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1 (a) Explain the concepts of anicca and anatta. (30 marks) ( b) Assess the view that concepts of anicca and anatta have little effect on the way Buddhists live their lives. (15 marks).
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1 (a) Explain the concepts of anicca and anatta. (30 marks) (b) Assess the view that concepts of anicca and anatta have little effect on the way Buddhistslive their lives. (15 marks)
2 (a) Examine the meaning of the first and second Noble Truths. (30 marks)(b) ‘Buddhist teaching is more focused on understanding suffering than providing a way toend suffering.’Assess this view. (15 marks)
3 (a) Explain the teaching on right livelihood and right speech in the Eightfold Path.(30 marks)(b) ‘Morality is the basis of the Eightfold Path.’Assess this view. (15 marks)
4 (a) Examine the nature and discipline of the monastic community in Buddhism. (30 marks)(b) ‘The way of the monk is superior to the way of the lay Buddhist.’Assess this view. (15 marks)
(a) Examine the nature and discipline of the monastic community in Buddhism.The nature of the monastic community• Ordained monks and nuns which leave worldly life to follow the holy life.Purpose to serve the spiritual needs of lay people but also advance themselvesin Buddhist path and remove the defilements of greed, hatred and delusion.• In all schools of Buddhism monastic life is acknowledged as being on a generallyhigher level of virtue than lay life.• Bearers and preservers of the Buddhist tradition: teachers, guides and examples tothe laity.• The renunciation of normal worldly activities and involvements is practiced tovarying extents.
• Ordained monks and nuns which leave worldly life to follow the holy life.Purpose to serve the spiritual needs of lay people but also advance themselves• There are close lay - monastic relationships. Lay disciples (upasikas) depend onmonks for spiritual guidance, monks rely on lay people for material and physicalneeds.• In Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka all or most men become monks for a short or longperiod of time.• The viharas or monastery can be the centre of the village and focus for communitylife.• They do not need to remain a monk or nun for life.
The discipline of the monastic community• Monks and nuns living in community according to vinaya discpline.• Celibacy and rules about food, dress and moral discipline.• The vinaya code of discipline (Pattimokkha) from 150 - 400 rules according toparticular tradition were established to protect and ensure the comfort of thesangha, ward off ill meaning people who might wish to join it, and helping monksand nuns destroy greed, hatred and delusion.• Rules are tools to transform the mind and behaviour.• The rules are arranged in varying degrees of gravity so breaking any has someform of punishment the ultimate being permanent dismissal.10 precepts relate to• Not harming living beings by digging the ground or destroying plants and trees.• Not consuming food or drink that has not been formally offered.• Celibacy.• Various forms of wrong speech including false accusations.• Drinking alcohol.• Eating after noon.• Unseemly frivolous behaviour.• Not attending forms of entertainment.• Using a high and luxurious bed.• Handling money.(30 marks) AO1
(b) ‘The way of the monk is superior to the way of the lay Buddhist.’Assess this view.In support of this viewMonastic discipline and commitment is demanding and challenging and demonstratesthe holy life. Established by the Buddha in this way. Requires considerable selfsacrifice and determination. Leads to higher mental states due to meditation and puremoral discipline.On the other handNot all monks follow the same discipline. In some countries monastic life can be usedas a form of sheltered housing.Discipline can be lax where it is the state religion.Lay Buddhists develop high levels of service and generosity. In modern times, it ispossible for lay Buddhists to practice meditation and attain high levels of insight.All able to reach nibbana as depends on variety of complex factors.(15 marks)
Samsara and the three marks of existence0 1 Explain the meaning and significance of the concept of samsara for Buddhists. (30 marks)AND0 2 .The Buddhist attitude towards life is pessimistic..Assess the truth of this claim. (15 marks)
The Four Noble Truths0 3 Examine the teachings about nibbana in Buddhism. (30 marks)AND0 4 .’Nibbana is an unattainable goal for most Buddhists’.Assess this view. (15 marks)
The Eightfold Path0 5 Explain the teachings on right mindfulness and right concentration in the Eightfold Path. (30 marks)AND0 6 .’Meditation is the essential basis of the Buddhist way of life’.Assess this view. (15 marks) ‘
The Sangha0 7 Examine the role and importance of the lay community in the Buddhist Sangha. (30 marks)AND0 8 .’The lay community is more important than the monastic community in Buddhism today’.Assess this view. (15 marks)
0 1 Explain Buddhist teachings about death and rebirth (30 marks)AND0 2 Assess the view that Buddhist teaching on rebirth has little effect on the way Buddhists live their lives. (15 marks)
0 3 Outline the Buddhist concept of tanha (craving) and explain how tanha leads to suffering (30 marks)AND0 4 ‘Tanha is the onlycause of suffering’. Assess this view. (15 marks)
0 5 Examine the meaning and purpose of right understanding and right thought in the Eightfold Path (30 marks)AND0 6 ‘Without the wisdom or right understanding and right thought, following the Eightfold Path is pointless’. Assess this view. (15 marks)
0 7 Examine the nature of the Sangha as a refuge for the lay and monastic community. (30 marks)AND0 8 ‘Today, the way of life of the lay Buddhist is more important than the monastic way of life’. How far do you agree? (15 marks)
