Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION IV-A – CALABARZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF SAN PEDRO CITY
CUYAB INTEGRATED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEM- GRADE 11

ACTIVITY SHEET- WEEK 11

I. Lesson Content: History, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of Theravada Buddhism

II. Most Essential Learning Competencies: *Explain the uniqueness and similarities of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

III. Learning Activity:

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THERAVADA AND MAHAYANA BUDDHISM

A. The ORIGIN

Buddhism traces its origins in Northern India around the sixth century B.C.E. as another interpretation of the Hindu belief. This religion is closely linked
to its founder Siddhartha Gautama who is also referred to as the Buddha or the "Enlightened One."

Buddha is a son of Kshatriya chief; the once affluent Siddhartha abandoned the comfort of his palace and family as he set to discover the remedy to
universal suffering he observed in this world. After long periods of abstinence and meditation, he finally reached enlightenment (nirvana) and became
known as the "Buddha" or the "enlightened one." He preached mainly in the eastern part of the India subcontinent such as in Magadha and Kosala.

About 500 years after Buddha's enlightenment, a schism within the Buddhist religion resulted in the emergence of the two major branches around the
first century C.E., namely the Theravada and Mahayana schools of tradition. Both schools owe their fundamental teachings to Buddha whose life has
become an inspiration to millions of followers all over the world. The two major schools of Buddhism, Theravada and the Mahayana, are to be
understood as different expressions of the same teaching of the historical Buddha.
Around the third century B.C.E., Buddhism reached neighboring Asian countries a result of the missionary zeal of Indian rulers. A different outlook to
salvation attracted many Asian people to embrace the tenets of Buddhism as it reached China, India, Korea, and Indochina Peninsula.

❖ Theravada (The Teachings of the Elders)

The earliest available teachings of the Buddha are to be found in Pali literature and belongs to the school of the Theravadins, who may be called the
most orthodox school of Buddhism. The teaching of the Buddha according to this school is very plain. He asks us to ‘abstain from all kinds of evil, to
accumulate all that is good and to purify our mind’. These can be accomplished by The Three Trainings: the development of ethical conduct,
meditation and insight-wisdom.
According to these schools, to look inward and not to look outwards is the only way to achieve enlightenment, which to the human mind is ultimately the
same as Buddhahood.

❖ Mahayana (The Great Vehicle)

The Mahayana is more of an umbrella body for a great variety of schools, from the Tantra school (the secret teaching of Yoga) well represented in Tibet
and Nepal to the Pure Land sect, whose essential teaching is that salvation can be attained only through absolute trust in the saving power of
Amitabha, longing to be reborn in his paradise through his grace, which are found in China, Korea and Japan. Ch’an and Zen Buddhism, of China
and Japan, are meditation schools.

B. MORALITY
The cycle of rebirth persists in Buddhism and succeeding lives may be affected by the moral laws of cause and effect or karma. Until one has
achieved enlightenment, one's deed in the present lifetime will affect the course of future rebirths. Buddhist moral thoughts and actions are
principally guided by the "Four Noble Truths" formulated by the Buddha, along with the basic guide called the "Eightfold Paths"
“Unhappiness of life (dukkha) is principally caused by people's unending desires.”
People are advised to scrutinize their motivations and ponder upon the outcome of their actions keeping in mind Buddha's teachings.
Anything harmful to others, in deed and in thought, must always be avoided.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A – CALABARZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF SAN PEDRO CITY
CUYAB INTEGRATED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

C. PURPOSE
In Buddhism, the principal purpose of one's life is to terminate all forms of suffering caused by attachment to impermanent entities, such as material
things, friends, and health.
When one recognizes the impermanence of all these things, an individual begins to free one's self from attachment thereby reducing suffering and
ending the cycle of rebirth.

In Theravada Buddhism, the monastic way of life ensures the path toward enlightenment. For the Buddhist laity congregation, they must be reborn as
monks for them to be eligible for enlightenment. As members of the laity perform good deed, positive karma may bring forth a pleasant condition
in the next line.

Mahayana Buddhism offers enlightenment to anyone not only for the members of the monastic order, but also for those with families and secular
careers. Moreover, the Mahayana branch of Buddhism attracts followers because it offers a faster route to enlightenment than the Theravada sects

D. DESTINY
Buddhism holds that no souls being reborn because there is no permanence in anything. The Buddha preached to his followers to achieve their own
salvation conscientiously because external forces have no control over their life and circumstances.

They control their own fate as they are bound to the law of causality Buddhist destiny, therefore, is the direct result of natural law or dharma or ones
accumulated deeds or karma

In Theravada school of Buddhism, the trainings on the development of ethical conduct, meditation, and insight assist in eradicating all forms of evil in
order to acquire goodness and purity of mind. All worldly things are momentary and impermanent.

Adherents can reach an enlightened status through their own ways without any assistance from any divine beings, such as gods or goddesses. With the
help of Buddha's teachings, the journey toward nirvana becomes possible.

The Mahayana sect devotes much attention to the bodhisattvas or "enlightened beings" who delay their own enlightenment for them to benevolently
aid other beings to reach their ultimate end. All beings can follow the path of the bodhisattvas which is the ideal way for all Buddhists to live.

E. VIEWS ON WOMEN
Women have enjoyed considerable freedom in their religious life in Buddhism. The Buddha himself allowed the full participation of women in all major
Buddhist rites and practices. Men and women have equal status in Buddhist societies.
For so long time when women's duties were confined to household and kitchen duties, Buddha radically changed this when he allowed women to join the
monastic order and attain the enlightenment in equal footing with the men. Fully ordained Buddhist female monastic members are bhikkhunis.

Bhikkhuni is a Pali word which means fully ordained female monastic in Buddhism.

For so long time when women's duties were confined to household and kitchen duties, Buddha radically changed this when he allowed women to join the
monastic order and attain the enlightenment in equal footing with the men. For the Buddha, “men are not always wise and women can also be wise”

Summary
• Both Hinduism and Buddhism, two of the world’s great religions, trace their origin in India. Throughout its long history, Hinduism became the source of
three other religions, namely, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
• Buddhist fervor gradually waned in native India as a result of resurging Hinduism that absorbed the rising challenge of other new religions as it
incorporated their elements into the Hindu belief.
• Most Hindu adherents hold several key moral values such as karma and dharma. Buddhist moral thoughts and actions are principally guided by the
“Four Noble Truths” and the “Eight- fold Paths.”
• In Hinduism, there are four desirable goals of life (purushartha). All Hindus aim to achieve the four-fold purpose of life that includes dharma, artha,
kama, and moksha.
• In Buddhism, the principal purpose of one’s life is to terminate all forms of suffering caused by attachment to impermanent entities.
• The destiny of all Hindus involves reincarnation until such time they gain ultimate enlightenment. Hinduism believes that within the human is an eternal
soul (atman) that is being reborn millions of times and in many forms subject to the moral law of karma. On the other hand, Buddhism holds that no soul
is being reborn because there is no permanence in anything
• Honoring women in Hindu society as a fundamental teaching has been laid down in one of the supplementary arms of the Vedas, the Manusmriti or the
“Laws of Manu.” Women have enjoyed considerable freedom in their religious life in Buddhism as compared to Hinduism.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A – CALABARZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF SAN PEDRO CITY
CUYAB INTEGRATED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

IV. LEARNING TASKS.

Make a bookmark for your favorite Hindu/Buddhist Mantra or quotes. The design you will choose could be based on whatever you desire. Do not
laminate and no computer printing text and designs.

V. ASSESSMENT.
Write an essay about the differences in popularity between Hinduism and Buddhism. You will be graded based on the rubric below.
Kindly accomplish it in a Whole Sheet of intermediate paper.

NAMASTE!!

Prepared by: Checked by: Noted by:

RHAIZA M. ONSING ALLEN C. LONGNO SHERYLL ANN M. DADAL

Subject Teacher Master Teacher I School Head
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A – CALABARZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF SAN PEDRO CITY
CUYAB INTEGRATED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL