Lesson video

Hello, my name's Miss 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 features and functions of Buddhist places of worship.

Okay, let's start the lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain the features, function and importance of different places of worship for Buddhists today.

To help with today's lesson and guide us through our learning, there are four keywords.

Keywords for today's lesson are gompa, monastery, also referred to as a vihara, shrine and temple.

A gompa is a Tibetan monastery associated with learning and studying the Dhamma.

A monastery is a building that houses monks and nuns.

It may also have space for study, as well as accommodation.

A shrine is a room or part of a room which contains a Buddha rupa, candles, an incense burner and sometimes other offerings.

And a temple refers to a structure or a building for religious or spiritual activities, such as meditation.

Today's lesson on the features and functions of Buddhist places of worships takes two parts.

First of all, we're going to begin by exploring the features of Buddhist places of worship, moving on to consider the function and importance of places of worship.

We're going to start the lesson by considering what places are important to people.

So here on your screen, you have three photographs and these photographs represent different places that might hold importance to some people.

These examples are bedroom, sporting venue and place of worship.

Why might these places be important for some people? Either with your partner or you can speak to me, consider why each of these three places might hold importance for some people.

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

Okay, great discussions, everyone, well done and welcome back.

So perhaps a person's bedroom might be important to them, because it's a place where they can take time out and they can time to relax, perhaps they may spend time in their room as a place of quiet and reflection and a place where they enjoy relaxing away from the rest of their family.

A sporting venue might be important for people if they support a particular team.

It might be a place that they enjoy going on a regular basis or when they're able to attend and see matches.

It might also be a place that has lots of happy memories associated with that particular place.

And then a place of worship can also be important for some people.

It's an opportunity to connect with other people within the community.

It's an opportunity, for example in this instance, it's a church to connect with God.

It's an opportunity for prayer and worship and also may bring a sense of belonging.

In Buddhism, there are many different places and buildings that hold importance.

Buddhists can worship and express devotion, that could be at home or in a communal space, which may be known as a temple.

A Buddhist temple is often the heart of the Buddhist community or sangha.

The features of Buddhist temples can be very different.

So temples may be one building or they could be a group of buildings based on one site.

So here on the screen, you can see two different photographs of Buddhist places of worship.

Identify any similarities or differences between the two Buddhist temples.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

So welcome back, everybody.

So let's start with similarities.

So both buildings serve as Buddhist temples or monasteries, so they're essentially both places of worship for Buddhists and each temple has some symbols linked to Buddhism, for example, they've got golden ornaments or stupas and there's also the similarity between the use of gold accents on the structure.

On the roof for example, you can see that there's some intricate decorative elements.

Some differences you might have noticed, so the photograph on the right, which is taken of a Buddhist temple in Thailand, features a traditional design.

You've got multi-tiered roof, which is decorated with vibrant colours and gold leaf and it's very large and elaborate in its design, whereas the image of the Buddhist temple on the left has a more western style Buddhist Vihara.

This building was not purpose-built as a temple.

It has been converted from a building which had a previous use and has been adapted to be used a Buddhist temple.

Well done, everybody.

Buddhist temples differ in size and function.

Many temples will include a building or main hall, and this will contain a statue of the Buddha as a focal point.

In Mahayana temples, there may also be statues of Bodhisattvas.

True or false, Buddhist temples all look very similar.

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

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Buddhist temples often look very different in shape and size.

They may be one building or many building on the same site.

Most temples will have a hall or building used as a quiet space for meditation.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the temple or monastery is called a gompa, and you can see an example here on your screen.

Mel is a British Tibetan Buddhist and she explains what you might see inside a gompa.

"A gompa combines a shrine, a monastery and a meditation hall.

Some contain facilities for study and learning.

Inside a gompa, you may see the Tibetan wheel of life as a reminder of the Buddha's Dhamma." Okay, let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the meaning of a gompa? A, buildings that house monks and nuns, B, a Tibetan monastery associated with learning and studying the Dhamma or C, a structure or building for religious or spiritual activities, such as meditation? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said the correct answer is B.

The meaning of a gompa is a Tibetan monastery associated with learning and studying the Dhamma.

Many Buddhist temples feature a library or hall for study, lectures and meetings.

Why might a library or study hall be featured in a Buddhist temple? Either speak to me or with your partner, discuss that question.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So why might a library or a study hall be featured in a Buddhist temple? Well, it's really important for Buddhists to study the Dhamma, the Buddha's teachings, therefor, that would be an important feature within a Buddhist place of worship.

Most Buddhists look to the Dhammapada to understand the Buddha's teachings, and here we have the verse of Dhammapada 276, which says, "You yourselves should make the effort, the enlightened ones are only teachers." Which might this teaching highlight about the importance of studying the Dhamma and how could this verse link to having a space for study at the temple? Discuss these questions with your partner or speak to me.

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

Okay, time to reflect on your answers.

So what might this teaching highlight about the importance of studying the Dhamma? Well, Buddhists might put in the effort to study and practise the Dhamma.

And how could this verse link to having a space for study at the temple? Well, a temple provides space for Buddhists to put in the effort to study and practise.

Well done if you said something similar in your answers.

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

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

You yourselves should put the, the enlightened ones are only teachers.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check the missing word.

Well done if you said the missing word is effort.

A shrine is also a key feature in a temple.

It is a room or part of a room which contains a Buddha rupa, candles, an incense burner and sometimes other offerings.

The shrine will be dedicated to the Buddha.

In Mahayana Buddhism, the shrine may also feature a Bodhisattva.

The Buddha statue in a shrine often faces east.

The Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment whilst meditating under the Bodhi tree, facing east.

The sun also rises in the east and these can be associated with enlightenment.

True or false, the Buddha rupas are often positioned in the shrine facing east? Pause the video, press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said that statement is true.

The Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment whilst facing east, which is why you will see Buddha rupas positioned in the shrine which faces east.

Some temples will feature a stupa or pagoda.

These can be shaped like a mound or a have a tiered tower.

These structure may contain relics.

Relics can be holy items associated with the Buddha or other important Buddhists.

Here are three different examples on your screen.

Jacob wants to learn more about stupas and pagodas.

He interviews Niti, a Theravada Buddhist monk.

Jacob asks, "What do the stupas and pagodas symbolise, Niti?" Niti replies, "They symbolise the five Buddhist elements, earth, fire, air, water and wisdom.

The base symbolises the earth and the other segments represent the other elements, reaching up to the point that symbolises wisdom." So to summarise, the key features of many Buddhist places of worship are a main hall, a meditation hall, a study hall, a shrine, a stupa or pagoda and a gompa which contains a shrine, a monastery and a meditation hall.

Let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following three might you find in a Buddhist place of worship? A, a shrine, B, a meditation hall, C, an altar, D, a place to study? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you selected A, B and D.

A shrine, a meditation hall and a place to study are three features that you might find in a Buddhist place of worship.

So now we're going to pause and complete a practise task.

Choose three features of a Buddhist place of worship and explain each feature.

Remembering to include examples in your answer.

So the three features chosen are gompa, shrine and pagoda or stupa.

Remember to give an explanation for each and include example in your answer.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Welcome back, everybody.

So in your answers, you could've said, so the feature of a gompa.

A gompa combines a shrine, a monastery and a meditation hall.

Some contain facilities for study and learning.

A shrine is a room or part of a room which contains a Buddha rupa, candles, an incense burner and sometimes other offerings.

The shrine will be dedicated to the Buddha or in Mahayana temples, a Bodhisattva may be also feature.

And lastly, a pagoda or stupa.

A pagoda or stupa is shaped like a mound or may have a tiered tower.

It may contain relics, holy items associated with the Buddha.

They symbolise the five Buddhist elements, earth, fire, air, water and wisdom.

Fantastic, well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of today's lesson where we're going to explore the function and importance of places of worship.

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 section of the lesson, we will be using social science to explore data on Buddhist populations and use interviews to examine different Buddhist responses to the purpose and importance of Buddhist places of worship.

According to data carried out by Pew research in 2010, the following countries have the highest population of Buddhists.

So Cambodia, 96.

9%, Thailand, 93.

2% and Myanmar, 80.

1%.

According to the census carried out in 2021, 0.

5% of the population in England and Wales are Buddhist.

There are over 40,000 temples in Thailand and 190 in the UK.

What challenges might Buddhists living in England and Wales face practising their worldview? With your partner, discuss this question or you can speak to me.

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

Okay, fantastic discussions everybody, well done.

So what challenges did you consider? So perhaps you said it might be challenging for Buddhists to attend a place of worship regularly if they live in England or Wales, because there's just not as many temples as there are in countries such as Thailand.

Perhaps you also said that many Buddhists might not live locally to the Buddhist temple, therefore that might make it a challenge for them to attend.

Well done.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

According to the census carried out 2021, what percentage of the population in England and Wales are Buddhist? A, 15, B, 1.

5 or C, 0.

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

Well done if you selected C.

According to the census carried out in 2021, 0.

5% of the population is England and Wales are Buddhist.

Mike and Katrina discuss how frequently they attend the Buddhist temple.

Mike says, "I live in a city and there is a Buddhist temple 10 minutes from my house.

I am able to attend regularly.

It is important that I make the effort and this will help deepen my wisdom." Katrina says, "My nearest temple is over an hour away from my home.

I try and attend as much as possible.

It is important, because it is a chance to meditate with others and to make offerings." Jacob is confused by what Katrina meant by making offerings.

Jacob asks, "What do you mean by offerings, Katrina?" Katrina replies, "When I attend the temple, I make offerings to the shrine.

This is a way of paying respect to the Buddha and showing gratitude for his teachings.

The offerings symbolise different things." The offerings are important, because they remind Buddhists of the Buddha's teachings.

The flowers symbolise impermanence, or anicca, because they will eventually die.

Burning incense can symbolise purity and act as a reminder to be pure in thoughts, words and actions.

The light drives away the darkness, which symbolises ignorance.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Which of the following offerings symbolises the Buddha's teachings on impermanence? A, incense, B, flowers or C, candle? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said the correct answer is B, flowers.

Jacob wants to understand more about the offerings.

Jacob asks, "What do you gain or benefit by giving the offerings?" Katrina replies, "Many Buddhists give offerings to make merit or seek blessings.

The Buddha taught in the Kamila Sutta that it is not ritual or physical structures that are the most important aspect of worship, but the ethical conduct and qualities of an individual.

This is what really gives meaning to worship." True or false, in the Kamila Sutta, the Buddha taught that ritual and physical structures are the most important aspect of Buddhist worship? Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected false as the correct answer.

In the Kamila Sutta, the Buddha taught that it is not ritual or physical structures that are the most important of worship, but the ethical conduct and qualities of an individual.

Mike, a British Mahayana Buddhist explains the purpose and the importance of attending the temple.

Mike says, "One of the purposes for attending my local Buddhist temple is to participate in the monthly "Dhamma Talks".

These talks are often led by Buddhist monks or nuns and attended by lay Buddhists.

The talks are important, because as I listen to the speaker, I deepen my wisdom of the Buddha's Dhamma." Katrina, a British Mahayana Buddhist, explains the purpose and importance of attending the temple.

Katrina tells us, "One of the purposes of attending the Buddhist temple is to participate in meditation classes.

I attend most Tuesday evenings with my friend who is also a lay Buddhist.

These meditation classes are important to me, because they help me connect with other Buddhists and I feel a sense of belonging." Ajahn and Niti are both Theravada Buddhist monks.

They discuss the importance of the monastery.

Ajahn says, "I live in a monastery with other Buddhist monks.

It is important I live a simple life.

I study, practise and meditate of the Buddha's teachings.

I believe this will help me reach enlightenment." Niti says, "I choose to live in a monastery as it allows me to be away from other distractions in life.

The monastery is an important way to help me dedicate my life to the Dhamma." Let's pause and check you've understood what we've just heard.

Select three reasons why places of worship might be important to Buddhists.

A, as places to attend meditation classes, B, as places to make offerings, C, as places where Buddhists can feel a sense of belonging or D, as places to worship the Buddha.

Remember, for this check for understanding, you need to select three answers.

Good luck, pause the video and then press play when you're ready to check you answers.

Well done if you selected A, B and C.

Three reasons why places of worship might be important to Buddhists are because they attend meditation classes, they make offerings and they offers Buddhists a sense of belonging.

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

Alex has written an extended paragraph as part of an answer to the question, "Explain the importance of Buddhist temples." Alex has said, "One reason the temple may be considered important to many Buddhists is because it is an opportunity to visit and make an offering to the Buddha statue in the shrine.

Buddhists may light a candle, incense and offer flowers to the Buddha rupa.

They may do this to seek merit or blessings.

The offerings are also a reminder of the Buddha's teachings.

For example, the flowers which will eventually wilt and die, symbolise the impermanent nature of all things." Complete his answer by writing the second extended paragraph, referring to Buddhist practises.

You could use the guidance below.

So start with your point.

Perhaps you might like to begin by saying, "Other Buddhists may believe." Develop that point by saying, "This means," include a source, so for example, it is supported by, name the source, state what it says and what it shows by linking to the belief and then highlight in the importance.

So for example, the importance of this practise is.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So you may have included the following points in your answer.

Other Buddhists might believe that places of worship are important because they benefit from visiting the library or study hall at the temple or gompa.

They are important because they offer a place to deepen their understanding of Buddha's Dhamma.

In the Dhammapada, it says, "You yourselves should make the effort, the enlightened ones are only teachers." This teaches that Buddhists must learn and practise the Dhamma themselves.

Buddhists may do this by attending a "Dhamma Talk" or meditation class at the temple.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on the features and functions of Buddhists places of worship.

Here is a summary of our key learning points.

In Buddhism, places of worship differ in appearance, size and function.

Tibetan Buddhists may visit a gompa which combines a shrine, a monastery, a study and meditation hall.

A shrine is also a key feature in a Buddhist temple and where offerings can be made to the Buddha.

Many Buddhists attend places of worship to deepen their understanding of the Buddha's Dhamma and monasteries offer a place for Buddhist monks and nuns to live, study and practise the Dhamma away from the distractions of everyday life.

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

Goodbye.