AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
Key Beliefs: The concept of Dhamma (Dharma).
The concept of Dhamma encompasses the fundamental Buddhist understanding of cosmic law, the ultimate truth of reality, and the specific teachings of the historical Buddha.
Checked against the AQA 8062 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 24
- 2 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The concept of Dhamma encompasses the fundamental Buddhist understanding of cosmic law, the ultimate truth of reality, and the specific teachings of the historical Buddha. Rather than being a divine revelation, the Dhamma is viewed as a pre-existing truth that the Buddha discovered upon his enlightenment. It functions as a practical framework for living, famously compared to a raft used to cross a river of suffering to reach the shore of Nibbana. By engaging with the concept of Dhamma through practices like meditation and ethical living, Buddhists aim to break the cycle of samsara. It forms the central pillar of Buddhist doctrine, uniting the diverse traditions of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
What earns the marks
- Explains the concept of Dhamma as the ultimate truth and universal law discovered by the Buddha.
- Describes the Dhamma as a practical tool or 'raft' used to achieve liberation from samsara.
- Highlights that the Dhamma is not a divine commandment but a natural law governing existence.
- Discusses how the concept underpins all Buddhist practices, including meditation and adherence to the Five Precepts.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming the Buddha invented the Dhamma.
Put it right: State that the Buddha discovered or realised the Dhamma, which is considered an eternal, universal truth.
Treating Dhamma as a set of commandments from a creator god.
Put it right: Emphasise that Buddhism is non-theistic and the Dhamma represents natural laws of cause and effect, like kamma.
Failing to distinguish between the Buddha (the teacher) and the Dhamma (the teaching).
Put it right: Clearly separate the historical figure of the Buddha from the conceptual truth of his teachings.
Exam tips
- Reference the 'raft analogy' to demonstrate an understanding of the Dhamma as a practical, utilitarian concept rather than an object of worship.
- When asked about the concept of Dhamma, explicitly mention its role in helping Buddhists understand the Three Marks of Existence.
- Use the Pali term 'Dhamma' rather than the Sanskrit 'Dharma' when focusing on Theravada concepts, though both are acceptable in the exam.
Try the lesson
The start of the Key Beliefs: The concept of Dhamma (Dharma). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In the traditional Buddhist analogy of a doctor treating an illness, what does the Dhamma represent?
Listen
The concept of Dhamma encompasses the fundamental Buddhist understanding of cosmic law, the ultimate truth of reality, and the specific teachings of the historical Buddha. Rather than being a divine revelation, the Dhamma is viewed as a pre-existing truth that the Buddha discovered upon his enlightenment. It functions as a practical framework for living, famously compared to a raft used to cross a river of suffering to reach the shore of Nibbana. By engaging with the concept of Dhamma through practices like meditation and ethical living, Buddhists aim to break the cycle of samsara. It forms the central pillar of Buddhist doctrine, uniting the diverse traditions of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the concept of Dhamma as the ultimate truth and universal law discovered by the Buddha. Describes the Dhamma as a practical tool or 'raft' used to achieve liberation from samsara. Highlights that the Dhamma is not a divine commandment but a natural law governing existence. Discusses how the concept underpins all Buddhist practices, including meditation and adherence to the Five Precepts. A common slip: Claiming the Buddha invented the Dhamma. Instead, State that the Buddha discovered or realised the Dhamma, which is considered an eternal, universal truth. Exam tip: Reference the 'raft analogy' to demonstrate an understanding of the Dhamma as a practical, utilitarian concept rather than an object of worship.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Universal Truth
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The Path to Liberation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Universal Truth
- A pre-existing truth of reality that the Buddha discovered upon his enlightenment rather than a divine revelation.
- The Path to Liberation
- A practical framework for living, compared to a raft used to cross a river of suffering to reach the shore of Nibbana.
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