How do Moksha, Samsara and Caste affect the life of Hindus?

Lesson Aims:

Describe the Caste system

Suggest ways in which individuals can achieve Moksha.

Tasks

1. Samsara means suffering. Copy this and write down 3 ways

that people suffer.

Samsara is the suffering experienced throughout your life.

There is a way to escape the suffering, this is by always doing the right thing.

1. In your pairs think of what we mean by ‘the right thing’

2. Write down 3 actions that might be ‘the right thing’

Copy and complete the following sentence

‘To escape the suffering of samsara you could……, because this is the right thing to do.’

Caste.

Hindus believe that there are five types of people in the world and that they can be ranked by how

important they are.

Brahman:

Priest

Kshatriya: Ruler, Warrior, Landowner

Vaishya: Shopowners

Shudra: Farmers

Harijan (Untouchables): Cleaners, People who work with sewage,

Homeless people.

The caste system 1. Copy this diagram.

2. Which caste do you think you are closest to?

Why?3. What

happens to your caste in the next life if

you are ‘good’?

Using all of the evidence from today’s lesson, how do you think Moksha can be achieved?

Moksha is when the soul leaves the cycle of life (rebirth) and becomes part of Brahman.

Only the very best and kindest souls get to do this.

Moksha

Homework

Write a diary pretending to be an untouchable living in India.

Your diary needs to be at least 7 days long.

You should write at least one paragraph for each day.

Due: _____/_____/2009