By the end of this lesson on Saṅkhārakkhandha, students will be able to articulate and analyze the nature of mental formations, including their volitional activities and constructs, and the significance of understanding these aggregates in the context of Buddhist teaching.
Success Criteria
Recall and Identify: Students can list the 50 cetasikas (mental factors) that fall under Saṅkhārakkhandha, categorizing them as kusala, akusala, or abyākata factors.
Explain: Students can explain the key characteristics of all aggregates (anicca, dukkha, anattā) in their own words and relate these concepts to the teachings of the Buddha.
Analyze: Students can compare and contrast the different mental formations (cetanā, phassa, manasikāra, vitakka, vicāra) and their roles in the process of mental conditioning.
Application: Students can demonstrate how the understanding of mental formations can be applied in real-life situations, particularly in mindfulness practices or meditation.
Reflect: Students can reflect on how the teachings about Saṅkhārakkhandha contribute to their personal insights or practices regarding impermanence and non-self.
Aligned Assessment Measures
Retrieval:
- Quiz: A short quiz where students recall and list the mental factors under Saṅkhārakkhandha and their classifications.
Comprehension:
- Written Response: Students write a paragraph summarizing the characteristics of the aggregates and their implications based on the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta.
Analysis:
- Group Discussion: Students participate in a structured discussion, comparing the mental formations and identifying patterns in how they influence thoughts and actions.
Knowledge Utilization:
- Case Study: Present students with a scenario where they must apply their understanding of mental formations to analyze a problem and propose mindfulness-based solutions.
These criteria and assessments will guide students in achieving mastery of the topic while allowing them to engage deeply with the material in a meaningful way.
