This book is an extremely helpful guide in presenting Buddhism in the classroom, as well as to a general audience, for a better understanding of how Buddhism offers answers to life’s big questions, and how Buddhism in its manifold forms continues to influence the lives of many all over the world today.
- Ruben L.F. Habito, Professor of World Religions and Spirituality, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, USA,
Buddhism is often the religion that teachers have the least confidence in teaching despite being the sixth largest religion in the UK and being commonly regarded as one of the six major religions to be taught in schools throughout the country. This book explores the beliefs and practices of Buddhism as a lived religion in the UK. This book engages with Buddhist beliefs and practices and provides students and teachers with the confidence to address misconceptions and recognise the importance of beliefs in the lives of believers, in a way that will enable readers to go forward with confidence. Aspects of Buddhism explored include the concepts that form the central beliefs of Buddhism, and then the expression of these beliefs in worship, daily life, and the ethics of Buddhists in the modern day. Each chapter includes authentic voices of believers today and provides opportunities for the reader to consider the concepts and how they can be respected and taught and in the classroom.
The book forms part of the Teaching Religions and Worldviews series of guides, each one designed to build teachers' confidence and expertise in teaching a different religion or worldview in the classroom..
List of Figures
List of Tables
Series Editor’s Foreword
Acknowledgements
Notes on Text
Introduction
Part I: Key Concepts in Buddhism
1. The Nature of Existence and the Problem of Suffering
2. The Nature of Humanity
3. The Buddha
4. The Middle Way and the Threefold Path
5. The Bodhisattva and Arahant Ideals
6. The Dhamma/Dharma and the Sangha
7. Expressions of Belief
Part II: Contemporary Issues
8. The Ethical Dimension
9. Authority and Diversity in the Buddhist World
10. Buddhism and Contemporary Britain
References
Glossary
This series explores the beliefs and practices of the different religions and worldviews alongside pedagogically supported approaches of how knowledge of each religion or worldview could be taught within the primary and secondary classroom, and to enhance teaching of those students in the classroom who practice that particular religion or worldview.
This series explores the beliefs and practices of each religion or worldview as a lived experience in the UK. Aspects of each religion or worldview is explored including the concepts that form the central beliefs, and then the expression of these beliefs in worship, daily life, and the ethics of believers in the modern day. Each chapter will utilise the authentic voice of those who identify with the religion or worldview today through the use of vignettes and provide reflective tasks for the reader to consider the concepts and how they can be taught in the classroom.