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 Buddhist festivals in Britain.

Okay, let's begin today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the importance of Buddhist festivals for Buddhists living in Britain today.

To help us with today's learning, there are five keywords.

Our keywords are festival, Parinirvana Day, Sangha, Triratna community, and Wesak.

Festival is a day or period of celebration.

Parinirvana Day is a festival which marks the Buddha's death and when he achieved Nirvana.

Sangha is the Buddhist community, including monks and nuns.

The Triratna community is trying to practise the Buddha's teachings in the conditions of the modern world, and Wesak is a Buddhist festival celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

So today's lesson on Buddhist festivals in Britain takes two parts.

We're going to begin by exploring Wesak and Parinirvana in Britain, moving on to consider alternative Buddhist festivals in Britain.

Whatever your personal stance, you can use academic disciplines such as social science, theology, and philosophy to study religious and non-religious worldviews.

In this lesson, we'll be using social science by looking at census data and interviewing different Buddhists living in Britain.

So the last census in England and Wales was carried out in 2021, and here we have the data representing different worldviews.

So according to the 2021 census data, what percentage of the population are Buddhist? And how does that percentage compare to the 2011 data? So using the census data, answer those two questions.

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

Okay.

Welcome back, everybody.

So what percentage of the population are Buddhist according to the census in England and Wales in 2021? The answer is 0.

5%.

And how does that compare to the 2011 data where that is an increase of 0.

1%? So in the 2021 census, 272,508 people in England and Wales identified as Buddhist.

This was an increase from 144,453 Buddhists in 2011.

So despite the limitations of this data, for example, it doesn't tell us which school of Buddhism people are affiliated.

It does show an increase of people identifying as Buddhist in the population.

Celebrating Buddhist festivals is one way that Buddhists express their beliefs.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select the academic discipline which uses data and interviews to collect information.

A, social sciences, B, theology, or C, philosophy.

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

Well done if you selected A.

Social sciences is the academic discipline which uses data and interviews to collect information.

In Buddhism, there are a number of festivals celebrated.

Two important festivals are Wesak and Parinirvana.

These festivals are celebrated by Buddhist communities around the world, including in Britain.

Sam wants to learn about Buddhist festivals in Britain.

He interviews Linn, a Theravada Buddhist.

"Linn, do you celebrate Buddhist festivals?" Linn answers, "Yes, I celebrate Wesak.

In the UK, this typically falls in the month of May.

Wesak honours the Buddha's birth, his enlightenment, and his death or final Nirvana.

His escape from suffering.

On Wesak, I attend my local temple with my mum and listen to the Dhamma talks." Okay, let's check you've understood what you've just heard.

Select the festival that honours the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death.

A, Kathina, B, Parinirvana or C, Wesak.

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

Well done if you selected C.

Wesak is a festival that honours the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death.

Linn explains the importance of celebrating Wesak.

Linn tells us, "My mum grew up in Thailand and moved to Britain when she married my dad.

Celebrating Wesak is an important opportunity for us to connect with the Sangha.

On Wesak, we attend the monastery.

Listening to the Dhamma talks increases my understanding of the Buddhist teachings.

Wesak is a time when I feel a sense of belonging, being with other members of the Sangha." Why is celebrating Wesak important to Linn? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answer.

Celebrating Wesak is important to Linn because being with other members of the Sangha gives a sense of belonging.

Sam asks, "Why is the Sangha important, Linn? Linn tells us, "The Sangha is important because it forms part of the Buddha's Dhamma.

For example, the Three Jewels; the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.

Living as a Buddhist in Britain is also different from living in Thailand.

In Thailand, the majority of the population is Buddhist.

Spending time with members of the Sangha in Britain offers a sense of identity and belonging." Sam wants to speak to another Buddhist about Buddhist festivals.

He interviews Mike, a Mahayana Buddhist.

"Mike, do you celebrate Buddhist festivals?" Mike responds, "Yes, I recently marked the festival of Parinirvana Day.

Parinirvana Day remembers the Buddha's death and final Nirvana.

I marked this day by going to the temple with my family.

We offered devotions to the Buddha and it was a chance to connect with members of the Sangha." True or false? Buddhist festivals offer an opportunity to spend time with the Sangha.

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

Well done if you said that statement is true.

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

Here we have the quote, "Spending time with the Sangha is the most important part of Buddhist festivals." Discuss this statement, showing that you have considered more than one point of view.

You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.

Sam has written the first part of this answer and you need to provide an alternative view.

Sam has said, "The Sangha is the Buddhist community.

For many Buddhists, this is the monastic community of monks and nuns.

For other Buddhists, it includes lay Buddhists too.

Some Buddhists may argue that showing reverence to the Buddha is the most important part of a Buddhist festival because without the Buddha there would be no Dhamma or Sangha.

Pause the video here and provide an alternative view to the one that Sam has given.

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

Welcome back, everybody.

So you looked at the statement, "Spending time with the Sangha is the most important part of Buddhist festivals." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view.

You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.

So you need to provide an alternative view to the one that Sam had given.

So your answer may include these points.

"Some Buddhists might disagree with this statement because the Sangha forms part of the Three Jewels, which are core values in Buddhism.

The Sangha offers wisdom, guidance, and friendship, and a sense of identity and belonging.

This is important for Buddhists who live in countries such as Britain where Buddhism is not the majority worldview." Let's pause for a moment and consider what this answer contains.

Well, you were asked to give an alternative point of view to Sam's, and this is what this paragraph does.

It's also good practise to include reference to keywords.

So, for example, in this answer, it refers to the Sangha.

It's also good practise to include reference to sources of wisdom and authority.

Can you spot what is the reference to the source of wisdom and authority? You've got five seconds to see if you can spot that in this answer.

Well done if you spotted that the Three Jewels, also known as the three refuges, is a reference to a Buddhist's source of wisdom and authority.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of our lesson on Buddhist festivals in Britain.

So now we're going to consider alternative Buddhist festivals in Britain.

Sam wants to investigate other forms of Buddhist festivals.

She has brought together two Buddhists from the Triratna community living in the UK.

Joining Sam are Ana and Lee, both from Triratna Buddhist community.

Sam asks, "What is the Triratna community, Lee?" He replies, "The Triratna community is a worldwide community.

We aim to practise the Buddha's teachings in the conditions of the modern world.

The community was founded in London in 1967 by Urgyen Sangharakshita, and originally called the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order." Lee explains further about the Buddhist Triratna community.

Lee tells us, "The Triratna community is not defined by distinctions between monastic and lay roles; rather, it is comprised of individuals like me who identify simply as Buddhists.

We've made the practise of the Buddha's teachings, particularly those of wisdom and compassion as part of our everyday lives." True or false? The Triratna community is defined by distinctions between monastic and lay Buddhists.

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

Well done if you said that statement is false.

The Triratna community is not defined by distinctions between monastic and lay roles; rather, it is comprised of individuals who identify simply as Buddhists.

Ana explains about an alternative Buddhist festival held in the UK.

"In recent years, myself and Lee have been part of a team with other members of the Triratna community who organise a festival called Buddhafield.

The idea is based on Mahayana Sutras.

In theses Sutras, Buddhafields are planes of beauty created by the compassionate action of a Buddha.

Buddhafields are beneficial for spiritual practise and in which to gain enlightenment." Lee and Ana discuss what they enjoy about the Buddhafield festival.

Lee says, "I enjoy Buddhafield being an alcohol and drug-free festival.

This is important because it aligns with the moral precept "avoid intoxicants that cloud the mind." The festival is an opportunity to focus on spiritual practises." Ana replies, "I enjoy the diversity and inclusivity of the festival.

Everyone is welcome at Buddhafield.

I enjoy the Dhamma talks and workshops and a chance to connect with others in nature." Lee and Ana discuss the importance of Buddhafield.

Lee says, "Buddhafield is important to me because it allows me to stop for a few days and take time away from my hectic lifestyle.

It is a chance to feel free from worries." Ana says, Buddhafield is important to me as an opportunity to meet and connect with others.

It is a time to show the qualities of compassion and generosity to others." So time to pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select three reasons a Buddhist may attend the Buddhafield festival.

A, as an opportunity to meet and connect with others.

B, it is only attended by Buddhist monks and nuns.

C, it is a diverse and inclusive festival.

Or D, it is an alcohol and drug-free festival.

Remember, for this question, you're looking to select three different reasons.

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

Okay, let's check your answers.

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

Three reasons a Buddhist may attend the Buddhafield festival is it's an opportunity to meet and connect with others, it is a diverse and inclusive festival and it's also an alcohol and drug-free festival.

Well done if you got all three answers correct.

So now we're going to complete our final practise task.

Sam's explaining why the Buddhafield festival is important for some Buddhists living in Britain.

She has made some mistakes.

You need to rewrite her explanation so that it is correct.

Sam said, "The Buddhafield festival is based on the Dhammapada.

Buddhafields wre created by the selfish action of a Buddha.

They are beneficial for listening to music and drinking alcohol, in which to gain enlightenment.

Buddhists in Britain may attend Buddhafield festival as an important opportunity to disconnect with others, develop hatred and greed, and take time away from modern-day tranquil lifestyles." Good luck completing the practise task.

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

So you needed to rewrite Sam's explanation so that it is correct.

So you could have said the following points.

You could have said, "The Buddhafield festival is based on Mahayana Sutras.

Buddhafields were created by the compassionate action of a Buddha.

They are beneficial for spiritual practise and in which to gain enlightenment.

Buddhists in Britain may attend Buddhafield festival as an important opportunity to connect with others, develop generosity and compassion, and take time away from modern-day hectic lifestyles." Well done on completing your second and final practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on Buddhist festivals in Britain.

Here is a summary of our key learning points.

According to the census 2021, the number of people identifying as Buddhist in England and Wales is increasing.

Wesak and Parinirvana Day are the two main festivals celebrated by Buddhists, including across Britain.

The Sangha forms an important role to Buddhists living in the UK.

The Triratna community is a worldwide community of Buddhists, aiming to practise the Buddha's teachings in the conditions of the modern world.

And the Buddhafield festival is an important opportunity to spend time in nature, connect with others, and develop the virtues of generosity and compassion.

Well done on all of your hard work in today's lesson, and thank you for joining me.

Goodbye.