Key term
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A 8062
BuddhismReligion
Topic overviewThe life of the BuddhaThe Dhamma and the Three Marks of ExistenceThe human personality and human destinyThe Four Noble TruthsThe Eightfold Path and the Threefold WayPlaces of worship, puja and devotional practiceMeditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisationDeath, mourning and Buddhist festivalsKamma, rebirth, compassion and loving kindnessThe five precepts and the six perfections
ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the problem of evilThe Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creationThe incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionSin, salvation and atonementResurrection, judgement, heaven and hellForms of worship and prayerBaptism and the meaning of sacramentHoly Communion and the EucharistPilgrimage, Christmas and EasterThe Church in the local and worldwide community
Catholic ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe Trinity and the Nicene CreedCreation, human dignity and stewardshipThe incarnation and redemptionLife after death: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatoryThe sacramental nature of reality and the sacraments of initiationThe eucharist and the sacraments of healing and servicePrayer, the Lord's Prayer and popular pietyPilgrimage and the Catholic funeral riteCatholic social teaching and loving our neighbourMission, evangelism and Catholic agencies
HinduismReligion
Topic overviewBrahman and the three features of the divineThe Tri-murti, the deities and avataraMatter, maya and Hindu cosmologyAtman, samsara, karma and mokshaDharma, the four aims and personal virtuesPlaces and focuses of worshipForms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshanDiwali, Holi and pilgrimageThe four paths of yogaHindu environmental projects and charities
IslamReligion
Topic overviewTawhid and the six articles of faithThe nature of God: mercy, justice and AdalatAngels, predestination and human freedomAkhirah: resurrection, judgement, heaven and hellRisalah, the holy books and the imamateShahadah, the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory ActsSalah and its significanceSawm and zakah: fasting and almsgivingHajj: the pilgrimage to MakkahJihad and the festivals of Islam
JudaismReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the ShekhinahThe Messiah, judgement and life after deathThe Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at SinaiThe mitzvot, free will and key moral principlesThe synagogue and its featuresPublic worship, the Amidah and prayer in the homeShabbat in the home and the synagogueTenakh, Talmud and the dietary lawsBrit Milah, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, marriage and mourningRosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach
SikhismReligion
Topic overviewThe Mool Mantar and the nature of GodGod as Creator and God's relationship with creationHuman life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukhKarma, rebirth and the aim of muktiThe equality of all, sewa and the sangatThe gurdwara and its religious featuresPrayer in the home, nam japna and the akhand pathLangar and the gurdwara in the Sikh communityFestivals and visiting historical gurdwarasBirth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks
Theme A: Relationships and FamiliesTheme
Theme B: Religion and LifeTheme
Theme C: The Existence of God and RevelationTheme
Theme D: Religion, Peace and ConflictTheme
Topic overviewPeace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliationViolence, violent protest and terrorismReasons for war: greed, self-defence and retaliationThe just war theoryHoly war and religion as a cause of conflictNuclear weapons and weapons of mass destructionPacifism, peace-making and the victims of war
Theme E: Religion, Crime and PunishmentTheme
Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social JusticeTheme
Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: The Life of JesusTextual studies
Topic overviewJohn the Baptist, the baptism and the temptationEarly miracles and the rejection at NazarethCaesarea Philippi and the transfigurationPassion predictions, true greatness and BartimaeusThe Last Supper and GethsemaneThe trials, the crucifixion and the empty tombThe titles of Jesus and the authority of Mark's gospel
Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual TruthsTextual studies
Topic overviewThe parables of the KingdomEntering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandmentJesus and those his society rejectedFaith, giving and devotionThe call and mission of the disciplesThe cost of discipleship, and failureThe commission, and the authority of Jesus' teaching today
Buddhism
Meditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisation
- 3 things to know
- Paper 1
Overview
The subtopic explains the purpose of meditation, samatha and mindfulness of breathing, vipassana and zazen with the Soto and Rinzai approaches and koans, visualisation of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and metta bhavana.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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Key term
What is the general purpose of Buddhist meditation?
Key term
Define samatha meditation.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the general purpose of Buddhist meditation?
Model answer
Meditation trains the mind to become calm, steady and clear. A settled mind can then see reality as it really is.
- 2
Define samatha meditation.
Model answer
Samatha means calm abiding. Samatha meditation builds concentration and tranquillity by fixing attention on a single object.
- 3
Describe mindfulness of breathing.
Model answer
The meditator sits still and watches the breath entering and leaving the body. Attention returns gently to the breath whenever the mind wanders.
- 4
Why do Buddhists often use the breath as a meditation object?
Model answer
The breath is always available and needs no equipment. Attention to the breath also links the mind directly to the present moment.
- 5
Define vipassana meditation.
Model answer
Vipassana means insight. Vipassana meditation examines experience closely in order to see impermanence, suffering and the absence of a fixed self.
- 6
How does vipassana differ from samatha?
Model answer
Samatha calms and concentrates the mind. Vipassana uses that calm to investigate experience and gain wisdom.
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