The Golden Chain of Love'

Experience has shown that children like to sing, and it is well to insert a hymn or other song at regular intervals in devotion periods. Usually not less than three songs are used in a devotional period and, if desired, a full half-hourperiod may occasionally be set apart for singing. If there is no closing devotional period, then the opening period may be brought to a close by reciting:

THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF LOVE


"I am a link in Lord Buddha's golden chain of love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong. I must think only good thoughts. must speak only good words. I must do only good deeds. May all people everywhere become links in Lord Buddha's golden chain of love."


If there is a closing devotion for the end of the session, then this Golden Chain recitation may be reserved for that time and it is usual to precede and follow it with a hymn.


Once or twice a month it is a good plan to encourage the children to practise the meditation postures in either the single or double lotus positions. The following formula, known as "the Radiation of Goodwill" is then silently "broadcast" by the boys and girls.


"We surround all men and all forms of life with infinite love and compassion. Particularly do we send forth loving thoughts to those in suffering and sorrow, to all those in doubt and ignorance, to all who are striving to find Truth, and to those whose feet are standing close to the gate men call death, we send forth oceans of compassion, love and mercy."

Many Dharma schools have a little ceremony at each session, for the offering of flowers and joss sticks. The children seem to enjoy this activity, and one of the various verses that can be taught the pupils to use as they make their offerings is:

"Homage to the Lord most holy 

 Light of Truth's Eternal Sun,

 Honour,love and adoration.

     Unto Him, The Perfect One. 

A good plan is to let the girls offer the flowers and the boys the joss sticks on one Sunday and, the following Sunday, to reverse the procedure. Another quotation that can be used as an alternative to the one above given is : 

"Lord Buddha, we offer these flowers at Thy shrine that their perishable beauty may remind us of the unfading beauty of Thy Dharma. May the sweet scent of these joss sticks remind us of the nobility of holy living. May all beings be well; may all be happy."

As a rule, several Sundays, usually not less than two, are required to get the children well practised in the hymns and recitations. It is for this reason that these devotional exercises are listed as Lessons One and Two. Care should be taken that the Dharma school does not lapse into a mere gathering for devotional acts. Devotion has its very real values, but the primary reason for the existence of a Dharma school is to give instruction in the basic teachings of our religion. If we lose sight of that aim, then we no longer have a genuine Dharma school. Let us give every-thing its proper place and proper value, carefully avoiding all extremes. This course of action will keep us on The Noble Middle Path.

As a responsive reading or recitation, The Seven Jewels of the Dharma. is much favoured in Dharma-schools. Usually the teacher reads the first line and the children reply with the second line, and so on. To avoid monotony; it is a good plan to alternate the various devotions given herein. In this way the children learn a wide range of holy thoughts to store away in their young minds and keep with them all through life. 

Sourve: Buddhist Sunday School Lessons by The Venerable Sumangala

    

Devotional Exercises

The proper way to start any session of a Buddhist Dharma-school is by use of well-directed devotional exer¬cises. The children should be taught the idea of reverence and the value of making personal devotions a regular part of every individual's life, beginning in childhood. It is quite a good idea to introduce new formulas of aspiration, subjects of meditation, new songs and poems from time to time, but it is advisable to continue any practice until the children have committed that particular devotion to memory. As a rule, we carry with us all through life, the poems and devotions we learn as boys and girls. The importance of these devotional exercises to go along with each session of a Dharma-school cannot be over-estimated. Some classes have devotions only at the opening of the session each Sunday. In other cases there are both opening and closing devotions. The sample given here is rather a standard one, being widely used in many parts of the Buddhist world.


When all the children are assembled, it is a good idea to let them work some of the noise out of their systems by singing an opening hymn. This is followed by the leader of the school saying :


"GLORY TO HIM, THE BLESSED LORD, THE ALL-ENLIGHTENED ONE, THE PERFECTLY EN-LIGHTENED BUDDHA !" (This formula of veneration may be said in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese or any other language considered suitable in a given school). The children repeat the formula after the leader. It may be three times repeated, if desired. Then it is proper to recite the Three Refuges, with the children repeating them after the chief, teacher or leader.


I TAKE MY REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA.

I TAKE MY REFUGE IN THE DHARMA.

I TAKE MY REFUGE IN THE SANGHA.


 After the Three Refuges, it is a good plan to have the children recite after the leader:

"Receive us, 0 Lord Buddha, as Thy disciples. We vow to learn Thy teach.ings. We vow to follow those holy teachings and to observe the precepts. We vow to be faithful all our lives to the sacred teachings we are now learning. May all beings be well! May all beings be happy !"

This exercise is usually followed by the Five Precepts, given here in language that is not beyond the comprehen-sion of the very young. Needful to say, this formula is not a literal translation from the original language.

I PROMISE NOT TO KILL.

I PROMISE NOT TO STEAL.

I PROMISE NOT TO BE IMPURE.

I PROMISE NOT TO BE UNTRUTHFUL.

I PROMISE NOT TO USE ALCOHOL OR EVIL DRUGS.

There is another version of the precepts known as "The Expanded Five Precepts." Some Dharma-schools use this second version alternately with the simpler version. It has come down to us from an ancient Sanskrit text through a Chinese translation. Here it is:

(1) I PROMISE TO RESPECT ALL LIFE AND NOT TO HURT ANYTHING.

(2) I PROMISE NOT TO TAKE WHAT IS NOT MINE AND ALSO TO HELP EVERYONE TO BE MASTER OF THE FRUITS OF HIS OWN LABOURS.

 (3) I PROMISE NOT ONLY TO AVOID IMPURITY BUT ALSO TO SEEK TO DO ACTUAL GOOD.
 
 (4) I PROMISE TO AVOID ALL UNTRUTH AND DAILY TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN A HELPFUL WAY.

 (5) I PROMISE TO USE NO DRINK OR DRUG THAT WILL POISON MY BODY OR MY . MIND AND I SHALL HELP OTHERS TO OVERCOME BAD HABITS.


Source: Buddhist School lessons by The Venerable  Sumangala

Buddha were recited under the holy Bodhi Tree.

For the third consecutive day, the wonderful words of the Buddha were recited under the holy Bodhi Tree.

At the end of the beautiful day, there are Dhamma talks given by great masters from Myanmar, Thailand and other countries.

Source: Abhaya Bhikkhu

12th international Tipitaka Chanting for World peace at under the Sacred Bodhi tree, Buddhagaya.

India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Srilanka, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia and some from USA are participating (total about 3000 Monk-Nun and devotees) on 12th international Tipitaka Chanting for World peace at under the Sacred Bodhi tree, Buddhagaya.


Source: B Ariyapala Bhikkhu

“61st Mahaparinirvan Diwas” organised by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

Event: Function of paying floral tributes to Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on his “61st Mahaparinirvan Diwas” organised by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Date: 6th December, 2016

Time: 8.30 AM

Venue: Babasaheb’s Statue in the Parliament House Lawns, New Delhi.

  *Note: Entry will be on the basis of PIB Accreditation Card / Invitation Card only. 

*Invitation Card can be collected from Room No. 304, National Media Centre, Raisina Road, New Delhi on 5th December 2016 till 5.00 PM.

Source: Press Information bureau

Don't pay mere lip service

Don't pay mere lip service, try to be yourselves a pattern for the children. The Dharma teachers should try to live up to what they teach to the children. We must be ourselves a pattern of tidiness, of exertion, when we try to implant these virtues in the children. The very life and deportment of the Dharma teacher has a tremen-dous influence upon the children, who generally look up to the Dharma teacher to regulate their behaviour. 

Conclusion—Lord Buddha says " The Dharma-gift excels all gifts ". When we impart Buddhism to the children, we sow the Dharma seed upon a field green with hope and rich in sap. It is a gesture that conveys so noble and lofty a meaning. We need only earnest attention, sincere endeavour and brotherly love of the children committed to our charge. And how happy we are, when we discover in their eyes, the reflection of Buddha's compassion, and on their faces, the light of wisdom of our Enlightened One.

They who yield to their desires Down the stream of craving swim As we see the spider run In the net himself hath spun. Wise men cut the net and go Free from craving, free from woe. Loose all behind, between, before, Cross thou to the other shore. With thy mind on all sides free Birth and death no more shalt see. 

Source:  Buddhist School Lessons by The venerable  Sumangala

Mistakes to be avoided.

Mistakes to be avoided

(a) Don't ask children to believe blindly—Buddhism lays much stress on intelligence and wisdom. Therefore, teaching them to believe blindly in Buddhism is going against the true spirit of Buddhism. We know that children are in the age of belief, but even then, the Dharma teacher must know how to enlighten their belief and help them to look at things in a more intelligent way. 

(b) Don't cram Buddhism into the children—to cram is to heap lesson upon lesson upon the children, force them to learn by heart without giving them enough time to understand, so much so that the Dharma turns out to be an undigested food harmful to their tender minds. Buddhism differs from other religions and philosophies in that it respects individual investigation, lays, stress on freedom of thought and develops the power of intelligence and wisdom.

(c) Do not confine teaching only to speech, lay stress on the practical side—try to help children to prac-tise what we teach to them. With practice alone can children realise the true meaning of the Dharma. If we want to train children to become true Buddhists, we must help them practise in their daily life the cardinal virtues of Buddhism. 

Source : Buddhist Sunday School Lessons by The Venerable Sumangala