Nourishing the Seeds of Virtue with Pure Dharma Waters
On the day of 21st August 2022, the the Children’s Dharma Class students attended the Weekly Dharma Function with chanting and incense offering. Once settled in the classroom, all students chanted the Heart Sutra. This is an important practice that the students have been regularly participating in, with the goal of mastering the Sanskrit version of the Sutra. The Heart Sutra is an important part of Mahayana tradition as it gives insight to the true nature of reality and one’s being. By chant the Heart Sutra can help students to rewind and strengthen their faith. All students are practicing diligently in order to be the selected student to lead the chanting in place of the audio recordings. This marked a productive and fruitful session for the students.
After that, the students were split into groups to study for the upcoming BLIA Buddhism Examination by completing mock test papers. Teacher Nadine supported the students to understand the exam format. Students took turns reading the questions aloud, discuss the reasons behind their answers and showed a great teamwork. The questions were focused upon The Three Acts of Goodness, Temple etiquette, positive behaviors which enhance the understanding in Buddhism. Students Raymond, Ariel, John and Serena were confident in their ability to answer the questions and enjoyed collaborating.
Besides that, teacher Jane guided the students through the exam guide questions focusing on the Three Acts of Goodness. Engaging discussions arose while students tried for their attempt. When their opinions were in disagreement, students Wish and Isaac would share their thoughts with the class, and it was then followed by a friendly debate. Through proactive interactions, students were able to grasp the important concepts of speaking good words, doing good deeds and thinking good thoughts.
Moreover, teacher Thomas shared that the mock exam challenged the student to understand the concepts about Humanistic Buddhism such as Dharma Seals, Four Noble Truths, Impermanence and so forth. One interesting discussion was regarding the statement of I am Buddha which prompted the students to ponder if it is possible to become Buddha. Students Zoey and Anthan agreed to this statement and it was then further explained by teacher Thomas. Through engaging in the mock examinations, students were able to develop a sense of preparation for the examination and identify areas to study further.
One highlights from this session included the return of term papers, the allocation of new class placements and a presentation from teacher Thomas regarding the upcoming lantern design event. All students were encouraged to partake in the lantern design event which will be occurring in the following weeks. This is a great opportunity for students to harness their creative skills and work mindfully.