Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Ramalli, and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our unit on Buddhism: Beliefs and Teachings.

Today we are going to be exploring the Three Poisons as part of our learning on the Four Noble Truths.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the Three Poisons, why knowing how they cause suffering is important, and how this influences Buddhists today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are four key words, Three Poisons, ignorance, greed, and hatred.

Three Poisons are the causes of dukkha, suffering, that affect all beings, ignorance, greed, and hatred.

Ignorance is the inability to see things as they really are.

Greed is the attachment to material things and the ongoing selfish desire for more.

And hatred is a feeling of intense dislike, anger, and wishing others harm.

Today's lesson on the Four Noble Truths: the Three Poisons takes two parts.

First of all, we are going to begin with learning about the Three Poisons, and then we are gonna move on to consider their importance and influence on Buddhists today.

In Buddhism, the fundamental causes of suffering are referred to as the Three Poisons.

These are ignorance, hatred, and greed.

These are commonly symbolised by a pig representing ignorance, a snake representing hatred, and a cockerel representing greed.

The Three Poisons are illustrated on the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

Here you can see the Three Poisons at the centre of the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

They are positioned at the centre because they are seen as the forces that drive the wheel's motion and keep samsara turning.

True or false? The poison hatred is represented on the Tibetan Wheel of Life as a pig? Pause a video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The poison hatred is represented on the Tibetan Wheel of Life as a snake.

The pig represents the poison of ignorance.

Izzy asks, "As a Theravada Buddhist monk, Niti, how do you interpret the meaning of the Three Poisons?" Niti responds, "I interpret the Three Poisons as being the root of all suffering, dukkha.

They are seen as the forces that bind beings to samsara, which is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, perpetuating ignorance and attachment.

Overcoming these poisons is essential to break free from samsara and attain nirvana, which is the cessation of suffering." Izzy asks, "What about you Ting? As a Mahayana Buddhist monk, do you interpret the Three Poisons in the same way as Niti? Ting responds, "I also interpret the Three Poisons as being the root cause of suffering.

I believe they hide the Buddha nature in all of us.

I see my goal as overcoming the poisons by developing the opposite virtues.

So to overcome greed, I must develop generosity.

To avoid hatred, I cultivate compassion.

And to overcome ignorance, I must develop wisdom." True or false, all Buddhists interpret the Three Poisons in the same way? Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Most Buddhists believe the Three Poisons are the root of all suffering.

But interpretations vary across the different schools of Buddhism.

The Buddha taught that ignorance is the root of suffering.

This refers to a lack of understanding about the world, people, and the true nature of reality.

Most Buddhists believe that enlightenment can only be attained by overcoming ignorance and cultivating wisdom.

Ignorance causes suffering in many ways.

This includes ignorance of annica, to the teaching from the Buddha of impermanence.

So for example, suffering could be caused if a person is ignorant about anicca.

And they might become obsessed with wealth and possessions, not realising that these things are impermanent.

Suffering can also be caused with ignorance of anatta, so no self.

So if a person identifies strongly with their appearance and they don't understand they are ignorant about the teachings of anatta, then this may cause them to suffer.

And thirdly, ignorance of dukkha, suffering.

So if a person is in denial about the reality of suffering and pain in life, that could cause them to suffer.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

What do Buddhists mean by ignorance? A, a feeling of intense dislike, anger, and wishing others harm? B, the inability to see things as they really are? C, the attachment to material things and the ongoing selfish desire for more? Or D, the causes of dukkha that affect all beings, ignorance, greed, and hatred? Pause the video here and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected B.

What Buddhists mean by ignorance is the inability to see things as they really are.

Hatred causes suffering for the individual and those around them.

It can cause mental distress, for example, feelings of loneliness.

Hatred can also cause suffering through creating negative karma.

So for example, by speaking harmfully to another person, which could create negative karma.

Hatred can also cause relationship breakdowns, and this can cause feelings of suffering through separation.

The Dhammapada is a source of wisdom and authority for most Buddhists.

In Dhammapada verse five, it states, "Hatred is never appeased or pacified by hatred in this world.

By non hatred alone is hatred appeased.

This is a law eternal." What does this verse teach Buddhists about hatred? And how does this verse link to the Three Poisons? With your partner, have a discussion about those questions, or have some time to reflect on your own, or you could speak to me.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So what does this verse teach Buddhists about hatred and how does this verse link to the Three Poisons? Well, this first teaches Buddhists that peace and resolution come not from escalating conflict, but from responding to negativity with compassion and non-violence.

This links to the Three Poisons, because hatred is one of the poisons, showing that responding to hatred with more anger and hatred only creates more suffering.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

What do Buddhist mean by hatred? A, a feeling of intense dislike, anger, and wishing others harm? B, the attachment to material things and the ongoing selfish desire for more? Or C, the causes of dukkha that affect all beings, ignorance, greed, and hatred? Pause the video and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected A, a feeling of intense dislike, anger, and wishing others harm.

Greed also causes suffering in many ways.

It can cause conflict with others, it can cause cravings, a fear of loss.

Greed can be driven by selfishness.

Greed can lead to a lack of contentment.

And greed can lead to negative karma.

All of these are causes of suffering.

These are examples of how greed can cause suffering.

The Buddha taught in Dhammapada verse 39, "There is no fear for one whose thought is untroubled by faults, whose thought is agitated, who is freed from good and evil, who is awake." What does this first teach Buddhists? And how could you link this to the Three Poisons? Either on your own, spend some time reflecting on those two questions, or speak to your partner, or you can talk to me.

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

Okay, fantastic.

Welcome back, everybody.

So what does this verse teach Buddhists and how could you link this to the Three Poisons? Well, this verse highlights the qualities of a person who is free from the attachment of the Three Poisons.

The Three Poisons create fear and emotional turbulence.

By overcoming the Three Poisons, a Buddhist can live a life with inner peace.

True or false, the Three Poisons create emotional tranquillity? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The Three Poisons create emotional turbulence and fear, not emotional tranquillity.

So now we're gonna pause and complete our first practise task.

Use this diagram as a prompt to describe Buddhist beliefs about the Three Poisons, and here's some guidance that you might find beneficial to follow when answering this question.

So the guidance is to give two points and to develop each of your two points.

And for each part of your answer, you should include a range of religious/specialist terms. For at least one part of your answer, you should use a source of wisdom and authority.

This could be an exact or paraphrase quote or a general teaching from a named source.

You then need to accurately apply this to the point and question.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So your answers may look like this.

So the first point, one Buddhist belief about the Three Poisons is that they are the root cause of all suffering.

The Three Poisons are seen as the forces that bind beings to samsara and perpetuate ignorance and attachment.

Another Buddhist belief about the Three Poisons is that they should be avoided.

For example, hatred causes suffering for the victim, but also to the person being unkind.

They may suffer by obtaining bad karma caused by their actions.

In the Dhammapada the Buddha taught that "Hatred is never appeased by hatred." So Buddhists should avoid attachments to hatred and always show compassion.

So what you can see here, you have two points, each point is developed with use of specialist terminology and key terms. And there is also reference to a source of wisdom and authority, which is highlighted here in purple.

So here there's reference to the Dhammapada and the Buddha.

And the quote used has accurately been applied to the question.

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

So that moves us onto the second part of our lesson today where we are going to consider the importance and influence of the Three Poisons on Buddhists today.

Sofa asks, "Why is the belief in the Three Poisons important to you as a Buddhist, Linn?" Linn replies, "The Buddha taught that when people do not understand the Three Poisons, they become more attached to their cravings, tanha.

He said that this is why people get stuck in the cycle of samsara and cannot reach Nirvana.

It is important that I do not show ignorance.

So I study the Buddha's Dhamma, teachings, with members of the Sangha, at the Buddhist vihara." Sofia asks, "Tashi, why is the belief in the Three Poisons important to you as a Buddhist?" Tashi responds, "My belief in the Three Poisons is important because it influences me to overcome feelings of greed and hatred.

This belief influences me to meditate most mornings before I go to school.

Meditation helps me to feel calmer." True or false, many Buddhists will meditate daily to help eliminate the Three Poisons? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Meditation is a method used to help keep the mind calm and eliminate the Three Poisons, for example, hatred.

Roshan tells us how his belief in the Three Poisons influences him.

And here on the screen you can see an image of the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

And remember, the Three Poisons are there in the centre of that illustration.

Roshan tells us, "I have a copy of the Tibetan Wheel at home.

It serves as a reminder of the Three Poisons and how I must avoid ignorance.

I am influenced to avoid hatred and greed and to show compassion to others." Belief in the Three Poisons can influence many parts of a Buddhist's life.

To eliminate the Three Poisons they may perform meditation, visit the vihara or temple and connect with the Sangha, learn and follow the Buddha's Dhamma, the Dhamma is his teachings, and show compassion to others.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following is not a way to eliminate the Three Poisons? A, performing meditation? B, learning the Buddha's Dhamma? C, leading a busy life? Or D, connecting with the Sangha? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected C.

Leading a busy life is not a way to eliminate the Three Poisons.

So now we're gonna pause and complete our second practise task to check our understanding of the importance and influence of the Three Poisons on Buddhists today.

Alex has written an extended paragraph as part of an answer to the question, explain how a Buddhist might avoid the Three Poisons? Alex has written, "Most Buddhists want to avoid the Three Poisons because they believe it is important to avoid creating more suffering, dukkha, for themselves and others.

One of the Three Poisons is hatred.

In the Dhammapada it states, 'Hatred is never appeased or pacified by hatred In this world.

By non hatred alone is hatred appeased.

' As a consequence of this teaching, Buddhists might think is important to meditate on a daily basis.

This is in order to feel calmer and to be less likely to act with negative emotion such as hatred." You are now going to complete his answer by writing the second extended paragraph to the question, explain how a Buddhist might avoid the Three Poisons? You could use the guidance below.

So first of all, giving a point.

So recognising that other Buddhists will have a different perspective.

Develop that point, so for example, they may show this by.

Then refer to a source, so you could say it is supported by, and then name the source, state what it says, and what it shows, and link it to the belief.

And then lastly, reference why it is important.

So the importance of this belief is.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

So your answer may have included the following points.

Other Buddhists might have a copy of the Tibetan Wheel of Life.

This would act as an important reminder that the Three Poisons are the main causes of suffering, therefore, they are best avoided.

Ignorance is one of the Three Poisons and refers to a lack of understanding about the world, people, and the true nature of reality.

Most Buddhists believe that enlightenment can only be attained by overcoming ignorance and cultivating wisdom.

Many Buddhists will be influenced to study the Buddha's Dhamma, his teachings, with members of the Sangha by visiting the vihara and joining with the wider Buddhist community.

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

So that brings us to the summary of today's lesson of exploring the Four Noble Truths and the Three Poisons.

The Three Poisons are represented on the Tibetan Wheel of Life as greed, a cockerel, ignorance, pig, and hatred, snake.

Buddhist teachings say that the Three Poisons are the root of suffering, dukkha.

There are different Buddhist interpretations on how to respond to the Three Poisons.

The Buddha taught that hatred can only be overcome by showing compassion.

And the Three Poisons are important by influencing Buddhists, for example, to meditate daily and show compassion.

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

Goodbye.