Year 10 - Religious education
The six perfections in the Mahayana tradition: generosity and morality
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 six perfections: generosity and morality and how these teachings can be developed.
Key Notes
- Each perfection develops a particular aspect of a Buddhist's character or understanding.
- Generosity includes time, possessions or skills.
- The aim is to give willingly with no expectation of praise or reward.
- Morality includes following the Dhamma consciously, aware of the moral decisions you're making.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Bodhisattva: an enlightened, who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings
- generosity: the sincere and selfless desire to benefit others with no expectation of reward
- morality: principles or beliefs about what is right and wrong; includes following the Five Moral Precepts
- the six perfections/paramitas: ethical principles in Mahayana Buddhism to lead a being to enlightenment
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Generosity and morality are qualities solely focused on external actions or rituals.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Each perfection develops a particular aspect of a Buddhist's character or understanding. Generosity includes time, possessions or skills.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Bodhisattva'
an enlightened, who postpones their final escape from samsara in order to help living beings.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Generosity and morality are qualities solely focused on external actions or rituals. Correction: It is also about cultivating a selfless mindset. True generosity transcends material things and is rooted in an attitude of openness and kindness. Morality is about acting in a way which includes mental discipline and mindfulness.
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
- Compassion and loving-kindness 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: 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
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