Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our Unit on Buddhism practises.

In today's lesson, we are going to be exploring the role and significance of puja for Buddhist today.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the nature, role, and significance of puja for Buddhist today.

To help us guid through today's lesson, there are four keywords.

Chanting, malas, mantra recitation, and puja, also known as devotional ritual.

Chanting is singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound.

Malas refers to strings of bead used as a prayer aid.

Mantra recitation is a short sequence of words or syllables, chanted repetitively as a form of meditation.

And puja is a name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer, and offerings.

Today's lesson on the role and significance of puja for Buddhist takes two parts.

So first of all, we are going to be exploring the nature and role of puja.

Moving on to consider the significance of puja at home and at the temple.

Jacob wants to learn about the meaning of puja in Buddhism.

He interviews Mike, a Mahayana Buddhist.

Jacob asks, "What is puja, Mike?" Mike replies, "The word puja originates from Hindu Dhamma and means worship.

However, in Buddhism, Puja does not mean worship of a god or gods.

Instead, it represents a gesture of veneration of great respect.

Puja is devotion and commitment to the Dhamma or the teachings of the Buddha or a Bodhisattva.

The term puja has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language.

Puj meaning worship or adoration.

So in Buddhism, puja is a devotional ritual and is a name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer, and offerings.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the meaning of puja? A, singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer, or sound.

B, the name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer, and offerings.

Or C, a short sequence of words or syllables, chanted repetitively as a form of meditation.

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

Well done if you selected B as the correct answer.

The name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer, and offerings is the meaning of puja in Buddhism.

Jacob has another question for Mike.

"What is the nature of puja and Buddhism, Mike?" Mike replies, "Puja includes rituals such as making offerings to the statue of the Buddha or Bodhisattva." Remember the statue of the Buddha or Bodhisattva is known as a Buddha rupa.

"Puja can be carried out as part of a group during a ceremony, or it can be carried out individually.

Puja often involves meditation, chanting, and mantra recitation." In Buddhism, puja can be performed in different places.

At a home shrine, in the temple or monastery, or at a stupa or place of pilgrimage.

True or false? In Buddhism, puja is only performed in the home.

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

Well done if you said this statement is false.

Puja can be performed in the home, at the temple or monastery, at a stupa or a place of pilgrimage.

Jacob wants to learn more about the nature of puja.

He interviews Katrina, a Mahayana Buddhist.

"How do you perform puja, Katrina?" Katrina replies.

"I perform puja in the mornings before going to work.

I start puja by chanting and making offerings to the Budda rupa in my home shrine.

I light a candle, burn incenses, and offer flowers to show respect and devotion to the Buddha's Dhamma." "Katrina, what is chanting and what do you chant during puja?" Katrina tells us, 'Chanting is singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound.

It was the way that early Buddhists would share teachings or important texts.

These would be memorised and passed on orally.

Buddhist monks would chant texts to learn and remember them.

I often start puja by chanting the Three Refuges." The Three Refuges, also known as the Three Jewels are central to Buddhist Dhamma.

The Three Refuges are the Buddha, the Dhamma, meaning his teachings, and the Sangha, meaning the community.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following three form part of The Refugees in Buddhism? A, Dhamma.

B, devotion.

C, Buddha.

D, Sangha.

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

Well done if you selected A, C and D.

Dhamma, Buddha and Sangha form the Three Refuges.

Buddhists might start puja by chanting the Three Refuges.

By saying, I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dhamma, and I take refuge in the Sangha.

What does take refuge mean? Pause the video here and either speak to me or with your partner, consider what is the meaning of take refuge.

Press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, well done if your answer said.

Okay, welcome back.

So what does take refuge mean? So take refuge can mean seeking safety or comfort.

Why might Buddhist chant the Three Refuges? Pause the video here and either talk to me or with your partner, discuss why you think Buddhist might chant the Three Refugees.

Press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Buddhists might chant the Three Refugees because they offer guidance, wisdom, and friendship.

The Dhammapada explains the significance of the Three Refugees.

In Dhammaparda versus 190 to 191.

It says, "He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching and his Order penetrates with transcendental wisdom the Four Noble Truths, suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the Noble Eightfold Path leading to the cessation of suffering." How does this verse highlight the significance of the Three Refugees? Pause the video here and with your partner, or talk to me, how you think this verse highlights the significance of the Three Refugees for Buddhist.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So this verse highlights the significance of the Three Refuges for Buddhists because that this verse highlights that taking refuge in the Buddha, his teachings and the Sangha means you are committing to spiritual growth.

By doing this, you gain the wisdom to understand the Four Noble Truths, what suffering is, why it happens, and how it can end, and the path to end it.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Fill in the missing word from the Buddha's teaching.

"He who has gone for to the Buddha, the Teaching and his Order." Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to check the missing word.

Well done if you said the missing word was refuge.

Jacob interviews Mel, a Tibetan Buddhist to find out more about how Buddhist perform puja.

He asks, "How do you perform puja, Mel?" Mel replies, "I recite mantras during puja.

Mantras are a short sequence of words or syllables, chanted repetitively as a form of meditation.

The mantras help me concentrate on my breath when meditating." Mel explains the use of mantras during puja.

Mel tells us, "I perform mantra recitation to call on the spiritual qualities of the Bodhisattvas.

The main mantra used in Tibetan Buddhism is 'om mani padme hum'.

I chant this mantra because I aim to provoke the presence of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara.

By chanting the mantra, I hope to develop the quality of compassion.

Sometimes I use malas to count my breath, which helps me concentrate." Malas are a string of beads used to help Buddhist during meditation or as a prayer aid.

Buddhist may recite mantras hundreds or thousands of times.

The malas can help them remember the number of recitations.

A mala usually has 108 beads.

When Buddhist perform puja they may, meditate, make offerings to the Buddha or a Bodhisattva, chant, for example, the Three Refugees, perform mantra recitation, and use mala beads.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select the activity that a Buddhist would not perform during puja.

A, remove offerings to the Buddha.

B, perform mantra recitations.

C, chant the Three Refugees.

Or D, use mala beads.

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

Well done if you selected A.

Removing offerings to the Buddha would not be something that Buddhists performed during puja.

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

You need to explain two different ways in which Buddhists might practise puja.

Here is some guidance on how you might like to structure your answer.

So here the question is asking for two different ways.

So first of all, you can make a point.

To give one way a Buddhist might practise puja and develop that first point with examples.

You need to give a second point.

So give a second way of Buddhist might practise puja and explain with examples to develop your point.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So you answer the question, explain two different ways in which Buddhists might practise puja.

Your answer may include these points.

"One way a Buddhist might practise puja is by chanting important texts such as the Three Refuges.

The Three Refuges remind Buddhists to show devotion and commitment to gaining wisdom of the Buddha's Dhamma.

Another way that a Buddhist might practise puja is through mantra citation.

Buddhist might chant mantras repetitively as a form of meditation and to develop important qualities required for enlightenment such as compassion." Fantastic on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of our lesson, on the role and significance of puja for Buddhist to explore the significance of puja at home and at the temple.

Jacob wants to investigate the significance of performing puja at home and at the temple.

He brings together four Buddhists living in the UK.

Joining Jacob are Katrina and Mike, both Mahayana Buddhists.

Niti, a Theravada Buddhist monk, and Ting, a Mahayana Buddhist monk.

Jacob asks, "Where do you perform puja, Katrina?" Katrina replies.

"As a lay Buddhist, I perform puja at home.

My nearest temple is over an hour from my house, so I'm unable to visit daily.

Performing puja at home means I can be consistent in showing dedication and devotion on my spiritual path.

Performing puja helps calm my mind at the start of each day." "Why is performing puja significant to you, Katrina?" Katrina replies, "Performing puja is one way I acknowledge the Buddha's Dhamma, show commitment to his teachings and following his example.

This is significant because the Dhamma reminds me of the true nature of existence and how I should lead my life." Katrina further explains the significance of puja.

"Puja is also a way to acknowledge the qualities that I want to develop.

Through following the Buddhist teachings, I develop the qualities of wisdom and compassion.

I believe these qualities are essential in order to help me live as a Bodhisattva would.

This is significant because I need to develop these qualities to enlightenment." Jacob asks, "Where do you perform puja, Mike?" Mike responds.

"As a lay Buddhist, I mostly perform puja at home with my family.

I live near a Buddhist temple, but performing puja at home means we can adapt it to our work and school routines.

We have a home shrine, which includes an image of a lotus flower, symbolising enlightenment.

This is a reminder of our commitment to the Buddha's Dhamma." "Does it matter where you perform puja, Mike?" Mike replies.

"I do perform puja weekly at the temple prior to the Dhamma talks run by the monks and nuns.

I enjoy the experience of worshipping with other members of the Sangha.

However, puja at home is also significant because we can build it into our daily lives.

The Buddha taught that enlightenment comes from personal effort and not where you worship." True or false? Enlightenment comes from performing puja in a Buddhist temple.

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

Well done if you said this statement is false.

The Buddha taught that enlightenment comes from personal effort and not where you worship.

Jacob has a question for Niti.

"Niti, where do you perform puja and why is that significant?" Niti responds.

"I live at the monastery, so I perform puja daily with other members of the Sangha.

The Sangha is part of the Three Refuges.

Puja is significant because it allows me to express my respect and gratitude towards the Buddha and his Dhamma." "Ting, do you also perform puja at the temple?" Ting tells us, "Yes.

I live at a monastery and perform puja daily.

The temple is designed for worship and helps Buddhists focus during worship.

As a monk, I often lead the puja for the Sangha.

This is significant because I'm helping others deepen their understanding of the Dhamma.

The temple is central to my spiritual life." Niti and Ting discussed the significance of puja.

Ting says, "When Mahayana Buddhist perform puja as well as chanting, mantra recitation, and the use of malas, they may include wishing others well and celebrating the good in the world.

This is significant for developing compassion." Niti replies.

"Puja is significant because it is a way of making merit.

This means earning positive karma by making offerings to monks or a monastery, chanting mantras, and reciting Buddhist texts." Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Choose three reasons performing puja is significant.

A, to express respect and gratitude towards the Buddha.

B, to deepen understanding of the Dhamma.

C, to develop qualities, for example, wisdom and compassion.

Or D, to express respect and gratitude towards God.

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

Well done if you selected A, B, and C as the correct answers.

So time to complete our second and final practise task.

Here is a full evaluation question.

On the next slide, there are points which could be used in support of the statement and points which could be used to support a different point of view.

Complete the table by ticking if the points are for or against a statement, then decide which side is stronger.

So the statement is, For Buddhist, worship in the temple is more important than worship in the home.

Evaluate this statement and in your response you should refer to Buddhist teachings.

Give reasoned arguments to support this statement.

Give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view and reach a justify conclusion.

So for Buddhist, worshipping the temple is more important than worshipping the home.

Which sides of these points support? So here you need to decide if the point supports an argument for or against the statement.

So the statements we have are, home worship can be done anytime, making it a practical part of everyday life.

Temples provide a chance to worship with others and feel part of the Sangha.

Temples are designed for worship and can help Buddhists feel more spiritually focused during puja.

And monks often lead temple worship offering Dhamma talks and chants that help deepen understanding.

And then for the second part of the practise task, write a sentence stating which side you think is stronger.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So let's first of all check that you've got the statements correct.

So home worship can be done anytime making it a practical part of everyday life is against the statement.

Temples provide a chance to worship with others and feel part of the Sangha is for the statement.

The Buddha taught that enlightenment comes from personal effort and not where one worships is against the statement.

And monks often lead temple worship during Dhamma talks and chants that help deepen understanding is for the statement.

And for the second part of the practise task, your response may look something like these.

So you might have said, "The arguments for the statement are stronger because worship at the temple is when the Sangha come together and perform puja, enabling a more spiritually focused experience." Or "The arguments against the statement are stronger because worship at home means Buddhists are able to adapt and make it a part of their daily lives." So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the role and significance of Puja for Buddhist.

And here is a summary of our key learning points.

Puja is a devotional practise that Buddhists can carry out both at home and in the temple.

Puja often involves chanting meaningful text such as the Three Refuges.

Many Buddhists recite mantras and use malas to help them focus and concentrate.

Practising puja at home allows lay Buddhists to fit worship into their daily routines.

And temple puja provides an opportunity for the Sangha to gather, deepen their understanding of the Dhamma, and practise together.

Well done on completing all of the practise tasks and for your hard work in today's RE lesson.

Goodbye.