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're going to be exploring the six perfections in Mahayana tradition, looking specifically at perfections three, which is patience, and four, which is energy.

Okay, let's begin.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the six perfections of patience and energy and how these teachings can be developed.

To help with our understanding in today's lesson, there are five keywords.

Our keywords are Bodhisattva, Buddhahood, energy, patience, and the six perfections, also known as the six paramitas.

Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings.

Buddhahood is reaching enlightenment.

Energy refers to making a courageous effort to attain enlightenment.

Patience is being able to tolerate delay or problems without becoming agitated or anxious.

And the six perfections, or six paramitas, are ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism to lead a being to enlightenment.

So in our lesson today on the six perfections in the Mahayana tradition, patience and energy, it takes two parts.

We're going to begin by learning about the six perfections of patience and energy, moving on to consider how patience and energy can be developed, Mahayana means "Greater Vehicle." This school of Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment for the sake of all beings by becoming a Bodhisattva.

One way this can be achieved is by developing the six perfections.

The term "paramita" has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language.

Para, meaning "beyond," and mita, "that which has arrived." Paramita can translate to mean "that which has gone beyond." The six perfections are ethical principles that lead a being to enlightenment.

They are qualities that demonstrate how a Bodhisattva should live.

The six perfections support Buddhists to attain Buddhahood and reach enlightenment.

True or false? The six perfections support Buddhists to attain Buddhahood and reach enlightenment.

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

Well done if you said that statement is true.

The six perfections are ethical principles that lead a being to enlightenment.

Mike, a Mahayana Buddhist, introduces the six perfections.

Mike says, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, I believe it is essential to follow the Buddha's example and cultivate the virtues of the six perfections.

I am confident that by developing these qualities, I will come to recognise the Buddha-nature within myself.

Buddha-nature represents the inherent potential in all beings, meaning that everyone has the ability to attain Buddhahood and achieve enlightenment." The six perfections are generosity, or dana, morality, sila, patience, ksanti, energy, virya, meditation, dhyana, and wisdom, prajna.

So in today's lesson, we're going to learn about patience and energy.

So here, we're going to complete a check for understanding, but first of all, I'm going to explain how to complete this question.

The six perfections are ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism to lead a being to enlightenment.

Give one of the perfections.

So for example, you could say patience.

Over to you.

Now it's your turn to give another of the perfections.

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

Okay, welcome back.

So in your answer, you may have said energy.

Other possible answers are generosity, morality, wisdom, and meditation.

Fantastic.

Well done.

Buddhists might look to a source of authority to find out more about important teachings like the six perfections.

In many Mahayana texts, it is taught that the Bodhisattva should practise the six perfections of generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom.

Through these perfections, the Bodhisattva achieves liberation and leads others to Buddhahood.

What I would like you to do now is, with your partner or on your own, reflect or discuss the question, what does this teaching highlight about the significance of patience and energy? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, great discussions.

Well done.

Well, patience and energy are part of the six perfections.

They are significant for Bodhisattvas to follow in order to support others towards attaining enlightenment.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following is not one of the six perfections? A, immorality.

B, patience.

C, energy.

Or D, wisdom.

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

Welcome back, and well done if you selected A.

Immorality is not one of the six perfections.

Each of the six perfections is believed to develop a particular feature of a Buddhist's character or their understanding.

So patience, or ksanti, is being able to endure and tolerate delay or problems without becoming agitated or anxious.

So, this can include enduring hardship, practising compassion, refraining from reacting with negative emotions, such as anger.

Energy, or virya, refers to making a courageous effort to attain enlightenment.

Now this can include developing mental strength, putting effort and enthusiasm into practising the Buddha's Dhamma.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following terms means "patience"? A, being able to tolerate delay or problems without becoming agitated or anxious.

B, refers to making a courageous effort to attain enlightenment.

Or C, ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism that lead a being to enlightenment.

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

Welcome back, everybody.

Well done if you selected A.

Being able to tolerate delay or problems without becoming agitated or anxious is what is meant by the term "patience." Okay, time to complete our first practise task.

Complete the table to explain two of the six perfections.

In your explanation of the six perfections, you should include an example.

So, because in today's lesson, we're learning about patience and energy, it'd be good practise to explain patience and give an example of that, and do the same for energy.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

Let's check your answers to the first practise task.

So you were asked to complete the table to explain two of the six perfections.

In your explanation of the six perfections, you should include an example.

So your response might be similar to this.

Patience means being able to tolerate delay or problems without becoming agitated or anxious.

This involves refraining from reacting with negative emotions, such as anger.

Energy means making a courageous effort to attain enlightenment.

This includes developing mental strength and putting effort and enthusiasm into practising the Buddha's Dhamma.

So what you can see here are that two of the six paramitas have been explained and supported with examples.

Fantastic.

Well done.

So that moves us on to the second part of today's lesson where we're going to learn about how patience and energy can be developed by Buddhists.

Lucas asks, "As a Mahayana monk, Ting, how do you develop the perfection of patience?" Ting responds, "I develop patience within myself by accepting the first noble truth, suffering, dukkha, and the teachings on anicca, nothing is permanent.

Suffering and impermanence are a natural part of life.

Instead of reacting with frustration, I respond with calmness.

I believe Bodhisattvas embody patience through tolerance and endurance.

And I aim to do the same." Katrina, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains how she develops the perfection of patience.

Katrina says, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, I develop patience through my interactions with others.

I often encounter challenging situations, misunderstandings, or conflicts at work.

Patience involves me responding to these situations without anger, frustration, or judgement ." Katrina explains how she develops the perfection of patience.

Katrina says, "I learn to practise patience with others by accepting that people have their own limitations and habits, just as I do.

Practising metta bhavana meditation, meaning loving-kindness, helps me develop empathy for others' struggles, making it easier to respond with patience and understanding instead of irritation or resentment." Mike, a Mahayana Buddhist, explains how he develops the perfection of patience.

Mike says, "I develop patience by understanding the teachings of kamma, the idea that actions have consequences and dependent origination, that everything is part of an interconnected web of causes and conditions.

By developing patience with the present moment and accepting the impermanent nature of all things, I can accept things as they are, without attachment." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select three ways that a Buddhist might develop the principle of patience.

A, accept suffering is a natural part of life.

B, practise metta bhavana meditation.

C, respond with anger and frustration.

Or D, understand Buddhist teachings on cause and effect.

Remember, for this check for understanding, you're looking for three answers.

Good luck.

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

Okay, well done if you selected A, B, and D as the correct answers.

Ting explains how he understands the perfection of energy as a Buddhist monk.

Ting says, "The fourth perfection of energy plays a crucial role in the development of wisdom, compassion, and moral discipline.

It refers to the effort, diligence, and enthusiasm shown on the spiritual path.

Developing energy involves a consistent and determined effort to engage in practises that lead to Buddhahood, even in the face of obstacles or challenges." Lucas asks, "Ting, how do you develop the perfection of energy?" Ting tells us, "I develop energy by reflecting on the benefits of studying and practising the Dhamma, or spending time in the company of monks and nuns in the Sangha.

The joy that arises from understanding my potential for spiritual liberation keeps me energised on the Bodhisattva path towards attaining Buddhahood." Mike explains how he develops the perfection of energy.

Mike says, "One way I develop the perfection of energy is through mindful practises like meditation, walking meditation, and mindful work.

By practising mindfulness, I avoid overexerting myself or becoming complacent, ensuring my energy remains steady and balanced." Let's check what you've just heard.

Select two ways that a Buddhist might develop the perfection of energy.

A, spending time with monks and nuns.

B, showing inconsistency and indecision.

Or C, practising mindfulness and meditation.

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

Well done if you selected A and C.

Spending time with monks and nuns and practising mindfulness and meditation are two ways that a Buddhist might develop the perfection of energy.

So now we're at a point where we're going to complete our second practise task.

Explain two different ways in which Buddhists can develop patience and energy within themselves.

Here is some guidance that you might find beneficial to follow when you're answering the question.

So you need to give two points and develop each of the points.

So for example, point one, give one way patience can be developed, and then explain with examples to develop your first point.

Then for your second point, give one way that energy can be developed, and then explain again with examples to develop your point.

Good luck completing this practise task.

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

Welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers for the practise task.

So you answered the question, explain two different ways in which Buddhists can develop patience and energy within themselves.

Your answer may include these points.

One way a Buddhist can develop patience is by accepting the first noble truth, suffering, dukkha, and the nature of impermanence, anicca.

This can be practised by demonstrating tolerance and endurance.

One way a Buddhist can develop energy is by developing a consistent and determined effort to engage in practises that lead to Buddhahood.

This includes studying and practising the Dhamma and developing mindfulness.

So what you see here are two different ways have been given to demonstrate how Buddhists can develop patience and energy, and each of the ways have been developed with examples.

Well done on completing the second and final practise task today.

That brings us on to the end of our lesson on the six perfections in the Mahayana tradition, patience and energy.

So here are the key learning points that have been covered in today's lesson.

The six perfections, also known as the six paramitas, support Buddhists to attain Buddhahood and reach enlightenment.

The perfection of patience can be developed by demonstrating tolerance and endurance.

The perfection of energy plays a crucial role in the development of wisdom, compassion, and moral discipline.

And the perfection of energy can be developed by studying and practising the Buddha's Dhamma and meditation.

Fantastic.

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

Thank you for joining me.

Goodbye!.