Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Introduction

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 about Zen, a major branch of Buddhism. They experience more deeply how Buddhist precepts appear in people's lives and further explore Buddhism's ties to Unitarian Universalism.

Goals

This workshop will:

  • Reinforce fundamental concepts of Buddhism introduced in Workshop 9 and introduce new ones
  • Familiarize participants with some aspects of Zen Buddhism
  • Illustrate how Buddhist concepts can be applied to our lives.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Achieve an understanding of some basic elements of Zen Buddhism
  • Examine the Buddhist concept of the bodhisattva and relate this to their own lives
  • Appreciate Buddhist concepts of service and sacrifice and how these concepts could enrich their lives
  • Understand more deeply the connection between spirituality and activism.

Workshop-at-a-Glance

Activity

Minutes

Welcoming and Entering

0

Opening

10

Activity 1: Story – The Man and the Tiger

15

Activity 2: Bodhisattvas

15

Activity 3: Kuan Yin

30

Activity 4: Loving Kindness

15

Faith in Action: Peace All Around Us

 

Closing

5

Alternate Activity 1: Peace Practice

30

Alternate Activity 2: The Banyan Deer

15

Alternate Activity 3: Buddhist Board Game

30