Starter: b Q

b) Describe Buddhists teachings

about the Three Marks of Existence.
(5)
 The Theravadin View of
Human Personality
Learning Questions: How does Theravadin Buddhism
understand human personality? What are the Five
Skhandas?
 Key Term
◦ Use the images below to work out the definition for the key
term: (s)kandhas

(s)kandhas: the five elements that make up a

human being
What are the Five (S)kandhas?
◦ Theravada scriptures state that there are 5 things that make up what we
think of as reality and call the self. They create a sense of “I” or
individualism when they come together but don’t have any independent
existence.
◦ In other words they are the 5 elements that make up sentient existence.
◦ Each person experiences the world through these Skandhas- they make up
conscious experiences and create our karma, keeping us trapped in samsara.
◦ They are called Kandhas in Pali or Skandhas in Sanskirt- make sure you are
familiar with both variations.
◦ Also known as the Five Aggregates (Aggregate means a whole formed by
combining several separate elements)
TASK: Add 3 key points to your basic definition
 What are the Five (S)kandhas?
Draw the following table into your book:
The Five Skandhas Explanation of An Example An image to
the Skandha represent the
Skandha
Form
Sensations
Perception
Mental
formations/impulses
Consciousness
 Use the information to fill in the first column
of your table. The awareness of the information
our senses give us. It gives us the
The senses through which we experience
ability to recognise an object
the outside world lead to emotional or
because we have seen or experienced
physical feelings. These might be
those things before.
pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Sensation Perception
The thoughts and feelings that make us aware that we
The physical body. It is
exist. It is our awareness of the other skandhas and
the matter that is
physical and mental process as well as the things in the
tangible and makes up
world around us. Consciousness our body including sense
organs: eyes, ears, nose,
Our reactions to the information we take in. It is
tongue. It is therefore
the different opinions, prejudices, interests,
linked to our 5 sense.
attitudes, biases and feelings that people have e.g.
pride Mental Formations Form
The Three Marks of Existence and the
Five Skandhas
Discuss and answer the following questions
1.The 5 skandhas link to Anicca as they are
constantly undergoing change. How/Why?
2.How does the 5 skandhas link to the concepts of
anatta and dukkha
Anicca and the Five Skandhas
The 5 skandhas link to Anicca as they are constantly undergoing
change. How/Why?
◦ As our circumstances change, our experiences do (form).
◦ Our reactions (sensations) to those experiences changes as do
our thoughts and feelings (mental formation).
◦ Our body changes due to age, diet, environment or illness.
◦ Everything changes- humans included. We are not exempt. We
know some parts of change because we age but we often think
that there are others parts of us that are fixed e.g. like or
dislike of something but this is not the case. For example might
not like something now but this can change as we get older.
Anatta, Dukkha and the Five Skandhas
◦ Because the 5 Skandhas are constantly changing there is no
such thing as a permanent self (anatta). The Skandhas come
together to create the being and the break up at death.
◦ Clinging to the Skandhas and the idea that they form a
permanent identity, that they are intrinsic parts of who we
are, causes dukkha.
◦ We need to let go of this attachment and separate
ourselves from the Skandhas to avoid dukkha. We are able
to live healthier, more balanced lives and achieve nirvana.
 Quotations
Look at the Buddhist teachings on
your sheet and annotate them. You
need to link them to the key concepts
of the last few lessons.
Can you answer today’s learning
questions?
◦What are the Five Skhandas?
◦How does Theravadin Buddhism
understand human personality?
 Homework
Read and complete the tasks on the concept of
Arhat in Theravada Buddhism (will be on Teams
and Classcharts).
You can either write the answers directly into
your book or download the word document and
type your answers directly on there. You will
need to print and bring it with you to next lesson.