A presentation for Third Graders at St. John's, for International Festival Week

1. Introduction to Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism http://www.freewebs.com/dharmabeads/Tibetan%20Children.jpg

2. Buddhism Basics Four Noble Truths Life is tough, you will have troubles Troubles are caused by holding on too hard Escaping this trouble is possible There is a path to do so through “detachment” A gradual path of making yourself better

3. Buddhism and Christianity No deity to worship Buddha and Jesus No dogma Bible, 10 Commandments “ Don’t believe anything I say, just because I say it. Think about it and decide for yourself.” Free Will and Personal Responsibility No Devil but you and your choices

4. "Don't blindly believe what I say. Don't believe me because others convince you of my words. Don't believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Don't rely on logic alone, nor speculation. Don't infer or be deceived by appearances." "Do not give up your authority and follow blindly the will of others. This way will lead to only delusion." "Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real. Discover that there are virtuous things and there are non-virtuous things. Once you have discovered for yourself give up the bad and embrace the good." - The Buddha

5. Who Is Buddha? Siddhartha Gautama ca. 563 - ca. 483 BC The Enlightened One He was born in the village of Lumbini in Nepal. He was born into a royal family and for many years lived with in the palace walls away from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as sickness, age, and death. He did not know what they were. One day, after growing-up, marrying and having a child, Siddhartha went outside the royal palace and saw, each for the first time, an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. He was worried by what he saw. He learned that sickness, age, and death were the inevitable fate of human beings — a fate no-one could avoid. http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/buddhism.htm#buddha

6. Reincarnation One must go through many cycles of birth, living, and death. After each cycle, the person is born again into a life that teaches them certain lessons. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana - a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.

7. Karma The law that every cause has an effect, i.e., our actions have results. Buddhists believe that are past actions have an effect on who or what we are in our next life. http://effortlessmovement.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/wheel-of-karma.gif

8. Meditation Training the mind to be empty of thoughts Paying attention to the breath

9. Tibetan Buddhism Dalai Lama Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors Like Angels (escaped Wheel of Karma) “Magical” or supernatural Meditation through mantra and hand gesture Ohm manipadme hum Images of Tibetan Buddhism http://www.psfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/meditate.jpg