1. Introduction to Buddhism Aim: To be able to describe at least three keys beliefs of Buddhists.

2. Welcome to S4 RMPS http://graemermps.wikispaces.com/home

3. Task 1 Think about answers to these questions and write an answer in your jotter: (a) Where does human life come from? (b) What different things make up a human being? (c) What makes human life happy and enjoyable? (d) What makes human life unhappy and difficult? (e) What do human beings need for survival?

4. Task 2 Watch the video and take notes in the form of a spider diagram – then transfer your info into a summary paragraph.

6. When? Buddhist teachings are about 2500 years old. Today there are estimated to be about 327 million Buddhists, most of whom live in Asia.

7. Who Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the BUDDHA. He lived in India in the 6 th century BCE. Buddha is not his name but a special title meaning “the enlightened one”.

8. Why? Buddhists believe that by following the teachings of the Buddha, they too can gain enlightenment. Buddhists do not believe in an all powerful God; they do not believe that Buddha himself was more important than a normal human being. He was important because he had reached enlightenment.

9. What ENLIGHTENMENT is a special understanding, realising the truth about how things are. Buddhists believe that the world is imperfect but the Buddha found the answer to why this is and how we can cope with it.

12. Buddhists believe that when they die they will be reborn unless they reach enlightenment. This cycle of life, death and rebirth is called SAMSARA. Buddhists try to break this cycle and reach NIRVANA. This is the end of imperfection and the state of perfect peace. They try to reach Nirvana by meditating and following the Buddha’s teachings. BIRTH DEATH REBIRTH

13. TASK 3 Complete the tasks on page 3 WRITE IN YOUR JOTTER – use the first couple of pages to help you.

14. Task 4 Create a basic hierarchy pyramid in your jotter with key information / symbols / images. Make it clear and colourful