Introduction to World Religions & Belief Systems-Senior High School

Alternative Delivery Mode

Quarter 1 – Module 9: Theravada Buddhism

Week 9-Lesson 9 Theravada Buddhism

What I Need to Know

Hello? How’s your day? Do you want more learnings? In this module, you
will study the teachings and beliefs of Theravada Buddhism.

Learning objectives:
1. Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices,
and related issues of Theravada Buddhism. (MELC)
a. State the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold path.
b. Give examples of situations that demonstrate cravings which may
lead to suffering according to Theravada Buddhism.

What I Know

Let’s determine what you already learned by answering these questions. Write
your answer in your test notebook.

I. Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer about the life of Buddha.
1. Which event happened after Siddhartha saw a very old man and before he saw a
dead man?
A. Siddhartha was born under a tree.
B. Siddhartha went out of the palace for the first time.
C. Siddhartha was married.
D. Siddhartha saw a sick man.
2. From the story we know, Siddhartha:
A. had an easy life.
B. liked being stuck in the palace.
C. was unhappy at the palace.
D. wanted to find the cause of suffering.
3. All of these are true EXCEPT:
A. Siddhartha’s mother’s name was Maya.
B. Siddhartha became the Buddha.
C. Siddhartha left the palace four times.
D. Siddhartha never got married.
4. Siddhartha left the palace because ___________________.
A. He did not like his father.
B. He could get richer if he left.
Page 1
 C. He liked the things outside the palace.
D. He needed an answer to an important question.
5. We can tell from the story that Siddhartha’s father:
A. was not a part of his life.
B. wanted him to do whatever he wanted to do.
C. tried to keep him from becoming a holy man.
D. talked to him a lot about what he wanted to do.
II. Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct, but if FALSE change the
underlined word.

6. Siddhartha was born into the brahmin caste.

7. Buddhism is the smallest of the great world religions.
8. The Tripitaka is a popular Theravadin Buddhist scripture.
9. In the Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha: there is a
method of achieving the end of all satisfactoriness, namely the Noble Eightfold
Path.
10. In Buddhism, dependent origination is a twelve-linked chain that explicates
how all things are inter-connected, how error and attachment to error occur, and
how, if the chain is untangled.

What’s In
In the previous lesson, you have learned what Hinduism is all about, and
how this world’s oldest religion is considered a diverse and complex religion. We
have also discussed how Hindus manifest their spirituality amidst the variety of
their traditions and freedom of beliefs. In this lesson, we will study Theravada
Buddhism and how its followers adhere to the original practices and doctrines
preached by Siddhartha Gautama, a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was
founded.

What’s New

Are you ready now? Try this one in your activity notebook!
Activity 1. Direction: The pictures below show the four noble truth of Theravada
Buddhism. States the noble truth in each photo.

__________________ ___________________ __________________ ________________

Page 2
Activity 2. Direction: State the eightfold path of Theravada Buddhism through
completing the word by filling the missing letter in each blank.
1. Right v_ _ w
2. Right _ n t _ n t _ _ n
3. Right s _ _e c _
4. Right a c _ _ _ n
5. Right l i v _ _ i _ o o d
6. Right _ f f _ _ t
7. Right m _ i n _ f u _ _ e s s
8. Right _ o n c e _ t r a _ i _ _

Congratulations! You’ve got it! Now, you can proceed to the next activity

What Is It
Try this! Have fun! Good luck!

Activity 3. Direction: Answer the following questions in your activity notebook.

1. What are the four noble truths of Theravada Buddhism? Why does Buddha
believe that one must truly understand the “Four Noble Truths” and “The Middle
Way” before beginning the eightfold path”?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. How is one’s salvation attained in Theravada Buddhism?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Theravada (Pali: thera "elders" + vada "word, doctrine"), the

"Doctrine of the Elders," is the name for the school of Buddhism
that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Pali Canon, or
Tipitaka, which scholars generally accept as the oldest record of
the Buddha's teachings. For many centuries, Theravada has been
the predominant religion of Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand;
today Theravada Buddhists number over 100 million world-wide.
In recent decades, Theravada has begun to take root in the West
— primarily in Europe, Australia and the USA.

FOUNDER: SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA

Also known as the Buddha “the awakened one”, he was the leader and
founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha means “He Who Achieves His Goal”. He was born
Page 3
between 563 B.C.E. to 480 B.C.E. into the Sakya tribe in Lumbini (in present day
Nepal) near the town of Kapilavastu (the capital city of Sakya state) in the foothills
of the Nepalese Himalayas (Kulananda 2001). Born into the Kshartriya caste, his
father was Suddhodana, an aristocratic Hindu chieftain, and his mother was
Mahamaya, a Koliyan princess. When Siddhartha was born his father was told by a
mystic that his future could be one of the two things; a lowly monk or a wealthy
political leader, to ensure his son didn’t become a monk Siddhartha’s father raised
him in luxury and concealed from him the misfortunes of the outside world despite
coming from an affluent family. Siddhartha began to feel an inner void that couldn’t
be filled with earthly pleasures such as food and drink. He left his world of luxury
and set out on a mission to satiate his thirst for more. As he roamed, he came
across misery, illness and death; he began to realize that he too would eventually
grow old and die. As he wandered he came across a monk and decided to live a life
of self-denial to see if it brought more to his life than well stood. Siddhartha
collapsed near a stream from hunger and when he awoke he accepted a meal and
vowed to never again deny himself to that extreme. He had lived as an extremely
wealthy man and as a lowly man yet found no peace in either existence. Eventually,
Siddhartha sat beneath the fig tree and vowed to stay there until he reached
enlightenment. As he said, Mara, the god of desire and death tempted him to turn
back to his old life of pleasure by inducing visions of beautiful women but
Siddhartha persisted. As Buddha woke, he realized that desire and cravings were
what kept him entrapped in the endless cycle of suffering. He entered a
transcendent state known as nirvana where there is no suffering desire nor sense of
self, this is the final goal of Buddhism.

THERAVADA TEACHINGS & BELIEFS

Sacred scriptures

Tripitaka (Tipitaka in Pali) is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and

the only text recognized as canonical by Theravada Buddhist. Tripitaka means
“three basket”, from the way in which it was originally recorded:
3 BASKETS (TIPITAKA/TRIPITAKA)

TIPITAKA CONTENTS

Sutta Pitaka (Discourse) Buddha’s doctrinal discourses; short

poems to long prose narratives about
Siddhartha’s previous lives
Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) Rules of discipline; stories that illustrate
Buddhist moral principles
Abhidhamma Pitaka (Ultimate Systematic analysis of the categories of
Doctrine) Buddhist thought

Four noble truths

Shortly after his awakening, Buddha began teaching others of his concept of
human condition and how to liberate oneself. He did so by establishing a
framework of thought called the Four noble truths.

Page 4
1. The Noble Truth of dukkha (suffering, unsatisfactoriness, stress): life is
fundamentally fraught with unsatisfactoriness and disappointment of every
description;

2. The Noble Truth of the cause of dukkha: the cause of this dissatisfaction is
tanha (craving) in all its forms;

3. The Noble Truth of the cessation of dukkha: an end to all that unsatisfactoriness
can be found through the relinquishment and abandonment of craving;

4. The Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha: there is a
method of achieving the end of all unsatisfactoriness, namely the Noble Eightfold
Path;

Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is described as walking in the Middle Way between

complete pleasure and complete mortification. This relates to the origin of
Siddhartha Gautama because he wasn’t able to find peace in high status or as a
lowly monk, only when he gathered enough wisdom from both ends of spectrum
then reached nirvana.

EIGHTFOLD PATH WHAT ONE MUST DO

RIGHT VIEW Understand the “Four Noble Truths”

RIGHT INTENTION Free one’s self from ill-will, cruelty and untruthfulness
RIGHT SPEECH Abstain from untruthfulness, tale-bearing, harsh
language and vain talk
RIGHT ACTION Abstain from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD Earn a living in a way not harmful to any living thing
RIGHT EFFORT Avoid evil thoughts and overcome them, arouse good
thoughts and maintain them
RIGHT MINDFULNESS Pay vigilant attention to every state of the body, feeling
and mind
RIGHT CONCENTRATION Concentrate on a single object so as to induce certain
special states of consciousness in deep meditation

Meditation is one of the main tools by which a Theravada Buddhist

transforms themselves, and so a monk spends a great deal of time in meditation.

2 forms of meditation:

 Samatha (Calming meditation)

This is the earliest form of meditation, and is not unique to Buddhism. It's
used to make the mind calmer and take the person to higher jhanic states.
The effects of Samatha meditation are temporary.

Page 5
 Vipassana (Insight meditation)
This form of meditation is used to achieve insight into the true nature of
things. This is very difficult to get because human beings are used to seeing
things distorted by their preconceptions, opinions, and past experiences. The
aim is a complete change of the way we perceive and understand the
universe, and unlike the temporary changes brought about by Samatha, the
aim of Vipassana is permanent change.

When a person achieves liberation they are called a 'worthy person' -

an Arhat or Arahat. Despite the monastic emphasis, Theravada Buddhism has
a substantial role and place for lay followers. The code of behavior for lay
people is much less strict than that for monks. They follow the five basic
Buddhist principles/precepts.

The Five Precepts are to undertake the rule of training to:

• Refrain from harming living beings.
• Refrain from taking that which is not freely given.
• Refrain from sexual misconduct.
• Refrain from wrong speech; such as lying, idle chatter, malicious gossip or
harsh speech.
• Refrain from intoxicating drink and drugs which lead to carelessness

Law of dependent origination (Paticca-samuppada)

One of the most important teachings of Buddha is the Law of
Dependent Origination. With everything built upon a set of relations, it follows
that every effect has a definite cause and every cause has a definite effect. In
Buddhism, dependent origination is a twelve-linked chain that explicates how
all things are inter-connected, how error and attachment to error occur, and
how, if the chain is untangled. It also explains the problem of suffering and
rebirth. As a result of this law of action, a being will be born in different states
based on one’s accumulated good and bad actions in the past.

Impermanence of things
An unavoidable fact of human existence. Buddhism affirms five processes
deemed uncontrollable by any individual: old age, sickness, dying, decay and
death. The one who achieved nirvana called arhat or one who is “worthy of
honor”.

What’s More

Let’s see if you know the teachings and beliefs through given examples of
situations that demonstrate cravings which may lead to suffering according to
Theravada Buddhism.
Activity 4. Direction: Below you find four terrible diseases, a doctor has examined
each of the patients and now has to aid the patient to get better again. Find and fill
in the answers in the correct boxes. Do this in your activity notebook.

Dukkha Cause of dukkha Cessation of Path leading to

Page 6
 dukkha cessation of
dukkha
Sweetyrithis Desire to eat Eat significantly Try other types of
sweets all the less sweets. food as well.
time.
Lazyfever
Facebooksyndromos
Spendingcompulsio

*Not being able to get anything done

*Set budget and live within own means
*Think of something that does not cost money but is as fun
*Need to be constantly online on social networking sites
*Spending too much money on unnecessary and overpriced things
*Limit your time of being online
*Meet your friends in real life for a face to face chatter
*Face what you have to do and sort it out
*Do one thing at a time

What I Have Learned

Let us determine if you can now explain the core teaching of
Theravada Buddhism.
Activity 5. Direction: Explain the statement below. Write your answers in your
activity notebook.

Agree “If someone followed the four noble truths: Disagree

they would remove all suffering from their
lives.”

RUBRIC

Score Description
10 Answers are on point. All are grammatically correct and neat.

Page 7
 7 There are 1-2 misleading answers. 1-2 are grammatically incorrect and
erasures.
4 There are 3 or more misleading answers. 3 or more grammatically
incorrect and erasures.

What I Can Do

Let’s find out if you know how to apply the teachings and beliefs of
Theravada Buddhism.
Activity 6. Below are scenarios, you have to write what are the actions you’re going
to make and what Theravada Buddhism likes you to do. Do this in your activity
notebook.

Scenario What would What would Theravada

you do? Buddhism like you to do?
You are in the hallway and a group
of students are bullying a student
you don’t know because of her
weight.
The new iPhone is coming out. The
phone you have now works perfectly
fine and is less than a year old. Your
family says that they will buy the
new iPhone for you.
You are taking the exam in the
morning. That night, your friend
asks you if you want to go to a party.

RUBRIC

Score Description
10 Answers are on point. All are grammatically correct and neat.
7 There are 1-2 misleading answers. 1-2 are grammatically incorrect and
erasures.
4 There are 3 or more misleading answers. 3 or more grammatically incorrect
and erasures.

Assessment

Page 8
 Congratulations! You’ve come this far! Now, let’s evaluate the
Eightfold Path in terms of how it achieves the Middle Way. Do this in your activity
notebook.

I. Direction: Match the description of the eightfold path in Column A to Column B.

Column A Column B

1. See the world as it is, accept the existence of

Dukkha and understand there is a path to a. Right View
freedom.
b. Right Intention
2. Make sure your words are kind and helpful.
Speak in a positive and truthful way. c. Right Speech

3. Earn a living in a way that is an honest and d. Right Action

doesn’t harm any living things.
e. Right Livelihood
4. Be honest, content and faithful. Do not kill
f. Right Effort
living things or use harmful substances. Treat
yourself and other people well. g. Right Mindfulness
5. Show as serious commitment to developing the h. Right Concentration
II.right
Direction: Complete
and mental the table
thought by filling in the blanks with the correct answer.
and attitude.
Choose the answer from the list below.
6. Concentrate the mind. Get rid of bad thoughts
*untruthfulness
and find calm. *tale-bearing *single *overcome
*living thing *killing *four-noble truth *feeling
7. Be constantly aware that your thought and
actions have consequences.
Eightfold Path What One Must Do
8. Work hard to make all thought, speech and
Right View
actions positive.
Understand the “________________________________”1.

Right Intention
Free one’s self from ill-will, cruelty, and __________________________2.
Right Speech
Abstain from untruthfulness, _______________3., harsh language, and vain talk
Right Action
Abstain from _____________4., stealing and sexual misconduct
Right Livelihood
Earn a living in a way not harmful to any ____________________________5.
Right Effort
Avoid evil thoughts and _____________________ 6. them, arouse good thoughts and
maintain them
Right Mindfulness
Pay vigilant attention to every state of the body, _________________7. and mind
Right Concentration
Concentration on a _______________8. object so as to induce certain special states of
consciousness in deep meditation

III. Direction: Write a practical example of how it can be followed. Used the format
below.

Page 9
The Eightfold Path Practical example of how it can be
followed
Right View

Right Intention

Right Speech

Right Action

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration

RUBRIC
Score Description
10 Answers are on point. All are grammatically correct and neat.
7 There are 1-2 misleading answers. 1-2 are grammatically incorrect
and erasures.
4 There are 3 or more misleading answers. 3 or more grammatically
incorrect and erasures.

Additional Activities

Using Venn Diagram, illustrate the similarities and differences of the “Ten
Commandments” and “Noble Eightfold Path.”

References:
Ong, J., et. al. Introduction to World Religions & Belief Systems.
2016. Vibal Group, Inc. Quezon City.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/whats-thera
.htm
file:///C:/Users/KYCIE/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.Micro
softEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/231510769-Bud
dhism-Lesson-Plans%20(1).pdf
Page 10
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/337682848/Theravada-Bu
ddhism
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEh68dNtWE
 Answers Key

What I Know
I.
1. D.
2. D.
3. D.
4. D.
5. C.
II.
6. kshatriya
7. largest
8. true
9. true
10. true

What’s New
Activity 1.
1. suffering
2. cause of suffering
3. end of suffering
4. path leading to end of suffering
Activity 2.
1. view
2. intention
3. speech
4. action
5. livelihood
6.effort
7. mindfulness
8. concentration

What Is It
Activity 3.

Page 11
 1. The four noble truths of Theravada Buddhism are the dukkha, the cause
of dukkha, cessation of dukkha and path leading to cessation of dukkha. Buddha
believe that one must truly understand the “Four Noble Truths” and “The Middle
Way” before beginning the eightfold path” because Siddhartha Gautama wasn’t able
to find peace in high status or as lowly monk, only when he gathered enough
wisdom from both ends of spectrum then reached nirvana.

2. One’s salvation can be attained in Theravada Buddhism thru

understanding the four noble truths and eightfold path.

What’s More
Activity 4.
Dukkha Cause of dukkha Cessation of dukkha Path leading to
cessation of
dukkha
Sweetyrithis Desire to eat Eat significantly Try other types
sweets all the less sweets. of food as well.
time.
Lazyfever Not being able to Face what you have Do one thing at
get anything done to do and sort it out a time
Facebooksyndromos Need to be Limit your time of Meet your
constantly online being online friends in real
on social life for a face to
networking sites face chatter
Spendingcompulsio Spending too Think of something Set budget and
much money on that does not cost live within own
unnecessary and money but is as fun means
overpriced things

What I Have Learned

Scores may vary according to the rubrics.

What I Can Do
Scores may vary according to the rubrics.

Assessment
I.
1. a
2. b
3. e
4. c
5.d
6. h
7. g
8. f
II.
1. four noble truth
2. untruthfulness
Page 12
3. tale-bearing
4. killing
5. living thing
6. overcome
7. feeling
8. single
III.
Scores may vary according to the rubrics.

Writer: KYCIE BEB G. ABASTAR

Dualing High School
Aleosan, Cotabato Province

Introduction to World Religions & Belief Systems-Senior High School

Alternative Delivery Mode
Week 10-Lesson 10 Mahayana Buddhism
Quarter 1 – Module 10: Mahayana Buddhism

Page 13
 What I Need to Know

Hello? How’s your day? Do you want more learnings? In this module, you
will study the teachings and beliefs of Mahayana Buddhism.

Learning objectives:

1. Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices,

and related issues of Mahayana Buddhism. (MELC)
a. State the three levels of perfection of Mahayana Buddhism.
b. Give examples of acts of generosity of Mahayana Buddhists.

What I Know

Let’s determine what you already learned by answering these questions. Write
your answer in your test notebook.
I. Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Why do people need suffer based on Buddha’s teaching? 

A. People suffer because they want to. 
B. People suffer because they are mean. 
C. People suffer because they don't go to school. 
D. People suffer because they desire too many worldly things and self-
satisfaction. 
2. Bodhisattva is a/an ___________________.
A. God
B. Thai monk
C. enlightened being who has entered final nirvana
D. enlightened being dedicated to reincarnating to help others

3. In order to gain more supporters, Mahayana Buddhists tend to _______________.

A. adhere strictly to the original teachings of Buddha and the Tipitaka.
B. embrace popular features of Buddhism and lead missionary efforts.
C. look to India's first centralized empire for guidance.
D. support the four major divisions (castes) of Indian Society.

Page 14
 4. The religious ideal as set forth in the Lotus Sutra is the _________.
A. Arhat B. Bodhisattva C. Householder D. Prajna
5. Today the majority of Buddhists are ______.
A. Mahayanists B. Tantrics C. Theravadins d. Vajrayanists

II. Direction: Identify the word being describe in each item. Find the answers
inside the box.

Lotus Sutra Mahayana Prajna

Bodhisattva Perfection of Wisdom

6. "The Great Vehicle"; one of the great divisions of Buddhism.

7. Anyone who has taken a vow to become a Buddha, who will attain that
goal, and who compassionately engages in assisting others; i.e. Buddha
Gautama before his enlightenment.
8. Prajnaparamita" understanding of reality required to achieve
Buddhahood. This also describes a genre of Mahayana sutras devoted to the
exposition of emptiness and the bodhisattva path.
9. "Wisdom" is an understanding of the true nature of reality; one of the
paramitas.
10. One of the most popular and prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts.

What’s In

In previous lesson, you have learned what Theravada Buddhism is about,

and how its followers’ belief of salvation is attained without the assistance of any
supreme or supernatural being. We have also cited the life story of Siddhartha
Gautama and its influence on the teachings of Buddhism. In this lesson, we will
discuss another version of Buddhism called Mahayana Buddhism which sprang
out from monastic rule and doctrinal differences within the original form of
Buddhism.

What’s New

Are you excited? Try this in your activity notebook.

Activity 1. State the three levels of perfection of Mahayana Buddhism by completing
the puzzle using the clue below.

Page 15
Hint:
1. the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using
punishment to correct disobedience.
2. behavior showing high moral standards
3. the manner in which a person behaves, especially on a particular occasion or in
a particular context.
Congratulations!

What Is It

Let us learn more! Good luck!

Activity 2. Direction: Answer the following questions in your activity notebook.
1. Why is Mahayana Buddhism appealing to a vast majority of followers?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. How do you think Mahayana Buddhism’s concept of bodhisattva contributed to
it being one of the most successful missionary religions in the world?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

MAHAYANA BUDDHISM

Believing itself as the more

genuine version of Buddha’s teachings,
Mahayana Buddhism has diverged into

Page 16
numerous schools with each developing its own canon and rituals since its
founding more than 2000 years ago.

Mahayana Buddhism
- Also known as the “Great Vehicle”
- Emerged out of monastic rule and doctrinal differences
- Mahayana and Theravada originated in the foundational teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama but their methods and search for liberation from the cycle
of reincarnation can be very different
- Mahayana Buddhism aims to extend religious authority to a larger number of
people
- Widespread in China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Tibet
- Developed a wide appeal to common people
Buddha was a spiritual leader and teacher whose life serves as the foundation
of Buddhist religion.

i. Sacred Scriptures
Mahayana branch accepts the canonical texts of the Theravada school, such
as the Tripitaka (Sanskrit word for “Three Baskets”) which is the collection of
Buddha’s teachings. Mahayana also has a wide array of philosophical and
devotional texts. Mahayana Buddhism includes many sacred writings which are
nearly identical in content with the Pali Canon of the Theravada sect. Meanwhile,
Mahayana Buddhists have teachings or sutras not present in the Theravada school
and the followers believed they have recovered the original teachings of the
Buddha. In fact, the principal scriptures of the Mahayana sect have no parallels in
the Pali Canon. Mahayana Buddhism adopted the Sanskrit form of terms rather
than Pali.

Lotus Sutra (“Saddharmapundarika-sutra”) is one of the most popular and

prominent Mahayana Buddhist texts (or sutra) that literally means “Sutra of the
Lotus of the Wonderful Law” or “correct dharma white lotus sutra” in Sanskrit.
Sutra – pertains to one of the discourses of the historical Buddha that comprise
the basic texts of Buddhist sacred writing. The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama
are generally recorded in a wide corpus of sutras and often taking the form of
dialogues instead of analytically explicating a certain viewpoint.

ii. Belief and Doctrines

1. The Buddha
The concept of trikaya (“three bodies”) pertains to the teaching of Mahayana
Buddhism about the nature of the Buddha and reality. Each Buddha has three
bodies, namely, dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya.

The table below summarizes the nature of the three bodies of Buddha.

Page 17
 For Mahayana Buddhists, Buddhas are not individuals who actually lived in
this world. They are simply expressions of the one Buddha reality, such as that of
Siddhartha Gautama. These great Buddhas are to be found in various heavens
enshrined together with other gods and saints. In China, Amitabha is a very
popular Buddha. In Japan, Vairocana is the great Buddha.

2. Bodhisattvas
One distinct feature of Mahayana Buddhism concerns its teaching about an
enlightened being or bodhisattva (“enlightened existence”) which is the ultimate
way for any Buddhist to live in this world. A bodhisattva has generated bodhicitta
or the spontaneous desire to achieve the state of being enlightened. The concept of
bodhicitta differs between the two main schools of Buddhism. On the other hand,
apart from liberation, Mahayana adherents assist other sentient beings in their
quest for liberation. The attainment of nirvana is not confined to one’s self as an
arhat (“perfect one”) but must be shared to all striving beings.

A bodhisattva, who is already eligible to enter final enlightenment by perfecting

himself through countless incarnations, opts to forego the right to enter nirvana
and decides to be born again into this evil world to assist others in attaining the
same state, even descending to the depths of lowest hells to rescue ill-fated victims
imprisoned there. Through skillful ways, a bodhisattva has the capacity to
determine the state of mind and emotion of each person thereby facilitating
assistance based on actual needs. The path of the bodhisattva can also be taken by
any ordinary person, which is a way of selflessness. Frequently depicted as
celestial beings who answer the prayers of those who need help, bodhisattvas are
embodiment of great compassion.
3. Bhumis and Paramitas
Based on the Mahayana tradition, a bodhisattva must pass 10 bhumis
(“grounds” of “land”) before attempting the so-called “Buddha-hood”. These are
extensions of the “Eightfold Path”.
The bhumis are frequently associated with the paramitas (“perfections”).
Translated as “to cross over the other shore”, paramitas imply crossing from the
“sea of suffering” to the “shore of happiness”. A bodhisattva vow is stated as “May I
attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings”.

Bhumi Description Paramita Nature

Pramudita-bhumi The bodhisattva starts the Dana Perfection of
(joyful land) journey joyful with the Paramita giving or
inspiration of enlightenment. (Generosit generosity
y)
Page 18
Vimala-bhumi The bodhisattva is purified of Sila Perfection of
(Land of Purity) immoral conduct and Paramita morality
disposition. (Discipline)
Prabhakari-bhumi The bodhisattva is purified of Ksanti Perfection of
(Luminous or the “Three Poisons”, namely, Paramita patience for
Radiant Land) greed, hate, and ignorance (Patience) forbearance

Archismati-bhumi The bodhisattva burns away all Virya Perfection of

(The Brilliant or false conception. Paramita energy
Blazing Land) (Diligence)
Sudurjaya-bhumi The bodhisattva goes deeper into Dhyana Perfection of
(The Land That is concentration. Paramita meditation
Difficult to (Meditative
conquer) Concentrat
ion)
Abhimukhi-bhumi The bodhisattva sees that all Prajna Perfection of
(The Land Looking phenomena are without self Paramita Wisdom
Forward to essence and understands the (Wisdom)
Wisdom) nature of dependent origination.
Durangama-bhumi The bodhisattva acquires the
(The FarReaching power of skilful means (upaya)
Land) to help others realize
enlightenment.
Achala-bhumi (The The bodhisattva can no longer
Immovable Land) be disturbed because
“Buddhahood” is within sight
Sadhumati-bhumi The bodhisattva understands all
(The Land of Good dharmas and is able to teach
Thoughts) others
Dharmamegha- The bodhisattva is confirmed of
bhumi (The Land of the “Buddha-hoof” and enters
Dharma Clouds) “Tushita Heaven” or the heaven
of contended gods
iii. Worship and Observances
Buddhism integrates an assortment of religious practices and devotional
rituals with the objective of aiding worshippers in their journey toward
enlightenment and in bringing blessings to each and every one. In Buddhist
temples, they pray and chant to pay their respect to the Buddhas and
bodhisattvas, such as Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, and Amitabha. They also offer
vegetarian food and light incense.
Worshippers also recite chants and undertake pilgrimage to sites of
Buddhist importance. Meditational activities are fundamental in almost all forms of
Buddhism. The lotus that symbolizes purity, the eight-spoke wheels that represent
the dharma, and the different hand gestures (mudras) are important symbols for
Mahayana Buddhism.
iv. Subdivisions
1. The Pure Land Sect
Pure Land Buddhism began in India around the 2 nd century BCE, spread to
China by the 2nd century CE and reached Japan during 6 th century CE. When

Page 19
believers die, it is their objective to live in the “Pure Land of the West” or
Sukhavati. By simply reciting the name of the Amitabha with utmost attentiveness
many times during the day, they may be reborn in this paradise where they can
work to achieve enlightenment much easier. Amitabha – the god who supervises
over a western paradise and is the focus of this sect. Once in Sukhavati, people can
experience the delight in hearing Amitabha teach the dharma in preparation for
their entry to nirvana. Aside from meditations, this Buddhist sect utilizes chants
and recitations to focus on helpful thoughts.

2. The Intuitive Sects

The establishment of this sect can be traced to the work of an Indian monk
named Bodhidharma whose life stories are with mysteries and numerous legends.
This concept entered China from India, and then Korea to Japan. In China, it came
to be known as Ch’an. Ch’an Buddhism has close affinity with Taoist philosophy
because both are kinds of mysticism. In Japan, it reached its peak with the
development of Zen which is a blend of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Daoism.
Followers of this school are called meditative Buddhists. Focusing on meditation
as the path to liberation, Zen Buddhism is basically a monastic discipline. The
word “meditation” in India is dhyana, ch’an in China, and zen in Japan.

3. The Rationalist Sect

A rationalist Buddhist school of thought called T’ien-t’ai with its name
originating from a mountain in southeastern China where its founder Chih-I or
Zhiyi lived. Apart from the meditational practices, this sect taught that one must
utilize one reason and study the scriptures and doctrines to discover Buddhist
truths. Chiyi emphasized that acts of studying and contemplation were both vital
for spiritual enlightenment. There is a need to integrate Buddhist sacred writings to
know the truth, with the Lotus Sutra being revered as its ultimate writing. The
teachings of Chih-I were introduced in Japan by the monk Saicho that came to be
known as Tendai. The Buddhist monk Uicheon established the Cheontae
Buddhist school in Korea.

4. The Socio-political Sect

A Japanese Buddhist monk by the name of Nichiren Daishonin who lived
during the 13th period during the Kamakura period began to teach that the path
towards attaining enlightenment rested solely on the devotion to the Lotus Sutra.
Nichiren (“sun lotus”) Buddhism, which is purely a Japanese phenomenon,
perceives itself as the only rightful version of Buddhism. Nichiren Buddhism
teaches that individuals must take responsibility to enhance themselves, or what is
called “human revolution.” Enlightenment is accessible to every individual on
earth simply by opening one’s inherent Buddha-nature in this world. A scripture
scholar and activist, Nichiren himself is considered a Buddha.

5. Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism was officially introduced to Tibet around the 7 th century CE
during the reign of Songtsan Gampo, considered the founder of the Tibetan Empire.
He was influenced by his Chinese and Indian wives who were both Buddhist
followers. Buddhism became a dominant force in the region toward the end of the
8th century CE when the king Trisong Detsen decreed it as the official state
religion. While the theological foundation of Tibetan Buddhism is similar to that
Page 20
of Mahayana Buddhism, the isolation of the region allowed for the development of
many features. Tibetan Buddhism borrowed tantric and shamanic attributes, as
well as elements from Tibet’s native religion called Bon. Bon was a kind of
shamanism where spirits and deities were revered. Ancient Bon rituals were
concerned with the performance of magic, incantations, and spells and in the
protection of people from unwanted demons prowling in the dark.
Tibetan Buddhism has its own set of clergy (lamas) and they commonly
senior members of the monastic community. The term lama means “the superior
one” and lamas are frequently the reincarnations of previous lamas. The Dalai
Lama is the most prominent face of Tibetan Buddhism who has been living in exile
in India since he fled Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. The term dalai means
“ocean” in Mongol referring to the vastness and depth of the person. The current
and fourteenth Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso who is the leader of the Gelug school
and is believed to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara. Until 1959, the chief
residence of the Dalai Lama was a 13-storey structure called Potala Palace located
at the Red Hill in Lhasa, Tibet. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has
been transformed into a museum but remains a sacred place for many Tibetans.

v. Selected Issues

1. Tibet Invasion
For centuries, both China and India have been claiming Tibet as part of their
territories. Tibet practically enjoyed some degree of independence as none of the
claimants pressed their claim. In 1950, China annexed Tibet and negotiated the so-
called “Seventeen Point Agreement” with the government of the 14 th Dalai Lama.
Rejected repeatedly by the Dalai Lama, this document confirmed China’s authority
over Tibet, but the area was granted autonomy. In 1959, the Dalai Lama failed in
his bid to oust China’s puppet rule as the Tibetan uprising was defeated by the
more powerful Chinese force. Dalai Lama, together with his followers, escaped to
India and are now living there as refugees.
With the implementation of Mao Zedong’s “Great Leap Forward” from
1958 to 1961, or China’s socio-economic campaign to transform the country into a
socialist society, between 200,000 to 1,000,000 Tibetans tragically met their death.
During Mao Zedong’s “Cultural Revolution”, from 1966 to 1976, around 6,000
monasteries were destroyed. From 1959 to 1977, almost all elements of Tibetan
Buddhism were obliterated. Presently, the Dalai Lama has been continuously
visiting other countries preaching a message of hope and peace.

2. Engaged Activism
Ritual suicides led by Buddhist monks have transpired in the 20 th century
as a form of protest to governmental actions. For example, a crisis occurred
between Buddhists and the South Vietnamese government led by Ngo Dinh Diem in
the 1960s that had tremendous effect in politics, militancy and religious tolerance.
As a result of persecutions undertaken by the government against
Buddhists, monks began to lambast the regime that eventually resulted in the self-
immolation of Thich Quang Duc, a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk. He
voluntarily burned himself to death in a busy Saigon road intersection in 1963.
Later on, several other monks followed his example. The regime tried in vain to
suppress Buddhist resistance through massive retaliation and nation-wide assaults
in Buddhist pagodas. Temples were defaced, monks were beaten, and Quang Duc’s
Page 21
cremated remains were confiscated. Eventually, the regime lost support from the
US and an army coup brought down Diem. Amid religious protests and non-violent
struggle, Diem was assassinated in 1963.

3. Tzu Chi Foundation

The Tzu Chi Foundation (“Compassionate Relief”) was established by a
Buddhist nun Cheng Yen in 1966 in Taiwan. - It was a charity organization
anchored on the teachings of the Buddha. Tzu Chi Foundation that principally
advocates the four endeavors of Charity, Medicine, Education, & Humanity, as
emphasized by the official motto, or concept of "Four endeavors, eight footprints".
The eight footprints are charity causes, medical contributions, education
development, humanities, international disaster assistance, bone-marrow donation,
community volunteerism, and environmental protection. Tzu Chi Foundation’s
variety of causes include case management, medical, educational and disaster
relief. The organization builds and operates many hospitals and schools, with
outreach efforts that range from visits to nursing homes to providing bone marrow
surgery, as well as offering items such as washing machines to struggling single
mothers.

What’s More

Let us determine if you can now give examples of acts of generosity

of Mahayana Buddhism. Use the words inside the box. Do this in your activity
notebook.
Activity 3. Complete the following statement to give examples of acts of generosity.

acceptance gratitude
appreciation listen

compassion
1. Showing ________to people begins with having a positive attitude toward others
and recognizing them for their value, for who they are, and what they contribute to
the world.
2. To ________ genuinely with the intention to understand and know another person
is how we establish true mutual respect.
3. The act of ________ begins with simply saying “thank you.”
4. The generosity of ________ is intimately tied to the giving of empathy and
sympathy.
5. ________ acknowledges our differences as a natural outgrowth of our likenesses
and what we all have in common.

Page 22
 What I Have Learned

Let us determine if you can now explain the core teaching of Mahayana
Buddhism.

Activity 4. Direction: Explain the statement below. Write your answers in your
activity notebook.

“To seek complete enlightenment for the benefit of all

living beings through insight and compassion.”

RUBRIC

Score Description
10 Answers are on point. All are grammatically correct and neat.
7 There are 1-2 misleading answers. 1-2 are grammatically incorrect and
erasures.
4 There are 3 or more misleading answers. 3 or more grammatically
incorrect and erasures.

What I Can Do

Let’s find out if you know how to apply the insight from the acts of
generosity of Tzu Chi Foundation that reflect the core teaching of Mahayana
Buddhism. Do this in your activity notebook.
Activity 5. Select one out of four endeavors inside the box below. Draw in your
activity notebook. How do you want to advocate it as a youth of the nation?

Charity Medicine Education Humanity

RUBRIC
Score Description

10 Follows instructions correctly. Clear and neat.

7 Follows some of the instructions correctly. Some are unclear and has
erasures.

4 Did not follow instructions. All are unclear and has erasures.

Page 23
 Assessment

Now, let’s evaluate what you have learned in this module. Good luck!
I. Enumeration
A. State the three levels of perfection of Mahayana Buddhism.
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
B. Give at least two examples of acts of generosity of Mahayana Buddhists.
4. _____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________

II. Essay (5 points)

For items 6-10, explain how insight and compassion can benefit all living
beings.
RUBRIC
Score Description

10 Answers are on point. All are grammatically correct and neat.

7 There are 1-2 misleading answers. 1-2 are grammatically incorrect

and erasures.

4 There are 3 or more misleading answers. 3 or more grammatically

incorrect and erasures.

III. Draw one of the acts of generosity of Tzu Chi Foundation that reflect the core
teaching of Mahayana Buddhism.
RUBRIC
Score Description

10 Follows instructions correctly. Clear and neat.

7 Follows some of the instructions correctly. Some are unclear and

has erasures.

4 Did not follow instructions. All are unclear and has erasures.

Additional Activities

Make a comparison of Mahayana Buddhism from Theravada Buddhism by

completing the table below.

Page 24
 Mahayana Theravada
View of Buddha
Concept of Bodhisattva
Sacred Scriptures
Worship & Observances
Subdivisions/Sects

References:
Ong, J., et. al. Introduction to World Religions & Belief Systems.
2016. Vibal Group, Inc. Quezon City.
gofile:///C:/Users/KYCIE/Downloads/mahayanabuddhism-
181023005248%20(1).pdf
https://www.scribd.com/upload-document?
archive_doc=429926636&escape=false&metadata=%7B%22context
%22%3A%22archive_view_restricted%22%2C%22page%22%3A
%22read%22%2C%22action%22%3A%22download%22%2C
%22logged_in%22%3Atrue%2C%22platform%22%3A%22web
%22%7D
https://ourhappyschool.com/religion/acts-generosity-tzu-chi-found
ation
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/a-great-insight-into-the-ch
arity-of-tzu-chi

Answers Key

What I Know
I.
1. A.
2. C.
3. B.
4. B.
5. A.
II.
6. Mahayana
7. Bodhisattva
8. Perfection of Wisdom
9. Prajna
10. Lotus Sutra
What’s New
1. discipline
2. virtue
Page 25
 3. conduct
What Is It
1. Mahayana Buddhism is appealing to a vast majority of followers because even
an ordinary person can aspire to achieve spiritual liberation so it gained popularity
among Asian countries, the arrival of Mahayana Buddhism in Asian countries
paved the way for the establishment and development of a variety of Buddhist
schools
2. Mahayana Buddhism’s concept of bodhisattva contributed to being one of the
most successful missionary religions in the world by seeing the world as one family
and everyone who is suffering as worthy of help”, and that “this is Buddhism is
action, not a religion confined to temples and monasteries.”  
What’s More
1. appreciation
2. listen
3. gratitude
4. compassion
5. acceptance
What I Have Learned
Scores may vary according to the rubrics.

What I Can Do
Scores may vary according to the rubrics.
Assessment
I. A.
1. moral discipline
2. cultivation of virtue
3. altruistic conduct
I.B.
4-5. Any of the ff: acceptance, appreciation, compassion, gratitude, listen
II. Scores may vary according to the rubrics.
III. Scores may vary according to the rubrics.

Writer: KYCIE BEB G. ABASTAR

Dualing High School
Aleosan, Cotabato Province

Page 26