INTRODUCTION

TO WORLD
RELIGIONS
AND BELIEF
SYSTEMS

QUARTER 1
CONTENT • THERAVADA
BUDDHISM
 • Analyze the brief history,
MOST core teachings,
ESSENTIAL fundamental beliefs,
LEARNING practices, and related
COMPETENCY issues of Theravada
Buddhism
 1. State the Four Noble Truths and the
Eight-fold path
2. Demonstrate cravings which may
lead to suffering according to
Theravada Buddhism
LESSON 3. Explain: The core teaching of
OBJECTIVES Theravada Buddhism is that life is
suffering; suffering is due to craving;
there is a way to overcome craving;
and the way to overcome craving is
the Eight-fold Path, the Middle Way
(between pleasure and
mortification).
 • Practical Nature of Buddhism: Focuses on
meeting basic human needs and addressing spiritual
problems without relying on supernatural forces.
• Two Main Divisions: Mahayana Buddhism (360
million followers) in China, Japan, and Mongolia;
Theravada Buddhism (150 million followers) in
Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
• Global Presence: Buddhism is practiced by around
HISTORICAL 500 million people, constituting 7-8% of the world's
population.
BACKGROUND • Regional Majorities: Asian countries with the
highest Buddhist majorities include Cambodia
(97%), Thailand (93%), Myanmar (80%), Bhutan
(75%), Sri Lanka (69%), and Laos (66%).
• Theravada Buddhism: Claims to preserve the
original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama through
the Pali Canon; gained followers in the West.
 • Continuity and Adaptation: Buddhism has existed
for over 2,500 years without drastic schisms;
emerging branches adapt to local culture, politics,
and economics.
• Harmonious Relationships: Despite doctrinal
differences, relationships between Buddhist
subgroups are generally good.
• Influence of Siddhartha Gautama: Basic tenets of
HISTORICAL both major schools originate from the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama, whose life serves as a
BACKGROUND constant inspiration.
• Spread and Adaptation: As disciples spread
Buddhism, adaptation to local contexts became
necessary, leading to the emergence of various
branches with adjusted practices.
 • Birth and Early Life of Siddhartha Gautama:
• Born between 536 B.C.E. to 480 B.C.E. into the
Sakya tribe in Lumbini, near Kapilavastu (present-
day Nepal).
• Born to Suddhodana, an aristocratic Hindu
chieftain, and Mahayama, a Koliyan princess.
• Family name: Gautama or Gotama; born with the
prophecy of achieving awakening.

LIFE OF • Early Upbringing and Marriage:

• Raised in luxury, shielded from human suffering.
BUDDHA • Married Yasodhara at 16, had a son named
Rahula.
• Siddhartha, discontented with luxury, embarked on
a quest for truth.
• Asceticism and Extreme Practices:
• Practiced asceticism for six years, including self-
mortification and extreme fasting.
• Experienced severe physical hardship and near-
death conditions.
 • Middle Path and Enlightenment:
• Abandoned extreme asceticism, advocated the
"Middle Path" of self-discipline and introspection.
• Attained enlightenment at age 35 beneath the
bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, overcoming temptations
by the devil Mara.
• Teaching and Formation of Sangha:
• Preached his teachings to former disciples in
LIFE OF Sarnath and established the sangha (spiritual
community).
BUDDHA • Traveled extensively for 45 years, spreading the
message of hope and happiness.
• Death and Legacy:
• Died at age 80 in Kushinagar, last words
emphasized the impermanence of all things.
• Cause of death: dysentery from a meal received
from a metalworker.
• Remains cremated, ashes divided among eight
clan-groups, and a stupa built over the relics.
 • Posthumous Events:
• In 486 B.C.E., the First Buddhist Council convened
in Rajgir to compile Siddhartha's teachings under
Mahakasyapa's guidance.
• The council laid the groundwork for Buddhist
tenets and monastic decrees.
• Spread of Buddhism:
• Siddhartha's teachings gained followers in India
LIFE OF and beyond, with a focus on the Ganges basin.
• Life of Siddhartha Gautama:
BUDDHA • Siddhartha lived during the reign of Bimbisara in
the Magadha Empire.
• Engaged in tireless missions to propagate his
teachings, with minimal rest.
• Final Message:
• Siddhartha's final words emphasized the
importance of personal salvation and the
impermanence of all things.
 Survival of Sacred Texts:
• Only the Pali Canon, known as the Tipitaka or
"three baskets," of Theravada Buddhism has
survived from the early schools of Buddhism.
Formation of Pali Canon:
• The Pali Canon is preserved in the Pali
language and is the earliest, most conservative,
and complete extant early canon of Buddhist
SACRED writings.
First Buddhist Council:
SCRIPTURES • Immediately after Siddhartha's death, the First
Buddhist Council was convened to orally recite
his teachings (dhamma/dharma).
Recording of Teachings:
• The teachings were initially passed down orally
and were later recorded on palm trees during
the Fourth Buddhist Council in 29 B.C.E. to
ensure their preservation.
 SACRED
SCRIPTURES
TIPITIKA CONTENTS

In Pali language, the Sutta Pitaka (Discourse) Buddha’s doctrinal discourses;

word pitaka translates as short poems to long prose
narratives about Siddhartha’s
“basket” referring to the lives.
receptacles where the
palm leaf manuscripts Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) Rules of discipline; stories that
illustrates Buddhist moral
were stored by the principles
monks. The three
baskets Abhidhamma Pitaka Systematic analysis of the
(Ultimate Doctrine) categories of Buddhist thought
(Tipitaka/tripitakan) and
their contents are
summarized in
 • Another unique feature of Buddhism is the belief that
soul or the Hindu atman does not exist as people
live in a state of nonsoulness or anatman/anatta.
Buddhism does not preach that humans have an
eternal and indestructible soul.
• The mark of impermanence or anitya/anica states
that all conditioned things are transitory and passing;
they all have beginning and end to their existence.
• Human existence, or what we actually call soul, is a
BELIEFS AND composite of five mental or physical aggregates or
khandas. These aggregates include the (1) physical
DOCTRINES form or corporeality, (2) feelings or sensations, (3)
understanding or perception, (4) will or mental
formation, and (5) consciousness. Hence, humans
do not have a permanent, unchanging, real soul that
dwells within them. In effect, no soul is being reborn
because there is no permanence in anything
 Ethical Focus of Siddhartha's Teachings:
• Siddhartha's teachings primarily emphasize ethics and
self-understanding for individual salvation without
reliance on a supreme being.
Absence of God or Savior in Buddhism:
• Buddhism differs from other religions by not involving a
deity or savior in its teachings.
• Salvation in Buddhism is within one's control, and
Siddhartha is seen as a guide and teacher, not a savior.
Concept of Nonsoul (Anatta):
FOUR NOBLE • Buddhism rejects the existence of an eternal and
TRUTHS indestructible soul (atman).
• Emphasizes the concept of anatta (nonsoul) or the
absence of a permanent, unchanging soul.
Impermanence and Five Aggregates:
• Buddhism teaches the impermanence of all things
(anitya/anica), asserting that conditioned things are
transitory.
• Human existence is composed of five aggregates:
physical form, feelings, understanding, will, and
consciousness.
 • The First Noble Truth. This identifies the
origin of the problem-the dukkha.
• The Second Noble Truth. This explains the
cause of suffering or the samodaya – in
craving or desire (or tanha), in the perpetual
thirst of humans to consume things,
experiences, or ideas
• The Third Noble Truth. This asserts that
FOUR NOBLE there is a cessation or nirodha to suffering
TRUTHS and bondage by eliminating craving and
desire.
• The Fourth Noble Truth. This directs an
individual to the path or magga leading to the
termination of craving and desire, and to
eventual cessation of pain.
 EIGHTFOLD WHAT ONE MUST DO?
PATH
Right View Understand the “Four Noble Truths”
Right Intention Free oneself from ill-will, cruelty, and untruthfulness

Right Speech Abstain from untruthfulness, tale-bearing, harsh

THE language, and vain talk

NOBLE Right Action Abstain from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct

EIGHTFOL Right
Livelihood
Earn a living in a way not harmful to any living thing

D PATH Right Effort Avoid evil thoughts and overcome them, arouse good
thoughts and maintain them
Right Pay vigilant attention to every state of the body,
Mindfulness feeling, and mind
Right Concentrate on a single object so as to induce
Concentration certain special states of consciousness in deep
meditation
 Law of Dependent Origination (Paticca-
samuppada):
• Central teaching of Siddhartha emphasizing cause
and effect relationships in the universe.
• Describes a twelve-linked chain illustrating
interconnections, error, attachment, and the path
to nirvana.
Four-Line Formula:
LAW OF • "When this is, that is; This arising, that arises;
When this is not, that is not; This ceasing, that
DEPENDENT ceases."
ORIGINATION • Reflects the principle that nothing happens by
accident, and actions follow a definite cause-and-
effect pattern.
Relation to Four Noble Truths:
• Explains the arising and cessation of dukkha
(suffering) in the Four Noble Truths.
• Describes how desire emerges based on existing
conditions and ceases when supporting factors
change.
 Role in Concept of Karma:
• Links to the law of karma, a causal process
explaining suffering and rebirth in samsara.
• Asserts that every action has consequences,
with virtuous actions yielding good results
and bad deeds leading to evil ones.
Autonomous Operation of Karma:
LAW OF • Karma operates independently, unaffected
DEPENDENT by prayers or rituals.
• Birth and rebirth in different states are
ORIGINATION determined by accumulated good and bad
actions in the past.
 Impermanence in Buddhism:
• Buddhism emphasizes the inherent
impermanence of all things in the world.
• Five uncontrollable processes in human
existence: old age, sickness, dying, decay,
and death.
Nirvana and Freedom from Samsara:
• Release from samsara leads to nirvana,
IMPERMANENCE where desire is extinguished, and
OF THINGS unpleasant karma ceases.
• Greed, hatred, and delusion are
obliterated, resulting in perfect peace of
mind.
Attainment of Nirvana:
• Nirvana is achievable in this life, offering
perfect peace, and those who attain it are
called arhat or "worthy of honor."
 Sangha in Buddhism:
• The Pali word "sangha" means "sharer," referring
to monks who share alms provided by the
community.
• Translated as "association" or "assembly," it
pertains to the Buddhist monastic community
founded by Siddhartha.
Origins and First Disciples:
• Founded by Siddhartha in the year of his
enlightenment.
THE SANGHA • Kondanna, one of the "Five Ascetics," was the first
disciple ordained to the sangha, followed by
Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama, and Assaji.
Inclusivity and Equality:
• Siddhartha accepted members to the sangha
regardless of social rank, in contrast to Brahmin
priests.
• Notable monks in Buddhist history include
Sariputta, Moggallana, Rahula, and Ananda.
 Monastic Life:
• Ordained monks (bhikkus) and nuns
(bhikkunis) live a life of poverty and chastity,
adhering to rules in the Vinaya Pitaka.
• The Vinaya Pitaka contains around 250
items of conduct, and regular recitation and
confession are required.
Entrance to the Sangha:
• To be accepted, one must have taken refuge
THE SANGHA in Siddhartha.
• Novices follow vows, including celibacy,
while fully ordained monks/nuns commit to
an extensive set of vows.
Voluntary Membership:
• Bhikkus and bhikkunis may choose to leave
the order and return to lay life.
 Laypeople's Duties:
• Laypeople provide food, robes, and maintain
monasteries/nunneries for the sangha.
• Monks, in turn, provide services like
education in villages.
Preservation of Teachings:
• Members of the sangha ensure the
preservation and transmission of Buddhist
THE SANGHA teachings orally or in written form.
Three Jewels (Triratna):
• Summarizes Buddhist faith: "I take refuge in
the Buddha, in the teaching, and in the
sangha."
 Buddhist Salvation and Worship:
• Salvation in Buddhism is achieved through one's
own actions without the assistance of a supreme
being.
• Lay people offer gifts to Siddhartha and the sangha
during worship and observance.
Significance of Stupas:
• Stupas are commemorative monuments containing
relics of Siddhartha, monks, and nuns.
WORSHIP AND • Originally used for ancient Indian kings and heroes,
stupas represent Siddhartha's body, speech, and
OBSERVANCES mind.
Pilgrimages and Sacred Places:
• Buddhists aspire to visit sacred sites including
Siddhartha's birthplace, place of enlightenment, first
sermon, and place of parinirvana.
• Pilgrimage to these places, especially if one dies
during the journey, is believed to lead to rebirth in a
blissful world.
 Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka:
• Adam's Peak, or Sri Pada, is a pilgrimage site with the
sacred footprint of Siddhartha.
• Pilgrims climb the mountain during April in a strenuous
journey.
Vesak Celebration:
• Vesak, or Vesakha, celebrated in May, commemorates
the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha.
• Also known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Day, it is the
holiest day for Buddhists, marked by festivity and rituals
WORSHIP AND at stupas.
Buddhist Festivals and Celebrations:
OBSERVANCES • Most festivals in Buddhism are joyous occasions
celebrating important events in Siddhartha's life.
• Lay people offer food to the sangha, meditate, and listen
to sermons during celebrations.
Specific Festival Days:
• Magha Puja Day commemorates Siddhartha meeting and
ordaining 1250 arhats in Venuvana Monastery.
• Asalha Puja Day marks Siddhartha's first teaching near
Benares, with monk Kondanna reaching the first level of
enlightenment.
 Theravada Buddhism:
• More conservative subdivision of Buddhism, closer
to the fundamental teachings of Siddhartha.
• Predominant in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Propagation in Sri Lanka:
• Indian Emperor Ashoka Maurya propagated
Buddhism in Sri Lanka during the third century
B.C.E.
• His son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra
played crucial roles in establishing Buddhism in
SUBDIVISIONS then Ceylon.
Early Monasteries in Sri Lanka:
• Three major monasteries in early Sri Lankan
Theravada Buddhism: Mahavihara, Abhayagiri
vihara, and Jetavana.
• Mahavihara, founded by King Devanampiya Tissa;
Abhayagiri Dagaba, established by King
Valagamba; Jetavana, founded by King
Mahasena.
 Buddhism and War:
• War is considered evil (akusala) in
Buddhism, with no rationalization in
Siddhartha's teachings.
• Instances of monk involvement in
conflicts, political activism, and even
support for military solutions, as seen in
SELECTED Sri Lanka.
Buddhist Morality and Conflict:
ISSUES • Morality is based on principles, not rigid
rules; defending nations is not inherently
wrong.
• Buddhists are urged to avoid hostilities,
but they may engage in war to protect
innocent lives and uphold brotherhood
principles.
 Women in Buddhism:
• Siddhartha allowed women to participate in
the sangha, a notable departure from the
inferior status of women in ancient Indian
society.
• In Buddhism, both sexes are considered
equally relevant, challenging the traditional
roles of women as inferior and confined to
SELECTED domestic duties.
ISSUES • Recognizing the potential of bhikkunis, such
as Dhammadina, Khema, and Uppalavanna,
Siddhartha valued their expertise in teaching
the dharma within the sangha.
 Group Exercise: Exploring Theravada Buddhism
Objective: Analyze Theravada Buddhism's history, core
teachings, beliefs, practices, and related issues
collaboratively.
Materials: Pen and paper for each participant or group,
Whiteboard or flip chart paper and markers
Instructions:
• Brief overview of Theravada Buddhism and focus
areas.
• Divide participants into small groups.
GROUP ACTIVITY • Assign each group an aspect: history, core teachings,
beliefs, practices, or related issues.
• Collaboratively analyze and summarize the assigned
aspect on paper.
• Discuss and share knowledge within groups.
• Jot down key points on paper.
• Each participant adds individual insights.
• Select a spokesperson for each group to present a
summary.
• Write key points on the whiteboard.
• Facilitate a brief Q&A session.
 RUBRICS
Category Outstanding (10) Good (7) Developing (4) Beginning (1)
Content Content had an Content had a good Content had idea but Content does not
exceptional idea for of ideas for learners only little for the have valuable for the
learners learners learners
Collaboration The members always The members most The members The members did
worked from others’ of the time work from sometimes work from minimal work
ideas others’ ideas others’ ideas
Organization The presented ideas The presented ideas The presented ideas The presented ideas
of all members were of all members were of all members were of all members were
exceptionally better organized simply organized not organized
organized
Presentation Presenters were all Presenters were Presenters were not Presenters were
confident in occasionally consistent with the unconfident in
delivering the confident in level of confidence in delivering the
collective ideas delivering the delivering the collective ideas
collective ideas collective ideas
Effort The group did their The group did their The group did their The group did not
work in exceptional work in good way work in a little way give any effort
way
 FORMATIVE • WRITE THE LETTER OF YOUR BEST
ANSWER
ASSESSMENT
 1. What is the primary focus of
Buddhism's practical nature?
a) Rituals
b) Meeting basic human needs
c) Supernatural forces
d) Meditation techniques
FORMATIVE 2. Which division of Buddhism claims to
ASSESSMENT preserve Siddhartha Gautama's original
teachings through the Pali Canon?
a) Zen Buddhism
b) Theravada Buddhism
c) Vajrayana Buddhism
d) Mahayana Buddhism
 3. Approximately, what percentage of the
world's population practices Buddhism?
a) 5-6%
b) 7-8%
c) 10-12%
d) 15-18%

4. In which Asian country does Theravada

FORMATIVE Buddhism have the highest majority?
ASSESSMENT a) Cambodia
b) Japan
c) China
d) Mongolia
 5. What unique feature of Buddhism is
highlighted, stating that humans live in a
state of nonsoulness or anatman/anatta?
a) Belief in eternal soul
b) Emphasis on karma
c) Rejecting the existence of a permanent
soul
FORMATIVE d) Worship of deities
ASSESSMENT 6. According to Buddhism, what does the
Law of Dependent Origination emphasize?
a) Impermanence
b) Cause and effect relationships
c) Four Noble Truths
d) Ritual practices
 7. What concept in Buddhism asserts that
every action has consequences, and
virtuous actions yield good results?
a) Law of Karma
b) Four Noble Truths
c) Impermanence
d) Middle Path
FORMATIVE
8. What does the Four-Line Formula in
ASSESSMENT Buddhism reflect?
a) Origin of suffering
b) Impermanence of all things
c) Cause-and-effect relationships
d) The Middle Path
 9. How does Buddhism differ from other
religions concerning salvation?
a) Salvation requires rituals
b) Salvation is achieved through a deity
c) Salvation is within one's control
d) Salvation is determined by fate

FORMATIVE 10. What is the significance of stupas in

Buddhism?
ASSESSMENT a) Commemorative monuments for ancient
rulers
b) Represent Siddhartha's body, speech,
and mind
c) Ritual objects for worship
d) Sites for meditation practices
 ANSWER KEY
1. b) Meeting basic human needs
2. b) Theravada Buddhism
3. b) 7-8%
4. a) Cambodia
FORMATIVE 5. c) Rejecting the existence of a
ASSESSMENT permanent soul
6. b) Cause and effect relationships
7. a) Law of Karma
8. c) Cause-and-effect relationships
9. c) Salvation is within one's control
10.b) Represent Siddhartha's body,
speech, and mind