2022 Term 4 First Children Dharma Class - Good to be Back
The opening of the Term 4 Children’s Dharma Class commenced on the 16th of October 2022. Everyone including all the teachers were filled with excitement in anticipation of a new term of learning and growing together in The Dharma.
In the terms prior to this, the students of the Children Dharma Class had focused on learning the Sanskrit version of Heart Sutra. This was chanted at the beginning of every lesson to support students settle and focus into class. This term, students are learning the Chinese version of Heart Sutra. They spent the first half of their first lesson of the term quietly listening to the Sutra. By listening to the Sutra, they were able to begin familiarising themselves with the rhythm and speed of the Sutra. After this the students enjoyed a tea break in the dining hall. They learnt how to behave when walking across the Temple to the dining hall, and dining hall etiquette such as remaining quiet and only taking as much food as you can comfortably finish.
The second half of the lesson was then spent with Teacher Howard running the advanced class and Teacher Nadine and Teacher Ellie running the intermediate class. The intermediate class revised the previous term’s content in the form of a fun quiz and the students discussed how to abide in calmness after two weeks holiday. The advanced class revised the meaning of The Triple Gem and why we should all take refuge in The Triple Gem. Students learnt that to take refuge in The Triple Gem is to take refuge in one’s intrinsic nature.
After the class has finished, some students stayed back to tidy up the classroom. They also helped teacher Thomas to clean up the Guang Ming Hall. A small group of students also extended their time at Temple of help with gardening and general Temple chores.