Q17

Criteria	Marks
Provides a comprehensive analysis of how the ethical teachings of Buddhism guide adherents to navigate the world today<br>Integrates the stimulus effectively throughout the response<br>Supports a cohesive and well-structured response with detailed relevant and accurate information<br>Integrates relevant and accurate terminology	17–20
Provides a thorough analysis of how the ethical teachings of Buddhism guide adherents to navigate the world today<br>Integrates the stimulus within the response<br>Supports a structured response with relevant and accurate information<br>Uses relevant and accurate terminology	13–16
Provides an analysis of how the ethical teachings of Buddhism guide adherents to navigate the world today<br>Refers to the stimulus within the response<br>Supports the response with relevant information<br>Use accurate terminology	9–12
Provides a description of the ethical teachings of Buddhism<br>May refer to the stimulus within the response<br>Uses some information and/or terminology	5–8
Makes general statements about Buddhism<br>May use some terminology	1–4

Answers could include:

Buddhism provides a comprehensive ethical framework that guides adherents in their daily lives in navigating the complexities of the world today.

• The relationship between Buddhists and the natural world can be explored through three concepts; nature as teacher, nature as spiritual force, sustainable living necessary for the future.
• A Buddhist approach to environmental issues is based on a concern for balance, harmony in the world, where all species depend on each other as a matter of concern for this balance.
• Buddhists believe that the environment can assist an adherent in finding enlightenment. ‘The merit of those people who plant groves, parks, build bridges, make ponds, dwelling places, grows day and night and such religious persons go to heaven’. (SN 1.47 Vanaropa Sutta – Discourse on the Merit Gained in Planting Groves).
• Key Buddhist environmental, ethical teachings could include; conditioned arising, the Eightfold Path, Ahimsa, Asteya, Karma, Samsara, Sufficiency, Anicca, The Four Noble truths amongst others.
• Buddhist ethical response to environmental issues; Prajna (development in understanding) Samadhi (practice of meditation), then shapes the Sila (a person’s ethical behaviour).
• The teachings of Continued Arising derived from Buddha, ‘Nothing exists entirely alone, everything is in relation to everything else.’ Buddha guides adherents to treat the environment with compassion and careful consideration of implications, exploitation could lead to a lack of balance in the world with serious consequences.
• Buddhist organisations exist to create balance in the world, and have been instrumental in environmental initiatives responding to human-induced climate change.
• During the week surrounding Earth Day in 2024 (April 19–28), Interfaith ‘Power and Light’ invites faith communities including Buddhists and affiliated organisations to join their annual week of spiritually informed Earth practice. The ‘Faith Climate Action Week’ theme for 2024 was ‘Common Ground, Cultivating Connections Between Our Faith, Food and Climate’, where Buddhists are called to examine their responsibility to use agricultural practices that safeguard ‘Sacred Earth’ and how Buddhists navigate environmental issues with just solutions.