1. Buddhist Beliefs Impermanence
© Martin Downes, 2016, CC BY NC. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit You are free to use, share and adapt this work. Not for commercial use.

2. Today’s Learning Intentions
I can describe Buddhist beliefs about impermanence
I can reflect on the implications of these beliefs for followers of Buddhism
What are our success criteria?

3. Is it better to learn from experience or to be told something?
Class Discussion
Is it better to learn from experience or to be told something?
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Do not touch sign -
Baby with lemon -

4. Class Discussion
Can you think of anything important you have learnt by discovering it for yourself?

5. Kisagotami and the Mustard Seed
Listen
Kisagotami and the Mustard Seed
Read
This is a story about a mother whose son dies. She goes to the Buddha to ask for help.
Listen and read along to the story.
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6. Once upon a time there was a young woman called Kisagotami
Once upon a time there was a young woman called Kisagotami. She married and had a son, a lovely little boy. Disease struck the village, and the young child got sick and died. Kisagotami was distraught, and could not accept what had happened. She carried her child from house to house asking for medicine to cure her little boy. Time after time the people tried to tell her the child was dead, but she would not believe them. Eventually a kindly villager told her, “I can’t give you medicine, but I know a man who can. Go and visit the Buddha in his monastery.” Kisagotami followed his directions and approached the Buddha.

7. “Please give me medicine to cure my son. ” she entreated the Buddha
“Please give me medicine to cure my son!” she entreated the Buddha. The Buddha replied, “I can cure your son if you can fetch me a mustard seed.” “Of course!” responded Kisagotami, delighted by how simple this requirement was. “One thing, though,” added the Buddha, “the mustard seed must come from a house in which nobody has ever died.” So off Kisagotami went again, knocking on the doors of the village, asking for a mustard seed. Everyone could spare her a seed, but when she asked if anyone had died in the household, the reply every time was: “Yes, of course.”
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8. After a while, the truth began to dawn on Kisagotami
After a while, the truth began to dawn on Kisagotami. Death was everywhere. Everyone had lost somebody they loved. She was selfish to think she was special, or that her child could be spared. At last Kisagotami was able to accept that her child had died. She had a funeral performed, then returned to the monastery, where she thanked the Buddha for his teaching, and asked to become a nun. She was ordained and became one of the most high achieving nuns in the Buddha’s community. After diligent practice, Kisagotami achieved nirvana, and was thereby freed from the cycle of death and rebirth.

9. Reflect on the story Discuss in Pairs
Why can’t Kisagotami understand that her son is dead?
Why doesn’t the Buddha just tell her that everyone dies, rather than send her off on an impossible mission?
What does Kisagotami learn as she goes house to house seeking a mustard seed?
What effect does this experience have on Kisagotami?

10. Impermanence Class Discussion
Today’s key word is impermanence. It is an important belief in Buddhism. Another way of expressing this word is ‘not permanent’.
Watch this video clip:
Discuss:
Using what we’ve considered so far, what do you think impermanence means?
Why do you think this is important to Buddhists?

11. Impermanence
Think
Impermanence is the belief that nothing in life stays the same, and everything will eventually come to an end.
Buddhists would say that understanding this is important, because if we try to hold on to things that do not last, we will become unhappy – just like Kisagotami did in the story.
Buddhists believe they need to learn to stop ‘clinging on’ to things that won’t last, because these things will only make them unhappy.
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12. For example…
I got a brand new phone, great! I love it! It makes me so happy! But….
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13. What if you break it? How would you feel?
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14. What if a newer phone comes out, and everyone gets it apart from you
What if a newer phone comes out, and everyone gets it apart from you? How would you feel?
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15. Discuss in Pairs
Task
Working in pairs, can you think of any thing in your life that will last forever? What about:
Friendships?
Possessions?
Feelings?
What happens if we try to ‘cling on’ to these things? In the end, will we be happy or sad?

16. Reflection Class Discussion
Do you think Buddhist teachings about impermanence are a helpful way to think about the world?

17. Task Write Compose your own story that describes impermanence.
You can create your own story entirely or you can base it on the story of Kisagotami. It’s up to you.
You can choose the characters and the objects.
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18. Answer these questions
Write
Answer these questions
1) What do Buddhists believe about impermanence?
Buddhists believe impermanence is…
2) How might beliefs about impermanence impact the way Buddhists live their lives?
Beliefs about impermanence impact the lives of Buddhists by…

19. Did we achieve our learning intentions?
I can describe Buddhist beliefs about impermanence
I can reflect on the implications of this beliefs for followers of Buddhism

21. Read
Think
Class Discussion
Discuss in Pairs
Write
Discuss in Groups
Video
In Groups
Listen