Buddhist Festivals Revision Notes for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A

3.3.4 Buddhist Festivals

Celebrated on the full moon during the month of Wesak, usually in May.
This festival commemorates three major events in the Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment, and passing into paranirvana (the final state of nibbana).
All three events are believed to have occurred on a full moon.
Wesak honours and remembers the teachings of the Buddha.

Singapore: Ceremonies where caged birds and animals are released as a symbol of liberation, signifying their release from past troubles and wrongdoings.
Indonesia: Giant paper lanterns are lit to float up into the night sky. Light, an important symbol during the festival, represents overcoming darkness, Buddha's enlightenment, and hope.

A Mahayana festival celebrated in February to remember the Buddha's passing into paranirvana.
More solemn than Wesak, it provides Buddhists with a chance to reflect on their future death and remember friends or relatives who have recently passed away, focusing on the theme of impermanence.
Buddhists light their homes with candles, lamps, or paper lanterns and put up decorations.
Offerings are made to the Buddha, and gifts such as food, candles, and flowers are given to monks in local monasteries.
In return, monks may lead meditation, chant from Buddhist scriptures, or give sermons about the Buddha's teachings.
The Mahaparinirvana Sutra, which describes the Buddha's last days, is often read on Paranirvana Day.
Buddhists might read and reflect at home or join others for Puja in a monastery.
Some places organise retreats for quiet meditation and reflexion.
It is also a traditional day for pilgrimage to Kushinagar in India, the site of the Buddha's death.

Kamma is a principle explaining how the ethical impulses behind a person's actions lead to either suffering or happiness.
Buddhism speaks of 'skilful actions' (good, ethical actions) and 'unskilful actions' (bad, unethical actions).
Skilful actions lead to happiness, while unskilful actions lead to suffering.
The consequences of a person's actions can be understood through habits developed by repeated behaviours. For instance:
- Regular acts of anger make a person angry, leading to suffering.
- An angry state of mind leads to actions such as shouting, breaking things, and creating unpleasant situations.
Kamma illustrates that people are not punished or rewarded by their actions but that their actions impact future rebirth.
Depending on a person's kamma, they may be reborn in one of six realms: the realm of gods, angry gods, animals, tormented beings, hungry ghosts, or humans. The human realm is considered the best for gaining enlightenment.
Kamma empowers Buddhists by giving them control over their future through their present actions. By practising skilful actions and states, they can live happier lives and have a more pleasant rebirth.

'Right action' is a key element of the eightfold path, making moral, ethical, and skilful actions important for reducing suffering and reaching enlightenment.
The concept of Kamma is central to Buddhist ethics, benefiting the whole community through skilful actions.

Write a short story illustrating how a Buddhist's actions cause either suffering or happiness and how this affects their rebirth.
Discuss whether intention or consequence is more important when considering an action.