Living the Buddhist Life PDF

# Living the Buddhist Life ## Wednesday 11 September **Topic:** Living the Buddhist Life **Ropte:** Meditation 1. Three aspects of distance are Dukkha, anica, aratta 2. Greed, hatred, ignorance. 3. Buddha was meditating when he achieved enlightenment. 4. Super Rope: what are the 5 klanda?...

# Living the Buddhist Life ## Wednesday 11 September **Topic:** Living the Buddhist Life **Ropte:** Meditation 1. Three aspects of distance are Dukkha, anica, aratta 2. Greed, hatred, ignorance. 3. Buddha was meditating when he achieved enlightenment. 4. Super Rope: what are the 5 klanda? The collection of parts that make up a human. ### Deliberate Practice **Outline** * Three features of Buddhist meditation. * The feature of Buddhist meditation is chanting, may be used to prepare. * The second feature of Buddhist meditation is adapted - that the lotus position is adapted. * A third feature of Buddhist meditation is that the objects of devotion may be used. * Samatha Meditation: * Calm abiding meditation * To calm and settle your thoughts. * Metta Bhavana Meditation * Loving kindness Meditation * Love yourself, Learn to love the whole world. ## Friday, 13th September **C/W:** Meditation 2 **Ropte:** 1. Enlightenment, Three poisons 2. Regularity 3. Meditation = Bhavana (pal) 4. Candles and Buddharupa. ### Deliberate Practice * Vipassana Meditation: * Insight Meditation. * Buddhist want to develop insight into the pharma to achieve enlightenment. * Three marks of existence. * Razen Meditation: * Seated Meditation * Mahayana Buddhists x Zen Buddhists **Challenge ** * One type of meditation is Metta Bhawana Meditation. * The purpose of it is to learn to love the whole world. ## Wednesday 19th September 2029 **C/W:** Death and Mourning **Rope:** 1. Church, mosque, temple, Shrine, Vihara. 2. Candle, Buddha statue - Buddharupa 3. Vipassana, Sa Matha, Metta - bhavana. 4. Om Mani Padma hum. ### Deliberate Practice 1. Two Buddhist teachings: Yunerals might help Bagonists focus on anicca. 2. Two ways that the family might help - Darna is chanting and doing good deeds. ## Death and Mourning Ronals **H/W:** * Tibetan Sky Burial * They practice the sky burial in Tibet. * During a sky burial, the body is placed on Da, to be beaten by birds of prey. * This tradition symbolizes the impermanence of life. * Tibetan Buddhism: * Bardo means the traditional state between death and rebirth. * During death, Tibetan Buddhists read the Tibetan Book of the Dead from. * They read this to help guide the soul through the transition states. * This quotation means helping souls escape the cycle of samsara and achieve enlightenment. * Japanese Buddhism: * When processing around the coffi, they chant "Namo Abida." * The relations use chopsticks to pick bones, ash is often credition. * Every seven days they offer prayers to help the soul transition into the next life. ## Friday 20th September 2024 **C/W:** Charting and Mantia Recitation **Ropte:** 1. Vipassana, Zazen, Seematha, metla Bhavadax. 2. Samatha meditation. 3. 10 Focus, Samatha, Joan Thaghis. ## Puja - Worship **Examples of chants:** * Theravada chant - Three refuges ### Deliberate Practice 1. Charting is the repetition of chanting phrases. 2. Buddhist do chanting to prepare for meditation. 3. Theravada chant is three refuges. 4. A Manajara chant is Nam Myahol Rerge Kyo. ## Explain why chanting is important. **Important:** 1. It is used to memorise teachings. This was particularly important before books and computers. 2. It increases their devotion for the Buddha. 3. It helps their minds to become focused. **Not Important:** 1. Chanting is just preparation for the more important act of meditation. 2. Buddhists might become attached to the chant if they depend on it too much. 3. The Buddha said "do this not out of reverence for me", so it could be seen to be going against this teaching if Buddhists are chanting to show devotion to the Buddha. ## Mantra Recitation * Mantra recitation is a series of sounds that make as ourd picture. ## Wednesday 25th Sep 2024 **C/W:** Living the Buddhist Life Assessment **Ropte:** 1. Zazen, netta khawada, Samatha. 2. chanting, offer food 3. prepare for meditation, increases devotion to the Buddha ## Assessment 1. A Buddhist might chant to prepare for meditation. A Buddhist might chant to prepare for meditation to increase their devotion for the Buddha. A Buddhist might chant because it helps their mind stay focused. 2. The Tibetan Sky Burial. They place the body on a mountain to be eaten by birds of prey. Buddhists believe this tradition highlights the impermanence of life. ## Friday 27th September 2024 **C/W:** Living the Buddhist Life Assessment, Feedback **Ropte:** 1. Japanese celebration of dead ancestors. 2. Serings of sounds that make a sound picture. 3. The three Mantras. 4. Nam Mysho Renge Kyo. ## Outline three reasons why a Buddhist might chant (3 marks) * One reason a Buddhist might chant is to help them memorise the dhamma. * A second reason a Buddhist might chant is to transfer good karma to the deceased, during the bardo state. * A final reason a Buddhist might chant is help prepare their mind for meditation. ## Explain two beliefs about death and mourning (5 marks) * One Buddhist belief about death and mourning is that it offers the opportunity to reflect on one of the Three Marks of Existence, anicca, Impermanence. This is seen most clearly in the Tibetan Sky Burials, where vultures eat the bodies of the deceased, to symbolise the Impermanence of the human body. * A second Buddhist belief about death and mourning is the Mahayana belief that there is a 49 day period between death and rebirth called **bardo**. During this time, Mahayana Buddhists recite "please guide all beings from this swamp of cyclical existence" as guidance from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. This is because they believe that in the confused state of bardo the deceased is capable of being influenced and they wish for them to be guided out of the cycle of samsara. ## `'Samatha meditation is the most important type of meditation'. Evaluate this statement (12 marks)` **Introduction** It is more convincing to argue that samatha meditation is not the most important type of meditation but instead vipassana is, as it allows a Buddhist to gain insight into the dhamma. **Paragraph Two** Some may disagree and argue that samatha is the most important type of meditation as firstly, it is essential to settle the mind of all thoughts before being able to progress on to other types of meditation. Tich Nhat Han says, "whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as a means to take hold of your mind again". This suggests that using you breath, as one does in samatha meditation, is essential for recentering the mind, which all Buddhists should do if it begins to wander. This is significant as Buddhists need to clear their mind of the three poisons and stay focused on following the eightfold path in order to achieve enlightenment, their ultimate goal. Secondly, samatha meditation can be practiced by all Buddhists and anywhere. This is significant as it allows Buddhists to meditate regularly, which is seen to be more important than the length of a meditation, as Buddhists should aim to cultivate discipline before they are able to engage in other form of meditation. However, these arguments are not convincing as ultimately samatha is only the gateway to being able to practise vipassana meditation, which can lead to enlightenment, the ultimate goal for Buddhists. Samatha meditation cannot lead directly to enlightenment and therefore its significance is undermined. Therefore samatha meditation is not the most important. **Evaluation** # Friday 15th Novendes **C/W:** Buddhism and sexual relationships **Rope:** 1. Celibacy is choosing to abstain from marriage and sexual relationships. 2. The Buddha never spoke against marriage. 3. It is a distraction from achieving the goal of enlightenment. ## Comprehension questions 1. Many Buddhists believe sex outside of marriage is acceptable. However it is important to avoid unskilful sexual behaviour, such as behaviour that causes suffering because it is selfish, dishonest. 2. Buddhists might also break the 3rd precept which is adultery, greedy or dishonest 3. Be a refuge unto yourself, teaches Buddhists to use your self teachings. Buddhists are to be content with one's own wife and should be seen with others wives. ## Buddhaghosa * Buddhaghosa interprets the third precept strictly. He thinks anything outside de precinct heterosexual marriage breaks the third precept. * Sangharalshifa interprets the third precept. He would argue homosexual sex and pre mantel. DO NOT break the 3rd precept, but anything that causes harm... ## Buddhist Beliefs about Sexual Relationships * Many Buddhists believe sex outside of marriage is acceptable and do not consider marriage necessary. It would be important to them to avoid unskilful sexual behaviour, for example, behaviour which causes suffering because it is selfish, greedy or dishonest. Such behaviour would be a breach of the Five Moral Precepts. The key principle which guides Buddhist attitudes towards sexual relationships is ahimsa (cause no harm) -- as long as it causes no harm, then sexual relationships are fine. * Cause no harm (ahimsa) * Refrain from stealing * Refrain from sexual misconduct * Refrain from false speech * Refrain from intoxicants * Remember that the precepts are not commandments. They are a personal commitment to Buddhist practice. Failing to meet the precepts is unskilful (akusala) but not sinful -- there is no God to sin against. * The precepts are principles, not rules. It's up to Buddhists to decide how to apply the principles. The Buddha said, "be a refuge unto yourself." He taught Buddhists to use their own judgements about religious and moral teachings. Therefore, different Buddhists have different interpretations of which sexual behaviours might break the precepts. * The Buddha taught to avoid extremes and find the middle way. Some Buddhists interpret this to mean that sexual relationships can be enjoyed responsibly, as long as no harm is caused to anyone involved. * However, other Buddhists may consider unmarried sexual relationships as unskilful and a breach of the Third Moral Precept. * Many Buddhist monks and nuns choose a life of celibacy. This is so they can live free from the attachment of sexual desire and intimate relationships and have more time and energy for meditation, study and reflection. * However, there is a great deal of variation across the Buddhist world, for example, in the Zen tradition, which is part of Mahayana Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu priests are often married and have families. ## Adultery * Most Buddhists would consider adultery to be a breach of the Third Moral Precept because of the dishonesty and craving which is usually involved, and the suffering it causes to all those involved. This would also apply to unfaithfulness in relationships where couples are not married. This breaks the principle of ahimsa (cause no harm). * "Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others -- this is a cause of one's downfall." Parabhava Sutta. This sutta means that those who commit adultery cause their own suffering. ## 'All Buddhists should avoid sexual relationships' * **They should avoid sexual relationships**: * Sexual relationships stem from desire which is one of the three poisons which leads us to remain in the cycle of samsara rather than be able to reach nibbana (Nagarjuna quotation). * Sexual relationships can make us attached to our partner which also keeps us in the cycle of samsara. * Sexual relationships can cause dukkha if they are not undertaken responsibly. * Monks and nuns should be celibate and they have rules in the vinaya code of conduct on this. (unless Jodo Shinshu monks). Monks and nuns are the most likely to be enlightened so we should follow their example. * More time would be left to understand the dhamma and to meditate. * **They should not avoid sexual relationships**: * It is fine to have sexual relationships as long as one shows metta and does not cause dukkha. * Actions in Buddhism are a personal choice, there are no rules. * Having sexual relationships for lay Buddhists may lead to an increase in the sangha where the dhamma can be spread. * Enjoying sex responsibly could be seen as following the Middle Way. * Sexual relationships are fine but should not be focused on (Sangarakshita - 'kept on the periphery'. * There is no God and no strict rule which states you cannot have sexual relationships. ## Homosexuality * **In support of homosexuality**: * As long as a relationship is loving (shows metta) and avoids dukkha then it is acceptable. The Dalai Lama agrees with this view to an extent for non-Buddhists in particular. * There is no requirement to have children in Buddhism so the purpose of sexual relationships is not to procreate (have children) therefore a homosexual sexual relationship would be acceptable. * If one interprets breaking the third precept as sexual relationships that harm others then a loving homosexual relationship would be acceptable (Sangarakshita). * There are no rules in Buddhism as there is no God. Buddhist should follow the teaching of 'be a refuge unto yourself' and make their own decisions. * **Against homosexuality**: * Some believe that homosexual sexual relationships would break the third precept (Buddhagosha). * The Buddha's advice on marriage in the Sigalovada Sutta is based on a husband and wife therefore he may not support homosexual relationships (Counter-argument - this was due to the context of the time). * The Dalai Lama does state that homosexual sexual relationships are wrong for Buddhists due to his interpretation of the third precept. * There is no issue with Buddhist monks being homosexual (though they still must be celibate). # 12th November **C/W:** Baddhism marriage and family **Rope:** Marriage 1. Augustine's theodacy - evil is a punishment because of Adam & Eve 2. Humans chose to do evil, how came the three humans 3. Human's have to grow into the likeness of God 4. Evil helps to develop our morality ## Cohabitation: * A couple living together and having a sexual relationship without being married ## Sex outside of marriage: * Having sex with someone other than one's marriage partner (either befo or whilst married). ## Celibacy: * Choosing to abstain from marriage and sexual relationships. ## Marriage: * A legal union between two people as partners in a relationship. ## Reason to get married, Reason to not get married * The Buddha rever spoke against Marriage - It is a distraction from the goal of enlightenment is certainly allowed by monks and nuns. * Opportunity to develop Karuva, Metta and positive dharma - his secular, so not a religious duty. * Stable to raise children - Marriage causes attachment to the physical world. * Prevents you from breaking sexual misconduct - The Buddha renounced his own marriage. ## Humanist * Humanism does not have any strict teaching on marriage. If you do not agree with this, then relations should be equality, and the freedom of choice. ## Friday 15th Novendes **C/W:** Buddhism and sexual relationships **Rope:** 1. Celibacy is choosing to abstain from marriage and sexual relationships. 2. The Buddha never spoke against marriage. 3. It is a distraction from achieving the goal of enlightenment. ## Comprehension questions 1. **Many Buddhists believe sex outside of marriage is acceptable. However, it is important to avoid unskilful sexual behaviour, such as behaviour that causes suffering because it is selfish, dishonest.** 2. **Buddhists might also break the 3rd precept which is adultery, greedy, or dishonest.** 3. **Be a refuge unto yourself, teaches Buddhists to use your own religious teachings. Buddhists should be contended with one's own wife and should be seen with other's wives.** ## Buddhaghosa * Buddhaghosa interprets the 3rd precept strictly. He thinks anything outside the precinct heterosexual marriage breaks the third precept. * Sangharalshifa interprets the 3rd precept. He would argue homosexual sex and pre-mantel. DO NOT break the 3rd precept, but anything that causes harm... ## Buddhist Beliefs about Sexual Relationships * Many Buddhists believe sex outside of marriage is acceptable and do not consider marriage necessary. It would be important to them to avoid unskilful sexual behaviour, for example, behaviour which causes suffering because it is selfish, greedy or dishonest. Such behaviour would be a breach of the Five Moral Precepts. The key principle which guides Buddhist attitudes towards sexual relationships is ahimsa (cause no harm)--as long as it causes no harm, then sexual relationships are fine. * Cause no harm (ahimsa) * Refrain from stealing * Refrain from sexual misconduct * Refrain from false speech * Refrain from intoxicants * Remember that the precepts are not commandments. They are a personal commitment to Buddhist practice. Failing to meet the precepts is unskilful (akusala) but not sinful--there is no God to sin against. * The precepts are principles, not rules. It's up to Buddhists to decide how to apply the principles. The Buddha said, 'be a refuge unto yourself.' He taught Buddhists to use their own judgements about religious and moral teachings. Therefore, different Buddhists have different interpretations of which sexual behaviours might break the precepts. * The Buddha taught to avoid extremes and find the middle way. Some Buddhists interpret this to mean that sexual relationships can be enjoyed responsibly, as long as no harm is caused to anyone involved. * However, other Buddhists may consider unmarried sexual relationships as unskilful and a breach of the Third Moral Precept. * Many Buddhist monks and nuns choose a life of celibacy. This is so they can live free from the attachment of sexual desire and intimate relationships and have more time and energy for meditation, study, and reflection. * However, there is a great deal of variation across the Buddhist world, for example, in the Zen tradition, which is part of Mahayana Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu priests are often married and have families. ## Adultery * Most Buddhists would consider adultery to be a breach of the Third Moral Precept because of the dishonesty and craving which is usually involved, and the suffering it causes to all those involved. This would also apply to unfaithfulness in relationships where couples are not married. This breaks the principle of ahimsa (cause no harm). * 'Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others -- this is a cause of one's downfall.' Parabhava Sutta. This sutta means that those who commit adultery cause their own suffering. ## 'All Buddhists should avoid sexual relationships.' * **They should avoid sexual relationships**: * Sexual relationships stem from desire which is one of the three poisons which leads us to remain in the cycle of samsara rather than be able to reach nibbana (Nagarjuna quotation). * Sexual relationships can make us attached to our partner which also keeps us in the cycle of samsara. * Sexual relationships can cause dukkha if they are not undertaken responsibly. * Monks and nuns should be celibate and they have rules in the vinaya code of conduct on this. (unless Jodo Shinshu monks). Monks and nuns are the most likely to be enlightened so we should follow their example. * More time would be left to understand the dhamma and to meditate. * **They should not avoid sexual relationships**: * It is fine to have sexual relationships as long as one shows metta and does not cause dukkha. * Actions in Buddhism are a personal choice, there are no rules. * Having sexual relationships for lay Buddhists may lead to an increase in the sangha where the dhamma can be spread. * Enjoying sex responsibly could be seen as following the Middle Way. * Sexual relationships are fine but should not be focused on (Sangarakshita - 'kept on the periphery'. * There is no God and no strict rule which states you cannot have sexual relationships. ## Homosexuality * **In support of homosexuality**: * As long as a relationship is loving (shows metta) and avoids dukkha then it is acceptable. The Dalai Lama agrees with this view to an extent for non-Buddhists in particular. * There is no requirement to have children in Buddhism so the purpose of sexual relationships is not to procreate (have children) therefore a homosexual sexual relationship would be acceptable. * If one interprets breaking the third precept as sexual relationships that harm others then a loving homosexual relationship would be acceptable (Sangarakshita). * There are no rules in Buddhism as there is no God. Buddhist should follow the teaching of 'be a refuge unto yourself' and make their own decisions. * **Against homosexuality**: * Some believe that homosexual sexual relationships would break the third precept (Buddhagosha). * The Buddha's advice on marriage in the Sigalovada Sutta is based on a husband and wife therefore he may not support homosexual relationships (Counter-argument - this was due to the context of the time). * The Dalai Lama does state that homosexual sexual relationships are wrong for Buddhists due to his interpretation of the third precept. * There is no issue with Buddhist monks being homosexual (though they still must be celibate). ## **Sat 16th November** **C/W:** Divorce **Rope:** * Divorce: the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court of other body. * Be-marriage: marrying again after being divorced from a previous marriage * Apalment: a declaration by the Church, that a marriage never lawfully existed. ## Whilst * While some Buddhists believe divorce is not acceptable because it may cause dukkha to others such as children, this view is not compelling because, taking a relationship may lead to a greater hardship for everyone in those involved. * It is more convincing to argue that divorce is acceptable because it can be a compassionate act to end suffering. ## Task 3 * In the case of divorce, situation ethics, would it be likely that one or both partners are unhappy in this aldive relationship. This aligns with Buddhist teaching of dukkha and retta. * They recognize that some relationships fail and support legal divorce laws. The funeral, as it even, conducts ceremonies to mark this new chapter in life. This for the people is a time of liberation, healing, and acceptance. ## Wednesday 20th November **C/W:** Support for the family from the monastic Sangha * **Rope:** 1. Divorce can be viewed as a time of liberation. 2. Might be a form of akusana 3. Joseph Flecker 4. Place of Worship (building) lowercase, the community of Christians uppercase. ## The Khuddapatha: * 3 refuges (4/4) * I go for refuge to the Buddha (teacher) * I go for refuge to the Dhamma (teaching) * I go for refuge to the Sangha (community) ## The Justold Sangha * Bhikkhus * Bhikkhunis * Lay man * Lay women ## How does the Sangha help families? * Monks perform ritual chanting for the funerals. * They provide support at rituals - e.g ritual of Pririt. * Many viharas (Buddhist temples) provide meditation classes for Buddhists. * They might set up drug rehab centres. ## Why does the monastic sangha help families? * Monks, house holders are very helpful to you. * "House holders are very helpful to monks. In this way the holy life is lived in mutual dependence. * Food, medicine, robes * Teach them the Dhamma ## The Sangha Should Help Families **Should Help** * The sangha is dependent on the laity (paticcasamuppada) and therefore they should reciprocate through teaching the dhamma and supporting families (e.g. with rituals). * Helping others demonstrates metta and karuna; both of these are important moral qualities that all Buddhists should cultivate. * The Buddha taught in the The Khuddakapatha that the Sangha is a refuge for Buddhists. Therefore the laity are expected to have a relationship with and learn form the sangha. **Shouldn't Help** * Monastics have renounced their worldly life so they shouldn't involve themselves with life outside of the monasteries **EVIDENCE**: The Buddha exemplified this when he renounced his worldly life. * Theravada Buddhists aim to become Arahants, so they should focus on their own spiritual goal. * CA: Part of the Mahayana Path (the Bodhisattva Ideal) is helping other sentient beings move closer to enlightenment. * Buddhism is a personal path. **EVIDENCE**: The Buddha taught that each Buddhist must 'be a refuge unto yourself'. ## **22nd November** **C/W:** 12 mark and contraception **Rope:** 1. Outline ways the local church helps others. * Place to pray. * Administer the Sacraments 2. Outline other ways the local Church helps others. * Soup Kitchens * Debt advice * **Ecumenism:** means different denominations working together. * **Contraception:** Birth control. The deliberate prevention of conception. * Two types of contraception: * Condoms * The pill. ## 'Buddhists should accept the use of contraception' **Buddhist views in favour of contraception** * Barrier methods do not interfere with the transfer of kamma. * Barrier methods do not break the first precept (to refrain from harming living things). * The Dalai Lama stated that contraception could be used to prevent dukkha from overpopulation. * Contraception can prevent dukkha from having an unwanted child. **Buddhist views against contraception** * Hormonal methods could be seen to break first precept as life begins at conception in Buddhism. This is where the transfer of kamma happens. * Hormonal methods could be seen to interfere with the transfer of kamma. * Some may claim that contraception encourages people to break the Third Precept as one can have sexual relationships outside of marriage without as much of a risk of consequences (unplanned children). (this depends on one's understanding of the Third Precept - look back at Buddhagosha vs Sangarakshita). ## Buddhists should not have sexual relationships (1/2) * I believe Buddhists should have sexual relationships for reproduction. ## Some people may disagree and argue that sex is not allowed because it is a form of pleasure and a distraction. * Further more, Buddhists may argue that sexual relationships may distract you from the main goal of enlightenment. My opinion the so arguments are not convincing as/a part of a main is sexual relationship. ## Why is this more convincing? * One may argue that a marriage is not significant without sexual relationships as they are used to reproduce further increase the population. Furthermore, Buddhists might argue that Buddhism should be a religion that decrease due to the older population. Therefore, sexual relationships should be allowed in Buddhism and only in marriage ## Whilst * Some Buddhists may argue that sexual relationships are not allowed because it is a distraction. This is a distraction this because it has demonstrated the strongest reason for these visuals to have sex - to reproduce. * Will dove for giving this a good gah. Gabrie, you have followed the instructions, however, you have followed the instructions, however, the accent pome. * TS - Explain your points fully. * 73 - Use more quotations in your answer. ## Wednesday 27th Nov **C/W:** Gender equality **ROPE:** 1. Ultimate truth in Pali is the Pha Dhama. 2. Birth, Conception + enlightenment. 3. Dukkha, anicca, and atta. 4. Du + Subtha = Sunday Virodha, Magga things, 5. Harming going things. * Do not greet * Sexual misconduct * Speech * Refrain from intoxicants. ## Buddhism promotes gender equality **For** * Tathagatagarbha - The Mahayana belief in Tathagatagarbha suggests everyone has the same chance of enlightenment. Therefore, there is no reason to treat anyone differently. * Anatta - No self/No soul means that we are not defined by our gender. We are all merely a collection of parts. * Karuna - We should exercise compassion towards all people. This brings about positive karma, which is essential for enlightenment. * First Precept - We should not cause harm towards any living being. This means that gender discrimination would be entirely wrong and all should be treated equally. * Sigalovada sutta - Suggests authority should be shared between the husband and wife. "By handing over authority to her." * Dalai Lama - Suggested that the next Dalai Lama could be a woman. * Ordination of women - Women can be ordained as a monastic. * Strive to not cause dukkha * Soma Sutta - 'What difference does being a woman make when the mind is well-composed...? **Against** * Sigalovada Sutta - Roles are different, which seem to assert gender stereotypes. "She performs her duties well." * Garudhammas - Bhikkhunis have 8 additional rules that they have to follow. * Nuns have to stand behind monks. * The Buddha initially refused to ordain Mahapajapati on the basis that to allow women to be ordained would halve the time his teachings would be remembered - "because women have gone forth...now the Dhamma will not last long." ## DP * Whilst some Buddhists would argue that Buddhists should promote gender equality because it is more convincing to argue that they should promote it. The strongest argument for this is that Dalai Lama approves for ut. ## Gender Discrimination **H/W** **P1:** I believe Buddhists should have sexual relationships for reproduction. **P2:** Some people may disagree and argue that sex is not allowed because it is a form of pleasure and a distraction. This is unholy in Buddhism because desire for worldly pleasure, sex is not allowed. Furthermore, Buddhist's may argue that sexual relationships distract you from the main goal of enlightenment. By leading you to pleasures that are not good for you. ## Task 2 * **Sexism:** Discriminating against people because of their gender. * Gender prejudice - believing ones grade is inferior or superior. * Gender discrimination - arguing people less favourably because of their gender. ## Task 3 1. Aid for India, est 1980. 2. Triratna Buddhism Community 3. Dalits are ‘untouchables’ forced into degrading jobs and severe discrimination. 4. Double discrimination. 5. They empower women and girls 6. Practice compassion and loving-kindness. ## Task 4 1. Joseph Flecher 3. We should do the most loving things 4. We should treat all genders equal. 6. Jeremy Bentham * Jeremy Bentham because it enhances the greatest happiness for the greatest number. ## Buddhist attitudes towards family **H/W:** * **Nuclear Family**: Mother, father, and children - single-parent family, one parent also with that children * Extended family - children, parents and grandparents. * **Monks prefer to not have a family because family responsibilities can create attachments. That hinder spiritual progress.** * **Loving-kindness (mettā) - developing an attitude of good will.** * **Sympathetic** - celebrating others success. * **Equanimity** - maintaining a balanced attitude in all situations * **Not all Buddhist parents teach their children about the Dhamma and meditation**. Some parents believe parents should expose their children about Buddhism. ##