The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: meditation and wisom
I can explain the six perfections: meditation and wisdom, why they are important and how they can be developed.
The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: meditation and wisom
I can explain the six perfections: meditation and wisdom, why they are important and how they can be developed.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The six perfections (paramitas) are virtues that guide how a Bodhisattva should live their life.
- The perfections help Buddhists progress toward Buddhahood and ultimately achieve enlightenment.
- Meditation is the fifth of the six perfections and is vital in developing insight and wisdom.
- The sixth perfection is wisdom, the realisation that all phenomena is empty of inherent existence (sunyata).
Keywords
Bodhisattva - an enlightened being, who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings
Buddhahood - reaching enlightenment
Meditation - a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness
The six perfections/paramitas - ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism to lead a being to enlightenment
Wisdom - insight into the true nature of reality
Common misconception
Wisdom means gaining intellectual knowledge or philosophical understanding.
In the context of the perfections, wisdom isn’t about collecting facts or debating philosophy, it is about experiencing the truth of emptiness (sunyata).
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: meditation and wisom, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: meditation and wisom, 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.
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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.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
an enlightened being, who postpones their final escape from samsara
reaching enlightenment
ethical principles to lead a being to enlightenment