Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli, and thank you for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Today's lesson forms part of our unit on Buddhism and beliefs, and we're going to be exploring the human personality in the Mahayana tradition.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the Mahayana Buddhist belief in the human personality, why it is important, and how it influences Buddhist today.

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

Mahayana, sunyata, Buddhahood, Buddha-nature.

Mahayana, literally means Greater Vehicle, sunyata literally translates as emptiness, Buddhahood is reaching enlightenment, and Buddha-nature refers to the nature of all beings, which means that all beings can become enlightened and reach Buddhahood.

So today's lesson on the human personality in Mahayana tradition takes two parts.

So we're going to begin by learning about the Mahayana beliefs on the human personality, and then we move on to consider the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Mahayana means Greater Vehicle, and this school of Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment for the sake of all beings.

Mahayana Buddhism is practised by the majority of people in China, Tibet, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Mahayana Buddhism includes Tibetan, Pure Land, and Zen Buddhism.

Many Mahayana Buddhists aim to become enlightened, but they delay nibbana to help teach enlightenment to others.

Many Mahayana Buddhists believe in the concepts of sunyata, Buddha-nature, and attaining Buddhahood.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following concepts are important in Mahayana traditions? A, attaining Buddhahood, B, sunyata, C, nibbana, can be referred to as nirvana, and D, Buddha-nature.

We're looking for three concepts for this answer.

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

Well done if you selected A, B, and D as the correct answers.

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

So sunya, meaning empty or void, and the ta is a quality or state of being, which is equivalent to the English term ness.

So sunyata can be interpreted to mean emptiness.

Sunyata can be understood as meaning that everything depends on something else.

This links to the Buddhist belief in dependent arising or paticcasamuppada.

The five aggregates or skandhas that make up a human are seen as empty, and sunyata can be understood as being very similar to anatta, the belief in no self, which is one of the three marks of existence.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

What is the meaning of sunyata? A, reaching enlightenment, B, a being destined for enlightenment who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings, or C, emptiness.

Well done if you selected C as the correct answer.

Tashi is a Mahayana Buddhist, and she explains the meaning of sunyata.

Tashi says, "Imagine a soap bubble.

At first, it seems real and solid, but when it pops, it disappears, leaving nothing behind.

Sunyata is like realising that everything in life is a bit like that bubble.

It might seem solid, but it's not as permanent as it appears." Ting, a Mahayana Buddhist monk explains his belief in sunyata.

Ting says, "I believe everything in life is constantly changing.

Nothing is permanent.

Sunyata is about understanding that nothing stays the same forever.

Sunyata may be seen as a rewording of anatta.

There is no fixed or unchanging self or soul inside us.

We are made up of thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are always changing, and there's no unchanging me at the core." Mike is a British Mahayana Buddhist and works as a scientist.

He further explains the meaning of sunyata.

Sunyata is a belief that everything in the world is interconnected.

Just as we are made up of countless tiny cells and atoms, the world around us is interconnected in a web of causes and effects.

Sunyata encourages us to see the connections between all things.

Now let's use the analogy of a chair to consider and understand the nature of Sonata.

So here we have on our screen an example of a chair.

Now, the idea of the chair is that there is no fixed self or essentially essence that forms the chair because the chair is made up of many different parts.

All of those parts are interrelated and interconnected.

So essentially it relies on all parts to actually function as a chair.

This chair is not permanent, so at some point, the chair can get damaged and broken, and it will no longer be used and considered as a chair.

Essentially, the chair is empty of independent existence.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following does not explain sunyata? A, emptiness, B, everything is permanent, C, there is no fixed self, or D, everything is interconnected.

Well done if you selected B as the correct answer, the idea of Buddha-nature or tathagatagarbha is particularly important in Mahayana Buddhism.

It translates from the Sanskrit word tathagatagarbha.

Tathata, one who has come garter, gata, the one who has gone, and garbha, womb or embryo.

The Buddha achieved enlightenment and became the one who has gone, but he stayed to help others, so he's also the one who has come.

Therefore to tathagata refers to the Buddha.

Buddha-nature is the concept that every individual carries the essence or nature of a Buddha within themselves.

This means that all beings can become enlightened and reach Buddhahood.

An individual's Buddha-nature can be obscured by ignorance, cravings, and attachments to the material world.

When a person fully grasp the Buddha's Dhamma teachings, they achieve Buddhahood, and this will reveal the Buddha-nature that has always been present.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

What is the meaning of Buddha-nature? A, reaching enlightenment, B, a being destined for enlightenment who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings, or C, the nature of all beings, which means that all beings can reach Buddhahood.

Well done if you said the correct answer that the meaning of Buddha-nature is C.

So it's the nature of all beings, which means that all beings can reach Buddhahood.

In Buddhist scripture, the analogy of bees and honey is used to describe Buddha-nature, tathagatagarbha.

Buddha-nature is like honey that is encircled by a swarm of bees.

The honey is sweet and desirable, but cannot be accessed due to the bees.

The only way to taste the honey is to remove the bees.

Similarly, a person must eliminate distraction such as cravings, desire, and attachments to attain Buddhahood.

The Parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra.

One day, a fire broke out in the home of a wealthy man who had many children.

The man shouted to his children inside the burning house, urging them to flee.

However, the children were so engrossed in their games that they didn't pay attention to his warning even as the flames spread.

In response, the wealthy man came up with a clever plan to get the children to leave the house.

Knowing they loved interesting toys, he called out, "Listen, outside the gate are the carts you've always dreamed of, carts pulled by goats, carts pulled by deer, and carts pulled by oxen.

Come out and play with them.

He knew these would be irresistible to them.

The children excited by the idea of these new toys eagerly ran outside, but instead of the carts he had mentioned, the father presented them with a cart far more magnificent than any they had imagined.

One draped in precious stones and drawn by white bullocks.

The key was that the children were saved from the dangers of the burning house.

In this parable, the father symbolises the Buddha, and the sentient being, which are living beings with consciousness, represent the children trapped in the burning house.

The burning house stands for the world consumed by the fires of ageing, sickness, and death.

The Buddhist teachings are akin to the father's attempt to guide the children away from temporary pleasures towards a far greater joy, nibbana.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following sutras contain the Parable of the Burning House? A, the Heart Sutra, B, the Lotus Sutra, or C, the Diamond Sutra.

Well done if you said the correct answer is B, the Lotus Sutra.

So now we're going to pause and complete a practise task.

Aisha is explaining Mahayana Buddhist beliefs about the human personality.

She says, one Mahayana Buddhist belief about the human personality is sunyata, which translates as emptiness.

Another Mahayana belief is Buddha-nature, which means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood.

Aisha has not made reference to a Buddhist source of authority or developed her points.

I would like you to add to Aisha's answer to develop both points and refer to a Buddhist source of authority for at least one of her points.

Good luck, pause a video here, and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay.

welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers for the first practise task.

Your answer might be similar to this.

One Mahayana belief about the human personality is sunyata, which translates as emptiness.

This belief relates to the human personality because it acknowledges that our thoughts, feelings, and experiences are always changing.

There is no permanent or fixed self.

Another Mahayana belief is Buddha-nature, which means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood.

The Parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra teaches the importance of an individual eliminating distractions, including temporary cravings and desires.

Once they do this, they can realise their true Buddha-nature.

So here you can see both of the points have been developed and a source of authority has been referred to by referencing the Parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra.

So that brings us onto the second and final part of our lesson on human personality and Mahayana tradition to consider the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Ting and Mike discuss the importance of the Mahayana belief in the human personality.

Ting says, "The beliefs are important to me because they show me how to attain the state of Buddhahood.

This is my ultimate goal because I want to help others achieve enlightenment too." Mike says, "Yes, the teachings on sunyata also important.

They help me realise the true nature of reality.

It is important to not get fixated on the body changing as we age.

Sunyata teaches me there is no fixed self.

I'm better living in the moment." Aisha asks, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, Tashi, how is the belief in the human personality important to you?" Tashi replies, "The beliefs are important to me because I believe that we all have the essence of the Buddha within us.

It is important I recognise that Buddha-nature so I avoid distractions and attachments.

True or false? Most Mahayana Buddhists will want to get attached to the self because it is permanent.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Most Mahayana Buddhist will avoid getting attached to the self because of the teachings on sunyata.

The self is not fixed and it is impermanent.

Aisha asks, "Tashi, how does your belief in the human personality influence you?" Tashi, says, "The belief in sunyata influences me to let go of my attachments.

I try hard not to feel down if I experience negative emotions like anger or frustration.

I remember that these feelings are fleeting and are not permanent, and I know that I will soon feel happier again." Mike explains how he's influenced by the teachings on the human personality.

Mike says, I believe that anyone can achieve Buddhahood.

The concept of Buddha-nature encourages me to practise meditation daily and to prioritise showing compassion and generosity to others.

True or false? Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that anyone can achieve Buddhahood.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Most Mahayana Buddhists believe we all have the essence or nature of the Buddha within us.

Okay, so now we're gonna pause and complete our second practise task.

I would like you to explain two ways that beliefs in the human personality influences Buddhist today.

Here's some guidance that you might like to use to help structure your answer.

So starting with your first point, give one influence a belief in the human personality would have on a Buddhist, and then develop that point by explaining how this influence impacts the life of a Buddhist.

The question asked for two ways, so you need to give a second point.

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

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

Okay.

Welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers.

So I ask you to answer the question, explain two ways that beliefs in the human personality influences Buddhists today, and your response might be similar to this.

Beliefs about the human personality can influence many Buddhists to avoid attachments to negative feelings and emotions.

The teaching on sunyata demonstrates that there is no fixed self, and the feelings are fleeting and will eventually change.

Beliefs about the human personality can also influence Buddhist to recognise the Buddha-nature within all.

This may influence them to meditate daily and show compassion to attain Buddhahood.

Okay, so now that brings us to the end of today's lesson and the summary of our learning on human personality Mahayana tradition.

Mahayana means Greater Vehicle and includes Tibetan, Pure Land, and Zen Buddhism.

Sunyata is a belief that everything in the world is interconnected and means emptiness.

Sunyata links to anatta, there is no fixed or permanent self.

Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that all people can attain Buddhahood and reach enlightenment.

Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that all beings have the essence of Buddha within them, known as Buddha-nature.

And finally, the Mahayana teachings on the human personality influence Buddhists to avoid attachments, meditate daily, and show compassion.

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

Goodbye.