Death and mourning in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain Buddhist beliefs about death and how this belief is shown through different Buddhist death ceremonies and rituals.
Key learning points
- There are divergent death ceremonies and rituals across the Buddhist traditions and countries.
- The Buddhist ceremonies and rituals are a reminder of the impermenent nature of all things (anicca).
- Theravada Buddhists may practise good deeds to pass merit/positive kamma on to the deceased.
- Some Tibetan Buddhists read from the sacred text the 'Tibetan Book of the Dead' following the 49 days after death.
- In Japan, some Buddhists practise the ceremony of 'bone picking'.
Keywords
Bardo state - refers to a transitional period in which the deceased becomes aware of their death, rebirth is determined
Kamma (karma) - the belief in cause and effect
Rebirth - refers to the belief that when a being dies they are reborn
Samsara - the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth
Common misconception
The Buddhist belief in rebirth teaches that after death, a persons 'soul' is reborn in to another living being.
The Buddha taught that nothing is permenent, everything changes (anicca) and there is no fixed self or soul (anatta). Rebirth may be described as a person's ‘energy’ being reborn, rather than a fixed soul.
Teacher tip
Teach the concepts of kamma (karma) and rebirth to consolidate learning in this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What three things do Buddhists take refuge in?
Q2.Which of the following is the best way to describe puja?
Q3.Where can Buddhists perform puja?
Q4.What are mudras?
Q5.In puja, Buddhists may make offerings to the Buddha .
Q6.In puja, three flowers represent the Three ; the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Buddha taught that living beings do not have a permanent, unchanging self or (anatta).
Q2.What is karma?
Q3.Which of the following is the best way to describe rebirth in Buddhism?
Q4.Why do some Theravada Buddhists donate to monasteries after a death?
Q5.Some Tibetan Buddhists believe that after death, the deceased passes through the state where rebirth is determined.
Q6.In Tibet, some Buddhists practise a ‘ burial’, where the body is offered to vultures as a final act of generosity.
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Death and mourning in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Death and mourning in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, 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.