Siddhartha: craving and suffering
I can explain how Siddhartha realised that the answer to suffering was to stop craving.
Siddhartha: craving and suffering
I can explain how Siddhartha realised that the answer to suffering was to stop craving.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Siddhartha became very weak after fasting, but he had still not discovered the cause of suffering.
- He decided that the Middle Way was the best way to live.
- Siddhartha realised that the source of suffering was craving and the way to stop suffering was to stop craving.
- Buddhists call this the Four Noble Truths.
Keywords
Craving - longing for something or someone
Fasting - doing without food or drink
The Middle Way - the path that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty
Common misconception
Siddhartha discovered the answer to suffering through fasting.
This did not give him the answer. It was when he stopped being an ascetic and chose the 'middle way' between extreme luxury and extreme self-denial that he found the answer.
To help you plan your year 5 religious education lesson on: Siddhartha: craving and suffering, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 religious education lesson on: Siddhartha: craving and suffering, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 religious education lessons from the Buddhists: who was the Buddha and what does he mean for Buddhists? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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