Module 5:

The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

Quarter : First Quarter
Content Standard : The learner understands the human person as an
embodied spirit
Performance Standard : The learner distinguishes his/her own limitations and
the possibilities for his/her transcendence
Competencies (MELC) : Recognize how the human body imposes limits and
possibilities for transcendence
Duration : 1 week
Learning Outcomes : Share experiences that discern one’s limitations and
possibilities in understanding the human person as an
embodied spirit

What I Know

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Underline the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A being that has a supernatural, transcendental destiny.

a. Animal b. Plant c. Brute d. Human

2. According to them, human being has a dual nature: one is the spiritual and immortal
essence; the other is empirical life and character.
a. Hinduism b. Existentialism c. Muslim d. Communism

3. A being that can rise above one's ordinary being or self to a highest being
or self. a. Animal b. Plant c. Brute d. Human

4. He said that in the plan of God, a human being has to develop and perfect
one's self by doing his/her daily task.
a. St. Augustine b. Thomas Aquinas c. St. Jerome d. St. Joseph

5. It is a doctrine that adheres to the belief that a person’s soul passes into some
other creature, human or animal.
a. karma b. samsara c. metempsychosis d. Nirvana
6. If a human being lives a righteous and virtuous life for a long time, as a result,
he or she transcends mortal life and ascends to an immortal state of being.
a. St. Augustine b. Thomas Aquinas c. St. Jerome d. St. Joseph

7. According to them “everything in this life is a consequence of actions

performed in previous existence.”
a. Americans b. Hindus c. Muslims d. Filipinos

8. It is a divine reality. It is God that takes many forms. Although it can be

experienced, can be sensed, it is not bound by time and space.
a. Samsara b. Maya c. Brahman d. Moksha

9. “Suffering leads to the Cross, the symbol of reality of God's saving love
for the human being.”
a. Judaism b. Hindus c. Muslims d. Christianity

10.It is often referred to as soul or self. It is the spiritual essence of all individual
human beings.
a. Atman b. Maya c. Brahman d. Karma

11. For them, there is nothing mightier in the world than karma; karma
tramples down all powers, as an elephant to a clump of lotuses
a. Americans b. Jains c. Muslims d. Jews

12. They generally believe that the soul is eternal but is bound by the law of karma
to the world of matter, which it can escape only after spiritual progress through
an endless series of births.
a. Hindus b. Jains c. Buddhists d. Taoist

13. The state in which one is absolutely free from all forms of bondage and attachment.
a. Hinduism b. Jainism c. metempsychosis d. Nirvana

14. They see one who has attained nirvana as one who is unencumbered from all the
fetters that bind a human being to existence
a. Buddhists b. Hindus c. Muslims d. Filipinos

15.It is also the state of perfect insight into the nature of existence.
a. Hinduism b. Jainism c. metempsychosis d. Nirvana
 What I Need to Know

In philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence

convey the basic ground concept from the word’s literal meaning (from Latin), of
climbing or going beyond, with varying connotations in its different historical and
cultural stage. Appreciating art has transcendent existence. Knowledge and law will
also require transcendence. Scientific knowledge and laws are transcending simple,
phenomenal things to abstract. The fact that we have a soul that is capable of
coming to life and experiencing profound and hidden values, which the flesh and
its senses can never discover alone. This spirituality in us is identified with the
divine image in our soul.

Though there are many aspects of transcendence, this lesson will cover three
main spiritual philosophies, namely: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

What’s In

Human being, has a supernatural, transcendental destiny. This

means that he/she can rise above one's ordinary being or self to a highest
being or self. For St. Thomas Aquinas, in the plan of God, a human being has
to develop and perfect one's self by doing his/her daily task. Hence, if a
human being perseveringly lives a righteous and virtuous life, he/she
transcends his/her mortal life and soars, to an immortal state of life.

Activity: Listening to Music

a. Choose a Hindu music (preferably, centered on peace). This can be

available online or on music shops.

b. Share your insights about the music.

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c. How did the music affect you?

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 What’s New / What is it

A. Hinduism: Reincarnation and Karma

An interesting Hindu belief is the transmigration of souls, reincarnation

or "metempsychosis." Essential Hinduism is based on the belief in karma and
has its first literary expression in Upanishads. Everything in this life, say the
Hindus, is a consequence of actions performed in previous existence. Only
by building up a fine record, or "karma," can final salvation be achieved. This
doctrine is a very old one. For the Jains, there is nothing mightier in the
world than karma; karma tramples down all powers, as an elephant to a
clump of lotuses (Puligandla 2007). The Buddhists took it over in large part
when they broke away from Brahmanism.

B. Buddhism: Nirvana

Nirvana means the state in which one is absolutely free from all forms of bondage
and attachment. It means to overcome and remove the cause of suffering. It is also the state
of perfect insight into the nature of existence. The Buddhists see one who has attained
nirvana as one who is unencumbered from all the fetters that bind a human being to
existence (i.e., wealth). He has perfect knowledge, perfect peace, and perfect wisdom
(Aguilar 2010).

When the Buddha was asked whether one who, attains nirvana exists or ceases
to exist after death, he simply refused to answer the question and instead maintained
complete silence. The question is seen as inappropriate that any attempt to answer it
can only lead into the quagmire of idle metaphysical speculations and futile
philosophical disputes. The Buddha did not want his disciples to concern themselves
with purely speculative problems. Further, the Buddha's silence is due to his awareness
that nirvana is a state that transcends every mundane experience and hence cannot be
talked about; for all talk is possible only within the perceptual-conceptual realm. Nirvana
is beyond the sense, language, and thought (Puligandla 2007).
 Another false conception regarding nirvana is that one who attains it, cuts
himself/herself off from the world of toil, tears, and turmoil and spends his/her life in
a state of total inactivity and indifference to the world around him. Far from living a
passive life, the Buddha from the day of his enlightenment until death is always
surrounded by people (Puligandla2007). It is, thus, absurd to describe nirvana as a
state of inactivity, stupor, and indifference. One who has attained enlightenment is a
non-attachment. This means that as one attains wisdom, one desires nothing for himself
but always works for the well-being and liberation of his fellow humans.

This way of life conforms to Buddha's teaching that wisdom consists in treading
the Middle Way, avoiding the extreme of asceticism, inactivity, and indifference on the
one hand and that of frantic activity and mindless pursuit of pleasure on the other. The
nirvanic man, according to Puligandla (2007), is the true follower of the Buddha, in
that, he neither always sits absorbed in meditation nor is always involved in
activity. He is the living testimony that the middle way is indeed the way to
enlightenment.

C. St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas: Will and Love

For St. Augustine, physically we are free, yet morally bound to obey
the law. The Eternal law is God Himself. According to this law, humanity
must do well and avoid evil, hence, the existence of moral obligation in
every human being. Christian life is not easy. However, no human being
should become an end to himself. We are responsible to our neighbors as
we are to our own actions.

The truth of St. Augustine's message still rings true to this day. Despite
Augustine's period, which was decadent, are our tim es any less corrupt?
Innocence of heart and purity can only be gained by God's grace. God alone
can give that gift to some instantly or to others at the end of an entire life's
struggle. That gift, in itself, is a major triumph. Through prayer, modesty,
fasting, and other sound measures that the Church recommends, or God
provides, can purity of heart, mind, and body be maintained and daily lived
(Johnston 2006).

Definitely, to live a chaste life is difficult. All are called to be chaste

whether married or single. For to be pure is also to be holy. Though all are
called to different lifestyles, all are called to be holy, pure, and chaste within
that lifestyle. Any lifestyle that does not include these virtues, even with
consenting individuals, is not pleasing to God; for it does not lead to holiness,
selflessness, and full honesty. For St. Augustine, though we are physically
free, one does not have a right to do anything if it is not morally right or if
one will hurt another. Rightness means pleasing God. God has given us a
choice to discern between right and wrong though we are often ignorant in
this manner unless we are wholly sincere, honest, and pure (Johnston 2006).

Evil and Suffering

Suffering is close to the heart of biblical faith. In comparison with

the Buddha, who saw life in suffering and tried to control it instead of
cursing it, Job, of the Old Testament, did not just complain. He cursed the
day he was born! In a phenomenological perspective, all of us will continue
to assert our will against others, adding to the overall suffering of human
experience.
 In Christianity, suffering leads to the Cross, the symbol of reality
of God's saving love for the human being. Suffering, in Buddhism,
gives rise to compassion for suffering humanity. Compassion is the
heart of religion, but compassion can disappear from it. Religion,
without compassion, becomes law and burden imposed in its
adherents. If there is no compassion, religion can start wars that destroy
enemies. Jesus condemned religion without compassion and
constructed, thus, the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Activity: ESSAY

1. How can our attachment to, or craving for worldly pleasures cause
suffering? Cite examples.
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2. How can we live a chaste life? How can we practice control?
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3. Give examples of how we are physically free but morally bound (St.
Augustin).
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What’s More

Answer the following questions and defend your answer:

1. How do you show love toward others? Friends? Family? People in need?
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2. Rightness means pleasing God, can you give examples? If you are non -
Catholic, give examples of doing "right" actions.
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3. Choose a song that you can relate to the topics of this section. You can opt
to sing this in class.
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What I Can Do

Explore your own possibilities for transcendence. Copy and fill out the
table with the appropriate responses.

I want to be… I can achieve this by…

I want to do the following… I can make this happen by…

What I have learned

Choose a hero/heroine. It could be based on the film viewed or not.

What are the qualities do you admire from your hero or heroine? Why? You
can jot down memorable lines you find meaningful in the film.
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 Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Underline the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. For him, though we are physically free, one does not have a right to do
anything if it is not morally right or if one will hurt another.
a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

2. It holds that humanity’s life is a continuous cycle (samsara)

a. Hinduism b. Jainism c. Buddhism d. Taoism

3. It means freedom from egotism and rebirth (reincarnation). To attain it, one
should detach oneself from pleasure and materialism. In Hinduism, as one
becomes freer, one becomes less selfish. This state of life brings out kindness to
all including animals. At this point, the pain of rebirth (reincarnation) ends.
a. Samsara b. Maya c. Brahman d. Moksha

4. For him, physically we are free, yet morally bound to obey the law. The
Eternal law is God Himself
a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

5. According to him, “Nirvana is beyond the sense, language, and thought”.

a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

6. According to this law, humanity must do well and avoid evil, hence, the
existence of moral obligation in every human being.
a. Eternal law b. Moral law c. Civil law d. Criminal law

7. He saw life in suffering and tried to control it instead of cursing it,

a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

8. It simply means illusion and mystery.

a. Atman b. Maya c. Samsara d. Moksha

9. “Though all are called to different lifestyles, all are called to be holy, pure,
and chaste within that lifestyle.”
a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

10.It implies the moral law of cause and effect. It is a belief that every action has a
corresponding moral effect.
a. Karma b. Maya c. Samsara d. Moksha

11. For him, “to live a chaste life is difficult. All are called to be chaste
whether married or single.”
a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas
12.It refers to the cycle of constant rebirth. Hindus believe that an individual is
constantly being reborn. But this cycle of constant rebirth also means constant
struggle, pain and suffering until purification has been attained. Hence,
everyone wants to escape from reincarnation.
a. Atman b. Maya c. Samsara d. Moksha

13. “to be pure is also to be holy”

a. St. Augustine b. Buddha c. St. Jerome d. St. Thomas Aquinas

14. He teaches that wisdom consists in treading the Middle Way, avoiding the extreme
of asceticism, inactivity, and indifference on the one hand and that of frantic activity
and mindless pursuit of pleasure on the other.
a. Buddha b. Johnston c. Plato d. Puligandla

15. The nirvanic man, according to him is the true follower of the Buddha, in that, he
neither always sits absorbed in meditation nor is always involved in
activity. a. Johnston b. Marx c. Plato d. Puligandla

Additional Activities

Apply What You Know

1. Spiritual Practice: Yoga Meditation (Outdoor or Indoor)

Organize a yoga session. (You may invite a yoga teacher or browse

in the internet and be in your most comfortable yoga attire.) After the
session, share your insights and reflections about your experience.
Specifically, share any peaceful or healing moment in this activity to the
class. To share to the community, you can post your pictures or videos
online. (Yoga classes can also be viewed online). Try the sun salutation
(www.adultwellness.com.ph) for beginners; never force the poses.
2. Interview a priest, a nun, or a Buddhist monk and ask them regarding
their philosophy of religion. Submit the interview in class. Be able to
document the interview. Take pictures with the interviewee. If you are a
non-Catholic, interview a spiritual adviser.

Guide Questions:

1. What is faith?
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2. Who i s G o d or Bu ddh a i n o ne's l i fe?

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3. Cite the three things necessary for the salvation of humanity.

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References

Aguilar, Pido. 2010. The Gift of Abundance. Manila. Claretian Publications.

Calano, Mark Joseph., et al. 2016. Philosophizing and Being Human: A

textbook for Senior High School. Quezon City. Sibs Publishing House,
Inc.

Johnston, Derek. 2006. A Brief History of Philosophy from Socrates to

Derrida. London. Continuum.

Puligandla, Ramakrishna. 2007. Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy. New

Delhi. Jain Publishing.

Ramos, Christine Carmela R. 2016. Introduction to the Philosophy (2nd ed.)

Manila. Rex Bookstore, Inc.