YEAR 9 SYLLABUS

4. BUDDHISM

Aims:

'Implicit' Ideas:

Concepts:

Content and Suggestions

1. Refer back to World Problems - issues of suffering. What is the solution?
2. The Story of Siddartha Gautama: Could use animated video. The contrast in lifestyles - extreme wealth/ extreme asceticism. The Middle Way.
   Write a magazine article on the life of Gautama including: 1) A cover sheet or illustrated first page, 2) Map of where it all began, 3) The story told, 4) Conclusion - Enlightened One.
3. The Three Treasures: The Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha (also called The Three Jewels). Use ideas in "Buddhism" by Sue Penney and the "Buddhist Experience" books.
   Extension work: Turtle and fish story - imagine (pp.12-17 "Buddhist Experience").
4. The Four Noble Truths: Dukkha; Tanha; Cessation of suffering by eliminating tanha; Eightfold Path. Relate the whole to pupils own experiences of suffering caused by selfishness (one's own and that of others).
   For more able pupils consider the implicarions of anicca and anatta and relate to modern philosophical arguments in epistemology from Descartes onwards.
5. The Escape Route - The Eightfold-Path: Use eight-spoked wheel symbol... explain the symbolism of the wheel as well as the spokes. Enlightenment... Nirvana.
   Trace route through 3 areas of right morality, right mindedness and right meditation. Use sign-post workheets.
6. What is meditation?: Compare Western concepts of meditating in sense of filling mind with thoughts of God etc. and reflecting on those and the Buddhist concept which is, essentially (in the original Buddhist teaching), emptying the mind.
   Worship: Trace changes in Buddhism as it spread from India to China and Japan. From Theravada (Hinayana) to Mahayana, Zen and Pure Land Buddhism. Changing significance of Buddha and bodhisattvas... to pray to and reverence.
   Investigate places of worship.
7. A Day in the life of a Buddhist monk (or nun): Video footage available. Imagination exercise.

Time:

Resources:

Buddhism				Books
Buddhist Experience      			Books
Various titles					Books
Buddhism					Video
Life of Buddha - animated series                Video
Sources of Faith				CD-ROM
Aspects of Religion				CD-ROM

Assessment:

1. Knowledge of origins of Buddhism, Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and basic Buddhist vocabulary.
2. Understanding of Buddhist beliefs and practices and way of life
3. Ability to evaluate beliefs and practices of a faith/tradition in an empathetic way
4. Awareness of and ability to relate to problems of suffering in the world.