Buddhist attitudes to issues of wealth and poverty
I can explain Buddhist teachings and responses to wealth and poverty.
Buddhist attitudes to issues of wealth and poverty
I can explain Buddhist teachings and responses to wealth and poverty.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Wealth is neutral, but when tied to taṇhā (craving), lobha (greed), or exploitation, it causes dukkha (suffering).
- The Middle Way and the Eightfold Path guide Buddhists to use wealth ethically and avoid extremes.
- Values like mettā, karuṇā, and the Five Precepts promote honesty, fairness, and care for people living in poverty.
- Dr Ambedkar turned to Buddhism to fight caste oppression and poverty.
- The Karuna Trust and monasteries apply Buddhist values through service, simplicity, and community care.
Keywords
Dukkha (suffering) - belief that all life includes suffering and unsatisfactoriness; one of the Three Marks of Existence
Karuna (compassion) - sympathy and concern for the suffering of others; a key part of Buddhist ethics
Metta (loving-kindness) - a pure love which is selfless and not possessive; a key part of Buddhist ethics
The Middle Way - the path of moderation, avoiding both indulgence and severe self-denial
Tanha (craving) - the ongoing state of desire which causes suffering; grasping at things we enjoy or want
Common misconception
Buddhists oppose all wealth.
Buddhism teaches that wealth is neutral and only becomes problematic when it leads to attachment, greed, or exploitation.
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Buddhist attitudes to issues of wealth and poverty, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Buddhist attitudes to issues of wealth and poverty, 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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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Issues of Human Rights unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
sympathy and concern for the suffering of others
a pure love, which is selfless and not possessive
the ongoing state of desire which causes suffering