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June 2023

Q1.1: Which one of the following is the Buddhist concept of ‘dependent arising’?

Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer. A Skandha B Paticcasamuppada C Sunyata D Bodhisattva

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Answer: B Paticcasamuppada

Q1.2: Give two examples of how the Buddha lived during his ascetic life.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Rejected anything that would give him pleasure / Practised extreme self-discipline / Met and studied with various holy men / Practised meditation / Used pain and hardship to discipline his mind / Ignored his appetite / Fasted for long periods of time / Became increasingly hungry and weak / Stories say that his body became so thin that his legs were like bamboo sticks / his backbone was like a rope / his chest was like an incomplete roof of a house / his eyes sank into his skull, like stones in a deep well / Looked like a living skeleton / Lived in dangerous and hostile forests which were too hot during the day and freezing at night / Slept on a bed of thorns / tradition states that the Buddha ate one grain of rice a day or three sesame seeds / and gave up sleep / shaved or cut off all his hair, etc.

Q1.3: Explain two ways in which belief in rebirth influences Buddhists today.

Answer:

influence on individuals, communities and societies To be a ‘detailed explanation’, the ‘influence’ of the way must be included. • Buddhists complete intentional actions that earn good karma (kamma). • Develop concentration and wisdom. • Being born as a human is seen by Buddhists as a rare opportunity to work towards escaping this cycle of samsara. • Once Nirvana is achieved, and the enlightened individual physically dies, Buddhists believe that they will no longer be reborn. • Buddhists may not fear death. • When they die, many Buddhists believe that their five aggregates (skandhas) transfer to a new • Buddhists may only try and complete skilful actions and wholesome actions. • Buddhists develop repeated good habits to sow seeds of a future rebirth. • Buddhists want to be reborn in one of the heavenly worlds from the Tibetan Wheel of Life. • Cultivating skilful mental states and actions can lay the ground for a favourable rebirth. • Belief in rebirth may encourage Buddhists to adhere to the five moral precepts. • Some Buddhists may want to join the monastic sangha to foster favourable conditions for a positive rebirth, etc. NB reference to Arhat in the Theravada tradition and Bodhisattva in the Mahayana tradition in

Q1.4: Explain two beliefs of Pure Land Buddhism.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority Relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching – 1 mark It is part of Mahayana Buddhism based on belief in Amitabha Buddha / Amitabha Buddha is worshipped by Pure Land Buddhists / Sukhavati is the paradise where Amitabha lives / Sukhavati is where Pure Land Buddhists aim to be reborn / Amitabha was a king who renounced his throne to become a monk / Sukhavati Pure Land heaven is on the edge of the western paradise / perfect paradise was created by Amitabha out of his compassion and love for all beings / from the Pure Land, Buddhists believe that they will have a much better chance of attaining Buddhahood (becoming a Buddha) / in the Pure Land, there is no suffering and none of the problems that stop people in our own world from attaining enlightenment / Pure Land Buddhists follow five types of religious practice: reciting scriptures, meditating on Amitabha and his paradise, worshipping Amitabha, chanting his name, and making praises and offerings to him / Pure land Buddhists believe that the most important practise is to chant Amitabha’s name / faith in Amitabha is more important than good actions etc. NB references to aspects of Buddhist morality are creditworthy though only within the context of Pure Land Buddhism.

Sources of authority might include:

‘Even a bad man will be received in Buddha’s land, how much more a good man?’ Honen (12th century Japanese Pure Land teacher) ‘Even a good man will be received in Buddha’s land, how much more a bad man?’ Shinran (a student of Honen) ‘Sukhavati is rich in a great variety of flowers and fruits adorned with jewel trees, which are frequented with flocks of birds with sweet voices… And all beings who are born…. In this Buddha field, they are all fixed on the right method of salvation, until they have won nirvana. For this reason, that world system is called the ‘Happy Land’. The larger Sukhavatvyuha Sutra, Accept all other sources of authority that correctly support the beliefs given.

Q1.5: ‘The Four Noble Truths are the most important teaching for Buddhists.’

Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Buddhist teaching • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion.

[SPaG 3 marks]

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Answer:

In your answer you should: • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view [SPaG 3 marks] understanding of relevant evidence and information. References to religion applied to the issue. relevant evidence and information. Clear reference to religion. evidence and information. evidence and arguments must be credited.

Arguments in support

• The Four Noble Truths were discovered by the Buddha while he was meditating so naturally they are the most important teaching / they are the fundamental basis of Buddhism / they allow escape • They are often said to contain the essence of the Buddha’s teaching / they were the first teachings that the Buddha gave to the five ascetics / they were the first teachings in his sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath. • The Four Noble Truths are the teaching that established the Buddha as a great teacher / the Four Noble Truths are the first and foremost teaching all Buddhists strive to master an understanding of through meditation, reflection and study. • For Theravada Buddhists, understanding the four truths is the most important goal for achieving • The Four Noble Truths contain the teachings of the arising of dukkha, the cause of dukkha and the cure for dukkha and nothing is more important than this teaching in the Buddhist faith. • The fourth Noble Truth in particular tells a Buddhist how they should live their lives and as a practical faith to be experienced for oneself, this is vital, etc.

Arguments in support of other views

• Mahayana Buddhists emphasise the element of compassion (karuna) as being just as important and central to the experience of enlightenment. • The Buddha’s teachings cannot be seen in isolation; it is equally important to recognise the three marks of existence and the three poisons (akusala) for example too. • Practice is vital in Buddhism and meditation is taught as the central practice. • Recognising karma and rebirth teachings are as important as the Noble Truths as they will directly affect a Buddhists life. • Becoming an Arhat as the spiritual goal of Theravada Buddhism is so very important too. • Living a correct and moral life as a member of the sangha is as important as knowing the Four Noble Truths, etc.