Lesson video

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

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

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain multiple ways that the Buddha is significant for devotees.

To help us with our learning in today's lesson, there are three keywords.

Jataka tales, Buddharupa, devotee.

Jataka tales.

The Jataka tales are a collection of stories about the past lives of the Buddha.

A Buddharupa refers to a statue or model of an enlightened being, and a devotee is a strong believer.

In our lesson today on the Buddha through the eyes of devotees, there will be two parts and we will begin with the Buddha as a teacher.

Buddhism is centred around three significant teachings known as "the three jewels," and on your screen you can see an illustration of the three jewels.

The three jewels are the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

The Buddha is the first of the three jewels, represented by the yellow jewel.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and check your understanding of what you have just heard.

What is the first of the three jewels? A, the Buddha, B, the Dhamma, C, the Sangha.

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

Okay.

Welcome back.

I asked you to decide which is the first of the three jewels? Well done to everybody that selected A, the Buddha.

The Buddha and Nalagiri.

Devadetta, the Buddha's cousin, felt jealous of the Buddha and all the followers he had.

To harm the Buddha and to get attention, Devadetta came up with a plan.

He hid an elephant called Nalagiri near where the Buddha was visiting.

He made Nalagiri, the elephant, drink alcohol so it would become angry and dangerous.

When the Buddha came into view, Devadetta hit the elephant to make it even angrier.

Nalagiri charged at the Buddha, but the Buddha stayed calm and filled his heart with love and compassion for the elephant.

Feeling the Buddha's compassion, the elephant calmed down and stopped.

In the end, both the Buddha and Nalagiri were safe.

The story of the Buddha and Nalagiri teaches Buddhists how to behave.

The Buddha is a great role model for his devotees.

What makes the Buddha a good teacher and role model? His Dhamma? He led by example.

He was self-aware.

He showed compassion.

He was enlightened.

And he motivated others through his teachings.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and check your understanding of what you have just heard.

Which of these is not an example of the Buddha as a good teacher and role model? A, he was committed to craving, B, showed compassion, C led by example.

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

Okay.

Welcome back everyone.

Well done to everybody that selected A.

Committed to craving is not an example of the Buddha as a good teacher and role model.

When the Buddha taught, he considered many philosophical questions such as.

What is the cause of suffering? How can suffering end? How can we live a good life? Tashi and Linn are practising Buddhists and are discussing how the Buddha inspires them as devotees in answering some of life's key philosophical questions.

Tashi says, "As a Buddhist, the Buddha is a great inspiration to me.

The Buddha's Dhamma focuses on something very important to most people, the problem of suffering." Linn says, "Everyone wants to be happy and peaceful, but they don't always know how to make that happen.

I believe the Buddha had the answer!" Okay, let's pause for a moment and check your understanding of what you've just heard.

Which key philosophical question is most associated with the Buddha? A, what is the cause of goodness? B, what is the cause of suffering? C, what is the cause of the universe? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay.

Welcome back.

I asked you to consider which key philosophical question is most associated with the Buddha? Well done to everybody that said B.

What is the cause of suffering? Let's continue checking our understanding by considering if the statement on your screen is true or false? A devotee is a strong believer.

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

Okay, well done to everybody that said that statement is true.

Fantastic.

Well done.

The Jataka tales are a collection of stories about the past lives of the Buddha.

The tales teach important lessons about compassion, honesty, and wisdom.

They teach Buddhist devotees how to behave.

The monkey king is a famous story from the Jataka tales.

It tells a story of a wise and compassionate monkey who becomes a leader of the other monkeys.

This monkey king was the Buddha in one of his past lives.

Whilst you listen to the story, consider what can Buddhist devotees learn from this tale? The story of the monkey king.

Once upon a time in a forest, there lived a large group of monkeys.

The monkeys lived peacefully playing and swinging from tree to tree.

Their leader was a wise and kind monkey king who was loved and respected by all the monkeys because of his wisdom and fairness.

One day a hunter came into the forest and set up a trap to capture the monkeys.

The trap was a large net place carefully in the path where the monkeys often travelled.

When the monkeys walked into the trap, they were caught and couldn't escape.

The trap was very strong and many of the monkeys were trapped inside, unable to free themselves.

The monkey king, seeing his companions trapped and in danger immediately came up with a plan to save them.

He knew that the hunter would eventually return to check his trap, so he decided to take action to prevent more monkeys from being caught.

The monkey king climbed a tall tree and saw the trap from above.

He realised that if he could cut the rope that held the trap in place, the entire net would fall, releasing the trapped monkeys.

However, there was a big problem.

The rope was tied very tightly and cutting it would be dangerous, but the monkey king didn't hesitate.

He leapt onto the rope and with all his strength began to bite through it.

As he was doing this, the hunter appeared.

Seeing the monkey king, the hunter quickly took aim with his bow and arrow planning to shoot him, but the monkey king understanding that his own life wasn't as important as saving his fellow monkeys sacrificed himself for the greater good.

As the hunter fired the arrow, the monkey king took the hit and fell to the ground.

Despite the pain, the king's actions were not in vain.

He had successfully cut the rope and the trap fell open, setting all the other monkeys free.

Afterward, the monkeys though saddened by the loss of their brave and selfless leader, honoured the monkey king's sacrifice.

They realised that his wisdom and courage saved them all and they would never forget the lesson he taught them was about selflessness, sacrifice and courage.

I asked you to consider whilst listening to the story, what can Buddhist devotees learn from this tale? You may have thought of the following points.

To be courageous.

To be wise.

To be selfless.

Okay, let's pause for a moment and check your understanding of what you've just heard.

What do the Jataka tales teach Buddhist devotees? I would like you to select two answers from the following.

A, to be compassionate, B, to be wise, C, to be selfish.

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

I asked you, what do the Jataka tales teach Buddhist devotees and I asked you to select two of the following three points.

Well done if you selected A and B.

The Jataka tales teach Buddhist devotees to be compassionate and to be wise.

Okay, so now we're in a good position to complete our first practise task on the Buddha as a teacher.

I would like you to write two paragraphs explaining why the Buddha is an important teacher to most Buddhists.

I'd like you to use the following words in your answer.

Teacher, the story of the Buddha and Nalagiri, the Jataka tales and devotees.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Let's check your answers for that practise task.

I asked you to write two paragraphs explaining why the Buddha is an important teacher to most Buddhists.

Your answer might have included.

One reason the Buddha is an important teacher to most Buddhists is because he is a great role model.

He showed compassion to all living beings.

This is shown in the story of the Buddha and Nalagiri.

A second reason that the Buddha was considered a great teacher is because he taught important stories about how devotees should behave.

This is demonstrated by the Jataka tales and the story of the monkey king.

This story teaches devotees to be selfless and courageous.

Well done on all your hard work on that practise task.

This moves us onto the second part of our lesson on the Buddha through the eyes of devotees to consider the Buddha in worship.

The Buddha is regularly used as a focal point during Buddhist worship.

Many Buddhist devotees will have a statue of a Buddha in their home.

These statues are called Buddharupas.

The term "Buddharupa" has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit and Pali languages.

Buddharupa.

"Buddha" meaning enlightened or awoken one.

and "rupa" is form or imagery that is seen with the eye.

So Buddharupa means "form of the awakened one." Okay.

Let's pause for a moment and consider if this statement is true or false.

Buddharupa means "form of the awakened one." Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, and well done to everybody that said that statement is true.

Buddharupa does mean "form of the awakened one." Buddharupas serve as a representation of the Buddhist teachings.

They help Buddhists focus their minds on the qualities of the Buddha, such as wisdom and compassion.

Buddharupas can be used during worship, meditation, or ritual practises.

Buddharupas also act as a reminder of the Buddha's enlightenment.

For many Buddhists, having a Buddharupa in their home or temple is a way to remember the Dhamma and goal of enlightenment.

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

True or false? Buddharupas can only be found in Buddhist temples.

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

Okay.

Welcome back.

And well done to everybody that said that statement is false.

Why is that statement false? Well, Buddharupas can be found in Buddhist homes as well as in temples.

Many Buddhists engage in acts of devotion during worship, such as offering incense, flowers, or food to a Buddharupa.

This is a way to gain good karma and deepen their connection to the three jewels.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

What might a Buddharupa be offered by devotees? A, incense, B, jewels, C, flowers.

I would like you to select two of the three answers.

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

Okay, well done if you selected A and C.

A Buddharupa might be offered incense and flowers by devotees.

Okay, so now we're in a really good position to complete our second practise task on the Buddha in worship.

I would like you to give four reasons why a Buddharupa may be used in worship.

Here are some optional sentence starters.

One reason a Buddharupa may be used in worship is because.

Another reason a Buddharupa may be used in worship is.

A devotee may focus on a Buddharupa during worship because.

Buddharupas may be used in worship to.

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

Okay.

Welcome back everybody.

For the practise task I asked you to give four reasons why a Buddharupa may be used in worship.

Your answer may include these points.

One reason a Buddharupa may be used in worship is because it reminds the devotees of the Buddhist Dhamma teachings.

Another reason a Buddharupa may be used in worship is to remind Buddhists of the goal to reach enlightenment.

A devotee may focus on a Buddharupa during worship because it helps Buddhists focus their mind on the qualities of the Buddha, such as wisdom and compassion.

Buddharupas may be used in worship to deepen devotees' connection with the three jewels.

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

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the Buddha through the eyes of devotees.

So what have we covered in today's lesson? Here is a summary.

The Buddha is the first of the three jewels.

The Buddha was a great teacher and answered key philosophical questions.

The Buddha is a role model to his devotees.

The Jataka tales are a collection of stories about the past lives of the Buddha.

Buddharupa means "form of the awakened one." Buddharupas can be found in Buddhist homes and temples.

Buddharupas serve as a focal point during worship.

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

Goodbye.