HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Class Notes
Durham Catholic District School Board
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
RELIGION
World Religions: Beliefs, Issues, and
Religious Traditions
Grade 11
University/College Preparation
HRT3M
Unit 4
Buddhism
Mr. A Morra
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Unit 4 Overview
Buddhism (15 Days)
Day 1-2:
Origins
o Textbook Reading (pg. 162-168)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 168)
a) Day 1: The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
o Note: Terminology
o Article: The Way of the Buddha
o Note: The Life of Siddhartha
b) Day 2: Hinduism and Buddhism
o Article: Enlightenment
o Note: Hinduism and Buddhism
Day 3-4:
Exploring Faith Through Film:
o “The Little Buddha” Assignment: Create a chart comparing the life of Jesus with that of Buddha
Day 5-6:
Beliefs
o Textbook Reading (pg. 168-174)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 174)
a) Day 5: Women in Buddhism, Three Characteristics (Marks) of Existence
o Note: Buddhist Beliefs & Characteristics in Buddhism & Three Marks of Existence
o Three Marks of Existence exercise
b) Day 6: Five Precepts (and Additional Precepts), The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path,
The Three Jewels & the Six Perfections
o Handout: Four Noble Truths and the Five Precepts
o PowerPoint: Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path
o Activity: The Noble Eightfold Path Article/Dramatization
o Handout: Buddhist Wisdom and the Dharma Wheel
Day 7-8:
Practices, Rituals, Symbols and Festivals
o Textbook Reading (pg. 178-187)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 187)
a) Day 7: Meditation, Chanting Mantras, Good Karma & Daily Rituals of a Monk
o Note: Daily Practices and Rituals
o Activity: In-Class Meditation
b) Day 8: Buddhist Symbols (Buddha Images, Stupa, The Lotus Flower, Buddhapada, the Wheel of Life,
Mandalas& Buddhist Festivals
o PowerPoint: Symbols and Icons
Day 9:
Milestones & Sacred Writings
Early Life, Becoming a Buddhist Monk, Marriage, Funeral & Sacred Writings
o Textbook Reading (pg. 188-193)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 189 & 193)
o Activity: Buddhist Quotations
Day 10:
Groups and Institutions
o Textbook Reading (pg. 193-199)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 199)
a) Buddhism: Schools of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana
o Note: Sects of Buddhism
o Article: Zen Buddhism
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 11:
Cultural Impact: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso, Buddhism in Canada, The Falun Gong
o Textbook Reading (pg. 200-203 & 206-207)
o Profile Questions (pg. 201 #2 & 3a)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 205)
o Exploring Issues (#1 & 2)
Day 12-15:
Assessment/Evaluation
o CULMINATING TASK: Technological Component
o TEST
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 1-2:
Origins
o Textbook Reading (pg. 162-168)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 168)
a) Day 1: The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
o Note: Terminology
o Article: The Way of the Buddha
o Note: The Life of Siddhartha
b) Day 2: Hinduism and Buddhism
o Article: Enlightenment
o Note: Hinduism and Buddhism
Terminology (Key Words):
o Ahimsa
o Koan
o Anatta
o Mahayana
o Anicca
o Mandala
o Arhatascetic
o Mantras
o Bhikkhu
o Middle Way
o Bhikkhu sangha
o Nirvana
o Bodhisattva
o Noble Eightfold Path
o Buddha
o Samsara
o Dalai Lama
o Sangha
o Dana
o Satori
o Dharma
o Six Perfections
o Dukkha
o Sutras
o Enlightenment
o Theravada
o Five precepts
o Tripitaka
o Four Noble truths
o Wheel of Life
o Four sights
o Zen
o Karma
______________________________________________________________________________________
The Life of Siddhartha, the Buddha
A Rich Young Man:
Over 2500 years ago, a Hindu named Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy warrior caste in Nepal
India. His father was worried that if his son saw the suffering in the world, he would be moved by compassion
to save others instead of being a worldwide ruler (as he wanted his son to be). As a result, his father shielded
him from ever experiencing suffering in the world.
Under these circumstances, Siddhartha got married and raised a healthy son. Eventually, however, he finally
experienced human suffering in three forms:
1. He saw an OLD man
2. He saw a SICK man
3. He saw a DEAD man
He then realized that the suffering did in fact exist and that we would all eventually face these three forms of
suffering.
A Devout Hindu Ascetic:
Gautama became tormented by the questions about life and death. At the age of twenty nine he made the
decision to leave his wealthy life and family and search for the answers to life’s questions. Gautama practiced
the harsh ascetic disciplines of self denial and yoga for six years. At this time, as he was on the bring of death
from the self denial of his own physical needs, ye then realized that if he was to find the answers that he was
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
looking for he need his physical body to be alive and healthy. At this time, he made the decision to leave his
life of asceticism and search for these answers in other ways.
The Enlightened One:
At this point, Gautama voved to find a middle road (between the life of luxury in which he was raised, and the
harsh realities of asceticism). He sat beneath a fig tree (called a Bodhi Tree – Tree of Knowledge) and vowed
to remain there until he reached his goal of Enlightenment. He did finally reach the state of profound moral
and intellectual enlightenment called Nirvana.
Gautama, now had a decision to make, he was torn between remaining there under the Bodhi Tree in blissful
meditation until his death, or choosing to teach others the way to escape suffering and the inevitable chain of
rebirths.
The First Sermon:
After achieving Enlightenment, Siddhartha went to Sarnath, in India, and in a park reserved for royal deer, he
preached his first sermon. This event is referred to as the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dharma”.
o
o
Siddhartha shared his new understanding of life with five Hindu ascetics who accepted his ideas and
became bhikkhus (Buddhist Monks)
His teachings spread and after five years an order of monks called the sangha was established. An order
of nuns called the Bhikkhuni Sangha.
For the next forty years the Buddha traveled all over northern and central India preaching his philosophy
On his deathbed, the Buddha expressed that each person should decide which teachings to follow, based on
personal evaluation and that each person is responsible for their own salvation.
Upon his death, he reached the state of parinirvana, or complete nirvana, which released him from the cycle of
involuntary rebirth.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Hinduism and Buddhism; A Comparison
Origins
Founder
God
Authority
Sin
Afterlife
Salvation
Rituals
Society
Life Focus
Meditation
Beliefs
Philosophy of Life
Hinduism
Emerged after centuries of growth
Unknown
Many Gods
Brahmins
Violation of Karma
Union with Brahman
Through Moksha
Puja
Caste System
Ascetics and Self Denial
Mantras and Mandalas
Many and Complex: umbrella
religion
Unhappiness is unavoidable and
accepted
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
Buddhism
As a result of Siddhartha’s
enlightenment
Siddhartha Guatama
No Absolute God
Buddha’s Teachings
Violation of Right Conduct
Perfect Bliss (Nirvana)
By Enlightenment
Prayer before the Buddha
All are equal
Middle Path and Moderation
Mantras, Mandalas, Koans, Haiku
Few and simple: four Noble
Truths and Eightfold Path
Suffering is present but can be
eliminated through individual
determination
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Buddhism’s Hindu Origins:
The Buddha was born into the Kshatriya caste, and therefore he was born a Hindu. Some Hindus believe that
the Buddha is an incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Buddhism grew out of Hinduism – while there were many things of the Hindu religion that the Buddha
disagreed with, there were some elements he kept such as;
o Reincarnation
o Samsara
o Karma
o Dharma
o Nirvana
Those in which the Buddha rejected were;
o The caste system – because of the powerful Brahmin caste. The caste system was against the
Buddhist notion of equality for all. Also, the Buddha believed that people were responsible for
their own spiritual fulfillment rather than being told what to do by the Brahmins.
o Hindu rituals – because he saw them as insignificant activities that dominated the religion.
These included making offerings to the gods, chants and sacrifices. Brahmins also collected
money for performing meaningless rituals.
o Questions of Creation – because he felt that these questions could not be answered and that it
was pointless to try.
o Language of Hinduism (Sanskrit) – The Brahmins used Sanskrit, a language that few spoke or
understood. This left the religion under the control of the Brahmins. Buddha gave all his talks in
Pali, the language of the common people, making Buddhism accessible to all.
o Endless Rebirths – he believed that through self-effort, enlightenment could be achieved in one
lifetime, regardless of one’s position in society.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 3-4:
Film: The Little Buddha
o Assignment: Create a chart comparing the life of Jesus with that of Buddha
Day 5-6:
Beliefs
o Textbook Reading (pg. 168-174)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 174)
a) Day 5: Women in Buddhism, Three Characteristics (Marks) of Existence
o Article: The Teachings of the Buddha
o Note: Buddhist Beliefs & Characteristics in Buddhism & Three Marks of Existence
o Three Marks of Existence exercise
b) Day 6: Five Precepts (and Additional Precepts), The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold
Path, The Three Jewels & the Six Perfections
o Note: The Five/Ten Precepts & Buddhist Wisdom
o Article: The Four Noble Truths, Magga: The Path
o PowerPoint: Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path
o Activity: The Noble Eightfold Path Article/Dramatization
Buddhist Beliefs
Siddhartha was a reformer in the Hindu tradition. He offered a simple and direct message as to how to be
awake to life. Siddhartha’s life is an expression of basic Buddhist beliefs.
o
o
o
o
People are confused because their minds are caught up in trivial things
People are in need of profound enlightenment
Buddhism believes in moderation: Good fortune could be as bad for us as bad fortune if we are not
prepared for it
They need to be guided along the path to enlightenment
Buddhists do not believe in a God who rewards of punishes people for what they do. A person’s Karma is not
a reward or punishment from an outside force, it is simply the natural result of everything that he or she has
done.
The Dharma in the Buddhist tradition refers to “teachings”. When a Buddhist speaks of practising the
Dharma, he or she is referring to the “Teachings of the Buddha”
Some Characteristics of Buddhism:
1. Buddha is not a supreme God
2. Buddhism claims eventual extinction of self
3. Buddhism is pragmatic and practical
4. Buddhism is optimistic towards life
5. Buddhism does not attack other religions
6. Buddhism is not just a religion… it is a way of life!
The Three Marks of Existence:
1. Anicca:
All things are constantly changing. Everything depends on certain conditions which themselves may
change.
2. Anatta:
All beings are interdependent. Nothing can survive on its own.
3. Dukkha:
Life is full of suffering. This world is unsatisfactory. It cannot give people everything that they need.
Dukkha will slow you down and make your journey through life more uncomfortable.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
The Five/Ten Precepts
The first five precepts all Buddhist must follow:
1. Abstain from killing or harming living beings
2. Abstain from steeling
3. Abstain from improper sexual conduct
4. Abstain from false speech
5. Abstain from drugs and alcohol
The next five precepts, all Buddhist monks and nuns must also follow:
6. Abstain from eating after noon
7. Abstain from looking at dancing, singing and drama
8. Abstain from the use of perfumes and other things that beautify or adorn a person
9. Abstain from the use of a comfortable bed
10. Abstain from accepting gold or silver
______________________________________________________________________________________
Buddhist Wisdom
Sorrow/suffering is caused by recurring greed associated with enjoyment and desire and seeking pleasure
everywhere.
The key to ending sorrow/suffering is in the complete cessation, giving up, abandoning and detachment from
greed. The path to this cessation is Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
The revolutionary nature of Siddhartha’s teaching is the rejection of asceticism or self denial. Most religions
advocate self denial. Buddha taught that the way to salvation is in the middle path between excessive pleasure
seeking and total rejection of pleasure.
The Symbol of the path to enlightenment (eightfold path) is the wheel with eight spokes (Dharma Wheel), all
spokes leading to the middle (nirvana).
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 7-8:
Practices, Rituals, Symbols and Festivals
o Textbook Reading (pg. 178-187)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 187)
a) Day 7: Meditation, Chanting Mantras, Good Karma & Daily Rituals of a Monk
o Note: Daily Practices and Rituals
o Activity: In-Class Meditation
b) Day 8: Buddhist Symbols (Buddha Images, Stupa, The Lotus Flower, Buddhapada, the Wheel of
Life, Mandalas& Buddhist Festivals
o PowerPoint: Symbols and Icons
Daily Practices and Rituals
Buddhist devotions (prayers) are not preformed in a temple with others, expect for major festivals. People
have a place in their home where they can worship called a home alter.
Home worship can be done in the morning and/or in the evening. It is also possible to go to the temple at any
time, but most likely visited on “special days”.
Puja
Buddhist practice a form of devotion called puja. Puja is the practice of honoring holy beings by bowing,
making offerings to the holy being and chanting a sacred prayer.
Meditation
Buddhists also pray through meditation, again this involves bowing, chanting and making offerings.
o Buddhists believe that meditation leads to wisdom, which then leads to ending suffering.
o Meditation enables a person to be composed and calm and help one follow the Buddhist precepts more
closely.
o It calms the mind, clearing it of bad thoughts caused by hatred, greed or ignorance.
o It also brings insights into truths and inner peace, which leads to compassion and humility.
o Finally, it can improve confidence as well as general mental and physical health
Mantras
Mantras are symbolic phrases that are chanted by Buddhists to help keep them in touch with their spiritual
nature. They also help to enhance meditation. OM Mani Padme Hum is a six-syllable mantra; it means
“Hail, the jewel in the lotus”. Anyone who recites this phrase will be saved from all danger.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 9:
Milestones & Sacred Writings
Early Life, Becoming a Buddhist Monk, Marriage, Funeral & Sacred Writings
o Textbook Reading (pg. 188-193)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 189 & 193)
o Activity: Buddhist Quotations
Day 10:
Groups and Institutions
o Textbook Reading (pg. 193-199)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 199)
a) Day 10: Buddhism: Schools of Theravada, Mahayana and Zen Buddhism
o Note: Sects of Buddhism
o Article: Zen Buddhism
Buddhist Sects
After Siddhartha’s death, the teachings that he left behind implied that God/gods were irrelevant and that
worship, temples, scriptures and priests were not necessary. He also left behind a group of monks and nuns
(the Sangha) to carry out his message.
The Sangha was a small group of people who would offer guidance to those people who thought that they
needed it. It is in these small communities that one learns to recognize false selfhood.
Siddhartha’s followers would soon fight over the meaning of his teachings. Eventually his followers, who
could not agree on one form of Buddhist practice, split into two major forms:
1. Theravada Buddhism: Meaning “the tradition of the elders”, remained close to the teachings of
the Buddha
2. Mahayana Buddhism: Meaning “the larger vehicle” (less strict), accepted change to its
teachings as it spread to different countries
o Zen Buddhism: a Japanese form of Buddhism that is popular in the
western countries
Theravada Buddhism:
It is centered mainly in the areas of Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand. It is called “the tradition of the elders” and
is very strict in it’s belief system. They believe that people must work for their own salvation. They get no help
from any divine sources or gods. The main purpose of life is to acquire wisdom through meditation. He/she
is supposed to try to imitate the life of the Buddha. The ultimate goal is to become an Arhat (a person who has
reached enlightenment, tasted Nirvana and is awaiting death to fully experience it).
Young men usually spend several months in a Monastery. As a ceremonial rite of initiation they have their
heads shaven, they are given new names, yellow robes and begging bowls. A man will not marry until he has
served as a monk. As an adult, his closest friends are likely to be those from the monastery. Nearly one
million Buddhists live as monks and nuns. They may return to society at any time.
Although people sometimes chant while gathered together in from of a statue of the Buddha, there is very little
common ritual.
They accept only the early Pali Scriptures called the Tripitakas (3 baskets) as the only important writings of the
Buddha. They deal with the teachings on monastic rules and spiritual instruction.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism:
Although the major doctrine for Buddhists is the Four Noble Truths, Mahayanists also follow the Bodhisattva
Doctrine. The Doctrine is centred around the goal of liberation from suffering. People who set their eyes on
this goal, commit themselves to constantly working for the benefits of others. They concentrate on trying to
reach the perfect awakening and in the process thy press towards actually trying to become Bodhisattvas
(Buddhas in the making).
As Mahayanists travel along their path, they are helped by Celestial Bodhisattvas. These are powerful beings
that are free of rebirth and are fully liberated. They can now freely choose when and if they are to be reborn.
They will only choose to be reborn to save other living beings. Once people have attained perfect awakening,
and have become celestial Bodhisattvas, they can help others along their path.
Mahayana Buddhists consider meditation to be very important. They often focus their meditation on the
concept of “emptiness”. The thought of emptiness and nothingness includes an understanding that nothing is
self existent. Understanding emptiness eventually leads to liberation.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
HRT 3M1: Grade 11 World Religions
Unit 4: Buddhism
Day 11:
Cultural Impact: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama: Tenzin Gyatso, Buddhism in Canada, The Falun Gong
o Textbook Reading (pg. 200-203 & 206-207)
o Profile Questions (pg. 201 #2 & 3a)
o Check Your Understanding (pg. 205)
o Exploring Issues (#1 & 2)
Day 12-15:
Assessment/Evaluation
o CULMINATING TASK: Technological Component
o TEST
Assignment 3.1: Create a Digital Infographic
Individually, create a digital infographic (along with pictures, stats, graphics, charts, etc), which illustrates one of
the Buddhist teachings. Your final product must original. You may use the following as themes to your
infographic:
o Origins of Buddhism
o The Eightfold Path
o Moderation
o Buddhist Milestones/Rights of
o The Five/Ten Precepts
Passage
o The Four Noble Truths
Suggested applications:
1. Piktochart
2. Canva
Criteria
Knowledge and
Understanding
___/10
Thinking and Inquiry
___/10
Visual and Written
Communication of
Material
___/10
Application
(presentation)
___/10
3.
4.
5.
Sway
Powtoons
ArchGIS (Story maps)
Level 1 (9-10)
Demonstrated a
thorough knowledge
and understanding of
the Buddhist
teachings.
Demonstrated a very
high degree of
interpretation and
analysis of the
Buddhist teachings
making it
understanding.
Excellent sense of
audience and purpose.
Highly professional in
appearance and
deportment. Ideas
flowed extremely
smoothly and
logically.
Level 2 (8-7)
Demonstrated a
considerable knowledge
and understanding of the
Buddhist teachings.
Level 3 (6-5)
Demonstrated a basic
level knowledge and
understanding of the
Buddhist teachings.
Level R (below 5)
Failed to demonstrate
adequate knowledge
and understanding of
the Buddhist teachings.
Demonstrated a good
level of interpretation and
analysis of the Buddhist
teachings making it
understanding.
Demonstrated a basic
level of interpretation
and analysis of the
Buddhist teachings
making it
understanding.
Did not demonstrate an
acceptable degree of
interpretation and
analysis of the Buddhist
teachings making it
understanding.
Good sense of audience
and purpose. Somewhat
professional in
appearance and
deportment. Ideas
flowed smoothly and
logically.
Limited sense of
audience and purpose.
Not professional in
appearance and
deportment. Ideas did
not flow smoothly and
logically.
Superb organization
evident. An excellent
representation of the
Buddhist Teaching.
Some good organization
evident. An good
representation of the
Buddhist Teaching.
General sense of
audience and
purpose. Lacking
professional in
appearance and
deportment. Ideas
flowed somewhat
smoothly and
logically.
Limited organization
present. A moderate
representation of the
Buddhist Teaching.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
Mr. Morra
Not well organized.
An poor representation
of the Buddhist
Teaching.