Puja and mudras
I can explain the role and significance of puja and mudras for Buddhists today.
Puja and mudras
I can explain the role and significance of puja and mudras for Buddhists today.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Puja is a devotional ritual that can be performed in different contexts.
- One feature of puja is performing offerings to the Buddha rupa.
- Performing puja shows commitment to following the Buddha's Dhamma.
- Mudras symbolise different Buddhist concepts or teachings.
- Mudras are often used by Buddhists during meditation or rituals.
Keywords
Buddha rupa - an image or statue of the historical Buddha or a being believed to have attained Buddhahood
Mudra - hand gesture of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, with symbolic meaning
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.
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Puja and mudras, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Puja and mudras, 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
a way to focus and memorise teachings
beads used during meditation
repeating sounds or words
the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha