Year 10 - Religious education
Puja and mudras
Buddhism: Practices
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will examine practices in Buddhism such as puja and meditation. They will understand the considerable diversity of these practices among Buddhist adherents. Following that they wil look at the role of precepts and how these look different in Therevada and Mahayna Buddhism.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the role and significance of puja and mudras for Buddhists today.
Key Notes
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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 Mistakes To Avoid
- Puja in Buddhism is the worshipping of a god or gods, in the same way as in some other religions.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Puja is a devotional ritual that can be performed in different contexts. One feature of puja is performing offerings to the Buddha rupa.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Buddha rupa'
an image or statue of the historical Buddha or a being believed to have attained Buddhahood.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Puja in Buddhism is the worshipping of a god or gods, in the same way as in some other religions. Correction: 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.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Buddhist festivals in Britain Study Guide
- Buddhist temples in Britain and globally Study Guide
- Death and mourning in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism Study Guide
- Devotional practices Study Guide
- Features and functions of Buddhist places of worship Study Guide
- Festivals and retreats Study Guide
- Forms of meditation: samatha and mettabhavana Study Guide
- Forms of meditation: vipassana Study Guide
- The role of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in meditation Study Guide
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