Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our unit on Buddism beliefs and considering suffering and its causes.

My priority for today's lesson is to ensure that you successfully meet the learning outcome.

Our outcome for today's lesson is I can explain different states of suffering, the causes of suffering, and how these influence Buddhists today.

To guide us through today's lesson, we have five keywords.

The ke words are dukkha, craving, the three poisons, anicca and tanha.

Dukkha refers to a belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness.

Craving is the ongoing state of desire which causes suffering, grasping at things that we enjoy or that we want.

The three poisons are the causes of dukkha that affect all beings, and these are ignorance, greed, and hatred.

Anicca is one of the three marks of existence, meaning nothing is permanent.

And tanha is a cause of suffering, meaning thirst or craving.

Today's lesson on suffering and its causes will take two parts.

So we're going to begin by learning about the states and causes of suffering, and then moving on to how these teachings on suffering influence Buddhists.

Dukkha is an essential concept within Buddhism and in English, it translates as suffering or unsatisfactoriness.

The Buddha left the palace and his life of luxury to search for the answer to the reasons people suffer.

Dukkha is one of the three marks of existence and the first of the Four Noble Truths.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the correct definition of dukkha? A, a belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness.

B, a cause of suffering, meaning thirst or craving, or C, causes of dukkha that affect all beings: ignorance, greed, and hate.

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

Well done to everybody that selected A as the correct answer.

Fantastic.

Well done.

After the Buddha became enlightened, he delivered a sermon to five ascetics in the Deer Park near Benares, now modern-day Varanasi in India.

The sermon is also known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta.

It is one of the most important teachings because it outlines core concepts, including the Four Noble Truths.

The Majjhima Nikaya is a collection of suttas in the Pali Canon, representing the Buddha's teachings.

Here it says, "What I teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering." And this is the Buddha in the Majjhima Nikaya, volume one, page 140.

What does cessation mean? And what can Buddhists learn from this quote? Pause the video here, and with your partner or on your own, take time to reflect what do you think cessation means and what can Buddhists learn from this quote? Okay, welcome back, everybody.

Great discussions and reflections.

Well, cessation means to stop or end.

And Buddhists learn from the Buddha's Dhamma is the truth of suffering and how to stop or overcome it.

At the sermon, Buddha spoke of seven states of dukkha.

One, birth, two, old age, three, sickness, four, death, five, sorrow and despair, six, contact with displeasing things and seven, not getting what you desire.

Okay, let's complete an explanation and check for understanding.

So the Buddha taught about seven states of dukkha.

Give one state of dukkha.

So, for example, you could say old age.

I would like you to give one state of dukkha.

So there were seven examples.

One has been given and I would like you to choose another one.

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

Okay, so you may have chosen not getting what you desire, but there are other possible answers too.

You may have said birth, sickness, sorrow and despair, contact with displeasing things and death.

In Buddhism, there are different types of dukkha.

Dukkha- dukkhata is suffering that is caused by physical and mental pain.

Viparinama-dukkha is suffering that's caused as a result of change and impermanence.

And samkhara-dukkha is dukkha that is caused by a person's attachments and cravings.

Buddhism teaches about fabrication, or sankhara, causes suffering.

Fabrications can be thought of as our mind, words and actions.

For example, our thoughts, emotions, and habits.

And these are our mental formations, and how we see ourself and the world.

These fabrications can cause suffering because they are often based on ignorance.

We don't see things as they really are.

These fabrications are impermanent.

And when people cling to the thoughts, this is what causes them to suffer.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following types of suffering is viparinama-dukkha? A, is caused as a result of change and impermanence.

B, it's caused by physical and mental pain.

Or C, it's caused by attachments and cravings.

Well done if you selected A as the correct answer.

The second of the Four Noble Truths is samudaya and this also explores the causes of suffering.

The Buddha taught that tanha is one of the main causes of suffering and links to cravings.

According to the Buddha, there are three types of craving: sense desires, desire to be something we are not, and a desire to get rid of something.

Sam, Sofia and Alex try to understand the different types of tanha.

Sam says, "Sometimes I crave chocolate.

What type of tanha is that?" Sofia replies, "Tanha is linked to your senses, taste and smell.

So that is a sense craving.

I crave to be famous." Alex says, "Craving to be famous is a desire to be something you are not.

I wish my foot would stop hurting me!" What type of tanha is Alex experiencing? Yes, well done, correct.

Alex is experiencing a type of craving to get rid of something.

True or false? "I wish I was taller" is an example of a sense desire.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

This example of tanha is a desire to be something they are not.

Dukkha, or suffering, is caused by mental or physical pain.

So an example of that would be bullying.

Impermanence or anicca.

So, for example, if a person is attached to a home, a property that they live in, and then they have to move, that can cause them to suffer.

And the ideas of attachment.

So for example, if somebody goes on holiday, and they have a wonderful time, when they get back home, they may experience holiday blues, and they may long to be back on holiday.

And that attachment to that feeling and that emotion can be a cause of dukkha, suffering.

Linn is a Theravada Buddhist and she explains the importance of breaking the habit of craving.

Linn tells us, "My goal is to achieve enlightenment so I can break free from samsara and reach nibbana, the state of liberation, peace and happiness.

Being in samsara is what causes me to suffer.

The Buddha taught that when people have a pleasant feeling, they become attached to it or an unpleasant feeling makes them want to escape it.

These responses are what leads to dukkha." True or false? According to Buddhist Dhamma, attachments cause dukkha and keep people in the cycle of samsara.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

According to some Buddhists, the three poisons, as featured on the Tibetan Wheel of Life, are the main causes of suffering.

The three poisons are ignorance, greed, and hatred.

How do you think ignorance, greed, and hatred can cause suffering? Pause the video here.

With your partner, spend some time discussing that question or perhaps on your own taking time to reflect or speaking to me.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

Andeep is unsure how the three poisons cause suffering.

He asks Sofia, Lucas and Aisha for their views.

Andeep says, "I'm unsure how the three poisons cause suffering.

What do you think?" Aisha says, "I think greed makes people steal and causes the victims to suffer." Lucas says, "Ignorance is a lack of understanding and causes greed and hatred." And Sofia says, "Hatred causes devastation, like war and death." This is how the three poisons can cause suffering.

Some Buddhists would argue that the main causes of suffering are the three poisons as shown on the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

These people in the cycle, these trap people in the cycle of samsara and prevent them from achieving enlightenment.

And here we can see that on the Tibetan Wheel of Life, the three poisons are there at the centre of the circle.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the correct definition of the three poisons? A, a belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness.

B, a cause of suffering, meaning thirst or craving.

Or C, causes of dukkha that affect all beings: ignorance, greed, and hatred.

Well done to everybody that selected C as the correct answer.

The correct definition of the three poisons are causes of dukkha that affect all beings: ignorance, greed, and hatred.

So now we're in a good position to complete our first practise task.

Sam has started to plan how she would respond to this statement.

"For Buddhists, craving is the main cause of suffering." Evaluate this statement.

In your response, you should refer to Buddhist teachings, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view and reach a justified conclusion.

Help Sam by adding an argument to support and an argument for a different point of view.

Remember, you need to use Buddhist teachings.

Pause the video here.

Good luck completing the practise task, and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, time to check your answers.

So you were given the statement, "For Buddhists, craving is the main cause of suffering." Your answers might be similar to this.

So an argument to support the statement.

There are three main types of tanha, including sensory desires and a desire to be something they are not.

If Buddhists stop craving, then they eliminate suffering.

Some Buddhists believe that if they can eliminate tanha from their lives, then they are already halfway to achieving enlightenment.

An argument for a different view.

Some Buddhists would argue that the main causes of suffering are the three poisons: greed, hatred and ignorance.

These trap people in the cycle of samsara and stop them reaching enlightenment.

Some Buddhists might argue that physical and mental pain is the main cause of suffering.

People cannot escape certain kinds of pain.

For example, physical pain, such as illness and death.

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

So that moves us on to the second part of our lesson, how teachings on suffering influence Buddhists.

Jun says, "As a Buddhist, Roshan, how are you influenced by the Buddhist teachings on suffering?" Roshan responds, "The teaching on tanha influences me to lead a simpler lifestyle.

I try to minimise my material possessions.

I believe in anicca, the impermanent nature of all things.

Material possessions only bring temporary satisfaction and there is pressure to acquire more and more things, which I believe can lead to stress and dissatisfaction." Linn is a Theravada Buddhist living in the UK.

She explains how the teachings on suffering influence her.

"I'm influenced to not always give into tanha, my sensory cravings, although this can sometimes be a challenge.

I love the taste and smell of freshly baked bread, and I know that having too much isn't healthy for me.

I believe if I can stop cravings, I could be halfway to becoming enlightened." True or false? Tanha means the cause of suffering, meaning thirst or craving.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

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

They discuss how they are influenced by the teachings.

Niti says, "I'm influenced by trying to avoid the three poisons.

I believe that ignorance is the cause of all suffering and it is what keeps people from escaping the cycle of samsara." Ting responds, "I agree with you.

It is also important to remember anicca, that nothing is permanent and therefore, I shouldn't get attached to thoughts or feelings.

I know these are always changing and attachments can cause suffering.

This is how it influences me." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following is not a way Buddhists would be influenced by Buddhist teachings on suffering? A, avoid attachments to cravings.

B, being attached to emotions, for example, greed.

C, living a simple lifestyle.

Or D, avoiding the three poisons.

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

Well done if you selected B as the correct answer.

So now we're onto our second and final practise task for today's lesson.

The teachings on suffering are important for Roshan, Linn, Ting and Niti.

For each influence they have said in the table below, you need to add an explanation.

So Rohan says, "Teachings on craving influence me to lead a simple lifestyle.

This is because.

." Linn says, "Teachings on tanha influence me to reduce my sensory cravings.

This is because.

." Ting, "The teaching of anicca influences me to not get attached to my thoughts and feelings.

This is because.

." And lastly, Niti says, "The teachings influence me to avoid the three poisons.

This is because.

." Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So for each influence in the table below, you needed to add an explanation and your answers may look like this.

So Roshan had said, "Teachings on craving influence me to lead a simple lifestyle.

This is because material possessions only bring temporary satisfaction." Linn says, "Teachings on tanha influence me to reduce my sensory cravings.

This is because stopping cravings can help me achieve enlightenment." Ting says, The teaching of anicca influences me to not get attached to my thoughts and feelings.

This is because of anicca, nothing is permanent and attachments cause dukkha." And lastly, Niti had said, "The teachings influence me to avoid the three poisons.

This is because ignorance is the root of suffering and will keep me on the wheel of samsara." Well done, everybody.

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

So here are the key points of learning from our lesson today.

The sermon at Benares was a teaching point used by the Buddha to help people understand dukkha or suffering.

The Buddha taught seven states of dukkha.

Tanha and the three poisons are causes of dukkha.

Change and impermanence, anicca, are also significant contributors to the suffering we experience.

And lastly, the Buddha's teachings on the causes of dukkha influence buddhists, for example, to stop cravings.

Well done on all your hard work in today's lesson.

Thank you for joining me.