India Buddhism Activity
Buddhist Ad-vice
Buddhism Inspired Ads: Buddhists believe that life is filled with suffering. They also believe that our suffering is caused by our desires. Therefore, they believe, the key to ending suffering is the elimination of our desires. To be free - free of suffering - we must first rid ourselves of the desire for more pleasure, more power, and more material things.
Buddhism values love, wisdom, goodness, calm, and self-control. It’s ironic then that the advertising world relies so heavily on Buddhist sayings to create desires for the goods they are trying to sell us.
Now that you know a bit more about Buddhism, think of how many businesses use Buddhist thought to sell their product or services. Fitness centers promise a better you in just 60 minutes per week. Diet centers promise to end all cravings (desires) and deliver a new you in 30 days.
Your assignment: Create an advertising slogan and design a print ad that is inspired by Buddhist thought and principles. You can create your ad for a real product or one that you make up. When you have identified your product and come up with an idea for your Buddhism-inspired ad, please grab an 8 1/2 by 11" piece of paper and create a colorful campaign.
Below are some examples of real ads that show Bhuddhism's influence either in the symbols and graphics they use or in their words..
Buddhism values love, wisdom, goodness, calm, and self-control. It’s ironic then that the advertising world relies so heavily on Buddhist sayings to create desires for the goods they are trying to sell us.
Now that you know a bit more about Buddhism, think of how many businesses use Buddhist thought to sell their product or services. Fitness centers promise a better you in just 60 minutes per week. Diet centers promise to end all cravings (desires) and deliver a new you in 30 days.
Your assignment: Create an advertising slogan and design a print ad that is inspired by Buddhist thought and principles. You can create your ad for a real product or one that you make up. When you have identified your product and come up with an idea for your Buddhism-inspired ad, please grab an 8 1/2 by 11" piece of paper and create a colorful campaign.
Below are some examples of real ads that show Bhuddhism's influence either in the symbols and graphics they use or in their words..
Path to Enlightenment - Game Edition
Conclusion & Board Game Creation
After Siddhartha became the Buddha, or the "Awakened One," he was concerned that no one else would understand the great truths he had realized under the Bodhi tree. One of the many gods begged him to teach his "Dharma," or "the way to right living," to all beings - gods and humans alike.
So, the Buddha left the site of his Awakening and sought the five ascetics,or monks, with whom he had practiced self-deprivation. When they saw him approaching, they decided to ignore him because, in their eyes, he was a failure for having given up the life of self-deprivation. When Siddhartha began to speak, however, the monks were impressed by the Prince's new-found wisdom. Listening to him, they quickly realized that he had undergone a great transformation.
After Siddhartha became the Buddha, or the "Awakened One," he was concerned that no one else would understand the great truths he had realized under the Bodhi tree. One of the many gods begged him to teach his "Dharma," or "the way to right living," to all beings - gods and humans alike.
So, the Buddha left the site of his Awakening and sought the five ascetics,or monks, with whom he had practiced self-deprivation. When they saw him approaching, they decided to ignore him because, in their eyes, he was a failure for having given up the life of self-deprivation. When Siddhartha began to speak, however, the monks were impressed by the Prince's new-found wisdom. Listening to him, they quickly realized that he had undergone a great transformation.
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The Buddha began to teach them what he had learned, and within a short time they too were enlightened. They became the Buddha's followers and soon hundreds of others joined them. Individually or in groups, the Buddha's followers wandered from town to town, "turning the wheel of Buddha Dharma" to make his teachings available to everyone.
Just as the Buddha and his disciples focused on teaching, the goal of your board game is to teach the fundamentals of Buddhism. Before you begin to build your Path to Enlightenment board game, review the life of the Buddha with the video at left. |
CLICK above to go to the BBC's World Religions web siite
For Further Review: Britain's BBC has a great web site on world religions. Divide tasks among pairs of teammates and review their information about Buddhism. Each pair should practice note taking skills by bullet-pointing key information form the site on your note cards.
Then, regroup to talk about the key points you each recorded and discuss ideas for a "Path to Enlightenment" game that includes info you have from the Unit lesson reading, from the videos you've seen, and from your independent research.
To create your Path to Enlightenment board game, keep the following thoughts in mind:
1. Your game should be both entertaining AND educational.
2. While the Buddha's life may be a model, even an inspiration, your game should be about the path to enlightenment for all of us - not just for Siddhartha.
3. In order to keep that as your goal, find ways to include the 4 Noble Truths and Eightfold Path in your game.
4. It may help formalize your thinking if you make lists of "risks" and "rewards" associated with Buddhism, life, and enlightenment.
Then, regroup to talk about the key points you each recorded and discuss ideas for a "Path to Enlightenment" game that includes info you have from the Unit lesson reading, from the videos you've seen, and from your independent research.
To create your Path to Enlightenment board game, keep the following thoughts in mind:
1. Your game should be both entertaining AND educational.
2. While the Buddha's life may be a model, even an inspiration, your game should be about the path to enlightenment for all of us - not just for Siddhartha.
3. In order to keep that as your goal, find ways to include the 4 Noble Truths and Eightfold Path in your game.
4. It may help formalize your thinking if you make lists of "risks" and "rewards" associated with Buddhism, life, and enlightenment.
Disciples meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree today.
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5. Your game needs to include the following things:
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Remember, it is not enough that you know how to play your game. Another 6th grader should be able to read and follow the instructions and enjoy your game.
Note: You will use a piece of posterboard for your game board. I recommend using one side to "practice" your game board design before finalizing it on the opposite side.
Note: You will use a piece of posterboard for your game board. I recommend using one side to "practice" your game board design before finalizing it on the opposite side.