Lesson video

Hello, my name is Miss Ramalli, and welcome to today's RE lesson.

Today's lesson forms part of our unit on Buddhism practises and we're going to be focusing on devotional practises within Buddhism.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the role and significance of chanting and mantras in devotional practises for Buddhists today.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are four keywords, chanting, malas, mantra recitation and the Three Jewels, often referred to as the Triratna or you may see them referred to as the Three Refuges.

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

Malas are strings of beads used as a prayer aid.

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

And the Three Jewels refers to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Today's lesson on devotional practises takes two parts.

So we're going to being by exploring the role and significance of chanting, followed by the role and significance of mantras.

Laura wants to learn what is meant by devotional practises.

She interviews Ajahn, a Theravada Buddhist monk.

Ajahn, what do devotional practises mean to you? Ajahn replies, "Devotional practises are expressions of reference and commitment to the Buddha's Dhamma.

Practises includes chanting and mantra recitation.

These are ways of learning and showing devotion to the Dhamma." Ajahn, what is meant by chanting? Ajahn replies, "Chanting is singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound.

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

These would be memorised and passed on orally.

Chanting is significant, because it is a way of learning and remembering key texts." When do you chant, Ajahn? Ajahn replies, "I chant in preparation for meditation or as a part of meditation.

Sometimes I chant alone or together with other members of the Sangha.

If I chant with the Sangha, we do this action together.

Chanting is significant, because it helps me to enter a calm, meditative state and this is essential for my path towards enlightenment." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

What is meant by chanting in Buddhism? A, the name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer and offerings, B, singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound 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 see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that B is the correct answer.

Singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound is what is meant by chanting in Buddhism.

Laura asks Ajahn, "Ajahn, what do you chant?" Ajahn replies, "I often start meditation by chanting the Three Jewels.

The Three Jewels may also be referred to as the Three Refuges or Triratna.

The Three Jewels are central to Buddhist Dhamma and they form the foundation for following the path to enlightenment." The Three Refuges are central to Buddhist Dhamma.

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

Buddhists might start puja by chanting the Three Refuges.

The might start by saying, "I take refuge in the Buddha.

I take refuge in the Dhamma and I take refuge in the Sangha." Okay, so now we're gonna have some time for some discussion.

So with your partner, I would like you to discuss what does take refuge mean? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Okay, great discussions.

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

Why might Buddhists chant the Three Refuges? Again, with your partner, discuss the question and consider, why might Buddhists choose the Three Refuges to chant? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well, Buddhists might chant the Three Refuges because the Three Refuges offers Buddhists guidance, wisdom and friendship.

The Dhammapada explains the significance of the Three Refuges.

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.

This is from the Dhammapada, verses 190 to 191.

How does this verse highlight the significance of the Three Refuges? Pause the video here and with your partner, discuss the question.

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

Okay, welcome back.

So how does this verse highlight the significance of the Three Refuges? Well, this verse highlights that taking refuge in the Buddha, his teaching 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, how it can end and the path to end it.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following three form part of the refuges in Buddhism? A, Dhamma, B, devotion, C, Buddha or 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 in Buddhism.

Okay, let's see if you can 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 and then press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that the missing word is refuge.

Laura asks, "Why is chanting significant to you, Ajahn?" Ajahn responds, "Chanting the Three Jewels shows great significance for me.

They offer refuge, something secure and safe, which cannot be found in other refuges in the modern world, for example, materialism.

This is the belief that possessions and wealth are the most important things in life.

This belief has the potential to promote the Three Poisons of ignorance, greed and hatred, which are the root causes of suffering." Ajahn and Ting, Mahayana Buddhist monks, tell us about the significance of chanting the Three Jewels.

Ajahn says, "Chanting, 'I go to the Buddha for refuge, I go to the Dhamma for refuge, I go to the Sangha for refuge,' is significant as it shows a declaration of my commitment to Buddhism." Ting says, "Taking refuge in the Sangha is significant for me as there are not many Buddhists monasteries or members of the monastic Sangha in the UK as there are in China." True or false? Chanting is significant as it shows a declaration of commitment to Buddhism.

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

Well done if you said that statement is true.

So here we're going to complete our first practise task.

So you're going to answer the question, "Describe how Buddhists use chanting," and here is some guidance that you might find useful to follow when answering the question.

So the question asked you to describe how Buddhists use chanting, so you need to give two points and develop each point.

And for each part of your answer, you should 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.

This could be an exact or paraphrased quote or a general teaching from a named source.

And then accurately apply this to the point in question.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, so time to check your answer.

Describe how Buddhists use chanting.

So your answer may look something like this.

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

It is one way that Buddhists share and learn important teachings, for example, the Three Jewels.

The Dhammapada highlights the importance of taking refuge in the Three Jewels, chanting the Three Jewels shows commitment to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Anther way that Buddhists might use chanting is in preparation for meditation or as part of meditation.

They may chant alone or together with other members of the Sangha.

So here, you can see the source of wisdom and authority referred to in this answer is the Dhammapada and the Three Jewels.

So that moves us on the second part of today's lesson on devotional practises to consider the role and significance of mantras.

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

Man meaning mind and tra meaning instrument or tool.

So mantra can translate to mean instrument of thought.

Laura wants to learn about the role of mantras.

She interviews Ting, a Mahayana Buddhist monk.

Ting, what is a mantra? Ting replies, "A mantra is a short sequence of words or syllables.

Mantras are often chanted or sung rather than spoken.

Mantras are commonly chanted or sung repetitively as a form of meditation." Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

What is meant by a mantra in Buddhism? A, the name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer and offerings, B, singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer or sound or C, a short sequence of words or syllables chanted repetitively as a form of meditation? You have five seconds to choose the correct answer.

Well done if you selected C.

A mantra is a short sequence of words or syllables chanted repetitively as a form of meditation.

Ting explains how he uses mantras.

Mantras often contain the teaching of the Buddha, such as the Three Jewels.

When I chant mantras, I might also give offerings to the Buddha rupa in the shrine and bow to show respect to the Buddha.

I also use malas alongside mantras as a way of keeping track of my breath or my chants.

Malas aid my concentration.

Malas are a string of beads used to help Buddhists during meditation or as a prayer aid.

Buddhists may recite mantras hundreds or thousands of times.

The malas can help them remember the number of recitations.

A mala usually has 108 beads.

Okay, let's check you've understood what we've just heard.

What is meant by malas in Buddhism? A, the name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer and offerings, B, strings of beads used as a prayer aid or C, it refers to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected B.

Malas in Buddhism refers to strings of beads used as a prayer aid.

Mel, a Tibetan Buddhist living in the UK, explains the role and significance of mantras during a devotional practise.

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 invoke the presence of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara.

By chanting the mantra, I hope to develop the quality of compassion which is significant for me to attain enlightenment." Pam is a Pure Land Buddhist from Japan, now living in the UK.

She explains why mantras are significant in Pure Land Buddhism.

"I chant the mantra 'Namu Amida Butsu' as a way of honouring Amida Buddha.

This is significant, because I believe by reciting Amida's name with full trust and genuine sincerity, I will be reborn into the Pure Land, the way to achieve Buddhahood and reach enlightenment." True or false? Many Buddhists believe that mantra recitation leads to enlightenment.

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

Well done if you said that statement is true.

Mantra recitation calls on the spiritual qualities of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas.

Qualities such as compassion are essential for attaining enlightenment.

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

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 the statement, then decide which side is stronger.

Reciting mantras is the most important Buddhist practise.

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 the statement, "Reciting mantras is the most important Buddhist practise," which side do these points support? Here we have four statements and you need to decide if the point is for or against the statement.

Reciting mantras might help a Buddhist understand the Buddha's teaching.

Mantras are important to many Buddhists, because it is a way to identify with the qualities of Avalokitesvara, for example, compassion.

Meditation is more important as the Buddha meditated before achieving enlightenment.

And lastly, practising mudras is more important as it encourages Buddhists to incorporate the qualities of the Buddha or Bodhisattva.

Once you've decided if the point is for or against a statement, you then need to write a sentence stating which side you think is stronger.

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

Okay, so your answers may look something like this.

So the first point, reciting mantras might help a Buddhist understand the Buddha's Dhamma is for the statement.

Mantras are important to many Buddhists, because it is a way to identify with the qualities of Avalokitesvara, for example, compassion is also for the statement.

Meditation is more important as the Buddha meditated before achieving enlightenment is against the statement and practising mudras is more important as it encourages Buddhists to incorporate the qualities of the Buddha or Bodhisattva is against the statement.

And the second part where you needed to decide which argument was stronger, well, your response may look something like these.

The arguments for the statement are stronger, because mantras help Buddhists learn and understand the Buddha's Dhamma or perhaps you thought the arguments against the statement are stronger, because meditation is the most important practise as it enabled the Buddha to reach enlightenment.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on devotional practises.

Here is a summary of our key learning points.

Devotional practises include chanting and mantra recitation.

The Three Jewels is a chant used by many Buddhists.

The Three Jewels refers to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Malas are a string of beads used to help Buddhists during meditation.

And mantra recitation calls on the spiritual qualities of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas which are essential for attaining enlightenment.

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

Thank you for joining me.

Goodbye.