Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli.

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

I will be guiding you through your learning today and my priority is to ensure that you successfully meet the learning outcome.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain the importance of meditation to many Buddhists.

To help guide you through your learning today, there are five keywords.

They are Buddha statue, mantra, mala beads, meditation, and mandala.

The Buddha statue is a representation of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

Mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.

Mala beads are beads used to aid meditation.

Meditation is a practise of focusing and clearing the mind.

And mandala is a Buddhist image used to symbolise the world.

You can use these keywords to help your understanding throughout today's lesson.

Today's lesson on "Buddha: meditation" takes two parts.

First of all we're gonna explore "Why is meditation important to Buddhists?" followed by "Which aids support Buddhist meditation?" So let's begin with the first part of our lesson.

In order to understand why meditation is important in Buddhism, we first need to know what meditation is.

What do you think of when you hear the term meditation? And what links can you make to the photograph on your screen? Pause the video, have a discussion with your partner, and then press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

Fantastic discussions.

You might have said meditation is not thinking.

People sitting in silence and sitting up straight.

Well, meditation is a practise that involves focusing and clearing the mind to achieve a calm and focused state.

Meditation is not thinking of anything, and that is very difficult.

Buddhists from all over the world practise meditation.

They do this to follow the example of the Buddha.

Buddhists believe that the Buddha achieved enlightenment through the practise of meditation.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and complete a check for our understanding.

What is meditation? A, focusing actions to achieve a calm and focused state.

B, focusing the body to achieve a calm and focused state.

Or C, focusing the mind and body to achieve a calm and focused state.

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

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

Well done if you selected C as the correct answer.

Meditation is focusing the mind and body to achieve a calm and focused state.

Linn and Tashi are both practising Buddhists.

They have a Buddhist worldview.

They discuss their reasons for meditating.

Linn says, "My family meditate every day.

In meditation, I'm able to let my mind settle.

It helps me deal with craving and worrying.

I become aware of the present moment rather than the past or future.

It allows me to feel insight into impermanence.

The Buddha taught that this was the path to enlightenment." So why is meditation important to Linn? You can pause the video here and either have a discussion with your partner or perhaps you'd like to write down your answers.

Press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, now let's consider why for Tashi meditation is important.

Tashi says, "My family meditates to cultivate feelings of love and kindness.

Meditation is hard sometimes, especially when I'm tired or distracted, but it gives me a great sense of calm and happiness.

I feel connected to all beings.

We also want to follow the Buddha's example and hope to achieve enlightenment." So why is meditation important to Tashi? And can you identify how it is similar or different to what meditation means to Linn? Pause the video here and either have a discussion with your partner to answer the questions or write your answers down.

Press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, great work, everyone.

Well done.

Now let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select the two reasons why meditation is important to many Buddhists.

A, it follows the example of the Buddha.

B, it is the way to remain in the cycle of rebirth.

C, it allows the mind to settle and brings a sense of peace.

So remember, you need to select two reasons for this check for understanding.

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

Okay, welcome back, and well done to everybody that selected A and C.

Two reasons why meditation is important to many Buddhists is because it follows the example of the Buddha and it allows the mind to settle and brings a sense of peace.

Linn, a Buddhist, and David, a Christian, explain some similarities between meditation and prayer.

Linn says, "In meditation, I focus on my breathing or repeating a special mantra.

It quiets my mind and makes me feel more peaceful.

Is that similar to when you pray?" David replies, "When I pray, I may ask God for help.

I also need to focus so that my mind doesn't wander.

Praying also makes me feel more peaceful." Linn, a Buddhist, and David, a Christian, explain some of the differences between meditation and prayer.

Linn says, "When I meditate, I sit quietly.

Focusing on my breathing helps to clear my mind and relax." David responds, "When I pray, I speak to God.

I may share my thoughts, give thanks, or ask for help.

Sometimes I pray out loud and other times in silence." Okay, let's pause for a moment and check you've understood what you have just heard.

Select a feature of meditation.

A, focusing on speaking to God.

B, focusing on breathing.

C, focusing on repeating prayers.

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

Okay, well done to everybody that said B.

Focusing on breathing is a feature of meditation.

Okay, so now we are in a good position to complete our first practise task.

I would like you to answer these questions using a reason or explanation to develop your answers.

Number one, what is meditation? Number two, give three reasons why meditation is important to Buddhists.

Three, give one way that meditation differs from prayer.

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

Okay, welcome back.

So for the practise task your answers may include the following points.

Number one, meditation is a practise that involves focusing the mind and body to achieve a calm and clear state of mind.

Number two, meditation is important for Buddhists because, A, it follows the example of the Buddha; B, it is the way to achieve enlightenment and escape the cycle of rebirth; C, it cultivates love and kindness and can bring calm and peace.

And for number three, meditation differs from prayer because meditation doesn't necessarily involve God.

Well done on all your hard work on the practise task.

So now we're moving on to the second part of our lesson on meditation, "Which aids support Buddhist meditation?" When Buddhists meditate, they will often have a Buddha statue as a focal point.

These can be in a Buddhist home or a vihara.

There is examples here on your screen for you to see.

Linn reflects on why she uses a Buddha statue for meditation.

Linn says, "As a Buddhist, I use a Buddha statue to focus during meditation.

Placing it in front of me is a visual reminder of the Buddha's wisdom and enlightenment.

The Buddha statue helps me focus and stay calm whilst I meditate." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding, true or false? Buddha statues can help Buddhists meditate by helping them imagine what Buddha looked like.

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

Okay, well done to everybody that said that statement is false.

Why is that statement false? Well, a Buddha statue can be used to help focus during meditation.

Many Buddhists may use mala beads during meditation, and mala beads may help Buddhists to focus as they count each bead and repeat a mantra.

In the photograph on your screen you can see an example of mala beads.

A mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.

True or false? Mala beads can be used to aid meditation.

Well done to everybody that said true.

Why? Well, mala beads can be used when repeating mantras and to maintain focus during meditation.

Tashi explains how she uses mala beads.

Tashi says, "I use my mala beads when I meditate.

I hold one bead at a time between my fingers while repeating a mantra.

As I move through the beads, it helps me stay focused and keep track of my meditation." Tashi shares one of the mantras she may use during meditation.

"One of the most important mantras that I repeat is the three refuges.

I say: I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, and I take refuge in the Sangha.

This means that I look towards the Buddha, his teachings, and the Buddhist community if I need help or support.

Using the mala beads helps me concentrate when I repeat this mantra." Okay, let's pause for a moment and complete a check for our understanding.

Which aid would not be used in Buddhist meditation, A, B, or C? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, well done if you selected image B.

So the image of the cross would not be used in meditation for Buddhists.

A mandala is an image used to symbolise the world.

It is usually a circle with patterns that repeat in a beautiful way.

Buddhists often use mandalas in meditation to help them focus.

So how might a mandala help aid meditation? Well, it can help stay focused by giving the mind something to concentrate on.

It may help a Buddhist feel balanced and centred, reminding them that everything is connected.

And the repeating patterns could be calming, making a Buddhist feel more relaxed.

Okay, so which aid might be used by Buddhists to repeat mantras? A, Buddha statues; B, mala beads; C, mandalas.

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

Okay, well done if you selected B, mala beads.

Mala beads might be used as an aid by Buddhists to repeat mantras.

Okay, so now we're in a good position to complete our second practise task.

I would like you to use this image as a prompt to explain how Buddhists use aids to support meditation.

You should make reference to Buddha statues, mala beads, and mandalas in your answer.

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

Okay, welcome back, well done on completing your practise task.

So I asked you to use this image as a prompt to explain how Buddhists use aids to support meditation.

You should make reference to Buddha statues, mala beads, and mandalas in your answer.

So your answer may include the following points.

A Buddha statue can be used during meditation as a visual reminder of the Buddha's wisdom and enlightenment.

Mala beads may be used as an aid when repeating mantras.

This can help with remaining focused during meditation.

A mandala may be used as a visual aid and a reminder that everything is connected.

Fantastic, well done on all your hard work completing the practise task today.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on "Buddha: meditation." So what key points have we covered in today's lesson? Meditation is a practise of focusing and clearing the mind.

Most Buddhists meditate to follow the example of the Buddha.

Most Buddhists meditate in order to achieve enlightenment.

Meditation is important as a way to cultivate feelings of love and kindness.

There are similarities and differences between meditation and prayer.

And aids such as a Buddha statue, mala beads, or a mandala may be used to support meditation.

Thank you very much for joining me for your RE lesson today, goodbye.