Lesson video

(mouse clicks) (object thuds) (mouse clicks) <v ->Hello, I'm Ms.</v> (indistinct) 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.

Welcome to today's lesson.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain the meaning of Sanatana Dharma and the way it is interpreted by Hindus.

(mouse clicks) To help us understand our learning today, there are three key words.

They are ashrama, Sanatana Dharma, and "Mahabharata".

Ashrama refers to a system of stages of life in Hindu Dharma.

Sanatana Dharma refers to eternal law or truth.

And the "Mahabharata" is a Hindu epic poem that reflects on the meaning of dharma.

(mouse clicks) Today, there are three parts to our lesson and we are going to begin with the meaning of Sanatana Dharma.

(mouse clicks) Many Hindus used the term Sanatana Dharma instead of the word Hinduism.

This term is seen as a more accurate description of the richly diverse practises we see in Hindu worldviews.

(mouse clicks) Okay, let's reflect on what we have just heard.

True or false, some Hindus use the term Sanatana Dharma in place of Hinduism.

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

Well done to everybody who said true.

The term Sanatana Dharma is a more accurate description of the richly diverse practises across Hindu worldviews.

Sanatana Dharma origins are from the ancient Sanskrit language.

Sanatana meaning that which always was, without beginning or end.

Dharma meaning to sustain or uphold.

Dharma is often understood as the essence of things.

It is the eternal laws that sustain the universe.

Sanatana Dharma asks, what is the essence of a human being? Over many centuries, Hindu philosophers have tried to answer this.

One place we find answers to this is in the "Mahabharata", a Hindu epic story reflecting on dharma.

This definition of Sanatana Dharma is given to the character, King Yudhisthira, seen by many Hindus as an example of dharma.

Never displaying malice to any living beings through actions or thoughts or words.

Acts of kindness, giving charitably.

This is the Sanatana Dharma.

What might this quotation tell Hindus about the essence of dharma? Pause the video now and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back.

Fantastic.

This quotation shows the essence of a human being is to show kindness and charity.

It shows that the essence of Sanatana Dharma is compassion to all living beings.

Fantastic.

Let's reflect for a moment on what we have just heard.

Which two of these statements summarise Sanatana Dharma according to the "Mahabharata"? A, acts of kindness, B, giving charitably, or C, showing malice.

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

Well done to everybody who said A, acts of kindness and B, giving charitably.

Fantastic.

Well done.

Here we have Priya.

Priya is a British Hindu.

She comments on the definition of Sanatana Dharma in the "Mahabharata".

For me, following Sanatana Dharma means living according to dharma.

I do this by trying to live in a way that is in harmony with the world.

One evening each week, I volunteer with a charity that offers food to those who need it.

This act of serving others is living according to dharma.

Okay, let's reflect on what we have just heard.

True or false, for many Hindus, Sanatana Dharma is just about individual living.

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

Well done to everybody who said false.

Sanatana Dharma for many Hindus includes how all societies should live.

Okay, so now, I think we are at a point where we can really consider the knowledge that we have gained about the meaning of Sanatana Dharma.

Here we have Sam and Jun and they're discussing Sanatana Dharma.

Which of them gives a better answer? Sam says, Sanatana Dharma is a set of duties that a Hindu must follow.

Jun says, Sanatana Dharma is about the essence of the universe.

Most Hindus will find their dharma by seeking to act in the most compassionate way they can.

Pause the video and come back when you would like to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back.

In your answer, you may have said, Jun gives the better answer because he understands that Sanatana Dharma is linked to the idea of compassion.

He makes a link to the quotation from the "Mahabharata" which identified acting kindly as an important part of Sanatana Dharma.

Well done on all your hard work on that task.

We are gonna now move on to the second part of our lesson on ashramas.

Hindu Dharma teaches that there are different stages in a Hindu person's life.

Each of these stages are called ashramas.

An individual's dharma or duty can change depending on their stage in life.

What could be the different stages in a person's life? Pause the video and discuss or consider what could be the different stages in a person's life.

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

Fantastic.

Well done.

Hindu Dharma teaches that there are four stages in a Hindu person's life.

Stage one is the student stage.

A student's dharma is to focus on education and learning.

This stage is about inquiring knowledge that is secular, so that that is non-religious and that that is spiritual.

Stage two is the householder stage.

A householder's dharma is to get married, become a parent, support their family, and maintain a home.

It's also to engage in community events and develop spiritual practises such as prayer.

Okay.

Let's take a moment to reflect on what we have just heard.

What is the dharma for a Hindu in the householder stage? Is it A, get married, B, study hard, or C, attend school? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to hear the correct answer.

Well done to everybody who said A.

The dharma for a Hindu in the household stage is to get married.

Fantastic.

Well done.

Moving on to stage three, that's retirement.

This stage is about retiring from professional life.

This stage allows for opportunities to pursue a spiritual life.

Dharma could also include showing compassion by contributing to society through charitable work.

And finally, stage four is known as renunciation.

Some Hindus may give up their worldly possessions and follow dharma to live an ascetic lifestyle, a spiritual life.

It's important to note that this stage will not be followed by all Hindus.

Okay, let's take a moment to reflect on what we have just heard.

Which picture represents the first ashrama? Is it A, B, or C? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to find out the correct answer.

Well done to everybody who selected B.

Fantastic.

Well done.

So, now, we're at a point where you can really demonstrate your understanding and your knowledge of the four ashramas.

I would like you to complete the following boxes and for each ashrama, you are going to give an example of their dharma for that particular stage in life.

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

Fantastic.

Well done on all your hard work on that task.

So, your answers may include the following points.

The student stage includes dharma to study hard to acquire knowledge that is both secular and spiritual.

The second stage of the householder, their dharma is to get married and to have a family, to engage in community events, and continue to develop spiritual practises such as prayer.

The third stage is retirement.

The dharma is to pursue a spiritual life whilst also showing compassion by contributing to society through charitable work.

And the fourth and final stage is renunciation.

Some Hindus may give up their worldly possessions to explore a spiritual lifestyle and live as an ascetic.

Fantastic.

Well done.

So, now, it's time to move on to our third and final part of our lesson, which is on interpretations of Sanatana Dharma.

The "Mahabharata" is one of the longest poems in the world.

Its stories reflect on the nature of dharma.

Arjuna is one of five brothers engaged in a war against his cousins who have acted against dharma.

His charioteer is revealed as the epic continues to be the supreme deity, Krishna.

Full of fury, Arjuna stepped towards his brother, Yudhisthira, intending to slay him and keep his vow.

At that point, Krishna intervened.

"Stop.

No one who understands the distinctions of dharma would ever act in this way.

You think you know what dharma is, but by acting in this way, you show you are ignorant.

In my opinion, never killing any living being is the highest dharma.

One may speak a lie, but never kill another being." Krishna continued, "How is it that you are prepared to kill your brother who is someone who understands dharma? The value made was a grave mistake.

Why are you going to act on it without thinking properly about dharma?" Should Arjuna carry out his vow even if it means killing his brother? Pause the video and discuss your responses.

Press play when you're ready to continue.

Okay, let's take a moment to reflect on what we have just heard.

Why does Krishna say to Arjuna that he does not understand dharma? A, he wants Arjuna to carry out his vow to kill his brother.

B, he has refused to kill his brother.

Or C, the vow he made was a mistake and based on a false understanding of dharma.

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

Well done to everybody that said C.

(mouse clicks) To help Arjuna, Krishna tells a story about a holy man called Kausika.

Krishna faced Arjuna to tell him a story.

There was once a holy Rishi named Kausika who did not fully understand dharma.

He had made a vow to tell the truth at all times.

Once a man and woman came to his ashrama in the forest, attempting to escape a band of vicious robbers.

A little while later, the robbers approached Kausika and asked him where the man and woman had gone.

"A man and woman came by here a few hours earlier," replied Kausika.

"They went that way in the forest." Acting on Kausika's directions, the robbers pursued and killed the man and woman.

Krishna allowed Arjuna to reflect on this story.

There has to be a way of distinguishing dharma.

We must understand that dharma is that which leads to the welfare of all people and sustains them.

Now, I have given you this definition of dharma.

You must decide whether to carry out your vow to kill your brother.

After hearing this story, Arjuna understood dharma more deeply and forgave his brother.

How does this story help us understand more about interpreting dharma? Pause the video here and have time to reflect or discuss your answers.

Welcome back.

Fantastic on those discussions and reflections.

Okay, let's reflect upon what we have just heard.

What might be a message of the story that Krishna tells about Kausika? A, you should tell the truth at all times.

B, dharma is flexible and you should act out of compassion for living things.

Or C, you should never speak to robbers.

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

Okay, well done to everybody who selected B, dharma is flexible and you should act out compassion for living things.

Fantastic.

Well done.

Here we have Priya and Priya reflects on what stories like this from the "Mahabharata" help her as a Hindu interpret her dharma.

Sanatana Dharma is not a rigid list of rules or commandments.

I interpret the story of Arjuna and Yudhisthira as showing me that dharma is flexible.

You must interpret dharma in each situation.

Try to make the decision that acts out of love for the world and helps you live in harmony with it.

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

True or false, most Hindus interpret dharma as a set of fixed rules to live by.

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

Okay, well done to everybody who said that was false.

The story of Arjuna and Yudhisthira shows that dharma is flexible and many Hindus will seek to follow their dharma in a way that allows 'em to live in harmony with the world.

Okay, and here we are onto our final task.

So, now, you are at a really good point to consider what are the interpretations of Sanatana Dharma.

We've got Laura and Jacob and Jacob is not sure what important messages Krishna is trying to teach Arjuna about how to interpret dharma.

Laura tells him that one important message is that sometimes decisions can be difficult to make.

Give three further messages Krishna was trying to teach Arjuna about interpreting dharma.

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

Okay, fantastic.

Well done to everybody on all their hard work on that task.

In your answer, you may have said, one important message Krishna was trying to teach was sometimes, our Sanatana Dharma can be conflicted.

A second important message is that decisions about dharma should be based on living in harmony and acting out of compassion.

A third important message is that our Sanatana Dharma can be interpreted by each individual.

It is not absolute.

Fantastic, everyone.

Well done.

So, this brings us to the end of our lesson today and a summary of Sanatana Dharma.

Many Hindus use the term Sanatana Dharma instead of the word Hinduism.

Sanatana Dharma is the eternal or absolute set of duties and religious practises for Hindus.

Ashramas are the four stages in a Hindu's life.

The "Mahabharata" is a Hindu epic that reflects on dharma.

And many Hindus believe that dharma is flexible and needs to be reflected on in the situation.

Fantastic, everyone.

Thank you ever so much for joining me for today's lesson.

Goodbye.

(mouse clicks).