The Dharma and the Three Refuges

Match

Match the following keywords to their definition:

• Spiritual wisdom that arises from true understanding of reality

• the repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth

• the foundational Buddhist beliefs about the nature of human existence: Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta.

• eight aspects that Buddhists practise and live by in order to achieve enlightenment

• the four central beliefs which contain the essence of the teaching of the Buddha about suffering

Enlightenment

Samsara

The Three Marks of Existence

The Noble Eightfold path

The Four Noble Truths

• Enlightenment

• Samsara

• The Three Marks of Existence

• The Noble Eightfold path

• The Four Noble Truths

Key Words

Fill in the Blanks

The Buddha's teachings are known as the

The Three Refuges: The Buddha

The Buddha is seen as the main focus of commitment and is one of the three refuges. He is a guide, an example for others to follow and a teacher, but he is not considered to be a god.

The Three Refuges: The Sangha

For some Buddhists important contemporary leaders are usually members of the Sangha. Monks and nuns provide spiritual leadership through meditation classes and Dharma talks.

Members of the Sangha represent spiritual and moral values through their lives.
The Sangha is viewed as a huge field of merit in that giving members alms or food, supporting academic studies and maintaining buildings is a means of generating enormous amounts of merit. Monks and nuns also help as guides to the laity, giving Dharma talks as well as taking meditation classes. They are viewed as more knowledgeable when it comes to the Dharma, so are worthy teachers.

Multiple Select

Which of these are the three refuges?

• The Buddha

• The Sangha

• The Dharma

• The Karma

Multiple Choice

Which keyword matches the definition: the foundational Buddhist beliefs about the nature of human existence.

• The Three Refuges

• The Three Poisons

• The Three Marks of Existences

• The Threefold Way

The Three Refuges: The Dharma

The Dharma holds the key beliefs for Buddhists.
When discussing the Dharma, a good place to start is the Four Noble Truths. These are:

1. Dukkha: The belief that dukkha (suffering) exists – in negative events such as sickness and death, and also in things that are pleasing, because the pleasure will end.
2. Samudaya: The acceptance that the origin of dukkha is craving. This keeps beings in samsara, the eternal cycle of rebirth and hence suffering.
3. Nirodha: The statement that the cessation of dukkha does exist. This is normally defined as nirvana.
4. Magga: A description of the way leading to the cessation of dukkha. This is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Multiple Select

The Four Noble Truths...

• Are an essential part of the Dharma

• Teach that nothing is permanent and unchanging.

• Teach about dukkha, tanha and nirvana

• Are all about the Sangha

The Three Refuges: The Dharma

The Three Marks of Existence are also an integral part of the Dharma. The Buddha taught that everything in existence has three fundamental characteristics:
Suffering (dukkha),
impermanence (anicca),
and having no fixed self or soul (anatta).

Multiple Choice

Dukkha, anicca and anatta are the three marks of existence. Is that true or false?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which keyword matches the definition: the foundational Buddhist beliefs about the nature of human existence.

• The Three Refuges

• The Three Poisons

• The Three Marks of Existences

• The Threefold Way

The Three Refuges: The Dharma

An essential idea in the Dharma is that of dependent arising (paticcasamuppada). Dependent arising teaches the inter-relationship between all causes and effects. It says that everything arises, and continues, dependent upon conditions. Nothing is permanent and unchanging.

Multiple Choice

The dharma is the
Buddha’s teachings.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Buddha created
the dharma.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

One key teaching of the dharma is the Five Noble Truths.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Buddhists believe that the Buddha is a God.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Three Refuges are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Noble Eightfold Path is part of the Four Noble Truths.

• True

• False

Key Questions

• What is the dharma?
• What are three significant

teachings of the dharma?

• What does taking the three

refuges mean?

• What do the Four Noble Truths

teach about?

Exam Questions

‘The Buddha is the

most important of the

three refuges for

Buddhists.’

Evaluate this statement

(12 marks)

12 Mark Structure Strip

‘The Buddha is the most
important of the three
refuges for Buddhists.’

Exam Questions

Explain two ways in

which the three
refuges influence
Buddhists today.

[4 marks]

4 Mark Question

First Paragraph

Detail

Explain two ways in which the three refuges influence Buddhists today.

Exam Questions

Explain two beliefs of
about the dharma.

[5 Marks]

5 Mark Question

First Paragraph

Detail

Quotation

Source

Second Paragraph

Detail

Explain two beliefs about the dharma.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer.

Open Ended

Write four things you've learnt about the Dharma and the Three Refuges:

Match

Match the following

• the Buddha’s teachings

• the foundational Buddhist beliefs about the nature of human existence: Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta.

• the four central beliefs which contain the essence of the teaching of the Buddha about suffering

• the idea that all things arise in dependence upon conditions

• The three most important features of the Buddhist life, recited as an expression of belief and commitment

Dharma

The Three Marks of Existence

The Four Noble Truths

Dependent arising

The Three Refuges

• Dharma

• The Three Marks of Existence

• The Four Noble Truths

• Dependent arising

• The Three Refuges