Siddhartha: craving and suffering | Religious education

Starter quiz

What is the meaning of 'ascetic'?
- living in luxury
- living with self-discipline and the denial of luxury ✓
- living with worldly possessions
What was the fourth sight seen by Siddhartha?
- the old man
- the sick man
- the holy man ✓
- death
Which key word means 'a prediction of what will happen in the future'?
- prophecy ✓
- prophet
- ascetic
In which village was Siddhartha born?
- 'Lumbini' ✓
After the four sights, why did Siddhartha leave the palace?
- to discover the cause of ageing
- to discover the cause of illness
- to discover the cause of suffering ✓
Put the story of the early life of Siddhartha in the correct order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in Lumbini, now in Nepal.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  After Siddhartha's birth, an astrologer named Asita prophesied about his future.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Asita prophesied that he would become a great king or a great religious teacher.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Siddhartha’s father, King Suddhodhana, heard the prophecy and was worried.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  The king made sure that his son never encountered pain or suffering.
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Siddhartha left the palace with Channa, his charioteer.
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  Siddhartha saw the four sights. These had a big impact upon his life.

Exit quiz

For how many years did Siddhartha fast?
- one
- three
- four
- six ✓
- eight
What is the meaning of 'craving'?
- the path that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty
- doing without food or drink
- longing for someone or something ✓
What is the name of the way that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty?
- 'Middle' ✓
Put the Four Noble Truths in the correct order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  All life involves suffering.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  The cause of suffering is craving.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Suffering can end.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Live a Middle Way.

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Siddhartha became very weak after fasting, but he had still not discovered the cause of suffering.
He decided that the Middle Way was the best way to live.
Siddhartha realised that the source of suffering was craving and the way to stop suffering was to stop craving.
Buddhists call this the Four Noble Truths.

Common misconception

Siddhartha discovered the answer to suffering through fasting.

This did not give him the answer. It was when he stopped being an ascetic and chose the 'middle way' between extreme luxury and extreme self-denial that he found the answer.

Keywords

Craving - longing for something or someone
Fasting - doing without food or drink
The middle way - the path that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty