| Buddhism and its backgrounds | | | | statue (or image) of Buddha and chanting. This |
| Buddhism began in northeastern India and is based on | | | | happens because the chant is meant to show their |
| the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama who is now | | | | love for the Buddha and his ideals. |
| known as the Buddha. It is the main religion in many | | | | Buddhism and family |
| Asian countries and is different from many other faiths. | | | | Family Buddhism is about parenting and family |
| This is because it is not centered on the relationship | | | | relationships and how to bring the Buddha's teachings |
| between the human being and God. It is more of a | | | | into these areas of the lives of ourselves and the |
| name for a complex system of beliefs developed | | | | loved ones. The Buddha lived with in a palace as a |
| around the teachings of the Buddha. The religion is | | | | member of a high and prominent family, protected by |
| recognized as being comprised of two major | | | | walls from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as |
| branches: The first branch is called Theravada. This | | | | age, sicknesses and death. Maybe this is one of the |
| one has a widespread following in Southeast-Asia, and | | | | reasons why Buddhism is an educational, fun learning |
| Mahayana (including the schools of Zen, Pure Land, | | | | resource for the whole of our family. For example |
| Nichiren and Vajrayana). The latter one is found | | | | displaying an image or statue of the laughing Buddha in |
| throughout East-Asia (e. g. Japan), a school which the | | | | the living (or prayer) room is considered to bring family |
| current Dalai Lama of Tibet is a part of. | | | | harmony. It also dispels a lot of problems and quarrels. |
| What is in it for Kids and their parents? | | | | Stories of Buddha |
| To raise a Buddhist kid in a Non-Buddhistic world can | | | | The so called Jataka stories over several thousand |
| be a tough task. Let us be honest: Although you can | | | | years have been seminal to the development of many |
| count on a wonderful variety of Buddhism designs, this | | | | civilisations throughout Asia and the rest of the world. |
| approach will somehow make sure that the kids will | | | | Cultivation of moral conduct, behaving in a good way, |
| stand out from the crowd. The Buddha. He has been | | | | the growth of a rich and varied literature in diverse |
| seen sitting on a cart drawn by kids or holding a fan | | | | parts of the world and an inspiring source for things like |
| that was considered a wish fulfilling fan which shows | | | | famous pictures, sculptures as well as architecture |
| his close relationships especially to children. Another | | | | share the aesthetic value of Buddhism. The Buddha |
| example is placing his statue or painting with kids in the | | | | himself used these stories to explain his conception of |
| west area of a living room is said to be very lucky for | | | | things like karma and rebirth - which are essential to |
| couples aspiring to have kids. So this shows that he | | | | Buddhists - and to emphasize the importance of the |
| could already be present even before a child is born. | | | | high values of morality the Buddha has shown us. |
| Teaching Buddhism to children and to offer a little bit of | | | | These stories are of course not scholarly translations |
| inspiration and resources to those who want to create | | | | word for word. If you read these stories, your children |
| a Buddhist religious education is a good approach in | | | | - and adults as well - can develop their knowledge and |
| fostering the development of your children. | | | | learn how to face the difficulties of our everyday |
| Who was this man called the Buddha? | | | | modern life. |
| Siddhartha Gautama who was called the Buddha lived | | | | The importance of the mind |
| in the 4th or 5th century before Christ. He was raised | | | | The right mind-set together with meditation means |
| as a prince but after discovering his "purpose" he | | | | training your senses to empty it all of thoughts (or free |
| spent the rest of his life traveling around India and | | | | them from it as some Buddhists call it). Images of the |
| sharing his message with everyone who wanted to | | | | laughing Buddha remind us that to be happy we need |
| hear it. Buddhism is a very visual religion which you can | | | | to have a loving heart and good positive feelings. This |
| see from the fact that a lot of the statues of Buddha | | | | guides you as parents on how to nurture your own |
| include lots of symbols. Worshippers usually may sit in | | | | and your children's spirituality especially on mindfulness |
| front of them on the floor barefoot facing such a | | | | in today's everyday life. |