Death, Dying and Rebirth Overview & Purpose Education Standards Addressed The purpose of the lesson is to demonstrate the processes of and rebirth in Buddhist thought. The lesson will cover topics that have been previously taught whilst providing students with further information about rebirth. Activity Aims Time Other Explain to students that death, dying and The students should be able 10 minutes. If it has been covered students can also be to provide a quick and asked to explain the main principles of rebirth show a number of different accurate explanation of Dependent Origination. Buddhist doctrines working together. Buddhist theories. Ask students to provide a quick description of saṃsāra, karma, and the three marks of existence. Using a handout or powerpoint, show Students should be provided 10 minutes. Students could be asked what they think pupils what happens when a person with a basic knowledge of constitutes a good death/bad death before dies. Briefly explain that beings are rebirth and how it is guided looking the Buddhist point of view. It could reborn. For this part the 5 (sometimes 6) by karma. provide an interesting and memorable debate rebirth destinations can be explained. for students. Then explain that the ideas behind a good and bad death and how this is For more advanced students the 31 levels of shaped by karma. Also explore how this existence could be explored. can affect the rebirth of an individual. Split the students up into groups and Students should be able to 10 minutes. give them a list of what Buddhists can do recognise that religious to aid a dying person. The groups will actions produce good karma then have to discuss with each other and therefore positive why each point on the list could help a mental states, that crying and dying person. grieving can create negative mental states and that a calm
Death, Dying and Rebirth Overview & Purpose The purpose of the lesson is to demonstrate the processes of and rebirth in Buddhist thought. The lesson will cover topics that have been previously taught whilst providing students with further information about rebirth. Education Standards Addressed Activity Aims Time Other Explain to students that death, dying and rebirth show a number of different Buddhist doctrines working together. Ask students to provide a quick description of saṃsāra, karma, and the three marks of existence. The students should be able to provide a quick and accurate explanation of Buddhist theories. 10 minutes. If it has been covered students can also be asked to explain the main principles of Dependent Origination. Using a handout or powerpoint, show pupils what happens when a person dies. Briefly explain that beings are reborn. For this part the 5 (sometimes 6) rebirth destinations can be explained. Then explain that the ideas behind a good and bad death and how this is shaped by karma. Also explore how this can affect the rebirth of an individual. Students should be provided with a basic knowledge of rebirth and how it is guided by karma. 10 minutes. Students could be asked what they think constitutes a good death/bad death before looking the Buddhist point of view. It could provide an interesting and memorable debate for students. For more advanced students the 31 levels of existence could be explored. Split the students up into groups and give them a list of what Buddhists can do to aid a dying person. The groups will then have to discuss with each other why each point on the list could help a dying person. Students should be able to recognise that religious actions produce good karma and therefore positive mental states, that crying and grieving can create negative mental states and that a calm 10 minutes.