Lesson video

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

And in today's lesson, we're going to be exploring different Buddhist beliefs about the human personality.

Okay, let's begin.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist beliefs about the human personality, why these beliefs are important and how they influence Buddhist today.

Today's lesson, there are four key words: Five Aggregates, or skhandas, sunyata, Buddhahood, and Buddha-nature.

The Five Aggregates also referred to as skhandas, is a Buddhist belief that human is made up of five elements or heaps, body, sensation, perception, thoughts, and consciousness.

Sunyata refers to the concept that literally means emptiness.

Buddhahood means reaching enlightenment, and Buddha-nature is the nature of all beings, which means that all beings have potential to achieve enlightenment or Buddhahood.

So today's lesson on the human personality is going to take three parts.

We're going to begin by learning about Theravada beliefs about the human personality, moving on to learning about Mahayana beliefs about the human personality, and then considering the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Okay, so let's begin by understanding the Theravada beliefs about the human personality.

Theravada Buddhism is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism.

It is known as the school of the elders.

Theravada Buddhism is practised by the majority of people in Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.

Theravada Buddhism is often considered the traditional or orthodox form of Buddhism.

It might be characterised by requiring greater emphasis on the practise of the Dhamma, including taking refuge in the Three Jewels and a commitment to the Eightfold Path.

To reach Nirvana, Theravada Buddhist believe that we need to follow the Eightfold Path.

This can be practised as a lay person or as a monastic.

However, the structure of life of a monastic allows for more time and more favourable conditions.

True or false? All Theravada Buddhists are monks or nuns.

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

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Some Theravada Buddhists may choose to become a monk or nun, and the structure of life as a monastic allows for more time and more favourable conditions.

However, not all Theravada Buddhists are monks or nuns.

Lucas says, "In my RE lesson, we are learning about what makes a person human.

As a Theravada Buddhist, what do you believe, Linn?" Linn says, "I believe humans are made up of five elements.

These elements are called the Five Aggregates or skhandas.

These five elements are always changing, and I believe that humans have no fixed-self.

In Buddhism, this belief is known as anatta." Most Theravada Buddhists believe the human personality consists of Five Aggregates or skhandas.

This teaching can be found in the Khanda Sutta.

The Five Aggregates are form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

The Five Aggregates or skhandas are always changing.

So the first one form refers to the physical element, so for example, the body.

The second skhanda or aggregate refers to sensation.

So this could be neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant sensations or feelings.

Thirdly, there is perception, and this is about how we put meaning onto what we experience.

Number four is mental formations, and this includes our thoughts, our opinions, and our attitudes.

And lastly, number five refers to consciousness, and this refers to the state of being aware of something.

True or false? The Five Aggregates or skhandas are permanent and fixed.

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

Okay, well done if you said that statement is false.

The Five Aggregates or skhandas are always changing.

They're not permanent and fixed.

The Five Aggregates or skhandas interact with each other.

Here is an analogy of a cake to explain further.

So first of all, there's form.

So we're gonna use the analogy of the cake.

So for example, eating the cake, using your teeth and your mouth.

Secondly, there's the sensation.

So that is eating the cake, and that brings feelings of pleasure if you like the cake or maybe feelings of disgust if don't like the taste of the cake.

Number three is perception.

So here, this represents you recognising the cake because you have seen cake before.

Number four, your mental formations.

You form an opinion of the cake and if you would like to eat more of it.

And number five is the consciousness.

And this is about your awareness that arises when you see or eat the cake.

Remember, the Five Aggregates and skhandas are interacting with each other.

The Dhammapada is a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority, and most Buddhists will seek guidance from it.

In verse 113 from the Dhammapada it says, "Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live as hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things." How might this first teach Buddhists and how does this first link to the Five Aggregates or skhandas? Pause the video here and with your partner, have a discussion.

Press play when you're ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So how might this verse teach Buddhists and how does it link to the Five Aggregates or skhandas? Well, this verse can be interpreted to mean that it is better to live just one day with the awareness of the impermanent nature of all things than to live a hundred years without this wisdom.

This first links to the Five Aggregates or skhandas because it highlights the impermanent nature of all things.

True or false? The Five Aggregates/skhandas do not interact with each other.

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

Well done if you said that statement is false, because the Five Aggregates/skhandas do interact with each other.

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

You're going to describe Buddhist beliefs about the Five Aggregates and the skhandas.

Here is some guidance that you might like to follow when you're answering this question.

So the guidance is to develop two points.

So you're going to make two points and develop each one.

For each part of your answer, you should also include a range of religious and specialist terms. And for at least one part of your answer, you should use a source of wisdom and authority.

So this could be an exact or paraphrase quote, or it could be a general teaching from a named source.

And remember to accurately apply this to the point and the question.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Fantastic.

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

So your answer may look something like this.

One Buddhist belief about the Five Aggregates is that the human personality is made up of five elements that are constantly changing.

One of these elements is sensation.

This can be the feelings or sensations that occur when someone comes into contact with things.

This could be physical or emotional.

Another Buddhist belief about the Five Aggregates is that another element is perception.

This is the ability to distinguish between different objects that we experience through our senses.

The Dhammapada teaches better it is to live one day, seeing the rise and fall of things than to live as a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.

This demonstrates the importance of understanding the impermanent nature of all things, anatta or no fixed self.

Fantastic, well done on completing your first practise task.

What you can see from this answer is that there are two points.

Both points have been developed.

There is reference to a source of wisdom and authority, and that has been accurately applied to the question.

Okay, moving on to the second part of today's lesson on human personality.

And now, we are going to look at understanding the Mahayana beliefs about the human personality.

So the Mahayana means greater vehicle, and this school of Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment for the sake of all beings.

Mahayana Buddhism is practised by the majority of people in China, Tibet, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Mahayana Buddhism includes Tibetan, Pure Land and Zen Buddhism.

Many Mahayana Buddhists aim to become enlightened, but they delay nirvana to help teach enlightenment to others.

Many Mahayana Buddhists believe in the concept of sunyata and Buddha-nature and attaining Buddhahood.

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

Sunya meaning empty or void.

And ta is a quality or state of being, which is equivalent to the English term ness.

So sunyata can be interpreted to mean emptiness.

Let's complete a check for understanding what did Buddhist mean by the term sunyata? A, reaching enlightenment.

B, a being destined for enlightenment who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings or C, emptiness.

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

Well done if you selected C.

When Buddhist refer to the term sunyata, it means emptiness.

Tashi, a Mahayana Buddhist explains the meaning of sunyata.

Tashi says, imagine a soap bubble.

At first, it seems real and solid, but when it pops, it disappears, leaving nothing behind.

Sunyata is like realising that everything in life is a bit like that bubble.

It might seem solid, but it's not as permanent as it appears.

Ting is a Mahayana Buddhist monk and he explains his belief in sunyata.

Ting says, "I believe everything in life is constantly changing.

Nothing is permanent, and sunyata is about understanding that nothing stays the same forever.

Sunyata may be seen as a rewording of anatta.

There is no fixed or unchanging self or soul inside us.

We are made up of thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are always changing and there's no unchanging me at the core." The nature of sunyata can be explained using the analogy of a chair.

So here we have a chair, we have the seat, and we have the four legs.

So the analogy is saying there is no fixed self or essence that ultimately forms the chair because the chair is made up of many different parts.

The parts of the chair are interrelated and interconnected, so it relies on all parts to function as a chair.

The nature of the chair is that it is impermanent.

So ultimately, the chair is empty of independent existence.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which one of the following does not explain sunyata? A, emptiness.

B, everything is permanent.

C, there is no fixed self or D, everything is interconnected.

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

Well done if you selected B, everything is permanent is not explaining the concept of sunyata.

The idea of Buddha-nature or tathagatagarbha, is particularly important in Mahayana Buddhism.

It translates from the Sanskrit word: Tathagatagarbha.

Tatha, one who is come, gata one who has gone and garbha womb or embryo.

The Buddha achieved enlightenment and became the one who has gone, but he stayed to help others.

So he is also the one who has come.

Therefore, tathagatagarbha refers to the Buddha.

Buddha-nature is the concept that every individual carries the essence or nature of a Buddha within themselves.

This means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood.

An individual's Buddha-nature can be obscured by ignorance, cravings, and attachments to the material world.

So when a person fully grasp the Buddhist Dhamma or his teachings, they achieve Buddhahood.

This will reveal the Buddha nature that has always been present.

In Buddhist scripture, the analogy of bees and honey is used to illustrate Buddha-nature or tathagatagarbha.

Buddha-nature is like honey that is encircled by a swarm of bees.

The honey is sweet and desirable, but cannot be accessed due to the bees.

The only way to taste the honey is to remove the bees.

Similarly, a person must eliminate distraction, their cravings, desires and attachments to attain Buddahood.

The parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra.

One day, a fire broke out in the home of a wealthy man who had many children.

The man shouted to his children inside the burning house, urging them to flee.

However, the children was so engrossed in their games that they didn't pay attention to his warning even as the flames spread.

In response, the wealthy man came up with a clever plan to get the children to leave the house.

Knowing they loved interesting toys, he called out, "Listen, outside the gates are the carts you've always dreamed of.

Carts pulled by goats, carts pulled by deer and carts pulled by oxen.

Come out and play with them." He knew these would be irresistible to them.

The children excited by the idea of these new toys eagerly ran outside.

But instead of the carts he had mentioned, the father presented them with a cart far more magnificent than any they had imagined, one drapes in precious stones and drawn by white bullets.

The key was the children were safe from the dangers of the burning house.

In this parable, the father symbolises the Buddha and the sentient beings, the living beings with consciousness represent the children trapped in the burning house.

The burning house stands for the world consumed by the fires of ageing, sickness, and death.

The Buddhist teachings were akin to the father's attempt to guide the children away from temporary pleasures towards a far greater joy, nirvana.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

What's a Buddhist mean by Buddha-nature? A, reaching enlightenment.

B, a being destined for enlightenment, who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings or C, the nature of all beings, which means that all beings can reach Buddhahood.

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

Well done if you selected C.

When Buddhists refer to Buddha-nature, they mean the nature of all beings, which means that all beings can reach Buddhahood.

So now we're gonna complete our second practise task.

Aisha is explaining Mahayana Buddhist beliefs about the human personality.

Aisha says, "One Mahayana Buddhist belief about the human personality is sunyata, which translates as emptiness.

Another Mahayana belief is Buddha-nature, which means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood." Aisha has not made reference to a Buddhist source of wisdom and authority or developed her points.

So you need to add to Aisha's answer to develop both points and refer to a Buddhist source of authority for one of her points.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

So your answer might be similar to this.

One Mahayana belief about the human personality is sunyata, which translates as emptiness.

This belief relates to the human personality because it acknowledges that our thoughts, feelings, and experiences are always changing.

There is no permanent or fixed self.

Another ana belief is Buddha-nature, which means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood.

The parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra teaches the importance of an individual eliminating distractions, including temporary cravings and desires.

Once they do this, they can realise their true Buddha-nature.

Okay, so time to move on to our third and final part of today's lesson on the human personality to understand the importance and influence of these beliefs.

Lucas asks, "As a Theravada monk, why is a belief in the Five Aggregates or skhandas important to you, Niti?" Niti says, "They're important to me because they shape the way I understand the nature of nonself, anatta.

They influence me to avoid attachments and cravings.

Instead, I focus on cultivating mindfulness and following the Eightfold Path.

I believe this will help me reach my goal to break free from the cycle of samsara and reach nibbana.

Linn, a Theravada Buddhist explains why her belief in the Five Aggregates or skhandas are important to her.

Linn says, "One of the reasons they are important is because they help me when I meditate.

I practise mindfulness by observing sensations and feelings as they arise.

I know whether my feelings are pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.

By recognising my feelings are impermanent, it influences me to avoid attachments to feelings of pleasure or avoid feelings of discomfort." True or false? The Five Aggregates/skhandas influences most Theravada Buddhist To avoid attachments.

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

Okay, well done if you said that statement is true.

the Five Aggregates or skhandas teach the impermanent and non-self nature.

This helps avoid attachments because they are aware of the changing nature of all things.

Lucas asks, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, Tashi, how is the belief in the human personality important to you?" Tashi says, "The beliefs are important to me because I believe that we all have the essence of the Buddha-nature within us.

It is important that I recognise that Buddha-nature, so I also avoid distractions and attachments." Ting and Mike discussed the importance of the Mahayana belief in the human personality.

Ting says, "The beliefs are important to me because they show me how to attain the state of Buddhahood.

This is my ultimate goal because I want to help others achieve enlightenment too." Mike says, "Yes, the teachings on sunyata are also important.

They help me realise the true nature of reality.

This influences me to not get fixated on the body changing as we age.

Sunyata teaches me there is no fixed self.

I'm better living in the moment." True or false? Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that anyone can achieve Buddhahood.

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

Well done if you said that statement is true, most Mahayana Buddhist believe we all have the essence or nature of the Buddha within us.

Time to complete our third and final practise task.

Explain why the Buddhist belief in the human personality is important.

Develop each of the points in the table.

So you have two points.

First of all, somebody such as Theravada Buddhist believe.

Then you're going to develop that point by saying this means they see the human personality as.

You're then going to support that point by including a reference to a source of authority and explain what it states.

And then lastly, say what the importance is.

So the importance of this belief is.

You're going to do that by making a point about Theravada Buddhist belief and a second point about Mahayana Buddhist belief.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Remember to develop each of the points as shown in the table.

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

Okay, welcome back everybody.

Let's check your answers for the practise task.

So in your answers, you could have said: Somebody such as Theravada Buddhists believe in the Five Aggregates.

This means they see the human personality is made up of five elements that are constantly changing.

It is supported by the Dhammaparda, which states that better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live as a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.

The importance of this belief is understanding the impermanent nature of all things, anatta or no fixed self.

Other Buddhists like Mahayana Buddhists believe in Buddha-nature.

This means that all beings can become enlightened or reach Buddhahood.

This belief is supported by the parable of the Burning House from the Lotus Sutra, which teaches the importance of an individual eliminating distractions, including temporary cravings and desires.

The importance of this belief is being able to avoid distractions and attachments which help realise a person's Buddha-nature.

Fantastic.

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

So that brings us to the summary of our learning on the human personality.

Theravada Buddhists believe the human personalities made up of Five Aggregates or skhandas.

They are form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

The Five Aggregates are constantly changing, none of them are permanent or fixed.

Many Mahayana Buddhists believe in the concepts of sunyata, Buddha nature, and Buddhahood.

Sunyata is a belief that everything in the world is interconnected and means emptiness.

There is no fixed or permanent self.

Most Mahayana Buddhists believe that all people can attain Buddhahood and reach enlightenment, and that all beings have the essence of Buddha within them, and this is known as Buddha-nature.

Thank you very much for joining me for today's RE lesson.

Goodbye.