Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Ramalli, and welcome to today's lesson, which forms part of our unit on Buddhism beliefs.

Today's lesson, we are going to explore the human personality in Theravada tradition, and my priority is to ensure that today you successfully meet the learning outcome.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain the Theravada Buddhist belief in the human personality and how this influences Theravada Buddhist today.

To guide us through today's lesson, there are five keywords.

They are form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

Form refers to the physical form, which includes the physical elements and physical organs.

Sensations are the feelings that arise from our sense organs.

Perception is how we perceive the world, the meaning we put onto what we experience.

Mental formations are the mental activities which lead a person to actions and produce karma and consciousness is a state of being aware of something.

Today's lesson on the human personality in Theravada tradition takes two parts.

So we're going to begin by learning about the Theravada beliefs about the human personality, and then we will move on to consider how these beliefs influence Buddhists.

Theravada is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism.

It is known as the school of the elders.

Theravada Buddhism is practised by the majority of people in Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.

Theravada Buddhism is often considered the traditional or orthodox form of Buddhism.

It might be characterised by requiring greater emphasis on the practise of the Dhamma, including taking refuge in the Three Jewels and a commitment to the Eightfold Path.

To reach Nirvana, Theravada Buddhists believe that we need to follow the Eightfold Path.

This can be practised as a lay person or as a monastic.

However, the structure of life of a monastic allows for more time and favourable conditions.

True or false? All Theravada Buddhists are monks or nuns.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Some Theravada Buddhists may choose to become a monk or nun.

The structure of life of a monastic allows for more time and favourable conditions.

Lucas says, "In my RS lesson, we are learning about what makes a person human.

As a Theravada Buddhist, what do you believe, Roshan?" Roshan replies, "I believe the Buddha taught humans are made up of five parts.

These parts are called the Five Aggregates or the Five Skandhas.

These five parts are always changing.

I believe that humans have no fixed-self.

And in Buddhism, this belief is known as anatta." Most Theravada Buddhists believe the Buddha taught the human personality consists of Five Aggregates.

This teaching can be found in the Khanda Sutta.

The Five Aggregates are form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, sometimes referred to as sense consciousness.

True or false? There are four Aggregates or Skandhas.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

There are Five Aggregates: form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

The first of the Five Aggregates is form or rupa.

This is the physical form, which includes the physical elements and the physical organs.

So form refers to the organs that make up our body.

So for example, our heart, our lungs, and kidneys.

The second of the Five Aggregates is feelings or sensation or vedana.

These could be neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant feelings or sensations.

These could be physical or emotional.

So for example, it could be feeling physical pain when falling over, but it could also include mental pain as well.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the Five Aggregates means form? A, the feelings that arise from our sense organs, B, the ability to distinguish between different objects that we experience through our senses, or C, the physical form, which includes the physical elements and physical organs? Well done if you said that C is the correct answer.

The Aggregate of form refers to the physical form, which includes the physical elements and physical organs.

The third of the Five Aggregates is perception or sanna.

This is how we perceive the world, the meaning we put onto what we experience.

This is how people recognise things based on previous experiences and memory.

So for example, recognising that something is a car and knowing that it's a car, it's because you have seen one before.

The fourth of the Five Aggregates is mental formations or sankara.

These are mental activities which lead a person to create their own world and then act or speak based on this which produces karma.

This can include a person's thoughts, opinions, and attitudes based on their likes and dislikes.

Okay, let's just complete a check for understanding to ensure that you've understood what we've just heard.

Which one of the Five Aggregates means perception? A, mental activities which lead a person to actions and produce kamma? B, this is how we perceive the world, the meaning we put on what we experience? Or C, the state of being aware of something? Well done if you selected B as the correct answer.

The Aggregate perception is how we perceive the world and the meaning we put on what we experience.

And the fifth of the Five Aggregates is consciousness or vijnana.

This refers to the state of being aware of something.

This includes awareness in general and the world around them.

The Five Aggregates interact with each other.

Here is an analogy of a cake to explain.

First of all, you have the form.

So imagine that is eating the cake using your mouth and your teeth.

Number two, sensation.

So eating the cake brings feelings of pleasure or maybe you don't like the cake and it brings feelings of disgust.

Moving on to three, the perception.

So you recognise that it's a cake because you have seen cake before.

Number four, mental formations.

You form an opinion of the cake and if you want to eat more.

And five, consciousness is your awareness arising when you see or eat the cake.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Theravada Buddhism teaches the Five Aggregates.

Give one of the Five Aggregates.

So the example here is form.

Can you give another one of the Five Aggregates? Okay, you may have said sensation, but other possible answers include perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

Well done.

Roshan explains what the Five Aggregates teach him.

Roshan tells us, "They teach me that what we think of as ourselves is really just a collection of different parts that are always changing.

There is no permanent or fixed self.

And everything is temporary and constantly shifting." The Dhammapada is a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority, and most Buddhists will seek guidance from it.

In the Dhammapada verse 113, it says, "Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live as a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things." What might this verse teach Buddhists and how does this verse link to the Five Aggregates? Pause the video here.

Have some time on your own to contemplate the answers to those questions or perhaps speak to your partner.

Press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So I ask you to consider what might this verse from the Dhammapada teach Buddhist and how does this verse link to the Five Aggregates.

Well, the verse could be interpreted to mean that it is better to live just one day with the awareness of the impermanent nature of all things, than to live a hundred years without this wisdom.

This verse links to the Five Aggregates because it highlights the impermanent nature of all things.

True or false? The Five Aggregates demonstrate there is no fixed self known at Buddhism as anatta.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

The Five Aggregates demonstrate that what people think of as self is a collection of different parts that are always changing.

So now, we're gonna move on to complete our first practise task.

You need to explain two Buddhist beliefs about the Five Aggregates.

In your answer, refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer.

So here's some guidance that you might like to follow when writing your response.

So give two points and develop each one and for one of the points, name and use a source and explain what it says or teaches.

This might be a quotation, for example, from the Dhammapada or a general belief or teaching of the Buddha.

Good luck completing the first practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So I asked you to explain two of the Five Aggregates.

Your answer may look something like this.

One of the Five Aggregates is sensation or vedana.

These are feelings that arise from our sense organs.

This can be the feelings or sensations that occur when someone comes into contact with things.

These could be physical or emotional.

Another one of the Five Aggregates is perception or sanna.

This is the ability to distinguish between different objects that we experience through our senses.

In the Dhammapada, it teaches, "Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live as a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things." This demonstrates the importance of understanding the impermanent nature of all things: no self.

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 on the human personality in Theravada tradition by exploring how these beliefs influence Buddhists.

Lucas asks, "As a Theravada monk, how does belief in the Five Aggregates influence you, Niti?" Niti replies, "They shape the way I understand the nature of non-self, anatta.

I contemplate the impermanent nature of all things, anicca.

I'm influenced to avoid attachments and cravings.

Instead, I focus on cultivating mindfulness and following the Eightfold Path.

I believe this will help me reach my goal to break free from the cycle of samsara and reach Nibbana." Linn, a Theravada Buddhist explains how her belief in the Five Aggregates influences her.

Linn tells us, "I'm influenced to focus on sensation when I meditate.

I practise mindfulness by observing feelings as they arise.

I note whether my feelings are pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.

By recognising my feelings are impermanent, it influences me to avoid attachment to feelings of pleasure or avoid feelings of discomfort." True or false? The Five Aggregates influences most Theravada Buddhists to avoid attachments.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

The Five Aggregates teach the impermanent and non-self nature, and this helps avoid attachments because they are aware of the changing nature of all things.

Roshan, who's also a Theravada Buddhist, explains how his belief in the Five Aggregates influence him.

He tells us, "One of the ways that I am influenced is by having awareness of my feelings.

I want to avoid feelings of anger, greed, or fear because they cause suffering, dukkha.

This would impact my mental formations, ideas about the world.

I do this to reduce my chances of responding negatively with my words or actions which could create bad kamma.

True or false? The Five Aggregates represent a self or a soul that are permanent or fixed.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The Five Aggregates are constantly changing and none of them are permanent or fixed.

So now, we are in a strong position to complete our second practise task.

I would like you to explain two ways that belief in the Five Aggregates influences Buddhists today.

Here is some guidance on how to set out your answer.

So first of all, you would give one influence of a belief in the Five Aggregates and what that influence would have on a Buddhist.

And you would develop that first point by explaining how this influence impacts the life of a Buddhist.

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

So give another influence a belief in the Five Aggregates would have on a Buddhist, and then develop that by saying and 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.

Time to check your answers.

So you answered the question, explain two ways that beliefs about the Five Aggregates influences Buddhist today.

Your response may be similar to this.

Beliefs about the Five Aggregates can influence Theravada Buddhists to avoid attachments and cravings.

They would do this to help them reach their goal to be free from the cycle of samsara and reach Nibbana.

Beliefs about the Five Aggregates can also influence Theravada Buddhists to be aware of their feelings like anger, greed, or fear to avoid negative mental formations.

Mental formations can cause suffering, dukkha, and create bad kamma, which they would want to avoid.

Fantastic.

Well done on completing the second practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson and a summary of our learning on human personality in Theravada tradition.

Theravada is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism and is known as the school of the elders.

The Buddha taught that humans are made up of five parts.

These parts are called the Five Aggregates or the Five Skandhas.

The Five Aggregates are form, sensation, perception, mental formation, and consciousness, sometimes referred to as sense consciousness.

The Five Aggregates or Skandhas are constantly changing and none of them are permanent or fixed.

And lastly, Theravada Buddhists are influenced by the Five Aggregates to avoid attachments and cravings.

Well done on all your hard work for today's lessons.

Thank you for joining me.

Goodbye.