This week, my wife asked my daughter what she did at recess. Her response was that she "meditated." This practice probably came to her after Sensei Ulrich began introducing children's meditation into our weekly Sunday service.

"Think of your head shooting like a fountain, watering the flowers and grass around you."

A couple of the most popular internet searches that bring people to this website are "Eightfold Path for Children" and "Buddhist Stories for Children." This just shows the growing popularity of parents and teachers looking for Buddhist lessons for their kids.

In the fall 2008 issue of Tricycle magazine, a special section titled "Bringing Up Buddhists" explains some of the interest that exists in North America. It is a sampling of how Buddhists in the United States are teaching the dharma to children. The contents of the section includes an article on a Florida family trying to live a Buddhist life, a Dharma School in Portland and a meditation teacher working in the New York public school system. There is also information and inspiration for those who want their children to have a Buddhist educational experience.

Originally modeled after Christian Sunday Schools, Jodo Shinshu Temples in Canada and the United States have been offering a "Dharma School" children's program for decades.

The Level 8 Buddhist's blog has a great posting about bringing up a child in a Buddhist family. He also has many nice things to say about the Jodo Shinshu tradition that captures its "family friendly" culture.

Jodo Shinshu, among Buddhist sects, is among the most family-friendly. It emphasizes gratitude and humility, and is geared toward working-class people given its roots as a lay-Buddhist organization from 12-13th century Japan. So, we take her to the Sunday School there, and she plays on the slide, eats snacks and occasionally makes crafts. The themes are not overtly Buddhist, but just being in a wholesome Buddhist environment works wonders. She learns to be thankful for the food she receives, she learns to speak kindly to others, and to be nice to other children. That’s the real secret of raising Buddhist children. -Level 8 Buddhist

In the "Traditions" section of this web site, we have written, "In teaching small children, we should convey a feeling of reverence and gratitude. Children will learn through the examples set by parents and teachers."

Reciting the Nembutsu will live with them forever.

READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE TRICYCLE ARTICLE ONLINE...
READ "RAISING BUDDHIST CHILDREN" AT THE LEVEL 8 BUDDHIST...

Robert Thurman is asked how the teachings of the Buddha can help you understand the world today.

Robert Thurman is currently a Professor of Buddhist Studies at Columbia University.

At Big Think, you can access hundreds of hours of direct, unfiltered interviews. Others interviewees include Sen. Ted Kennedy, entrepreneur Richard Branson and Canadian author Naomi Klein. The creators of Big Think are former producers for PBS and have interviewed hundreds of leading intellectuals, political figures and cultural icons for this global conversation.

WATCH MORE OF ROBERT THURMAN AT BIG THINK...

The Tibet Center in collaboration with the Center for Technology, Innovation and Community Engagement was proud to sponsor LIVING PEACE: Spiritual Approaches to Achieving Inner Peace, a series of seminars and workshops where teachers and leaders of different faith backgrounds will present their respective techniques for realizing inner peace. The event took place during eight evenings in June 2008.

If each individual accomplishes inner peace, we can then take small steps towards achieving global peace. Cultivating a sense of peace internally, at every level of our social structure — within the community, within the family, within the self — is essential for the achievement of world peace.

Living Peace offered New Yorkers practical exposure to different ways of achieving and maintaining inner peace, and promoting awareness of the importance of this state. Seminar leaders represented a variety of religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

During the third Living Peace event at Columbia University, on the 9th of June 2008, Rev. Nakagaki discussed inner peace from the perspective of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. He also led the group in meditation and chanting exercises.

courtesy New York Times

WATCH SENSEI NAKAGAKI'S TALK...
READ MORE ABOUT SENSEI NAKAGAKI AND THE NEW YORK BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES...

Many might argue that business and Buddhism don't go together. But this week's crisis on Wall Street and subsequent bailout by the American government has many people asking if there is a better way.

"It is clear, therefore, that Buddhist economics must be very different from the economics of modern materialism, since the Buddhist sees the essence of civilisation not in a multiplication of wants but in the purification of human character. Character, at the same time, is formed primarily by a man's work. And work, properly conducted in conditions of human dignity and freedom, blesses those who do it and equally their products."

Here is Fritz Schumacher speaking to a group in 1977. He was asked if "Buddhist Economics" could work in the west.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the E. F. Schumacher Society received requests from around the world to reprint "Buddhist Economics," Fritz Schumacher's classic essay widely understood as a call for an economics of peace. In the essay, Schumacher imagines a multitude of vibrant, self-sufficient villages which, from their secure sense of community and place, work together in peace and cooperation.

In December of 2001 Mrs. Vreni Schumacher, who holds the copyright to her late husband's works, kindly extended permission to make the essay available electronically.

READ "BUDDHIST ECONOMICS" FROM E.F. SCHUMACHER'S "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL"...