Transcript Anicca - Clydeview Academy Humanities Website

Anicca
Summary of Points
Knowledge & Understanding
Analysis & Evaluation
25 year time lapse
Knowledge &
Understanding
Explain/ describe the Buddhist
concept of anicca.
Explain/ describe the Buddhist
concept of anicca.
 It
is the Buddha’s teaching about
impermanence
 It is one of the Three Marks of Existence/
Three Universal Truths (which are the
description of the Human Condition)
 It teaches that nothing lasts forever, that
everything is constantly changing
 Some things change quickly eg. bananas,
other things change slowly eg. mountains
 Everything
is ‘conditioned’ i.e. everything
depends on other things/people for
existence (dependant origination)
 Anicca also applies to the individual
(anatta-impermanence of self)
 Not accepting the truth of anicca leads to
suffering (dukkha) and rebirth (samsara)
 The Buddha experienced anicca in his
own life ( changed from life of luxury to life
of self-denial)
Anicca
Examples of AE questions
1.
2.
3.
Is anicca an accurate concept?
Does it portray the human condition
well/successfully?
Does it bring benefits or difficulties?
Positive/Benefits
 It’s
true - we are all aware that everything is
constantly changing. (can’t step in the
same river twice!)
 The illusion of permanence leads to craving
and attachment, and so also to suffering –
accepting it brings release from craving
and so also from suffering (eg attachment
to alcohol or drugs or money just brings
more suffering)
 The illusion of impermanence leads to
constant rebirths – accepting it brings
release from samsara ie nibbana/nirvana
 The
Buddha experienced it -the 4 sights :
we are all subject to sickness, old age and
death. He discovered, and taught a Middle
Path to enlightenment – Buddhists can
follow his example.
 Buddha’s teachings (dhamma) eg Eightfold
Path, offer a positive answer - release from
suffering caused by impermanence.
 Parable of Kisagotami: Buddha’s way of
teaching that everything is impermanent
and affects us all. Understanding and
accepting anicca is a step towards
lessening suffering.
 Bad
times will pass! Helpful eg during
exams!
 There is a constant cycle of birth, death,
rebirth (samsara) - so anicca should
promote compassion - we are ALL caught
up in this cycle.
 Greed for impermanent things leads to bad
kamma – accept that things change, reduce
bad kamma!
 Need change in order to exist eg breathing!
 Less likely to get depressed about changes
if accept them and see them as positive meditation can help bring calm and help
come to terms with change.
Negative/difficulties
 Many
things change very slowly eg
mountains, ourselves - we may be unaware
of change
 Non-attachment can lead to an uncaring or
negative outlook on life (what is the point if
it’s all going to change anyway )
 Idea of constant change can be depressing what is the point of life?! e.g teenagers do
not want to contemplate becoming old and
wrinkly!
 What about suffering of others? Cannot just
ignore it and say ‘it will pass’! Meditation is
 Realisation
of anicca and anatta can just
make us more selfish and desperate to
hold onto what we have!
 Impermanence affects ‘me’ - there is no
permanent Me/I (anatta) - nothing more
than a ‘painted puppet’ - in modern times
desire for eternal youth: botox, nip and
tuck etc - cannot accept old age, leads to
more suffering in the end
 Although bad times will pass, so too will
happiness - difficult for us to accept!
 It
can be difficult to accept it when people
we love suffer or die - idea of anicca does
not necessarily help to come to terms with
grief.
 We need stability when things are bad idea of constant change is not helpful.
Sample Question
 Explain
 Does
the concept of anicca
8KU
it portray the human condition
well/successfully?
8AE