AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
The human personality, in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions:
Full specification wording
Key Beliefs: The human personality, in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions:
Theravada and Mahayana traditions offer distinct views on the human personality.
Checked against the AQA 8062 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 8 of 24
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Theravada and Mahayana traditions offer distinct views on the human personality. Theravada explains personality through the Five Aggregates (skandhas): form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. These changing elements interact to create the illusion of a permanent self, illustrating anatta (no-self), much like a chariot is merely a collection of parts. Mahayana Buddhism accepts the Five Aggregates but deepens this analysis through sunyata (emptiness), teaching that even the aggregates lack independent existence. Furthermore, Mahayana introduces Buddha-nature, asserting that the inherent potential for Buddhahood exists within every human personality, obscured only by ignorance and waiting to be awakened.
What earns the marks
- Identify the Five Aggregates (skandhas) as the primary Theravada explanation for the components of the human personality.
- Explain how the interaction of the aggregates demonstrates the concept of anatta (the absence of a permanent soul or self).
- Describe the Mahayana concept of sunyata (emptiness) and how it applies to the human personality and the aggregates.
- Explain the Mahayana belief in Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha) as an inherent, awakenable potential within the human personality.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating that Theravada Buddhists believe humans have an eternal soul.
Put it right: Emphasise that Theravada teaches anatta (no-self) and that personality is just the temporary combination of the Five Aggregates.
Confusing the Five Aggregates with the Five Moral Precepts.
Put it right: Clearly distinguish the aggregates (the psychological and physical components of personality) from the precepts (the ethical rules for living).
Claiming Theravada and Mahayana have completely opposing views on personality.
Put it right: Note that Mahayana accepts the Theravada foundation of the aggregates but adds further concepts like sunyata and Buddha-nature.
Exam tips
- Memorise the Five Aggregates (form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness) to provide specific, detailed evidence in your answers.
- Use the analogy of King Milinda's chariot to effectively explain how the aggregates create the illusion of a unified self.
- When discussing Mahayana views, explicitly use the terms sunyata and Buddha-nature to access higher marks for specialist vocabulary.
Try the lesson
The start of the Key Beliefs: The human personality, in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions: lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In Theravada Buddhism, what is the human personality believed to be composed of?
Listen
Theravada and Mahayana traditions offer distinct views on the human personality. Theravada explains personality through the Five Aggregates (skandhas): form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. These changing elements interact to create the illusion of a permanent self, illustrating anatta (no-self), much like a chariot is merely a collection of parts. Mahayana Buddhism accepts the Five Aggregates but deepens this analysis through sunyata (emptiness), teaching that even the aggregates lack independent existence. Furthermore, Mahayana introduces Buddha-nature, asserting that the inherent potential for Buddhahood exists within every human personality, obscured only by ignorance and waiting to be awakened. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the Five Aggregates (skandhas) as the primary Theravada explanation for the components of the human personality. Explain how the interaction of the aggregates demonstrates the concept of anatta (the absence of a permanent soul or self). Describe the Mahayana concept of sunyata (emptiness) and how it applies to the human personality and the aggregates. Explain the Mahayana belief in Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha) as an inherent, awakenable potential within the human personality. A common slip: Stating that Theravada Buddhists believe humans have an eternal soul. Instead, Emphasise that Theravada teaches anatta (no-self) and that personality is just the temporary combination of the Five Aggregates. Exam tip: Memorise the Five Aggregates (form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness) to provide specific, detailed evidence in your answers.
Key words
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Anatta (No-self)
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The Five Aggregates (Skandhas)
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Sunyata (Emptiness)
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Buddha-nature
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See every definition
- Anatta (No-self)
- The absence of a permanent soul or self, illustrated by the changing elements of the Five Aggregates interacting to create the illusion of a permanent self.
- The Five Aggregates (Skandhas)
- Form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, which interact to create the illusion of a permanent self.
- Sunyata (Emptiness)
- The Mahayana teaching that even the aggregates lack independent existence.
- Buddha-nature
- The inherent potential for Buddhahood that exists within every human personality, obscured only by ignorance and waiting to be awakened.
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