Lesson video

Hello, I'm Ms. Romali, and thank you for joining me for today's RE lesson.

I'll be guiding you through our learning today and my priority is to ensure you successfully meet our learning outcome.

Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

By the end of today's lesson, the outcome is to explain the meaning of dharma and the different ways it is interpreted by Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Let's begin.

In today's lesson, to support your learning, there are four key words, Hindu dharma, Buddhist dharma, Sikh dharma, and pluralism.

Hindu dharma refers to the true essence of all living things.

Buddhist dhamma refers to the teachings of the Buddha, Sikh dharma refers to living with a good moral code and honouring God, and pluralism refers to the view that there are many ways to experience the divine.

(mouse clicking) We have two parts to today's lesson on dharma and pluralism.

We're gonna begin with the first part, dharmic religions and their interpretation of dharma.

(mouse clicking) Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhi are often referred to as dharmic religions or dharmic worldviews.

They all originated in the Indian subcontinent and share key religious concepts, particularly the idea of dharma.

(mouse clicking) The dharmic religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhi share similar concepts such as dharma, karma, and reincarnation or rebirth.

(mouse clicking) Let's reflect on what you've just heard.

We're going to have a go at this quiz question.

Which one of these is not a shared belief amongst dharmic religions? Is it A, rebirth, B, karma, C, dharma, or D, heaven? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said D, heaven.

Heaven is not a shared belief amongst dharmic religions.

Well done.

(mouse clicking) dharma is a key concept in all three dharmic religions.

The word dharma comes from the ancient Indian language called Sanskrit.

It means to hold, sustain, or support.

In Buddhism, the Pali term dharma is used.

(mouse clicking) Dharma includes ideas of religious practise, performing duty, and doing good deeds.

(mouse clicking) It is interpreted differently in each of the religions.

(mouse clicking) Okay, let's pause and check your understanding of what you've just heard.

True or false? The word dharma is interpreted in the same way in each dharmic religion.

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

Well done if you said false.

(mouse clicking) Dharma includes ideas of religious practise, performing duty, and doing good deeds.

It is interpreted differently in each dharmic religion.

Well done.

(mouse clicking) To help you understand this idea of dharmic religions and their different interpretations of dharma, we've given you this example here of a tree.

And from the picture, you can see that Hindu dharma is symbolised by the roots of the tree.

And this is because the Hindu religion is the oldest of the dharmic religions.

The Hindu dharma is the foundation of the other dharmic religions, just like the roots are the foundation and holding up that tree.

Buddhist dhamma and Sikh dharma have their roots in Hindu dharma.

So, Buddhist dhamma and Sikh dharma have grown from Hindu dharma.

And just like a tree, the dharma is the roots, and it has adapted, and it's changed over time, which is why you have the different interpretations of dharma amongst the three dharmic religions.

(mouse clicking) So, for Hindus, the word dharma is complex.

It doesn't have a simple translation.

It is the true essence of all living beings.

For most Hindus, to follow dharma is to act with compassion and in balance with those around you.

Dharma is flexible, depending on the situation.

So, a person's dharma may change as they move through life.

(mouse clicking) And there's a quote there, it says, nothing is ever lost in following one's own dharma.

If you'd like to pause the video and have a think, maybe a discussion about your understanding of that quote.

Okay, welcome back and well done on those thoughts and discussions.

So, this quote here from the Bhagavad Gita, which is a key Hindu text, is really highlighting the importance of an individual to really follow their own dharma.

Not the dharma of anybody else, but their own dharma.

Well done.

Let's move on.

Reflect on what you have just heard.

Which of these statements describe dharma for most Hindus? Is it A, dharma is fixed? B, dharma is flexible? Or C, dharma means acting from compassion? Or D, a person's dharma is the same for their whole lives? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Excellent and well done if you selected B, and C.

Dharma is flexible for Hindus and it means acting from compassion.

Fantastic, well done.

(mouse clicking) So, now we're going to have a look at Buddhist dhamma and how Buddhist dhamma is interpreted.

Buddhist dhamma refers to the teachings of the Buddha.

These teachings include the Three Jewels and the Four Noble Truths.

Buddhist dhamma also includes key beliefs and practises that support the path to enlightenment.

And here is a quote from the dhammapada, the Buddhist holy text, regarding the importance of following the dhamma.

It states, he who drinks deep the dhamma lives happily with a tranquil mind.

So, pause the video, have a think or discussion about your understanding of that quote.

Fantastic, welcome back.

So, the quote here from the Dhammapada is really highlighting this idea of Buddhists who absorb the Buddha's teachings.

The teachings such as the Three Jewels and the Four Noble Truths are going to live happily with a peaceful and calm mind.

Well done if you said something similar.

So, let's check our understanding of what we've just heard.

True or false? Buddhist dhamma refers to the teaching of the Buddha.

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

Well done to those that chose the answer true.

Buddhist dhamma includes the Three Jewels and the Four Noble Truths, which are the teachings of the Buddha.

Fantastic, well done.

So now we can consider the meaning of dharma in Sikhi.

In Sikhi, dharma can refer to the practise of living with a good moral code.

Dharma can mean honouring God or Waheguru, the most widely used term for God by many Sikhs.

Sikh dharma also includes teachings of the gurus and supports justice, equality, and honest living.

Let's consider this quote here, which is taken from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text.

Here it states, the faithful are firmly bound to the dharma.

I'd like you to think about or discuss your interpretation.

What do you think that quote is saying about the importance of dharma in Sikhi? If you'd like to pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, fantastic.

Welcome back.

Well done on the thinking and the discussions, all the discussions.

So, this quote, the faithful are firmly bound to the dharma.

So really highlighting there that those who believe in God are really committed to following the dharma.

Fantastic, well done.

So, let's have a moment here to pause and check on what we've just heard.

Which one of these does not describe how many Sikhs interpret dharma? Is it A, honouring God, or Waheguru? B, the Four Noble Truths? Or C, living with a good moral code? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, fantastic, well done on that.

So, which one of these does not describe how many Sikhs interpret dharma? Well done if you selected B, the answer was the Four Noble Truths.

So now I think we're in a good position to check our understanding of the first part of the lesson on dharmic religions and dharma.

Explain the different ways dharma can be interpreted by Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

There are some starter sentences here that you might like to use to help.

Most Hindus interpret dharma as, most Buddhists interpret dhamma as, and most Sikhs interpret dharma as.

So, if you pause the video now and complete the task and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, fantastic, well done on all of your hard work.

So, in your responses, you may have included the following points to explain the different ways dharma can be interpreted by Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Most Hindus interpret dharma as acting in balance and with compassion with the world around you.

Most Buddhists interpret dharma as the Buddha's teachings.

And lastly, most Sikhs interpret dharma as living with a good moral code and honouring Waheguru, God.

Fantastic, well done.

So now we're going to move on to the second and final part of our lesson, which is on Sanatana dharma and pluralism.

The term Hinduism has its origins in the Sanskrit word Sindhu.

Sindhu refers to the Indus River, which is a geographical feature in the Indian subcontinent.

The word Hindu was given to the people living beyond the Indus River.

And then the suffix "-ism was later added.

The word Hinduism comes from the Sanskrit word Sindhu, which refers to the Indus River in the Indian continent.

It has this stem.

Hindu was given to the people living around and beyond the Indus River.

And "-ism was later added during colonial rule in India.

So, the word Hinduism may be seen as oversimplified, and not reflect the richly diverse beliefs and practises of the religion.

Consequently, many Hindus refer to their own religion as Hindu Dharma, or Sanatana Dharma, which translates as eternal law or eternal religion.

It reflects the view among some Hindus that their beliefs and practises have deep historical roots and may even be eternal.

Hindu Dharma or Sanatana Dharma may be a preferred term as it moves away from the colonial term of Hinduism.

Okay, so let's reflect for a moment on what you've just heard.

Choose two reasons.

Some Hindus may reject the term Hinduism.

A.

It is a move away from colonial rule.

B.

It was developed during the 21st century.

C.

The term is oversimplified.

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

Well done if you said A and C.

Fantastic.

So, now we're going to explore this idea of pluralism.

So, you can see here that there is an image of a mountain and up that mountain, there are three separate paths to reach the top.

This idea of pluralism is that there are many ways up the mountain leading to that same goal of reaching the top of the mountain.

Sanatana dharma can be further demonstrated by understanding this word pluralism.

Sanatana dharma is pluralist as there are multiple ways of approaching the divine and truth.

Followers of Sanatana dharma accept that there are many paths and that an individual will find the right path for them.

One of the most ancient Hindu texts is the Rig Veda.

It has this very famous sentence.

"Truth is one, wise people call by various names." Can you make a link with the idea of pluralism? Pause the video here, have some time to reflect or discuss, and press play when you're ready to consider your answers.

Okay, fantastic, well done.

The Rig Veda says that there is only one truth.

However, different people may interpret the same truth in different ways.

This is really at the heart of Sanatana dharma.

So, let's take a moment to reflect on what you have just heard.

On your screen, there is a true or false statement.

For Hindus, pluralism is the belief that there is only one true path towards the divine.

Is that true or false? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done to those that said false.

Hindu pluralism is the belief that all religions are different paths towards the divine, towards the truth.

There isn't one correct path.

And here we have Priya.

Priya is a British Hindu who reflects on the idea of pluralism.

Priya says, for me, there are many different ways to practise dharma.

Meditation is important to me.

I meditate daily to help and find balance and gain insight.

The way I seek truth and find my dharma can be different to how another Hindu achieves theirs.

We are all different and need to find the path that works best for us.

Okay, let's pause and reflect on what we've just heard.

True or false? All Hindus will practise dharma in the same way.

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

Okay, well done if you selected false.

Sanatana dharma is pluralist and believes there are many paths to truth.

Different Hindus will follow a path that works for them.

Well done everybody.

Okay, so we're at a point now where I think we're ready to really consider our learning on Sanatana dharma and pluralism.

Here we have Lucas and Sophia, and they are discussing the meaning of Hindu pluralism.

I would like you to consider who is correct and why.

Lucas says Hindu pluralism is a belief that there is only one path that leads to the divine.

Sophia says Hindu pluralism is a belief that recognises there are many paths, and they all carry truths that lead to the divine.

So, who do you think is correct? And remember to explain why.

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

Fantastic.

Well done on all your hard work on that task.

So, in your answer, you may have said Sophia correctly mentions that Hindu pluralism is a belief that recognises there are many paths that all carry truths.

These truths are different paths to follow but they all lead to the divine.

If you said something similar in your answer, fantastic.

Well done.

Okay, so that leads us to the end of our lesson today.

Here is a summary of our learning.

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhi are known as dharmic religions.

Dharma is interpreted differently within the dharmic religions.

Many Hindus prefer the use of Hindu dharma or Sanatana dharma over the term Hinduism.

The concept of dharma is individual and flexible.

Hindu pluralism recognises there are many paths that lead to the divine.

Fantastic.

Well done and thank you very much for joining me today.

Thank you.

Goodbye.