OCR A-level Religious Studies (H573) · Developments in religious thought (Buddhism, Option 06)
Mini-Lesson
Developments in Religious Thought: Buddhism
Component 03 · Option — study ONE religion
This is the Component 03 option in Buddhism: an overview of Buddhist religious thought — its sources of authority, its understanding of ultimate reality (with no creator God), the self and rebirth, its moral principles, and the challenges it faces.
Component 03 · optional route (Buddhism). For OCR H573 you study just ONE religion in depth for Component 03. Work through this lesson only if Buddhism is your chosen option; another student may study Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism instead.
Work through each screen, weigh the range of scholarly views, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you are ready.
Sources of authority
Sources of authority
Buddhism does not centre on a creator God. Its authority lies in:
The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and his teaching, the Dhamma (Dharma).
The scriptures — the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) in the Theravada tradition, and the sutras of Mahayana Buddhism.
The Sangha — the community of practitioners, especially monks and nuns.
The Buddha encouraged followers to test the teaching in their own experience rather than accept it on blind authority.
Quick check
Ultimate authority
?Where does Buddhism locate ultimate authority?
Ultimate reality
The Four Noble Truths
Instead of a creator God, Buddhism analyses reality through the Four Noble Truths:
Life involves dukkha — suffering or unsatisfactoriness.
Its origin is craving (tanha) and attachment.
It can cease — the end of craving is possible.
The way is the Noble Eightfold Path, the Middle Way between extremes.
Reality is also marked by impermanence (anicca), no fixed self (anatta) and dukkha.
Quick check
The Four Noble Truths
?Which correctly summarises the Four Noble Truths?
Self and afterlife
The self and rebirth
Buddhism teaches anatta — there is no permanent self or soul; the person is a changing bundle of processes.
Actions (kamma/karma) shape future rebirth within the cycle of samsara.
The ultimate goal is nibbana (nirvana) — liberation from craving and from the cycle of rebirth.
Sort it
Belief or practice?
Tap an item, then whether it is mainly a teaching/belief or a practice.
💭 Teaching
🧘 Practice
Moral principles
Moral principles
Buddhist ethics aims to reduce suffering and craving and to cultivate good states of mind:
The Five Precepts — including not harming living beings, not stealing and not lying.
The Noble Eightfold Path guides right understanding, action, speech, livelihood and mindfulness.
Central virtues are compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta).
Quick check
Anatta
?What does the Buddhist teaching of anatta claim?
Identity and challenges
Identity and modern challenges
Expression of identity: Buddhist life is expressed through meditation, devotion, and the monastic Sangha, with major traditions including Theravada and Mahayana and festivals such as Wesak.
Challenges to Buddhist thought today:
Whether Buddhism is best seen as a religion or a philosophy.
Its relationship with science and modern materialism.
Western secular adaptations (such as mindfulness) and 'engaged Buddhism' in social action.
Match it
Key terms
Tap a term, then its meaning.
Term
Means
Quick check
The goal
?What is nibbana (nirvana) in Buddhism?
Recap
The big ideas to take into the exam
Sources of authority: the Buddha and the Dhamma, the scriptures, the Sangha; no creator God
Ultimate reality: the Four Noble Truths and the three marks (anicca, anatta, dukkha)
Self and afterlife: anatta (no fixed self); karma drives rebirth in samsara; nibbana is the goal
Moral principles: the Five Precepts, the Eightfold Path, compassion (karuna) and metta
Identity and challenges: meditation and the Sangha; Theravada and Mahayana; religion-or-philosophy, science, secular mindfulness
This is the Buddhism option for Component 03. Press Finish for your score.
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You have surveyed key developments in Buddhist thought for Component 03. ☸️
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