THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Theravada
SEMI-DETAILED LESSON PLAN
INTRODUCTIONS IN WORLD RELIGIONS  Pronounced — more or less — "terra-
SYSTEM AND BELIEFS VAH-dah".
 Is the most commonly accepted name
of Buddhism's oldest existing school
I OBJECTIVES:  Theravada has been the predominant
religion of continental Southeast Asia
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able (Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia,
to: and Laos) and Sri Lanka.

Identify and explain the core Siddhartha Gautama

teachings, fundamental Buddhism, founded in the late 6th century B.C.E. by
beliefs and practices in Siddhartha Gautama (the "Buddha"), is an important
Theravada Buddhism; religion in most of the countries of Asia.
 Describe the core teachings,
fundamental beliefs and
practices of Theravada
Buddhism through an essay;
and
 Show appreciation and
respect towards other
religions/belief systems..
II. SUBJECT MATTER Theravada Buddhism emphasizes attaining self-
liberation through one's own efforts.
TOPIC: THERAVADA BUDDHISM
REFERENCE: Introductions in World Religions The key beliefs of the Theravada tradition include: The
System and Beliefs Buddha was a man named Siddhartha Gautama. Since
LEARNING MATERIALS: PowerPoint his death, his teachings are a source of authority for
presentation/Smart TV Theravada Buddhists. The Buddha does not have the
status of a god as he is dead.
III. PROCEDURES/METHODOLOGIES The follower is expected to "abstain from all kinds of
evil, to accumulate all that is good and to purify their
A. Classroom Recall
mind".
 Prayers Meditation is one of the main tools by which a
 Greetings Theravada Buddhist transforms themselves, and so a
 Classroom management monk spends a great deal of time in meditation.
 Checking of attendance
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like
B. Review/ Recall heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the
1. What are the two Sacred highest state that someone can attain, a state of
Scriptures of Hinduism? enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and
suffering go away.
2. Differentiate Christianity from
Hinduism. When a person achieves liberation, they are called a
C. Motivation: 'worthy person' - an Arhat or Arahat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wUh3E9PSbI Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism

D. Discussion The main difference between Mahayana and Theravada

is that Mahayana refers to various Buddhist traditions,
texts, practices, and philosophies while Theravada refers Answer the following questions in a paragraph
to the oldest existing school of Buddhism. form. One paragraph for each question. Your work
SACRED SCRIPTURES OF THERAVADA will be graded using the rubrics for individual work
BUDDHISM attached below.
1. How Buddha became an extra ordinary being?
The Pāli Canon falls into three general categories: 2. Why do you think Buddhism is considered one of
Sutta-vibhanga (“Division of Rules”) the most practical among the world’s great
Khandhakas (“Sections”) religions?
Parivara (“Accessory”)

BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES OF

THERAVADA BUDDHISM Content Organization
The Four Noble Truths (4 points) (3 points)
1. The First Noble Truth The presence of ideas The order developed an
This identifies the origin of the problem, the developed through sustained within and a
dukkha. Suffering can be experienced throughout facts, examples, details, paragraph using transit
the different stages of a person’s life – from birth, opinions, reasons, devices and including
sickness, old age, to ultimate death. and/or explanations. introduction and
When one clings to one of the previously stated conclusion.
aggregates, this leads to suffering. When one unites
with the unpleasant, it causes suffering. When one
F. Generalization
dissociates from the pleasant, it also results in
suffering. 1. What is Theravada Buddhism?
2. Who is the founder of Budhhism?
2. The Second Noble Truth
This explains the cause of suffering or the IV. EVALUATION
samodaya, in craving or desire (or tanha), in the
perpetual thirst of humans to consume things, Directions: TRUE or FALSE.
experiences, or ideas. People are never satisfied as 1. The Buddha does not have the status of a god as
they always want more or something else, want he is dead.
something new, or just want to discontinue 2. When a person achieves liberation, they are
something. called a 'worthy person' - an Arhat or Arahat.
3. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes attaining self-
3. The Third Noble Truth liberation through one's own efforts.
This asserts that there is a cessation or nirodha to 4. The follower is expected to "abstain from all
suffering and bondage by eliminating craving and kinds of evil, to accumulate all that is good and to
desire. By dropping the bonds of craving, one gets purify their mind".
to be released from the fundamental nature of 5. The main difference between Mahayana and
reality. Theravada is that Mahayana refers to various
Buddhist traditions, texts, practices, and
4. The Fourth Noble Truth philosophies while Theravada refers to the oldest
This directs an individual to the path or magga existing school of Buddhism.
leading to the termination of craving and desire, and
to eventual cessation of pain. Likewise, one must V. ASSIGNMENT:
avoid self-indulgence and self-torture since both are
painless. 1. Make an advance reading about Mahayana
Buddhism.
E. Application