Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms part of our unit on issues of human rights.

In today's lesson, we are going to be exploring Buddhism, human rights and social justice.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain how Buddhist teachings guide attitudes and actions towards human rights and social justice.

To help guide us through today's lesson, there are five key words, Dhamma, five precepts, metta, right action, and Rokpa.

Dhamma refers to the teachings of the Buddha.

Five precepts, the five basic ethical guidelines for Buddhists.

Metta refers to a pure love, which is selfless.

Right action is acting in a loving and peaceful way, and it's part of the Eightfold Path.

And Rokpa is a Buddhist charity that tackles social injustice and social justice takes two parts.

First of all, we begin by exploring human rights and then moving on to consider social justice.

The term human rights comes from Latin, human or humanus, meaning man and rights, or rectus meaning straight or correct.

Over time, human rights came to mean a legal or moral entitlement.

Following the Buddhist Dhamma means recognising the need to reduce suffering in all forms, not only personal suffering, but that of others too.

Working for the protection of human rights is seen as a direct expression of living according to the Dhamma.

Actions that promote fairness, kindness and justice are not additional to Buddhist practise, they are part of it.

Buddhists believe that respecting and protecting the dignity and rights of all beings is essential part of ethical and spiritual living, deeply rooted in compassion and the Dhamma.

Buddhist Dhamma demonstrates that all beings should have human rights, beings have intrinsic value because they're part of the cycle of samsara.

So the cycle of samsara being the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Many Buddhists also believe that all beings have Buddha nature, which is the potential to achieve enlightenment and reach Nirvana.

Okay, let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

True or false.

Protecting human rights is an expression of living according to the Buddhist Dhamma.

Well done if you said the answer is true.

Why? Well, following the Buddha's Dhamma means recognising the need to reduce suffering in all forms. Not only personal suffering, but that of others too.

Most religions have a code of ethics.

The five precepts are a set of ethical principles used in most schools of Buddhism.

By following these precepts, in particular, the first two precepts, Buddhists aim to uphold human rights, lead a virtuous life and reduce suffering.

The five precepts are do not take life.

Do not take what is not given.

Do not misuse the senses.

Do not speak falsehoods and do not take intoxicants that cloud the mind.

Buddhists will look to the teachings of the Buddha to know what good morals are and how to treat others.

In Dhammapada verses 246 to 247, it says, "He who destroys life tells lies, takes what is not given to him, commits adultery and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots even in this very life." What can a Buddhist learn from this verse about what good morals are and how to treat others? What I would like to do now is take some time to reflect on your own or if you have a partner, speak to them and consider what can a Buddhist learn from this verse about what good morals are and how to treat others? Pause a video here and press play when you're ready to reflect on your answer.

Okay, so what can Buddhist learn from this verse? Well, a Buddhist learns that if they engage in destructive or excessive behaviours, it will cause instability.

Instability will ultimately lead to suffering for themselves and others.

So the first of the five more three steps is do not take life.

In the Dhammapada, verse 246 247, it says, "He who destroys life and tells lies takes," and this means refrain from harming living beings.

This promotes respect for life and human dignity.

The second precept says, 'Do not take what is not given.

So in the Dhammapada, it says "He destroys life takes what is not given to him." And this means refraining from taking what is not freely given.

And this upholds respect for others' rights and property.

So what we can see from the first and second precept is the link to the teachings on the importance of human rights.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Which two precepts uphold human rights the most? A, do not take life.

B, do not speak falsehoods.

C, do not take what is not given.

Or D, do not take in intoxicants that cloud the mind.

Remember, for this check for understanding, you need to select two of the precepts.

Good luck completing the check for understanding.

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

Well done if you chose A and C.

Do not take life and do not take what is not given are two precepts which uphold human rights the most.

Buddhists might look to a sourceful authority like the Eightfold Path to find out human rights teachings.

In the Dhammapada versus 190 to 191 it says, "He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha penetrates wisdom, the four noble truths.

Suffering, the cessation of suffering and the Noble Eightfold Path, leading to the cessation of suffering.

What does this first teach Buddhists about the Eightfold Path? So again, on your own, take some time to reflect or with your partner, discuss that question.

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

Okay.

Welcome back.

So what does this first teach Buddhists about the Eightfold Path? It teaches that's through understanding the four noble truths and the Eightfold Path, that this can end their suffering.

The Dhamma on the Eightfold Path provides a practical guide to ethical living.

So the steps of the Eightfold Path are right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Right action demonstrates how to treat people.

<v ->Mike is a British Mahayana Buddhist.

</v> He's explaining how the Buddhist Dhamma right action guides his actions.

Mike says, "Following right action influences me to try my best to act peacefully and with compassion.

It influences me to avoid causing harm or conflict to living beings.

I always try to exercise restraint in seeking selfish pleasures that could harm others.

Practising right action creates a better society.

It ensures rights are protected and dignity is respected, and this aligns with the aims of human rights.

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

Select two ways that right action may be practised by a Buddhist.

A, by acting with compassion.

B, by avoiding doing harm, or C, by avoiding treating others with dignity.

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

Okay, well done if you selected A and B.

By acting with compassion and by avoiding doing harm, Buddhists may show that they are practising right action.

Okay, so now we're gonna complete our first practise task.

Alex has written an extended paragraph using Christianity as part of an answer to the question, explain from either two religions or two religious traditions, beliefs about the importance of human rights.

Alex has said, 'Many Christians believe human rights are important 'cause they believe all people are created in the image of God.

This is important because it means every person has equal dignity and worth regardless of race, gender, or status.

The Bible teaches this in Genesis 1:27.

So God created mankind in his image." This means Christians believe everyone deserves to have their human rights respected and protected because each person reflects God's image.

So now over to you.

Complete his answer by writing the second extended paragraph referring to Buddhism.

You could use the guidance below to structure your answer.

So first of all, you could give a point.

So you could start that by saying, A Buddhist belief is.

You then need to develop that point.

So you could start by saying, this means then you need to refer to a source of authority.

So you could say it is supported by, and here you name the source and state what it says, and then link that to the belief by saying what it shows.

And then lastly, explain the importance.

The importance of this belief is.

Good luck completing this practise task.

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

Okay.

Welcome back.

Time to check your answer.

So your answer may have included the following points.

Many Buddhists believe that human rights are important because protecting the rights of human beings is living according to the Buddhist Dhamma.

The first of the five precepts teaches Buddhists to not harm living beings.

This means that humans should be respected and treated with dignity.

The Buddhist belief in the importance of human rights is also supported by the Eightfold Path through right action.

In the Dhammapada it states "He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha and the Eightfold Path leading to the cessation of suffering." This teaching shows the importance of practising right action to reduce suffering, which is at the heart of Buddhist Dhamma.

Fantastic.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of today's lesson on Buddhism, human rights and social justice.

So now we are going to explore social justice in this part of the lesson.

The term social justice comes from Latin.

Social, meaning, socius, meaning companion and justice, or justus, meaning just lawful or fair.

So social justice literally means fairness between companions.

It has come to mean a society where all people are treated equally.

It addresses issues such as poverty, racism, inequality and injustice.

The Buddhist Dhamma contains the four sublime states.

These are virtues that develop skillful actions and demonstrate how Buddhists should treat all beings.

Compassion, also known as karuna, which is sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.

Loving-kindness, also known as metta, a pure love which is selfless and not possessive.

Sympathetic joy, the ability to rejoice in the happiness of others and equanimity, the ability to remain calm and balanced in all situations.

So for the next part of the lesson, we we're gonna be focusing on compassion and loving-kindness.

The Buddhist Dhamma or metta, loving-kindness encourages unconditional care for all beings, not just humans but all sentient life.

Buddhists are taught to feel karuna or compassion for others suffering and act to relieve it.

Upholding human rights and treating others with respect and kindness supports the goal of reducing dukkha for oneself and for others, which is a core aim of Buddhist Dhamma.

Sam has been learning about Buddhism, human rights and social justice.

Her teachers asked her to reflect on a teaching from the Buddha, just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings and loving kindness towards all the world.

Sam says, 'The Buddha seems to be saying that as a mother would show boundaries love to her child, Buddhists should develop a mindset of loving kindness to all beings everywhere.

How does the Dhamma or metta link to human rights? Pause the video here and spend some time reflecting on that question or discuss with your partner.

Press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay.

Welcome back.

So remember, the human rights is about having a legal or moral entitlement.

So how does the Dhamma link to this? So essentially, you may have said in your discussions or reflections that all humans have a legal or perhaps a moral entitlement to be treated with loving kindness or metta.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

What is the missing word? According to the Buddha, just as a mother will protect with her life her own son, one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings and towards all the world.

Pause the video here and work out what you think the missing word is.

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

Well done if you said the missing words is loving-kindness.

Katrina is a British Mahayana Buddhist.

She's explaining her belief in social justice.

Katrina says, "As a Mahayana Buddhist, I believe that all beings have Buddha-nature.

This means that every being has the potential to become enlightened.

A belief in Buddha-nature means that no one should be discriminated against or be treated as inferior.

Compassion must be put into action.

Social justice is important for all beings.

In Buddhism, the sublime state of compassion mustn't just be a feeling, it must result in practical efforts to relieve suffering.

Buddhists are expected to recognise injustice such as poverty, discrimination, or violence, and respond actively through peaceful means, helping others achieve fairness, dignity and wellbeing is part of removing the causes of dukkha in the world.

And Buddhists must put the Dhamma into action.

Sam is talking to Katrina about how she puts the Dhamma into action.

Sam asks, "Do you put the Dhamma into action, Katrina? Katrina replies, "Yes, as a Buddhist, I believe that working for equality and fairness is an expectation of me and a way to demonstrate the true essence of the Buddhist Dhamma.

One way I do this is to promote social justice and the work of the organisation Rokpa.

Rokpa aim to remove suffering and injustice and help all beings live with dignity and equality.

Rokpa is an example of an organisation that works for social justice.

In Tibetan, Rokpa means help or assistance, capturing the Buddhist call to show compassion.

It embodies compassion by actively working to relieve suffering.

It promotes metta by treating all people equally, regardless of backgrounds.

It shows right actions through peaceful actions and supporting vulnerable groups, which reduces suffering and injustice.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Select three ways that Rokpa for works for social justice.

A, by practising right action, through supporting vulnerable groups.

B, by embodying compassion by working to relieve suffering.

C, by promoting metta, by treating all people equally, or D, by promoting kindness, by treating people unequally.

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

Good luck completing a practise task, pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Well done if you selected A, B, and C, three ways that Rokpa works for social justice is by practising right action through supporting vulnerable groups, by embodying compassion, by working to relieve suffering, and by promoting metta, by treating all people equally.

Okay, time to complete our second and final practise task.

Describe two reasons why social justice is important to religious believers.

And here is some guidance that you might like to follow to help answer this question.

So you need to make two points and to develop each point.

Throughout 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.

Now this can be an exact or a paraphrased quotation or a general teaching from a named source.

Then accurately apply this to the point and question.

Good luck completing the practise task.

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

Okay, welcome back.

Time to check your answer.

You could have said "One reason why social justice is important to many Buddhists is the belief that all humans have the Buddha-nature.

This is important because it means every person is equal and has the potential to achieve enlightenment.

The Buddha taught just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings and loving kindness towards all the world.

This this means Buddhists believe everyone deserves justice and to be treated with metta and compassion.

Another reason why social justice is important to many Buddhists is because the Buddhist Dhamma demonstrated the need to reduce suffering by helping others to achieve dignity and fairness.

Well done on completing the second and final practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on Buddhism, human rights and social justice.

So here is a summary of our key learning points.

Working for the protection of human rights is seen as a direct expression of living according to the Dhamma.

Human beings have intrinsic value because they are part of the cycle of samsara.

The five precepts, including do not take life, and the eightfold past teaching about right action demonstrates examples of Buddhist Dhamma which promote human rights to reduce suffering.

Metta and compassion should be acted upon to relieve suffering and promote social justice.

And Rokpa is an example of an organisation that works for social justice.

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

Goodbye.