Band D (Ages 13-14)

• 503DContemplative Arts

  Cultivate beginner’s mind through contemplative art practices by approaching familiar materials with fresh curiosity, questioning assumptions about artistic ability, and practicing openness to unexpected creative discoveries; engage in sustained contemplative art projects that develop patience, concentration, and acceptance of the creative process; and examine how contemplative art practice affects their relationship with perfectionism, self-judgment, and creative confidence.
• 511DLila and Mudita

  Create conditions for spontaneous joy in daily life through mindful attention to present-moment opportunities; practice mudita by genuinely celebrating others’ successes without comparison; and experiment with releasing creative control while maintaining awareness.
• 422DThe Paramita of Dana/Generosity

  Design personal experiments to test how generous actions affect mental states and relationships. Analyze the relationship between attachment and giving through systematic self-observation. Develop strategies for overcoming internal barriers to generosity.
• 431DSetting Boundaries

  Develop individual practice commitments that support group contemplative experience, analyze the relationship between personal boundaries and collective practice, and implement discipline containers that enhance both individual focus and community harmony.
• 439Right Motivation

  Investigate the layered nature of personal motivation by uncovering hidden drives beneath surface intentions; evaluate how cultural influences, peer pressure, and personal insecurities affect your motivations; and implement systematic approaches for aligning your actions with wholesome intentions while recognizing the complexity of human motivation.
• 430DFour Noble Truths Overview

  Examine personal and social sources of suffering through contemplative inquiry; evaluate how understanding the four truths transforms relationships with disappointment, conflict, and change; and implement mindfulness practices that cultivate emotional resilience and compassionate response to others’ pain.
• 305DSangha

  Compare how different Buddhist traditions understand sangha’s protective function against contemporary peer pressure and social media influences; investigate cross-cultural examples of communities that protect members’ values and wellbeing; and evaluate how traditional protective community functions translate to modern social environments.
• 411DRight Speech

  Develop comprehensive personal practice integrating right speech with the broader eightfold path, establish advanced contemplative rituals for speech awareness, and create structured approaches to speech-based self-examination that support ongoing ethical development and mindfulness cultivation.
• 410Mindful Listening Practices

  Generate therapeutic-level listening skills for holding space during difficult conversations; test approaches for listening across strong differences of opinion without becoming defensive; and design mentoring programs where older students teach empathetic communication skills to younger peers.