Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli.

Thank you for joining me for today's lesson.

My priority is to ensure that by the end of today's lesson, you have successfully met the learning outcome.

Welcome to today's lesson on Buddhism beliefs, the concept of dependent arising.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain the concept of dependent arising and how it influences Buddhists today.

To help guide us through our lesson today, there are five keywords.

These words are dependent arising or Paticcasamuppada, kamma, nidanas, samsara and the Tibetan wheel of life.

Dependent arising or Paticcasamuppada is a belief that everything exists because other things do.

Everything is interconnected.

Kamma refers to the belief in cause and effect, intentions and actions will affect the future.

Nidanas are the 12 links of causation.

Samsara is the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

And the Tibetan wheel of life refers to a symbolic representation of the cycle of samsara.

So today's key lesson on the concept of dependent arising is going to take three parts, dependent arising, the Tibetan wheel of life, and how dependent arising influences Buddhists.

So let's begin by exploring the concept of dependent arising.

Dependent arising or Paticcasamuppada is a fundamental concept across all schools of Buddhism.

It is an important concept to fully understand the Buddha's Dhamma.

Dependent arising means a belief that everything exists because other things do.

Essentially everything is interconnected.

Think of dependent arising like a domino effect.

When you knock over the first domino, it causes the second one to fall, and then the third one and so on.

Each domino depends on the one before it to fall.

Every action is interconnected.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following terms means the concept of dependent arising in Buddhism? A, Dhamma, B, Paticcasamuppada, C, Arhat D, Boshisattva.

Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, welcome back, everybody and well done if you selected B as the correct answer.

So to explore this concept of dependent arising in more detail, I'd like you to imagine that you are looking at a plant just like the one here on your screen.

The plant didn't just appear outta nowhere, it grew because many things are interconnected in order to help it to grow.

So imagine it started as a seed.

It grows in the soil.

It needs sunlight as well to grow.

And it needs water to live.

This is dependent arising, showing how everything is interconnected.

Roshan, a Theravada Buddhist, explains why the Buddhist's Dhamma on dependent arising is important to him.

Roshan tells us, "Dependent arising is an important teaching to me because it helps me understand that everything is interconnected.

If I always gave into my cravings and regularly ate unhealthy food, I would become ill in old age and suffer.

This would affect my family and friends.

It would also affect people I don't yet know, like those working in hospital who would have to care for me.

My present actions are not in isolation." True or false? Dependent arising means that nothing is dependent or connected.

You have five seconds to choose a correct answer.

Okay, well done to everybody that said that statement is false.

Why is that statement false? Well dependent arising explains how everything is connected.

Everything is dependent on multiple causes and conditions.

So now we're in a position where we're gonna complete our first practise task.

So this practise task is on the Buddhist concept of dependent arising.

Sofia has made two points about dependent arising, and you need to develop both points.

You could use an example or evidence or an explanation to further develop your points.

So Sofia has said, "One Buddhist belief about dependent arising, Paticcasamuppada, is that all causes and conditions are interconnected.

A second Buddhist belief about dependent arising is that everything exists because of other things.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So in your answers for that practise task, you might have said the following points.

So one Buddhist belief about dependent arising or Paticcasamuppada is that all causes and conditions are interconnected.

So the development of this point could be, dependent arising is like a domino effect.

When one domino falls, it pushes another to fall and so on.

The second Buddhist belief about dependent arising is that everything exists because of other things.

The development of this could be a plant can only grow if the seed is planted in soil, watered, and has exposure to the sun.

The plant only exists because of all the other elements connecting together.

Well done on completing your first practise task.

So that moves us on the second part of our lesson on the concept of dependent arising by learning about the Tibetan wheel of life.

Dependent arising can also be understood by looking at the Tibetan wheel of life.

This image can be interpreted in many ways.

This wheel symbolises samsara and the 12 nidanas are shown on the outer circle.

They show links of causation and the process of birth, death, and rebirth.

According to the Buddhist's Dhamma, the 12 nidanas, or links in Buddhism, explain how suffering and the cycle of samsara keep going.

Imagine a chain where each link is connected to the next, showing how one thing leads to another.

The 12 links include matters of thoughts, feelings, and change.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding, which one of the following describes the nidanas? A, six links of causation that show the process of birth, death, and rebirth.

B, 10 links of causation that show the process of birth, death, and rebirth.

Or C, 12 links of causation that show the of birth, death, and rebirth.

You've got five seconds to choose your answer.

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

So here to further understand the 12 nidanas, I'm going to explain three of the 12 nidanas, and I'm gonna start with the concept of ignorance.

So ignorance means not understanding the true nature of life.

And this idea is about not understanding and seeing how things really are.

And as a consequence of ignorance, then mistakes can be made and suffering can be caused.

Another of the 12 nidanas is the idea of consciousness.

And by that, that means consideration around mental habits and how mental habits give rise to our awareness or consciousness.

And what this means is the way that people see the world starts to influence how they experience it.

So the way we see the world, shapes how we experience the world.

The third example is mental formations.

So mental formations are due to our ignorance in the way that we behave.

And the way that we behave shapes how we act and how we respond to the world.

Ultimately, ignorance is often the cause of our suffering.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

I would like you to give one example of the 12 nidanas.

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

Okay, welcome back.

So your answer should be one of the following points.

One example of the 12 nidanas is ignorance.

Or one example of the 12 nidanas is mental formations.

Or one example of the 12 nidanas is consciousness.

Okay, well done, everybody.

So the Buddhist teachings on kamma are also symbolised in the Tibetan wheel of life.

So the centre illustrations can also be interpreted in many ways.

One interpretation is that these individuals symbolise gaining good kamma.

So the people you can see in the outer circle here, the people are shown to symbolise having good kamma.

And that is shown because their actions affect their future by moving upwards on the wheel of samsara.

And by moving upwards, they are moving away from suffering and they are moving towards enlightenment.

And the images on the right hand side of that circle where these are, these images symbolise individuals who are gaining bad kamma.

So their actions affect their future by moving downwards in the circle of Samara.

And by moving downwards, this symbolises their increasing suffering and moving away from enlightenments.

So according to the Buddhist's Dhamma, people stay in the wheel of samsara due to their bad kamma.

And their bad kamma can be created by ignorance, by cravings, and by attachment.

True or false? Kamma means the belief in cause and effect, intentions and actions will affect the future.

You have got five seconds to decide if that statement is true or false.

Okay, and well done to everybody that said that statement is true.

Fantastic, well done.

So now we're at a point where we are going to complete our second practise task to check our understanding of the Tibetan wheel of life.

And here we have Lucas.

And Lucas has been asked to write an answer to the following statement.

The Tibetan wheel of life is an effective way to understand dependent arising.

He wants you to help by writing one of the paragraphs in his answer that supports the statements.

So in your answer, you should give reasoned arguments to support the statement and refer to Buddhist teachings.

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

Okay.

Welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers.

So the Tibetan wheel of life is an effective way to understand dependent arising.

That was the statement.

And your answer may include these points.

Many Buddhists would agree with this statement because they may argue that the illustrations help them better understand the concept of dependent arising.

It shows how everything is interconnected through the 12 nidanas.

This is important because these visual illustrations could help explain concepts that may be quite difficult to understand, especially to Buddhist children.

And that brings us onto the third and final part of our lesson today, which is how dependent arising influences Buddhists.

So Izzy asks, "At school, my RE teacher has asked me to explain how beliefs about dependent arising influence Buddhist today.

What does influence mean?" Alex responds, What you need to do is consider how the Buddhist Dhamma, or the teachings, on dependent arising might affect a Buddhist's thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

This might be how the teaching inspires or encourages a Buddhist to behave morally good.

Linn, a practising Buddhist explains how her beliefs on dependent arising influence her.

Linn says, "Dependent arising influences me because it has helped me realise that everyone is affected by their causes and conditions.

Rather than blaming others for their suffering or problems, I'm influenced to respond with kindness and compassion." True or force? A belief independent arising may influence a Buddhist to show compassion.

You've got five seconds to choose true or false for that statement.

And well done if you selected true.

Well, why is that statement true? Well, an understanding that everyone is affected by their causes and conditions may influence a Buddhist to show kindness and compassion.

Roshan tells us how his belief independent arising influences him.

Roshan says, "I have a copy of the Tibetan wheel at home and it serves as a reminder of the law of kamma and how my actions have consequences.

I am influenced to always be kind with my words and my actions." Tachi is a Mahayana Buddhist and she says, "I'm influenced by a belief in dependent arising because if I act with ignorance or hatred, it will impact others and cause them to suffer.

They may then take their suffering out on others, and my one wrong action can result in a negative chain of cause and effect.

Therefore, I'm influenced to create good kamma to increase my chances of achieving enlightenment." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following beliefs would influence most Buddhists? A, a belief in kamma.

B, a belief in God.

C, a belief that actions have no consequences.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody and well done if you selected A as the correct answer.

So now we are in a great position to check our understanding on how dependent arising influences Buddhists.

We're gonna complete our third and final practise task now.

I would like you to explain two ways a belief in dependent arising influences Buddhist today.

And here there is some guidance on how to answer that question.

So by making one point, you are going to give one belief and then you are gonna develop that point by explain explaining the influence and/or examples to develop that first point.

Because the question asks for two ways, you're going to give a second point.

So give a second belief about how dependent arising influences Buddhist.

And then you're gonna develop that second point by explaining the influence and I'll give an examples to develop your point.

Okay.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers.

So I asked you to explain two ways the belief in dependent arising influences Buddhist today.

Your answer may include these points.

One way a belief independent arising may influence a Buddhist is realising that everyone is shaped by causes and conditions.

This may influence them to always respond to others with greater kindness and compassion.

A second influence comes from the belief that acting out of ignorance or hatred will impact others and lead to suffering.

This would influence a Buddhist to want to generate good kamma, to increase their spiritual growth and chances of achieving enlightenment.

Well done on all of your hard work on the practise tasks.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the concept of dependent arising.

So what key points have we covered in today's lesson? So dependent arising or Paticcasamuppada is the belief that everything exists because other things do.

Everything is interconnected.

The Tibetan wheel of life is a symbolic representation of the of cycle of samsara.

The 12 nidanas in Buddhism explain how suffering and the cycle of samsara keep going.

And lastly, the teachings on dependent arising influence Buddhists to be kind and considerate in order to create good kamma.

Fantastic, thank you ever so much for joining me for today's lesson.