For levels 1 & 2

For levels 3 & 4

For levels 5 & 6

For levels 7 & 8

Glossary for Buddhism

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Buddhism 1 & 2

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 1 and 2 to Buddhist experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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• Buddhists do not believe in a Creator God but follow the teachings of Buddha, who taught people how to free themselves from the sufferings of this world. He taught people to be kind, helpful, truthful and compassionate. He taught his followers never to hurt living things, steal or tell lies. He taught them to put these things into practice, not just talk about them.

• Buddha was born a Prince in the fifth century BCE in North India. Known at this time as Prince Siddattha of the Sakya clan, he was purposely shielded from the harsher side of life to ensure his succession to the throne. One day, however, he ordered his charioteer to take him from the palace to see life in the city. In the city he saw three things that affected him deeply - an aged man, a very sick man, and a body being taken for cremation. He also crucially saw a holy man, who had given up his possessions to live a simple life. Inspired by the serenity of the holy man, Prince Siddattha left his comfortable life to seek an answer to the things that seemed wrong in the world: greed, anger, pain and suffering. His search lasted six years until, Buddhists believe, he found the solution. From this time onwards, he became known as 'the Buddha' or 'Enlightened One'.

• Buddhist children hear many stories about the Buddha. They especially enjoy the Jataka tales, stories of the Buddha's many previous lives. Some of these tales tell of how he lived in an animal form. (Buddhists believe people have many lives on earth as different beings working towards 'enlightenment'.) These stories teach them about Buddhist beliefs and about how to behave.

• The Tipitaka is the earliest collection of Buddhist scriptures or writings. It contains rules for monks, stories of the Buddha's life and an explanation of Buddha's teaching. After the Buddha's final passing away (Parinibbana), his disciple and personal attendant, Ananda, repeated all the teachings to an assembly of 500 monks. They were already trained to memorise such teachings. The stories were passed from one generation to another and it was some 400 years before the teachings were written down.

• Buddhist families may recite the words of the Triple Refuge every day before a shrine containing an image of the Buddha. Through these words they 'take refuge' in the Buddha, his teaching (Dhamma), and the Buddhist community (Sangha). Flowers may be placed by the image as an appropriate offering and as a reminder of the impermanence of life (since flowers quickly fade). The family will sit quietly in front of the shrine. Looking at the Buddha's face helps them to meditate or think about how to be more loving and kind.

• Sometimes Buddhist families visit a vihara (monastery) or temple for ceremonies, meditation and celebrations such as the Buddha's birthday. In many countries, including Britain, a number of Buddhists become monks and nuns, living in monasteries and spending their time in meditation, study, and teaching the Buddha's way to others. In some countries children spend time in a monastery as part of their education.

• Wesak is the most important Buddhist celebration. It recalls the birth, enlightenment and final passing away of the Buddha. Buddhists may visit a monastery, make offerings of flowers and incense, join in chanting, have a feast, give presents and decorate their homes with flowers and lights. In Buddhist countries there may be special processions at Wesak.

• Buddhists have no special ceremonies at birth. However, as Buddhist monks or priests are usually involved in the important events in the lives of Buddhist's they would normally take part in a simple naming ceremony. Buddhists are taught to look after their children carefully. Children are encouraged to be respectful and grateful to parents, adults and teachers.

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Buddhism 3 & 4

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 3 and 4 to Buddhist experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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• There are Buddhists all over the world but most live in Shri Lanka, Thailand, China, Tibet, Japan, Burma and other Asian countries. They follow the example and teaching of Siddattha Gotama to whom they gave the title Buddha or 'enlightened one' They believe he found, and taught others how to find, the meaning of life. Everyone is a potential 'buddha', able to attain Nibbana / Nirvana (i.e. a state of existence without selfishness and with complete peace), though it may take many rebirths. Buddhists do not believe in God, as usually understood, although in some countries Buddhism includes 'gods' (e.g. of wisdom or kindness), and involves worship of Buddha.

• Gotama was born in Lumbini, in what is today Nepal, about 560 BCE. He grew up in a palace as a prince, married at 16 and had a son. One day he went riding outside the palace; he saw sickness, old age and death but also a holy man. He renounced his comfortable life and went looking for an answer to suffering. To do this he gave up his life as a prince and for six years lived as an ascetic, nearly dying from self-imposed fasting. This did not work, so he decided on a more balanced approach to life and began to eat food again (c.f. the Middle Way). He sat under a Bodhi tree, vowing not to get up until he achieved his purpose. He struggled with temptations, but as dawn approached he found his answer. He had gained 'enlightenment' and taught others about this until his death at 80. His cremated remains were placed in Stupas and are still visited by Buddhists. Many stories are told about Buddha e.g. Siddattha and the Swan, The Monkey King or Nalgiri the Elephant; these illustrate Buddhist values. The festival of Wesak, celebrated at full moon in May, recalls Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. Traditions vary, but decorating homes with lights, special processions and offerings at shrines are common.

• The Four Noble Truths summarise Buddha's teaching: 1) Life involves suffering. 2) Suffering arises from desire, greed and selfishness. 3) It is possible to end suffering and attain peace and happiness. 4) The way to do this is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path to the end of suffering and as a guide to right living.

• Most Buddhists in this country practise their religion at home and at work. Some take the Five Vows (precepts) every day in front of a Buddha image. They promise not to harm living things, not to take what is not given, not to misuse their senses (i.e. not to crave for things; not to be sexually irresponsible), not to speak untruthfully, or with anger or ill-will, not to take drugs or alcohol. They may join a Buddhist group for study and meditation and meet with larger groups for special festivals, maybe at a monastery or temple some miles away. They tell their children stories of Buddha (e.g. Jataka tales), teach them the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path and take them to temples and festivals when possible. They may teach them texts like the Metta Sutta (the scripture on loving-kindness). Some Buddhists renounce everything to become monks or nuns, just as Gotama left his home and wealth, in search of Nirvana. They believe they can find it best by following Buddha's teaching in a monastic community. In some countries children spend time as a monk or go to school at a monastery.

• Buddhists have special places for meditation and religious study as individuals or groups, but the word 'worship' may be inappropriate as it usually refers to believers praying to and praising God. Many have a shrine area at home with a small Buddha Rupa (image) which serves to remind them of the composure of the Buddha and as an aid to meditation. Here they place flowers or incense and spend time meditating. They may visit temples to make offerings before large Buddha images and hear monks chanting. Many Buddhist symbols will be found at temples: a wheel is used in several ways (i.e. a wheel may represent the progress of life - birth, death, re-birth, or if with eight spokes, the Noble Eightfold Path); a Bodhi Tree recalls the place of Buddha's enlightenment; a pure white lotus represents the pure mind without anger and greed, opening in the sunlight of enlightenment.

• The earliest collection of Buddhist writings is known as the Tipitaka or Three Baskets. These were written in Pali on palm leaves and were probably stored in baskets. The 'First 'Basket' contains rules for the monks. The second, which contains the much loved Dhammapada, contains words and teachings of Buddha. The third explains the teaching. After the final passing away of the Buddha, 500 monks listened to a recitation of all Buddha's teachings, learnt them by heart collectively and passed them on in an unbroken tradition until 400 years later when they were written down.

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Buddhism 5 & 6

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 5 and 6 to Buddhist experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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• Buddhists believe Siddattha Gotama became an 'Enlightened' human being (the historical Buddha) who understood the truth about the way things are. He discovered the way to overcome suffering and unhappiness. For some years he followed the ascetic tradition. Finding this useless he took proper food and lived according to the Middle Way, the way between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence. He set out to teach his 'Middle Way', gathering many followers, who saw in him a perfected, enlightened person. 'The Buddha believed they too could be enlightened.

• Buddha's teaching (Dhamma) is based on three important ideas about the nature of life: Anicca, the belief that everything is impermanent; Dukkha, the idea that because things change and die, nothing really satisfies and this causes 'suffering'; Anatta, the idea that the independent self is an illusion and does not exist. The belief in a soul or self is considered the ultimate source of error, selfishness and unhappiness. Once these ideas are understood a new way of life, is possible. Buddha summarised his teaching in Four Noble Truths: (1) life involves suffering, (2) which is caused by desires, greed and selfishness, (3) but it is possible to end suffering (4) and find peace and happiness by following the Eightfold Path:

1)  Right Understanding: seeing the world as it is, i.e. in terms of the 4 Noble Truths

2)  Right Thought: growing in unselfishness and compassion

3)  Right Speech: truthfulness, using gentle, useful speech

4)  Right Action: living by the 5 Precepts

5)  Right Livelihood: taking helpful, not harmful jobs

6)  Right Effort: avoiding bad thoughts, encouraging good

7)  Right Mindfulness: attentiveness and awareness

8)  Right Concentration: learning to meditate

• The Dhammapada contains Buddha's most important sayings, which Buddhists treasure and try to live by. The Dhammapada consists of 420 verses in 26 chapters. Each verse is related to a story. This book is only one Buddhist scripture. In Buddha's lifetime his teaching was passed on orally. He advised his followers to teach in the language of those they spoke to and so the Dhamma was translated into other languages as Buddhism spread. A Council in Sri Lanka wrote the teachings down for the first time in the language called Pali. The Sangha (i.e. community of Buddhists) memorise the scriptures, chanting them at festivals. This helps people learn the words and has a calming, meditative effect.

• Buddhists may 'take' the 5 moral precepts each day, repeating them before a statue of the Buddha, and use these as their guide for living: 1) to avoid harming living things (Many Buddhists are vegetarian); 2) to avoid taking what is not given (not stealing, taking an unfair share, seeking wealth at the expense of others); 3) to avoid misusing the senses (over-indulgence, irresponsibility, greed); 4) to avoid wrong speech (not telling lies, being honest with yourself, not giving wrong impressions);  5) to avoid taking drugs or alcohol which cloud the mind.

• Individual Buddhists seek enlightenment and Nirvana for themselves through belonging to the Sangha which teaches and follows the Buddha's Middle Way. Belonging to the Sangha is one of the Buddhist's Three Treasures - Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The Sangha is made up of lay people, monks, nuns and priests. The monastic tradition is strong in Buddhism; lay people support those who take up the monastic life. Just as Siddattha Gotama left home and wealth, so some Buddhists leave (renounce) everything to become monks and nuns in search of truth and happiness of Nirvana.

• Most Buddhists give time to meditation and worship, but practice varies considerably world-wide. Tibetan Buddhists chant mantras as they carry on daily life. One of the best known is the 'jewel in the lotus' - Om Mani Padme Hum. They also have prayer wheels with mantras inside them. Some Buddhists practise meditation as a way of training the mind for enlightenment.  Some practice 'puja': chanting, making offerings before a Buddha image and reciting scriptures; such worship shows devotion to the Buddha. Some pray using a string of 108 beads, which represents the 108 'passions' of human beings.

• Wesek is most widely celebrated of Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Kathina, the festival of giving, is a time for showing gratitude and support to the maonks of the Sangha.

• Buddha talked to his disciple and personal attendant, Ananda, about places a Buddhist should visit. He included the places as which he was born, enlightened and began his preaching and the place where he would die. Buddhist pilgrims still visit these sites, offering flowers and meditating. They also visit stupas containing relies of the Buddha. In Sri Lanka many Shri Pada, a holy mountain, with, what are believed to be, Buddha's footprints at the top.

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Buddhism 7 & 8

When relating teaching and learning objectives at levels 7 and 8 to Buddhist experience, the teacher should draw on the following in an appropriate context

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• The Buddha represents the supreme example to his followers, though, in general, he is not worshipped as a God. To believers he is important because he discovered Dhamma, the truth about the way things are. He is a supreme example to his followers and a reminder of the need to develop their innate potential for Enlightenment. The Mahayana tradition emphasises the transcendental nature of the Buddha.

• Buddhism does not present itself as a 'revealed' religion, neither do Buddhists believe in a personal deity. The teachings of the Buddha are the inheritance of one man's search for truth. The practice of the Buddha's teaching is most important; it is not enough simply to hold beliefs. They believe that the Dhamma is the universal law which explains the true nature of everything and which is the basis of reality. It shows that the purpose of life is the 'blowing out' of the fires of greed, hatred and ignorance, the attainment of Enlightenment and the state of peace which follows (i.e. Nirvana INibanna).

• Buddhist practice is based on three main areas of commitment within which they take 'refuge': 'Refuge in the Buddha' i.e. accepting the Buddha as the ultimate spiritual guide and example for one's life; 'Refuge in the Dhamma' i.e. focusing one's energies in understanding, practising and realising the Teaching of the Buddha; 'Refuge in the Sangha' i.e. being a member of the Buddhist community, receiving guidance from the community, which in many parts of the world will mean a community of monks or nuns, though in the West Sangha is also understood to be all followers of the Buddha.

• There are different kinds of Buddhism. As Buddhism spread it adapted to the needs of various cultures, resulting in different 'paths' or traditions of Buddhism. In Sri Lanka, Burina and Thailand, it tries to stay close to the original teaching of the Buddha and his followers. This path is call Theravada (the way of the Elders). Northern areas of India, with China and Japan, follow the Mahayana, which means great vehicle or way and it contains a greater variety of paths and practices. Tibetan Buddhism is called Vajrayana. Alongside these traditions in the United Kingdom western forms of Buddhism are emerging e.g. 'Friends of the Western Buddhist Order'.

• There are several canons of scripture which have a place in explaining the Dhamma. Buddhism makes no claims to possess a divinely revealed book. There are differences between the scriptures of the various Buddhist traditions. Some notable examples are:- the Paii Canon which is recognised by all Buddhist schools. The Mahayana tradition also uses additional sutras (collections of verses) e.g. Lotus Sutra (of great importance to Buddhists). The truths of teachings must be verified through personal experience.

• Key Buddhist teachings: - The Four Noble Truths: 1. Suffering (Dukkha) exists. 2. The arising or origin of suffering (Samudaya). 3. The ending of suffering (Nirodha). 4. The way to the end of suffering. The way is called the Noble Eightfold Path or Majjhima Patipada (The Middle Way).

• Key Buddhist terms: -Anatta; Anicca; Buddha; Dhamma (Dharma); Dukkha; Kamma (Karma); Metta; Nirvana (Nibbana); Samsara; Sangha; Tanha.

• The Buddhist life. All Buddhists should work:- to develop loving kindness and compassion; towards enlightenment; to overcome greed, hatred and ignorance; to learn and practise the Dhamma. Lay Buddhists should also:- contribute to society in a positive and beneficial way; support the monastic Sangha or temple. In the West they are involved with peace and environmental movements, prison chaplaincies, hospitals and hospices. Ordained Buddhists (i.e. monks, nuns and priests) should obey the rules of the order; teach, guide or counsel all who wish to learn or seek advice; conduct ceremonies and daily office; study religious texts.

• Buddhist ideas and values are expressed variously through art forms (e.g. Symbolism of Buddha images, especially mudras and beautiful embroidered images of the Buddha called thankas; Temples; wheel of life pictures; dance and drama at festivals; Zen stone and sand gardens).

• Well known Buddhists in the twentieth century are:- The Dalai Lama, U Thant

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