This page was last modified on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
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.
2011 - 12 / 7th & 8th Grade Class
Editor's Note: The 2011-12 class decided to continue its community service and collect sweatshirts and jackets once again for a few local elementary schools. Jackets and sweatshirts will be donated to students who do not have one during the cold winter months. The drive will begin on October 9th thru December 4th.
Editor's Note: 12/28/11 - The class collected over 40 jackets and sweatshirts and distributed them to children at two local elementary schools. We heard that the children who received the warm clothing were very appreciative during the cold days of December.
What would Buddha do to be happy? (10/16/11)
Lauren: To be happy, there are six simple steps to fulfill your path to joy. You need to be healthy, follow virtue, learn from all sources, listen to people, tell the truth, and to break free of all attachments. If you follow this advice, you will gain happiness.
Will:I you want to be happy the main things you need to follow are good health, follow virtue, learn from people, listen to people, and be truthful. These paths lead to the greatest good.
Abby: Buddha would take all bad thought out of his hand and try to live it the best.
Brooke: Buddha has six poaths to being happy. First, be in good health; health is the secret to suceed in the other six paths. Buddha would also follow virtue, listen to others, learn by reading books, be truthful, and let go of sad attachments.
Keiren: Buddha would be truthful and seek health.Budda would not hold on to sad things that happn in his life.Buddha would follow virtue listen to people and read good books and learn.
What would Buddha do at a boring job? (9/25/11)
Lauren: When a job is boring, look for the highlights of your occupation. Don't just sit there and fall asleep-- keep your life exciting by making it positive.
Kayla: Amida Buddha would find a positive way to look at the situation. He would think that at least he's getting paid and has a job.
Will:Make it seem like a positive gain. If you are doing something boring like homework, make it seem like something good because it makes you smart. You can always get something good for something boring.
What would Buddha do about the distractions of modern life? (9/18/11)
Lauren: When distracted by the little things in life, balance your priorities. Try to stay focus of the big picture-- live your life the way you want it to be.
Will: Get involved with modern life but get the main idea done first. Don't get distracted by modern life. Finish the things that are most important first.
Keiren: Have a balance in life and do not get distractions at little things.
2010-11 7th & 8th Grade Class
Editor's Note: I'm proud of the class and how they've really gained some wisdom and maturity this year!
What would Buddha do when others attack his beliefs? (5/15/11)
Will:Accept their beliefs and respect what they believe. Your religion is just as weird and different as their religion is to you. Don't fight about who is right. Any religion can be the right path.
Evan: You shouldn't let other people's opinions hurt your spirit.Just because one person thinks that, doesn't mean everybody else does. Everyone has their own thoughts and ideas and nobody can change that about you.
Lauren: When someone attacks your beliefs, you need to remember that no matter what you believe in, you just need to follow the right path. As long as you do good things, no one should criticize your beliefs.
What would Buddha do with noisy neighbors? (3/20/11)
Will:Get used to the sound. Sound is everywhere. Just some will be annoying to you and some will not. Sound happens everywhere so get used to it.
Lauren: When your neighbors are making an enormous amount of noise, think of each noise as Buddha's voice calling out to you. If the noises keep getting in your head as annoying, tune them out by listening to other things. If you still can't focus, you might want to consider getting used to it.
Evan: Don't let noise ruin your day. Little things in life are stuff that you shouldn't worry about, so the next time you hear that barking dog, focus on the good things in life.
What would Buddha do if a cashier gives him too much change? (1/23/11)
Evan: No matter how much money it really is, the guilt in you will make you never forget it. It will break you to the point where you just have to give it back.
Lauren: When given too much change, the right thing to do is to give it back to the cashier. If you decide to keep the extra change, sooner or later, you will feel guilty and wish you had returned the change when you realized it as an extra amount of money. If you do return it, you will feel good and will have a clear conscious.
Will: You have to be honest to them and give the money back. If you don't you would feel guilty because you know you have done something wrong.
Jason:Our buddha nature would cause us to give the money back. We would feel better about ourselves and not feel guilty about it.
What would Buddha do to care for aging parents (grandparents)? (10/17/10)
Evan: You should support your parents because they supported you your whole life. Now that they are elderly and weak they can't do the same stuff as they could when they were younger and that's where you come into place.
Lauren: When you are caring for your parents or grandparents, you should always do it with gratitude because they were always there for you when you needed them. Once, they were your support, and now you shall be theirs.
Will: Have fun with your parents and spend a lot of time with them just like they did with you. Help them on the things they don't understand. Have fun doing what ever you do with them while you can.
What would Buddha do when bored? (10/10/10)
Evan: There shouldn't be a chance for you to be bored. There are endless possibilities of what you could do. But if you just say,"I'm Bored" your not trying to find something to do.
Lauren: When you are bored, you are making your life boring. when you are bored, others feel the boredom around you and may not come and try to excite you. when you are bored, try to try new things that could possibly make you happy. In someways, boredom could be an open gate to new ways of life.
Will:Stop being bored and find something to do. Try not to talk to people or they can become bored too. Try to do fun stuff like watching T V or playing video games.
What would Buddha do when fearing personal failure? (9/26/10)
Lauren: Personal failure is typically a fear for many people. When I fear personal failures I try to block out as much fear as possible and try my best to do what I'm trying to do anyway.
Evan: I would just do it. Follow Nikes slogan because if you don't and you fear making a mistake. nothing in life would be accomplished beacuse you would never want to take a chance.
Will: I would not do it if it is too hard, but if it was really important, I would find the courage to do it anyway.
What would Buddha do when he gets sick? (9/19/10)Lauren: I think that sickness is a part of life. When you get sick, you should accept it and not try to overcome it immediately.
Will: Don't always try to be healthy because everyone gets sick. When you do get sick you still have to live your life and have fun.
