1. Living the life of luxury?
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Living the life of luxury?
Did the Buddha’s early life bring happiness?
I can describe Buddha’s birth
I can describe Buddha’s early life
I can explain the impact of the Four Sights

2. The Caste System Engage Endeavour Explore Elaborate Evaluate End
SG disagreed – people are people. Dad wanted him to be reborn as Brahman.
Untouchables

3. Siddattha’s birth Read the information and write down three key ideas.
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Siddattha’s birth
Read the information and write down three key ideas.
Why did Siddattha’s father not want him to be a religious teacher?
Why did his father protect him from knowledge about real life?
Challenge:
Explain why Buddhists are not concerned about the historical accuracy of stories about the Buddha.

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Whilst watching the clip write down key events in Siddattha Gotama’s life. Think, pair, share…

5. What questions did the Buddha have about life?
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What questions did the Buddha have about life?
Explain the impact that the Four Sights had on the Buddha’s life.

6. How did Buddha reach Enlightenment?
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Can I see clearly?
I can describe the impact of Siddattha’sascetic life
I can explain the importance of Enlightenment
I can explain the impact of believing in enlightenment
How did Buddha reach Enlightenment?

7. The ascetic life Engage Endeavour Explore Elaborate Evaluate End
In his quest for understanding about why we suffer, Siddattha lived an ascetic life for the next six years. This meant trying to overcome suffering by exposing himself to suffering. He reduced his physical needs and almost starved himself to death, surviving on just six sesame seeds a day.
But Siddattha could not reach the level of satisfaction he sought.
Then one day a young girl offered him a bowl of rice. As he accepted it, he suddenly realised that neither ascetism (he was too weak to even meditate) nor a life of luxury could protect him from suffering. So he had his rice, drank water and bathed in the river.
From then on, however, Siddattha encouraged people to follow a path of balance instead of one characterized by extremism. He called this path the Middle Way.
Summarise three key points from this information.
Challenge: Link this to Buddha’s early life.

8. How does this activity link to Buddha’s life?
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Enlightenment is a bit like…
Suddenly being released from slavery
Suddenly being released from prison
Suddenly paying off your debts
You feel joy, freedom, security and independence.
How does this activity link to Buddha’s life?

9. Enlightenment Read the information and answer these questions:
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Enlightenment
Read the information and answer these questions:
How did Siddattha become enlightened?
Who was Mara, and what does he represent?
Why was becoming enlightened so important for the Buddha?
How might believing in enlightenment affect a Buddhist?
Challenge:
Create your own analogy for enlightenment and explain why enlightenment is so difficult to explain.
Worksheet

11. The Four Noble Truths Why do we suffer?
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The Four Noble Truths
I can describe the four noble truths
I can explain the significance of dukkha
I can explain the impact of the Four noble truths on Buddhists’ lives
Why do we suffer?

12. Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
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Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
  1. All life involves suffering (dukkha)
Think about ways in which you or people you know might be suffering now
What causes this suffering?
2. Suffering is caused by craving - desire and attachment:
If we want to hang on to things that we have, then we will suffer either because we are afraid that we might lose them or when we actually do lose them – because everything changes
If we want things we haven't got, then we will not be happy and suffer
Can you apply the idea of desire or attachment to any of your examples?
Life would be better if…. Complete this sentence – how does this link to the Four Noble Truths?
3. The way to overcome suffering is to overcome craving
This leads to nirbana (a peaceful state, no longer motivated by the Three Poisons)
4. To overcome craving we need to follow the Middle Way and Eightfold Path  

13. Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
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Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
1. All life involves suffering (dukkha) a) Write down examples of how the Buddha’s life involved suffering 2. Suffering is caused by craving - desire and attachment: b) When did the Buddha experience this? Try to find three examples 3. The way to overcome suffering is to overcome craving 4. To overcome craving we need to follow the Middle Way and Eightfold Path c) Which events in the Buddha’s life made him realise he should follow the Middle Way?

14. Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
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Why do we suffer? The Four Noble Truths
How could understanding the Four Noble Truths affect Buddhists’ lives? Could it help them? How easy is it to follow them?

15. How easy is it to follow the Eightfold Path?
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How can I get it right?
I can describe the Eightfold Path
I can explain the impact of the Eightfold Path
I can explain the challenges of following the Eightfold Path
How easy is it to follow the Eightfold Path?

16. Engage
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17. Engage
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The Eightfold Path
Use the information to help you complete your dartboard:
Middle circle – what Buddhists should do
Outer circle – what Buddhists should not do
Challenge: Which do you think is the easiest of the 8 rules to follow? Why?
Explain different groupings

18. The Eightfold Path
In order to attain enlightenment and nibbana a Buddhist must practice the Middle Way and follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The Middle Way means you should live your life in a way that avoids extremes. For example, people should not allow themselves to be too stressed or too laid back. We should not starve ourselves or overeat. The Middle Way suggests living a in a practical way. As a guide, the Buddha taught that Buddhists should follow eight steps towards perfecting the Middle Way, attaining enlightenment and experiencing nibbana. This is called the Noble Eight Fold Path. A Buddhist should have:
Right View – being aware of suffering and its causes; accepting Buddhist teachings
Right Intention – thinking good things and having good intentions towards others; deciding to follow Buddhist teachings for the right reasons
Right Action – they should do good things and avoid hurting or harming others
Right Speech – they should avoid malicious gossip, lying and saying things in anger
Right Livelihood – they should have a job or occupation that helps others. They should avoid jobs and occupations that harm others.
Right Effort – they should try to improve the happiness of themselves and others
Right Mindfulness – they should constantly be aware of what they are doing
Right Concentration – they should meditate and try to keep a calm and alert state of mind.

21. Right concentration
Right
view
Right mindfulness
Right
intention
Right
speech
Right effort
Right
livelihood
Right
action

22. The Eightfold Path Think, pair, share:
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The Eightfold Path
Think, pair, share:
What challenges might a Buddhist in the UK face when trying to follow the Eightfold Path?
‘Following the Eightfold Path makes you a good person.’ (12)

23. ‘Following the Eightfold Path makes you a good person.’
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‘Following the Eightfold Path makes you a good person.’

24. Homework Stick the sheet into your book and explain: What Dhamma is
What Dhamma is to Buddhists
Explain what Dhamma means to Ajahn Chan.