Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson on Kamma and rebirth.

Today's lesson forms part of our unit on Buddhism: practises.

Okay, let's begin.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain Buddhist beliefs on karma and rebirth, why these beliefs are important and how they influence Buddhists today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five keywords.

Our keywords are: enlightenment, karma, Nirvana, rebirth, and samsara.

Enlightenment refers to a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence.

Karma is the belief in cause and effect.

Nirvana is liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Rebirth refers to the belief that when a being dies, they are reborn.

And samsara refers to the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Today's lesson on karma and rebirth takes two parts.

We are going to begin by exploring beliefs on karma and rebirth, followed by the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Okay, let's begin today's lesson.

Linn is a Therevada Buddhist and Tashi is a Mahayana Buddhist.

Here they explain their belief in karma and rebirth.

Linn says, "Karma is a central belief in Buddhist ethics.

Karma is a belief in cause and effect.

I believe that all my actions and intentions have consequences." Tashi tells us, "I believe this too.

I believe that my intentions and actions create karma, which will impact my future.

I believe that I need to gain positive karma and merit to have a good rebirth." The term karma has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language: karman meaning action, effect, or fate.

So karma is a belief in cause and effect, intentions and actions will affect the future.

So you will notice that karma is spelled two different ways.

So the spelling K-A-R-M-A is the Sanskrit spelling of the word karma, and K-A-double M-A is the Pali spelling of the term, kamma.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the correct definition of karma? A: the belief in cause and effect.

B: the belief that when a being dies, they are reborn.

or C, the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected A.

The correct definition of karma is the belief in cause and effect.

Linn explains the principles of karma.

Linn says, "I believe that a person's actions can lead to suffering or happiness.

Suffering is caused by unskillful actions.

These are actions rooted in ignorance, cravings, and hatred.

Skillful actions are rooted in compassion and generosity.

I want to develop skillful actions because they create positive karma and lead to happiness.

This means that I can change my future through my own actions." The Dhammapada is a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority.

And in Dhammapada verse 183, it says, "To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas." How do you think this verse could be interpreted? Pause the video here and with your partner, discuss how could this verse be interpreted? Press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back everyone.

Great discussions.

Well, one way this verse could be interpreted is to mean Buddhists should avoid harmful actions.

Instead, they should develop good virtues to create positive karma.

True or false: Skillful actions are rooted in compassion and generosity? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you selected True.

Skillful actions create happiness and good karma.

Lucas asks, "As a Theravada Buddhist monk, what is your belief in karma and rebirth, Niti?" Niti says, "Karma means that all actions have consequences.

If my words and actions are unskillful, I will cause suffering and receive negative consequences.

My actions and words need to be positive and skillful.

My actions will affect my rebirth.

My goal is to achieve enlightenment so I can escape samsara and attain Nirvana." So you will notice the differences in the spelling.

You have Nirvana and Nibbana.

So when you see it spelled N-I-R-V-A-N-A, that is the Sanskrit spelling and N-I-double B-A-N-A, that is the Pali spelling.

So when you see the spellings Nirvana, Nibbana, they're both referring to liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Lucas asks, "As a Mahayana Buddhist monk, what is your belief in karma and rebirth, Ting?" Ting replies, "I also want to gain positive karma so that I can have a good rebirth.

My goal is to achieve enlightenment, but rather than escaping samsara, I want to remain in the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth because I want to help others on the path to achieving enlightenment.

My goal is to be reborn as a Bodhisattva.

True or false: All Buddhists aim to escape the cycle of samsara and reach Nirvana.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, fantastic.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

While most Therevada Buddhists do have this goal, most Mahayana Buddhists want to remain in samsara to help others on the path to enlightenment.

So now we're going to pause and complete our first practise task.

Here is a question on Buddhist beliefs about karma.

Explain two different Buddhist beliefs about karma.

Develop each of the points in the table.

So the first point: One Buddhist belief about karma is that all actions and intentions have consequences.

The second point, another Buddhist belief about karma is that it affects a person's rebirth.

So remember, you are looking to develop each of the points in the table.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video here and then press play when you are ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So let's check your answers to the question: Explain two Buddhist beliefs about karma.

Your answer may include the following points.

So the first point was: One Buddhist belief about karma is that all actions and intentions have consequences.

A development of this point could be: the Dhammapada teaches people to avoid all evil and to cultivate good.

This shows the importance of developing positive actions.

Buddhists believe this will result in good karma.

The second point: Another Buddhist belief about karma is that it affects a person's rebirth.

And the development of that point could be: The goal of most Buddhists is to avoid rebirth.

This can be achieved by reaching enlightenment, escaping samsara and attaining Nirvana.

Fantastic.

Well done on all of your hard work completing the first practise task.

So now we're gonna move on to the second part of our lesson on karma and rebirth by considering the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Niti and Ting, Buddhist monks, discuss the importance of karma and rebirth.

Niti says, "The beliefs are important to me because it shows me that I must achieve positive karma to avoid a rebirth and attain my goal of reaching Nirvana." Ting says, "The beliefs are important to me because it shows me that I must also achieve positive karma.

I will do this by following the Bodhisattva path.

My goal is to ensure all individuals achieve enlightenment first." What are the similarities and differences between Niti and Ting's views? Pause the video here and with your partner, have a discussion.

Identify some similarities and differences between their views.

So a similarity you may have identified between Niti and Ting's views is that they both see the importance of attaining positive karma.

However, Niti wants to do this to avoid a rebirth because his goal is to reach Nirvana.

On the other hand, a difference is that Ting wants to stay on the Bodhisattva path because he wants to help other people achieve enlightenment first.

Lucas says, "How are you influenced by your belief in karma and rebirth, Niti?" Niti responds: "My beliefs in karma and rebirth influence me to follow the Eightfold Path.

Right action is one of the stages of the Eightfold Path, and this influences me to act morally and do the right thing to reduce suffering for myself and others and to eventually achieve enlightenment." Linn explains why the belief in karma and rebirth is important to her.

Linn says, "My beliefs in karma and rebirth are important because they empower me to influence my rebirth.

My actions and intentions create karma which will impact my future.

I'm influenced to reduce dukkha, which is suffering.

I do this by following the Eightfold Path.

For example, the stage of 'Right livelihood' influences me to get a job that doesn't create harm or suffering to others." True or false: The belief in karma and rebirth may influence many Buddhists to follow the Eightfold Path? Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Many Buddhists will follow the stages of the Eightfold Path to reduce dukkha, suffering.

This is also an important way to achieve positive karma.

Fantastic, everyone.

Well done.

Lucas asks, "How are you influenced by your belief in karma and rebirth, Ting?" Ting says, "I'm influenced to act with karuna, meaning compassion, and metta, meaning loving-kindness to all living beings.

One way I do this is by sharing the wisdom of the Buddha's Dhamma.

I do this out of compassion and to help those who are suffering, I also follow the five precepts, or panchasila, to reduce suffering and to achieve positive karma." The five moral precepts, also known as panchasila, are: refrain from the misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct, refrain from wrong speech, refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind, refrain from taking life, and refrain from taking what is not given.

Refrain from the misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct includes avoiding overindulging in things like food and not cheating in relationships.

Refraining from wrong speech is avoiding lying or spreading rumours or gossip, for example.

Refraining from intoxicants that cloud the mind: that involves avoiding alcohol and drugs.

Refraining from taking life is avoiding harm to any living being, so that's human beings and animals.

And then refraining from taking what is not given.

So that would include avoiding taking things that are not yours, so not stealing, for example.

Tashi explains how the belief in karma and rebirth influences her.

Tashi says, "My beliefs also influence me to follow the five precepts.

One way that I do this is by not taking things that do not belong to me.

For example, if I wanted to borrow someone's equipment at school, I would always seek permission first.

I also try really hard to avoid lying or spreading rumours.

This would create negative karma, and create dukkha.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of these is not one of the five moral precepts? A: Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.

B: Refrain from taking life.

C: Refrain from right speech.

or D: Refrain from taking what is not given.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said the correct statement is C: Refrain from "Right speech" is not one of the five moral precepts.

Beliefs about karma and rebirth influence most Buddhists to: practise the stages of the Eightfold Path; demonstrate compassion, also known in Buddhism as karuna; develop loving-kindness, known in Buddhism as metta; and adopt the five moral precepts.

So these are all ways that beliefs about karma and rebirth could influence most Buddhists.

True or false: Karuna means loving-kindness? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false, because karuna means compassion, metta means loving kindness.

Okay, time to complete our second and final practise task so that you can demonstrate your understanding of the importance and influence of the Buddhist beliefs in karma and rebirth.

So the table below contains points about the importance of the belief in karma and rebirth for Buddhists.

So the first point is the beliefs teach the importance of achieving positive karma.

Secondly, the beliefs demonstrate how to avoid a rebirth and how to attain the goal of reaching Nirvana.

And thirdly, the beliefs demonstrate to Buddhists how they can reduce suffering, or dukkha.

So what you need to do is complete the table by explaining how these beliefs about the importance of karma and rebirth can influence Buddhists today.

So what impact can these beliefs have on a Buddhist's life? Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video here and then press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everyone.

Time to check your answers.

So you were asked to complete the table below by including an influence of each of the three beliefs.

So the first point was the beliefs teach the importance of achieving positive karma, and an influence could be most Buddhists will act with compassion or karuna and demonstrate loving-kindness or metta to all living beings.

Secondly, the beliefs demonstrate how to avoid a rebirth and how to attain the goal of reaching Nirvana.

An influence could be: Many Buddhists will practise the stages of the Eightfold Path.

For example, the stage of "Right livelihood" influences most Buddhists to get a job that doesn't create harm or suffering to others.

And thirdly, the beliefs demonstrate to Buddhists how they can reduce suffering or dukkha.

And an influence of this belief could be: Many Buddhists will follow the five moral precepts, such as refrain from wrong speech because this causes suffering and creates negative karma.

Fantastic.

Well done on completing the second practise task today.

So that brings us to the summary of our learning today on karma and rebirth.

So our key points of learning in today's lesson are: Karma is the belief in cause and effect.

Karma impacts on individual's rebirth.

Many Buddhists want to gain positive karma to achieve enlightenment.

The goal of many Buddhists is to escape samsara and attain Nirvana.

Compassion, or karuna, and loving-kindness, metta, are ways to achieve positive karma.

And finally, many Buddhists are influenced to adopt the five moral precepts or panchasila to achieve positive karma.

Fantastic.

Well done on all of your hard work in today's lesson.

Goodbye.