eRepublic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
San Fernando City
La Union

MODULE & ACTIVITY SHEETS IN INTRODUCTION

TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
GRADE 11/12 1ST QUARTER, WEEK 3

MELC: 3.1. Recognize how the human body imposes limits and
possibilities for transcendence.

3.2. Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for their

transcendence.

 K to 12 BEC CG: PPT11/12-If-3.1; PPT11/12-Ig-3.2

Objectives:
1. Recognize one’s own limitations or possibilities for one’s transcendence.
2. Evaluate one’s own limitations or possibilities for one’s transcendence.
3. To recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for transcendence
4. To distinguish the limitations and possibilities for transcendence

Prepared by:

NORMA TERESITA F. CEREZO

SHS Teacher I

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 What I Need to Know
The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

The lessons in this module will allow us to look into ourselves and realize our potentials and
limitations. It also leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves as unique individuals with a
body and spirit.

In this module, we aim to understand what it means when we say that the human person is an
embodied spirit.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Recognize one’s own limitations or possibilities for one’s transcendence.

2. Evaluate one’s own limitations or possibilities for one’s transcendence.
3. To recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for transcendence
4. To distinguish the limitations and possibilities for transcendence

What I Know

Before going on, check how much you know about this topic. Answer
the pretest below:.

In a couple of sentences, describe the following using your own ideas:

1. Hinduism: _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Buddhism: _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Christianity: ____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Forgiveness: ____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Suffering: ______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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 What’s In

“ It is more fun in the Philippines!”

Write a short essay using a combination of opinions and facts about the slogan “It is more fun in
the Philippines!”
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

You did a great job! Now you are ready for a new lesson. Let us
know more about the Human Person and recognize our human
limitations and possibilities!

What’s New

My Milestones!
Ask your parents or guardians for assistance for the details of your milestones.

Fill in the column with the things you can do at a certain age. Another column is for those that
you wanted to do but cannot do.

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 Stage Things I am able to do Things I wanted to do but cannot
Infancy to
toddler
(0-3 years
old)

Pre-school
(4-5 years
old)

Elementary
(6-11 years old)

Junior High
(12-16 years
old)

16 and up

The Human Person as an

3 Embodied Spirit

What is It

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HINDUISM

Hinduism is one of the oldest Eastern traditions practiced by hundreds of millions of people for
about 5,000 years.

At the heart of Hinduism lies the idea of human beings' quest for absolute truth, so that one's soul
and the Brahman or Atman (Absolute Soul) might become one.

The Aum

It is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to
hold everything together.

Human beings possess dual nature:

 The spiritual and immortal essence (soul)

 Empirical life and character

Karma (कर्म)
It refers to intentional actions that affect one's fortunes in this life and the next.

Brahman
It places a lot of emphasis on the attainment of self-knowledge.

Brahma
Most Hindus believe that Brahman is present in every person as the eternal spirit or soul, called
the atman. Brahma is the creator god in Hinduism. He is also known as Svayambhu (self-
born), Vāgīśa (Lord of Speech), and the creator of the four Vedas, one from each of his mouths.

Brahman contains everything: creation and destruction, male and female, good and evil,
movement and stillness.

Please note that Brahma and Brahman are two different terms but differ in spelling by only one
letter.
Brahma and Brahman are two characters in Hindu religion and philosophy. While Brahma refers
to the four-faced God described in the religious texts of Hinduism, Brahman is the Supreme
Entity described in the Upanishads. It is the Brahman that is said to manifest itself into this
universe.

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These are expressed in the trimurti (trinity) and are:

 Brahma, the creator

 Vishnu, the preserver
 Shiva, the destroyer

Dharma
It is the principle of cosmic order. Dharma is an important term in Indian religion. In Hinduism,
it means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', even 'religion' and it refers to the power which upholds the
universe and society.

Vishnu
Vishnu is considered the most important god in Hinduism. Vishnu has come to earth as Rama
and Krishna to save the world. Vishnu is married to Lakshmi. Vishnu has four arms, which
together hold a conch, a lotus flower, a discus and a club. Vishnu has come down to earth many
times, sometimes as an animal, sometimes as human beings.

Nirvana
The highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual
desires and suffering go away.

The Upanishads are collection of texts that contain some of the central philosophical concepts of
Hinduism. It is also considered by Hindus to contain utterances concerning the nature of
ultimate reality and describing the character of and path to human salvation.

Moksha
It is the transcendent state attained as a result of being released from the cycle of rebirth.

Transmigration/Metempsychosis
Hindus believe the atman repeatedly takes on a body until moksha. If a
person led a good life, the soul goes upward the scale. The soul of
an evil person, on the other hand, may pass into the body of an animal.

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BUDDHISM

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Like stars fading and vanishing at dawn,

Like bubbles on a fast moving stream,
Like morning dewdrops evaporating on blades
of grass,
like a candle flickering in a stormy wind,
echoes, mirages, and phantoms hallucinations
and like a dream.

- The Buddha, Eight Smiles of Illusion

Another Major eastern tradition is Buddhism, contained in the teachings of its founder,
Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha. Out of the life experience and teaching of high born Prince
Gautama of the Sakya Clan in the kindom of Magandha sprang the religious philosophy we
know as Buddhism. Turning away from Hindu polytheism and palace pleasures, Gautama began
searching for the answers to the riddle of life’s sufferings, disease, old age, and death. From
here, Gautama’s life was devoted to sharing his “Dharma” or law of Salvation.

Reduced to its simplest form, the teaching of Buddha has been set forth traditionally in the “Four
Noble Truths” leading to the “Eightfold Path” to perfect character or arhatship, which in turn
gave assurance of entrance into Nirvana at death.

Four Noble Truths

1. Life is full of suffering;

2. Suffering is caused by passionate desires, lusts, cravings;
3. Only as these are obliterated, will suffering cease;
4. Such eradication of desire may be accomplished only by following the Eightfold Path of
earnest endeavor.

Eightfold Path

1. Right belief in and acceptance of the "Fourfold Truth";

2. Right aspiration for one's self and for others;
3. Right speech that harms no one;
4. Right conduct, motivated by goodwill toward all human beings;
5. Right means of livelihood, or earning one's living by honorable means;
6. Right endeavor, or effort to direct one's energies toward wise ends;
7. Right mindfulness in choosing topics for thought; and
8. Right meditation or concentration to the point of complete absorption in mystic ecstasy.

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States of Sublime Condition

 Love
 Sorrow of others
 Joy in the joy of others
 Equanimity as regards one's own joy and sorrows.

In the state of Nirvana, the effects of Karma can be overcome; the Cycle of Rebirth is broken;
and one may rest in the calm assurance of having attained a heavenly bliss that will stretch into
all eternity.

CHRISTIANITY

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the

reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
- Saint Augustine

In this section, the new body of philosophical writings that sets forth new problems is discussed.
In the 5th century, St. Augustine’s writing is considered to be the most influential in the early
medieval period. This section looks at the reasonableness of belief in God’s existence.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Also known as the Doctor of Grace, Saint Augustine of Hippo was an early Christian theologian
and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and
Western philosophy. For Augustine, wisdom is not just an abstract logical construction; it is
substantially existent as the Divine Logos. Hence, philosophy is the love of God.

The reality of God is unquestioned in the New Testament due to the conviction that in Jesus of
Nazareth the eternal God became flesh and dwelt among human beings.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in

the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the
Doctor Angelicus and the Doctor Communis.

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EVALUATE OWN LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR THEIR OWN
TRANSCENDENCE

Based on the preceding section, let us evaluate our human limitations and how we can also
transcend them. Many of us would experience any of the following. Let us consider the
following examples (Edwards 1983).

A. Forgiveness
When we forgive, we are freed from our anger and bitterness because of the actions and/or words
of another. On the other hand, the hardness of our heart is reinforced by the whole series of
rational arguments.

B. The Beauty of Nature

There is perfection in every single flower; this is what the three philosophies believed. These
kinds of experiences can be truly moments of grace. They touch us deeply and the human heart is
spontaneously lifted.

C. Vulnerability
The experience that we are contingent, that we are dependent for our existence on another, is
frightening. We need to acknowledge the help of other people in our lives.

D. Failure
Our failures force us to confront our weaknesses and limitations. Such acceptance of our failures
makes us hope and trust that all can be brought into good. Even if we have sinned, as Augustine
had, there is hope and forgiveness.

E. Loneliness
Our loneliness can be rooted from our sense of vulnerability and fear of death. This experience is
common. However, it is our choice to live in an impossible world where we are always "happy"
or to accept a life where solitude and companionship have a part. With our loneliness, we can
realize that our dependence on other people or gadgets is a possessiveness that we can be free
from.

F. Love
To love is to experience richness, positivity, and transcendence. Whether in times of ecstatic
moments or struggles, the love for a friend, between family members, or a significant person can
open in us something which takes us beyond ourselves. Life is full of risks, fears, commitment,
pain, sacrificing, and giving up things we want for the sake of the one we love. In Buddhist view,
the more we love, the more risks and fears there are in life.

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RECOGNIZE THAT THE HUMAN BODY IMPOSES LIMITS AND POSSIBILITIES
FOR TRANSCENDENCE

A. Hinduism: Reincarnation and Karma

Essential Hinduism is based on the belief in karma and has its first literary expression in
Upanishads. Everything in this life, say the Hindus, is a consequence of actions performed in
previous existence. Only by building up a fine record, or "karma," can final salvation be attained.

B. Buddhism: Nirvana
Nirvana means the state in which one is absolutely free from all forms of bondage and
attachment. It means to overcome and remove the cause of suffering. It is also the state or perfect
insight into the nature of existence. The Buddhists see one who has attained nirvana as one who
is unencumbered from all the fetters that bind a human being to existence.

C. St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas: Will and Love

For St. Augustine, physically we are free, yet morally bound to obey the law. The Eternal law is
God Himself. According to this law, humanity must do well and avoid evil; hence, the existence
of moral obligation in every human being.

Through prayer, modesty, fasting, and other sound measures that the Church recommends or
God provides can the heart, mind, and body be purified and maintained.

What’s More

As an application of the lesson, do the following activities.

Have fun and good luck!

Lead Me!

Can you help Sheena find her way to graduate successfully? Use your pen to draw the
line to becoming a graduate. Dead end means she has encountered limitations in
achieving her goals.

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 What I Have Learned

My Gifts!

Write a short essay describing yourself. Mention at least three (3) of your strengths
as a unique individual. (At least 100 words)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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 What Can I Do

Door Blocks!

In attaining your goals in life, write at least three (3) limitations/weaknesses on the
doors that you need to overcome in order to succeed.

Great job! You have understood the lesson.

Are you now ready to summarize?

Assessment

Read the statements carefully. Based on the lesson, identify what is being
referred to by the following:

____ 1. It emphasizes on the idea of human beings' quest for absolute truth, so that one's soul
and the Brahman or Atman (Absolute Soul) might become one.
____ 2. In Hinduism, it is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to
hold everything together.

____ 3. It refers to intentional actions that affect one's fortunes in this life and the next.
____ 4. It is an important term in Indian religion. In Hinduism, it means 'duty', 'virtue',
'morality', even 'religion' and it refers to the power which upholds the universe and
society.

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____ 5. In Hinduism, it is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment,
meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away.

____ 6. It is the transcendent state attained as a result of being released from the cycle of
rebirth.
____ 7. It is a collection of texts that contain some of the central philosophical concepts of
Hinduism.
_____ 8. It is a Major eastern tradition which focuses in the teachings of its founder, Siddhartha
Gautama.
____ 9. He was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the
development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy.
____ 10. He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of
scholasticism, within which he is also known as the Doctor Angelicus and the Doctor
Communis.

Additional Activities

I. How easy/difficult is it to forgive?

Describe a situation when you were deeply hurt by someone. Have you forgiven that
person? Why or why not?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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 Answer Key:

I. Pretest: My Milestones: Answers may vary

II. Lead Me!

Assessment:

1. Hinduism
2. Aum
3. Karma
4. Dharma
5. Nirvana
6. Moksha
7. Upanishad
8. Buddhism
9. St. Augustine
10. Saint Thomas Aquinas

Rubrics

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 Needs
Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor
Improvement
Activity
Total
Total points Total points Total points Total points
points
25 – 30 pts 19 – 24 pts 13 – 18 pts 7 - 12 pts below 6 pts
Max: 30 -pts
Milestones 6 pts for every category properly filled up in both columns
Perfect score if maze is correct without erasures and mistakes. Minus 3 for every
Maze
error, erasure or mistake.
At least 3 At least 2 At least 1
Few limitations No limitations
Door Blocks limitations limitations limitation per
in any door written
per door per door door

Excellently Well written Satisfactorily

Fairly written Poorly written
written expression of written
expression of expression of
My Gifts expression their expression of
their personal their personal
of their personal their personal
strengths strengths
personal strengths strengths
strengths
Excellently Satisfactorily Fairly written
Well written Poorly written
How Easy is it written written personal
personal personal
to Forgive personal personal experience
experience experience
experience experience

References:
A. Books
Christine Carmela R. Ramos, PhD. 2016. Introduction to the Philosopy of the Human
Person. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc.
pp. 47-65.

B. Online and Other Sources

Department of Education. http://www.deped.gov.ph/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality
Maze activity: http://www.mazegenerator.net/
Power Point Presentation:
https://www.academia.edu/34558380/The_Human_Person_As_An_Embodied_Spirit
https://philonotes.com/index.php/2018/12/01/the-human-person-as-an-embodied-spirit
https://padlet.com/cscjmnz/JimenezxJarilla

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