Workshop 10: Buddhism 2: Right Living

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

Don’t use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it be a better whatever-you-already-are. — His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso Introduction This workshop continues the exploration of Buddhism. Participants learn additional fundamental concepts of Buddhism. They also learn…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

This workshop is both serious and playful. Ready yourself for the flexibility to move from enjoyment of the humor to a serious discussion of topics that incorporate humor. Read “The Man and the Tiger” as well as other Zen texts, such as one of the many koans (teaching stories) posted on the Zen…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Participants’ Buddha and Eightfold Path artwork from Workshop 9 A 5x7-inch index card or piece of card stock A small sand garden kit, or a wooden tray or terra cotta flower pot tray and sand Optional: Materials for the sand garden, such as small stones of varied color and…
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint list of future discussion topics from Workshop 9 Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Optional: A copy of The Dhammapada Description of Activity Have everyone sit in a circle or semicircle around the chalice….
Activity 1: Story - The Man and the Tiger
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Man and the Tiger” Preparation for Activity Read “The Man and the Tiger” so you will be comfortable presenting it….
Activity 2: Bodhisattvas
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: A recording of the Steely Dan song “Bodhisattva” and a music player Preparation for Activity Optional: Cue up the song and test your equipment ahead of time….
Activity 3: Kuan Yin
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Image of Kuan Yin Optional: A variety of drawing materials such as crayons, pastels, and glitter pens Optional: Music and music player Preparation for Activity Print Leader Resource 1, in color if…
Activity 4: Loving Kindness
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Eight Verses for Training the Mind Description of Activity Participants learn about and discuss an important Buddhist tool to teach loving kindness. Tell the group, in these words or your own: The Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the…
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Poster with closing words 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…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

Review the workshop with your co-leader: How did participants cope with the complexity of this workshop? Did the youth seem to grasp the concepts involved? Did their Western sensibilities get in their way? Did yours? Did the material itself prove useful in dealing with difficulties that arose?…
Faith In Action: Peace All Around Us
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Newsprint or drawing paper Markers and other drawing utensils Preparation for Activity Talk to your congregation’s religious educator and/or Facilities Manager to find out what changes to the workshop space would be acceptable….
Alternate Activity 1: Peace Practice
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity A timepiece (minutes) and a chime, or a timer that rings Handout 2, Scenes of Prospective Conflict Preparation for Activity Optional: Learn more about Roshi Bernie Glassman. The Zen Peacemakers website is a good resource. Description of Activity…
Alternate Activity 2: Story - The Banyan Deer
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Banyan Deer” Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Youth hear a Buddhist story about compassion. Tell or read the story….
Alternate Activity 3: Buddhist Board Game
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity A Buddhist board game Preparation for Activity Obtain a Buddhist board game such as Buddhist Knowledge Quest. You may be able to find a used version online. You will need one game board for every four participants. Review the rules of your chosen…
Taking It Home: Buddhism 2: Right Living
From Building Bridges

Don’t use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it be a better whatever-you-already-are. — His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP… we discussed Buddhism, in particular, Zen Buddhism. We wrestled to obtain meaning from a koan that was both serious and…
The Banyan Deer
From Building Bridges

A traditional Jataka tale from the Buddhist tradition. Note: The banyan tree is also known as the bodhi tree. Kings come in all shapes and sizes. A true king, however, is known not just because of the crown on his head, but because he is compassionate and rules in the best interest of his subjects.
The Man and the Tiger
From Building Bridges

A man walking across a field encountered a tiger. The man fled, running as fast as he could go, with the tiger chasing fiercely after him. The man came to the edge of the field. It was a cliff! He leaned over the edge of the cliff, grabbed a vine, and swung down against the cliff face. The tiger…
Handout 1: Eight Verses for Training the Mind
From Building Bridges

A highly revered text from the Mahayana Lojong (mind training) tradition, composed by the Buddhist Master Langri Tangpa (1054–1123). (1) With the determination to accomplish The highest welfare of all sentient* beings, Who excel even a wish-granting jewel, May I at all times hold them dear. (2)…
Handout 2: Scenes of Prospective Conflict
From Building Bridges

Here are some situations where you might have trouble keeping your cool. You drop your cell phone and somebody steps on it, destroying it. Someone hits your compact car with their SUV. You are a clerk in a store and a furious customer brings back a defective product. Two of your friends have a…
Leader Resource 1: Image of Kuan Yin
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More About Buddhism
From Building Bridges

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki (North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Publishing, 2008), is a brief, accessible introduction to Zen Buddhism. Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism by Steven Heine (New York: Oxford University Press USA, 2005) is a…