My Bodhisattva Art Project
An art project with worksheets for students to design their own bodhisattvas
Some Thoughts on Teaching About Mind
A medium-length article by Jackie Rushforth Mitchell about the delicate subject of the mind and how to introduce it to young people.
The Lunar New Year Song: Wood Dragon Year
Downloadable audio and lyrics. Middle Way Education commissioned composer Harry Einhorn to develop this Lunar New Year celebration song, adding a new verse every year, one for each animal of asian astrology.
Shugen Roshi on Equanimity, Emotions, and Walking Meditation
This video recording (1hr) is of Shugen Roshi's talk at the Middle Way School in January 2024. Shugen sat with students and parents to talk about impermanence, one of Middle Way Education’s core units of inquiry. He focussed on the importance of cultivating equanimity in the context of recognizing the impermanent, always-changing quality of all things. He also fielded questions from parents and students, who wanted to know things like “how did the Buddha have fun?”
Celebrations: Vesak
Vesak is a day when Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana) of the Buddha. We think it’s a great day to encourage children to make simple offerings— flowers, incense, and candles—and to abstain from eating meat for the day or do life-release. Maybe host a birthday celebration for the Buddha!
Mala Bag Sewing Project
Students sew drawstring bags using a simple backstitch in preparation for the mala they will string in a future class. This lesson was created by Noa Jones at the Middle Way School for third grade students preparing for Rites of Passage.
The Four Types of Harmonious Speech
Students are introduced to the concept of harmonious speech from the Buddhist tradition and explore how it arises in their own lives. The lesson includes group work, pair sharing, charting, and discussion.
Magha Pujwronga | Sangha Day
A short outline of Sangha day, or Magha Puja, which is an important day for the Theravada especially in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka. How do you observe this day? Send ideas to [email protected]
Lojong Slogan #38: Don’t seek others’ pain as the limbs of your own happiness.
A short video of a student explaining what this mind-training slogan by Atisha means to them.
Lojong Slogan #26: Don’t Ponder Others
A short video of a student explaining what this mind-training slogan by Atisha means to him.
Reflections on running a Parallel Camp
A discussion of important ideas and considerations when setting up and running a parallel camp, based on an interview with Deer Park camp organizer, Mr. Budhi Singh (Trilok).
Dharma Heroes: A Weekly Program for Introducing Dharma to Children
This document helps parents and educators introduce children to a selection of Dharma Heroes—people who followed in the footsteps of the Buddha—though a series of assemblies or weekly gatherings. Through oral storytelling and inquiry, children explore what is meaningful and relevant about these life stories. Each assembly follows an easily modified pattern with several other elements, including songs, tea, mudras, mindfulness, and more.