Teaching Topics and Notes

Queen Mahamaya’s Dream and Prince Siddhartha's Birth

Naming ceremony, Prince Siddhartha's childhood and education 

Young prince Siddhartha meets princess Yashodhara and marriage 

Seeing four sights by Prince Siddhratha / Prince Rahula's Birth / Prince Siddhartha leaves the palace 

Worship to three pagodas with visual

Our Temple/Dhamma School and how to behave at the temple 

Generosity at temple, home and school: The practice of giving and sharing 

Important Buddhist historical places in the world

Vesak full moon day and celebrating Vesak 

Biography: Ven. Chulla Panthaka (Moral: Determination) 

Namaskaraya and Introduction of Triple Gem 

Five precepts

The Buddha :qualities and highlights 

Offering of light & flowers to the Buddha 

Offering Dana to Sanga: The practice of offering Dana

The practice of giving and sharing 

Respect and Salutation to the parents

Good habits as a Buddhist child (Respect & Listen to the Parents & Adults) 

How to be happy for yourself and others as per Buddhist teachings

Caregiving elders and sick people as per Buddha's teachings

Love and Kindness as per Buddha's teaching  (followed by a Jataka tale or a Buddha's life story)

Forgiveness as per Buddha's teaching  (followed by a Jataka tale or a Buddha's life story)

Courtesy and manners in Buddhism

Self Discipline

How to be with the nature

Mindfulness and Introduction to daily Meditation

Prince Siddhartha's birth to leaving palace - Review

Life as an asecetic and Ascetic Siddhartha meets 3 teachers  

Ascetic Siddhartha meets 5 ascetics and 6 years of self-mortification

Sujatha offers milk rice/ sitting under the bodhi tree/ becoming the Lord Buddha/Enlightenment

Buddha's relatives and Siddhārtha Gautama's Friends: Princes Yashodara, Venerable Anannda, Channa, Devadatta

Biography: Bhikkhuni Maha Prajapati Gothami

Story of Mattakundali

Four kind of followers of the Buddha 

Going to temple (What is a temple; Main parts of the temple; How to worship; How to Dress & Behave at Temple

Buddhist temples/ Stupa / Statues in Sri Lanka

Jathaka Story: Vessantara Jathakaya

Jathaka Story: Parrot who fed old parents - Satthikumbha Jathakaya

Mindfulness for daily living and Introduction to Daily Meditation

Five precepts (detailed explanation in each precept)

Salutation to Buddha (simple meaning of Itipiso gatha)

Salutation to Dhamma (simple meaning of Svakkhato gatha)

Salutation to Sangha (simple meaning of Supatipanno gatha)

Offering of Fragrance, Water and Medicinal drink

Worship to three pagodas

Good and Bad Karma with stories 

Merits-pin / Demerits-paw 

Poson full moon day, Mahindagamanaya and celebrating Vesak 

Dana / Sila (five precepts for daily life) / Bhavana (Buddhanussati, Mettanussati)

Respectful behavior (etiquette and courtesy)

Be happy with what you have (unlimited wants vs self-satisfaction)

How to control Anger and Anxiety

Life after enlightenment/ Visiting Relatives 

Pari nirvana, Cremation and Relics

Qualities of Buddha:  Determination and equanimity

Qualities of Buddha: Knowledge of the world (Lokavidu) 

Bhikkhu Devadatta and his misbehaviors 

Second sangha councils 

King Ajasatta and his dedication

Freedom of inquiring and accepting in Buddhism 

Introduction to Daily Meditation 

The Applicability of Mindfulness for Daily Living

Vassana & Kathina season

The Four Noble Truths & the Noble Eightfold Path -Introduction 

Eight Worldly Winds (The Eight Vicissitudes)

Ten precepts and meaning

Maha Mangala sutta / 38 great blessings

Buddhist perspective: What does it mean to be a human

Buddhist sense organs and their connection: Wholesome and Unwholesome 

How to solve life issues as a Buddhist child

Two types of offerings: material or hospitality offerings (Amisa-puja )/ Practice offerings (Patipatti-puja)

Vasala sutta-Discourse on Outcasts - The responsible children

Two forms of meditation (Samatha/Vipassana) : Focus on Vipassana meditation 

Dhammapada Gatha and stories- Gatha and stories

Inner Peace / Mental health and living happily

How to control your anger and emotions

Discipline your body, speech and mind (action, speech and thought)

First 60 disciples & key points of the teaching mission

Meeting with different ascetics (six founders of different sects)

Deities association with Buddha 

Buddha's life: Compassion and Wisdom

Third & Fourth sangha council and spreading the message for countries 

Establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

World Buddhist countries and its developments (Including Asia, Europe, North America)

Main temples of Sri Lanka Mahaviharaya, Sri Maha Bodhi and Thuparama,  Ruwanwelisaya

The tooth relic temple and history 

Meditation Practice: Discipline your body, speech and mind (action, speech and thought)

Sutta / Vinaya / Abhidhamma (basic knowledge)

Different meditation techniques and Western Perspectives

What is Kathina

Four noble truth

Noble Eightfold path 

Solving life matters (Stress, Anxiety, etc.)

“Using Buddhist Wisdom Teachings to Practice Mindfulness” Three characteristics (Anicca / Dukkha / Anatta)

Sigalovada sutta :The Layperson's Code of Discipline-Noble friends / Ignoble friends 

The Wholesome and Unwholesome roots and deeds (actions)

Satipatthana Sutta (main idea of this teaching) 

How to use dhamma (along with Tripitaka)-Kalama Sutta

Dhamma for daily living: Disciplining the mind from distracting (recurring topic) 

Buddhist perspective: Rebirth and reincarnation

The exemplary parents