Celebrate Diwali

Deepam lightsDiwali is the Festival of Lights observed by several religions: Hindu, Sikh, Jain and some Buddhist countries. Diwali (or Deepavali) is on 12 November in 2023. SBS Learn provides resources for schools to celebrate the Festival of Lights and develop a greater understanding about the countries and cultures who celebrate this wonderful occasion! With step-by-step video instructions available in 7 languages other than English including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, Bangla, and Nepali.


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The Buddhist Place of Worship

Buddhist temple, LaosWorship in Buddhism takes different forms. Some have devotion to Buddha and to Bodhisattvas. Worshippers may sit on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting, perhaps chanting mantras. They will listen to monks chanting from religious texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and take part in prayers. A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery, is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represent the pure land or pure environment of a Buddha.
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Holiday Buddhist Book List

Book Cover: Mop Rides the Waves of LifeHoliday time brings spare time and time to read. Due lockdown, books are back in favour; creative fiction, children’s books and the exploration of living with the Buddhist teachings feature in these books. Here we bring a selection of Children’s Buddhist books!
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The Enlightenment Of The Buddha

The Buddha under the treeWhy do we get old, get ill and die? How can we escape from suffering? The story of how Prince Siddhartha Gautama left a life of luxury to embark on a search for the answers, and how he eventually became the Buddha – the Enlightened One. Watch The Enlightenment Of The Buddha and learn this important story of the founder of Buddhism.

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Conservative Christian group launches campaign against “Buddhist meditation” in public schools

children in meditationThe American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a conservative Christian watchdog group, has launched a legal campaign to fight what it calls “Buddhist meditation” in American public schools. The group takes issue with the secular mindfulness programs that have been implemented in some schools, in which audio recordings guide students through stress-reduction practices. The organization says that mindfulness practices “equate to Buddhism.”
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Meditation in Public Schools: Pro or Con?

Mindfulness can help students – and teachers – to be calm in the classroom. Here, we watch one video explaining the ins and outs of meditation in class. Adults discuss the benefits and pitfalls while students navigate stress and negative thoughts. Plus: Explore three ways to bring mindfulness to the classroom.

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