Workshop 9: Buddhism 1: Waking Up

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

In This Section

Introduction
From Building Bridges

When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space. — Pema Chodron,…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

Reading some sections of the Buddhist scripture, The Dhammapada, could be a useful endeavor. Read to find verses that particularly speak to you. Copy the verses for future meditation and thought….
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity A copy of the Dhammapada Newsprint, markers, and tape Description of Activity Participants engage with the most ancient and fundamental of Buddhist texts….
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Leader Resource 1, Buddhism Background Optional: Books with images associated with Buddhism Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 1, Buddhism Background, so you will be comfortable…
Activity 1: Story - The Life of the Buddha
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Life of the Buddha” Leader Resource 2, Images of the Buddha, and tape Preparation for Activity Read the story “The Life of the Buddha” so you will be comfortable presenting it. Print two copies of Leader Resource 2. Use one copy to cut…
Activity 2: The Eightfold Path
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, The Eightfold Path Newsprint, markers, and tape Long strip from a roll of drawing paper, or several pieces of poster board Art supplies, such as poster paint, paint brushes, markers, or pastel crayons Newspapers or drop cloths to…
Activity 3: UU Buddhists
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A poster of the UU Principles Newsprint with the eight elements of the Eightfold Path, from Activity 2 Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity At least three weeks before the workshop, invite a member of your congregation who identifi…
Activity 4: Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Buddhism Fact Sheet Description of Activity Participants go over some basic tenets of Buddhism. Distribute the handout and review any unfamiliar concepts or terms….
Activity 5: Time Line
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Religions Time Line (from Workshop 1) Sticky notes and fine-point markers World map or globe Preparation for Activity Post the Religions Time Line where it will be visible to all participants. Place the map or globe where it will be visible to all…
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for each participant. Optional: Write the closing words on newsprint, and post it where it will be…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

Review the workshop with your co-leader: Did the activities work well? Which were less successful? Could everyone participate? Did everyone participate? A great deal of information was conveyed in this workshop. Did the youth seem to grasp the concepts involved? Were they able to keep pace? Did…
Faith In Action: Right Mindfulness, Right Action, Right Here
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Poster of the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles Notepads and writing implements Preparation for Activity Display the Seven Principles poster where everyone can see it….
Alternate Activity 1: Engagement
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 90 minutes Preparation for Activity See the general suggestions on Engagement in the program Introduction, under Implementation. If there is a Buddhist center or temple nearby, arrange to attend a regular service. These might include meditation sittings or teachings from the Dharma.
Alternate Activity 2: The Buddha, a DVD
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 120 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the film The Buddha DVD player, television, or monitor Paper and pencils Optional: Snacks, such as popcorn and drinks Preparation for Activity Rent or purchase a copy of The Buddha (2010), a PBS documentary directed by David Grubin and…
Alternate Activity 3: Right Livelihood Continuum
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 4, Occupations Large index cards, a handful for each participant Markers Preparation for Activity Using Leader Resource 4 and other resources, create a list of occupations, from many walks of life. Make copies of the list for…
Taking It Home: Buddhism 1: Waking Up
From Building Bridges

When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space. — Pema Chodron,…
The Life of the Buddha
From Building Bridges

The name “Buddha” means “enlightened one” or “awakened one.” However, the founder of the Buddhist religion was not born enlightened. He was born Siddhartha Gautama, son of King Suddodana and Queen Maya, rulers of Kapilavastu, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas in 566 BCE….
Handout 1: Buddhism Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Founded/Created: 531 BCE (more than 2,500 years ago). Adherents: 360 million, primarily in the East but growing worldwide. Ranking: Sixth. Prophets: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha (“the Awakened One”), for whom the faith is named. The Buddha, while revered, is not considered divine. Texts: The…
Leader Resource 1: Buddhism Background
From Building Bridges

Buddhism is a religion based on rationality, objectivity, personal experience, and practice. It does not say anything about God. In fact, whether a person believes in any divine power at all is immaterial to Buddhism. What does matter? The mind. Delusions of the mind are what Buddhism seeks to…
Leader Resource 2: Images of the Buddha
From Building Bridges

The first image is of the reclining Buddha; second image is of the Chinese Buddha; third image is of the Japanese Buddha by Jim Mills; fourth image is the Korean Buddha. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 3: The Eightfold Path
From Building Bridges

Before Beginning the Eightfold Path: Right Association Since we are influenced by our companions, it is very important to have people around us who are supportive of our spiritual goals and on spiritual paths themselves. They do not need to be doing exactly what we are doing, but they have to…
Leader Resource 4: Occupations
From Building Bridges

Lawyer, butcher, trash collector, thief, corporate executive, full-time parent, lobbyist, hair stylist or barber, grocer, graphic artist, hardware store clerk, baker or chef, computer programmer, stockbroker, animal trainer, jeweler, actor, rapper, stunt-car driver, college professor, engineer, c…
Find Out More
From Building Bridges

The Religion Facts website is a good, objective source of information about many religions, including Buddhism. Various artistic representations of the Buddha are explored at Buddha Mind. A very good collection of links about Unitarian Universalism, Buddhism, and Buddhist practice can be found at…