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Understanding Goal 3

To study the life and teachings of the Buddha

Lesson 5,6 

Understanding Performance

Students will read and discuss their readings on the life and teachings of the Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, born in 563 B.C.E.   Gautama’s Great Renunciation, Great Retirement, Enlightenment, Parinirvana, and Nirvana will be presented through Buddhist art.   His teaching on the wheel of life, the Middle Way, Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path will be explained and illustrated with Buddhist art from China, some Himalayan regions, mainlyTibet.

The Four Noble Truths are:

• Suffering consists of disease, old age, and death; of separation from those we love; of craving what we cannot obtain; and of hating what we cannot avoid.
• All suffering is caused by desire and the attempt to satisfy our desires.
• Therefore, suffering can be overcome by ceasing to desire.
• The way to end desire is to follow the Eight-fold path.

The Eight-fold Path is:

• Right opinion
• Right Intention
• Right speech
• Right conduct
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindedness
• Right concentration

Ongoing Assessment

Students keep a report of their reflections and discussions in their journal and share with the class.