Buddhism: an Introduction[A six-week online course on the Buddhist religion]

3/22/2010AiPHRyan Fennell

Table of ContentsBuddhism: an Introduction...............................................................................................................3Course Description........................................................................................................................... 3Literature Review..............................................................................................................................3Goal Analysis.....................................................................................................................................3Context Analysis............................................................................................................................... 3Instructional Goal Analysis................................................................................................................3

Performance Objectives..............................................................................................................5Domain of Learning.......................................................................................................................... 5Domain of Learning.......................................................................................................................... 5Audience Analysis.............................................................................................................................5Content Analysis............................................................................................................................... 5

Week 1..........................................................................................................................................5Week 2..........................................................................................................................................6Week 3..........................................................................................................................................7Week 4..........................................................................................................................................7Week 5..........................................................................................................................................8Week 6..........................................................................................................................................9

Criterion-Referenced Test...............................................................................................................10Midterm Exam (Weeks 1-3)........................................................................................................10Final Exam (Weeks 4-6)...............................................................................................................13

Instructional Strategies and Methods.............................................................................................16Instructional Materials................................................................................................................16

Site MapInterface Design – Wireframe..........................................................................................17Interface Design – Wireframe.........................................................................................................18Graphic Design - Storyboard...........................................................................................................19Functional Specification..................................................................................................................20Technical Specification................................................................................................................... 20

Evaluation................................................................................................................................... 20Formative....................................................................................................................................20Summative..................................................................................................................................21

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Buddhism: an Introduction

Course DescriptionThis course will give students in introduction in basic Buddhist beliefs that are held by almost every sect. It will also serve to give a basic history overview on the different sects that have appeared and the differences between them. Students will have a weekly reading with a textbook and Internet sources, and be graded on a short quiz weekly. There will be a midterm and a final in the six-week course.

Literature ReviewThe book “What the Buddha Taught” is required reading for the course. The Website http://www.buddhaweb.org/index.html has information that is simple and easy to access for review. Various selections from http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/index.htm will also be given for reading for homework.

Goal AnalysisStudents will recognize basic Buddhist beliefs and vocabulary used to describe the beliefs. They will be expected to know how the different systems of beliefs relate to one another and show general knowledge of the Buddhist ideas regarding the ultimate goal of reaching Enlightenment.

Context AnalysisStudents will be given questions on the reading on Moodle weekly, and be expected to submit the answers before the week is over. There will be a

Instructional Goal AnalysisStudents will be able to recall basic information on non-denominational Buddhist beliefs.

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Performance Objectives Students will be able to identify key Buddhist concepts and how they relate Students will be able to recognize certain vocabulary words, some in

Sanskrit Students will recognize key events of the Buddha’s life

Domain of LearningCognitive

Students will be required to read information and recall it to later be tested on. The information and vocabulary required will be outlined on Moodle and expected to be reviewed by the students weekly.

Domain of LearningStudents will have to have basic knowledge of using a computer and how to access the Moodle site on the internet weekly. Students are not required to have any prior knowledge of Buddhism before entering the class.

Audience AnalysisThis is mainly for older students, though teenagers in high school may also be eligible to take the course. It’s most likely to appeal to students studying religion or anthropology, as well as those that simply want to learn more about it. It requires an open mind and a desire to learn the basics of an ancient religion whose beliefs may conflict with their own. It also requires enough skill to read selected passages from a book and internet sources and remember key ideas for tests and quizzes.

Content Analysis

Week 1Read: “Preface” and Chapter 1 “The Buddhist State of Mind”

Vocabulary:BuddhaSiddhartha GuatamaArahantBodhi TreeSamsara

Review Questions:

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1. Siddhartha Guatama was born in what country? What class of citizen was he?2. Did Siddhartha become a Buddha while he was a Brahmen monk?3. How is Buddhism different from other world religions in regards to its founder?4. Does sin exist in Buddhism?5. Does Nirvana happen after death? Why or why not?6. How is Enlightenment and Samsara, the cycle of rebirth, intertwined?

Answers:1. India, he was a prince.’2. No, Buddha was no form of aesthetic monk and instead followed his own path.3. Buddha does not claim to be anything other than a normal man; he is no

“prophet” to any god or goddess.4. No, there is no clear cut “good and evil”, only mindfulness and actions that stray

from mindfulness.5. No, it is obtained in this lifetime as one realizes “the truth”. Buddha himself

obtained Nirvana and taught his followers until he died years later.6. Enlightenment is the only way to escape Samsara and it’s suffering, by

realizing the Truth and ending one’s desires that cause suffering and unhappiness.

Week 2Read: “Chapter 2: The First Noble Truth: Dukka”

Vocabulary:DukkaThe Five Aggregates

Review Questions:1. What is the ultimate goal of following the Four Noble Truths?2. How is the term “Dukka” translated?3. Define “Samsara” and how it fits into Buddhist Teaching.4. Why is Dukka the first noble truth, and not a later one?5. The Five Aggregates make up what we consider our “self” in Buddhism. How is

this connected to Dukka and the truth of our suffering?6. Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic. How so?

Answers:1. To achieve Enlightenment to achieve Nirvana. 2. Suffering (in various instances).3. Samsara is the cycle of rebirth and worldly suffering that only the realization of

Nirvana can prevent.4. Dukka is merely the realization of the endless, worldly suffering. The other

truths are about how to deal with that suffering.

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5. The Five Aggregates are what we consider our “mind” in a basic way, and encapsulates our entire worldview and experiences. In this way it is really the Five Aggregates that are to be controlled and experienced instead of the person himself.

6. Buddhism is realistic, and finds fault in both overly pessimistic and overly optimistic attitude.

Week 3Read: “Chapter 3: The Second Noble Truth: The Arising of Dukka”

Vocabulary:Mental VolitionKarma

Review Questions:1. “Thirst” is a large reason for the arising of Dukka. What are the three different

types of thirst in Buddhism?2. What does “Mental Volition” mean?3. What is simple English definition of Karma?4. Should Karma be linked with a sort of moral justice?5. How does the impermanence of life relate to the Buddha’s teachings?6. Is there a soul in Buddhism? If not what is transferred between death and life?

Answers:1. Thirst for sense-pleasures. 2. Thirst for existence. 3. Thirst for non-existence.2. The will to live and exist, to continue, to become more and more.3. Action.4. No, the idea of “justice” does not fit into a Buddhists idea of peace and

happiness. There is morality, but it is not based off of justice.

Week 4Take Midterm Exam Read Chapter 4: “The Third Noble Truth: The Cessation of Dukka”

Review Questions:1. What is the main “truth” expressed in the Third Noble Truth?2. What is the main “root” of Dukka that must be eliminated?3. Why is Nirvana a difficult idea to explain?4. Why is Nirvana not thought of as the extinction of the “self”?

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5. Can Nirvana be realized through an outside source?

Answers:1. There is a path to eliminate Dukka and escape Samsara.2. Thirst (of various forms.)3. The very idea of Nirvana is that it is a state of mind beyond words or normal

human comprehension, and thus difficult to explain outside of how to achieve it.4. There is no true self to extinguish.5. No, it can only be realized within the self.

Week 5Read Chapter 5: “The Fourth Noble Truth: ‘The Path’”

Vocabulary:The Eightfold PathThe Three Essentials –Ethical Conduct, Mental Discipline and Wisdom

Review Questions: 1. Buddha discovered what between the two extremes of pain and pleasure,

leading to enlightenment?a. The Middle Path

2. The Eightfold Path is largely what Buddha teaches as to how to achieve Enlightenment. List the eight categories.

1. Right Understanding2. Right Thought3. Right Speech4. Right Action5. Right Livelihood6. Right Effort7. Right Mindfulness8. Right Concentration

3. Ethical Conduct is one of the three essentials of Buddhist training, focusing on the vast truth of universal love and compassion for all living things. Which categories of the path belong to this?

1. Right Speech2. Right Action3. Right Livelihood

4. Mental Discipline is the 2nd of the three essentials of Buddhist training, focusing on one’s awareness in his accordance to the eightfold path. What categories fit into this?

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1. Right Effort2. Right Mindfulness (attentiveness)3. Right Concentration

5. Wisdom is the 3rd and last of the three essentials of Buddhist training, focusing on understanding life and how it fits into the Four Noble Truths. What are the final two categories that fit into this?

1. Right Thought2. Right Understanding

Week 6Read Chapter 8: “What the Buddha Taught and the World Today”Take the final exam after reading and reviewing the questions.

Vocabulary:DharmaSangha

Review Questions:1. Does one have to be a monk in order to be a Buddhist?2. Did the Buddha mean for everyone to retire from life and renounce their

responsibilities? 3. What is the point of the Buddhist Monasteries?4. What are the four happiness’s a layman may have?5. Are Buddhists baptized?6. What is the “triple gem” often taken to be considered Buddhist?7. Did Buddha advocate war in certain circumstances?

Answers:1. No, anyone can become a Buddhist by following the

eightfold path.2. No, this is a common misconception. He laid out multiple

ways for a layman to be a practicing Buddhist while still accepting their responsibilities.

3. They are places of learning and teaching for those that have the time and energy to fully devote themselves to achieving enlightenment and accepting monkhood. It is not necessary for enlightenment, just a preferred method for some people.

4. -Enjoying economic security and wealth acquired by just and righteous means.

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Spending said money on himself, his family/relatives and on good deeds.-To be free from debts.-To live a pure life without committing evil in thought, word or deed.

5. No, though some countries have traditional ceremonies.6. It is the acceptance of the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s

teachings) and the Sangha (order of monks/other Buddhists)

7. No, he never justified violence toward any living creature and even did his best to stop violence from happening in his own time.

Criterion-Referenced Test

Midterm Exam (Weeks 1-3)

1. The man who would become the Buddha’s name was originally what, in Sanskrit?A. Simpa RidtathgaB. Mothga TerithkaC. Siddhartha GuatamaD. Krishna Misteria

2. The man to become Buddha was born in what country (as it is called today)?A. EgyptB. ThailandC. ChinaD. India

3. The man to become Buddha found that _________ was the key to himself finding enlightenment

A. Extreme PainB. Extreme PleasureC. The Middle PathD. No feeling at all

4. The man to become Buddha was born a:A. PrinceB. Merchant

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C. BeggarD. Servant

5. What became of Buddha’s life after achieving enlightenment?A. He ascended in heavenB. He immediately died and escaped rebirthC. He returned to teach until his deathD. He became a god and instructed his followers

6. The Four Noble Truths are intended to lead to what?A. HappinessB. Good fortuneC. EnlightenmentD. Omniscience

7. Enlightenment, also known as Nirvana, is a sort of what?A. HeavenB. Path to become a godC. State of mindD. Brahmist ideal

8. The cycle of rebirth is known as what in Sanskrit?A. ArahantB. SamsaraC. BikkhuD. Namhaste

9. The first noble truth, Dukka, translates best into what in English?A. SufferingB. MisfortuneC. UnluckynessD. Sadness

10. The truth of Dukka leads to what kind of Buddhist outlook on life?A. OptimisticB. PessimisticC. A+BD. Neither A nor B

11. Mental Volition is what?A. The will to exist and become more in this life and others.B. The desire to escape the cycle of rebirth.C. One of the five aggregatesD. Sinful thoughts that lead to impurity

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12. Dukka often arises out of one of three “thirsts” as defined by Buddha. Which of these are not of those three?

A. The thirst for sense-pleasuresB. The Thirst for existence. C. The thirst for the unknown.D. The Thirst for non-existence.

13. Karma can be defined simply as:A. FateB. DestinyC. ActionD. Effect

14. The majority of Buddha’s teachings can be thought of as what?A. Difficult to understandB. Realistic and down to EarthC. Impossible to understandD. Secretive and hard to find

15. True or False, “Justice” is a major teaching within Buddhism.A. TrueB. False

16. True or False, everything in life is impermanent.A. TrueB. False

17. True or False, there is an eternal soul in Buddhism.A. TrueB. False

18. True or False, Buddha was a prophet.A. TrueB. False

19. True or False, one must be a monk to truly understand Buddha’s teachings.A. TrueB. False

20. True or False, the desire to escape the cycle of rebirth can lead to negative thirst.A. TrueB. False

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Final Exam (Weeks 4-6)

1. What does the Third Noble Truth deal with?A. The Eightfold PathB. The idea that there is a way to escape Samsara and DukkaC. How Dukka arises within oneself in various waysD. The definition of Dukka.

2. How can the idea of Nirvana neatly be summed up?A. The cessation of desiresB. The first step to the true afterlifeC. The path to heavenD. It cannot truly be defined or understood in plain words

3. Why doesn’t enlightenment extinguish what we think of as our “selves”?A. We must extinguish our self before reaching enlightenmentB. Our selves live on eternally once Nirvana is reachedC. All of ourselves emanate from the core of an eternal being or objectD. There is no true self to extinguish

4. Can Nirvana be realized through an outside source?A. Yes, a teacher of the Buddhist faith may show us directlyB. No, it can only be realized within the self by following the teachings of Buddha

5. The Eightfold Path…A. Is the majority of the teachings that Buddha laid out for his followers?B. Is only a small amount of what is needed to achieve enlightenment?C. Offers eight different paths to achieve enlightenmentD. Was only taught after Buddha had died

6. Which of these is not one of the three essential teachings of Buddhism?A. WisdomB. Logical ReasoningC. Ethical ConductD. Mental Discipline

7. Which of the three essential teachings focuses on mental awareness in accordance to ones thoughts and actions and their relation to the Eightfold Path?

A. WisdomB. Logical ReasoningC. Ethical ConductD. Mental Discipline

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8. Which of the three essential teachings focuses on universal love and harmony between all living things, and how it is important?

A. WisdomB. Logical ReasoningC. Ethical Conduct D. Mental Discipline

8. Which of the three essential teachings focuses on understanding the universe and how the Four Noble Truths are within everything?

A. WisdomB. Logical ReasoningC. Ethical Conduct D. Mental Discipline

9. Which of these are not categories of the Eightfold Path?A. Right ActionB. Right LivelihoodC. Right BeliefD. Right Effort

10. Which of these are not categories of the Eightfold Path?A. Right EffortB. Right MindfulnessC. Right DisciplineD. Right Concentration

11. Buddhism was originally meant to be followed by:A. The poorB. The educated C. MonksD. Everyone

12. Buddhism is often thought of as a religion that can only be practiced by those who renounce all their responsibilities and live as a beggar. Is this true?

A. Yes.B. No.

13. Are joining monasteries the only way one can become enlightened?A. YesB. No

14. Buddha laid out a series of four ________ that effect a layperson in the Buddhist view of things.

A. Escapes

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B. Happiness’sC. EnlightenmentsD. Tests

15. Which of the following is not of the four things referenced above?A. Enjoying economic security and wealth acquired by just and righteous means.B. To live a pure life without committing evil in thought, word or deed.C. Spending said money on himself, his family/relatives and on good deeds.D. To be temporarily free from debts.

16. What is the reason for monasteries to exist?A. For the few select monks to achieve enlightenment, unlike mostB. To have a place where powerful people in the Buddhist world can make decisionsC. To provide meeting places for missionaries to organizeD. To provide a place where monks can live and information can spread

17. When is a violent act acceptable according to the Buddha?A. In self-defenseB. During a warC. All of the aboveD. None of the above

18. Which nation did the Buddha help engage in war against?A. PersiaB. EgyptC. NoneD. China

19. Which of the following is not one of the “triple-gems” of Buddhism?A. SanghaB. ArahantC. DhammaD. Buddha

20. One must be baptized to ever be considered Buddhist.A. trueB. false

Instructional Strategies and MethodsThe Class will use direct instruction regarding online lectures the students will be expected to read as well as specific goals that are intended for the students to remember through reading and taking practice quizzes.

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Instructional MaterialsThe book “What the Buddha Taught” by Walpola Rahula will be the textbook for the class. Students will need a computer along with internet access, along with an account for Moodle that they can check weekly.

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Site Map

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Interface Design – Wireframe

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Graphic Design - Storyboard

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Functional Specification

Each student will be given a username and a password to log into Moodle.com. The student will need to go to http://aiphlabws01/moodle and use their login and password to gain access to the site. From there they will click on the “Intro to Buddhism link”, and from there they will have access to the entire class. First they should click on the “Introduction” link and look over the short amount of info. Next they should click on the “Class 1 Lecture” link and review the information inside. They should click on the “vocabulary” and “homework” links within the site to gain the information required for the exams. After leaving the site they should click on the “Review Questions” link on the Moodle layout, and complete the first week’s quiz when they feel they are ready. This process will be repeated each week and there will be a midterm on week 3 and a final on week 6.

Technical SpecificationStudents will need:1 computer capable of weekly internet access 1 monitor to display computer information1 modem to access the Moodle database

Evaluation

FormativeI will have students fill out a form on how they though the class went, as well as have peers test out the site and give me feedback on how to improve it on a consistent basis.

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Summative

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