R.E | 3. The Ascetic Years

Question 1

1. Which one of the following is the best meaning of the term ‘ascetic’?

(A) Awakened one/Enlightened one
(B) Teacher
(c) Arhat
(D) Living a life free from worldly pleasures (especially sexual activity and consumption of alcohol), often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

(1 mark)

Answer 1

D) A life free from worldly pleasures (especially sexual activity and consumption of alcohol), often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

Question 2

2. Give 2 examples of ascetic practices Siddhartha followed for 6 years to try to overcome the problem of suffering

(2 marks)

Answer 2

• Lived in dangerous and hostile forests which were too hot in the day & freezing at night
• Sleeping on a bed of thorns

Question 3

3. Explain how the Buddha’s six years as an ascetic influence Buddhists today.

(4 marks)

Answer 3

First, they influence Buddhists today, based on the ascetic experiences of the Buddha, to understand that the suffering of extreme self-denial is not the way to overcome suffering. So Buddhists don’t live completely free of worldly pleasures like sex, good food and Netflix.

Second, they influence Buddhists today, inspiring them to follow a middle path between the two extremes, as Siddartha did when he renounced asceticism. Buddhists are also not allowed to live a luxurious life (so not too much sex, good food and Netflix), but to walk the middle path between two extremes, as the Buddha did to overcome suffering.

Question 4

4. Explain two reasons why Siddhartha turned away from asceticism after 6 years.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer.

(5 marks)

Answer 4

First, as a result of his ascetic practices, Siddartha became very thin and weak and did not meditate effectively. This meant that he could not move forward on his journey to overcome his suffering. The ascetic life stopped him because of its physical effects. For example, The Jataka, vol. 1, page 67, it is written: “When the Great Being (Sid) performed six years of severe austerity, it was like a time for him when the heavens were knotted.” This is a metaphor for the inability to think clearly.

Second, when he was in a very weak state, he took rice and cow’s milk, which restored his health and strength enough to enable him to think clearly again. He reflected on this and his six years of asceticism and finally decided to abandon asceticism as ineffective in finding an answer to overcoming suffering. The Jataka tells how he then returned to everyday life to collect alms from the villagers. “Implementation of such austerity measures was not the way to enlightenment, he went to villages and towns to collect alms.” (Kataka, vol. 1, p. 67)

Question 5

5.’‘Siddhartha’s asceticism was a necessary part of his path to enlightenment”

Consider the arguments below – which side do you think has the stronger/more convincing arguments - why? Remember each point needs explaining.

12 marks