Message #1185 - 5_RINGS 
   Date: 05-23-96 16:40
   From: Marlyn Bumpus
     To: Fantasy Master
Subject: Child's Meditation
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@MSGID: 93:9902/2@PODS 480fa842
@PID: FastEcho 1.25 7648
This is what I had my kids memorize, recite and *think* about everyday
for many years.  Every morning we would light a candle, light a
little incense, put our hands together at the altar and recite this
as a family.  May you find it as helpful to you in *your* role as
parent as it was for me...

(Comments on practical use after meditation)


                 REFUGE FORMULA AND THE GOLDEN CHAIN

Refuge:
^^^^^^^

I go to the Buddha for Refuge, the One who shows me the way in this
life.

I go to the Dharma for Refuge, the Way of understanding and love.

I go to the Sangha for Refuge, the Community that lives together in
harmony and awareness.

The Golden Chain:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I am a link in Buddha's Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the
world.  I must keep my link bright and strong.  I will be kind and
gentle to all living things, and protect those who are weaker than
myself.  I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, say pure
and beautiful words, and do pure and beautiful deeds; knowing that on
what I do now depends not only *my* happiness or unhappiness, but
also those of others.  May every link in Buddha's Golden Chain of
Love become bright and strong, and may we all attain Perfect Peace.

======================================================================

Read the Golden Chain very carefully; it addresses succinctly
*many* areas parents find themselves harping on as their kids grow.
Not knowing your child's age, I'm gonna be kinda guessing here -- but
from your reaction, I'm assuming (all related connotations taken into
account) that your child is relatively young.  If you would use
Buddhism as a basis for raising a child, there is *NO BETTER*
meditation to teach your child than the Golden Chain.  There is *NO
BETTER* meditation for you to begin work on yourself, for that matter.
Believe it or not, this is what *I* started on 20 yrs ago...

"I will be kind and gentle to all living things and protect those who
are weaker than myself" is a GREAT line.  The first part advises
against violence of *all* kinds: verbal, physical, psychological.
When I found my twin sons fighting, I made them recite this part
*together* -- then asked them what it meant.  The second part is just
as good in teaching the value of another's feelings and life.
"...and protect those who are weaker than myself" was what my
daughter quoted to her teacher about them stupid spiders.

"pure and beautiful thoughts/words/deeds" is a conscious dedication
of all actions throughout the day, at least in the morning dedicating
onesself to honesty, compassion, kindness, and so on.  "I will say
pure and beautiful words" is great to recall when the kids begin to
learn the easy out of the "little white lie."  It puts the focus on
the motivation *behind* the thought/ word/deed -- which is, after
all, what will aim the karma.  "...pure and beautiful deeds" comes
out when they learn how to snitch things, or mess things up.

"...knowing that on what I do now depends not only *my* happiness or
unhappiness, but also those of others" hones that personal focus.
When one is angry, one sows the seeds of anger in others.  If the
other gets angry too, where does the ultimate responsibility lie?  It
also is a very easy-to- understand first look at the power of karma
in all its subtle workings.

If your child can learn to live up to the Golden Chain and all it
entails, s/he will be Enlightened.  And even if s/he doesn't, it will
give him/her a much increased appreciation for life, if my
experiences are any measure.  Even my moderately learning-disabled
son, who has ADD and *NO* ability to appreciate the difference between
"right" and "wrong" has benefitted somewhat from this practice.

Namast‚!

Marlyn


... Life is its own answer.  Live it and enjoy it day by day.
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