BUDDHISM FOR KIDS
THE BUDDHA IS
OUR TEACHER
For children, every year brings new experiences as they grow, play, laugh, and cry. Full of innocent curiosity, over time we learn to judge things as good or bad, to seek the things we like and avoid the things we don’t like. These judgments become the source of both happiness and unhappiness, especially when we use them to shape our expectations from life.
The Buddha was a teacher who helped others find happiness by sharing important lessons about the reality of life and how we respond to it. Shin Buddhism supports these core teachings with deep empathy for our common humanity.
DHARMA SCHOOL
BCA Dharma Schools guide our youth through the Buddha’s life lessons as they develop into young adults. We teach that the light of wisdom and compassion shines on all beings without judgment, even as we find it hard to do the same ourselves. Recognizing all we receive from life, we nurture our students as they take their first steps toward a life of gratitude.
Temples may offer Dharma School classes for various age groups on Sundays throughout the school year. Many of our caring instructors are credentialed or retired teachers. They provide age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful activities that incorporate art, stories, games, presentations, field trips, and service projects.
Interested students and families always are welcome. For more information, please contact your local temple Dharma School.
Buddhism helps me to live every day with gratitude for everyone and everything that has made this moment possible.
I am grateful for our temple's Dharma School because it gives my sons the opportunity to learn about Buddhist values such as kindness, patience, empathy, and mindfulness in a safe and supportive setting.
Tyler Moriguchi
Seattle, WA
THE GOLDEN CHAIN
A Popular Dharma School Reading
I am a link in the Buddha’s golden chain of love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself.
I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing that on what I do now depends not only on my happiness or
unhappiness, but also that of others.
May every link in the Buddha’s golden chain of love become bright and strong, and may we all attain perfect peace.
Buddhism for Kids
The following picture books are very flexible. Their dharma message(s) can be interpreted at many levels of complexity, from simple enjoyment for little ones to “aha” moments and reflective conversation for older ones. They reveal the dharma as real and relevant in our lives.
Grasshopper on the Road
The Teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha: Eightfold Path & Buddhism Today
On his walk, Grasshopper encounters several characters that are intensely involved in their respective activities. The beetles fanatically worship morning; the housefly obsessively sweeps dirt, the butterflies stubbornly insist on their rights to a mushroom seat. With tongue in cheek, Lobel shows us how opinions and beliefs dictate our lives. This fun picture book is appropriate for middle school.
It's Mine
Jodo Shinshu (Shin) Buddhism: The Three Poisons & Buddhism Today
Three frogs spend their days bickering and baiting each other. It's mine, claims one about the water; another claims ownership of the earth. This goes on until one day, a thunder storm strikes, and they are saved by a toad. Only then do Milton, Rupert and Lydia realize that ownership over such matters is not important. This simple fable is just right for primary age children to illustrate the fact that to cooperate and share is to be happy.
The Giving Tree
Shakyamuni Buddha: Amida Buddha’s Wisdom and Compassion
Jodo Shinshu (Shin) Buddhism: Shinran Shonin: Three Poisons
Buddhism Today: My understanding of Amida and its relevance in my life
This story is about an apple tree that loves a boy. She is happy when the little boy enjoys her apples, when he rests in her shade, even when he cuts her trunk down to make a boat. She gives and gives, regardless of his uses of her. This story can be interpreted at several levels of thought. For little ones, it is a simple story about the apple tree’s unconditional love. Then again, when the boy’s perception of the tree is questioned, it opens a whole new layer of thought and understanding.
Hey, Little Ant
The Teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha: Wisdom and Compassion
A delightful book on tolerance and compassion, explored through a conversation between and kid and an ant. The kid is ready to step on the ant, when the ant suddenly speaks up and gives its point of view on life and living. The story is the lyrics to a song by the same title. A good conversation starter for elementary school children.
Each Kindness
The Teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha: Wisdom and Compassion, Right View, Right Thought, Right Conduct: Karmic effects of perception & Buddhism Today
This is an honest, sensitive story about a friendship that could have been. When Maya, the new girl in class, makes overtures to Chloe and her friends to play, they ignore her because, well, she’s different, kind of shabby. Then one day, Maya does not come to school, the day Ms. Albert gives a lesson on kindness. Chloe learns something and wants to make amends with Maya, but Maya does not return
What Color is the Wing?
Shakyamuni Buddha: Amida Buddha:
Jodo Shinshu (Shin) Buddhism: Shinran Shonin: Importance of meeting Amida
Buddhism Today: Amida and me. How do I see Amida?
A beautiful book to the touch; a gentle lesson on wisdom and compassion. A blind child takes a walk in search of the wind and its color. The wolf says it’s “the dark smell of the forest.” The bees buzz, “it’s the color of sunshine.” The mountain sighs, “It’s blue.” He gets a different answer from everything he asks. He then encounters a person from whom he finally learns how to see the color of the wind. A picture book also appropriate for teens as a segue to a thoughtful exploration of how to see Amida.
Like the word love, Amida Buddha is an elusive concept, difficult to define in concrete terms because it isn’t a person, place or thing. The Giving Tree & What Color is the Wing? are two books that can be read as allegories to the meaning of Amida’s Compassion and Amida’s presence in our life.