Buddhism and Sinhala Language Digital Learning Resources for young children
Introduction and Background
Not so long ago, I was a Dhamma School teacher, working volutarily on Sundays, at Redbridge Buddhist Cultural Centre (Redbridge Buddhist Vihara), United Kingdom.
Recently I have been reflecting on all the digital media resources that I created for Sunday School classes.
In fact, I was asked by a good family friend, if I could share these resources too. Of course, I am delighted to do so and here they are are, all featured in this post. I hope you like them and I would welcome any feedback.
Please feel free to refer to them and talk them through with your children, but kindly note they are for educational purposes only (i.e. not for profit or financial gain).
With blessings of the Noble Triple Gem!
𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍
Buddhism Classes
Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4gVcBKw5TRRo8O92HAPobKZWu7XsbaPb
The Dhamma School Song
The Dhamma School song is sung to instill Buddhist values, teachings, and principles in the minds of young students attending Dhamma Schools. Dhamma Schools, also known as Sunday Schools or Buddhist Sunday Schools, are educational institutions where children and sometimes adults are taught about Buddhism.
1. Cultural and Religious Education: The song serves as a pedagogical tool to impart knowledge about Buddhism, which is a central aspect of Sri Lankan culture and identity.
2. Memorization and Reinforcement: Singing the song helps students remember key teachings, stories, and principles of Buddhism. It reinforces their learning and makes it more memorable.
3. Promotion of Values: The song likely contains lyrics that emphasize important Buddhist values such as compassion, kindness, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. Singing these values can help in their internalization.
4. Community Building: Singing together fosters a sense of community and belonging among the students. It can create a shared experience and a sense of unity among those attending the Dhamma School.
5. Ceremonial Aspect: Music and songs are often used in religious and spiritual settings to create a conducive atmosphere for learning and contemplation. The Dhamma School song may be a part of this ceremonial aspect.
6. Cultural Tradition: The practice of singing the Dhamma School song might be a longstanding cultural tradition in Sri Lankan Dhamma Schools. It's a way of passing down cultural and religious heritage from one generation to the next.
7. Artistic Expression: Music and song can be a powerful medium for artistic expression. The Dhamma School song may have been composed to convey Buddhist teachings in a creative and engaging way.
This is the sing-along version with lyrics (Presented by Madumi TV)
Here is the full song as it is sung in sinhala (translation below):
සම්බුදු හිමිගේ සදහම් සිසිලෙන්
සැනසෙන අපි සිරි ලක් දරුවෝ.......
දහම් පාසලේ සෙවණේ වැඩෙමින්
උදාර ගුණ දම් සිත දැරුවෝ.......//
පස් පව් දස අකුසල් දුරලා
ඉසි කෝ මන් හැම බිද හැරලා
මෙත් කරුණා මුදිතා දී මුණිගුණ
සපුරා පිලිවෙත් මඟ සරසා.........//
සම්බුදු හිමිගේ සදහම් සිහිලෙන්
සැනසෙන අපි සිරි ලක් දරුවෝ.......
දහම් පාසලේ සෙවණේ වැඩෙමින්
උදාර ගුණ දම් සිත දැරුවෝ.......//
සොමි වුවනින් දුටු දුටුවන් පිනවන
පිය තෙපුලින් ඇසු ඇසුවන් සනහන
හද බැතියෙන් නිති තෙරුවන් නමදින
උදාර ගුණ දම් සිත දැරුවෝ..
අපි වෙමු සිරිලක බොදු දරුවෝ........///
පද රචනය:-සෝමපාල රාජකරුණා.
...and here is its translation as follows:
Verse 1:
Sambudhu Thera's sadaham coolness We are happy children who are comforted....... Growing up in the shadow of Sunday school Those who have noble virtues and purple hearts.......// Remove the five sins and ten vices Where am I? Meth Karuna Mudita di Muniguna Follow all the rules.........// In memory of Sambudhu Thera We are happy children who are comforted....... Growing up in the shadow of Sunday school Those who have noble virtues and purple hearts.......// Somi Vuwanin Dutu Dutu Punanavana Piya Tepulin asked and comforted On the day of Niti Teruwan with devotion Those with noble virtues and purple hearts.. Let us be the children of Sirilake.
𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍
Life Story of Lord Buddha
Life Story of Lord Buddha - Part 1 - The Baby Prince
Life Story of Lord Buddha - Part 2 - Asitha's Visit and the Naming Ceremony
The Life Story of Lord Buddha Part 3 - Prince Siddhartha's Childhood
The Life Story of Lord BuddhaPart 4 - Prince Siddhartha:The Prophecy, Marriage and Four Sights
Life Story of Lord Buddha - Part 5 - The Great Renunciation and Quest for Enlightenment
Maha Prajapati Gotami
Rahula - The Son of Prince Siddhartha and Disciple of Lord Buddha
Redbridge Vesak Thorana 2019 'The Life Story of Buddha'
The Five Precepts
“The Meaning of Vesak” - a live recording of an Online Buddhism Class held on 10th May 2020
Poson Poya Day in Sri Lanka
Our Dhamma School - Grade 1
Here is a short summary of the Life Story of Gautama Buddha
Birth and Early Life:
- The Buddha, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, was born around 563 BCE in Lumbini, present-day Nepal.
- He was born into a royal family and led a privileged life.
- His father, King Suddhodana, tried to shield him from the harsh realities of life by providing a life of luxury.
The Four Sights:
- Despite his privileged upbringing, Siddhartha was troubled by the suffering he observed in the world.
- At the age of 29, he ventured outside the palace and encountered the Four Sights: an old person, a sick person, a corpse, and a wandering ascetic.
- These sights deeply affected him and prompted him to seek a solution to the problem of suffering.
The Great Renunciation:
- At the age of 29, Siddhartha decided to leave behind his royal life, including his wife and son, in search of spiritual truth and a way to alleviate human suffering.
Years of Asceticism:
- Siddhartha joined a group of ascetics and practiced extreme forms of self-mortification, hoping to attain enlightenment through severe austerities.
The Middle Way:
- Realizing that extreme asceticism did not lead to enlightenment, Siddhartha abandoned this path and sought a balanced approach, known as the Middle Way, which advocated moderation and mindfulness.
The Enlightenment (Bodhi) Tree:
- At the age of 35, Siddhartha sat beneath a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, and vowed not to rise until he had attained enlightenment.
- After a period of intense meditation, he finally achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha, which means "The Awakened One."
First Sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta):
- The Buddha then traveled to Sarnath, near Varanasi, and delivered his first sermon to five ascetics, revealing the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which form the core of Buddhist teachings.
Teaching Mission:
- For the next 45 years, the Buddha traveled across northern India, teaching his insights to a diverse range of people, from kings to beggars.
Establishment of the Sangha:
- He established a community of monks and nuns (the Sangha) who followed his teachings and lived a monastic life dedicated to spiritual practice.
Death (Parinirvana):
- At the age of 80, the Buddha passed away in Kushinagar, India. This event is known as the Parinirvana, which signifies his final liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
Legacy:
- The Buddha's teachings and philosophy, known as Buddhism, continue to be followed by millions of people around the world, making it one of the major world religions.
The Buddha's life story serves as an inspiration for many, emphasizing the potential for individuals to transcend suffering and attain spiritual awakening through wisdom and compassion.
𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍
Jãtaka Tales
The Jãtaka Tales are a formidable collection of ancient Indian stories that describe the previous lives of the Buddha, before he was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama. According to the Buddhist tradition, it is believed that the Buddha was reincarnated countless times before attaining enlightenment. Each of these previous lives provided him with opportunities to cultivate virtues such as compassion, generosity, wisdom, and selflessness.
Note: These videos are inspired and derived from theby the excellent and prolific work of Jataka Tales book publications by Kusum Disanayake.
Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4gVcBKw5TRSgi7M7QzTFKIC3-Lt3AhmZ
Tipallattha Miga Jãtaka - Learning Makes Perfect
Sattikumba Jãtaka - The Way of the Parrots
Nalapana Jãtaka - The Bamboo Reeds
Amba Jãtaka - One Good Deed - a Fruitful Deed
Vannupatha Jãtaka - If There is a Will, There is a Way
Nachcha Jãtaka - The Swan Princess
Vatamiga Jãtaka - Greed Brings Danger
Mahilamukha Jãtaka - What the Elephant Heard
Abhinha Jãtaka - Best of Friends
Saama Jãtaka - The Story of the Sympathetic Son
Kuhaka Jãtaka - A Straw in a Hair Knot
Rukka Damma Jãtaka - Gods in Trees
Kusanali Jãtaka - A Friend in Need
Daddabha Jãtaka - The Day the Earth Fell Down
Serivanija Jãtaka
Vattaka Jãtaka Tale
Kanha Jãtaka - The Story of the Black Bull
Atthassa Dvara Jãtaka - Path to Progress
Veluka Jãtaka - Hermit's Pet
Guna Jãtaka - Great are the Grateful
Magha Mãnavaka Jãtaka - Taming the Elephants
𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍🙏𑁍
Sinhala Classes
Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4gVcBKw5TRTNsQVLxWz7HJKHNZhQdnH0
How to Pronounce Basic Sinhala Vowels
Myself - මම - Mama
Numbers - Counting up to 10 in Sinhala
Vegetables in Sinhala
Fruits in Sinhala
Months of the Year in Sinhala
Days of the Week in Sinhala
Colours in Sinhala
Animal names in Sinhala
Let us Learn VERBS in Sinhala
Let us Learn Sinhala Sentences
Sinhala classes for young children play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting cognitive development, and preparing them for a globalised world while maintaining a strong connection to their roots.
The benefits of learning sinhala (indeed any language) are numberous but can be summarised as follows:
Preservation of Cultural Identity: Learning the Sinhala language helps children maintain a connection to their cultural heritage. It allows them to communicate with relatives, participate in cultural events, and understand traditional practices.
Communication with Elders: In many families, especially those with older generations, Sinhala may be the primary language spoken. Proficiency in Sinhala enables children to communicate effectively with their grandparents and other elders.
Access to Traditional Texts and Literature: Proficiency in Sinhala allows access to important religious, historical, and literary texts. This includes sacred Buddhist scriptures, folktales, and historical documents that are written in Sinhala.
Improved Cognitive Skills: Learning a second language, including Sinhala, has been shown to enhance cognitive development. It can improve problem-solving skills, creativity, and even academic performance in other subjects.
Enhanced Social Integration: For children living in communities with a significant Sinhalese population, knowing Sinhala can facilitate stronger social connections. It helps them engage with peers who share a common linguistic and cultural background.
Career Opportunities: As globalization continues, proficiency in multiple languages, including Sinhala, can be an asset in the job market. It can open up opportunities in fields such as translation, tourism, international relations, and more.
Respect and Appreciation for Diversity: Learning a language is a gateway to understanding different cultures. It fosters respect and appreciation for linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting tolerance and inclusivity.
Facilitate Travel and Exploration: If a child wishes to visit Sri Lanka or other regions where Sinhala is spoken, knowing the language can greatly enhance their travel experience. It allows for deeper interactions with locals and a better understanding of the culture.
Boost Self-Confidence: Being able to communicate effectively in Sinhala can boost a child's self-confidence, especially in situations where they may feel a sense of belonging or pride in their cultural heritage.
Foster a Lifelong Love for Learning: Learning languages at a young age can instill a love for learning and a curiosity about other cultures. This can have a positive impact on a child's attitude towards education throughout their life.
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