KS3
Ways of life
Big idea
Not all Buddhists practise Buddhism in the same way. There are different branches, like Theravada, Mahayana, and Zen, and each has its own traditions, festivals, and beliefs.
Even though all Buddhists respect the Buddhaâs teachings, their culture, location, and practices make their ways of following Buddhism unique.
Key words
Alms â Food or gifts given to monks as an act of kindness.
Bodhisattva â A person who works to become enlightened but helps others first.
Buddhism â A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.
Compassion â Showing care and kindness to others.
Enlightenment â Understanding the true nature of life and ending suffering.
Festival â A special celebration for religious or cultural events.
Mahayana â A branch of Buddhism mainly practised in East Asia with special traditions and beliefs.
Meditation â A practice of calming the mind and focusing to gain insight or peace.
Sutras â Sacred Buddhist texts containing the teachings of the Buddha.
Theravada â A branch of Buddhism mainly practised in Southeast Asia with its own traditions.
Tradition â Customs or practices passed down through generations.
Zen â A branch of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on meditation and experiencing enlightenment directly.
Are all Buddhists the same?
No, not all Buddhists are the same. Buddhism is a diverse religion with different traditions and practices. Some Buddhists follow Theravada, while others follow Mahayana, and each has its own beliefs and customs. Culture and where people live also affect how they practise Buddhism. Even though all Buddhists respect the Buddhaâs teachings, they may have different rituals and ways of understanding his ideas. It is important to respect and appreciate this diversity.
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that is mainly practised in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. In Theravada Buddhist cultures, people follow many special traditions that have been passed down for generations.
One important tradition is giving alms to monks. Every morning, people prepare food and other essential items and take them to the local temple to offer to the monks. This act of giving is believed to bring good karma and blessings.
Another important tradition is celebrating festivals, such as Vesak. During this festival, people decorate temples with colourful lanterns and flowers, listen to Dhamma talks (teachings), and take part in acts of kindness and generosity.
People in Theravada cultures also show great respect to their parents, teachers, and elders. This is a way of saying thank you and honouring the wisdom and guidance of those who care for them.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism is another branch of Buddhism. It is mostly practised in countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Mahayana Buddhism has its own special traditions. One important tradition is making and displaying Buddhist art and statues. These artworks help inspire people on their spiritual journey.
Another tradition is chanting sutras, which are sacred Buddhist texts. People gather in temples to chant together, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Mahayana Buddhists also celebrate festivals, such as Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. During these festivals, people enjoy colourful parades, lantern displays, and traditional performances. They also make offerings at temples and take part in ceremonies to pray for good fortune and blessings.
A key belief in Mahayana Buddhism is compassion. They follow the idea of a bodhisattva, someone who tries to reach enlightenment but chooses to help all living beings first. This belief encourages people to do kind and charitable actionsfor others.
Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism.
It started in China and later spread to Japan, where many people practise it. Zen Buddhism focuses a lot on meditation and experiencing enlightenment directly.
People who practise Zen often do sitting meditation, called zazen, and try to be fully aware of the present moment.
Zen is known for being simple, direct, and focused on now.
Are all Buddhists the same?
No, not all Buddhists are the same. Buddhism has different traditions and practices. Some people follow Theravada, and others follow Mahayana. Each group has its own beliefs and customs. Where people live and their culture also affects how they practise Buddhism. Even though all Buddhists respect the Buddhaâs teachings, they may do different rituals and understand his ideas in different ways. It is important to respect and appreciate these differences.
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism is mostly practised in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. People in these countries follow special traditions that have been passed down for many years.
One important tradition is giving alms to monks. Every morning, people prepare food and other things and take them to the temple to give to the monks. Giving is believed to bring good karma and blessings.
Another tradition is celebrating festivals, like Vesak. During Vesak, people decorate temples with lanterns and flowers, listen to teachings, and do acts of kindness and generosity.
People also show great respect to their parents, teachers, and elders. This is a way to say thank you and honour the wisdom of people who guide and care for them.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism is mostly practised in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Mahayana Buddhism has its own special traditions. One is making and displaying Buddhist art and statues, which help people feel inspired in their spiritual journey.
Another tradition is chanting sutras. Sutras are sacred texts, and people chant them together in temples. This creates a calm and peaceful feeling.
Mahayana Buddhists also celebrate festivals, such as Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. During these festivals, people enjoy parades, lanterns, and traditional performances. They also make offerings at temples and join ceremonies to pray for blessings.
A key idea in Mahayana Buddhism is compassion. They follow the idea of a bodhisattva, someone who works to reach enlightenment but helps all living beings first. This encourages people to do kind and helpful actions for others.
Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism.
It started in China and later spread to Japan. Zen focuses a lot on meditation and experiencing enlightenment directly.
People who practise Zen often do sitting meditation, called zazen, and try to pay full attention to the present moment.
Zen is known for being simple, direct, and focused on now.