Lesson video

Hello, my name is Miss Ramalli, and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our unit on Buddhism Beliefs and Teachings.

Today's lesson, we're gonna focus on The Four Noble Truths, but specifically the last of the noble truths, which is the Eightfold Path.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the Eightfold Path, why it is important, and how it influences Buddhists.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five key words, the Eightfold Path, which is also known as Magga.

Enlightenment, The Four Noble Truths, Nirvana and Dhammapada.

The Eightfold Path, also known as the Middle Way, includes a way to wisdom and mental training.

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

The Four Noble Truths are an important part of the Buddhist teachings explaining the truth about existence.

Nirvana is the liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and Dhammapada is a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority.

So in our lesson today on The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, it takes two parts.

So we're going to begin by learning about the Eightfold Path and then we move on to consider the importance and influence of the Eightfold Path.

The final Noble Truth is called the Eightfold Path or magga.

It is also known as The Middle Way.

The Buddha taught to live in moderation between extreme paths.

He had lived a life of luxury in the palace and extreme poverty as an aesthetic.

Neither of these had helped him achieve enlightenment.

Linn, a Theravada Buddhist, introduces the Eightfold Path.

Linn says, "The Eightfold Path outlines the way to end suffering, dukkha.

It is the Buddhist Dhamma that shows the path of training.

It focuses on how to live a good moral life and emphasises the importance of meditation and developing wisdom of Dhamma.

I follow this to help me achieve enlightenment, escape samsara, and reach nirvana." Let's complete a check for understanding.

What do Buddhists mean by the Eightfold Path? A, it's also known as The Middle Way.

It includes a way to wisdom and mental training.

B, the causes of dukkha that affect all beings, ignorance, greed, and hatred.

Or C, an important part of the Buddhist teachings explaining the truth about existence.

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

Well done if you selected A, also known as the Middle Way, it includes a way to wisdom and mental training.

Buddhists might look to a source of authority to find out more about important teachings like the Eightfold Path.

In Dhammapada versus 190 to 191, it states, "He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, penetrates wisdom, The Four Noble Truths, suffering, the cessation of suffering and the noble Eightfold Path leading to the cessation of suffering." What does this verse teach Buddhists about The Eightfold Path? Pause the video here and either by yourself have some time to reflect or with your partner, discuss what you think this verse teaches Buddhists about the Eightfold Path.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Welcome back everybody.

So what do you think this verse teaches Buddhists about the Eightfold Path? What it teaches that through understanding The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, Buddhists can end their suffering.

The Eightfold Path consists of eight stages that must be carried out simultaneously.

So the idea of this is that they're carried out together.

You don't need to perfect one stage before moving on to another.

So the eight stages consists of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.

True or false, through understanding The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, Buddhists can end their suffering.

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

Well done if you selected true.

Through understanding the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, Buddhists can end their suffering.

The eight stages show Buddhist the path to attaining enlightenment.

Right understanding is understanding the Buddha's teachings or also known as the Buddhist Dhamma.

For example, The Four Noble Truths.

Right intention is adopting the right mindset and determination to follow the Eightfold Path.

Right speech is speaking honestly and positively whilst avoiding gossip and lies.

Right action is acting peacefully, avoiding stealing and causing harm to others.

Buddhists will look to the teachings of the Buddha to know how to behave.

In the Dhammapada verse 1, it states, "If a man speaks or acts with an evil, thought, pain follows him, as a wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage." What can a Buddhist learn from this verse about how to behave and speak? Pause the video here and either on your own, take time to reflect or with your partner, discuss the answer to that question.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, welcome back everyone.

So what can a Buddhist learn from this verse about how to behave and speak? Well, a Buddhist learns that if they act or speak with negative or malicious thought, suffering will inevitably follow them.

This could be interpreted as the law of karma that all actions have consequences.

Let's complete a check for understanding, what do Buddhist mean by the right intention? A, understanding the Buddha's teachings, especially The Four Noble Truths.

B, acting peacefully, avoiding stealing and causing harm to others.

C, speaking honestly and positively whilst avoiding gossip and lies, or D, adopting the right mindset and determination to follow the Eightfold Path.

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

Well done if you selected D.

Adopting the right mindset and determination to follow the Eightfold Path is what Buddhists mean by right intention.

The next stages of the Eightfold Path are right livelihoods, which is about earning a living that does not harm or exploit others and right efforts.

So putting effort into meditation and freeing your mind of negativity.

Right mindfulness is about being aware of your thoughts and feelings and those of others, and right concentration is developing the mental focus needed for meditation.

Linn explains how she integrates the Eightfold Path into her life.

Linn says, "The Eightfold Path isn't a set of steps to be followed in a linear order.

It is more like a guide that can be practised simultaneously.

Some aspects of the path are interconnected and support each other.

Buddhists don't have to master one step before moving on to another.

Instead, they work on all aspects together gradually.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

What do Buddhists mean by the right concentration? A, putting effort into meditation, freeing your mind of negativity.

B, earning a living that does not harm or exploit others.

C, being aware of your thoughts and feelings and those of others, or D, developing the mental focus needed for meditation.

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

Well done if you selected D as the correct answer.

Developing the mental focus needed for meditation is what Buddhists mean when they refer to right concentration.

So we're going to pause here and complete our first practise task of today's lesson.

Jacob has written part of a response to the following task.

Describe Buddhist beliefs about the Eightfold Path.

Jacob has said, The Eightfold Path is the fourth of the Noble Truths, also known as The Middle Way.

In the Dhammapada, it teaches that through understanding The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, Buddhists can end their suffering.

This is important in helping Buddhists to understand how to achieve enlightenment and reach Nirvana.

You need to complete the next part of the response with another belief about the Eightfold Path and includes a source of wisdom and authority and accurately apply this to your point about the Eightfold Path.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Welcome back everybody.

So Jacob has written part of a response to the following task.

Describe Buddhist beliefs about the Eightfold Path.

You were asked to complete the next part of the response and include the source of wisdom and authority and accurately apply this to your point about the Eightfold Path.

Your response might be similar to this.

Another Buddhist belief about the Eightfold Path is that it gives guidance on ethics and how to behave.

For example, one of the steps is right speech.

This means speaking truthfully in a helpful, positive way, avoiding lying or gossiping about others.

In the Dhammapada it says, "If a man speaks or acts with an evil, thought, pain follows as the will follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage," which shows how to behave, and that there is a consequence to speaking negatively.

Fantastic, 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, The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path while learning about the importance and influence of the Eightfold Path.

Izzy asks, "As a Theravada of Buddhist Linn, why is the Eightfold Path important to you?" Linn replies, "The Eightfold Path is important because the Buddha taught it as the way to develop wisdom and mental training.

I need to follow all of the stages to attain enlightenment.

I want to achieve this so that I can escape samsara and reach Nirvana to be liberated from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth." Linn explains how her beliefs are influenced by the Eightfold Path.

Linn says, "The Eightfold Path influences how I live my entire life.

I study the Buddhist Dhamma.

This reminds me to be mindful of how I speak to others.

I always try to be polite even when someone is rude to me, which isn't always easy.

I also meditate daily to help improve my concentration, mindfulness and wisdom.

These stages are all interconnected.

I don't have to perfect one before moving on to another.

It is not a linear path.

True or false.

The stages of the Eightfold Path are not interconnected.

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

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The stages of the Eightfold Path are interconnected, but there is no need to master one before moving on to practise another.

The stages can be carried out simultaneously.

Izzy asks, "What about you, Tashi? As a Buddhist, why is the Eightfold Path important to you?" Tashi tells us, "The Eightfold Path is important to me because it gives guidance on how I should behave.

This is because in the Dhammapada, it warns if a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows.

This verse shows it's important to avoid harmful words and actions.

I do this to help reduce suffering, dukkha, for myself and others." Tashi explains how her actions are influenced by the Eightfold Path.

"One of the ways that I'm influenced by the Eightfold Path is to be mindful of the thoughts and feelings of others.

I try my best to listen when I'm in class and avoid talking over my teacher.

I don't always get this right, but I try hard to always show compassion." True or false? Right speech includes avoiding harmful words and not telling lies.

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

Well done if you said true.

Right speech does include avoiding harmful words and not telling lies.

Izzy asks, "What about you, Roshan? As a Buddhist, why is the Eightfold Path important to you?" Roshan responds, "The Eightfold Path is important for me because it helps me better understand the Buddhist Dhamma and increases my wisdom.

This is important because I must understand how to reduce my attachments and eliminate suffering." Roshan explains how he's influenced by the Eightfold Path.

"One way that I'm influenced by the Eightfold Path is thinking about what job I want to do when I leave school.

The step right livelihood influences me to get a job and earn a living that does not cause harm to others.

This means choosing a job where I can show kindness and compassion." Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of these may be a way that Buddhists are influenced by the Eightfold Path.

A.

They choose a job that avoids causing harm to others.

B, they lie and spread rumours, or C, they avoid meditation.

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

Well done if you selected A as the correct answer.

Time to complete our second practise task.

The table below contains points about the importance of the Eightfold Path for Buddhists.

So there are three points of importance.

The Eightfold Path gives guidance on how to develop wisdom of the Buddhist Dhamma and how to attain enlightenment.

The Eightfold Path provides principles on how Buddhists should behave, and the Eightfold Path teaches Buddhists how they can reduce suffering, dukkha.

Complete the table by explaining how these beliefs about the importance of the Eightfold Path can influence Buddhists today.

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.

Time to check your answers.

So you asked to complete the table by explaining how the beliefs about the importance of the Eightfold Path can influence Buddhists today.

You could have included the following points.

So for the first point, the Eightfold Path gives guidance on how to develop wisdom of the Buddhist Dhamma and how to attain enlightenment.

You may have said most Buddhists will meditate daily.

Meditation helps improve concentration, mindfulness, and wisdom of the Dhamma.

Second point, the Eightfold Path provides principles on how Buddhists should behave.

An influence could be most Buddhists will aim to speak positively and truthfully.

This includes avoiding lying, gossiping, and spreading rumours.

And lastly, the Eightfold Path teaches Buddhists how they can reduce suffering.

An influence of this belief could be most Buddhists will earn a living that does not cause harm to others.

And this means choosing a job where they can show kindness and compassion.

Fantastic, well done on all of your hard work today completing the practise tasks.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson, The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Here are our key learning points for today's lesson.

The final Noble Truth is called the Eightfold Path, or Magga, also known as the Middle Way.

The teachings on the Eightfold Path are found in the Dhammapada.

The Eightfold Path consists of eight stages to be carried out simultaneously.

Many Buddhists will follow the Eightfold Path as a way to achieve enlightenment, escape samsara, and reach Nirvana.

And finally, the Eightfold Path influences Buddhists to lead a good ethical life where they meditate daily, speak positively and earn a living that avoids harming others.

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

Goodbye.