MRN A Level RS Buddhism Answer Guidance

Chapter 1: The life of the Buddha
Please note that some of the guidance contains details that are not in the revision guide, as the
revision guide is not in the same depth as a textbook, and does not give you all the material
you will need to answer exam questions.
Example question Eduqas/WJEC (AO1): page 17, Q1
Answer guidance
• To answer this question, you could include an outline of the four sights.
• You could also suggest that each one lead the Buddha to a deeper meaning. For example,
the old man led the Buddha to contemplate anicca or impermanence, nothing stays the
same forever. The sick man suggested suffering or dukkha. The corpse led the Buddha to
question the meaning and purpose of life; and the wandering holy man led the Buddha to
leave the palace and ultimate find the Middle Way.
• You could also explain that seeing the sight led the Buddha to question his own lifestyle and
encouraged him to leave the palace and search for enlightenment.
• You could also link this to the Four Noble Truths, the old and sick men link to the first two
truths, the corpse leads to the third and the holy man to the fourth.
Example question (Edexcel) (AO1): page 17, Q2
Answer guidance
For Against
The Buddha is one of the three refuges (three Jewels). The historical Buddha is only one of many Buddhas
Therefore, his life story is essential to understanding and only one example of an enlightened being.
Buddhism.
For some schools of Buddhism, the Buddha’s life is not
The Buddha’s life story is an inspiration for others. It focused on. They may focus on his teachings instead
proves his teachings are true and gives an example to or the teachings of Buddhist saints and scholars
follow to gain enlightenment.
For some cultivating wisdom and compassion are
The story of the Buddha’s life is frequently told by more important than the life story of a past Buddha.
Buddhists as a way teaching potentially abstract and
In some traditions of Buddhism, the Buddha is a
difficult concepts.
cosmic figure. This makes him important, but the
details of his human biography are not really relevant.
Exam Practice Activity 1 (Edexcel)

Read the following paragraph. It is part of a response to the question: ‘Explore the main
features of the accounts of the Buddha’s awakening under the Bodhi Tree.’ It is an 8-mark
question focusing on AO1 (knowledge and understanding).
Student response
When the Siddhartha was sitting under the Bodhi tree, he achieved a deep level of meditation
and gained knowledge of his past lives. This then gave him the knowledge of the role of karma
in the lives of all beings. He saw the effect of each of his thoughts, words and actions and how
MRN A-level Religious Studies: Buddhism © Hodder & Stoughton Ltd 2021 1
these led him to both suffering and how he could bring about the cessation of suffering. When
he realised that all of the suffering, he had suffered in each of his past lives was a result of
craving, he gained enlightenment.
Commentary
This response is correct, but it does not develop any of the ideas. This is important because
developing ideas shows that a greater depth of understanding. To develop this response, add
examples, key terms and links to other ideas or concepts.
Exam Practice Activity 2 (Edexcel)

Re-write this paragraph and develop each point using quotes, examples and links to other
concepts and ideas.
Example question: AQA/Eduqas/WJEC (AO2)
Student response: Essay Plan

It is important:
• Shows the origins of the teachings/ beliefs
• Puts his teachings/ beliefs into historical and religious context
• Links beliefs to an actual example of someone who followed them
• Shows what is possible for humans (i.e., enlightenment).
It is not important:
• The teachings existed before this historical Buddha
• The stories might be exaggerated or made up
• You do not need to know who the Buddha was to follow his teachings
• Nirvana does not depend on knowledge of the Buddhas life.
Exam Practice Activity (Edexcel)

Use the bullet points above to write two paragraphs one for and one against the statement in
the question. For example:
One reason it is important to know the life of the historical Buddha is that…
However, it may not be important to know the life of the historical Buddha because…
Example question (OCR) (AO1 and AO2): page 17, Q4
Answer guidance
In order to address the question, you would need to show which aspects of the Buddha’s
teachings are similar to those of other thinkers at the time and which are totally different. You
will need to have covered the AS topics in order to have enough information to address the
question. Therefore, it is a good revision activity.
Similarities to religious beliefs at the time of the Differences from religious beliefs at the time of the
Buddha Buddha
Karma Atman
Samsara and release from samsara Nirvana
Meditation Re-becoming
Asceticism Six realms of existence
Alms collecting/reliance on the lay community Three marks of existence
Ahimsa Four Noble Truths
Dependent origination
Additional example question (OCR) (AO1 and AO2): 40 marks

Critically discuss the difference attitudes to the Buddha in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
Exam Practice Activity (Edexcel)

Use the following bullet points to address the question.
Theravada
• The Buddha (Siddhartha Gotama) was a human and had struggled for thousands of
years to gain enlightenment.
• After enlightenment, the Buddha gained the 32 marks of a great man.
• The Buddha gained enlightenment by his own efforts.
• The Buddha died and cannot help us any longer.
• The Buddha followed the 12 acts that all Buddhas follow.
• The Buddha taught others and 500 of them became Arhats in his lifetime.
• The Buddha set up the Sangha and the Sangha rules so that people could follow his
example and become Arhats.
• The Buddha was happy, peaceful, energetic, never apathetic or boring; he always knew
the right way to behave; he feels all the pains and pleasures of a human but is not
affected by them.
Mahayana
• The Buddha is a semi divine being like other Bodhisattvas and will help and support
people so that they can attain enlightenment.
• The three bodies are Dharma-kaya (Truth-body), Sambhoga-kaya (Enjoyment-body) and
Nirmana-kaya (Manifestation-body). Mahayana Buddhism has no creator or ruler god.
However, deity belief is present in the Mahayana doctrine of the three bodies (forms)
of Buddha: body of essence – the indescribable, impersonal absolute reality, or
ultimate truth that is nirvana (infinite bliss); body of bliss or enjoyment – Buddha as
divine, deity, formless, celestial spirit with saving power of grace, omnipotence,
omniscience; body of transformation or emanation – an illusion or emanation in human
form provided by the divine Buddha to guide humans to enlightenment.
• Any person can potentially achieve Buddhahood, transcending personality and
becoming one with the impersonal ultimate reality, which is infinite bliss (nirvana).
There are countless Buddhas presiding over countless universes. Bodhisattvas –
humans and celestial spirits who sacrifice their imminent liberation (Buddhahood) to
help all others to become liberated – are revered or worshipped as gods or saints by
some.
Chapter 2: The Buddha’s teachings
Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 25, Q1
Exam Practice Activity 1

Read the following paragraph. It is part of a response to the question.

Buddhists believe that a person is not reborn or reincarnated but the consequences of their
actions (kamma) cause a new life which retains the consequences of those past karmic actions,
and for some Buddhists the habits and the stream of consciousness of the previous life.
Therefore, rebirth is unavoidable because of the law of kamma. This teaches that all volitional
actions bring kamma, whether these are thoughts, words or deeds, and each one has a
consequence that may be positive, negative or neutral. Both positive and negative kamma
have consequences that will be seen in the next life; therefore, rebirth is unavoidable.
However, rebirth can be avoided by gaining enlightenment as the Buddha had done. Once
enlightened, one is freed from the round of rebirth in samsara. There are many ways to do this
including overcoming the three fires/poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance, which stop one
from seeing clearly the three marks of existence.
Commentary
Better responses might show how karma is just volitional actions. Better responses would
show an understanding of how the ‘fruit’ of karmic actions affects rebirth and also look at
reproductive, supportive, obstructive and destructive karma. This would show a really good
understanding of this concept. To be awarded the highest marks, the response should show
understanding of karma at a deeper level and also link this to the 12 links of dependent
origination (nidanas), or other concepts such as not self (anatta) and impermanence (anicca).

How could this paragraph be improved? What could you include to make sure it was perfect?
Remember it needs to include:
• a point that presents one view in response to the question
• an explanation of that point using examples, key terms, quotes and maybe scholarly
views
• an evaluation which shows why the point may have strengths and weakness, explaining
and unpicking these criticisms.
Example question (Eduqas/WJEC) (AO1): page 25, Q2

The Eightfold Path forms part of the Fourth Noble Truth and was taught in the Buddha’s first
sermon. The path is not linear and is not to be treated as a set of rules or commands but as
interlinked guidelines. Bhikkhu Bodhi taught that 'right view is the forerunner for the entire
path’. Understanding this is essential at a mundane and a superior level to progress along the
path. This is because right view teaches that one needs to accept the Buddha’s teachings on
the law of karma and which actions are wholesome and unwholesome. For example, thinking,
speaking and acting from loving kindness would be wholesome (kusala) but thinking, speaking
and acting from ignorance would be unwholesome (akusala). However, he also points out that
the ethical content of the Eightfold Path is the most important. This is because without
developing ethical behaviour it is not possible to make progress on the path. As Bhikkhu Bodhi
points out, one cannot, for example, accept that the law of kamma is correct (right view)
unless one accepts that there is a need to follow this and act ethically. He illustrates this point
by suggesting that a person cannot make progress with mindfulness if their thoughts are of
unwholesome words and actions, especially if they regret what they have done. Even if a
person does not think regretfully about their unwholesome actions, it would be impossible to
make progress if their thoughts are unwholesome as this would lead to negative kamma and
therefore wrong views. It can, however, be argued that once a person starts to develop both
mindfulness and right effort, they start to see the need for ethical conduct. Therefore, they
could argue that some stages are prerequisites for others and therefore the path is in some
respects linear.
Commentary
Better responses would show that the categories of the Eightfold Path are interlinked
categories and not stages or a step-by-step path to enlightenment. They would show how each
category helps to develop the others; for example, by developing good ethical conduct the
mind becomes easier to tame which makes right effort easier. Also that being mindful helps a
person to see where they might be developing good or bad karma, which helps them to live
morally and also helps with the intention to renunciate.

How could this paragraph be improved? What could you include to make sure it was perfect?
Use this checklist to help:
AO1: Point, explanation, examples, key terms, quotes, scholars' views
AO2: Criticisms and evaluation, analyse the criticisms
Example question (AQA) (AO1): page 25, Q3
Exam Practice Activity

Use the following bullet points to write one paragraph to address the question.
• Samsara is characterised by dukkha (suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction) and
impermanence.
• All beings have been suffering in samsara for an unimaginable period of time, and they
will continue to do so until they attain liberation.
• Samsara has a habitual, repetitive pattern.
• Contemporary Buddhist teacher Thubten Chodron emphasises that samsara is not a

place or external environment, but rather samsara refers to one's own body and mind
under the influence of karma.

Read the following response to the question.

The Eightfold Path is the most important part of the Four Noble Truths because it puts the
teachings of the Four Noble Truths into a practical context. Without this, Buddhists would not
know how to overcome craving. For example, the Buddha taught that suffering (dukkha) was a
result of craving (based on greed, hatred and ignorance). Right effort from the Eightfold Path
teaches that we should let go of unwholesome thoughts and stop new ones from developing.
Unwholesome thoughts are ones which involve greed, hatred and ignorance. Therefore, if it
were not for the Eightfold Path then the Four Noble Truths would be quite abstract concepts.

The student’s response shows good knowledge and understanding but there is no evaluation
or analysis. Add evaluation and analytical comments to the student’s response to make it a
good AO2 paragraph.
Example question (Eduqas) (AO1): page 25, Q5


Dukkha means suffering in its broadest sense. Denise Cush states that there are three types of
suffering.
Ordinary suffering. Illness, pain, death, frustration, desires, watching the suffering of others,
poverty, famine, war, the suffering of animals, suffering in nature. This is the sort of suffering
we see around us all of the time. It is the suffering that is on the news and in the newspapers.
It is called dukkha-dukkha.
Suffering from pleasant situations. These pleasant situations do not last; they fade. Life is full
of beauty and enjoyment but this causes more suffering when these things fade away. This is
why people who have everything are unhappy because none of it will last forever and neither
will they. This is viparinama-dukkha.
Subtle dissatisfaction with life itself rather than any distinct problem. A sense of frustration at
the limits of being human, lacking knowledge, not being able to plan the future because we
cannot know what will happen, feeling that it is all pointless and will end in death. The
psychological term for this general insecurity is angst or anguish. This idea of dukkha forms the
First Noble Truth and would seem to be very negative or pessimistic if it was not for the other
Three Noble Truths. This is sankhara-dukkha.

Why might this be a good response but not a perfect one?
Use the student’s response to write a perfect response to the question.


The Four Noble Truths are a set of rules to teach people how to live and go to nirvana. They
teach people the true nature of the universe.
The First Noble Truth is that everyone suffers. This is called dukkha. Dukkha means that all life
involves suffering. There are four types of suffering. The suffering of people includes murder,
rape, earthquakes and disasters. The second type of suffering is the non-permanence of
pleasant events or objects. This means that things that we like do not last and this makes us
suffer. The third type of suffering is a general dissatisfaction with life. Cush calls it angst or the
feeling that you are not at peace with the universe. The fourth type of suffering is the three
lower realms of existence. These are the animal realm, the hungry ghosts and the hell realm. In
each realm suffering happens.
The Second Noble Truth is that suffering happens for a reason. The reason is craving. We all
crave things and want them to be permanent. We crave love, money, food, possessions, chips
and beer. The reason why we suffer is dependent origination. Everything happens because of
all of the previous events. We want chocolate biscuits because we have had chocolate biscuits
before, we know what they taste like and we know that they exist. The same is true for all
things. The cycle of dependent origination also causes the three fires – greed, hatred and
ignorance. Greed and hatred are linked to craving, and ignorance means that we do not know
the truth and continue to crave.
The Third Noble Truth is that suffering can end. The suffering can end if we break the cycle of
dependent origination and extinguish the three fires of love, wisdom and fortitude. When the
three fires are put out we go to heaven or nirvana. Because Buddhists don’t believe in the soul
(anatman) they believe that nirvana is a physical place we actually go to, like another world
where we live a new life for ever.
The Fourth Noble Truth is that there is a path to follow to end suffering, to extinguish the three
fires and break the cycle of dependent origination. This path is called the ten commandments.
It contains information about wisdom, moral behaviour and the mind. Wisdom comes from
right thoughts and right concentration. Moral behaviour comes from the commandments: do
not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not misuse sex, do not drink or take drugs. The mind is
developed by right mindfulness and right meditation.
The Four Noble Truths were the first sermon taught by the Buddha in the deer park in Israel
where he had gained enlightenment. He taught this to his followers and they all became
Buddhas as well. The Four Noble Truths are important because they teach Buddhists how to
live. I think that they are good because they tell people about the truth about the universe and
how we should live and why we suffer.

This student’s response scores 0. It gets no marks at all! Try to explain why it does not get any
marks. (Tip: look at the question!)

Use what is written here and re-write it so that it gets full marks. You might not need to change
too much!
Chapter 3: The Buddhist community
Example question (WJEC) (AO2): page 32, Q1

Student response 1
The Sangha was started by the Buddha after his enlightenment in the deer park in Lumbini. It is
important because it was the first time he set out his teachings and showed the path to
enlightenment. If the Buddha had not done this then he would not have spread Buddhism and
no one would know anything about it. The Sangha were important because the Buddha knew
that he had to help other people overcome suffering and he had to show that his teachings
would work. People would not follow him if his teachings did not work.
Commentary
This answer would not get very good marks. There are factual errors in it and the judgements
are only supported by generalised points. A very good response would successfully address the
question, use reasoned arguments with critical analysis and evaluation, be clear and organised
and make accurate use of key words.

Use the examiner's comments to re-write and improve this response.
Student response 2
The Sangha was founded by the Buddha after his enlightenment when he taught his former
ascetic colleagues. He taught them because he knew that they had a higher level of
understanding already from their own religious practice. This is important because it was the
first time the Buddha set out his teachings and showed the path to enlightenment. If the he
had not done this then he would not have achieved what he set out to do, and that is to help
other people overcome suffering. By establishing the Sangha he showed that his teachings
would work and that they were open to others.

Is this answer any better? Why? Why not?
Does this answer successfully address the question and use reasoned arguments with critical
analysis and evaluation? Is it clear and organised and use key words accurately?

Student response
The Pali Canon is used in various ways by the lay and monastic Sangha. All Buddhists might
look at the Buddha, his life, enlightenment and teachings as an example to follow. Many of
these stories and teachings are found in the Sutta Pitaka, for example the story of the mustard
seed which helped a woman overcome the grief of losing her child.
Some books within the Tripitaka have become important in their own right, such as the
Dhammapada, which contains short, mostly ethical statements; for example, it says that an
action is bad if you would only repent it later. This gives Buddhists a clear guide to follow.
Some Buddhists might use parts of the Tipitaka for devotional activities such as chanting or to
meditate on. One of these might be the Metta Sutta which focuses on developing loving
kindness towards yourself and all others.
In the monastic Sangha, a monk or nun might follow the 227 rules set out in the Vinaya Pitaka
which govern their daily lives. These rules cover their behaviour towards each other and
towards the lay community, as well as how to run and function as a community. The rules are
repeated on uposatha days to remind the monastic community and ensure that they are worth
of the gifts they are given by the lay community.

Is this a good answer? Use the following check list to decide.
• Does it include a wide range of knowledge and technical terminology accurately
throughout the answer?
• Are the knowledge and technical terms the best ones to use?
• Does it include a range of key Buddhist beliefs and concepts?
• Does it develop these ideas to show detailed understanding?
• What would you do to improve it?

Use the following bullet points to plan out an answer to the exam question.
• The Buddha refers both to the historical Buddha and to the ideal of Buddhahood itself.
• The whole Buddhist tradition derives from the historical Buddha and all schools regard
him as their root founder, guide and inspiration
• The word Buddha means the ‘Enlightened One’ or ‘Awakened One’. It is the title given
to those who have attained supreme and perfect enlightenment.
• Buddhists acknowledge the Buddha as the embodiment of the highest morality,
deepest concentration and perfect wisdom. His followers also know the Buddha as the
‘Perfected One’ because he has wiped out desire, ill will and ignorance, and has
overcome all unwholesome actions.
• He has put an end to suffering and is no longer bound to the cycle of birth and death.
• The Dharma primarily means the teachings of the Buddha, or the truth he understood.
• The word ‘Dharma’ has many meanings but most importantly it means the unmediated
truth (as experienced by the enlightened mind). As a term, it also encompasses
Buddhist teachings as that same truth mediated by language and concepts. In this
second sense, Dharma is the teaching that was born when the Buddha first put his
realisation into words and communicated it to others at Sarnath in Northern India. The
occasion is traditionally referred to as the first turning of the Dharma wheel, and the
eight-spoked Dharma wheel is a common emblem of Buddhism.
• Dharma also refers to the entire collection of scriptures which are regarded as
constituting the Buddhist canon. These include records of the Buddha’s life recorded in
the Pali Canon, scriptures from a later date, and the written teachings of those people
who have attained enlightenment over the centuries.
• Buddhists believe that they need other people to learn from. If they are to practise the
Dharma they need the example and teaching of others who have done so before them,
especially those who have gained insight into the nature of reality themselves.
• The Sangha refers to the people with whom we share our spiritual lives. We need the
guidance of personal teachers who are further along the path than we are, and the
support and friendship of other practitioners. This is very important because Buddhism
is not an abstract philosophy or creed; it is a way of approaching life and therefore it
only has meaning when it is embodied in people. And in the broadest sense the Sangha
means all of the Buddhists in the world, and all those of the past and of the future.
Chapter 4: The distinctive features of
Theravada Buddhism

Student response 1
Theravada Buddhism is distinct from Judaism because it does not believe in a God like Judaism
does and it does not have a holy book like the Bible. There are also differences in how people
worship in Buddhism. Buddhists worship by meditating. In Theravada Buddhism meditation is
done by focusing on your breath and becoming mindful. This links to the Eightfold Path, right
mindfulness. It is very different from going to a synagogue like Jews do and it is also different
from Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhists focus on emptying their minds of all thoughts and seeing
that all things are empty. This is different from Theravada because they think that all things are
interconnected but not empty. Theravada Buddhists are also more likely to have statues of the
Buddha than Zen Buddhists and this is also different from Judaism because they do not
worship idols. Therefore, Theravada Buddhism is distinctive because it is a separate religion
and not like other ones.

1. Does this response answer the question?
2. Does it show a wide range of knowledge?
3. Does it show knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and ideas?
4. Does it develop key ideas and show a depth of knowledge?
5. What is good about this response?
6. What would you change?

Student response 2
Theravada Buddhism is distinct from Mahayana Buddhism because it follows the teachings of
the Buddha recorded in the Pali Canon. It is often called the way of the elders because it is
closely linked to the earliest form of Buddhism and takes its beliefs from the teachings that
were recorded in the Pali Canon. This is the earliest of the Buddhist scriptures and is the most
likely to be the most closely related to the actual words of the Buddha. Mahayana Buddhism
also follows the teachings from the Pali Canon but it has added to them and this makes it
different from Theravada. In the Pali Canon the Buddha taught his followers to work towards
becoming an Arhat by following the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path which helps them to
overcome the three fires and craving. In Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhists work towards
becoming a Bodhisattva and developing the six perfections (generosity, morality, patience,
Chapter 4: The distinctive features of Theravada Buddhism
effort, meditation and wisdom). However, the six perfections are in the Pali Canon; the only
real difference is the emphasis that is placed on them.

1. Does this response answer the question?
2. Does it show a wide range of knowledge?
3. Does it show knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and ideas?
4. Does it develop key ideas ad show a depth of knowledge?
5. What is good about this response?
6. What would you change?

Using the two students' responses, try writing your own response to the question. Use what is
good about each response as a starting point and remember to include examples and key
terms, and to focus specifically on the question.

Use the following bullet points to write two paragraphs: one to argue that the Arhat path does
reflect the teachings of the Eightfold Path and one to argue that it does not.
• There are many characteristics of an Arhat. They are blissful, have no desire, free from
any ego, free from delusion, lust and from conceit.
• Arhatspractise the seven elements of liberation: mindfulness, study, energy, joy,
serenity, concentration and equanimity.
• Arhats have found liberation and enlightenment are morally impeccable, free from
needs and have developed insight and calm.
• They possess the six higher kinds of knowledge: magical powers; divine ear, eye and
mind; they know their former existences and they have overcome the influence of
karma.
• The Pali Canon lists five favourable and four unfavourable conditions for winning
arhatship. The favourable ones are: faith in the Buddha, good health, sincerity, energy,
wisdom and discrimination. The unfavourable conditions are: thinking that one’s
teacher is omniscient, following a non-Buddhist tradition, following rational analysis
only and accepting a stupid teacher.
• The Arhat path is therefore to practise the seven elements of liberation, cultivate the
five favourable conditions and avoid the four unfavourable ones, and develop the six
higher kinds of knowledge.
Additional example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): 40 marks

‘The Arhat path leads to nibbana and the Bodhisattva path does not.’ Discuss. (40 marks)

1. The _________ path follows the Buddha’s example. It uses the Pali Canon to help gain
enlightenment because it contains all of the information given by the Buddha.
2. The _________ path leads to enlightenment as part of a journey towards salvation for
all humans.
3. Some who follow the _________ path see that nibbana is a far off goal, so they focus
on a better rebirth as this is a step towards nibbana.
4. There were 500 _________ when the Buddha died and all of them followed his
teachings. It is their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings which was passed down
and was eventually written down in the Pali Canon.
5. After the Buddha’s death the _________ collected all of the Buddha’s teachings
together. At the same time all of the ___________ did the same thing and these were
later written down in books such as the Heart Sutra.
6. The __________ path helps others to gain enlightenment but it does not lead to gaining
it for yourself.
Fill in the missing words. The missing words are either ARHAT or BODHISATTVA.
Then create a table like the one below and put the paragraphs in the right columns to answer
the question.
For Against

Student response 1
Although the Buddha has left no written records of his teachings, his distinguished disciples
preserved them by committing them to memory and transmitting them orally from generation
to generation. Immediately after the final passing away of the Buddha, 500 distinguished
Arahants held a convention known as the First Buddhist Council to rehearse the doctrine
taught by the Buddha. Ananda, the faithful attendant of the Buddha, who had the special
privilege of hearing all the discourses the Buddha ever uttered, recited the Dharma, while Upali
recited the Vinaya, the rules of conduct for the Sangha. One hundred years after the First
Buddhist Council some disciples saw the need to change certain minor rules. They held a
second council to discuss them. The orthodox monks said that nothing should be changed
while the others insisted on modifying some disciplinary rules (Vinaya). From this came the
formation of different schools of Buddhism (Sthavira Nikaya and the Mahasanghikas). In the
third century BCE, during the time of Emperor Asoka, the Third Council was held to discuss the
differences of opinion held by the Sangha community. At this council, the differences were not
confined to the Vinaya but were also connected with the Dharma. At the end of this council,
the President of the Council, Ven. Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled a book called Kathavatthu,
refuting the heretical, false views and theories held by some disciples. The teaching approved
and accepted by this council was known as Theravada. The Abhidhamma Pitaka was held in Sri
Lanka in 80 BCE and is known as the Fourth Council under the patronage of the pious King
Vattagamini Abbaya. It was at this time in Sri Lanka that the Tripitaka was first committed to
writing. The story of the Pali Canon states that the Buddha’s teachings were written down on
palm leaves and then placed in one of three baskets.

The above paragraph is not perfect! It has all of the basic ideas that would make it perfect but
the ideas are not developed enough. (The points are stated and not explain with examples.
There are no quotes or views from scholars. The criticisms are also stated and not explained
and they do not show if the criticisms are significant or just minor points.)
Write the sentences that you would need to add to make it a perfect paragraph (develop each
point and each criticism).
Chapter 5: The development of Mahayana
Buddhism

Read the following paragraph. It is part of a response to the question. The question is asking
you to explain the Trikaya doctrine and say what is strong and weak about the concepts it
contains.
Student response
The Trikaya doctrine changes the way Buddhists see the Buddha. According to this philosophy,
the Buddha is no longer a man (as Theravada believe) but is now a supernatural being which is
‘immortal’. Not only that but the Buddha is also not dead and therefore still around for
Buddhists to appeal to for help and advice. This seems slightly contradictory as in Zen
Buddhism the Buddha is almost completely absent as a human or supernatural being. This idea
does, however, make it easier to explain how Bodhisattvas can come in and out of the world to
offer help and support to humans.

The above paragraph is not perfect! It has all of the basic ideas that would make it perfect but
the ideas are not developed enough. (The points are stated and not explain with examples.
There are no quotes or views from scholars. The criticisms are also stated and not explained
and they do not show if the criticisms are significant or just minor points.)
Write the sentences that you would need to add to make it a perfect paragraph (develop each
point and each criticism).

Read the follow paragraph. It is part of a response to the question.
Student response
The Lotus Sutra contains concepts that are not found in the Theravada Pali Canon, for example
Upaya. Upaya, or skilful means, suggests that teachings can be tailored to suit the needs of the
audience. For example, the Buddha might teach the same idea in two different ways
depending on who he is talking to. The problem with this is that it could lead to the teachings
being contradictory. This is definitely the case in the Pali Canon where the Buddha does use
Upaya and his teachings do sometimes contradict each other. Another example is Ekayana.
This idea is not in the Pali Canon and some Theravada Buddhists might find it offensive being
told that their path is not the real path. This does show that the Lotus Sutra reflects Mahayana
beliefs more than it does the Buddha's teachings.
Chapter 5: The development of Mahayana Buddhism

1. What could you add to the above paragraph to make it perfect? Does it need quotes,
examples, scholars' views/sources of wisdom and authority?
2. Does the response critically analyse? What would you need to add to make sure it did
critically analyse?

Use the following statements to produce a definition of Prajnaparamita literature. It is always
good to have a clear and detailed definition for key terms.
• Prajnaparamita means the perfection of wisdom.
• Prajnaparamita refers to a way of seeing the true nature of reality, as well as to a
collection of Mahayana Buddhist scriptures.
• Prajnaparamita is a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism and is generally associated
with the doctrine of sunyata or the lack of own being.
• The Heart Sutra is the most well-known and well used example of Prajnaparamita
writing.
• Nagarjuna made use of the Prajnaparamita Sutras when he developed the Madhyamika
philosophical system.
• Its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the
Bodhisattva path.

The student’s response below is part of a response to the question. It does not really address
the question fully enough to get full marks, but it does demonstrate very good knowledge and
understanding. Use what is written here to produce a perfect paragraph to answer the
question.
Student response
The Prajnaparamita Sutras are among the oldest of the Mahayana sutras and are the
foundation of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. Prajnaparamita means ‘perfection of wisdom’,
and the sutras counted as Prajnaparamita Sutras present the perfection of wisdom as the
realisation or direct experience of sunyata (emptiness). The several sutras of the
Prajnaparamita Sutras vary from very long to very short and are often named according to the
number of lines it takes to write them. So, one is 'The Perfection of Wisdom in 25,000 Lines'.
Another is 'The Perfection of Wisdom in 20,000 Lines', and then '8,000 Lines', and so on. The
most well-known of the wisdom sutras are the Diamond Sutra, also called ‘The Perfection of
Wisdom in 300 Lines’ and the Heart Sutra.
Mahayana Buddhist legend says that the Prajnaparamita Sutras were dictated by the historical
Buddha to various disciples, but because the world was not ready for them, they were hidden
until Nagarjuna (second century) discovered them in an underwater cave guarded by nagas.
The ‘discovery’ of the Prajnaparamita Sutras is considered the second of the three turnings of
the Dharma wheel. However, scholars believe the oldest of the Prajnaparamita Sutras were
written about 100 BCE, and some may date to as late as the fifth century CE. For the most part,
the oldest surviving versions of these texts are Chinese translations that date from the early
first millennium CE.
Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika philosophy is clearly developed from the Prajnaparamita Sutras and
might be understood as the Buddha's doctrine of anatta (not self) taken to an unavoidable
conclusion. In the prajnaparamita text the basic teaching is: all phenomena and beings are
empty of own being and they inter-exist; they are neither one nor many, neither individual nor
indistinguishable. Because phenomena are empty of inherent characteristics, they are neither
born nor destroyed; neither pure nor defiled; neither coming nor going. Because all beings
inter-exist, we are not truly separate from each other. Truly realising this is enlightenment and
liberation from suffering.

Use the following bullet points to write the opening paragraph to this essay. In this paragraph
you will need to show you understand the concepts in the question and start to set out your
argument for the rest of the essay.
• The Mahayana tradition dislikes this path because they see that it focuses on personal
liberation and does not show any concern for anyone else.
• The Bodhisattva path belongs to the Mahayana tradition. A Bodhisattva is ‘a being
which is destined for enlightenment’ (Klostermaier) They have many of the features of
the Buddha, practising selflessness and self sacrifice to a heroic degree, but also
exhibiting shortcomings that stop them from achieving full Buddhahood.
• For Mahayana Buddhists the ultimate goal is not to be an Arhat or personal fulfilment
in enlightenment, but Buddhahood, embodied compassion. Everyone can become a
Buddha; everyone, before reaching complete Buddhahood, goes through the career of
a bodhisattva.
• The most influential text on the Bodhisattva path is Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara
(entering the path of enlightenment). Santideva (690–743 CE) was a Mahayana monk
took the traditional way of the Bodhisattva and added a structured path to it.
• The traditional way of the bodhisattva consists of the practice of the heroic virtues
(paramitas) exercised on behalf of one’s fellow humans.

Try writing a paragraph as part of a response to the question.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Prajnaparamita literature contains the teaching on sunyata that Nagarjuna later
developed.
• The Heart Sutra is an example of Prajnaparamita literature.
• The Prajnaparamita literature teaches that all things inter-exist.
• The Prajnaparamita literature may not have been written by the Buddha.
• The Theravada Buddhist idea of dependent origination is essential in understanding the

concept of sunyata.
Exam tip: AO2 skills

On all of the syllabuses, the higher marks for AO2 (evaluation) come from being able to
critically analyse. This means that you will need to be able to show some of the following in
your response:
• Identifies the significance
• Evaluates strengths and weaknesses
• Weighs one piece of information against another
• Makes reasoned judgments
• Argues a case according to the evidence
• Shows why something is relevant or suitable
• Indicates why something will work best
• Identifies whether something is appropriate or suitable
• Weighs up the importance of the component parts
• Evaluates the relative significance of details
• Structures information in order of importance
• Shows the relevance of links between pieces of information
• Draws conclusions
• Identifies why the timing is of importance
• Gives the reasons for selecting each option
Chapter 7: The development of Buddhism

Below are two statements that address the question. Use these two statements to write two
paragraphs, both disagreeing with the statement in the question.
• Thinkers like Nagarjuna felt that they were following in the true footsteps of the
Buddha in asserting the middle way between eternalism of existence and the nihilism
of non-existence. Things neither exist nor do not exist; they are empty and exist
relatively. Another way Buddhists express this is to speak of the Tathata (suchness) of
things – they simply are, in a relative way.
• Nagarjuna claimed that this made Dhammas unconditioned and absolute, and that the
Theravada view did not go far enough in applying the Buddha’s teaching of
impermanence and no self; even Dhammas are dependent, ever changing and
impossible to distinguish – in other words, empty.

Now try to think of reasons why people might agree that Nagarjuna’s ideas do not follow the
teachings of the Buddha.
Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika philosophy is clearly developed from the Prajnaparamita Sutras and
might be understood as the Buddha's doctrine of anatta (not self) taken to an unavoidable
conclusion. In the prajnaparamita text the basic teaching is: all phenomena and beings are
empty of own being and they inter-exist; they are neither one nor many, neither individual nor
indistinguishable. Because phenomena are empty of inherent characteristics, they are neither
born nor destroyed; neither pure nor defiled; neither coming nor going. Because all beings
inter-exist, we are not truly separate from each other. Truly realising this is enlightenment and
liberation from suffering.

Read the following statements.
• Enlightenment is seeing the world as it really is and that means seeing that all
phenomena are interconnected and interdependent.
• Understanding impermanence is essential in understanding why everything is
interconnected.
• Not all Buddhists would agree with this. Zen Buddhists might but Pure Land Buddhists
might not.
• The Four Noble Truths are the most important teaching in Buddhism.
Chapter 6: The Madhyamika philosophical school
• Everything participates in a shared relationship and uniquely contributes to that

relationship.
• The Buddha realised interdependent arising and therefore gained enlightenment.
Decide which statements match each starter to help you plan your answer to the question.
Sunyata is the most important concept in Sunyata is not the most important concept
Mahayana Buddhism because … in Mahayana Buddhism because …
Sunyata is one of the most important
concept in Mahayana Buddhism because
…
Your response could look something like this:

Sunyata is the most important concept in Mahayana Buddhism because Mahayana Buddhists
believe that enlightenment is seeing the world as it really is and that means seeing that all
phenomena are interconnected and interdependent. Nagarjuna taught that everything
participates in a shared relationship and uniquely contributes to that relationship, therefore
everything is empty of own existence and interdependent on all other phenomena. The Buddha
realised interdependent arising and therefore gained enlightenment, which shows how
important it is as a concept in Buddhism. However, understanding impermanence is essential in
understanding why everything is interconnected. Sunyata does not make sense unless you first
accept the principle of impermanence. Therefore, it could be argued that impermanence is more
important than sunyata.

Look back at the following concepts and see if they can be linked to the concept of sunyata.
• Dukkha
• Anicca
• Anatta
• Nirvana
• Karma
• Re-becoming
• Samsara
• The Eightfold Path
From what you have found out, put the concepts (above) into a table like the one below. This
will form the basis of your essay plan.
Sunyata is found in the teachings of the Buddha. Sunyata is not found in the teachings of the Buddha.
Now consider this introduction to the question (see below). Do you think that you could write
the essay to match this introduction? (Remember that the essay does not have to have a for
and against. It can be all for or all against, as long as you explain each separate point and show
why it is the case. Always link your response back to the question.)
Introduction: Sunyata is found in all of the Buddha teachings. There are no teachings that do
not link in some way back to this idea.

Read the following paragraphs. They are each part of a response to the question. The question
is asking you to explain the doctrine of Upaya and say what is strong and weak about the
concepts it contains.
Student response 1
Upaya works on the principle that there are two levels of truth: ultimate and conventional.
Ultimate truth is non-dualistic thinking which see everything just as it is; whereas conventional
truth is dualistic thinking, which sees the world as being made up of separate and distinct
objects. Mahayana Buddhists suggest that Theravada see that world like this.
Student response 2
Upaya works on the principle that there are two levels of truth: ultimate and conventional.
Ultimate truth is non-dualistic thinking which see everything just as it is; whereas conventional
truth is dualistic thinking, which sees the world as being made up of separate and distinct
objects. Mahayana Buddhists suggest that Theravada see that world like this. The parable of
the burning house in the Lotus Sutra is a good example of this. A man lies to his children to
encourage them to leave a burning house. The lies are the conventional truths which help get
us to where we need to be and then the ultimate truth is the fact that our lives have been
saved.

Which paragraph do you think is better? Why is it better?
How do you think this paragraph can be improved further?

Using what you have learnt about the teachings of Nagarjuna, add to the better of the two
paragraphs above using Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika philosophy.
Revision activities 1, 2 and 3 (OCR): page 48
Example answer
Cupcakes exist at a conventional level because they are an object we can give a label to. At an
ultimate level, cupcakes just exist. Cupcakes do not have own-being (svabhava) because they
do not bring themselves into existence; they are dependent on something else for their
existence. If you accept that nothing can have own-being (svabhava) then the rest of the
theory is logical. However, if everything is caused by everything else that exists, then what
caused the universe to exist? Following on from this, if the universe does not have a cause (it
has always existed) then is it right to say that everything else has a cause? Nagarjuna might
respond by suggesting that there is no one cause to anything and that the cause and the effect
exist simultaneously and therefore, there can be no ‘first cause’.
Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 57, Q1 and Q2

Read the follow paragraph. It could be used as part of a response to either of these questions.
Student response
Zen Buddhism has taken and refined key ideas from the Buddha’s teachings which are found in
the Pali Canon. These include dependent origination and the Five Khandhas. The Buddha
taught that all things (dharmas) are interlinked and dependent on each other for their cause
and continued existence. This was developed by Nagarjuna and refined further in Zen which
focuses on the thus-ness of all objects, which is seeing all things as they truly are. This way of
thinking is part of the teaching on the Five Khandhas. Zen teaches that not only are mental
formulations a dualistic way of thinking but also that our perceptions are based on this
dualistic way of thinking. Therefore, Zen tries to return to forms and feeling or ‘bare attention’,
a non-dualistic way of seeing the world without attaching any language/thought to it. Bare
attention can also be found in the Satipatthana Sutta from the Pali Canon.
Commentary
This is a really good paragraph. There is lots of excellent knowledge throughout the response.
However, it lacks examples. Examples would show that the candidate not only knows lots but
also understands what they have written.

Add examples to the paragraph above to show the understanding of the information as well as
the knowledge of Zen Buddhism.
Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 57, Q3 and Q4

In an answer to the question ‘To what extent can Pure Land Buddhism be called Buddhism?’
you could include some of the following points:
• The Pure Land sect emphasises the important role played in liberation by Ambitabha
Buddha who is the Buddha of immeasurable light or ‘the great saviour deity
worshipped principally by members of the Pure Land sect in Japan’.
• Pure Land Buddhists chant the phrase ‘Namo Amida Butsu’ which means ‘I entrust my
life to the awakened one who has infinite light and infinite light’.
• It is chanted single mindedly while sincerely wishing to be reborn in the Pure Land and
having complete concentration on Amida Buddha and his virtues.
• This element of total concentration is a fundamental across all forms of Buddhism
especially Zen.
• Zen follows the explicit teachings of the Buddha passed on by mind to mind
transmission.
• In Zen Buddhism, they see words as a barrier towards enlightenment and in essence,
words just cloud our mind and hinder our understanding of our true nature –
awareness.
• D.T. Suzuki says ‘Zen consists of upsetting the groundwork once and for all’. Poet Li Bai
said ‘Difficult is the way! Difficult is the way! So many crossroads, where is my path?’.
• Is Zen any more or less Buddhist than Pure Land Buddhism?

The argument set out in the bullet points above suggests that Zen might be more Buddhist than
Pure Land Buddhism. However, they could also be used to show that all forms of Buddhism have
a different focus, but they are still Buddhist.

Read the following response to the question. Remember that Tibetan Buddhism is Vajrayana
Buddhism (but Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet).
Student response
The goal of spiritual practice within the Vajrayana tradition is to become a Bodhisattva. In the
Vajrayana the ‘path of the fruit’ is taken when the practitioner takes his or her innate Buddha-
nature as their means of practice. They believe that since they innately have an enlightened
mind, practising seeing the world in terms of ultimate truth can help them to attain Buddha-
nature.
Experiencing ultimate truth is said to be the purpose of all the various tantric techniques
practised in the Vajrayana. Apart from the advanced meditation practices such as Mahamudra,
which aims to experience sunyata, all practices are aimed in some way at purifying the impure
perception of the practitioner to allow ultimate truth to be seen.
The distinctive feature of Vajrayana Buddhism is ritual, which is used as an alternative to
meditation. Vajrayana is based on the concept of skilful means. A practitioner receives a
permission to practise and then shares in the mind-stream of a particular Master. In the
Vajrayana these skilful means mainly relate to tantric and Mahamudra practices. Vajrayana
teaches that the Vajrayana techniques provide an accelerated path to enlightenment.
Vajrayana Buddhism is esoteric (designed to be understood by only a few people).
Transmission of certain teachings is directly from teacher to student and cannot be simply
learned from a book. If these techniques are not practised properly, practitioners may harm
themselves physically and mentally. In order to avoid these dangers, the practice is kept
‘secret’ outside the teacher/student relationship.

• What makes this a really good response?
• Why might it not be perfect?
• What could you add to it to make it perfect?

Read the following paragraph and decide if you think it is a perfect paragraph in response to
the question.
Student response
One of the main practices of Tibetan Buddhism is mantra recitation. This involves repeating a
mantra over and over again as a form of meditation. A Buddhist might use a set of mala beads
to help them keep count of the number of mantras repeated or as a way of remaining focused
on just the mantra. The most well know mantra is ‘om mani padme hum’. This does not mean
anything but it represents the six paramitas which are generosity, morality, patience, effort,
concentration and wisdom. A Buddhist might use this mantra to help focus on these six
perfections and embed them in how they think, speak and act. It might be used in meditation
or chanted throughout the day. Sometimes it is put on prayer wheels and spinning the prayer
wheel says the chant for you.
Commentary
The questions I would ask myself when reading a paragraph like this are:
• Does the response show thorough and accurate knowledge? (this means, is it accurate?
Does it use key terms correctly? Is there evidence from scholars or sources of wisdom
and authority?)
• Does it show understanding? (This means; is there evidence that they actually know it
rather than just remembered what the text book says. Examples are a good way of
seeing if someone understands what they have written.)
• Is there breadth and depth? (This means; does it have a range of different views? Does
it explain ideas using examples and a range of views/concepts? Does it make links with
other ideas?)
• And most importantly … Has it answered the question? (There is no point having a
question if we wanted candidates to write everything they know about a subject!)

Based on the examiner’s comments is this a perfect paragraph? If not, what can be done to
make it perfect? What would you need to add?

Student response
De Bary suggests that there is a big difference between the three main schools of Japanese
Buddhism: Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren. The main difference is where or who a person turns to
in order to gain enlightenment and end suffering. For both Pure Land and Nichiren Buddhists
this is something outside of themselves. In the case of Pure Land Buddhism this is Amida
Buddha, who will help them gain rebirth into a Pure Land from where they will be able to work
towards their own enlightenment. For Nichiren it is faith in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra,
the Gohonzon and chanting the daimoku. De Bary states that Zen is different because it looks
inwards and encourages the practitioner to understand that they are already a Buddha but
need to realise this through unpicking language which has developed with human craving
(tanha) to obscure the true nature of all beings, i.e. that they are all empty (sunyata).
Commentary
This is a good paragraph because it takes information and the structure from the stimulus
paragraph and uses it well to produce a response. There is a range of knowledge and
understanding shown in the paragraph. Key terms are used and used well. However, this
response is not very well developed. Some points are stated and not fully explained with
examples. This will be needed to get full marks.

Re-write the paragraph and try to add in more detail. This could come from quotes, more key
terms and examples. Most importantly think carefully about the stimulus and make sure that is
referred to.
Chapter 8: Meditation
Example question (Eduqas) (AO1): page 63, Q2 (WJEC) (AO1)

Student response 1
The goal of meditation is to make someone calm after a stressful day at work. They play music
like whale song and burn incense as they close their eyes and think about nothing. Some
people hum or talk to themselves. The goal of meditation is to sit cross legged on the floor so
you are showing respect to the Buddha. Others see the goal of meditation to be getting rid of
bad karma and bad feelings. This helps a person’s mental health and helps them to be calm.
Student response 2
The goal of meditation is not to make someone calm after a stressful day at work, but to help
them focus on controlling their mind so that they can understand the true nature of the world
they live in. There are many ways to meditate which can include playing music, burning
incense, closing your eyes and thinking about one thing. Some people chant out loud or to
themselves. The goal of meditation is to gain enlightenment like the Buddha by realising that
suffering is caused by craving and the way to overcome craving is to control the mind.

Which response it better and why?
Is there anything good about response 1? Why might it get some marks for knowledge?
What could you add to response 2 to make it even better?
Example question (Edexcel) (AO1,AO2): page 63, Q3

Student response
The goal of meditation is to help someone focus on controlling their mind so that they can
understand the true nature of the world they live in. For Mahayana Buddhists this might be
focusing on thinking that everything is empty. There are many ways to meditate, which can
include mindfulness, focusing on breathing, zazen or chanting the nembutsu. The goal of
meditation can be seen to be to gain enlightenment like the Buddha by realising that suffering
is caused by craving and the way to overcome craving is to control the mind. Craving can be
seen to be a way of thinking which does not realise that everything is impermanent and empty.
It cannot be possessed for ever and it does not really exist outside of ourselves. Realising this is
a step towards enlightenment. However, for Pure Land Buddhists, chanting is a way to show
faith in Amida Buddha so that they may be reborn in the Pure Land when they die. Some
Buddhists might not agree that this is a form of meditation but a form of worship instead.
Commentary
This is a good paragraph. It shows a good level of knowledge and understanding. There are key
terms used accurately throughout and the use of a few examples shows that the terms are
understood. There are good links with other concepts such as craving. This also helps
demonstrate good understanding. However, the criticism is limited and needs to be developed
to get a higher mark.

Re-write the criticism part of this paragraph. Try to show why it might be incorrect to say that
the goal of meditation is enlightenment. What other reasons are there for meditation?
Example question (OCR) (AO1,AO2): page 63, Q4

The following is a detailed essay plan for the question. Using the plan, try to write the essay
out in full. Remember that in the exam you only have a limited amount of time, so stop writing
after 40 minutes.
Introduction
Meditation cannot be seen as a uniting feature of Buddhism because meditation practices are
too diverse. However, meditation is a key element of the Eightfold Path and therefore unites
all Buddhist beliefs in the teachings of the Buddha. The Three Refuges may be a more uniting
feature of Buddhism.
Body
• Meditation cannot be seen as a uniting feature of Buddhism because meditation
practices are too diverse. This is because Zen Buddhists use Koans, while Pure Land
Buddhist may use visualisations or chants. Samatha and vipassana mediation are also
used by Mahayana and Theravada Buddhists.
• Zen Buddhists use Koans. For example, a Zen Koan would be something like ‘What is
the sound of one hand clapping?’. This is designed to make the meditator so confused
that they see beyond the language and start to see things as they really are. This is very
different from vipassana mediation which might take a quote from the Heart Sutra such
as ‘form is emptiness, emptiness is form’ and analyse it. This quote is not a
contradictory statement and so logical analysis would happen in a different way from
the Zen Koan. Therefore there is such a difference between these practices that
mediation cannot be a uniting factor.
• Pure Land Buddhists may use visualisations or chants.
• Samatha and vipassana mediation is also used by Mahayana and Theravada Buddhists.
• However, meditation is a key element of the Eightfold Path and therefore unites all
Buddhist beliefs in the teachings of the Buddha. Needs wisdom and compassion in
order to do the right thing.
• The three refuges may be a more uniting feature of Buddhism. These are taking refuge
in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. All Buddhists go to a refuge and to become
a Buddhist you have to commit yourself to go to these refuges.
Conclusion
The extent to which meditation is the uniting feature of Buddhism is unclear because of the
diverse meditation practices and the Three Refuges can be seen to be more important as
uniting factors in Buddhism.

Below are two different statements about meditation. Which one do you think best explains
Buddhist ideas about meditation? Use that one to explain the role of meditation. (Don’t forget
that any good explanation must include examples.)
• The purpose of meditation is to stop the aimless (or even a purposeful) stream of
thoughts. Buddhists believe that the aim of meditation is to still the mind.
• Buddhism asks its followers to understand the world and themselves in a very different
way. If they see themselves and the world without craving then they gain
enlightenment. Meditation is one of the tools that Buddhists use to bring this about.

The statement below is from Zen Buddhism. To what extent do you think Zen Buddhist ideas
about meditation are different from those of other Buddhists? Use this to add an alternative
view to the explanation you have written above.
Zazen meditation is not the path to enlightenment; it is not to be used to gain something
outside of oneself. Zazen is enlightenment; it is seeing things as they truly are, without the
mental preconceptions or defilements of the conscious mind. It is not not thinking; it is the
thinking of ultimate truth.
Chapter 9: Buddhism in the modern world

Use the following bullet points to produce an essay plan. Remember you are trying the explain
the diversity and not to tell the story of Buddhism in the West.
• The Buddhist Society, London was founded by Theosophist Christmas Humphreys in

1924.
• The earliest Buddhist influences in the UK were with the Theravada traditions of Burma,
Thailand and Sri Lanka because these were British colonies.
• The first interest was primarily scholarly, and a tradition of study grew up that
eventually resulted in the foundation of the Pali Text Society, which undertook the
huge task of translating the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhist texts into English.
• The first English translation into English of the Tibetan Book of the Dead was published
in 1927. The book is said to have attracted many Westerners to Tibetan Buddhism.
• The first Buddhists to arrive in the United States were Chinese and Japanese immigrants
who established many temples, mainly for their own purposes of worship. Immigrant
monks soon began teaching to Western audiences, as well.
• The New Age spirituality of the hippie movement proved very receptive to Buddhist
themes.
• In 1959 Suzuki Roshi (a Japanese teacher) arrived in San Francisco. At the time of
Suzuki's arrival, Zen had become a hot topic among some groups in the United States,
especially beatniks.

Read this response to the question.
Student response
Buddhism has taught that Buddhists should be welcoming and accepting of other faiths. This
can be seen in the Kalama Sutta and in the rock edicts of King Asoka. Both of these suggest that
tolerance and acceptance of other faiths is key to developing a mindful understanding of the
nature of impermanence, particularly the impermanence of beliefs. However, in the modern
world, Buddhism has been appropriated by non-Buddhist and secular traditions. This has led to
Buddhist imagery being used as household ornaments or in adverts. Knitter has suggested that
one could make use of one religious tradition to help develop a greater awareness of a
different religious tradition. He calls this dual belonging and has made use of Buddhist ideas to
deepen his Christian faith. Critics have suggested that his faith cannot be that deep if he has
had to supplant it with Buddhism! Others, such as the Dalai Lama and Bhikkhu Bodhi, have
suggested that this undermines the value of each tradition and is therefore inappropriate.
Commentary
This is a good paragraph showing a good level of knowledge and understanding. It makes good
use of the views of different scholars and of sources of wisdom and authority. However, the
analysis and evaluation are limited. The ideas it does present are not fully developed. They do
not fully explain how they are addressing the question. For example, the final sentence does
not say how or why the Dalai Lama or Bhikkhu Bodhi think this.

Re-write this paragraph but develop the different analysis and evaluation points within it. For
example, why do the Dalai Lama and Bhikkhu Bodhi disagree with Knitter's approach?

Read the following bullet points and then divide them up into arguments for and against the
statement in the question. (For example, are they agreeing that Western Buddhism has
distorted true Buddhism or are they disagreeing with this.)
There may be some that fit into a third opinion. Try to spot which ones these are.
• The Buddhist schools have always mixing together. There is no such thing as true
Buddhism; the Buddha shaped his teachings to suit his audience.
• The boundaries between different schools of Buddhism are breaking down because
Western Buddhists explore the whole Buddhist tradition.
• The emerging Western Buddhist world is essentially non-denominational.
• People take what they need, not what they're given. So, Western Buddhists have taken
the bits that fit into their current lives and left out anything that would be inconvenient
to them.
• Mindfulness is where Buddhism and the West meet. Buddhist mindfulness practices are
being applied to everything from mental health treatments to eating out.
• Triratna centres teach scripture, yoga and other methods of self-improvement, some of
which are felt by some commentators to come from outside the Buddhist tradition.
• Triratna community activities have begun to include outdoor festivals, online
meditation courses, arts festivals, poetry and writing workshops, tai chi, karate and
pilgrimages to Buddhist holy sites in India.
• Paul F. Knitter, author of Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian, is a professor of
theology. In this book, he explains his struggles with his Christian faith while relating
how his study of Buddhism -- and his own Zen practice -- has helped him through this
struggle. For him, Buddhism is providing Christians with practices and techniques by
which they can enter more experientially into the content of what they believe.
• Bhikkhu Bodhi warms that a 'pick and mix' approach to any religion misses the fact that
a religion has to be taken holistically and cannot be picked at for the bits that suit your
view. That devalues, diminishes and compromises what the religious tradition actually
is and does not lead to anything other than a self-indulgent and dishonest set of beliefs.
• A Theravada monastery following the Thai Forest tradition of Ajahn Chah was
established at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in Sussex, and has established branches
elsewhere in the country.
• A lay meditation tradition of Thai origin is represented by the Samatha Trust, with its
headquarters cum retreat centre in Wales
• The 1950s saw the development of interest in Zen Buddhism. Sōtō Zen has a priory at
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland.
The Community of Interbeing, part of the Order of Interbeing, founded by Vietnamese Zen
Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh (who currently resides in Plum Village, France), has about 70
Sanghas meeting across the UK.

Student response
The Buddha would argue that Buddhism has always been socially engaged. To identify suffering
as coming from craving means to engage with the very basis of human existence. In Mahayana
Buddhism, this is taken to mean that one must not turn away from suffering but do everything
one can to help people overcome suffering. This is the basis of the Bodhisattva path and the
actions of all Bodhisattvas. However, the Buddha did not seem to be to engaged with the
situation of people in India. His Sangha relied on the kindness of the lay communities for food
and shelter. However, these communities were often poor rural communities and there is
never a suggestion that the Buddha worried about using up their food.
Commentary
This is typical of many responses. There is nothing here that is not correct and the information
responds to the question. It is also clear that the student has a good level of knowledge and
understanding. The criticism is good but only stated. Because none of the points made are
developed it would not get a very good mark.

Take each sentence of the student’s response and add more information to it. This might
include a quote, an example, a scholar’s view or maybe a criticism. This would develop the
response and it is this development that attracts the higher marks.
Example question (Edexcel) (AO1, AO2): page 73, Q5

Using the following bullet points, write a paragraph that answers the question.
• The major religions of the world must respond to two challenges: the challenge of
secularism and the merging of different nations and cultures into a single global
community.
• A religion needs to respond to secularism by keeping alive the truth and value that it
contains and the view that no amount of technology will ever truly empower or release
humanity.
• Each religion also needs to find some way of resolving the conflicting truth claims that
all religions make while remaining faithful to its own most fundamental principles.
• One response might be universalism: the view that all the great religions express
essentially the same truth. However, this tolerance risks the integrity of the faith.
• Buddhist tolerance comes from the view that the spiritual needs of human beings are
too vastly diverse to be encompassed by any single teaching, and that these needs will
naturally find expression in a wide variety of religious forms.

Student response
Stephen Batchelor is the most prominent voice of secular Buddhism. He lives with his wife in
Leicester. He believes that it is crucial to identify the basic teachings of Buddhism that are
relevant to our lives today. However, this must remain flexible and open to change and not just
another new set of rigid laws. In his book A Secular Buddhist, Stephen Batchelor suggests that
there are four core beliefs of Buddhism: dependent origination, the Four Noble Truths,
mindfulness, and self-reliance. I think this is quite good because it picks out the nice bits of
Buddhism to focus on. Batchelor has focused on the development of secular mindfulness in
modern life. For many secular Buddhists, this is a way of bringing Buddhism into the modern
world and exposing people to the Buddha's teachings for the first time. Secular mindfulness
has become a cultural and social trend, and had an impact on medicine, psychology and
education.

Highlight the sections in this paragraph that you think address the question and are good.
Highlight the sections in this paragraph that do not address the question or are not very good.
Rewrite the paragraph, keeping what is good and adding to it.
Chapter 10: Buddhist ethics
Examiner’s tip: Exam Practice

There is a skill to applying an ethical theory to an ethical situation. A Buddhist would not think
about their moral rules as a general principle when making a moral decision. They would also
not look at a moral issue as a general issue but as a specific situation. Therefore, they will think
about each individual rule/concept and apply this to a very specific situation.
The key word here is ‘specific’. For example, Buddhism (in a general sense) might be generally
opposed to abortion. However, a Buddhist who is pregnant and finds that the pregnancy might
harm her (for example, an ectopic pregnancy) might see that the harm of an abortion is less
than the harm to herself.
Revision activity (AQA): page 85
Example response
Buddhism might have a negative attitude towards abortion because abortion involves taking a
life. This goes against the five precepts, which say that a Buddhist should not take a life.
Another reason why Buddhism might have a negative attitude towards abortion is
because this action maybe motivated by hatred, ignorance or greed, which are the three fires.
These motivations will generate negative karmic consequences.
However, Buddhism might not have a negative attitude towards abortion because there may
be good reasons for an abortion, for example when it is an ectopic pregnancy and therefore
the foetus will not survive and the pregnancy may harm or kill the mother.
Another reason why Buddhism might not have a negative attitude towards abortion is because
bringing a child up in a home that is unsafe or harmful is less kind than having an abortion.
Modern Buddhists might suggest this.

Read the following bullet points and then use them to produce an essay plan for the question.
• The Eightfold Path contains the basis for all Buddhist ethical teachings, in right speech,
right action and right livelihood.
• The Eightfold Path is underpinned by the law of karma: wholesome actions (kusala)
lead to good karma and unwholesome actions (akusala) lead to bad karma.
• The law of karma also shows that we have to live with the consequences of our actions
(karmaphala).
• These consequences shape each future moment and any future lives.
• Ahimsa is an important part of Buddhist morality. It means to avoid harming any other
being.
• The five precepts include not killing, not lying, not stealing, and not misusing sex, drugs
or alcohol.
• The six perfections are part of the path to becoming a Bodhisattva and Mahayana
Buddhists aspire to behave like Bodhisattvas.

Read the following paragraph. It is part of a response to the question. It does not fully address
the question.
Student response
The five precepts are the basic five moral laws all Buddhists are expected to keep and they
reflect the teachings of the Eightfold Path. In addition to the five precepts, some Buddhists and
all novice monks and nuns also follow an additional five, making the ten precepts. Lay
Buddhists may follow eight or all ten precepts on certain days such as Wesak or Uposatha days.
A Mahayana Buddhist may focus on the six perfections in order to gain enlightenment and
become a Bodhisattva. Therefore, these are the key moral virtues that need to be developed.
The different moral rules are not commandments and breaking these rules does not incur a
religious punishment for the lay community. The law of karma and karmic consequences in this
life, during rebirth and in the next life are entirely shaped by the thoughts, words and deeds of
a Buddhist.

Highlight the sections that do address the question and then rewrite this paragraph so that it
fully responds to the question.

Using the following structure, plan a response to the question. Remember to use the ethics
rules in your response.
There is no point caring for the environment because Even though it is temporary, there is a point to caring
… for the environment. This is because …
Another reason why there is no point in caring for the Another reason why Buddhists ought to care for the
environment is … environment is …

Student response
A Buddhist might make a moral decision by thinking about the consequences of that action, for
example they might be worried about getting bad karma. As an example, they might not have
enough money to buy a packet of biscuits, so they think about stealing them instead, but
stealing would bring bad karma (as it goes against the five precepts) and is an unwholesome
(akusala) action. Donating money to a charity because you know this will bring good karma will
not bring good karma because the action is done out of craving and so the intention is seen as
unwholesome (akusala).
Commentary
The use of the term 'akusala' shows that there is good level of knowledge. The examples in this
paragraph are good because they show an understanding of karma. Even though the examples
are simplistic, they work in this context. Therefore, there is both good knowledge and good
understanding shown here.

How could you improve on this paragraph? Would you add quotes, the views of scholars or
sources of wisdom and authority?

Student response
There are no moral laws in Buddhism because all ethical codes are just guidelines rather than
strict rules. The Buddha did not teach that people should strictly follow any rules because all
situations are different and, because everything is impermanent, no rules could ever be right in
all situations for all of time. The concept of upaya is a good example of this. The Buddha used
different stories and concepts to teach different people and appeared to use different rules at
different times. However, the Buddha did expect Buddhists to try to follow the rules wherever
possible and explained that without good ethical conduct a person could never achieve
enlightenment.
Commentary
There are a lot of good ideas in this response but none of them are fully developed. There are
no examples to support the points made. The use of upaya as an example of a concept is good
but there are lots more concepts that could also be included in this response.

What could you add to this paragraph to make it perfect? Does it need quotes? Examples?
Criticism?
Student response
People were not worried about environmental change at the time of the Buddha. Therefore,
he did not give any teachings about it. However, the Buddha did recognise that his followers
could have a negative impact on the communities they visited. He therefore set rules
that monks and nuns should never urinate in or near running water. He also ruled that monks
and nuns should not damage the habitat of any other creature, neither should they kill other
living creatures. Mahayana Buddhists teach the idea of the interdependence of everything.
This means that humans depend on nature and nature depends on humans. Therefore,
harming one part of this whole is the same as harming all of it. Modern Buddhist teachers such
as Thich Nhat Hanh teach that if people learn to live simply and in harmony with the world, the
whole of the environment will benefit.
Commentary
This response does not answer the question and therefore it does not get a very high mark.

What could you add to the student’s response to ensure that it does address the question?
What else might you need to add to make it a full marks answer?

Student response
The Buddha did not want women to join the Sangha when he first started it. He thought that
having women join the Sangha would mean that it would only last half as long. This negative
view is supported by the way in which the Buddha consoled King Kosala who was disappointed
when he heard that the Queen had given birth to a baby girl instead of a boy. The Buddha said:
‘She may grow up wise and virtuous. The boy that she may bear may do great deeds, and rule
great realms’, thus suggesting that the place of women is as a wife and mother. However,
there are also many examples of women who were praised by the Buddha for their wisdom
and learning. One example of this is sister Gotami who defeated Mara (the evil one) who tried
to upset her over the death of her son. Therefore, there is a contradiction in the Buddha’s
teaching. Some have suggested that the Buddha’s opinion was due to the social conditions at
the time. Others dismiss this and suggest that the Buddha was not afraid to contradict social
conventions, for example by treating higher and lower caste people equally and giving them
the same rights and privileges.
Commentary
This is a very good paragraph because it shows a high level of knowledge and understanding,
particularly of the Pali Canon. The student makes good use of these stories to present and
support their view. There is also some good evaluation of these views. However, the student
needed to evaluate these quotes in greater detail. They could have questioned how authentic
they are with regard to the actual words of the Buddha. They could also have developed the
idea that untouchables were treated equally but not women, which does cast doubt on the
view that the Buddha did not want to break social norms. It would also be good (although it is
not essential) if the student added where the quotes came from, even if just by stating ‘In the
Pali Canon …’ or ‘in the Sutta Pitaka …’.

Using the examiner’s comments and the student’s response, write the next paragraph in this
response. This might be a contrary view or a further development of the view already stated.
Try to use quotes and say where these came from.
Example question (OCR) (AO2): page 85, Q8

Read through the following bullet points. They are in response to the question.
• Non-violence is at the heart of Buddhist thinking and behaviour.

• The first of the five precepts that all Buddhists should follow is ‘Avoid killing, or harming
any living thing.’
• Buddhism is essentially a peaceful tradition. Nothing in Buddhist scripture gives any
support to the use of violence as a way to resolve conflict.
• The Vimalakirti Sutra says, ‘In times of war, give rise in yourself to the mind of
compassion, helping living beings abandon the will to fight.’
• One of Buddha's sermons puts this very clearly with a powerful example that stresses
the need to love your enemy no matter how cruelly he treats you: ‘Even if thieves carve
you limb from limb with a double-handed saw, if you make your mind hostile you are
not following my teaching.’ (Majjhima Nikaya 28–29).
• Figures like the Dalai Lama (who won the Nobel Peace Prize) demonstrate in word and
deed Buddhism’s commitment to peace, and in certain texts, for example the
Dhammapada: ‘Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone. This is the ancient
law.’
• Many Buddhists have refused to take up arms under any circumstances, even knowing
that they would be killed as a result.
• The Buddhist code that governs the life of monks permits them to defend themselves,
but it forbids them to kill, even in self-defence. For Buddhist countries, this poses the
difficult dilemma of how to protect the rights and lives of their citizens without
breaking the principle of non-violence.

Use the bullet points to write a paragraph which argues that Buddhists do not agree with war.

Now write another paragraph. This time try to explain why a Buddhist might agree with war.
Think about the sorts of information included in the bullet points (quotes, scholars' views, etc.)
and make sure your paragraph includes these.

MRN A Level RS Buddhism Answer Guidance

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Chapter 1: The life of the Buddha

Example question Eduqas/WJEC (AO1): page 17, Q1

Example question (Edexcel) (AO1): page 17, Q2

Exam Practice Activity 1 (Edexcel)

Exam Practice Activity 2 (Edexcel)

Example question: AQA/Eduqas/WJEC (AO2)

Student response: Essay Plan

Exam Practice Activity (Edexcel)

Example question (OCR) (AO1 and AO2): page 17, Q4

Additional example question (OCR) (AO1 and AO2): 40 marks

Exam Practice Activity (Edexcel)

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 25, Q1

Exam Practice Activity 1

Student response: Essay Plan

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (Eduqas/WJEC) (AO1): page 25, Q2

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (AQA) (AO1): page 25, Q3

Exam Practice Activity

• Contemporary Buddhist teacher Thubten Chodron emphasises that samsara is not a

Example question (AQA) (AO2): page 25, Q4

Exam Practice Activity 1

Student response: Essay Plan

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (Eduqas) (AO1): page 25, Q5

Exam Practice Activity 1

Student response: Essay Plan

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (Eduqas) (AO2): page 25, Q6

Exam Practice Activity 1

Student response: Essay Plan

Exam Practice Activity 2

Exam Practice Activity 3

Example question (WJEC) (AO2): page 32, Q1

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Exam Practice Activity 3

Example question (AQA) (AO1): page 32, Q2

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 32, Q3

Exam Practice Activity

Example question (Edexcel) (AO1): page 37, Q1

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Exam Practice Activity 3

Exam Practice Activity 4

Exam Practice Activity 5

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 37, Q2

Exam Practice Activity

Additional example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): 40 marks

Exam Practice Activity

Example question (Eduqas) (AO1): page 37, Q3

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 44, Q1

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 44, Q2

Exam Practice Activity 1

Exam Practice Activity 2

Example question (OCR) (AO1, AO2): page 44, Q3