Dharma and moksha
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the Hindu beliefs about the soul and the significance of moksha.
Key learning points
- According to the Hindu concept of dharma, the soul cannot be destroyed.
- The soul enters a new living being upon death.
- Moksha is the ultimate goal of the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
- Moksha occurs when the soul ends the cycle of rebirth and is reunited with Brahman.
- Dharma is a path to attaining moksha.
Keywords
Moksha - liberation or freedom from samsara
Karma - the belief that all actions have consequences
Samsara - the belief in the cycle of rebirth for the soul
Atman - means 'soul' or 'spirit'
Brahman - the supreme spirit or ultimate reality
Common misconception
Moksha is a place or is heaven.
Moksha is where the atman (soul) is reunited with Brahman (the supreme being).
Teacher tip
A sensitive topic discussion of Hindu beliefs about the afterlife will occur in this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which Hindu term describes the eternal law or truth?
Q2.What does the Hindu term 'ashrama' mean?
Q3.According to the ashramas, which stage of life is being a parent and householder?
Q4.According to the ashramas, which stage is renunciation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the atman?
Q2.What is meant by 'samsara'?
Q3.What does reincarnation refer to?
Q4.How can an atman be reunited with Brahman?
Q5.According to Hindu Dharma, how might moksha be achieved?
Q6.What are the life aims in Hindu Dharma?
To help you plan your 7 religious education lesson on: Dharma and moksha, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 religious education lesson on: Dharma and moksha, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Dharma: how is this interpreted and put into action? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.