others, and right livelihood, and that includes earning a living that does not harm or exploit others.

So right speech, right action, and right livelihood come under the section of ethics as part of the Threefold Way.

Buddhists will look to the teachings of the Buddha to know what good morals are and how to behave.

Here we have a quote from the Dhammapada, Verse 1.

It states, "If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage." What can a Buddhist learn from this verse about how to demonstrate good ethics? Pause the video here and with your partner or on your own, take some time to discuss or reflect and answer to that question.

Pause the video and press Play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So what can a Buddhist learn from this verse about how to demonstrate good ethics? You may have said that a Buddhist learns that if they act or speak with negative or malicious thoughts, suffering will inevitably follow them.

It is important to understand and practise good ethics to achieve enlightenment and reach Nirvana.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is not included in the ethics section of the Threefold Way? A, right speech, B, right action, C, right understanding, and D, right livelihood? Remember, you're selecting the answer that is not included in the ethics section of the Threefold Way.

Good luck.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, welcome back everybody, and well done if you selected C.

Right understanding is not included in the ethics section of the Threefold Way.

The section of meditation emphasises the importance of meditation to develop wisdom and achieve enlightenment.

That includes right effort, which is putting effort into meditation, right mindfulness, and that is about being aware of your thoughts and feelings and those of others, and right concentration is about developing the mental focus needed for meditation.

So the section of meditation includes right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

So now we're gonna complete a check for understanding.

But first of all, I'm gonna show you and explain how to answer this question.

The Buddha taught that achieving Nirvana requires three key practises, known as the Threefold Way.

Give one section of the Threefold Way.

So for example, you could say wisdom.

Now I'd like you to give one section of Threefold Way.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you selected ethics, but other possible answers are also meditation.

Fantastic everyone.

Well done.

So now we're gonna pause and complete our first practise task.

You're going to have a go answering the question, describe Buddhist beliefs about the Threefold Way.

And here is some guidance that you might like to follow in order to structure your answer for this question.

So the guidance would be making a point and development and a second point and development.

For each part of your answer, you should also include a range of religious and specialist terms. And for at least one part of your answer, you should use a source of wisdom and authority.

This could be an exact or paraphrased quote, or a general teaching from a named source, for example, the Buddha.

When you use your source of wisdom and authority, remember to accurately apply this to the point and the question.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Now let's check on your answers for the first practise task.

You were asked to answer the question, describe Buddhist beliefs about the Threefold Way.

And just a reminder, you needed to, for at least one of your paragraphs, include a source of wisdom and authority, and accurately apply this to the point and question.

So your answer might be similar to this one.

"One Buddhist belief about the Threefold Way is that it is a shortened version of the Eightfold Path.

The Buddha taught that achieving enlightenment and, ultimately, Nirvana requires three key practises: wisdom, ethics, and meditation.

Another Buddhist belief about the Threefold Way includes a practise of ethics.

In the Dhammapada it says, 'If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

' This means we must speak in a positive way and act peacefully; otherwise, there is a consequence." So what you can see from this answer is you have two points.

Each point has been developed.

And highlighted in purple, you can see where there's reference to the source of wisdom and authority.

Well done on all of your hard work completing that practise task.

So now we're gonna move on to the second part of our lesson on the Threefold Way by exploring the importance of the Threefold Way.

Niti, a Theravada Buddhist monk, explains why the Threefold Way is important to him.

He says, "I imagine the Threefold Way as building blocks.

Imagine ethics as a foundation, above is meditation, and at the top is wisdom.

I like to think of ethics as the foundation of the Threefold Way.

Without ethics, there can be no Buddhist practise.

And without ethics, I wouldn't be able to meditate successfully or gain much wisdom." Izzy asks, "Do you believe that ethics, the moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes, is the most important section of the Threefold Way?" Niti replies, "I believe that all sections of the Threefold Way are important, but, without ethics, I think gaining wisdom and having the ability to meditate is very challenging.

To gain insight into the nature of reality, I believe I must pay close attention to ethics and the way I act in the world." True or false, the word ethics in Buddhism means insight into the true nature of reality? Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done If you said that statement is false.

Ethics refers to the moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes.

Linn, a Theravada Buddhist, explains why the Threefold Way is important to her.

Linn says, "I believe, along with many Buddhists, that the Threefold Way was emphasised by the Buddha in the final stages of his life.

It covers the three most important things to remember: we need to lead an ethical life , to work on our mental state through meditation, and through this we can gain wisdom.

I believe this is important for reaching enlightenment and ultimately attaining Nirvana." Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains why the Threefold Way is important to her.

Tashi tells us, "Meditation is a spiritual experience that opens me up to a higher state of consciousness.

Meditation is important.

Right concentration and right mindfulness help me build positive emotion.

And this helps me speak and act more positively.

I believe this is what will help me develop good ethics and gain insight into the wisdom." Here we have Roshan.

Roshan is a Theravada Buddhist, and he explains why the Threefold Way is important to him.

"Ethics is important to me because it influences me to act with kindness and compassion.

The Buddha taught that speaking and acting positively is important in reducing suffering.

This influences me to avoid swearing or taking something that isn't mine.

I believe this helps me gain good karma, which is important to reach my goal of enlightenment and achieve Nirvana." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

What do Buddhists mean by meditation? A, moral principles that inform behaviour and attitudes, B, insight into the true nature of reality, or C, a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness? Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Welcome back everybody, and well done if you selected C as the correct answer.

So now we're gonna pause and complete our second practise task.

Here is a full evaluation question.

Ethics is the most important section of the Threefold Way.

Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view.

You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.

So what I would like you to do is write a point in support of this statement and a point to support a different point of view.

Give a point and develop each using Buddhist teachings.

Good luck completing this practise task.

Pause the video here and press Play when you're ready to check your answers.

Welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answer.

So I asked you to respond to the statement, "Ethics is the most important section of the Threefold Way." And your response may look something like this.

So to support the statement you may have said, "Many Buddhists would argue that all aspects of the Threefold Way are important.

However, ethics may be seen as the foundation, which helps them build up meditation and wisdom.

To gain insight into the nature of reality, they must pay close attention to ethics and the way they act in the world." Then to support a different point of view, your answer may have included the following points, "Some Buddhists may disagree if they believe that meditation is the most important section of the Threefold Way.

Right concentration and right mindfulness help build positive emotion.

Having positive emotions will help Buddhists speak and act more positively, and this is what will lead them to developing good ethics and gaining wisdom." Fantastic, well done on all of your hard work today completing the practise tasks.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson and the summary of the Threefold Way.

So here are the key learning points that we've covered in today's lesson.

The Threefold Way is the three divisions of the Eightfold Path: wisdom, ethics, and meditation.

Wisdom consists of right understanding and right intention.

Ethics consists of right speech, right action, and right livelihood.

Meditation consists of right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

The Threefold Way is important to most Buddhists.

It influences them to study the Buddhist Dhamma, to achieve wisdom, act and speak positively, and avoid harm to living beings and meditate.

Thank you very much for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Goodbye.