1. Lesson 5: Ways of Thinking and Living in China
Buddhism
Lesson 5: Ways of Thinking and Living in China

2. Matt Ellis will lead a short (5 or 10 minute) class meditation
Start by leading the class in meditation. The following link provides instructions about how to lead meditation in a school
Invite views/comments before and after the meditation.

3. The Buddha
Along with Daoism and Confucianism, Buddhism is the third major belief system in China.

4. The Buddha was born in Nepal about 2500 years ago
Buddhism began in Northern India or Nepal sometime between the 6th – 4th century BCE and it spread from there throughout India, South-East and East Asia, reaching China around 1st century CE

5. He grew up in a village in India in the foothills of the Himalayas

6. Listen The Story of the Buddha
Listen to the story. The clip linked by clicking on listen is found here:
Other resources relating to the story of Buddha that could also be used by the teacher are:

7. The Buddha was a real person called Siddhartha Gautama
He was born in a place called Lumbini in Nepal, the son of a local king or chieftain.

8. Maya’s Dream
Before his birth, the Buddha’s mother, Maya, had a dream in which she was taken to a magical place and visited by a white elephant (a symbol of greatness in Nepal).
When she woke, she knew the baby she was going to have was going to be a special person.
Although the Buddha was a real person, magical events are weaved into his story, just as occurs in myth-making across all cultures and religions. Stone carvings (such as above) are illustrated stories from the Buddha’s life (rather like ancient comic strips).

9. Born a prince
Siddhartha was born a prince and brought up in great luxury surrounded by youth and beauty.
One of the most noticeable representations of the Buddha are his long earlobes, which were dragged down by the heavy gold and jewelled ear-rings he wore as a prince.

10. Shielded from the world
Siddhartha grew up kind and gentle and took care not to do harm to any creature.
But as he grew up, he was kept ignorant about the outside world, which he had never seen.
He knew nothing of human suffering, old age and death.

11. Siddhartha thought deeply about the world around him and would sit in the palace gardens, cross-legged, in deep meditation.

12. Sought to understand what makes people happy
At the age of 29, he left his palace for the first time, to seek to understand human life.
Magical beings carried his horse’s hooves so no-one would hear him go.
Although the Buddha was a real person, magical events are weaved into his story, just as occurs in myth-making across all cultures and religions

13. In the world, Siddhartha witnessed sickness, old age and death for the first time
He observed four sights: an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic (a person who leads an austere and simple life, denying themselves normal pleasures and material things, usually for religious reasons as part of deep meditation)

14. Lived a simple life
Siddhartha gave up all his riches and material things and for six years lived a simple life in a forest.
He ate less and less until, eventually, he ate just one grain of rice every day and drank from the river.
He meditated (thought deeply) about life.
Image of the Buddha during six-year fast

15. The ‘middle way’
After the Buddha stopped fasting, he came to realise that doing anything to excess was not a helpful way forward, and it was better to take a middle path
He thought about what this meant about the way people should live

16. So when he returned to the world he had a new, deeper understanding of life. The name ‘Buddha’ means ‘the enlightened one.’
He saw that the origin of suffering is being greedy and selfish, thinking that we are more important than everybody else.
The Buddha then started to teach about finding a middle way that is in harmony with the world and does not cause harm to anyone or anything.

17. Retelling the story of the Buddha
Ask pupils to:
Go over the story of the Buddha in your head.
Jot notes/prompts on a whiteboard, or create a storyboard in groups
Retell the story as a team

18. The ‘middle way’ - living in harmony with the world
Think back to Daoism and finding balance in nature and life (the yin and yang).
Do you think Daoism and Buddhism complement one another, or are they in opposition? Why? Think Pair Share

19. Buddhism deeply affects the way people live their lives
Buddhists often practice:
- Meditation
- Pacifism
- Vegetarianism (do not kill)
- Charity

20. Discussion
Does the idea of a “middle way,” in harmony with the world and causing no harm to anyone or anything, make sense to you? Is it realistic? Why or why not?
To what extent, if at all, do you think “greed” and “selfishness” are problems in today’s world? Is there a danger that we think more of our own needs, than of the needs of others, or is this only natural?
The Mogao Caves
Other useful links to the Mogao Caves are:

21. Reflection
Reflect on what you’ve learned about Buddhism and Buddhist ways of thinking and living
Does the idea of a “middle way,” in harmony with the world and causing no harm to anyone or anything, make sense to you? Is it realistic? Why or why not?
To what extent, if at all, do you think “greed” and “selfishness” are problems in today’s world? Is there a danger that we think more of our own needs, than of the needs of others, or is this only natural?
Do you think people might be Buddhist and Daoist at the same time? Why or why not?

22. Although there is no state religion in China, Buddhism is certainly the most widely practised belief system
There are countless Buddhist temples in towns and cities throughout China, many with thriving communities of monks

23. A household Buddhist shrine
Note how similar to the household shrines for ancestors - some houses might have both.

24. The slides from this point are just images of Buddhist history and culture to look at

25. Buddhist monks
Burning incense

26. The bodhisattva Guanyin
Bodhisattvas are rather like saints - they help and guide people to find enlightenment

27. 1000-armed Guanyin, Dazu, Chongqing, China

28. Yungang caves, Datong, Shanxi province, China

29. Image By Zhangzhugang - Own work, CC BY-SA 4. 0, https://commons
The Mogao caves at Dunhuang, Gansu province - the earliest Buddhist site in China

30. Mogao caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province, China

31. Buddhist temple at the Crescent Moon Oasis, Dunhuang - one of the rare water sources that made travel for pilgrims and traders possible across the Gobi Desert (on the Silk Road)