Year 10 - Religious education
Compassion and loving-kindness
Buddhism: Practices
Study Hub
Study Guides
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 significance of compassion and loving-kindness and how Buddhists might develop it today.
Key Notes
- Compassion (karuna) is a significant quality to develop and forms part of the four sublime states.
- Compassion is significant in Mahayana Buddhism because it's a quality Buddhists need to develop to become a Bodhisattva.
- Wisdom must be developed alongside compassion.
- Loving-kindness is known as 'metta' in Buddhism.
- Developing loving-kindness is important because it helps avoid greed and hatred, which form part of the three poisons.
Vocabulary To Learn
- compassion (karuna): sympathy and concern for the suffering of others
- loving-kindness (metta): a pure love which is selfless and not possessive
- the four sublime states: four qualities the Buddha taught should be developed
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) are the same thing.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Compassion (karuna) is a significant quality to develop and forms part of the four sublime states. Compassion is significant in Mahayana Buddhism because it's a quality Buddhists need to develop to become a Bodhisattva.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'compassion (karuna)'
sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) are the same thing. Correction: Loving-kindness is a pure love, selfless and not possessive. For example, wanting your friend to be happy without wanting anything in return. Compassion might arise if your friend is suffering and you want to help them and reduce their suffering.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Buddha rupa, artefacts and offerings Study Guide
- Celebrations: origins and significance of Wesak and Parinirvana Day Study Guide
- Ceremonies and rituals associated with death and mourning Study Guide
- Kamma and rebirth Study Guide
- Samatha meditation Study Guide
- The five moral precepts: do not take life or what is not given Study Guide
- The five moral precepts: senses, falsehoods or intoxicants Study Guide
- The nature and importance of diverse places of worship for Buddhists Study Guide
- The role and significance of Puja for Buddhists Study Guide
- The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: generosity and morality Study Guide
- The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: meditation and wisom Study Guide
- The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: patience and energy Study Guide
- Vipassana meditation Study Guide
- Visualisation of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Religious education guide library.