Five Faiths Project
BUDDHISM
Further Research and Points for Discussion
- Buddhism is a tradition filled with stories. Students may wish to research additional stories of the Buddha, his life and teachings.
- The Four Sights: Ask students to find contemporary images of the four sights: illness, old age, death and monks or others who have renounced a life in the mainstream world in order to seek the truth. Do these images shock students? Why? Why not? Ask students to consider what shocking events or sights in their own lives have caused them to wonder about the future of humanity? How might the Buddha have responded to their concerns?
- The Buddha taught that men and women need a community of people who will help one another and support common goals in order to reach awakening. Ask students to consider the benefits of having such a community. Are they members of a community that helps to support their goals? Do their friends and family support the goals they have in their lives? What roles can peer groups play in reaching goals? Why might it be important to have teachers as well as peers? In what specific ways can a teacher aid a student in achieving goals?
- The Buddha taught that there is an eightfold path which will lead to the end of suffering. Ask students to find examples in their own lives, in the lives of their families, in the newspaper, of someone who appears to be living one or more of the steps on the path. Or, ask students to find examples of situations or people who may not be following this path. What might the Buddha say to each of these? How might the Buddha respond to anger, to violence, to other concerns in modern America?
- The Lotus flower is a common symbol within Buddhism. Students may wish to research how and where lotus flowers grow. Generally, lotus flowers grow in ponds, with their roots reaching down into the mud. Some say that this symbol reminds followers of the Buddha of the nature of human life and the enlightenment available to human beings. How does this flower demonstrate the possibility of awakening?
- Using a contemporary map of India and the surrounding regions, students may wish to locate the places associated with the life of the Buddha. Identify: Lumbini Grove (the place of his birth); Bodh Gaya (the place of his enlightenment), Sarnath (the place of his first teaching), Kushinagaru (the place of his death). These locations continue to be destination points on Buddhist pilgrimage. Ask students to research and design a journey to these places.
- In the 6th century, Buddhism began in China and several hundred years later spread to Japan. Tradition says that Venerable Bodhidhasma, the 28th Patriarch of India was also the first Patriarch of China. Zen means meditation, and in this part of the Buddhist tradition, meditation is seen as a central discipline. Zen gardens developed in Japan as places where followers of the Buddha can sit and meditate. Within a Zen garden, gravel covers the main parts of the garden in much the way American gardens are covered with grass. The gravel is raked into patterns which help to focus concentration. Students may wish to look for images of Zen gardens in textbooks, gardening books and other print media, as well as on the Internet. Students may wish to design and create a small, tabletop garden, using stones, artfully arranged, and sand raked into patterns around the stones. In the past few years, these tabletop gardens have become available in specialty shops. Why might a business person or a homeowner want a little Zen garden in his or her office or living room? What benefits might it give to the owner?
- Consider the mudras on the Buddhism poster. What hand signals do we use in contemporary society? How effective are they in communicating ideas, needs or desires? Examples: waving, putting hands palm to palm indicating prayer, the okay sign, thumbs up, thumbs down, pointing, thumb out for hitchhiking.
- Also consider symbols used to express ideas. In Buddhism, the wheel symbolizes the Buddha and his teaching. Do we have symbols in American culture which are highly recognizable and readily understood? Example: the Nike check or the American flag. Ask students to consider and make a symbol which stands for them. Each student may wish to make his/her own symbol, or students may work as a group to create a class or school symbol.
Contemporary Research Options
- The Little Buddha and Seven Years in Tibet and Kundin are contemporary and widely available movies which explore some of the questions of Tibetan Buddhism. Teachers may wish to include all or parts of each movie in this study. In each, students find examples of Buddhist compassion. In Seven Years in Tibet, students will be introduced to the story of the current Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who in the 1950’s was exiled from Tibet. Locate Tibet on the world map. Ask students to find information about the current Dalai Lama. Find out where he lives and what he has done in his lifetime. In what ways can his life be seen as an exemplar of Buddhism?
- Check local newspapers and other resources to find centers for meditation near you. Also, check local hospitals and medical centers to see if they offer classes in meditation. Many modern health care professionals support the idea that meditation is good for human health. Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind/Body Institute at Harvard (www.mindbody.harvard.edu) has verified many of the benefits through scientific experimentation. Go to the website and click on Dr. Benson for more information and publications that discuss the work at Harvard. Now look in your own neighborhood.
