Introduction to Buddhism
Aim: To be able to describe at least
three keys beliefs of Buddhists.
Welcome to S4 RMPS
http://graemermps.wikispaces.com/home
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?
Task 2
Watch the video
and take notes in
the form of a spider
diagram – then
transfer your info
into a summary
paragraph.
When?
Buddhist teachings are
about 2500 years old.
Today there are
estimated to be about
327 million Buddhists,
most of whom live in
Asia.
Who
Buddhists follow the
teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama,
the BUDDHA. He lived
in India in the 6th
century BCE. Buddha
is not his name but a
special title meaning
“the enlightened one”.
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.
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.
BIRTH
DEATH
REBIRTH
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.
TASK 3
• Complete the
tasks on page 3
WRITE IN YOUR JOTTER –
use the first
couple of pages
to help you.
Task 4
Create a basic
hierarchy pyramid
in your jotter
with key
information /
symbols / images.
Make it clear and
colourful