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

Today we are going to be exploring Nibbana and the end of suffering, and my priority is to ensure that you successfully meet today's learning outcome.

Today's lesson outcome is, "I can explain Buddhist belief in Nibbana and the importance and influence of this belief for Buddhists today." To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five key words.

Bodhusattva, the eightfold path, nibbana, enlightenment, and samsara.

Bodhisattva is a being destined for enlightenment to postpone their final escape from samsara to help others.

The eightfold path is the fourth noble truth known as, "The Middle way." Nibbana is the liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, also referred to as Nirvana.

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

And samsara refers to the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Today's lesson on Nibbana and the end of suffering takes two parts.

So we are going to begin by learning about Buddhist beliefs about Nibbana, and then we are going to move on to the second part of our lesson, how belief in Nibbana influences Buddhists.

The term Nibbana has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit term, "Nirvana" Ni meaning out, and Bbana meaning to blow.

Nibbana can be interpreted to mean blow out or extinguish.

It means liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

And the belief is central to all Buddhist traditions, although there are different interpretations of the term.

The Buddhist first sermon known as, "Dhammacakkappavarrana Sutta" Or, "Setting in motion the wheel of Dhamma" Includes teachings on the four noble truths, the eightfold paths, and how to reach Nibbana.

Which of the following is the meaning of Nibbana? A, the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.

B, liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Or C, a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truth of existence.

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

Well done if you selected B.

The meaning of Nibbana is liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

The four noble truths help most Buddhists understand how to end suffering, "Dukkha".

This is essential to retain enlightenment and ultimately to achieve Nibbana.

The four noble truths are, one, life involves suffering (dukkha).

Two, the cause of suffering, (amudaya).

Three, the end of suffering, (nirodha).

And four, the path to end suffering, (magga) The fourth noble truth is the eightfold path, magga, also known as the middle way.

The eightfold path teaches the end of suffering, dukkha, and it also demonstrates to Buddhist how to achieve enlightenment, escape samsara, and reach Nibbana.

For most Buddhists, attaining enlightenment is only possible by following the eightfold path.

The eightfold path is right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right Mindfulness, and right concentration.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following noble truths is the path to end suffering (dukkha)? A, Nibbana.

B, magga.

C, nirodha.

Or D, samudaya.

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

Well done if you selected B, magga.

Linn, a Theravada Buddhist, explains her beliefs about Nibbana.

Linn says, "For me, Nibbana is the cessation or the ending of craving (tanha) and the three poisons, ignorance, hatred, and greed.

I believe that Nibbana is the end of suffering (dukkha), meaning I will have no more rebirths.

I will have escaped the cycle of samsara.

My goal is to attain enlightenment so I can reach Nibbana.

The Dhammapada is a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority, and most Buddhists will seek guidance from it.

In Dhammapada verse five, it says, "Hatred is never appeased (pacified) by hatred in this world.

By non hatred alone is hatred appeased.

This is a law eternal.

." What does this first teach Buddhists about showing compassion? And how does this first linked to Nibbana? Pause the video here and either with your partner or speak to me, or have some time to reflect on your own, I'd like you to think about the answers to those two questions.

Press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Welcome back everybody.

Well, hatred is one of the three poisons, the roots of suffering.

To avoid hatred, a Buddhist must instead show understanding and compassion.

This verse links with Nibbana because living with compassion helps a Buddhist to become enlightened, which is reaching Nibbana.

True or false? According to the Buddha, hatred is one of the main causes of suffering.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Hatred is one of the three poisons, and according to the Buddha, the three poisons are the root of all suffering.

Attachment to feelings of hatred will stop an individual attaining enlightenment and reaching Nibbana.

Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains her beliefs about Nibbana.

Tashi says, "My belief about Nibbana is in relation to Buddhahood and attaining enlightenment.

Nibbana is the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the realisation that all things are interconnected, known as dependent arising.

My goal is to attain Buddhahood so that I can show compassion and help others to do the same.

I want to postpone my own liberation until all beings are liberated from samsara.

True or false? Most Buddhists believe that samsara is the cessation of suffering and liberation from Nibbana.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Most Buddhists believe that Nibbana is the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and liberation from samsara.

So now we're at a point where we are going to complete our first practise tasks.

Izzy is explaining Buddhist beliefs about Nibbana.

Izzy says, "One Buddhist belief about Nibbana or Nirvana is that it is the cessation of suffering (dukkha).

Another Buddhist belief about Nibbana is that it means liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth." Izzy has not made reference to a Buddhist source of authority or developed her points.

You need to add to Izzy's answer to develop both points and refer to a Buddhist source of authority for one of the points.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Welcome back everybody.

Add to Izzy's answers to include a Buddhist source of authority and developed explanations, and your answers might be similar to these.

One Buddhist belief about Nibbana is that it is the cessation of suffering.

This is the end of craving (tanha) and the three poisons, ignorance, hatred, and greed.

In his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the Buddha taught the eightfold path.

This path demonstrates how to cease suffering.

Another Buddhist belief about Nibbana is that it means liberation from samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Once a Buddhist has achieved enlightenment, they can escape samsara and attain Nibbana.

Nibbana is the goal for many Buddhists.

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

So now we are moving on to the second and final part of our lesson on Nibbana and the end of suffering.

To consider how belief in Nibbana influences Buddhists.

Niti is a Theravada Buddhist monk, and Ting is a Mahayana Buddhist monk.

They discuss the importance of Nibbana.

Nit says, "The belief in Nibbana is important to me because it is my ultimate goal.

I believe that once I reach Nibbana, all of my suffering, (dukkha) will cease, leading to ultimate peace." Ting responds, "Nibbana is important.

However, my goal is to focus on helping others achieve enlightenment.

I will do this by following the Bodhisattva path and delaying myself escaping Samsara.

My goal is to ensure all individuals are enlightened first." What are the similarities and differences between Niti and Ting's ideas? Pause the video and have time to reflect on the similarities and differences between their ideas.

"As a Theravada Buddhist monk" Lucas asks, "How does the belief in Nibbana or Nirvana influence you, Niti?" Niti responds, "I'm influenced by my beliefs in Nibbana to follow the eightfold path or threefold way.

I believe that by living a life with the right ethics (sila) showing wisdom (panna) and practising meditation (samadhi) I will achieve enlightenment.

Once this is achieved, I can escape samsara, the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth and finally attain Nibbana." Linn, a Theravada Buddhist, explains how her belief in Nibbana influences her.

Linn says, "As a Theravada Buddhist, my focus is on the individual pursuit of Nibbana.

I'm influenced to meditate daily.

I aim to meditate at least 60 minutes a day, but this can be hard on the days when I have school.

I'm also influenced to be mindful of others.

I study the Buddhist Dhamma, his teachings to increase my wisdom." True or false? The goal for most Theravada Buddhists is to attain Nibbana.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Most Theravada Buddhists focus on attaining Nibbana, which is the cessation of suffering (dukkha).

Lucas says, "As a Mahayana Buddhist monk, how does a belief in Nibbana or Nirvana influence you, Ting?" Ting responds, "My belief in Nibbana influences me every day.

I aim to be a Bodhisattva, which is a person who believes this is important to help others achieve enlightenment just as much as reaching it themselves.

I'm influenced to practise the six perfections, also known as the paramitas, which include being generous and giving to others, meditation and having patience with all people." Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains how her belief in Nibbana influences her.

She tells us, "I also want to be reborn as a Bodhisattva.

I want to achieve enlightenment, but I want to stay in the cycle of samsara and help others reach enlightenment too.

I'm also influenced by the six perfections and always try to do the right thing by living a good ethical life, gaining wisdom, and showing compassion to all." True or false? The goal for most Mahayana Buddhists is to attain Nibbana.

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

Most Mahayana Buddhists aim to stay in the cycle of Samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment.

So now we're at a point where we are gonna check our understanding of how Nibbana influences Buddhists by completing a practise task.

You need to explain two ways that belief in Nibbana influences Buddhist today, and here is some guidance on how you might like to structure your answer.

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

Now it's always good practise to then develop that point, so you can develop your first point by explaining how this influence impacts a life of a Buddhist.

Now the question asks for two ways, so you need to give a second point, which could be given another influence a belief in Nibbana would have on a Buddhist, and then develop that second point.

So you would explain how this second influence impacts the life of a Buddhist.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, so welcome back.

You were asked to answer the question, "Explain two ways that belief in Nibbana influences Buddhists today." Your response might be similar to this.

Beliefs about Nibbana can influence most Buddhists to follow the eightfold path or threefold way.

A Buddhist may be influenced to live a life following the right ethics and to practise meditation daily.

This would increase their chances of reaching enlightenment, escaping Samsara and attaining Nibbana.

Beliefs about Nibbana can also influence Buddhists because they may want to delay escaping samsara by helping others achieve enlightenment.

This is achieved by being reborn as a Bodhisattva.

They would be influenced to practise the six perfections, which would mean showing compassion to all.

So then that brings us to the end of today's lesson on Nibbana and the end of suffering.

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

The eightfold path is the fourth noble truth.

The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta contains teachings on Buddhist beliefs included Nibbana.

Nibbana is liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and freedom from suffering (dukkha).

Most Buddhists believe that a person must achieve enlightenment to escape samsara and eventually reach Nibbana.

Some Buddhists want to delay reaching Nibbana by being reborn as a Bodhisattva and helping others achieve enlightenment.

And finally, most Buddhists are influenced by a belief in Nibbana, so they follow the eightfold path to achieve enlightenment.

Well done on all of your hard work in today's lesson, and thank you for joining me.