Karma and rebirth
I can explain Buddhist beliefs on karma/kamma and rebirth, why the beliefs are important, and how they influence Buddhists today.
Karma and rebirth
I can explain Buddhist beliefs on karma/kamma and rebirth, why the beliefs are important, and how they influence Buddhists today.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Karma/kamma is the belief in cause and effect.
- Most Theravada Buddhists want to achieve positive karma/kamma to avoid samsara and rebirth.
- Most Mahayana Buddhists want to achieve positive karma/kamma to be reborn as a Bodhisattva.
- Compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) are ways to achieve positive karma/kamma.
- Many Buddhists adopt the five moral precepts (panchasila).
Keywords
Karma/kamma - the belief in cause and effect
Rebirth - refers to the belief that when a being dies they are reborn
Enlightenment - a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence
Samsara - the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth
Nirvana/Nibbana - liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Common misconception
Karma and rebirth is the belief in a 'self' or 'soul' that is reborn. Many people assume that karma dictates the fate of a permanent, unchanging soul that carries over from one life to the next.
There is no eternal, unchanging self or soul. Instead, Buddhism teaches the concept of anatta, meaning 'no-self'. What is reborn is not a permanent soul, but a continuing process or stream of consciousness influenced by past actions (karma).
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Karma and rebirth, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Karma and rebirth, 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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Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: Beliefs and teachings unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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