Year 5 - Religious education
Siddhartha: craving and suffering
Buddhists: who was the Buddha and what does he mean for Buddhists?
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Unit Summary
In this unit pupils are introduced to Buddhism. They focus on the significance of the figure of Siddhartha Buddha. They will examine stories of his life before considering his meaning for devotees today. They will learn about key concepts of dhamma and impermanence.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how Siddhartha realised that the answer to suffering was to stop craving.
Key Notes
- Siddhartha became very weak after fasting, but he had still not discovered the cause of suffering.
- He decided that the Middle Way was the best way to live.
- Siddhartha realised that the source of suffering was craving and the way to stop suffering was to stop craving.
- Buddhists call this the Four Noble Truths.
Vocabulary To Learn
- craving: longing for something or someone
- fasting: doing without food or drink
- the Middle Way: the path that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Siddhartha discovered the answer to suffering through fasting.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Siddhartha became very weak after fasting, but he had still not discovered the cause of suffering. He decided that the Middle Way was the best way to live.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'craving'
longing for something or someone.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Siddhartha discovered the answer to suffering through fasting. Correction: This did not give him the answer. It was when he stopped being an ascetic and chose the 'middle way' between extreme luxury and extreme self-denial that he found the answer.
More Lessons In This Unit
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