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| Kisa Gotami presents her dead son to the Buddha (Facebook) |
Note: How hard it is to let go of a loved one at his or her death! This heart-breaking story gives us a clue as to how to survive such a tragedy.
Get Ready: Do you know anyone who has never lost a loved one?
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| King Josaphat (Wikipedia) |
Note: The story of the Christian saint named Josaphat was actually just an echo of the life of the Buddha--yet for many years he was venerated by the Church!
Get Ready: Do you think it strange that two very different religions could share the same stories? Or does this seem natural to you?
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| A Thai illustration of the Four Sights (with only three in view, unless one man is sick and old) (Wikipedia) |
Note: Buddhists mark four key events in the life of their founder: his birth, departure from home, enlightenment, and death. In this story, let's see how he renounced a life of luxury.
Get Ready: In order to follow his path, the Buddha left behind his wife, his newborn son, and his responsibilities to his parents. (He later did much more for them than he could have if he had stayed.) Do you think it's all right for a person to do this?
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| Water-throwing on Songkran in Thailand (Wikipedia) |
Note: New Years is one of the world's most widely celebrated holidays, and it's celebrated in a wide variety of ways! As an example, notice the flinging of water in some Buddhist countries.
Get Ready: Have you ever been in a "water fight"? What was it like?
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| Mulian and his mother (Wikipedia) |
Note: Buddhist across many cultures celebrate a holiday in remembrance of their ancestors, sometimes called the "Hungry Ghost Festival." There are many, many other observances, too.
Get Ready: Do you do anything formal to remember your ancestors? Perhaps commemorate their birthdays or dates of death?
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| Set-up for bathing the Baby Buddha on his birthday (Wikipedia) |
Note: Most Buddhists celebrate three events in the life of the Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, and death--though different cultures celebrate them according to very different schemes.
Get Ready: What do you know about the life and teachings of the Buddha? Where and when did he live? What is the point of what he said?
