This page was last modified on Monday, July 05, 2010

This page is posted by the 7th and 8th Grade class at Reedley Dharma School in response to the book, What Would Buddha Do? by Franz Metcalf.  Each week we will update our responses. 

What Would Buddha Do When Bored?  (10/4/09)

Crystal:  I disagree because I am always bored and I am not boring.

Connor:  I agree that there is always something to do when you are bored, but I disagree (with the quote) that when one thing is boring everything is boring.

Kelsey:  I agree with the paragraph but not the quote because, just because one thing is boring that doesn't mean everything else is.

What Would Buddha Do if He Could Afford to Give Only a Little?  (10/4/09)

Connor:  I agree with this; that it is the thought that counts more than how much you spend on something.

Kelsey:  I agree because it's the thought that counts.

Crystal:  I agree because every thought counts in what you give to people.

What would Buddha do when making a salad?  (10/18/09)

Connor: You should be thankful for even something as simple as a cookie because it takes much more than what you think to make something like a cookie. Overall, you should be thankful for everyone who spends time to make these everyday necessities.

Kelsey:  It kind of means that you should appreciate what you have, because a lot happened to get it to you, even if its just a salad.

James: The thought of what it took to make the salad is important.

Crystal: Take time in making things. It's the thought that counts for the time they took to make something.

What would Buddha do when he gets sick? (11/8/09)

Connor: I think that even if you get sick you should accept it as part of life. Also, you shouldn't try
to be a health freak so you can live younger than the average person. If you want to be super healthy you might not enjoy your life and live it to the fullest. So I say that you should live your life and if you get sick, you get sick.

Crystal: When people are never sick they are healthy and they always focus on staying healthy. Those people go over board with staying too healthy and don't live a fun life. They try to live the perfect life when other people are sick. People that get sick, live their life by doing fun stuff like eating candy.

Kelsey: I think it means that when you are sick you are more thankful about when you are healthy.  When people are healthy, they sometimes try to stay healthy and pretty 24/7, but that is just wasting your life. Be happy!

Evan:I think that you shouldn't be obsessed about being sick. Being sick is just part of life and everybody gets sick many, many times in their life. Those that obsess about sickness have no fun in their life so what's the point of life if you always have to be healthy. Sickness is part of life.

James:People should not worry so much about staying healthy all the time. If they don't worry they will have a much better life.  But they should still stay a little healthy so they do not get too sick.

What would Buddha do about that coffee habit? (11/15/09)

Kelsey: I think this means that it's okay to have caffeine every once in a while, but it is bad to have it every day and become addicted. If you drink it too much, you will go crazy with addiction. 

Evan: Caffeine is something that many have an addiction to. If you drink to much, you'll want more later. Don't let coffee ruin your life by getting addicted to something that will never fill you up.

As a service project, the class advertised with Dharma School families to donate coats and sweatshirts which were donated to a local elementary school for students without proper outerwear for the winter. 

What would Buddha do when deciding where to go for dinner? (1/10/10)

Connor:  It depends on how hungry you are because if you are very hungry then you don't care
who you are with and you just want to eat. If you were not that hungry you would want to be with friends and family and the food is not as big a deal then.

Crystal: Enjoy what you get, like eating with your family. Enjoy it before your die. If you enjoy eating with someone, you will be happy. You won't be lonely if you eat with someone you like and enjoy being with them.

Kelsey:  If you are hungry then you will like your food better. It will be even better if you are with people to enjoy your food with.

Evan: Whenever company is around, the meal will always taste better. Being around other people makes the meal taste good, no matter what is on your plate.

What would Buddha do if someone hates him? (4/25/10)

James:  Any hate from someone could be conquered by love.  Love will always go beyond itself while hate will never be more than self's defense of self.

Crystal:  Hate is one defense and it can't go beyond itself.  While love lives to go beyond itself, hate cannot comprehend.

Connor:  This means that love has powers within yourself which you can summon to conquer any hate you have for someone or something.

Kelsey:  I think this means that no matter what happens, love will always conquer hate, so don't worry if people don't like you because there will always be someone who loves you.

What would Buddha do about giving to charity?  (5/2/10)

Kelsey:  This means that it is your choice whether or not you want to give to charity.  But when you choose to give, you should be happy that you know that you gave because you probably just made someone's day a lot better.

Evan:  Giving is something that has to come from the heart.  If you aren't ready to give, it shouldn't be done.  Charity can be a great thing if you can handle the mental aspect.

Connor:  This means that giving lots doesn't always mean that it is from the heart.  Even if you give a little, if it has meaning, it can count more than giving a lot.  Next time you give something, make sure you're not just being forced to give, but you want to give. 

Crystal:  Giving is caring.  It comes from the heart.  Charity means love as well as generosity.  Buddha didn't think in black and white.  It's how much you care and what comes from your heart.  When you feel good that you give something or help volunteer, it makes you feel good that you did something from the heart. 

James:  Giving charity is usually very good.  But, if you are not ready to contribute you shouldn't.  You shouldn't force charity because it can hurt you (financially) and others around you (by doing too much for them and not making them independent).  If you do give, you should feel good about it. 

Last Thoughts...

Connor: This year we looked through the book What Would Buddha Do? by Franz Metcalf. This book has taught me that making good choices is very important in life. some of the examples we used were ever day problems and it helped me think about what choices I can make. From reading this book I now know what choices to make, and how to make them.

Evan: This year we read the book What Would Buddha Do? This was a very good book since it made me think of what Buddha really would do in tough situations. It has helped me with the simplest and the most difficult questions in life.

Kelsey: This year we read the book What Would Buddha Do? I think this book is kind of confusing but its been good to think about these kinds of things every once in a while. Also, it is good to have answers to some of the problems in life, even if they are confusing sometimes, because it might help you just a little bit.

James: What Would Buddha Do? is a book that helps us with our daily problems. It takes a question like '"What would Buddha do when bored?" , and takes the question to a whole new meaning.  This book describes what we should and should not do, and why it is important to do the right thing.

May 2nd, some of our students, as members of the Reedley Jr. YBA, volunteered at the Fresno Poverello House which serves meals to the homeless and those in need.  The students found it a rewarding experience to "give from the heart". 

Editor's note:  As you can see, the 7th and 8th grade class really have become more insightful as the year has gone on.  Reading and discussing the book What Would Buddha Do? has given them a better understanding about Buddhism in our everyday life.