The concept of dependent arising
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the concept of dependent arising and how it influences Buddhists today.
Key learning points
- Dependent arising is a fundamental concept across schools of Buddhism.
- Everything arises and exists in dependence on multiple causes and conditions.
- There is a 12 link chain of causation.
- The twelve links include matters of thought, feeling and change.
Keywords
Dependent arising - the belief that everything exists because other things do; everything is interconnected and everyone affects everyone else
Kamma - the belief in cause and effect, intentions and actions will affect the future
Nidanas - twelve links of causation
Samsara - the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth
Tibetan wheel of life - a symbolic representation of the cycle of samsara
Common misconception
That dependent arising means everything exists in a deterministic way and that all things are fixed and dependent on conditions.
Dependent arising emphasises the interdependent nature of all things.
Teacher tip
Print a copy (in colour if possible) of the Tibetan wheel of life for each student to analyse.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is one role of Dhamma in Buddhism?
Q2.What is the Pali Canon?
Q3.Why do Buddhists recite the Three Refuges?
Q4.The Three Refuges include the Buddha, the Sangha, and the ...
Q5.Dhamma aims to reduce the impact of in a Buddhist’s life.
Q6.The teachings of the Buddha were first shared through word of ...
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What does the concept of dependent arising mean in Buddhism?
Q2.What does the Tibetan Wheel of Life represent?
Q3.Which of the following best describes the nidanas in Buddhism?
Q4.Dependent arising is often compared to a effect to show how one event leads to another.
Q5.The Tibetan Wheel of Life shows the twelve that explain the cycle of samsara.
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The concept of dependent arising, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The concept of dependent arising, 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 4 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: beliefs unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.