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Year 10
AQA

Human destiny: the Arhat and Boddhisatva ideals

I can explain Buddhist beliefs on human destiny and how these beliefs influence Buddhists today.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

Human destiny: the Arhat and Boddhisatva ideals

I can explain Buddhist beliefs on human destiny and how these beliefs influence Buddhists today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mahayana means ‘great vehicle’, which refers to the idea of the Bodhisattva path as a ‘vehicle’ to Buddhahood.
  2. The Theravada Arhat path is sometimes called the 'lesser vehicle', but this is less common due to negative connotations.
  3. When a person follows the Arhat path, they seek perfection in understanding and enacting the Buddha's teachings.
  4. An Arhat sees pleasure as a distraction and aims to completely remove craving and desires.

Keywords

  • Enlightenment - a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence

  • Arhat (Arahant) - a perfected person; in Theravada Buddhism, this is a term for a person who has become enlightened

  • Bodhisattva - in Mahayana Buddhism, this is an enlightened being who remains in the cycle of samsara in order to help others achieve enlightenment

  • Human destiny - the path a Buddhist will take to achieve enlightenment

Common misconception

Arhats (Arahants) and Bodhisattvas are essentially the same and share identical goals.

An Arhat might be viewed as a fully enlightened being focused on their own liberation, while a Bodhisattva is someone who seeks to bring others along on the path to enlightenment.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Human destiny: the Arhat and Boddhisatva ideals, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Link with teachings on the six paramitas (perfections).
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which analogy is used in Mahayana Buddhism to explain the concept of sunyata (emptiness)?
the raft crossing a river
the mustard seed
Correct answer: the soap bubble
the path of enlightenment
Q2.
Which Buddhist scripture includes the parable of the Burning House?
The Diamond Sutra
Correct answer: The Lotus Sutra
The Heart Sutra
The Mahayana Sutra
Q3.
The term for the belief that the Five Aggregates (skandhas) that make up a human are empty and without independent existence is .
Correct Answer: sunyata, Sunyata
Q4.
According to Mahayana Buddhism, the mental obstacles that must be removed to realise Buddha-nature are craving, desire and .
Correct Answer: attachments, Attachments, attachment
Q5.
The analogy that compares Buddha-nature to __________ surrounded by bees is from the Buddhist scripture on tathagatagarbha.
oranges
jam
Correct answer: honey
water
Q6.
Mahayana means ‘Greater Vehicle’, and includes Tibetan, Pure Land and Buddhism.
Correct Answer: Zen, zen

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the primary goal of a Theravada Buddhist in terms of human destiny?
to be reborn as a Bodhisattva
Correct answer: to attain enlightenment and become an Arhat
to continue in the cycle of samsara to help others
to achieve material success
Q2.
Which of the following is a key practice for a Mahayana Buddhist aiming to become a Bodhisattva?
following the Five Precepts
Correct answer: practising the Six Perfections (paramitas)
focusing on personal enlightenment only
avoiding charitable actions
Q3.
Which term refers to the cycle of birth, death and rebirth that Bodhisattvas choose to remain in to help others?
mirvana
Correct answer: samsara
karma
enlightenment
Q4.
The path followed by Theravada Buddhists that focuses on personal enlightenment is called the path.
Correct Answer: Hinayana, hinayana
Q5.
The quality represented by the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who is often visualised by Buddhists during meditation, is .
Correct Answer: compassion, Compassion
Q6.
The term for a perfected person who has reached enlightenment in Theravada Buddhism is an .
Correct Answer: Arhat, arhat