Dharma in Schools

This month Shifu visited, will visit, or received visits from several schools to introduce Buddhism, ranging from kindergarten to college. They include the Delphi Academy, about 20 4&5 year olds, Walnut Creek Intermediate School 6th graders (12 classes, about 300 students), San Jose's Independence High School (religion panel with Islam, about 500 students), Palo Alto's Terman Middle School 6th graders (8 classes, 200 students), San Jose State University's stress management class (about 30 students), and Adventist Academy High School's multi-religious panel (9-12th grade, about 100 students).

It is great that in the American school system students of all ranges may get first-hand exposure to the living religions, if the teachers are willing. The sixth graders, for example, will have learned about Prince Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the bodhi tree, and so on.

Even sixth graders can have very serious questions about life, creation, and moral dilemmas when they hear the Dharma. They also have very funny questions, too.

Boy: Why are you a vegetarian?
Shifu: Do you have a puppy? Would you chop off its leg and cook it?
Students (laughing): No!
Shifu: What about a chick leg?
Students: (silence/confusion/arugments)
One kid: I'm gonna be a vegetarian.
Another: But chickens are delicious!
Another: But chickens are stupid!

Boy: Would you sign my shoe?

Girl (looking at the handbell I brought): Is that ninja stuff?

Girl: Are there girl monks? Do they have to shave their heads too?

Q: When you meditate, can you float?
Q: Do you use computers and cellphones? What ringtone do you have? Are you on MySpace?
Q: Can you eat during meditation?

Boy: Do you know Hanna Montana?
Shifu: Who?
Girl (with disdain): She's a lousy pop star.

They also ask serious and thoughtful questions.
Q: When Siddhartha left, what happened to his family?
Q: Do you consider Buddhism a religion or a teaching?
Q: How do you believe the world is created?
Q: If you give up your vows (to be a monk) do you get punished?
Q: Did you give up worldly possessions when you become a monk?
Q: What if a person has a gun and is about to kill people, can you kill him?
Q: What is the Buddhist view of life and death?

Sometimes the kids really put me on the spot:
Q: Have you reached nirvana?
Q: Are you enlightened?
Q: Have you ever fallen asleep during meditation?

In High School, their questions are a lot more serious. In college, the students are dealing with stress, parental expectations, relationships, sense of failure or inadequacy, etc.

As these innocent and carefree kids grow into stress-laden adults, so few of them have the good fortune to be guided by wise mentors. Hopefully one day all schools will have these "mental health care" resources available to all the students.

These are some pictures from the Delphi Academy kindergarten kids:







These are some pictures from Walnut Creek Intermediate School (from 2007, we don't have any more recent photos):