Lesson video

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

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

Welcome to today's lesson.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to describe the Sangha as a global Buddhist community and explain the significance of Buddhist monks and nuns.

To guide you through your learning for today's lesson, there are four key words.

They are Sangha, monk, nun, and monastery.

The Sangha refers to the wider Buddhist community, including monks and nuns.

A monk is a man who dedicates himself to a simple life of devotion to Buddhism.

A nun is a woman who dedicates herself to a simple life of devotion to Buddhism, and a monastery is a place where Buddhist monks and nuns live.

So our lesson today on Sangha monks and nuns takes three parts.

Firstly, different forms of Buddhism, moving on to what it means to be a Buddhist monk or nun, and then finishing with the significance of Buddhist monks and nuns.

So let's begin with the first part of our lesson on different forms of Buddhism.

Buddhism is estimated to be the fourth largest religion in the world, with approximately 535 million followers.

Most Buddhists live as lay people, which means that they practise their religion alongside their everyday life.

However, a proportion of Buddhists choose to live as monks and nuns.

In this lesson, we will learn why some Buddhists choose this lifestyle.

The third of the three jewels is the Sangha.

And here you can see on your screen that the red jewel symbolises the Sangha.

The Sangha is the Buddhist community, which includes monks and nuns.

The Sangha can be divided into different schools.

Each school of Buddhism differs in their interpretation of the Buddha's Dhamma, so they may live differently.

However, all Buddhists follow the core Buddhist teachings like the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Okay, let's pause here and complete a check for understanding.

What is the Sangha? A, the wider Buddhist community, including monks and nuns.

B, Buddhist monks and nuns only.

Or C, the wider Buddhist community.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody, and well done to everybody that selected A as the correct answer.

The Sangha is the wider Buddhist community, including monks and nuns.

Theravada is one of the oldest forms of Buddhism.

It spread from India after the death of the Buddha.

Theravada is practised by the majority of people in Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

Mahayana is another important Buddhist tradition.

It is from China after Buddhism arrived there.

Mahayana is practised by a significant number of people in Japan, South Korea, and China.

Tashi and Linn, who are both Buddhists, discuss the different forms of Buddhism they follow.

Linn says, "I follow Theravada Buddhism.

My goal is to closely follow the teachings of the Buddha and reach enlightenment.

I believe I will only be able to do this by living as a Buddhist nun." Tashi says, "I follow a school of Mahayana Buddhism.

My goal is to reach enlightenment to help others on the same path.

I can do this by living as a lay Buddhist." Okay, we're gonna pause and complete a check for understanding.

True or false? All Buddhists follow the same form of Buddhism.

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

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

Why is that statement false? Well, there are different branches of Buddhism.

The form of Buddhism you follow will affect how you practise your religion.

Okay, so now we're in a position to complete our first practise task.

So this is task A and it's on different forms of Buddhism.

I would like you to fill in the missing words.

Buddhism is estimated to be the, largest religion in the world.

Most Buddhists live as, people, which means that they practise their religion a alongside their, life.

The, is the third jewel.

It can be divided into different, Buddhism is the old school of Buddhism.

And Buddhists that follow this school of Buddhism want to achieve, and may do this living as a monk or.

Okay, good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back.

Let's check your answers for the practise task.

So I asked you to fill in the missing words.

So just check your answers that they are correct as the ones on the screen.

Buddhism is estimated to be the fourth largest religion in the world, and most Buddhists live as lay people, which means that they practise their religion alongside their everyday life.

The Sangha is the third jewel and it can be divided into different schools.

Theravada Buddhism is the oldest school of Buddhism, and Buddhists that follow this school of Buddhism want to achieve enlightenment and may do this living as a monk or nun.

Fantastic, well done on all your hard work on that practise task.

Now we're gonna move on to the second part of our lesson on Sangha monks and nuns.

To consider what it means to be a Buddhist monk or nun.

Theravada Buddhism is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism.

This school of Buddhism is sometimes regarded as more orthodox.

Theravada Buddhism places emphasis on living a monastic lifestyle.

This requires living in a monastery.

This is why some Buddhists choose to live as a monk or nun.

Some Theravada Buddhists disagree with women living as nuns.

Linn explains how some Theravada nuns have responded.

Linn says, "In Thailand, women are not officially recognised as Buddhist nuns.

However, there is a growing number of women in Thailand who are challenging this view.

If I wanted to live as a Buddhist nun, I may need to travel to Sri Lanka to be ordained.

Sri Lanka was the first country to ordain Theravada nuns." Okay, let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

True or false? Theravada Buddhism places emphasis on living a monastic lifestyle.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody and well done If you said that statement is true.

Why is that statement true? Well, for many Theravada Buddhists, living as a monk or nun is the only way to achieve enlightenment.

To help achieving enlightenment, Buddhist monks or nuns might do the following things each day.

Live simply, teach the Buddhist Dhamma, and meditate.

Buddhist monks and nuns live in a monastery.

There are monasteries all around the world.

Here is a photograph of a Buddhist monastery in Indonesia, and here is a photograph of a Buddhist monastery in India.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and complete a check for understanding.

Which three things may a Buddhist monk or nun do on a daily basis? A, teach the Buddhist Dhamma.

B, live a busy life.

C, meditate.

D, live a simple life.

Remember, you need to select three answers.

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

Okay, welcome back.

I asked you to select three things that a Buddhist monk or nun may do on a daily basis.

Well done if you selected A, C, and D.

They might teach the Buddhist Dhamma, meditate, and live a simple life.

Fantastic, well done.

Linn tells us where her uncle, a monk, lives in Thailand.

"My uncle lives in a monastery in Bangkok.

The monastery is basic with no luxury items allowed.

My uncle dedicates his life to follow the Buddhist Dhamma.

He does this because he believes this is the best way to attain enlightenment." There are also more than 60 Buddhist monasteries in the UK.

Some of them are purpose built and some are buildings that were originally used for something else.

Here we can see a photograph of a monastery in the UK.

Lynn says, "This is a Buddhist monastery situated in the southeast of England.

The monastery was converted from an old coach house.

Buddhist monks and nuns can now train here and followed the Buddhist Dhamma." Okay, let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

True or false? Buddhist monasteries are only found in Asia.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody, and well done if you said that statement is false.

So why is that statement false? Well, we've seen from our previous slides that there are many Buddhist monasteries all over the world, including more than 60 in the UK.

So well done if you said that statement was false.

So now we're in a good position to complete our second practise task, task B.

What it means to be a Buddhist monk or nun.

Laura is explaining what it means to be a Buddhist monk or nun.

Laura has shown some misunderstandings and I would like you to rewrite her answer so that it is correct.

Laura says, "Being a Buddhist monk or nun involves living a busy lifestyle.

Most days are spent reading books and praying.

They are allowed luxury items which help them concentrate when learning the Buddhist Dhamma.

Most monks and nuns live in houses across Asia.

The aim of monks and nuns is to avoid enlightenment." So pause the video here and press play when you are ready to check your answer.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So let's check your answers for the practise task.

So I asked you to rewrite Laura's answer so that it is correct.

In your answer, you may have said, being a Buddhist monk or nun involves living a simple lifestyle.

Most days are spent learning the Buddhist Dhamma and meditating.

They're not allowed luxury items as these would distract them from learning the Buddhist Dhamma.

Most monks and nuns live in monasteries across the world.

The aim of some monks and nuns is to attain enlightenment.

Fantastic, well on on all your hard work on the practise task.

So that moves us on to our third and final part of our lesson today.

And we are gonna consider now the significance of monks and nuns.

Monks and nuns are significant as they are part of the Sangha.

They have additional duties to lay Buddhists such as performing ceremonies and offering advice to support the Sangha.

In many Buddhist communities, monks and nuns are significant because they are seen as spiritual guides, showing others how to live with kindness and compassion.

They are also believed to be closer to reaching enlightenment.

Their way of life serves as a role model for other Buddhists.

Okay, let's pause here and complete a check for understanding.

I would like you to select three reasons why monks and nuns are significant for most Buddhists.

A, they form part of the Sangha.

B, they perform ceremonies.

C, they give additional duties to others.

D, they act as role models to other Buddhists.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So I ask you to select three reasons why monks and nuns are significant for most Buddhists.

Well done if you selected A, they form part of the Sangha.

B, they perform ceremonies, and D, they act as role models to other Buddhists.

Linn, a Theravada Buddhist explains the significance of monks and nuns for her.

Linn says, "The monks and nuns are significant to me as they preserve the Buddhist Dhamma by teaching it to Buddhist in the Sangha.

They're aiming to achieve enlightenment to escape samsara, the cycle of rebirth.

I follow their example by following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path." Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist explains the significance of monks and nuns for her.

Tashi says, "Monks and nuns are significant to me because I also believe they preserve the Buddhist Dhamma.

They teach and serve the Sangha out of compassion.

Some of them lead the meditation sessions that I attend with my family as we live as lay Buddhists." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

True or false? Buddhist monks and nuns preserve the Buddhist Dhamma.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody and well done to those people that said that statement is true.

Why is that statement true? Well, Buddhist monks and nuns preserve the Dhamma by teaching it to other Buddhists within the Sangha.

So now we are in a great position to complete our third and final practise task, task C, "The significance of monks and nuns." I would like you to write a paragraph explaining why Buddhist monks and nuns are significant for Buddhists.

In your answer, I would like you to include the following key words, monks, nuns, Sangha, and enlightenment.

Good luck on completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Time to check your answers for the practise task.

I asked you to write a paragraph explaining why Buddhist monks and nuns are significant for Buddhists.

Your answer may include the following points.

Buddhist monks and nuns are significant because they offer advice and support to the Sangha, the Buddhist community.

Monks and nuns also carry out additional duties which may include performing ceremonies.

They live a simple life and dedicate their lives to following the Buddhist Dhamma whilst aiming to achieve enlightenment.

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

So that brings us to the end of our lesson on Sangha monks and nuns, and we're gonna consider now the key points that we have learned in today's lesson.

The two main schools of Buddhism are Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.

The Sangha is the Buddhist community, which includes monks and nuns.

Some Buddhists choose to live as a monk or nun.

Most Buddhist monks and nuns live in a monastery and there are monasteries all over the world, including in the UK.

And finally, Buddhist monks and nuns are significant because they preserve the Buddhist Dhamma and offer advice and support to the Sangha.

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

Goodbye.