The role and significance of Puja for Buddhists
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the nature, role and significance of puja for Buddhists today.
Key learning points
- Puja is a devotional ritual that can be performed by Buddhists in the home and temple.
- Puja includes chanting important texts, e.g., the Three Refuges.
- Many Buddhists perform mantra recitation and use malas to aid concentration.
- The practice of puja at home enables lay Buddhists to adapt worship to their everyday lives.
- Puja at the temple enables the Sangha (community) to come together.
Keywords
Chanting - singing or rhythmic repetition of a word, prayer, or sound
Malas - strings of beads used as a prayer aid
Mantra recitation - a short sequence of words or syllables chanted repetitively as a form of meditation
Puja (devotional ritual) - the name given to ceremonies that involve meditation, prayer, and offerings
Common misconception
Puja in Buddhism is the worshipping of a god or gods, in the same way as in some other religions.
The Buddha is not a god, but a teacher who reached enlightenment. Puja is a way to show respect, devotion and strengthen commitment to the Buddhist path of enlightenment.
Teacher tip
Listen to audio clips of Buddhists chanting key texts or mantras to consolidate the learning in this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Generosity (dana) is one of the perfections in Mahayana Buddhism.
Q2.What is the main purpose of a Buddha rupa?
Q3.What might Buddhists place in a shrine as an offering?
Q4.Why are certain artefacts used during puja?
Q5.What is dana in Buddhism?
Q6.What is a common misconception about the Buddha rupa?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Taking in the Three Jewels shows commitment to the Buddhist path.
Q2.What is the main purpose of puja for Buddhists?
Q3.What might a Buddhist do during puja?
Q4.What does the wisdom mudra represent?
Q5.What is a Buddha rupa?
Q6.What is a common misunderstanding about puja in Buddhism?
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The role and significance of Puja for Buddhists, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: The role and significance of Puja for Buddhists, 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: Practices unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.