Band D (Ages 13-14)

• 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.
• 406DLoving-Kindness

  Design loving-kindness ceremonies that generate positive emotions and strengthen group bonds, participate in structured metta practices that cultivate both personal happiness and interpersonal trust, and establish sustained loving-kindness disciplines that support emotional regulation and secure relationship patterns.
• 129DThe Buddha’s Equanimity

  Examine the Buddha’s revolutionary rejection of caste hierarchy through critical analysis of the kusha grass encounter, evaluate how this ancient story provides guidance for modern social justice activism, and synthesize understanding of how equanimity enables effective challenge to systemic oppression.
• 133DExploring Boundaries

  Investigate local land history by researching indigenous peoples who originally inhabited your area, analyze how current boundaries compare to traditional territories, evaluate how different cultural perspectives shape boundary creation, and create presentations that demonstrate understanding of how historical boundary decisions continue to affect communities today.
• 304DSacred Space and Objects

  Research sacred space practices across Buddhist cultures; evaluate how blessing and consecration practices transform ordinary objects into sacred ones; and create group rituals that establish sacred space for contemplative practice.
• 105DRight Motivation in Leaders

  Apply right motivation principles from the eightfold path to evaluate leadership decisions by practicing the assessment of personal and others’ motivations using Buddhist criteria, implementing right intention in their own leadership opportunities, and designing intervention strategies when witnessing harmful leadership motivations.
• 117DThe Five Precepts

  Investigate the practical application of the five precepts in contemporary ethical dilemmas; experiment with precept-based decision-making in complex social situations; and evaluate how Buddhist ethical frameworks support personal integrity and social responsibility in modern contexts.
• 136DThe Vinaya and Codes of Conduct

  Analyze the historical development of the Vinaya within its cultural context and evaluate its adaptation across different Buddhist societies; compare monastic codes with contemporary institutional policies to understand how spiritual principles translate into practical governance; and synthesize understanding by examining how traditional wisdom can inform modern community building while respecting cultural diversity.
• 221DThe Life Story of the Buddha Shakyamuni

  Analyze the Buddha’s life within the social, political, and religious context of ancient India; evaluate how his background as a prince influenced his later teachings; and assess the revolutionary nature of his message within the caste system of his time.