Lesson video

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

In today's lesson, we're going to be learning about "Human Destiny: The Arhat and Bodhisattva Ideals." And my focus for today's lesson is to ensure that you successfully meet the learning outcome.

Okay, let's begin.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain Buddhist beliefs on human destiny and how these beliefs influence Buddhist today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are four key words.

Our key words for today's lesson are enlightenment, human destiny, Bodhisattva, and Arhat or Arahant.

Enlightenment is a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence.

Human destiny refers to the path a Buddhist will take to achieve enlightenment.

Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, this means an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment.

And an Arhat or Arahant is a perfected person.

And in Theravada Buddhism, this is a term for a person who has become enlightened.

Today's lesson on human destiny, the Arhat and Bodhisattva ideals takes three parts.

So we're going to begin by learning about Theravada beliefs about Arhats.

Then moving on to Mahayana beliefs about Bodhisattvas and finishing with how these beliefs about human destiny influence Buddhists.

So in Buddhism, human destiny refers to the path that a Buddhist will take in order to achieve enlightenment.

So for Theravada Buddhism, the Arhat path and then in Mahayana Buddhism is the Bodhisattva path.

The Arhat or Arahant path may also be referred to as the Hinayana or lesser vehicle.

As the term lesser can carry negative implications, the Arhat path is more commonly known as Theravada, which means teachings of the elders.

The goal for most Theravada Buddhists is to become an Arhat.

The term Arhat has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language.

So Arha meaning merit or deserving.

So Arhat in Sanskrit or Arahant in Pali, refers to a perfected person.

So this is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence, and they have attained enlightenment.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the meaning of Arhat.

A, a perfected person, so a person who has become enlightened.

B, an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment or C, literally greater vehicle.

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

Well done if you selected A.

The meaning Arhat is a perfected person.

This is a person who has become enlightened.

Lucas asks, "As a Theravada Buddhist monk, what do you believe about our Arhats, Niti?" Niti responds, "I believe an Arhat has reached a point of a complete awakening.

The underlying flow of life driven by the three poisons, greed, hatred, and ignorance comes to an end.

I believe that any anxieties, feelings of desire or insecurities about lacking things, or wanting more all come to rest.

This is the spiritual path that I want to take too." Lucas continues, "How does a Buddhist become an Arhat? What do they need to do?" Niti replies, "I believe in order to become an Arhat, you must commit to the practise of the Eightfold Path, also known as a Threefold Way.

So wisdom, panna, ethics, sila, and meditation, samadhi." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Select two beliefs that are true about Arhats.

A, they have achieved enlightenment.

B, they will be reborn in samsara or C, they commit to practising the Eightfold Path.

You've got five seconds to select the two beliefs that you think are true about Arhats.

Well done if you selected A and C.

Arhats have achieved enlightenment and they commit to practising the Eightfold Path, well done.

So now we are gonna complete our first practise task.

Izzy says, "Demonstrate your understanding of the Theravada beliefs about Arhats." Develop each of the following points: An Arhat is a perfected person that.

Theravada Buddhist believe that the Arhat path is important because.

The Arhat path may also be known as the Hinayana, which means.

And become an Arhat, you must.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Now we're gonna check our answers for the first practise task.

So your answers may look like this: An Arhat is a perfected person that has achieved enlightenment.

Theravada Buddhist believe that the Arhat path is important because it enables an individual to escape samsara, the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth and reach nibbana.

The Arhat path may also be known as the Hinayana, which means lesser vehicle.

And finally, to become an Arhat, you must commit to the practise of the Eightfold Path and Threefold Way.

Wisdom, panna, ethics, sila, and meditation, samadhi.

Fantastic.

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

So now we're gonna move on to the second part of our lesson, Mahayana beliefs about Bodhisattvas.

An alternative path to take is that of the Mahayana tradition.

The Mahayana or great vehicle goal is to become a Bodhisattva.

Many Mahayana Buddhists strive to follow the Bodhisattva path.

The term Bodhisattva has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language.

Bodhi, meaning perfect knowledge and sattva, meaning essence.

So Bodhisattva can be interpreted to mean a person whose essence is perfect knowledge.

This is an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment.

True or false? The goal of most Mahayana Buddhists is to be an Arhat.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The goal of most Mahayana Buddhists is to be a Bodhisattva.

This is an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment.

Lucas asks, "As a Mahayana Buddhist monk, what do you believe about Bodhisattvas, Ting?" Ting replies, "Bodhisattvas are beings who choose to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others achieve enlightenment.

Bodhisattvas seek to end suffering for all beings, not just themselves.

I aim to be a Bodhisattva.

I have taken the Bodhisattva vow to show my commitment to this path." Many Mahayana Buddhists will take the Bodhisattva vow to show compassion for all.

However, innumerable sentient beings are, I vow fail to save them.

What does this vow teach about the path of the Bodhisattva? Pause the video here and with your partner, or you could speak to me, or have some time to reflect on your own, what do you think this vow teaches about the path of the Bodhisattva? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So one thing this vow teaches about the path of the Bodhisattva is that no matter how many people there are, an individual is committed to liberating all living beings from suffering and guiding them towards enlightenment.

That is the Bodhisattva vow.

That is one of the interpretations of this vow.

Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist explains her beliefs about Bodhisattvas.

She tells us, "I believe a Bodhisattva can become transcendent, not just earthly.

They are beings who have realised enlightenment, but who remain active in the world.

I believe they can appear in different forms to help others and to lead them to enlightenment.

In my tradition, Bodhisattvas have great status.

Sometimes I pray to Bodhisattvas in times of need." Tashi tells us about the popular Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara.

"Avalokitesvara is a popular Bodhisattva.

He represents a quality of compassion.

Many Buddhists visualise him when meditating to develop their own sense of compassion." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Select three correct beliefs about Bodhisattvas.

A, they have achieved enlightenment.

B, they have yet to achieve enlightenment.

C, they aim to help others achieve enlightenment.

And D, they remain active in the world.

So remember, you're looking for three correct beliefs here.

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

Well done if you selected A, C and D as your correct answers.

So time to complete our second practise task.

So you need to tick whether each belief is linked to a Theravada or Mahayana Buddhism.

So the goal is to become Arhat.

The goal is to become a Bodhisattva.

They aim to end suffering for all beings, not just themselves.

They take the Bodhisattva vow and reaching in enlightenment means that the three poisons, greed, hatred, and ignorance come to an end.

Good luck completing this practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Let's check your answers for the practise task.

So the goal is to become an Arhat is a belief linked to Theravada Buddhism.

The goal is to become a Bodhisattva is linked to Mahayana Buddhism.

They aim to end suffering for all beings, not just themselves, is a belief in Mahayana Buddhism.

They take the Bodhisattva vow, which is also a belief in the Mahayana Buddhism.

And lastly, reaching enlightenment means that the three poisons, greed, hatred, and ignorance come to an end.

And that is a belief linked to Theravada Buddhism.

Fantastic, everybody.

Well done.

So that brings us on to the third and final part of our lesson, well, how do these beliefs that we've learned about human destiny influence Buddhists? June asked, "As a Theravada monk, Niti, how are you influenced by the beliefs in human destiny?" Niti says, "My beliefs influenced me to follow the spiritual path to become an Arhat.

I believe in order to achieve this, I must follow in the footsteps of the first five months who became Arhats.

I must practise the steps of the Eightfold Path.

I believe this is key to helping me achieve enlightenment and reach my goal, nibbana, and the end of suffering, dukkha." Linn, a Theravada Buddhist, explains how her beliefs influence her.

"To become an Arhat, I'm influenced to focus on my own pursuit of attaining enlightenment.

This will enable me to attain my goal and reach nibbana.

To achieve this, I must overcome the three poisons, greed, hatred, and ignorance.

I'm influenced to study the Buddhist Dhamma and avoid attachments to negative emotions such as hatred." True or false? The goal for most Theravada Buddhists is to become an Arhat to attain nibbana.

Okay, well done if you said that statement is true.

Most Theravada Buddhists focus on attaining nibbana, which is the cessation of suffering or dukkha.

Lucas asks, "As a Mahayana monk, Ting, how are you influenced by the beliefs in human destiny?" Ting responds, "My belief in human destiny influences me everyday.

I aim to be a Bodhisattva.

I want to remain in samsara, the cycle of birth, deaths and rebirth to help others achieve enlightenment.

I'm influenced to practise the six perfections or paramitas, which include being generous and giving to others, meditation and having patience with all people." Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist explains how her beliefs about human destiny influence her.

Tashi tells us, "I'm influenced to practise the six perfections or paramitas.

I try hard to practise the six key qualities in my life, generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom.

I must also be charitable and show kindness and care towards others.

I do this to achieve my goal of being reborn as a Bodhisattva." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Choose two ways Mahayana Buddhists may be influenced by their beliefs.

A, it encourages them to be uncharitable.

B, it encourages them to be patient.

And C, it encourages them to be generous.

Remember, you're looking for two ways here for this answer.

Well done if you selected B and C.

Mahayana Buddhist are influenced by their beliefs and that encourages them to be patient and generous.

Okay, so time for our third and final practise task.

I would like you to answer the question, explain two ways that the belief in human destiny influences Buddhist today.

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

So first of all, giving your point, which would be give one influence a belief in human destiny would have on a Buddhist.

And it's always good practise to develop your points.

So this would be, explain how this influence impacts a life of a Buddhist.

The question asked for two ways so you would give a second point.

So give another influence, a belief in human destiny would have on a Buddhist, and then develop that second point by explaining how this influence impacts a life of a Buddhist.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So I asked you to have a go answering this question.

Explain two ways that the belief in human destiny influences Buddhist today.

So your response might be similar to this.

The belief in human destiny may influence many Theravada Buddhists to become an Arhat, meaning a perfected person.

They would therefore be encouraged to practise the steps of the Eightfold Path in order to achieve enlightenment and reach their goal of nibbana.

The belief in human destiny may also influence many Mahayana Buddhists to strive to be reborn as a Bodhisattva and help others to achieve enlightenment.

They would therefore be encouraged to develop the qualities of the six perfections, including generosity and patience.

Fantastic.

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

So that brings us to the end of our lesson on Human Destiny: The Arhat and Bodhisattva Ideals.

And here are the key points that we have covered in today's lesson.

The goal of human destiny for many Theravada Buddhists is to become an Arhat.

An Arhat is a perfected person, and this is a term for a person who has achieved enlightenment.

The goal of many Mahayana Buddhist is to be reborn as a Bodhisattva.

A Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment.

A Theravada Buddhist may be influenced to practise the steps of the Eightfold Path in order to achieve enlightenment.

And a Mahayana Buddhist may be influenced to help others achieve enlightenment by practising the six paramitas or the six perfections.

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

Well done on all of your hard work.

Goodbye!.